Questions - Week of 8/28

savedbygrace1213

Lately, I've noticed my bellybutton is super tender. I will randomly swipe at a crumb or something and doing that across my bellybutton hurts so bad!  I know I read on the main page of TB that you may get a sore bellybutton, but I didn't know it would be THIS sore! This never happened with DD. Has anyone else experience this? The really sore spot is actually right above my belly button and it is kind of a soft spot that slightly protrudes. I debated calling my doctor but since I read about having a sore BB I figured it was most likely something normal.

chasingroygbiv

@triplejplus1 My entire lower abdomen is sensitive, similar to how your abs feel after a good workout (not that I would know, hahahah), but where my uterus is sitting. Not sure if it's the stretching, my insane constipation, or both. Either way, it's uncomfortable. 

mdfarmchick

@triplejplus1 I have no personal experience but you may want to ask your doctor? I think you can get a hernia there?

crossfitbabybump

Do you think it's related to the round ligament pain?

Also, does anyone have suggestions to help with the indigestion? My belly feels so icky

savedbygrace1213

mdfarmchick said:

@triplejplus1 I have no personal experience but you may want to ask your doctor? I think you can get a hernia there?

This is exactly what my mom thought it was but she didn't think there was anything they would do about it until afterward. I probably should call the doc because maybe there are some things I should /should't be doing if that is what it is..

ksmwalters

Ok y'all, I have no idea if anyone will have an answer for me on this, but I just checked the client portal for my OB's office to see if any of my blood work had come back from my workup last week. (I haven't gotten a phone call but I figured I'd check just in case.) So my midwife had me go ahead and do the glucose test for GD because my BMI was within like 2 pts of testing early range, and she figured better safe than sorry. I was super worried about it so that's what I focused in on. According to the info in my portal the results of my GD screen was 73 mg/dL which seems super low? The normal range said 65-139. No idea if this is anything I should worry about but I kinda feel like having blood sugar that low an hour after drinking that stuff is weird. Am I being crazy? I should probably just call the nurse line but I thought some of y'all might have gone through this and could calm me down without annoying the nurse!

fatstagnation

@ksmwalters Your number is great. It's well within the normal range. Plus, a low number is what you want! 
Insulin lowers blood glucose, moving it into your cells for storage. Diabetes happens when you don't make enough insulin or it doesn't "work" efficiently and your blood sugar stays high. 

Definitely call the nurse line and ask them to interpret your results, but don't freak out.  

megpeg

@ksmwalters that is nothing to worry about! It means your body is handling Glucose like it should and awesomely! I am super jealous- mine was 230

ksmwalters

@fatstagnation  @megpeg  Thank you both! I'll probably call later today just to have someone explain everything, but after reading through everything I'm assuming they haven't called because everything is within a normal range. (Yay!) Hoping these low numbers continue for the later test!

chasingroygbiv

Is Prep H safe? What else can I do? The hemorrhoid struggle is real, folks. 

bettyvonsomethingstein

chasingroygbiv said:

Is Prep H safe? What else can I do? The hemorrhoid struggle is real, folks. 

Have you tried witch hazel pads?  You can leave them..ahem...right there.

amylonghorn

chasingroygbiv said:

Is Prep H safe? What else can I do? The hemorrhoid struggle is real, folks. 

I had hemorrhoids even before my first pregnancy, but of course they came back with a vengeance. Initially I used Prep H, Tucks pads (witch hazel), and took Epsom salt baths. Mine were so bad my doctor prescribed me a special medicated cream, too. I also had to use a donut pillow to sit on. Just to be on the safe side, double check with your doctor to make sure you are good to use all that stuff. I totally feel your pain, and will probably be right there with you later in my pregnancy.

fatstagnation

chasingroygbiv said:

Is Prep H safe? What else can I do? The hemorrhoid struggle is real, folks. 

This Yes list from my midwife includes Prep H, TUCKS, Anusol cream. Also says "avoid constipation." Gee...thanks...

chasingroygbiv

Thanks! @bettyvonsomethingstein @amylonghorn @fatstagnation

and yeah, ha, wishful thinking on avoiding constipation.. if only! 

HappyMonkey817

chasingroygbiv said:

Is Prep H safe? What else can I do? The hemorrhoid struggle is real, folks. 

Witch hazel pads (store brand "Tucks") help a lot. Also, get a sitz bath and some Epsom salt. Also also, try really hard to avoid constipation.

ETA: Sorry for repeating stuff. I hadn't seen some of the other posts because my connection is a little screwy.

ShawnnaO

Fun Fact: when I was in high school/the early years of my marriage, I got hemorrhoids so badly that I needed multiple "surgeries" and I STILL would get them. Like I couldn't walk they were so bad. Then, with my first pregnancy, I never got a single one. And I haven't had a hemorrhoid since. It's such a weird thing but I'm definitely knocking on wood right now. So my heart goes out to you ladies struggling right now! Prep H and tucks!!!! SO MANY TUCKS! And if you can get one of those donut pillows if you spend a lot of time sitting, those help so much. 

kalawa

@triplejplus1 I noticed the sore belly button my last pregnancy when I found out my placenta was essentially right behind it. The midwife said it may just feel more tender...not saying this is your case, but just my experience. 

ETA spelling properly

cford08

@triplejplus1 I started having that yesterday. ..thought it was just me having too much time on my hands to focus on this baby. Thanks @kalawa I hope that's what's going on. It had been a little concerning to me.

ShawnnaO

I had a sore belly my entire pregnancy with my daughter, and I'm starting to get to that point now. I've had a posterior placenta with all of my pregnancies, so I've always figured that's why. Your belly is stretching and therefore will be sore, kind of like how muscles get sore as they get bigger. Try not to worry! 

cford08

@ShawnnaO I think what bothered me was it being in one place. I understand the sore belly part. I guess concentrated discomfort =problematic. I really have nothing better to do than think about this little one lol

ShawnnaO

@cford08 I understand all too well. Bring it up with your doctor to ease your mind but try not to worry too much! 

fiddleRN79

@triplejplus1 I have had that belly button pain with my previous 3 and it started already with this baby. It is miserable when you get bigger and the belly button pops out. I had someone push it once and I started crying because it hurt so bad. I do not have a hernia (the surgeon I work with checked me last pregnancy which was uber painful) so I don't know what causes it. Towards the end of my pregnancies I wrap an ace wrap around my belly button and it really helps. 

mountain_girl

Question: Called the doctors office asking about my NIPT...office told me doctor wanted me to come in and discuss the results...is this a bad sign?! Or do they always want you to come in and discuss the results?!?!  
Ps. I'm in Canada, so that might be why they might do things differently? 

chasingroygbiv

I'm willing to bet it goes by practice and doctor preference. Do you have a portal you can go and check your own results? @mountain_girl

savedbygrace1213

Thanks ladies, makes me feel better that several of you have a sore belly button too! I will def bring it up to my doc at next appt. but I decided it wasn't concerning enough to call about. I just didn't remember having this with DD! Thanks for the input and hopefully it's nothing serious with any of you! @fiddleRN79 that sounds really painful, I hope it's not as bad for you this time! 

kiki75

@triplejplus1 I would just try to limit lifting a bit until you're sure it's normal and not a hernia. Your mom is right that they probably wouldn't do anything at this point unless it turned into a strangulation situation. But, if that's what it is, you can make it worse in the meantime so I would act like it could be that until you know for sure. The part that has me thinking that is that the spot protrudes.

savedbygrace1213

kiki75 said:

@triplejplus1 I would just try to limit lifting a bit until you're sure it's normal and not a hernia. Your mom is right that they probably wouldn't do anything at this point unless it turned into a strangulation situation. But, if that's what it is, you can make it worse in the meantime so I would act like it could be that until you know for sure. The part that has me thinking that is that the spot protrudes.

Good advice, thanks. I have to occasionally lift 50lb bags at work, and I've been avoiding it the last few weeks. So maybe that's what caused it in the first place? I had mentioned to my doc what I do at work on my first appt and she said that was fine as long as it was just once here and there, but maybe I shouldn't be lifting so much!

jack_bauer

fiddleRN79 said:

I had someone push it once and I started crying because it hurt so bad. 

Someone did WHAT to your pregnant belly button?!?  I would have gone ballistic on them. You poor thing! Can't believe anyone would even try that.

orbmaker

Does anyone have any experience cloth diapering? If so, share with me your favorite pre-fold and covers?

justkeeptrying

When did people stop taking progesterone? I'm 10+3 and hoping I'm going to stop soon. I'm taking 14 meds a day right now and would love if that was down to 10!

chasingroygbiv

@justkeeptrying One doctor told me 10 weeks, the 2 others said 12. I stopped at 12. My MFM was one that said 12 and I trust him. He said he prefers to err on the side of caution. 

fatstagnation

@justkeeptrying my RE said through end of week 10. Then my midwife said "I would never argue with an RE, but just for your mental state I want you to take it through the first trimester."

I gotta admit I'm a bit pissed about this. I'm not some hysterical delicate flower. I feel like she's projecting more PGAL brain onto me than I actually have. and the progesterone is hell in my opinion. So now we gotta get permission from the insurance company to renew a prescription for it. They have decided it's a "maintenance medicine" and I need to get 3 months worth through the mail because I refilled it twice. Ugh. So many levels of annoyed, I shoulda put this on WTF wednesday.  
 

vflux33

While we're on the subject of belly buttons, when do they typically pop out? I know mine will probably go earlier because having twins and I already feel it stretching but for some weird reason I feel like I need to be mentally prepared for when I lose my inny (spelling?). 

npkat

Question about childcare.. I have an amazing friend that is a SAHM that is offering to watch the baby when I go back to work(she offered even before we were pregnant). It's an amazing offer since my husband is in school full time(until baby is 1) with crazy hours at the hospital most days of the week, and it wouldn't be possible for me to stay home every time the child has to stay home from day care 24 hours+ after fever, etc. The question is how much to pay her? We haven't discussed payment in detail yet but says, were friends so it'll be way cheaper than anywhere you'd go. Just wondering what the typical daily rates for in home care would be? I know they can vary per area. We're in Missouri. I've googled it some but there seems to be such a wide range of prices. Thanks!

ShawnnaO

@vflux33 mine never popped with my daughter! But I think it's usually end of first tri? I'm not sure.

@npkat I would look into childcare costs in your area, and then maybe offer her 50-75% of whatever that is, if she thought that was reasonable.  

justkeeptrying

@vflux33, my belly button never popped out when I was pregnant with DS. It was extremely sensitive for the last probably 6 weeks. But it never popped. Thank goodness. I HATE belly buttons and this was a fear of mine. 

Thanks @chasingroygbiv and @fatstagnation,  this is what I was guessing but wasn't sure!

vflux33

@ShawnnaO @justkeeptrying Thanks--I didn't know that it didn't pop for everyone! That's awesome! I know it's such a small stupid thing and doesn't matter in the long run but I'd definitely prefer one that doesn't go out. 

ShawnnaO

@vflux33 I was TERRIFIED of mine popping out. Everybody kept asking if I'd "popped" yet and I always happily said no. I don't know what determines it, or if it's just random? 

HappyMonkey817

Mine never popped out.

barrelocarol

orbmaker said:

Does anyone have any experience cloth diapering? If so, share with me your favorite pre-fold and covers?

I cloth diaper and I'm obsessed. Let me just tell you this, which no website anywhere says and in fact, every single webaite says the opposite and it's a lie. 

I bought osocozy prefolds and stuffed them into the cheapest cute diaper I could find. So, look for any $2 diapers on eBay (new) or Amazon, stuff a prefold into the pocket and you'll be amazed at how cheap they are and how fantastically they work. 

I've been cloth diapering for almost 2 years and I only spent about $75 TOTAL. Total. 

You're already doing a load of baby wash. It adds no extra work into the routine bc there's no folding or anything like that. I was shocked at how the internet makes cloth diapering seem. 

fatstagnation

@barrelocarol by cheapest cute diaper do you mean diaper cover?  

We don't have diaper service where I live, and I don't think I'd pay for it anyway. So I'm looking at doing cloth on my own. Also, did you get the thing you attach to the toilet to spray them off before washing?