Weekly Questions (Nov. 19)

izza2

What questions do you have for us this week?

May14th2011

 I'm sure this has been asked before but-
Anyone find cute, not super expensive maternity Bras? I don't care that no one sees them, I like to feel cute. 

izza2

For those that have been dealing with constipation - what have you been doing to take care of it?
I bought stool softeners yesterday, and the bottle said to take 1-3, so I took 2 and things have been better so far.. but I know I don't want to rely on them every day.
I'm going to work on taking in more fiber, but other than that, have you guys found anything that works for you?

May14th2011

@izza2 Probiotics! I took them in both previous pregnancies, and they help so much. They take a couple days to work, but they're great.

doxiemoxie212

@izza2 just make sure the probiotics are the alive kind, the ones that you get from the refrigerator section and have to keep in the refrigerator at home. Personally, I like the Udo's brand best. 

izza2

@May14th2011 @doxiemoxie212 - Would yogurt with probiotics in it work just as well, do you think? I need to start eating snacks between meals on a more regular basis, and yogurt would be an easy one to eat that would be useful if so...

doxiemoxie212

@izza2 mmm yogurt is great, but dairy can have a constipating effect on many people. I love yogurt, but I personally don't find it works as well as probiotics - especially since yogurt only has some of the probiotics compared to a probiotic pill which has tons of varieties (and a higher amount). 

May14th2011

@izza2 I would do a pill, or powder that you mix into a drink. I have the best results with Philips colon health, but they also make probitioc gummies, if pills are hard for you. My midwife told me she didn't find a big difference between refrigerated and non, but I haven't looked into any scientific studies on it.

izza2

Thanks you two! The thought of gummies sounds delish, lol. Does the pill form leave any sort of aftertaste if you burp? I'm imagining it shouldn't, but, rather be safe than sorry...

doxiemoxie212

@izza2 none that I've tried ever have any kind of taste at all. They're usually the most pleasant pills to take - just simple capsules, not horse pills. 

krash_

So I had some sharp pain/cramping in what I could only say is my uterus. Like the abdominals right above my pubic bone. It happened while I was screaming at the tv while watching Stranger Things and when I sneezed. Could this be round ligament pain? I’m only about 10 weeks is it normal for that to happen this early? Is it something worth calling my doctor for? 

krash_

@izza2 coffee has really helped keep things moving. Probably not the best solution but it keeps me regular. 

Miz_Liz

@krashke definitely could be RLP.  I wouldn’t bother to call unless it persisted or was accompanied by bleeding.

bkrahn

@krashke what @Miz_Liz said. Sounds like it definitely could be RLP though! I've been getting it a lot more this week too whenever I sneeze or cough! 

mimzgoy

Does anyone know if you still get a 13 week ultrasound if you choose not to get the abnormality blood screening? I am not sure whether I want to get the screening done  because it won’t change anything and if something we’re to come up it would probably just stress me out. I don’t know what to do. I do, however, want the ultrasound. What should I expect during the 13 week checkup? When I was pregnant with my DS I received an ultrasound at every visit, every visit was pretty much the same (I lived in Puerto Rico during that time, I know live in Iowa now). 

BurlapandLace

@krashke ~ Yep. RLP. Common with sudden movements. 

catlady1215

@mimzgoy with my first, I was told no ultrasound unless I was doing the screening. I felt the same as you, it wouldn't change anything... but i did it to see the baby.
But I'm sure all doctors and situations are different. So it's hard to say.

edit: I should say, if I turned down the whole NT scan also, I couldn't get an ultrasound. only way I was getting a scan at that point was if I did the ntscan and blood work.

dinodna3

@mimzgoy We decline genetic blood testing and I am still getting a NT scan at 13w. 

buffalove1211

@mimzgoy The way my doctor does it, I believe, is the way all of California does it.  My prenatal screening consists of 3 parts: first trimester blood work, second trimester blood work, and the NT scan.  I was given the option to do all 3 or whatever I was comfortable with.  Had I chosen not to have the NT, I definitely wouldn't have still gotten an ultrasound in its place because I am sent to an entirely separate office for that appointment.  Hope that helps.

RatParade

@mimzgoy We declined all testing as well.  I got an ultrasound at 7 weeks to confirm viability, and I get another this week (11ish weeks) to confirm growth.  Otherwise, I don't think I get another until the anatomy scan.

mimzgoy

@catlady1215, @dinodna3, @buffalove1211, @RatParade Thank you so much ladies! 

RachelH77

Is anybody else doing a separate anatomy scan outside of the dr’s office? My scan was scheduled for Jan 28th and I’ll be almost 24 weeks...and I have zero patience to wait that long! Thoughts?

Miz_Liz

@RachelH77 did they give a reason for scheduling it so late?  I was always under the impression that they’re done between 16 and 20 weeks.  My OB prefers closer to 20 just because she says it’s best for seeing the heart, etc., but 24 seems really late.

dinodna3

@RachelH77 That seems pretty late for an anatomy scan. Did your OB give you any paperwork on what to excpect from future appts? Mine has a/s listed as 18-20 weeks. 

RachelH77

@Miz_Liz @dinodna3 that’s what I thought! They didn’t give me any certain reason so when I go next week I’m hoping we can move it up. The only thing I can think of is that it’s at the main campus which all the OBs in the practice use for anatomy scans so maybe they are backed up?

mollie670

@izza2 I was using stool softeners and they help but are not the best.  My midwife recommends Miralax and it's safe to take every day.  It draws the water into the bowel but allows the nutrients to still absorb into your body.

izza2

@rachelh77 - An AS at 24 weeks is way overdue. Recommendations are for 18 to 20 weeks. If they can't get you in sooner than 24 weeks, I'd ask if you can go somewhere else to get it done in the recommended time window.

jsl82

Late to the party this week, but I will say that sneezing during pregnancy is so scary.  It's just painful in a way that sneeze shouldn't be, and later on.... the possibility of peeing a little is present with each sneeze.    

My question is when is everyone planning on telling work?  I'm a STM and never lost the baby weight the first time around, which is making me look pregnant now, but also giving me a cover story.  Either way you look at it... I'm starting to show and should probably make the announcement soon.

catlady1215

@jsl82 I told my manager around 6 weeks. mainly cause I was going for bloodwork, appts and scans so much... I had to tell her something. and I just told coworkers today (12+5).

ffw0617

@jsl82we had our monthly meeting on the 13th. So I sent everyone an email the Friday before (the 10th). I was only 9w 3d but I didn't want to get any new assignments that I knew would have to be pass along to someone else while I'm on maternity leave. Since my due date is June 11, I basically see it as anything June, July & Aug 2018 is a "No" for me. But out of an abundance of caution I have one trial the last week in May, I'm considering that my last assignment, I haven't decided if I'm coming back here at all or not.

sunshineandwhiskey

@jsl82 my principal and asst principal knows. I told them early because I had to leave before the school day ended for my first two appointments. I won’t tell the kids until we announce publicly or they ask. 

krash_

@jsl82 I'm a FTM so I'm not showing at all and I haven't had many symptoms that have affected my work. I'm planning on telling my boss after my 12 wk appointment, which happens to be a Friday afternoon so I will actually be 13 wks on Monday when I tell her. If it would have been affecting my job performance or if I had a lot of appointments I would have told her sooner. 

I might tell my co-workers after the new year because the few I am friends with will see it on FB when we post it on Christmas day. Plus our work holiday party is the Friday after that and they would all find out when I'm not indulging in the open bar. 

TravelingCouple

I'm usually all about water as it's all I drink, but the last few weeks I'm having trouble having any desire to drink it. I've tried adding lemon but it's not helping. I'm sure I'm not drinking enough and I've gotta remedy that.. Anyone else having this issue? Are you adding anything in your water to make it more palatable? I really hate juice, milk, soda or any other liquids and I know water is best.

I was thinking of trying Crystal light but wanted to see if anyone else has suggestions before trying that.

doxiemoxie212

@TravelingCouple have you tried just making it really cold? Or making some iced tea from scratch (preferably herbal since I think caffeine and tea both have a diuretic effect which can enhance dehydration)?

TravelingCouple

@doxiemoxie212 I've tried ice water but not iced tea.. Good idea. I love hot tea so I'll try a batch to chill.

doxiemoxie212

Okay guys, I asked my doctor but she basically gave me a shrug "whatever you want" answer. 

I'm on vacation 15+4 through 18+4, should I try to do my 16 week appointment before or after? WTF happens at the 16 week appointment? Does it matter?

catlady1215

@travelingcouple +1 to really cold. it was the only way I could drink it for awhile. really cold and really fast. plus a straw! its something that I found out with ds' pregnancy.

krash_

@doxiemoxie212 I have no advice for you but I want to know what kind of vacation are you going on for three weeks! Sounds fantastic! 

doxiemoxie212

@krashke we're just going back to my mom's in CA. With the way the holidays fall, it's cheapest to fly when we are, and DH will work remotely most of the time. There was also, of course, the new Star Wars movie to factor in for DH (the Star Wars super fan). 

MoonOverGoldsboro

@doxiemoxie212 Nothing of particular note really happens at the routine monthly appointments. Quick check in, listen to the heartbeat, measure your belly (as you get later on), so I'd say it really doesn't matter. I'd personally pick the 15+3 (or whatever it ends up being), just because it's closer to week 16.

sunshineandwhiskey

@doxiemoxie212 I vote for 15+4 since you’ll prolly have one around 20