Questions 5/18

chopchop25

Woooo it’s Fri-yay! What’s on your mind?

MissBridg

We are finding out the gender in 4 days (woo!!) 

Wondering if anyone has any fun/ creative but low effort ideas for telling the older siblings? My kiddos are both pretty solidly rooting for opposite sides of the coin on this one...one or the other will be disappointed. 

mytrueloves

Does anyone take a magnesium supplement for headaches / migraines? My OB with DD suggested it and I'm having the same problem again. Can I find an over the counter supplement or do I need a prescription?

quiltandknit

@mytrueloves I take magnesium for migraine prevention as recommended by both my OB and neurologist. The dose is usually 400 mg magnesium oxide and it’s sold over the counter. 

Edited to add: its for prevention, not for acut attacks and can take up to 8-12 weeks to make a difference. 

cdepperschmidt

I’m posting this here, but I seriously debated starting a thread.

We just heard from our doctor, the 20 week ultra sound went well, “our baby is fine”, but they did noticed she had slight kidney dialation. According to her at this stage babies kidney should measure at 4mm and ours is measuring at 5mm. According to her, usually it’s not a concern unless they’re 10mm. She said it usually resolves in its own, but they want to send me to a specialist for a more detailed ultrasound. She told me not to cry or worry...

Of course I had no questions when she called, but then my mind started racing, so i looked it up. I didn’t think to ask whether it was one or both kidneys. Most of my reading confirmed what the doctor said and I found out it’s a common finding, something like 1 in 100 pregnancies. But apparently it’s also one of the soft markers for Downs Syndrome, so now I’m freaking out.  

Experience? Comfort? Words of wisdom? My anxiety is through the roof and I can’t even tell DH about it until tonight.

pajamstagrams

@mytrueloves I remember back in the day my neurologist told me there was an OTC (but hard to find) magnesium supplement for migraine ..it's called Migralex, anddddd I just looked it up and it has aspirin in it too. Boooo

But, I do remember him saying that magnesium oxide is better for migraines. If you want to poop, mag citrate is best.

pumpkinpancake

@cdepperschmidt no experience with that or words of wisdom from me, but all the hugs and comfort!  My gut would say that if your dr doesn’t seem overly concerned about it, then it’s probably nothing to freak out about yet.  No medical expertise here, but it sounds like 1mm above normal isn’t extreme/severe, so try to stay calm. I know it’s hard, but I’m sure the specialist will be able to give you more answers after another ultrasound. 

chyvie

@cdepperschmidt no words of wisdom either but do try not to stress until you have all the facts from the specialist. If your OB isnt worried about it that is a good sign too. Also did you get a blood genetic screening done? I have read blood tests are more accurate than ultrasound as there is more room for human error and baby not cooperating fully by measurements alone. Plus 1mm doesn't seem to worrisome. Big hugs and well wishes. 

cjx95

@cdepperschmidt no experience here but I would try to stay calm. When do you see the specialist? I would suggest making a list of the questions and concerns you and DH have between now and the appointment and ask the specialist. Hopefully they'll be able to ease your mind. Thinking of you and sending internet hugs! Keep us posted

quiltandknit

@cdepperschmidt Try to stay calm. I work in healthcare and I can tell you there are many incidental things that need to be looked at but don’t end up amounting to anything. Write down your questions, and good luck at your specialist visit! *internet hugs*

britvahok

@cdepperschmidt so many hugs!! I hope your appointment with the specialist is soon.

knottieamusements

@cdepperschmidt - what the other posters said. There are a lot of soft tissue markers for Downs, but just because your baby has one, it doesn’t mean baby has the condition.  They also measured the other markers during your ultrasound.  Remember ultrasounds are screening tools for things like Downs, not diagnostic tools.  

Don’t freak out, make the appointment, and everything will be okay.  Also- while you are frantically googling, you might look for ladies asking similar questions in these forums- you’ll discover that the vast majority of the respondents had soft tissue markers investigated that turned out to be nothing.  

(I don’t have direct experience, but my biggest concern this whole pregnancy was what the NIPT would show, and I did a whole bunch of googling about questions like this.)

rabtaido1214

@cdepperschmidt no personal experience with Down’s markers but my baby had one soft marker for Trisomy 18 and I completely understand the worry. My doctor was not at all concerned as it was just one marker and almost always trisomy 18 babies have multiple soft markers. Not sure if that’s the same for Down’s. After a couple days I was feeling a bit better. On the same day as my ultrasound they drew blood to do genetic screening and they called back 6 days later that I was low risk for everything so the chances of my baby having trisomy 18 is pretty much just as low as if they never even saw the soft marker. Sending you lots of soothing thoughts to get past the panic. 

nasalot188

@cdepperschmidt what the other ladies said! Try not to panic and I'm sending you all the internet hugs!

mytrueloves

@cdepperschmidt I understand your panic. Things like that seem so scary. I'm sure your doctor is right that it's nothing to worry about, though. Hang in there and I'll be thinking of you.

SweetSweetTooth

@cdepperschmidt hugs for the panic! Echoing what the ladies are saying. Try not to worry and your Dr isn't concerned so I wouldn't worry just yet. We are all thinking of you and I am praying for your peace and for your baby! 

cdepperschmidt

Thanks ladies! They are supposed to call to schedule the specialist appointment next week, the doctor didn’t call me until 4:30 this evening so everything was closed. I will try not to worry and I will try to stay off google... We did not do any of the 1st tri screanings.

linssears4

I’m getting a toothache. Soooo bummed. I think it’s a root canal that I had a temp crown placed on but never got it finished (I hate dental work with my entire soul)..... what are the guidelines and ideas behind dental work while pregnant? I know a few people have mentioned it on here but I can’t remember when or what wa said...

knottieamusements

@linssears4 - Tell your dentist you are pregnant. Depending on what needs to be done, they may want sign-off from your OB.  Likely no x-rays.  

knottieamusements

Hello all- Board organization question- 

From the Read First thread, it looks like the intention is to have a single thread for birth announcements.  When do you think we should start that thread.  

(Yes, I know it is early yet, but babies don’t always come on other people’s schedules...)

SawyerRichardson

From my last BMB we waited until we had the first birth, which was about 2 months before our actual board month. Which, judging by some of the stories on here we will probably have a couple of those.

hellopartyof5

@cdepperschmidt my friend had kidney dilation as well as a few other soft markers for downs. They did a crap load of tests and it wasn't anything. Baby is now 8 mos with no health problems! 

cdepperschmidt

@knottieamusements maybe when we hit the 3rd tri we can make a pinned post. Has September made one yet? 

@hellopartyof5 Thanks! I’m trying not to worry. Hopefully they will call first thing Monday to set it up.

knottieamusements

3rd tri sounds good.  No, September hasn’t started theirs yet. 

tinattt23

@knottieamusements In my last BMB, we had one pinned post for announcements. Then everyone got to started their own (or their labor partner started) thread with more details/full birth story. 

momtobx2

@mytrueloves I take magnesium every day 500mg. The neurologist suggested coq10 and riboflavin to add in for headaches.

tinattt23

@mytrueloves I take magnesium for restless legs, no headaches. I take this one because I can’t do pills. Usually half dose is enough as long as I’m taking it regularly. 
Country Life Liquid Target Mins - Calcium Magnesium with Vitamin D3 Complex, Natural Wild Blueberry Flavor - 32 fl. Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019GXPJM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NzeaBb3GJ0HN9

mytrueloves

@tinattt23 thanks for the recommendation. I didn't know they came in anything but pills. That's great because taking the pills made me nauseous last time so I stopped taking it lol

bel194

@cdepperschmidt not quite the same thing, but DD had choroid plexus cysts in her brain during her anatomy scan, which is also 1 in 100 and a soft marker for T18. By the time we got to the follow up ultrasound at 24 weeks, all but 1 had dissolved and she's was born without T18.  

I think doctors tend to err on the side of caution so if they're telling you not to worry, believe them! My OB said that unless there's more than 1 soft marker, it's not abnormal and that she hates that they even have to tell patients about them because it causes so much unnecessary worry. 

cdepperschmidt

@bel194 Thanks! A friend of mine had that happen with DS1. Everything turn out okay. She told me to stay away from google because google said her son would be stillborn and he’s a perfectly healthy two year old. 

Im trying to stay away from google, I just need to get out of my head.

tinattt23

@mytrueloves Fair warning, it tastes like blueberry chalk. I basically treat it like a shot and chug water after. 

jwebbbber45678

Definitely stay away from Google! Chances are your baby is going to be just fine, keep thinking positive thoughts!

jomama1618

@knottieamusements I would honestly suggest the very end of the 2nd tri. I only say that because we can get it pinned quickly that way. We had at least 3 babies (I'm my last bmb) that came by 30 weeks. The earliest one just made 28 weeks. I think most of us edited our post in the announcement thread to add birth story.

cdepperschmidt

@knottieamusements I’m pretty sure TB has a Birth Story Board that people can use if they want. In my last BMB I think we had an announcement thread and a birth story thread.

jynjer4

@cdepperschmidt My mom was told my sis had quite a few soft markers for Downs. If I remember right her kidneys was one of them. She turned out just fine! I know you can’t really help it but worrying isn’t good for either of you. My sis told me last night when I was freaking about my AS that I needed to quit stressing about my baby because even if something was wrong, there was absolutely nothing I could do right now and worrying would just hurt us both. It was oddly comforting. I hope your next ultrasound goes well! Hugs 

cdepperschmidt

@jynjer91 you are right. I am doing better at relaxing today.

magdaaaa

@cdepperschmidt glad you are able to relax a little - the  worrying starts from BFP and never ends, and that’s what makes us excellent mothers!

I do have a question, despite how silly i feel for asking it. I haven’t been pregnant in almost a decade. So here goes... has anyone else not felt movement yet? I’m 18+3 today and honestly don’t think I’ve felt a thing. Luckily, I have access to A Doppler at work which has been my only saving grace. I can hear his 150bpm heart every day. But still. A movement or flutter or something would be reassuring as all get out right about now. Am I the only one??

knottieamusements

@mommy_myers - I was 19w6d before I felt anything, and I am 20w4d and haven’t felt anything since.  I got to see Blast on Friday at my anatomy scan, so I know everything is okay.  According to my ultrasound, I have an anterior placenta, which apparently makes it less likely to feel movement early.  

HoosOnFirst

I was 20w when I felt movement the first time! This time I just started feeling now, around 18.

cdepperschmidt

How much additional water should we be drinking a day? I’ve been told that nonpregnant I should drink half my body weight in oz (i.e. if you weigh 100lbs you should drink 50oz). I get Braxton Hicks when I don’t drink enough water and I hate them.

Laumb11

@mommy_myers I swear I felt Movement super early and then nothing. I’m like you, I also have a Doppler! I remember feeling my first at 19w with flutters but then I dont Remember how often I felt It after that. Now I am Almost 21w and felt her a ton on Friday night but then nothing yesterday. We will see if anything today but it’s really only at night when I am Finally relaxing. 
(Sorry for all the weird caps)