Questions! - Week of 7/30

lund

@linds0503 that is a damn good point - they do seem to be overly cautious, but I'm happy to comply for now. Maybe if I ever have a 2nd I'll be less anxious and look back and laugh at all of the precautions I'm taking now! Transitioning to an OB will definitely be very welcome, but probably a bit of a shock to the system. 

jenotontx

Hi ladies, I got my BFP yesterday at 11dpo and later in the evening I started noticing some very faint brown/pinkish spotting. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this? It seems to have almost completely stopped at this point but it has me a bit nervous. 

kmalls

@JJMNO1616 it's probably normal. Nerve-racking, but normal. My guess is implantation bleeding -- I had a tiny bit of it this time around as well. If you notice it again, call your OB but I wouldn't stress right now! 

looeeze

@JJMNO1616 I spotted all thru dpo 10-14. Had my last beta after that, everything was all good.

holly321

@JJMNO1616, I have spotted every single pregnancy.  With my first, it was red blood for about 2 weeks.  My 2nd and 3rd pregnancy, I spotted from week 5-9.    It can be very very normal for some women.  I know my SIL has had spotting with all her pregnancies.

sunshinedays-2

@JJMNO1616 I spotted about two days before and 1 day after my bfp (about a week ago) and then it tapered off. All my blood work has come great and my OB didn't seem concerned at all. *TW* I didn't spot with either of my previous losses *end TW*

looeeze

Is it normal to have cramping only on one side? I'm getting pretty significant cramps in my lower right abdomen and back and have convinced myself I'm doomed. 

jenotontx

Thanks for all the replies!! This makes me feel a lot better. 

@looeeze I have been having very mild cramping only on my right side. From what I have read it seems like cramping in general is very normal unless it becomes particularly painful. 

looeeze

@JJMNO1616 Thanks. What's got me freaked out is that I also have pain in my back. 

mispanda

@looeeze my friend had a lot of back pain in the beginning and she found out she had a posterior placenta.  The doctor told her the back pain was because of that.  

looeeze

@mispanda ohh interesting. I have a retroverted uterus so many that would make sense? did she also have front pain at the same time?

ngolimento

@JJMNO1616 , I bled A LOT during my LO's pregnancy.  So much so that my docs declared that I had miscarried at one point.  Some people have what is called "a friable cervix".  It means your cervix bleeds easily from whatever is currently pissing it off.  

mispanda

@looeeze yea she did.  
When you get menstrual cramps do you get it in your back too?  If you do I would figure with your uterus stretching you could probably feel that in your back until it tilts into a normal position.  Clearly I'm not a doctor but you can always call your OB to just check if it really bothers you.

looeeze

@mispanda No, I never really got cramps in my back with AF. I might call my OB is this is still happening this badly tomorrow. PGAL brain, you know what it's like. 

saralee797-2

Hope everything is okay @looeeze

looeeze

@saralee797-2 Thanks.

kmalls

@looeeze all I can offer is an anecdote, but I had terrible cramping on my left side at the beginning of my last pregnancy. My first ultrasound showed that was the side from which I had ovulated, and my OB was confident that was the source of the pain. I know it's hard not to go to a dark place, but there are truly several explanations for what you're feeling. Hugs to you. 

lund

@looeeze my cramping has moved around, but I agree with @kmalls that there are several non-scary explanations for what you're feeling!

Having said that don't be afraid to speak up to your doctor! My guess is they'd humor you with an ultrasound - which just means you'd get to see your little bean and that's always fun  

jenotontx

@looeeze I would call your doctor just to be sure but I would think as long as you don't get any bleeding you are good? FX the cramps stop soon! 

@ngolimento Wow that must have been so scary! I keep going to the bathroom just to check if I am still spotting. I think I would go crazy if I went through something like that. 

looeeze

@kmalls @lund Thanks ladies. I know there's a ton of things it could be. I'm anxious to call my OB because *TW* last time I did that when I was PG, she sent me to the ER where I had a miscarriage and an incredibly traumatic experience with the staff and I'm not about to do that again. *ENDTW* But if it gets worse, I promise I'll call. 

jbn999

@lund thank you for your information!  And i'm sorry to hear about your situation as well.  My sister did have testing done and found out it was not genetic.  I was confused why her dr advised that I get a mammogram right away because of that.  I haven't done a ton of research, so I probably need to do that.  What worries me is that my other sister quickly got a mammogram and they found something suspicious...when they did the ultrasound, they said it was nothing, but she still has to go back in 6 months, just to be sure.  It has me all sorts of worried!

lund

@jbn999 ugh I'm sorry that you're dealing with this! I'm glad it's not genetic, though! FWIW it's not uncommon to find something suspicious on a mammogram and then find out later that it's nothing to worry about. Although it certainly is a mindf*ck! I wonder, could they (and would it be safer) to have them just ultrasound your breasts and skip the mammo? I have no idea if this is an option, but it's worth checking. 

linds0503

@jbn999 I just watched an "Adam Ruins Everything" on mammograms. It really made me rethink what I thought I knew about mammograms ability to save lives. I would suggest watching it.  

jenotontx

Can someone tell me how to add the tickers to your signature? Mine isn't showing up right... 

lund

@JJMNO1616 you have to hit the </> button, paste the ticker code in, and then hit </> again. Then save it and see if that works. 

saralee797-2

@lund you mean toggle

justkeepswimming8

What is every one's opinions on those ultrasound boutiques? I don't get an ultrasound until 11-12 weeks and that is just too long! I have my hesitations about them though. DH wants to do one at around 8 weeks.

beenabee

@justkeepswimming8 I don't know how some people can wait until week 11-12 for their first ultrasound, or why some practices don't do them until then. My first one will be when I'm 7 weeks, because of previous miscarriages, but normally it would be around 8-9 weeks. Sorry that didn't really answer your question. Are these ultrasound boutiques the places where you get the 3D/4D ultrasounds?

holly321

@justkeepswimming8, we did an ultrasound boutique when I was pregnant with DD to see if she was a boy or a girl.  I believe they only offered 16ish week ultrasounds and 3rd trimester ones to see what the baby's face and stuff looked like.  I didn't think they offered early ultrasounds, then again, I haven't been in the first trimester for 5 years, so what do I know? Lol

Honestly, I don't know that I would early if it were an option.  They can't tell you if the ultrasound is "normal" so I can see it cause I unnecessary stress.  

My first ultrasound is at 7 weeks, but that is only because I took clomid, so we are checking for multiples.   With DS I had to have several early ultrasounds because TW I had just had a 2nd trimester loss end TW. Otherwise, I think 10+ weeks is standard.   With DD I had early ones too, but my progesterone was really low.  

tooraloorah

@looeeze I'm having similar pain/cramps. I called my OB today and the nurse was very kind and helpful. She reassured me it was normal, despite my concern. I think the lower back pain (for me at least) is a mix of sciatica and uterine stretching. The nurse reminded me that my uterus is a muscle and it needs to stretch to prepare for the baby. They still have me scheduled to come in during my 6th week for blood work and a script for an u/s, but she said if it continues for multiple days and is constant, ramps up in pain, or I start bleeding, they want me to call back right away to come in for an u/s and betas. Right now it feels like period cramps in the front and in the back almost like early back labor/discomfort on my tailbone. She said she couldn't hear pain in my voice, so she was comfortable with her recommendation and I'm just uncomfortable, not in pain, so we'll see! Sorry for

kindbytealikat

@justkeepswimming8 I wouldn't trust to go to a boutique for an US before seeing my doctor for at least one first. If there is something "unusual" I'd rather it be someone I trust and know finding it, over some random US tech. 

hedgepig

@justkeepswimming8 The reading that I have done recommended that you don't go to those places because the U/S techs may not be properly trained, which might possibly make the U/S less safe.

kmalls

@justkeepswimming8 - just to echo @holly321, we also went to a boutique at 18 weeks last pregnancy to find out the sex. They wouldn't see anyone before 16 weeks and we had to bring a dated ultrasound photo with us to prove we had already been seen by an OB. 

looeeze

@torabelle Thanks, that's comforting. Though your post got cut off-- sometimes if you use a non-bump emoji, that happens. 

tooraloorah

@looeeze oh bummer! I didn't use any emojis, but that's bizarre. Thanks for the warning, though! 

looeeze

@torabelle Oh no it happened again! 

orangecup

An U/S is a medical diagnostic tool. Yes, it's fun to see the baby but their purpose is to date the pregnancy and see if everything is developing properly. The only reason to have an early U/S is if you've had issues in the past. Before 10ish weeks, there really isn't much to see and it may be too early to detect the heartbeat which can be anxiety-inducing. Almost all literature does not recommend doing any medically unnecessary U/S because 1) the people doing them at boutiques are not medical professionals and 2) increased and unnecessary exposure to U/S could be dangerous to the fetus.
The less medical intervention you have during pregnancy, the better. It means everyone is healthy!

maggiebakescakes

Hello I am Maggie.  I am 37 years old and I got a positive test on a digital reader today.  I am deaf and have some learning disabilities but I go to a college class 3 days a week to learn to write better.  I am in different chat rooms for people like me and we sign on video but I made a mistake today and posted in the wrong room here. My husband is Paul he is 34 and he has a job.  We live with my mom and she helps me write things and do more things and she is going to help me with the baby too.  Today is my first day.  I want to say hello to other moms and to say I am different but I am a good friend.  The other moms told
me to leave and posted videos of dirty people and animals.  I tell you I am different to say please don't tease me and post videos.  Some things I don't understand at first but I will ask for help or my mom will help too.  I made some nice friends today too and I am happy.  A friend told me to watch what other moms say to understand before talking so I will.  I want to ask to understand I am different before I start talking.  I am a great friend and I am going to be a mom too my doctor sees me next week to check the baby.  Thank you for helping, Maggie 

kindbytealikat

So I have a question that didn't come up in my first pregnancy so I feel like  newbie to pregnancy again...LOL...I got conflicting google results so I'm curious what experiences you guys may have had now or in past. So i'm set to go have breakfast with some friends Saturday and the menu isn't really applealing to me so I was just going to get a smoothie. All of their smoothies have organic protein powders in them. Is protein powder safe in pregnancy?

ekendall09

@kindbytealikat I'm not a professional but I use pea protein (vegan) in smoothies and oatmeal to get protein in. I won't be cutting it out and see no reason why it wouldn't be ok. I had whey in my breakfast this am. Not that it tells you if it's safe but When I've researched I haven't found anything that says no.