Weekly Questions ~ Week of 11/12

becausescience

SoFlaMommie1128

Anyone taking probiotics while pregnant? I’ve read mixed things about it. I’ve been taking them occasionally. 

stardustskies

I always assumed I would circumcise my boy and DH feels the same way, but now I’m reading different articles on the benefits of not circumcising. Just wondering your thoughts on the subject?

becausescience

SoFlaMommie1128 said:

Anyone taking probiotics while pregnant? I’ve read mixed things about it. I’ve been taking them occasionally. 

I'd think they'd be safe if you are taking ones from a reputable source, but I'd double check with you OB to be sure.  You can also eat probiotic rich foods like yogurt and kefir.  I know things like sauerkraut, miso, and kombucha are probiotic foods too.

sarahhedger7 said:

I always assumed I would circumcise my boy and DH feels the same way, but now I’m reading different articles on the benefits of not circumcising. Just wondering your thoughts on the subject?

Oooph, this is going to be a touchy subject.  

chasingroygbiv

@sarahhedger7 I responded to your original post, not sure it was real helpful, but it’s there. 

npkat

@SoFlaMommie1128 yes I take probiotics. Did before pregnancy as well. I usually buy whichever brand is buy one get one free at CVS. 

@sarahhedger7 we’re circumsising our son. My husband and I both agree on this. Like someone said, this is a touchy subject for some but for us, there are non amount of articles someone could put in my face to do otherwise.

cford08

@sarahhedger7 girl. Yes to this question. I always just thought I would be the one to circumcise, but now I'm not sure.....

GG620

@sarahhedger7 before we knew we were having a girl, we decided that we would not circumcise if we had a son based upon the research we did. I used to think of course we would, but then after reading, we decided we wouldn't. No judgment either way. To each his own!

ashtuesday

@SoFlaMommie1128 - I've been taking probiotics at my ob's recommendation. I am super prone to UTIs, so she suggested I take them to lower my UTI risk during pregnancy. So far, so good!

heatherdubrow

@sarahhedger7 this is one of the reasons I’m happy to be having another girl! Kidding, but yea it’s a big decision to make and I can see both sides.

Gingermom15

sarahhedger7 said:

I always assumed I would circumcise my boy and DH feels the same way, but now I’m reading different articles on the benefits of not circumcising. Just wondering your thoughts on the subject?

This is my two cents, not meant to sway you in any way shape or form! You know what is best for your family. 
(I copied my comment from the M18 FB group about the topic because too lazy to retype) 

We did not. I had a lengthy discussion with one of our doctors who used to be in family practice and had a good bit of knowledge on the matter. I was worried about the lack of control in "randomly controlled" studies, and he said in those studies they group a number of newborns together. Regardless if they're preterm, early term, full term or have an anatomical anomaly. A preterm infant, who is both circumcised later and at risk of infection due to preterm status, is in the same group as a perfectly healthy full term. How can such a study be controlled and correct if none are yet circumcised, the preemie and the baby with hypospadias gets a uti? They'd be at risk either way. The same is true for the HIV/AIDS study in Africa that says circumcised men are 50% less likely to contract aids, but the study wasn't complete with tracking condom usage and the status of their partners. 

A good majority if our elderly male patients are not circumcised and do not have issues. Also, we're learning more about how to care for the uncircumcised penis in the US. It used to be common practice to retract the foreskin forcibly during infancy and toddlerhood, which can cause infection and life long issues with reattachment and can lead to adult circumcision. We know now if we allow the foreskin to retract on its own which can take 6 years or longer. With a properly cared for uncircumcised penis, there is very little risk of issue. 

This being said, I don’t buy into the hype that circumcised boys are traumatized at all. If that were the case then wouldn’t all children be traumatized by all surgeries? Those are scare tactics, don’t let them push you one way or the other. Go with your gut. Either way, you’ll have made the right decision for him and he will be perfect 

orbmaker

@sarahhedger7 we're having a girl this time, but my husband and I decided we won't circumcise if we have a boy. There's no religious angle to it in our household. We see it as a primarily aesthetic decision that our (theoretical) son can make for himself when he comes of age.

ETA: For the record, my husband is circumcised and doesn't feel particularly sad about it. Nor does he feel like his son would have to "match" him. From my perspective (having dated men "both ways" and as a medical provider), I don't think it's a big deal either way (good genital hygiene is always a good idea!)  We just don't see the point of putting a baby through a procedure for no particular reason, when there will always be a risk of infection or complication.

Gingermom15

@orbmaker “being like Dad” was DH’s only hold up with not circumcising. I asked him how often he thought DS would be looking at his penis and would they be comparing them side by side? While I understand the concern behind the comment, it just never made sense to me 

Mass-girl-at-heart

I don’t want to circumcise but I am waiting for H to do his research so we can discuss it. We will decide together and while I may share what we do here I don’t plan on answering the question if friends/family ask (which I know some will because they don’t value their own kids’ privacy so why would they value mine?) If they aren’t going to be changing his diaper they don’t need to know what’s in there. Everyone has an opinion. 

Gingermom15

@Mass-girl-at-heart DH’s family was very uneducated on proper care. When it came to someone like his mom or grandma babysitting, I just gave them a quick demo on how to clean and stressed not to retract. They did make comments, mainly that all their boys in the family were circumcised and it was weird that we didn’t. I just ignored them. 

orbmaker

@Gingermom15 me neither! It was really the only non-religious reasoning we could dream up tho — it’s just a sort of cultural habit? I watched two circumcisions in nursing school and was just like “why are we doing this exactly?” (In the larger sense, obv the reason was parent preference) 

stardustskies

Thanks guys! I appreciate everyone’s input. I have been reading up on both sides but wanted to see where you ladies stood.

Gingermom15

SoFlaMommie1128 said:

Anyone taking probiotics while pregnant? I’ve read mixed things about it. I’ve been taking them occasionally. 

The Rainbow Light prenatal has a probiotic in it. 

Mass-girl-at-heart

@Gingermom15 exactly. Anyone who will change him will obviously see and be taught how to deal. But I don’t see what the fuss is whatever we choose. 

Gingermom15

Mass-girl-at-heart said:

@Gingermom15 exactly. Anyone who will change him will obviously see and be taught how to deal. But I don’t see what the fuss is whatever we choose. 

Right. Why do people care about my child’s penis so much? 

syssa-o

@Gingermom15 it’s the same people who care whether you breastfeed or formula feed and whether or not you had an epidural 

hahaha they probably have a Facebook group to talk about it too 

Gingermom15

syssa-o said:

@Gingermom15 it’s the same people who care whether you breastfeed or formula feed and whether or not you had an epidural 

hahaha they probably have a Facebook group to talk about it too 

Probably  I had a cs, breastfed and formula fed. They’d have a field day with me lol

ETA do I get brownie points if I didn’t have an epidural or spinal block? Probably not. General anesthesia is worse somehow I bet haha

bb3vj3n

here's a question- how are you all handling certain hygiene difficulties? For instance, trimming your toe nails or grooming ( down there).
 I can just barely reach my toes now and I just cannot imagine asking DH to do this for me. I would like to keep some of the "magic" alive. I also cannot afford a pedicure or wax every few weeks.... so I'm curious.... how are you all managing?

syssa-o

@bb3vj3n I use a handheld mirror and shave. Last time around the very end, H found me sitting on the floor of the shower crying about not being able to shave and he offered. It seemed like the lesser of two evils (postpartum recovery being bloody with hair and sticky pads seemed like an awful idea) and he also painted my toe nails. We laughed the entire time and laughed even more when the nurses asked how I painted my toe nails so well.

edit because TB auto incorrect.  

kbbtah

Sleeping positions? Im 24 weeks and having the hardest time sleeping on my sides! 

@bb3vj3n...I'm still able to care for myself, but it is uncomfortable! With my last pregnancy, i just went all natural. I HATED it, but i just couldn't make it happen. 

kalawa

@bb3vj3n I go in blind and hope for the best. But I've actually been lucky, and because I carry fairly low each pregnancy, my belly allows me to bend pretty far over (even at 38-39w). It feels like baby will fall out after from the bending...but I get shit done.

cford08

Love how helpful your DH was @syssa-o

@bb3vj3n if you have a tub,  you can use the sides to sit and shave your legs. I find that easier than our shower. I would imagine the same for polishing toes. But I put pedicures and Brazilians in my budget. It's too hard for me to stop doing either 

Gingermom15

I used a mirror and sat on the tub. An electric trimmer is great towards the end. My main goal was to keep it clean for recovery and not make it look nice (it didn’t lol). 

DDRRT1982

You ladies that use a mirror are impressive.  I am another one that just goes at it and hopes for the best.  I think I might scare myself if I actually knew what it looked like at the end of pregnancy.

ksmwalters

@SoFlaMommie1128 I'm taking these: https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Prenatal-Probiotic-Women/dp/B01LW2DZ5A I asked my OB and they said it's totally safe and may help you not test positive for Group B Strep. I'm mainly taking them because they have helped my gut immensely...I ran out and was lazy about buying a new bottle and my belly issues definitely ramped up in that time. Might be placebo but IDC! 

[Deleted User]

On the foreskin topic I wanted to jump in and offer a perspective.  I'm not having a boy but I'm married to a man who, like the vast majority of the world, is not circumcised.  I have a friend who circumcised her son and as her reasoning cited "it's a favor to his future wife".  I rolled my eyes so fucking hard.  I think this is incredibly ignorant.

 So here's my perspective (and mine alone) - When H is hard his dick looks exactly like a circumcised dick, only there is slightly more skin around the shaft (though not visibly noticeable)  so lube isn't as necessary.  Also you know when you would have sex with a guy and it would last like an hour and you're just like "OMG GET OUT OF ME I WANT TO SLEEP NOW"?  That doesn't happen with H.   H typically takes around 15-20 min (not including foreplay)  if we've been having regular sex.  Which for me personally is ideal.  This is because uncircumcised penises are more sensitive.  So the tip of the penis feels more for the man like our clit feels like for us - pretty damn sensitive.  When you remove the foreskin it is less sensitive so touching it is more of a muted sensation - this is what leads some to say that sex feels better for uncircumcised men.  H says he has never felt weird about it,  has never been made fun of for it, and has never had any sort of health related issues from it.  The only thing he did tell me is that when he retracted his foreskin for the first time it was extremely uncomfortable.  He has never had a UTI and certainly never got HIV/AIDS.  

I don't think it traumatizes boys to be circumcised, I don't think it's in any way remotely comparable to FGM, or any of that sort of thing.  To me it is the parent's choice and I don't waste too much time thinking about it.  But I do get annoyed when I see parents choosing to do it for foolish reasons.  Just make sure you think things through.

barrelocarol

@SoFlaMommie1128 I had BV and whatever else comes along with it so my midwife recommended a high dose of probiotics. I use NOW brand everything. 

Also, thanks to Probiotics, I haven't had hemorrhoids which is a new, beautiful life for me!

Gingermom15

barrelocarol said:

@SoFlaMommie1128 I had BV and whatever else comes along with it so my midwife recommended a high dose of probiotics. I use NOW brand everything. 

Also, thanks to Probiotics, I haven't had hemorrhoids which is a new, beautiful life for me!

I was GBS positive with my son and had BV in the beginning of this one. It sounds like probiotics would be beneficial, thank you! What dose do you take?

[Deleted User]

I take a probiotic every morning because I've already had 3 damn yeast infections during this pregnancy.  

But just a heads up for probiotics - if you're taking room temp. pills or buying probiotics that are sold at room temp. then they probably aren't very effective.  You have to buy the kind that is sold out of the fridge and store it in the fridge at your home as well.

orbmaker

Random Q for STMs: I'm thinking of investing in a new pair of heeled chelsea boots, mostly to help pregnancy feel more chic. What I want to know is: DID YOUR FEET ACTUALLY GROW A HALF SIZE AFTER PREGNANCY!?!? I like to invest in quality things for the long haul, and don't want to spend the dough and then never be able to wear them again.

ShawnnaO

@orbmaker mine never did. But I do know people who’s feet grew, and also people who’s feet shrank. 

Gingermom15

orbmaker said:

Random Q for STMs: I'm thinking of investing in a new pair of heeled chelsea boots, mostly to help pregnancy feel more chic. What I want to know is: DID YOUR FEET ACTUALLY GROW A HALF SIZE AFTER PREGNANCY!?!? I like to invest in quality things for the long haul, and don't want to spend the dough and then never be able to wear them again.

My feet stayed the same size after pregnancy. I bought a size up in work shoes in the beginning of my third trimester because they were swollen and huge, but they went back to normal. 

notthefather

@orbmaker: Mine grew about a half size during pregnancy and took a couple years to go back to my pre-pregnancy size.

Mass-girl-at-heart

@orbmaker mine are the same size after 2. Swollen at the end but that went away. 

kalawa

@orbmaker My feet didn't change through either pregnancy. I think you'll be safe. You may swell at the end though.

gh515

I am happy to read these affirmative responses to @orbmaker 's shoe question. My mom still (only semi-jokingly) laments that her three children made her feet grow an ENTIRE shoe size, wasting her nice shoe collection. I've put off buying new booties this fall for fear they won't fit next year. I hope I have the same luck as the women here!