Question Thread

Jens_Hoes

@ab_canada for some babies it helps them sleep. Other babies hate it. There’s really no way to tell but there is no safety reason to do so. 

PensiveCrayon

@ab_canada What others have said. I’d recommend reading The Happiest Baby on the Block if you haven’t already (it explains the reason behind swaddling and other methods) but this time I may try to get my kid out of the swaddle earlier. (I say this now, when I’m not experiencing the 4th trimester sleep deprivation!)

hbmama21

Re: Swadling—Totally depends on you and the little one, IMO. I’d just suggest trying what works for you initially and adjusting to Baby as needed.

My LO loved it and it helped him fall asleep and make it through transitions for the first month or two. We did muslin blankets (summer baby)—full swaddle, then one arm out, then both, then none as he got stronger/older. 

Activebaby

ab_canada said:

Question re: swaddling

Does everyone swaddle their baby for the first little while? Or do some babies just hate to be swaddled? Is it just to help baby sleep, or for some safety reason?

Not all babies like to be swaddled. To my knowledge a lot do. It is for safety in that you can’t just lay a blanket across a baby (can get stuck on their face). It’s also so helpful when they startle, they don’t wake themseleves up fully because their arms are tucked in. 

runrinserepeat

We loved swaddling. I’ll do it again with this one as long as possible, as it helped both kids not startle themselves awake every 30 minutes. 

Activebaby

Speaking of showers - my hair colorist was complaining that her coworker has 2 boys under 5 and they just had a shower for her for her 3rd boy. She was complaining because she had been to her other shower as well and bought gifts then, but felt obligated to go again this time and buy gifts. She said that she registered for a lot of things. My hair colorist is super sweet (and isn’t always complaining). The topic came up because we were taking about what I would need for #3 (car seats to fit 3 across, new bottles, and diapers). 

ab_canada

Thanks for the answers ladies! 

Ps. Babies startling themselves awake is the funniest thing I've ever heard 

Katzalia

ab_canada said:

Thanks for the answers ladies! 

Ps. Babies startling themselves awake is the funniest thing I've ever heard 

@ab_canada it may sound funny but as a ftm it was the thing that made me want to cry most often. My lo would flail and hit herself in the face unless swaddled. And then wake up. And not go back to sleep. 

katy0990

@ab_canada It sounds crazy, but their startle reflex is so strong in the beginning. DS slept better when swaddled. Sleep sacks are great, too.

IMC

Hello All! Ilona here. I've been quiet since I introduced myself since life/work has been insane since I found out I'm pregnant- lots of travel, my boss getting fired (and me subsequently taking over his job), etc.  

Anyways, here are my questions. I'm 11 weeks now and I feel like I''m really starting to show. This is my first pregnancy - has this happened to anyone? I haven't told my work yet because we haven't gotten NIPT test results back, nor have I had my second sonogram yet. Naturally, I'm about to spend three full days at a work retreat with all of the staff. Anyone have any good tricks to hiding a small bump? Flouncy, blouses? Belly Band? Camisoles? I'm tall so it's always been hard to find long shirts. 

A separate question: has anyone done a keratin hair treatment the second trimester? I live in DC and we're about to enter 24/7 humidity season and am seriously contemplating it. 

Thanks for your help!

CecilB93

TMI sex question...and possible TW blood mentioned

So, when should I worry about blood after sex? Since becoming pregnant, two of the times DH and I have had sex have resulted in a LOT of fresh blood. I think I tend to have a pretty sensitive cervix, when the OB did my pap I bled. If it stops pretty quickly after us finishing am I generally okay? Or should we be more careful about sex during pregnancy? We're not super rough by any means, but when we are a little more rough than normal is when I bleed more. I have my NT scan Tuesday, so that'll help ease my mind, but the blood just freaks me out even though I know it can be normal.

gorgeousariel

@CecilB93
*TW blood  *

I would think that's ok as long as there's not cramping too. I am on pelvic rest from my large SCH. We fooled around but no penetration. I just woke up to bleeding . I wouldn't think the foreplay would be enough to make myself bleed. We did work in the yard today, so I'm hoping that's the answer and stops soon. Same for you. 

Activebaby

@IMC I bet it is way more obviously showing for you than for others at 11 weeks. Non-fitted tops usually hide a lot. Also don’t wear maternity clothes. I find those always make a pregnancy more obvious. This isn’t great advice, really just wanted to share it’s probably most obvious to you. Good luck!

abowls

@IMC, I've been doing keratin treatments for the past 3 years but I decided that I'm not doing any at all while pregnant.  I'm just not comfortable with using that level of formaldehyde.  I too live around DC (NoVA) and my hair is just going to have to suck this summer.  Thank goodness for flat irons.

PensiveCrayon

@IMC for bump-hiding, try long loose tops. I have a few Luxe tees and tanks from Old Navy and I feel like they do a good job covering up my bump. I could be deluding myself though If it’s not already too late you could maybe try a Lularoe Carly dress? It’s a swing style dress, so it fits nice up top but is loose on the body and is fairly generous for hiding all manner of bumps and post-baby flab. 

ab_canada

@IMC

I agree with the comment that it's probably way more obvious to you than others. I think loose tops or dresses will be your best bet.

I told my team just a few days ago and was able to hide it with loose tops and dresses. I got a comment that I'm not showing yet and I felt like I was definitely showing for the last two weeks (I feel like I have been waking up with a bump for two weeks, as opposed to just having one when my bladder is full or just after I ate). 

kadeephd

@IMC Like others said, I bet it's more obvious to you than anyone else.  I'm 13 weeks and a FTM and I feel like I have a bump, but when I send pictures to my mom she just laughs and says I'm sticking it out.  A-line dresses might be another good choice to hide any developing bump. Also, I live in DC too :-)  

IMC

@Activebaby @abowls @PensiveCrayon @ab_canada and @kadeephd for the advice! I am probably  super paranoid about my middle - comments from my husband about my middle don't help  We also had to spill the beans to my Aunt over a Memorial Day weekend visit and she was, um, forward about my "looking pregnant". But I think a lot of it is bloat, etc. Loose tops and dresses it is! @abowls also thanks for the thoughts about keratin - formaldehyde is what I'm nervous about. At least you understand the DC weather! @kadeephd hello to another DC-er!  

lexidawg

Question.. My due date is December 27th. I previously had an open myomectomy for fibroid removal where they had to enter the uterine cavity. I knew that I wouldn't be allowed to labor and would need a c-section but didn't realize how early it would be.  My doc said it would be in my 37th week.  Do i continue to respond to things based on my original due date or my delivery date?

Activebaby

@lexidawg is you are asking in regards to this board, I don’t think it matters which groups you respond to. Whatever feels right. No matter when any of us are due, we never know when we will be delivering. You may have more similar symptoms to your due date people, but will be anticipating delivery early with your c section due date people. Either way is good

kristah2

Do what works for you @lexiedog
I'm going to be a repeat section. I still go based on my due date because I like to be grouped with all the mom's (to-be) with similar symptoms as me versus being with everyone who are ahead of me and hitting second tri and other mile stones significantly before me.
But that's personal preference!
And my section will only be 7 days-ish prior to due date (as it was before) 

lexidawg

@Activebaby @kristah2 Thanks! The being grouped with women with similar symptoms makes sense!

mamajudec2018

Are cucumbers ok to eat? I'm reading that they might not be and that seems so weird to me.

hkom

mamajudec2018 said:

Are cucumbers ok to eat? I'm reading that they might not be and that seems so weird to me.

Whaaaaat?? I've never heard of that.  They can pry my mid-summer, cold, tajin-dusted cukes from my stiff dead fingers

maureenmce

@mamajudec2018 I haven't heard that either! Are they associated with listeria risk or something? They're not on my OB's do not eat list!

PensiveCrayon

@mamajudec2018 Where in the world did you read that? If it was Romper... (I hate-read Romper all the time. I was recently looking to see if Korean skin care was okay and they said the masks were sketchy because housewives package them and you never know what kind of germs are on them. WTAF.)

Seriously though. Eat your cucumbers.

Jens_Hoes

You really can get sick from anything.  I hate that there is this culture of restriction when pregnant (aside from medications and things that are shown to be a direct link to having issues). 
I got a parasite in 2015.  I believe it was from ingesting lake water. But there is no way to know.  I was sick as a dog for over a week, and they did testing on me and found that I had a parasite that is prevalent in third world countries.  It was horrid.  The CDC had to call me and asked me about everything I ate and drank, and where I ate and drank it 10 days before I got sick.  The risk is there for EVERYTHING. 

mamajudec2018

@hkom @maureenmce @PensiveCrayon There were a couple of sites (momjunction being one of them) that said they are considered unsafe for pregnancy and to discuss with your doctor before eating. Those sites must not be any good because it's also not on my do not eat list and I have to think cucumbers are good while pregnant! I'm eating them

runrinserepeat

Ha, I eat cucumbers every single day. FX baby doesn't mind too much! 

rosebud332

I have eaten about 10,000 cucumbers in the last few weeks. C’est la vie. 

hbmama21

No. Just no. I’ve spent the last two years reading an enormous amount of research on correlations to allergic disease and exactly zero mentioned cucumber. A quick search for that specific topic yielded zero reputable sources or articles. Cucumbers are one of 15 foods I’m allowed to eat right now, with a toddler who has several rare allergy disorders, so my vote for this and any other tripe you read on the Internet is: unless our OB said specifically in your case to avoid it (and provided a reasoning or valid backup research); ignore it and eat your cukes.

hoosiermama-2

@PensiveCrayon What'd ya learn about K-beauty products? 
I bought a facewash that made my face feel amazing, but then thought about all the potential ingredients (I mean, the kind that make k-beauty so good/popular... idk any of the actual ingredients, haha), and I haven't really used it since. I couldn't find a list of ingredients online. 

AGK2015

Lay off on using your cukes as a dildo and you should be fine. Unless there's an actual recall on them at the moment, that's seriously the only way I could see them being dangerous.

gorgeousariel

@hoosiermama-2 when PG I use Belli face wash. 
https://www.ulta.com/your-best-baby-bump-duo?productId=xlsImpprod6480376  ETA: sorry that not the face wash link but you can see the brand. 

PensiveCrayon

@hoosiermama-2 From what I can tell it's just the big acne-fighting stuff like retinoids and hydroxy acids that need to be avoided. None of my fancy Korean products have that kind of stuff in them. Snail, however...

This is the article I found most helpful.

whitneyb89

Might be a little TMI, but has anyone dealt with bright green (about moss colored) poop during pregnancy? I noticed that mine was yesterday and it really threw me off. I looked it up and it mentioned that it's most likely your diet, but I can't think of anything I've eaten recently that would have caused it. It mentioned that prenatal vitamins can cause it too, but why now?

Update: Went to the bathroom again today and was still green. 

whaat

@borgie05 my son kicks my belly constantly. I just bought some pregnancy books so that maybe I can explain it to him. I also am going to buy “feet are not for kicking.” We have “hands are not for hitting” and “teeth are not for biting,” and they worked pretty well for specific situations.

CecilB93

@whitneyb89 if you ate anything with blue dye it can do that! Used to happen to me when I'd drink an ocean water from sonic. Otherwise idk, maybe see if it goes away today or call your doctor tomorrow?

deutschmama

@maureenmce- this is way late, but I'm still catching up and wanted to say- if you feel comfortable with it- let them throw you a shower! If your friends/family are anything like mine, they probably love any reason to celebrate, and people who love you want to gather around and be happy for you when good things are happening. In my mind, its less about presents and more about giving people a chance to get together and have a good time.
Does that sound too happy-Disney-y? Sorry. I'm back home with my family and having all the feels.

mamajudec2018

@CecilB93 Hi, I just got my results from my 1 hour glucose test and it looks like it's not good. I got a 145. Do you remember what you got/know if this is bad news and what the next steps would be? I left a message on the nurse line at my doctors office but I'm worried they won't call back since it is Friday. Sorry to bug you but I know you have experienced this.