Questions w/o 4/1

pink_polkadots

middleschoolmommy

Anyone have experience taking the Makena progesterone shots in previous pregnancies? I've already been told I'll need them and my insurance cost estimator is saying it will be $615 out of pocket, a month. I know they have a copay assistance program, but I'm wondering  exactly how much help it is.

ginny_203

Would love to know what prenatal vitamins are being taken. Thanks!

lurvleybunchococonuts

@ginny_203 currently taking spring valley prenatal w/ folic acid and a separate DHA pill, but I hate them and just got them as a back up when I ran out of my Zahlers Prenatal + DHA.  I haven't been taking the DHA lately because it makes me puke.  I LOVED the Zahlers, they didn't bother my at all.  But the down side is that they're 4x more expensive than the generic ones.  Might look into a middle ground pnv to try next month.  I had been taking the Similac prenatal + DHA for most of last year (while trying to conceive) they aren't bad, but made me puke (even when not pregnant) anytime I didn't eat a SUBSTANTIAL meal beforehand. 

brookepdavis

@ginny_203 I take Expecta Prenatal. My OB recommended them when I started TTC almost 4 years ago. I've been on them every day since thanks to DD and then breastfeeding. I've never had a problem with them, but I'm also not someone who has a problem with swallowing pills.

goldie987

I'm taking my regular centrum womens vitamin with a separate folic acid and fish oil.  The prenatal I had didn't have iodine or selenium and my endo wanted me on something with those so I'm just supplementing with the extra stuff that prenatals have.  

tessiesmom26

@ginny_203 I'm taking the One A Day prenatal. It was the one I picked up at the store before me BFP and then my Drs office gave me free samples at my first appt to I've stuck with it.

firsttimespartanmom

@ginny_203 I honestly can’t tell you what brand mine are, but ask your OB if she can write you a prescription! Mine did and it’s for a prenatal and then separate DHA and it’s free through insurance. 

kbrown2385

Actif organics. They are food based, have folate instead of folic acid and have dha in it as well. 

lurvleybunchococonuts

@kbrown2385 the Zahler pnvs are folate vs folic acid as well.  How many pills/day do you have to take with those?

kbrown2385

@lurvleybunchococonuts it’s just one a day. I get them on amazon and it’s a 90 days supply. From what I saw on there it’s the most cost effective for the food based vitamins. Most others I found were at least 3 a day dosing. 

kamahina9

@ginny_203 - I use One a Day Prenatal. I also take an additional fish oil pill & a calcium chew. 

Out of curiosity, has anyone else been losing weight? I lost about 5lbs in the last two weeks but a total of 8 since I found out I am pregnant. I'm sure it's fine since it's not too much weight but just wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing something similar. 

CopperBoom86

I kinda feel like prenatal vitamins are all the same. Like, I get that they have slightly different percentages of stuff, but they all pretty much contain what you need, right?? I dunno. Maybe I'm just ignorant on the topic.

I bought the Nature Made + DHA from Walmart, but I also have tons of samples from the OB, so I'm taking those right now. She gave me Prenate Mini, CitraNatal+DHA, Vitafol Ultra, and some kind of gummies. I just take whatever.

KellyT22

@middleschoolmommy I had to pay out of pocket for Makena until I hit my deductible. Not ideal, but I would have had to pay the deductible regardless. I didn't qualify for the assistance program because we earned too much money. On top of the cost of the shots, I also had to pay for an OB nurse appointment every week to get the shot (my OB didn't give the option of doing it myself). The Makena people were really nice to work with though. 

babyptobe

@ginny_203 I'm taking Smarty Pants Prenatal gummies. I got them on Amazon. They're so good! I look forward to having them every morning! lol

mockingjay1

I just use one a day prenatals. I'm not a big pill lover, but I take them with cereal (real healthy I know) and it makes it tolerable. I've been taking them since 2012 because we've either been TTC or I've been breastfeeding since then.

lifesabeach85

@kamahina9 I lost about 5 pounds in my first trimester my first pregnancy, and maybe 3 this time. It doesn't seem to bother anyone. I think it's just because I eliminate alcohol obviously and since I don't get nausea I force myself to eat really healthy. A lot of moms who have bad nausea also lose a little. As long as you're eating enough calories and getting the proper nutrients in the first trimester it should be fine.

@CopperBoom86 That is what my OB said, as long as it has the right amount of folic acid, iron, iodine, and other good stuff. I take Rainbow Light plus Nordic Naturals DHA.

tinypikachu

@kamahina9 a little bit of weight loss is okay and even normal in the first tri. As long as you’re getting enough calories, protein, and nutrients, it’s okay. I am overweight and I started limiting carbs and sugars as soon as I found out. I just make sure I’m eating enough and getting lots of protein. I had GD my last pregnancy and I’m literally following the same diet. My last pregnancy, my husband lost 15lbs and I gained like 5lbs following this diet during my last trimester, so as long as you’re eating enough, your body will give baby what he/she needs

goldie987

@kamahina9 I lost 25 lbs with my pregnancy with DD but I was overweight before I got pregnant.  My OB kept tabs on it and I started gaining somewhere around 18 weeks.  Definitely check with your OB if you keep losing though, they may be unconcerned like mine was but they'll have personally examined you and can make a much better assessment than we can regarding whether it's a concern.  

MojieJo

This time around I'm taking Vitapearl (prescription) prenatals because they ended up being cheaper than the ones I took last time around (Thorne basic prenatals).  I have a rebate card, so they're $15 a month instead of $45.  I'd go with an OTC brand if it weren't for the rebate discount.

The Thorne ones were good, but I had to take three large pills instead of one small-ish one and they don't have DHA, but they are vegan, if that matters.

I have to take one with a methylated form of the B vitamins because of an MTHFR mutation, but other than that I think they're all more or less the same.

The Vitapearls did upset my stomach a little and gave me nasty fish oil burps for a while until I got used to them.

herewegoagain3rd

I can't remember the brand but I take the gummy prenatal ones because I can't stand the pills! I am also taking calcium and D3 because they told me my vitamin d was low. 

So here is a question for the newly pregnant moms. We have a Babies R Us near us that is going out of business soon. Do you think it is to early to start buying stuff?? I am only about 6 weeks. 

offtoneverland

@bfpafter4years I personally don't think it's too early, especially if you find a really good deal on something! But I know some people are a little superstitious about it, so I think you should do whatever makes you feel most comfortable. FYI, I went to Toys R Us this weekend. They had a sign that everything was up to 30% off, but I didn't actually see anything for that big of a sale. Most of it was 5-10% off which isn't that much in the grand scheme of things. It wasn't worth waiting in the long line. I was disappointed. 

pink_polkadots

I was taking One A Day prenatal + dha but they have the nastiest taste that just thinking about them makes me gag. I’ve started taking some Vitafusion prenatal gummies for now at least until I’m over this constant nausea. 

mama1824

I have opposite issue and always gain my first trimester due to nausea.  It seems like eating constantly is only thing to keep it at bay and I just can’t gain much this time around because I’m starting off bigger... ugh.  Cried yesterday because I feel and look blah

MouseMama817

I’m not sure if it’s just too early for MS for me (I am having a generally unsettled stomach, but no real nausea). Last pregnancy I didn’t have much nausea either and I’m wondering if it’s because my prenatal doesn’t have iron in it. I’ve read that it’s the iron in prenatal vitamins that can cause nausea. When my SIL was super sick w/ her pregnancy last year, I recommended her to try gummy vitamins sans iron and supplement w/ Gentlesorb Iron from GNC. She said it really helped. It’s worth a try for anyone willing to switch things up to find some relief. 

bqtmom25

I dont take a prenatal anymore.  They have generally biounavailable forms in the wrong ratios and things that block eachother.  So really i feel like they are expensive for very little if any benefit.  Obviously a prestine diet would be best and I've done a little looking on the dr. Brewer diet but my willpower stinks.

So I take sublingual b12, a methylated b complex with lots of folate, extra choline (recent studies have shown a negative trend toward deficiency in pregnancy), cod liver oil, liver and probably going to add glutathione (just in case I need Tylenol and because it helps protect the baby from toxins)

troystory17

I know some spotting in the first trimester can be normal, but yesterday I had a big gush of blood and it had some clots in it.  I called my Dr and he had me come in and did an Ultrasound.  He said baby looked great and sounded completely unconcerned.  I've had spotting in my previous pregnancy, but this was so scary I was totally expecting bad news.  Has anyone had bleeding this far along (9w5d) and it been nothing?  I guess I'm just still pretty nervous because it was a really quick ultrasound and its not like he took measurements or anything.                                                                                                                                                                                                             

TheSouffleGirl

@kamahina9:  I've lost about 3 pounds in the 4 weeks I've known about my pregnancy.  For me, it's def the lack of alcohol coupled with a general conviction that food doesn't taste as good as it used to and I don't need to keep shoving it.  

@troystory17:  I had bleeding at 9 weeks last time.  No clots, but enough that I thought I was miscarrying; never got an explanation, but everything was fine & it was a one-off for the whole pregnancy.  Hoping for the same for you!

lifesabeach85

@mempartyof3 im with you on the just feeling yuck when I look in the mirror lately. I think hormones probably have a lot to do with it and to everyone else you look just as lovely as normal. If your body wants to you eat, don’t feel guilty. 

@troystory17 That sounds scary! I know this is way easier said than done (I can’t even take my own advice) but if the doctor doesn’t seem concerned and baby looked good and had a nice hb that’s good news! I wouldn’t feel bad though about calling or emailing and saying you’re still concerned and asking if you can have more assurance in the next week or so. But I bet they would have suggested more tests if they were worried. 

troystory17

Thanks guys, I feel better that there's been no blood since yesterday also no cramps or anything.  My Dr. always seems to be super laid back and that's just not in my nature haha

also in hindsight it was after some exercise so hopefully things just got a little aggrivated from that.

mockingjay1

@mempartyof3 - I am the same way with the nausea. Eating is the only thing that keeps it at bay. 
@troystory17 - I'm sorry for the bleeding, but I'm glad it stopped and baby looked good! FX for no more bleeding! 

Are you guys doing NIPT (non invasive pregnancy testing) like materniT21 or harmony? I know the lab my office uses since it was in their welcome bag, I'm just trying to decide which one we're going to do. I had no idea they had one that looks at every chromosome (with my son it was just chromosomes 13, 18, 21, and sex chromosomes) so we'll likely do that one with my history. Science amazes me.

wildrainbow

@mockingjay1 I am undecided. We did it with my ds because my Dr recommended it with my loss history. I will talk to hubby and the Dr again to see what is recommended. 

lifesabeach85

@mockingjay1 I did it with DD for those three chromosomes at 12w. My insurance did cover it even though I was under 35. I was planning on doing it again (the brand my new office uses is Informaseq). They have optional add ons for Fragile X and Spinal Muscular Atrophe. New insurance will only cover about half of the cost though so We are still deciding what to do. 

middleschoolmommy

My MFM doctor mentioned doing the nipt blood testing along with a NT scan. I didn't have either of those with DS. DH is all about it. He is a science and numbers guy. I'm on the fence. I think it might end up causing unnecessary stress if one of the numbers comes back low.

kbrown2385

Anyone a tea drinker? I’ve been drinking lemon ginger tea but want to find some new ones. Before I found out I was pregnant, I was drinking tumeric tea and honey lemon ginseng, but decided to stop after reading some things about them. Looking for recommendations if anyone has any.

purelex

Rainbow Lite prenatals here along with Spectrum DHA when I can choke down pills.  On nights that I can't, I use VitaFusion Prenatal Gummies.

I did lose weight during first trimester and a little into second with my DD, mostly because of food aversions and not feeling hungry.  Totally normal... I wouldn't stress about weight at all unless your doctor mentions it as a concern.

We also did Harmony last time and insurance (United Healthcare) covered it, even though I am under 35.  Could be my history, but I never heard anything either way.  We will probably do it this time around, also... my OB/GYN seems to recommend it across the board.

offtoneverland

@kbrown2385 Do you mean black tea or herbal? I've always been partial to black teas. I bought decaf Bigelow Lemon Lift yesterday and I really like it. It's a smooth black tea with lemon and spices. My favorite tea though is just a simple cup of English Breakfast with honey and cream. 

kbrown2385

@offtoneverland any kind of tea is fine, just something that’s safe during pregnancy. I’ve read different things about certain herbs being off limits. I will checkout the lemon lift. I’m into all things citrus lately so I’ll give it a shot. Thanks! 

blue2mango

@ginny_203 I take Rainbow light prenatal one. I also take a vegetarian DHA supplement with it. I have a shellfish allergy and am a vegetarian. This was the only one without shellfish. I have to buy the DHA online because its hard to find a vegetarian version. I took the same with my son. 
@lifesabeach85 I take the same prenatal. Different DHA though. I haven't been able to take it for 2 weeks though due to constant nausea. I started B6 a couple days ago and its helping so hopefully I can take them again soon. I couldn't even drink water. I was so thirsty and dehydrated. 

MouseMama817

Did anyone else experience cramping after a TV u/s? It’s just light cramping in my middle abdomen, nothing painful just uncomfortable. Wondering if the “dildo cam” is to blame.

blue2mango

@MouseMama817 That sounds familiar from with my son like I remember having some cramping from the "dildo cam". I haven't had an U/S with this one yet.