Weekly Symptoms Thread 5/29

bumpybump

How are you feeling today? Anything new to report?

bumpybump

Holy crap have my areolas gotten huge now. I know they did last time too but, just, wow!
My feet are starting to swell more, even wearing compression socks. My rings are getting tight at the end of the day too. 

SouthernMama15

@bumpybump I hate my nipples when I'm pregnant, huge bumpy areolas, dark circles around them. I know it's for a reason but considering my milk never really came in with DS, it's annoying. Maybe it will this time. 

My lower back and hips are killing me. Stretching, warm baths, and Tylenol provide minimal help.  Our couch sucks and I want to go somewhere and move around but DH is being a sloth. 

SpotConlon

Definitely have huge areolas at this point. I'm also getting a lot more emotional when I'm hungry. 

Kathryn0903

Definitely have the huge areolas too. Also as i mentioned earlier, have some swelling in my fingers causing me to not be able to wear my ring. May get a chain to put my ring around so I can wear it as a necklace.

belmont1785

My boobs have officially started leaking which is way earlier than last time. Super uncomfortable most of the time. Also heart burn has been no joke.

BlackNYellow

The exhaustion from my first trimester has returned. As I'm sitting here typing this my eyes are half way shut. Welcome to the third trimester, I guess?

erindippity

While I recognize a lot of it is situational to what's going on in my life, but I have just felt super down and extremely anxious lately. It kinda hit me last week that there's a real life baby coming and my life is going to change forever. It's been a little overwhelming realizing the reality all of the sudden. I know that sounds a little silly, cause I know I've been pregnant this whole time, but holy moly. I'm excited to meet her, but I just worry about being good enough or strong enough or just enough in general. 

Also, if I eat too much it really sucks. I feel like she's always up in my ribs anyways which is uncomfortable, but a large meal and 

@BlackNYellow I'm first trimester tired too 
@belmont1785 the leaky boobs have started for me too. I didn't anticipate it this early.

Kudlica27

I am extremely tired, which is due to low iron.  I started taking the medicine in a week ago and I still feel exhausted! Does anyone know when this stuff should kick in?  (Maybe this should have went under MBF)

knottiee689565f63838b35

I feel like I've been fighting off a migraine for the last week. My tell that one is coming is a stiff/sore neck that I need to crack. All weekend i e been cracking it so now I'm hoping it doesn't hit middle of this week while I'm at work. Here's to hoping the sore calves don't back this week!

Nxy

@Kudlica27 it can take a few *weeks* for iron supplements to make any kind of difference. With DD I found out at like 25ish weeks that I was severely anemic and didn't have my levels up to normal at 41 when she was born. It just depends on how low it is now ya know. 

JDBtwinmama

@erindippity I think that's a totally normal feeling with your first, second or even third!   Having a baby is a huge life change and just remember I'm sure we've all felt like that at some point!


eta just the fact that you're worried you'll be enough is already proof you're a great mom!

dma0389

@bumpybump mine are huge too. I don't like seeing it, freaks me out! I also wear compression socks/stockings but for my varies veins, ugh it's too hot for them!

I don't know what it is but I'm having vagina pain or pelvic pressure. Just started so I will ask the dr at the next appt. Oh the fatigue is starting to come back now that I'm in 3rd trimester. FUN

AB518

Baby pushing on my bladder is becoming more of an issue.  DH noticed that I had slightly peed my pants, and I had absolutely no idea that it had happened until he pointed it out.  I'm definitely going to start wearing panty liners every day now.  I feel like a giant pregnant mess.  Also, baby is now starting to kick me in the ribs.

DeansGirl14

I got a stye. Doubtful it's preggo- related but this is a big week work-wise (lots of people in from out of town) and my shower is Saturday so I hope it clears by then as I hate not wearing eye makeup!

Hiding in my office, accessorized with a statement necklace and nicer-than-normal hairdo to keep attention away from my ghost-face with blaring red eye. Yuck. 

littlebug2010

@DeansGirl14 Ive never had a stye, but DH gets them every so often.  He got one the week before our wedding, and panicked!  He got the stye eye drops, and did the warm washcloth on his eye a bunch, and it did clear up before the wedding.  FX yours clears up quickly.  

SouthernMama15

Anyone have any experience with cholestasis? My feet and hands have been stinging and itching so when I googled it, those symptoms along with some others I've been having popped up. Nausea, decrease in appetite, loose/light colored stool, itchiness all over, and depression. It says some women only have itchiness in hands and feet, but I'm having all the symptoms. I know I should step away from Google. I texted my doctor and I'm waiting to hear back. Am I crazy?

tova24

@erindippity you are going to be her world. To her, you are her everything. You already are good enough to her, you just are stuck in your head right now. I was really overwhelmed at first, especially when some of my family members told me that I wasn't being fair to my son because I am going to be a single mom. I just had to ignore the hateful comments and tell myself "I'm going to be a kickass mom." You're going to be one too!

smallbutmighty77

Being a good parent has nothing to do with marital status. Does having a partner probably help, sure. But again it is the type of people or person raising a child that has the most impact not the who/ how or why. 

belmont1785

SouthernMama15 said:

Anyone have any experience with cholestasis? My feet and hands have been stinging and itching so when I googled it, those symptoms along with some others I've been having popped up. Nausea, decrease in appetite, loose/light colored stool, itchiness all over, and depression. It says some women only have itchiness in hands and feet, but I'm having all the symptoms. I know I should step away from Google. I texted my doctor and I'm waiting to hear back. Am I crazy?

I had my gall bladder removed in Oct. I did not have any itching though. Google was actually my best friend, because the doctors wouldn't believe me that that is what was going on. I had extreme excruciating attacks of pain. Nothing showed up on any scans so they wouldn't listen to me. Finally after 4 ER trips I BEGGED a surgeon to take it out. When he got inside it was badly infected. He said if I hadn't persisted I may have died before they figured it out. Definitely follow your doctor's advise, but I'm a big supporter of you knowing your body better then anyone and if you think something isn't right, keep pressuring them to do something. (This was not the first time I had to go above doctors recommendations and get another opinion)

SouthernMama15

@belmont1785 I'm super aware of my body and always go with my gut. I'm blessed to have a doctor who listens to me. I went and had my blood drawn, so I should have results in a couple days.  Gallbladder issues are fairly common in my family so I'm erring on the side of caution 

JDBtwinmama

@SouthernMama15 keep us updated on those blood results!

OTmom3

@SouthernMama15, I agree about erring on the side of caution. Nothing wrong with getting it checked out!

SouthernMama15

@JDBtwinmama and @OTmom3 thank you! Will keep y'all posted!

OTmom3

I'm feeling so sick this afternoon like I'm coming down with a cold. Really run down, tired, and tight chest. Wondering if it could be due to getting my tDap vaccine yesterday. Anyone else feel yucky after? I can't remember from my previous pregnancies.

brookeelyse527

OTmom3 said:

I'm feeling so sick this afternoon like I'm coming down with a cold. Really run down, tired, and tight chest. Wondering if it could be due to getting my tDap vaccine yesterday. Anyone else feel yucky after? I can't remember from my previous pregnancies.

Yes I felt ill all the next day after. Flu like symptoms. 

mrsjqg1024

I've been experiencing a lot of middle back pain in my right side. I mentioned it to my OB today and she gave me a referral to a chiropractor. She thinks that I might have sublaxed or a dislocated rib which is causing the pain. Anyone else experience this or have had to go to a chiropractor in their pregnancy so far? I'm also planning on doing a prentsl massage soon too in hopes that it may also give me some relief. 

belmont1785

mrsjqg1024 said:

I've been experiencing a lot of middle back pain in my right side. I mentioned it to my OB today and she gave me a referral to a chiropractor. She thinks that I might have sublaxed or a dislocated rib which is causing the pain. Anyone else experience this or have had to go to a chiropractor in their pregnancy so far? I'm also planning on doing a prentsl massage soon too in hopes that it may also give me some relief. 

Nothing specifically related but I see a chiro regularly and it helps big time. I have a mild form of scoliosis. So it really helps to get adjusted when I'm feeling off

belmont1785

I got my carnitine test levels back today. In the words of the doctor "my levels were very very very low" and there's no way it could be related to diet. They don't believe there's any risk to the baby (as long as I get on supplements right away), but they believe I've been living with a carnitine deficiency disorder of some sort my whole life and never knew it. So much to learn and all so confusing.

On the positive side they think the supplements will make me feel less sluggish and help with the bad nausea I've been having. I hope they are right.

Otherwise baby has been very very active! I'm laying in bed and she's kicking so much it feels like my stomach is going to walk off on its own. Lol. Love it.

tova24

@belmont1785 I'm glad you got your results back and that you and baby are going to be ok! 

lwhrmomma

Do any STM+ have any experience with an irritable uterus?  I spent the day in L&D yesterday for monitoring because I started having contractions.  I'm also dilated 1cm, which they weren't worried about bc it's my second pregnancy.  Since the contractions didn't make me dilate any further, and my fFN came back negative, they sent me home and put me on modified bed rest.  I go back Monday for a follow up. 

If any moms have experience with this,  do you have any tips for how to alleviate the contractions? They last hours at a time, every 2-3 minutes.  Not as intense as labor contractions, but a pain regardless.   I know to drink more water, empty my bladder more frequently, and lay on my left side, but any other tips? Thanks in advance! 

knottiee689565f63838b35

I got my GD test results back. I passed but it showed that my hemoglobin levels are low. They were 11.8 when they are supposed to be between 12-15. At what point does the dr usually put you on a supplement? When the tech called with the results yesterday the dr hadn't looked at the results yet. 

middy411

@mrsashworth522 I've gotten different answers/responses from different docs. The last doc I saw told me that basically all pregnant women are anemic and if I wasn't taking iron to expect my levels to show that. I'm not sure if she was exaggerating. Since I was anemic with my last pregnanc,y I've been taking iron (off and on) this time to try and prevent it. My levels were ok after my 1 hr glucose test. Last time they prescribed me something after I Had to repeatedly ask about the results since I was having a lot of dizziness and trouble standing for any period of time. I take the gummy prenatals so there's no iron in my prenatal. This time I just take a simple over the counter iron supplement because what they prescribed was crazy expensive last time 

SouthernMama15

@kristenk727 I had it with DS. I discovered it because I had some bleeding. They gave me shots to stop contractions and put me on pelvic rest and told me to take it easy.

dma0389

@middy411 I was also told the other day my hemoglobin was low after receiving the results from my 1 hr glucose test. I was advised to take the OTC "Slow Fe" iron supplement. I've been dizzy a lot, one time for like 5 hours, and was always misdiagnosed as anemic even in my younger years. Come to find out 2 weeks ago I have Alpha Thalassemia - is a blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin. SO I need to call back that nurse and ask her if it's ok to take iron supplements if I have Alpha Thalassemia, totally forgot to ask. 

bwing10

Spent last night in L&D with High blood pressure (pregnancy induced hypertension) and a headache.  Now my OB is sending me a to Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, the closes one is still an hour away.  My hospital also doesn't have NICU, so if baby makes an appearance before 36 weeks, I have to deliver in OKC.  So now i am on weekly appointments over an hour away, I have to take half days at work for those appointments as well as still see my regular OB, all while hoping this little guy stays in for at least another 5.5 weeks so I can have a chance of delivering in my town. As well as not stressing over my blood pressure and not stressing about LO getting low oxygen supply because of it!

kvh22

@mrsashworth522 my iron/hemoglobin levels (there were actually 3 numbers when I was looking at my results) were all just barely out of the acceptable range, like yours. My doctor told me to try to increase my dietary intake of iron, not to supplement. Don't go out and buy anything without hearing from your doctor but you could start to work on increasing it in your diet. I'm normally all about nuts, seeds, oatmeal, etc. but I'm focusing on them more, trying to add in red meat since that hasn't been something I've really wanted, seeing if I can add spinach at the end of cooking a meal (cooked has more vitamins than uncooked), and making sure I'm getting vitamin c with my iron sources and keeping any intake of calcium separate by at least an hour before or after.

Nxy

mrsashworth522 said:

I got my GD test results back. I passed but it showed that my hemoglobin levels are low. They were 11.8 when they are supposed to be between 12-15. At what point does the dr usually put you on a supplement? When the tech called with the results yesterday the dr hadn't looked at the results yet. 

Mine was 11.8 at my last draw too. Doc said it's within normal (low normal) but advised I take an additional iron supplement every other day. I'm taking the "gentle iron" I took with DD. 

Kudlica27

@kvh22 should I avoid calcium with my iron supplement???? I didn't know that. 

kvh22

@Kudlica27 when  I was doing research after my semi-low results, I was looking specifically at diet sources. I would assume it would do the same with a supplement but I didn't look into that since right now, I'm just trying to increase mine through diet. If your doctor suggested the iron supplement, maybe just ask them. I've heard to take it with fruit or juice (non calcium fortified) and not to have calcium rich foods for 1 hr before and 2 hours after. Obviously this doesn't work all the time with iron in our diets but if you're taking a supplement once a day, it might help to try, especially if you were really low.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21462112: "Studies on human subjects have shown that calcium (Ca) can inhibit iron (Fe) absorption, regardless of whether it is given as Ca salts or in dairy products. This has caused concern as increased Ca intake commonly is recommended for children and women, the same populations that are at risk of Fe deficiency."

OTmom3

@kristenk727, my doctor said I had an irritable uterus during my second pregnancy when I went in with contractions at 34(?) weeks that started after lifting a very heavy patient at work. She basically said my uterus was spasming, like a muscle spasm. She took me out of work at that point until 36-37 weeks bc I have a very physical job. I also had preterm labor with my First around 32/33 weeks and got taken out of work until 36 weeks and put on modified bedrest. With that preterm labor I tested positive for preterm labor (fFn test I believe) and had to have a shot to stop the labor and spent the night in L&D. 
Edited to add - I don't really have any other tips besides what you said. Both of my kids came early (36w5d and 37w6d) but I did return to work before they were born (though only light lifting and only for a few 4 hr days). Just take it easy and keep doing what you're doing