@state721 I would double check with your OB before taking additional vitamins- BUT I read some where that low Vitamin D in pregnant women was showing a strong correlation with Autism in their children. Not sure where I read it- or if it's true- or how wide the study was, but my gut says if it could help my little bean than I should be doing it.
@basemodel I am a hard core stomach sleeper. Keep enjoying it while you can, like others have said it's still safe for now. What I did was take a body pillow wedge it beneath me on the side and stuff the bottom between my legs. It allowed me to get as much on my stomach as I could/gave me the sensation of sleeping like I wanted, without actually allowing me to get completely on my stomach. I've already been thinking about that old trusty pillow. I might break it out sooner rather than later.
I'm not sure if this should go here or if it should be its own thread, so if this is the wrong place, let me know! I've read through TB's guide on questions to ask at your first OB visit. Does anyone who has had the first visit have any suggestions that are beyond the norm? Maybe second time moms have some insight here?
@LaceyBee522 I'm annoying af, I don't wait for ob visits. I call the doctors office probably every other day. Once I google something, if I'm not satisfied with what I read I just call and the receptionist usually knows the answer (I'm sure she's heard these questions a million times). Maybe keep a running note in your phone of all the concerns. When I went to my OB they had a like 3 handouts of helpful info, meds to take, meds not to take, foods to eat, foods not to eat, when to call the doctor, when to go to the ER, typical appointment schedule and timeline.
@laceybee522 I think the Ovia app has some additional questions. It’s setup like a checklist where you can add the questions you’re interested in. Almost positive it’s Ovia...
This might be hypothetical, and I may just be indulging my own misery, but WHY can't anyone figure out what causes morning sickness? This is kid number 3, and looking to be my 3rd round of morning sickness. I get nauseated at about 5 weeks and it doesn't let up until halfway through the pregnancy. I've started taking B6 and using topical magnesium... but I just don't have much hope.
I suppose my real question is - does anyone have any links to actual research on the causes? I'd love to see anything that might steer me in the right direction.
@lalalaj most doctors assume it has to do with hcg. Once your levels steady out, nausea stops for most women. For some it never does. It just has to do with how your body reacts to hormones, I guess? But there isn’t really a way to study it, you know? At least I can’t think of one. Way too many variables.
@lalalaj most doctors assume it has to do with hcg. Once your levels steady out, nausea stops for most women. For some it never does. It just has to do with how your body reacts to hormones, I guess? But there isn’t really a way to study it, you know? At least I can’t think of one. Way too many variables.
Yeah, I'm totally whining I'm sure... And it could definitely be worse, but I just want a magic pill!
This might be hypothetical, and I may just be indulging my own misery, but WHY can't anyone figure out what causes morning sickness? This is kid number 3, and looking to be my 3rd round of morning sickness. I get nauseated at about 5 weeks and it doesn't let up until halfway through the pregnancy. I've started taking B6 and using topical magnesium... but I just don't have much hope.
I suppose my real question is - does anyone have any links to actual research on the causes? I'd love to see anything that might steer me in the right direction.
I mean, process of elimination here. What's the one thing all pregnant women with morning sickness have in common? They're pregnant. So obviously it's the hormones causing the morning sickness, and different people react to hormone fluctuations differently (as evidenced by women who are irritable while menstruating and other women who have no mood swings). Not to mention the fact that your sense of smell is going to become enhanced. So that food that kind of made you queasy when you could barely smell it from across the room is going to hit you a lot harder while pregnant. Most MS let's up after first tri because that's when your hormone levels start to even out.
I can definitely search my databases and see if I can find any actual studies related to this, though.
@lalalaj I know you’re probably just wanting to complain lol but seriously if it gets bad, talk to your doctor; there are magic pills.
Haha. I lived on Zofran for the last 2! I know there's been some bad press about it in between my last pregnancy and now... but it seems like maybe that was a false alarm?
Regarding the genetic testing options, are there any medical benefits to knowing early? I would rather wait to find out about any issues until birth, unless finding out early will impact the health of the baby somehow. I researched it a bit and it seems that the benefits of knowing early are to help the parents mentally prepare.
Me: 32 | DH: 36
Married June 2005
1/2016 - TTC#1
4/2017 - Initial RE visit, Dx: Severe MFI (Varicocele, 14% motility, 3% progression, but normal count)
7/2017 - Stage 3 endometriosis discovered during laparoscopic removal of ovarian cyst
9/27/2017 - BFP at 10dpo (cycle 22), baby boy due June 9, 2018
Wolkomir, M. S. (1996, February). Managing nausea in pregnancy: your first- and second-line options. Consultant, 36(2), 298+. : "The cause of nausea in the first trimester is not known with certainty, although human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone both produce smooth muscle relaxation and slow gastric emptying."
Walsh, John W., et al. "Progesterone and estrogen are potential mediators of gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias in nausea of pregnancy." American Journal of Physiology [Consolidated], vol. 270, no. 3, 1996, p. G506+.: "The role of progesterone and estrogen in gastric dysrythmias observed in early pregnancy was investigated by comparing the experience of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women with the history of nausea of healthy nonpregnant women. The effects of progesterone and estradiol administration on pregnant women were assessed. Pregnant women had increased bradygastria and tachygastria in response to progesterone but not estradiol. It was concluded that the effects of progesterone and estrogen were additive, and this causes gastric slow-wave disruption in early pregnancy."
Wylde, Sophie, et al. "Morning sickness in pregnancy: mini review of possible causes with proposal for monitoring by diagnostic methods." International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 5, no. 2, 2016, p. 261+.: "NVP and HG affect maternal and foetal wellbeing but aetiology of these disorders is not clear and there is a case for hormonal cause, particularly hCG and oestrogen. NVP and HG perhaps have different control mechanisms with NVP possibly being an adjustment to a variety of hormonal changes that resolves when placental control commences while HG may be a consequence in individuals less tolerant to hormone changes. More studies on genetics are needed to elucidate familial and foetal influences. Other areas requiring studies are the roles of oxidative stress, vitamin deficiencies and importantly the role of glycaemic status as triggers of NVP episodes and also the potential role of insulin as a trigger. The complex relationship between NVP and influencing factors such as calorie intake/BMI, energy requirements, insulin and hCG requires further exploration. ... Consideration must be given to maternal mental health as the effects of NVP and HG go beyond physical manifestation and influence the woman's ability to participate in daily routines and social interactions."
@RatParade I think there are few if any genetic diseases that could be treated, but there are some diseases that would be extremely painful and life threatening for the baby if it survived birth. Certainly there are many that would require a tremendous increase in financial planning if the pregnancy was not terminated.
@RatParade i do not think there is really much they can do but I know for myself, being aware of a problem especially a visible one is less disturbing when you have been forewarned.
@PatientlyWaiting10 I buy the little bottles of lemon juice and lime juice and squirt it into my water. I find it really refreshing! I also water down Gatorade- like 50/50 water/Gatorade.
Anyone have tips for blood sugar issues? I had issues before I got pregnant, but my usual fixes aren't working now. I'm going to bring it up to my provider, but wondering if anyone else is dealing with or has dealt with this.
@ratparade for Down's and the other trisomy disorders I know of no prenatal intervention. In addition to mental/emotional preparation, a practical benefit to a prenatal diagnosis would be connecting with support groups, researching the condition and lining up services and professionals.
**TW: (Pregnancy complications/prenatal diagnosis.) Your question led me down a Google rabbit hole because I remember seeing a few minutes of a PBS documentary about fetal surgery. This will not apply to most of us but I'm sharing the info. for those interested. It turns out, for some birth defects (including spina bifida, certain lesions/tumors, heart and renal-tract defects) there are a handful of cutting edge specialty centers like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that do fetal surgery to improve outcomes for baby. Links below. (TW on the PBS documentary trailers: graphic footage, emotional high risk pregnancy, risk of loss.) End TW.**
@May14th2011 I am having low blood sugar issues. I wake up in the middle of the night and need to eat something and am dizzy for most of the day. I’ve been doing a keto diet and have decided to increase my carbs. While I’m not eating pizza or a box of donuts, I added in some yogurt, fruits, nuts etc. I’m making healthy choices with plenty of protein. After eating 5 times today vs just the 3 main meals, I feel so much better. I was able to get up off the couch today and clean my house after a week of feeling horrible.
@kbrown2385 I ended up texting my cousin who is a nurse and she told me basically the same thing. She said to keep orange juice on hand and to eat more carbs.
@lalalaj I know you’re probably just wanting to complain lol but seriously if it gets bad, talk to your doctor; there are magic pills.
Haha. I lived on Zofran for the last 2! I know there's been some bad
press about it in between my last pregnancy and now... but it seems like
maybe that was a false alarm?
I'm on Zofran currently (A+ magic), and my OB-GYN explained that there is a huge amount of historical data indicating that it's perfectly safe. Then more recently there was one smaller outlier study that indicated maaayyybe an increased incidence of cleft palate. She says that she's inclined to set aside the single study and trust the comparably enormous pool of previous data, and I agree. It's more important that the mother be able to keep down fluids (which I wasn't before I got on Zofran -- I was almost hospitalized!).
Me: 32 | DH: 31 | Married: 7/2012 Elizabeth born 7/2014 "Meeple" EDD 6/9/2018
Question about taking B complex. I've been taking a pre natal and b complex for a few months now as I've been told I needed the B complex to help rebuild my lining (**TW I've had 2 miscarriages***END TW). I stopped taking the B complex the other day as I figured I no longer needed it and I've read too much B6 or B7 could actually be bad. The next day I had a bit of spotting and have been lightly spotting since. I asked my OBGYN if I should start taking it again and he said theres no known benefit to vitamin B either way. Just wondering if any of you have heard otherwise. I know B6 can help with morning sickness (which I don't have yet).
@RatParade, another benefit of early testing, in addition to allowing parents the ability to mentally prepare, is to allow doctors to prepare, if necessary.
- TW bad anatomy scan -
With DS2 we turned down the genetic testing in first trimester. At the anatomy scan the ultrasound showed his left ventricle wasn't formed properly. We had a stage 2 ultrasound (more in depth) and fetal echos. The maternal fetal medicine doctors also wanted an amnio or genetic testing (we chose the Panorama blood test). We were not considering abortion, but with DS2's heart issues the doctors wanted to know the possibility of additional complications they might be dealing with, some of which can be associated with heart issues. Thankfully everything came back clear of any genetic issues. His heart defect did dictate where I delivered and what would happen immediately after birth. He was immediately taken to NICU and then transported to Children's with the hour, while I was still in the delivery room. Anything that showed up on Panorama could have changed that plan.
End TW
First Son - born 2013
Second Son - born 2014 - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV). First open heart surgery at 5 days old. He's had 3 open heart surgeries and several other procedures and is currently doing amazing. Third Son - due June 9, 2018
@lalalaj I know you’re probably just wanting to complain lol but seriously if it gets bad, talk to your doctor; there are magic pills.
Haha. I lived on Zofran for the last 2! I know there's been some bad
press about it in between my last pregnancy and now... but it seems like
maybe that was a false alarm?
I'm on Zofran currently (A+ magic), and my OB-GYN explained that there is a huge amount of historical data indicating that it's perfectly safe. Then more recently there was one smaller outlier study that indicated maaayyybe an increased incidence of cleft palate. She says that she's inclined to set aside the single study and trust the comparably enormous pool of previous data, and I agree. It's more important that the mother be able to keep down fluids (which I wasn't before I got on Zofran -- I was almost hospitalized!).
That's good to hear. My 1st appt is tomorrow at 6w1d and I plan on asking for a prescription then. Had my first real gag this morning.
Even on zofran I typically live on saltines and plain pasta from about 7-17 weeks, so I'm really afraid to imagine a pregnancy without it!
Do any of you have a kegel routine you're doing? I don't want issues to get worse so figured I should begin working on this already. Is this a TMI question??
@PatientlyWaiting10 Hint water is life for me! They have regular flat and fizzy (I prefer flat). Watermelon is my fav! I get it in the organic section of my grocery store - no added sugar, sweetener, etc. (picture below).
@RatParade as others have said it can be good to know of any potential issues sp specialists can be on hand at delivery if necessary - or it may influence where you delivered if you needed hospital with a special NICU etc.. In extreme situations seconds/minutes can really make a difference.
@sabby2 I don't, but I've been thinking about it! I will start now!
And yes, with the genetic testing it mentally prepares mom and dad and will also allow for the right medical staff to be present during delivery. We have not elected to have it with either of our previous healthy pregnancies, but those are the benefits that our doctors shared with us when they asked if we wanted to.
BFP #1 October 2008 | m/c Thanksgiving weekend | November 2008 | 7 weeks 2 days BFP #2 February 2009 | m/c March 2009 | 4 weeks 3 days
Testing on mom and dad for possible reasons all came back normal.
BFP #3 8/4/2009 | DD born 3/28/10 @ 38 weeks
BFP #4 5/13/11 | m/c 6/15/11 | 8 weeks 6 days
BFP #5 2/13/13 | CP 2/19/13 | 4 weeks
BFP #6 3/21/14 | Heard the HB on 4/16 | m/c 4/21/14 | 9 weeks
Testing results all returned normal and baby was a GIRL.
More testing on mom and dad for other issues all returned normal results. BFP #7 10/15 | DS born 6/4/16 @ 36 weeks BFP #8 9/28/17 AHHH!!! | EDD 6/6/18
"Dear Lord, I would have loved to have held my babies on my lap & tell them about you, but since I didn't get the chance, would you please hold them on your lap & tell them about me?" All are welcome!
@RatParade i myself have a neural tube defect so my chances of passing on a similar genetic mutation is pretty high. I got in poop last time by my neurologist for declining. Ill be getting it this time
ok, thoughts on midwives vs ob for non-complicated, non-high risk pregnancy? I keep waffling, and I have like, a day to figure it out or the midwife practices in nyc will all be full. Would love to hear from S+TMs. Thx!
ETA: I’m considering midwives for hospital birth (not traditional birth center or home birth), though the hospitals that allow midwives do have different rules.
@doxiemoxie212 the practice that I am going through has OB's and MW's so it might be easier for me but I will probably have a little bit of both. I have appointments scheduled with the OB but I want to find a MW and get to know them because it's my understanding that a MW will be there with you for L&D where an OB you will just get who is on call.
At this point I believe I have a non-complicated pregnancy, I want to deliver at a hospital JIC but I want to have the more holistic approach of a MW. No epidural, no episiotomy, and the ability to walk around, squat, use a birthing ball or labor in a tub. IMO MW's are more accommodating to those kinds of things.
But I'm a FTM and this is just based on the research I have done. I would recommend watching The Business of Being Born if you haven't already.
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
@doxiemoxie212 I've applied for a midwife for this pregnancy (hospital birth).. just waiting to hear back if I've been accepted or not. i have a few friends that have had midwives and they swear by them! When I was pregnant with DD, my regular ob referred me to a doctor closer to where I'd be delivering and honestly it was the worst experience. The ob missed the entire birth, just showed up to deliver the placenta because "she didn't think I'd push baby out that fast, so she went back to sleep for a few more hours after the hospital called her." Really hoping I get accepted, I'd love to feel like I was being actually cared for.
@doxiemoxie212 personally, i think it matters more if you trust whomever you are working with. I changed OB doctors this time only because i didn't appreciate my previous doctor who delivered DD. If i didn't think the midwives in my practice were crazy, I wouldn't objected to using one of them either. Unfortunately, though, I had a scheduled c-section, and my hand was forced with who I ended up with. Can you chose an OB if you decide you don't like the midwife?
Me: 28 | Husband: 39 Married March 2016 DD: born 7.22.16 DS EDD: 6.23.18
@krashke I watched the business of being born a few years ago! The ob and mw featured in that were actually who I wanted but they’re not taking new patients. The birth center (in hospital) they deliver at is 2 blocks from my apt so I’m sad.
@sunshineandwhiskey I have an ob currently, and I like her, but she has restrictions on positions for birth. I think I’ll probably cave and get an epidural, but if I don’t, I’m worried about birthing on my back. Also there’s no guarantee she’ll deliver me. It’s whoever is on call. :-/ with the midwives they take v few patients so you know who will deliver you. But that hospital is a 20 min cab ride away, and my ob’s hospital is 2 blocks...
Re: Weekly Questions (week of 10/23)
BFP#4- 9/26 edd 6/5/18
TTC: 08/2017 EDD: 6/11/2018 FTM
@doxiemoxie212 I'll check the Ovia app to see what I can find. Thanks!
I suppose my real question is - does anyone have any links to actual research on the causes? I'd love to see anything that might steer me in the right direction.
Not to mention the fact that your sense of smell is going to become enhanced. So that food that kind of made you queasy when you could barely smell it from across the room is going to hit you a lot harder while pregnant.
Most MS let's up after first tri because that's when your hormone levels start to even out.
I can definitely search my databases and see if I can find any actual studies related to this, though.
Me: 30 | DH: 34 | DSS: 14 | DS: 4
PG #2, EDD 10/12/2023
Me: 32 | DH: 36
Married June 2005
1/2016 - TTC#1
4/2017 - Initial RE visit, Dx: Severe MFI (Varicocele, 14% motility, 3% progression, but normal count)
7/2017 - Stage 3 endometriosis discovered during laparoscopic removal of ovarian cyst
9/27/2017 - BFP at 10dpo (cycle 22), baby boy due June 9, 2018
"The cause of nausea in the first trimester is not known with certainty, although human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone both produce smooth muscle relaxation and slow gastric emptying."
Walsh, John W., et al. "Progesterone and estrogen are potential mediators of gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias in nausea of pregnancy." American Journal of Physiology [Consolidated], vol. 270, no. 3, 1996, p. G506+.:
"The role of progesterone and estrogen in gastric dysrythmias observed in early pregnancy was investigated by comparing the experience of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women with the history of nausea of healthy nonpregnant women. The effects of progesterone and estradiol administration on pregnant women were assessed. Pregnant women had increased bradygastria and tachygastria in response to progesterone but not estradiol. It was concluded that the effects of progesterone and estrogen were additive, and this causes gastric slow-wave disruption in early pregnancy."
Wylde, Sophie, et al. "Morning sickness in pregnancy: mini review of possible causes with proposal for monitoring by diagnostic methods." International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 5, no. 2, 2016, p. 261+.:
"NVP and HG affect maternal and foetal wellbeing but aetiology of these disorders is not clear and there is a case for hormonal cause, particularly hCG and oestrogen. NVP and HG perhaps have different control mechanisms with NVP possibly being an adjustment to a variety of hormonal changes that resolves when placental control commences while HG may be a consequence in individuals less tolerant to hormone changes. More studies on genetics are needed to elucidate familial and foetal influences. Other areas requiring studies are the roles of oxidative stress, vitamin deficiencies and importantly the role of glycaemic status as triggers of NVP episodes and also the potential role of insulin as a trigger. The complex relationship between NVP and influencing factors such as calorie intake/BMI, energy requirements, insulin and hCG requires further exploration. ... Consideration must be given to maternal mental health as the effects of NVP and HG go beyond physical manifestation and influence the woman's ability to participate in daily routines and social interactions."
Me: 30 | DH: 34 | DSS: 14 | DS: 4
PG #2, EDD 10/12/2023
Yes. If there is an emergency there are hospitals and doctors. Given the infrequency of doctor visits in the first tri, this is not a big deal.
**TW: (Pregnancy complications/prenatal diagnosis.) Your question led me down a Google rabbit hole because I remember seeing a few minutes of a PBS documentary about fetal surgery. This will not apply to most of us but I'm sharing the info. for those interested. It turns out, for some birth defects (including spina bifida, certain lesions/tumors, heart and renal-tract defects) there are a handful of cutting edge specialty centers like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that do fetal surgery to improve outcomes for baby. Links below.
(TW on the PBS documentary trailers: graphic footage, emotional high risk pregnancy, risk of loss.) End TW.**
https://www.chop.edu/treatments/fetal-surgery/about
https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/f/fetal-care/services/surgical
https://www.pbs.org/program/twice-born/
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/birth-defects-prevention-and-treatment-859
I'm on Zofran currently (A+ magic), and my OB-GYN explained that there is a huge amount of historical data indicating that it's perfectly safe. Then more recently there was one smaller outlier study that indicated maaayyybe an increased incidence of cleft palate. She says that she's inclined to set aside the single study and trust the comparably enormous pool of previous data, and I agree. It's more important that the mother be able to keep down fluids (which I wasn't before I got on Zofran -- I was almost hospitalized!).
Elizabeth born 7/2014
"Meeple" EDD 6/9/2018
- TW bad anatomy scan -
With DS2 we turned down the genetic testing in first trimester. At the anatomy scan the ultrasound showed his left ventricle wasn't formed properly. We had a stage 2 ultrasound (more in depth) and fetal echos. The maternal fetal medicine doctors also wanted an amnio or genetic testing (we chose the Panorama blood test). We were not considering abortion, but with DS2's heart issues the doctors wanted to know the possibility of additional complications they might be dealing with, some of which can be associated with heart issues. Thankfully everything came back clear of any genetic issues. His heart defect did dictate where I delivered and what would happen immediately after birth. He was immediately taken to NICU and then transported to Children's with the hour, while I was still in the delivery room. Anything that showed up on Panorama could have changed that plan.
End TW
First Son - born 2013
Third Son - due June 9, 2018
Even on zofran I typically live on saltines and plain pasta from about 7-17 weeks, so I'm really afraid to imagine a pregnancy without it!
@RatParade as others have said it can be good to know of any potential issues sp specialists can be on hand at delivery if necessary - or it may influence where you delivered if you needed hospital with a special NICU etc.. In extreme situations seconds/minutes can really make a difference.
And yes, with the genetic testing it mentally prepares mom and dad and will also allow for the right medical staff to be present during delivery. We have not elected to have it with either of our previous healthy pregnancies, but those are the benefits that our doctors shared with us when they asked if we wanted to.
BFP #2 February 2009 | m/c March 2009 | 4 weeks 3 days
BFP #7 10/15 | DS born 6/4/16 @ 36 weeks
BFP #8 9/28/17 AHHH!!! | EDD 6/6/18
All are welcome!
ETA: I’m considering midwives for hospital birth (not traditional birth center or home birth), though the hospitals that allow midwives do have different rules.
At this point I believe I have a non-complicated pregnancy, I want to deliver at a hospital JIC but I want to have the more holistic approach of a MW. No epidural, no episiotomy, and the ability to walk around, squat, use a birthing ball or labor in a tub. IMO MW's are more accommodating to those kinds of things.
But I'm a FTM and this is just based on the research I have done. I would recommend watching The Business of Being Born if you haven't already.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
i have a few friends that have had midwives and they swear by them! When I was pregnant with DD, my regular ob referred me to a doctor closer to where I'd be delivering and honestly it was the worst experience. The ob missed the entire birth, just showed up to deliver the placenta because "she didn't think I'd push baby out that fast, so she went back to sleep for a few more hours after the hospital called her."
Really hoping I get accepted, I'd love to feel like I was being actually cared for.
Married March 2016
DD: born 7.22.16
DS EDD: 6.23.18
@sunshineandwhiskey I have an ob currently, and I like her, but she has restrictions on positions for birth. I think I’ll probably cave and get an epidural, but if I don’t, I’m worried about birthing on my back. Also there’s no guarantee she’ll deliver me. It’s whoever is on call. :-/ with the midwives they take v few patients so you know who will deliver you. But that hospital is a 20 min cab ride away, and my ob’s hospital is 2 blocks...