Plus Size 3/22

SuzieMay827

Hi Ladies! How are we doing this week? As always, please post anything and everything about being plus sized and pregnant. It can be goals, successes, setbacks, activity, or just random stuff.

I also want to encourage you to post your Bump pics to the HDBD board when it goes up today because ALL bumps are beautiful in every shape and size. I've seen nothing but support on that board and we need to represent more However, if you are uncomfortable posting on the main board but still want to post a pic, feel free to post one here.

GTKY: not sure if this one had been done in another board, but What are some of your biggest pet peeves?

dogdisnylovr

Happy Wednesday Ladies!

I am struggling this week a little with potential high blood pressure. At my appointment on Friday my blood pressure was something/100. Dr. was concerned but I told her I was terribly nervous. She told me to monitor it all week and although its been lower, it hasn't been as lower as I would like. I really don't want to go on medication, but of course will if needed. I go back Friday for her to read the results I have been getting at home. Fingers crossed! 

And can I just complain for a minute about maternity clothes?! Pants in particular. I am 6'1". It's already difficult finding plus-size tall pants or jeans. It is impossible to find plus size, tall maternity pants. I can't find them anywhere. I can't be the only plus-size tall women who has ever gotten pregnant... Leggings are out as I do not have the legs for leggings, they look ridiculous. My style this spring and summer could be interesting...

GTKY: not sure if this one had been done in another board, but What are some of your biggest pet peeves?
My biggest pet peeves are chewing with your mouth open and leaving the kitchen cabinets open. Both drive me crazy! And both are repeatedly done by DH. 

SuzieMay827

@dogdisnylovr have you tried meditating before taking your blood pressure or listening to soothing music? Might be lame suggestions, but I try to meditate before my doctor appointments because my BP is always high when I go in for appointments.

I had an appointment yesterday and have only gained 2lbs this pregnancy. Yay!
I was so relieved that they found Baby's heartbeat right away that I cried. It's been tough having the morning sickness gone but not feeling him yet. I needed the reassurance that he's still in there. We could even hear him kicking away and moving around on the Doppler, which of course just sounded like a bunch of swishing but somehow that's a magical sound when it's your baby.

I'm so excited for the weather to start warming up so I can go on more consistent walks. It's supposed to be almost 70 on Saturday here in PA and I can't wait. Maybe I'll even have a picnic

GTKY: What are some of your biggest pet peeves?
Not clearing out the microwave. This happens at work all the time and drives me nuts.
Chewing with your mouth open really grinds my gears too.

latershrader

@dogdisnylovr I have HBP, even before pregnancy. I am on meds. But at almost every appointment my pressure is up. I know it's because i'm nervous or excited or scared about this little one. But the dr & nurses panic. After the workup (sono, blood, whatever) they usually have me lay on my left side and take deep breaths for 10 minutes and magically my pressure goes down. Meditation would work too, in the car before the appointment. And as you get further along, make sure they give you a few minutes to catch your breath before taking your pressure! Oh, last thing! Make sure they are using the right size cuff if you have chubby arms like me. Ok, I swear, last thing! If your pressure is high on the automatic pressure cuffs, have them do it manually. Those cuffs sometimes pinch so hard which makes you hold your breath or your heart start to go faster. Ok, i'm done!

latershrader

My update...status quo. I think I may have gained some weight, but nothing drastic. I'll find out for sure on Friday. My scale at home is just not reliable I think. We have been going for walks in the evening when it's nice out. So that has been pleasant. I've been getting headaches which I'm hoping are not pressure related. They were pretty bad last week but this week it's been better. Tylenol did help a little, so that was good. Hoping it was hormones. I'm also dealing w/ lots of nasal congestion. So weird to be stuffed up right now. 
We started a few registries, which was exciting. What one thing do you HAVE to have for baby? I'm curious.

GTKY: I'm with @dogdisnylovr, open cabinets. And not taking your dirty dishes and/or trash to the sink. I'm not your maid DH! 

labby18

I have gone from maintaining weight to oh crap. So looks like I gotta stop eating Chik Fila for a little bit (my guilty pleasure). But I still feel pretty good about everything. It makes sense that I gained some weight as I went from not being able to eat, to consistently being hungry. I feel really body positive lately, I just cannot believe there's a baby growing inside of me. 

My biggest pet peeve? I absolutely hate when people hover over my shoulder. I freak out. Blehh. There are a few other ones, but that one causes an instant reaction. 

dogdisnylovr

@SuzieMay827 I tried listening to relaxing music last night before I took it. I can't really tell if it helped as my BP was pretty consistent with my other readings. I have been told my whole life I need to try meditation because I am an anxious person by nature. I can't seem to get the hang of it. When everything is quiet and I am doing nothing trying to calm my mind and body down, my mind goes crazy. It's hard to explain, but I sometimes wish my brain had an on/off switch. 

@latershrader do you mind me asking what your BP usually is? The Dr. didn't tell me what it needs to be in order to avoid medication (probably so I wouldn't fib on my readings; not that I would anyways). So I've been shooting for the 120/80 goal but can't seem to get my bottom number to 80. They have been doing it manually at the Dr. but I bought an automatic monitor. Sometimes it does squeeze pretty tight. 

Hopefully when I go back to the Dr. on Friday, since I won't have an ultrasound to worry about, my BP will be lower. 

latershrader

@dogdisnylovr When I went in for my NT scan it was 159/94. It dropped to 130/82 after the 10 minute rest. The following week I went to my OB and it was 132/93, they were not worried. At home, I try to take it at my most relaxed time (per dr's advice). It's great! 120/80 or very close to it. I hope the tips I gave you work. Just try to relax and stay calm, deep breaths when they are actually taking it. I'm sure everything will be ok!

dogdisnylovr

@latershrader Thank you! That information helps and makes me feel better. Hopefully my readings are good enough to suffice the Dr. And thanks for all the tips. I'll give them a shot. 

SuzieMay827

I'm gonna add another pretty peeve to my list. People who don't adhere to good standard hygiene. I work at a bank and I swear the SMELLIEST people come in and are always the ones who need the most help. And then they are usually mouth breathers who don't brush their teeth and have just smoked an entire pack of cigarettes. I feel like I'm always gagging. Yuck.

DPandMB

@SuzieMay827 YES! I was at a store this weekend and there were a group of teenagers that were standing by me. It was BO covered in cheap cologne. I almost threw up right there. I'm getting sick just thinking about it.

Jamiern01

@dogdisnylovr if you figure out the brain off/on switch please share. My brain tends to go nuts in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping. Then I'm tired and cranky the next day which makes my blood pressure go up. 

missyrosek

Has anyone here had success with an at-home doppler? I've tried a couple of times (using videos on YouTube to guide me), but haven't been able to find a heartbeat. I know plus-sized gals sometimes have to wait until later in the pregnancy for it to work, so has anyone found that to be true?

SuzieMay827

@missykhamvongsa I do not have one but I talked to my OB about getting one on Tuesday. I'm over 16 weeks and she recommended me not getting one because she was concerned it would cause anxiety if I couldn't find the heartbeat. I was surprised at 16w that was still a concern but she said the home dopplers weren't as strong. She didn't necessarily mention my weight being a factor, but I'm sure it is.
Anyway, I don't know when you should be able to hear for sure, but don't worry too much about not finding it.

stephy_p

@dogdisnylovr I am between 5'10 and 5'11, so I'm with you on the struggle in finding plus sized, tall maternity clothes. It makes clothes shopping even more terrible than usual for me!

@labby18 I am in the same boat! At my last appointment I had lost a total of 6 pounds this pregnancy without even trying. Then the past week something snapped and I've been uncontrollably hungry instead of nauseated and am sure I've probably gained 5 pounds. Time for me to cut out the morning McDonalds breakfast!

@missykhamvongsa I have a home Doppler and it made me completely spazz out when I first got it. I was sure the baby had no heartbeat. But when I went to the doctor, it was there and strong. I am now 16+6 and it is easier to find. But I have to place it practically in my hip bone and point toward my belly to find it. Good luck and don't let it freak you out!


My pet peeve: when my DH opens the microwave before it goes off and leaves the timer set to like 1 or 2 seconds. Grrr!!! Just stop the microwave and clear the timer!!!

latershrader

@missykhamvongsa I got one early on and couldn't find a hb. Then around 11-12 weeks I thought I found it and would freak if for some reason I couldn't. Since then I thought I'd found the hb pretty regularly, always in the same spot. Until...last night. I got a totally different sounding hb and it was most definitely him. It was crazy the difference! And it moved, it would fade in and out. It was completely awesome. I'm guessing the other hb i found was either me or my placenta. One note though, don't use it every day. Just every few days. I try to go for once a week or so. And if you already have anxiety, probably wouldn't recommend getting one at all. It can be worrisome when you can't find the hb.

dogdisnylovr

@latershrader So my appointment is coming up soon and I have convinced myself that my Dr. will put me on meds. I have researched a coupled medications that are supposedly safe during pregnancy but one is a Category B and one is a Category C. Do you mind me asking what you Dr. recommended during pregnancy? 

latershrader

Hi @dogdisnylovr . I'm on Nifedipine. Originally I was put on Labatalol, but it made me dizzy and I had headaches a lot. So we switched it to the Nifedipine and with some dosing adjustments I'm great. My MFM has also said that if needed we can still adjust the dosage or try another med if my BP doesn't cooperate as baby grows. She also put me on 81mg asprin, or baby asprin. Ask about that too. I think it has show that it decreases the chances of preeclampsia by like 24% or something. I wish you so much luck! It's not fun to deal with but it is manageable!

baileylove22

@dogdisnylovr ..hope it's ok for me to give some info here.. I saw the blood pressure talk. I am also on 60mg nifedipine for my BP. Labetelol also worked for me, but caused hair loss. I also take the baby aspirin and fish oil. My MFM last pregnancy advised to take the baby aspirin and I heard somewhere fish oil helped with blood pressure too. My last pregnancy with twins I was not put on medication until the end and my BP was around 130-40s/80s-90s the whole time. My blood pressure at home this pregnancy is ok so far, but when I go to the OB it is not great due to white coat. It was 157/89 this week. Good luck at the doctor today. 

dogdisnylovr

@latershrader and @baileylove22 Thank you both for the information! I had heard of Labatalol but when I researched it it said Category C so I was hoping there was a better option. I also heard Methyldopa was safe as well. I haven't heard of Nifedipine; glad to know it works for both of you. And I will look into fish oil too. That seems like a more natural supplement that may help.

Thankfully, the Dr. was satisfied with all of my readings today at the appointment and said no medication right now. I am shocked. Although I didn't know what numbers would require medication my blood pressure has been higher than I thought it should be. My husband and I have been worried all week. I'm only at 13+w so I know it can go up the further along I get, and will continue to monitor it.

Dumb question...what is MFM? 

latershrader

@dogdisnylovr I'm so glad your OB was pleased with your numbers. you don't want to start meds if you don't have to! Hope you continue to have great numbers!

An MFM is a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor. Just a fancy way of saying high risk doc. 

baileylove22

@dogdisnylovr That is great news! I am so glad you do not have to do the medication.

A MFM is a maternal fetal medicine specialist. I think you only go to them when you are having a high risk pregnancy. I was classified as high risk due to twins during my last pregnancy. This time I will go due to being AMA and the HBP. 

jena333-2

missykhamvongsa said:

Has anyone here had success with an at-home doppler? I've tried a couple of times (using videos on YouTube to guide me), but haven't been able to find a heartbeat. I know plus-sized gals sometimes have to wait until later in the pregnancy for it to work, so has anyone found that to be true?

I was able to find the heartbeat around 12.5 weeks. Once. Then I couldn't find it again for a couple weeks. I'm now 15w3d, and I can pretty reliably (though not always quickly) find it. Though he's about to move up into where I carry extra fat, so I am wondering if I will lose him. What I asked myself before I got it (because my husband and doctor were both like ehhhhhhh, maybe not a great idea) was: is it going to cause me great anxiety if I CAN'T find it? I have a very firm talk with myself every time before I use it, about how if I DON'T find it, it's not a big deal, it doesn't mean something's wrong, it just means I'm not finding it. Later in the pregnancy the uterine wall is supposed to thin out, and his heart will be bigger, so it should be even easier to find. I'm glad I got it, even though it's been hit or miss finding it.

jena333-2

Also, HI! I haven't posted in this thread before - I started in the PGAL thread a couple months ago and have been branching out. This is my second pregnancy, after a loss. I'm plus-sized, and I live in the greater Boston area.

mercury94

@jena333 I don't think I realized you were from the Boston area. I lived right on Boston Common for about 2 years. I miss seasons and Italian food, but I don't miss the cold. Plus, I was really far away from my family. 

jena333-2

bridge-and-wall said:

@jena333 I don't think I realized you were from the Boston area. I lived right on Boston Common for about 2 years. I miss seasons and Italian food, but I don't miss the cold. Plus, I was really far away from my family. 

We moved from Maine a year ago for my job. It's been a hard transition, almost all of both of our families are in Maine. I'm about 45 minutes south and west of Boston, but for the general population, "greater Boston area" tends to be more illustrative

SuzieMay827

@jena333 welcome to the plus size board!

harleyquinn0621

hello so i have been losing weight for most this entire pregnancy so far..then a few weeks ago it stabilized, I wasn't losing but I wasn't gaining.... then the last few days I went up a lb- not a big deal at all... I do want to stop losing now that i'm in the second tri... my MFM nutritionist really doesn't want to see anymore weight loss (not like i'm at risk for becoming underweight lol)

 i still don't have any kind of bump... it's making me a little sad now... strange thing to be sad over and it's not because I am one of those girls that need to have this magazine perfect bump but I want to see physical proof that the baby is growing

missyrosek

It's starting to feel more like a bump than just my usual tummy. 

missyrosek

Ugh, photo didn't post correctly 

mercury94

@missykhamvongsa I'm in pretty much the same place. 

avr-3

plus size first time mommy here. When we found out we were pregnant I was 238 the last time I went to doc I was 224. 

also diagnosed with Gestational diabetes at 8 weeks and 5 days. I am 17 +1 as of today ( Sunday) I've lost weight so far this pregnacey but I fear I have gained this last week and have been slipping

avr-3

it cut off the last part for some reason

it said,

but tomorrow I will get back on track. I will do what I have to to ensure our babies good health. Never knew how difficult it would be to fight cravings and always being hungry.

missyrosek

Ugh. I was given a gift card to Motherhood Maternity. So I went into my local store, since this is my first and I have no idea what I'm doing with maternity clothes, only to find out plus sizes are online only. So frustrating! 

SuzieMay827

@missykhamvongsa that's such a bummer but I'm glad you said something. I was going to check them out this week but now I'll pass.

missyrosek

Good news! We found the heartbeat using the doppler for the first time last night! 

lialakacz

Hi Guys! Sorry I'm late to the game here as I just joined the group today. I'm plus sized and A) clothing is hard to find, but maternity clothes has been extremely difficult. I'm thinking of trying BellaGravida.com or letote.com since they have some plus sized maternity clothes. Has anyone had luck with rental services? Any luck on bras? With my last pregnancy, I couldn't find a nursing bra to save my life (I'm currently a 36K) C) I had a heart issue with my first pregnancy, and being heavier this time around, I'm really worried it will happen again. I'm trying hard to stick to gaining 0-10 lbs this pregnancy as I'm worried that more strain on my heart can cause it to go haywire again. Anyone else have heart issues before/during their pregnancy? D) Still haven't been able to find the heart beat using an at home doppler....I decided not to try anymore as even though I try not to, it makes me worry every time until I go in for a sonogram.

mercury94

@lialakacz This is my first pregnancy, but I have a congenital heart defect. So far, it has not been an issue. My cardiologist cleared me to try to conceive before we did the treatments we needed to get here. 

mrsvp614

I've taken medicine for HBP for about 6 years now, and switched to Methyldopa when TTC in the fall. I check my blood pressure at home pretty regularly, but mine is also always up at doctor's appointments. As a FTM, I'm hoping I can still give birth naturally and not have to be induced, but we'll see how it goes. 
I'm 17 weeks, and have gained 14 lbs so far. That scares me, but doctor didn't say anything about it at the last visit. 

missyrosek

lialakacz said:

Hi Guys! Sorry I'm late to the game here as I just joined the group today. I'm plus sized and A) clothing is hard to find, but maternity clothes has been extremely difficult. I'm thinking of trying BellaGravida.com or letote.com since they have some plus sized maternity clothes. Has anyone had luck with rental services? Any luck on bras? With my last pregnancy, I couldn't find a nursing bra to save my life (I'm currently a 36K) C) I had a heart issue with my first pregnancy, and being heavier this time around, I'm really worried it will happen again. I'm trying hard to stick to gaining 0-10 lbs this pregnancy as I'm worried that more strain on my heart can cause it to go haywire again. Anyone else have heart issues before/during their pregnancy? D) Still haven't been able to find the heart beat using an at home doppler....I decided not to try anymore as even though I try not to, it makes me worry every time until I go in for a sonogram.

Here's the bra I ordered, it's been really comfortable and there are tons of size options:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/ya/ref=yo_ii_bia_view?ie=UTF8&ac=bia&reorder_params=B001203BJE,102-4066855-2197039