June Symptoms

bearmomma1

@canucklehead123 Last week at 36 weeks they did GBS swab and no cervix check, this week at 37 they did a cervix check. It was very minimally invasive: the dr just put her fingers in and felt around for a few seconds. I didn't experience any cramping or spotting after.

@kissableviv I was 2cm dilated and about 40-60% effaced and I haven't had any real contractions, some minor BH here and there, and my belly is measuring right on track.

 Trying not to get my hopes up but it was nice to know my body is making it's way! I'm all for babe coming at any time now. 

gingerbride26

canucklehead123 i think the consensus the last few weeks here is that most places start them at 36 weeks, some at 38. I don't think it's worse than a pap - at least there's no dry swab! no specula needed, but dr goes full hand in and basically feels the cervix for softness, length, and any dilation.  Dilation is based on how many fingers.  Some dr's might be gentler than others - I know i have a "sensitive" cervix and it doesn't like being in contact with anything lol be it dr, tampon, or penis.

millpe

Just jumping in to the cervix check convo. My hospital routinely starts them 36 weeks, the GBS testing is also week 36. I didn't find it any more uncomfortable than a regular pap and don't think it made me crampy and I didn't have any spotting. I was also completely closed so maybe it's more uncomfortable if there was something going on? 

wildtot

@emsnedds i got checked last Friday and i was surprised to not get much cramping after all the pressure I’ve been having. I did have some slight pink discharge on Friday night and Sunday morning but nothing since. Seeing more plug like discharge. I think I’ll be getting weekly checks moving forward but only have 2 weeks to good after this week. 

sm05-2

Such bad acid reflux last night despite having taken two Pepcids. My doc said I could add tums to that, so I’ll be trying that tonight. Only got a couple of hours of sleep. 

Was someone implying before that a massage could start labor? I’m slightly less than two weeks from my c-section and am scheduled to get a prenatal massage on Saturday. Also hoping to delay labor till the 2nd, simply bc there’s still so much to do....

wildtot

@sm05-2 there are pressure points that can induce labor. Although it doesn’t work for everyone. With my acupuncture with DS i mentioned to avoid those points. My OB this time also approved th chiro as long as it wasn’t having any labor symptoms. I’d probably just mention it at the time of your massage and enjoy it! 

bearmomma1

@sm05-2 I got a massage yesterday! They just make sure you're not high-risk. Enjoy! 

stillziggysmom

@sm05-2 I wouldn't worry about a prenatal massage, if anything it's probably super smart this close to your deadline. I know there are a couple trigger point that have the POTENTIAL to get things moving, but a masseuse trained in prenatal will know exactly where to stay away from. A pressure points foot massage would be what you may want to shy away from. 

sm05-2

Ah, thanks for the tips @wildtot @rachelsogo and @d_marie_23. I am high-risk, mainly due to AMA, but my pregnancy is fine otherwise, so hopefully the masseuse will still do it. I have another nonstress test on Thursday, so I’ll check in with my doctor about it, too, just in case. 

morethanamama

I am getting a prenatal massage this week! So stoked to get 25% off since I was referred by my yoga teacher. This guy is apparently amazing and he also offers an "induction" massage. Might be working with those trigger points...I will see how things go and if I want to try that too closer to due date.

I am getting waxed tomorrow at almost 38 weeks, cutting in close but kept forgetting to book...I can't see down there but the hair still feels short so hopefully it is not too painful.

moguippy

@canucklehead123 just had my GBS swab at 35+4 and she didn’t even offer a cervix check. Maybe depends on the practice?

elisam511

@gingerbride26 have you seen "Pete's Dragon?" I am not sure if its Disney or not, but OMG - WATER WORKS!

gingerbride26

@elisam511 yes we recently rewatched it with DD - well the live-action - do you mean that one or the original animated? and yes it's Disney

foxbaby2016

I just had some spotting and cramping. It seems to be easing up now but I'm wondering if this is the start of things....?  I'm suddently super nervous about this whole "labor" thing. Even though I've done it before, I don't really remember what it's like if that makes any sense.

canucklehead123

Well they got me all prepared for the GBS swab, and then I show up today and they go "oh, you're actually one day too early so we'll do it next week"... I had DH helping me with my fanny admin in the bathtub (bless) this morning in preparation for this 'event'...Feeling annoyed.

For all those who are worried about massages - I've been going every week, sometimes every two weeks for the past few months and she's been doing my feet and calves... no induction yet.

michelle_bird

@canucklehead123 everyone already covered the cervix check part for you.  Since it's just a finger (no speculum or light), I don't think your doc would be able to tell you anything about scar tissue.  Even with those, my doc made it seem like she really wouldn't know (but maybe it's because this is my 2nd after LEEP).

Definitely ask your doc, but I'll share with you what mine told me with my first child and what I found to be true.  My doc said what she often sees after LEEP is the cervix not dilating much until after the scar tissue "breaks" or releases, then it tends to move more quickly.  The scar tissue from my LEEP prevented my cervix from being able to dilate on its own more than 1-1.5 cm.  We induced at 41 weeks using Cytotec (Cervadil is also a common one for LEEP patients), which is applied directly to the cervix.  The first round made a small amount of change, but not much so a 2nd dose was applied.  The 2nd dose gave my cervix the push it needed for that scar tissue to break and I went very quickly from a "maybe 2 cm" to 6 cm and having contractions every 3 minutes. I had my DD less than 6 hours after that.

I've asked my doctor if she thinks the same will happen this time and she says she has no way of knowing.  Some of her LEEP 2nd time moms don't have any problem with the old scar tissue because it's not as tight as before, others have the same reaction as the first.  She checked me today and I'm at "1 cm and a wiggle", but that means nothing to me knowing what happened to me last time.  

Any way - hope that info helps!

canucklehead123

Thanks for sharing your experience @MichelleAG05. I have seen many doctors over the course of this pregnancy and most give the same -wait and see- kind of answer.  I just thought since I had heard of other women speaking of having scar tissue manually broken up by the nurse or doctor during labour, that there would be some way of knowing if there was scar tissue there to begin with (if that makes sense).  

runsomewhere

At this point I have some degree of acid reflux daily. Also, I'm swollen and sore down there  especially after sitting for too long. Basically this baby is messing me up at both ends.

SmashJam

I have this feeling that I thought was contractions the other day but I am now convinced is baby just awkwardly pushing my pelvis apart, from side to side. Is that possible? It really hurts and stops me in my tracks, I can't walk through it, and I get it sometimes while sitting. I dunno if its baby flipping because I'm pretty sure he's still head down. He's head down in that his head i in my left hip, and his body is going along my right hip and up my right side, and then his knees and leg are behind my belly button. So I guess stretching out might cause that kind of uncomfortable feeling. But damn, it hurts!

morethanamama

@SmashJam I think our babes are positioned the same way. My doctor said he was facing sideways...I'm super obsessed with him facing down and was going crazy figuring out exact position via spinning babies. The doctor did tell me the position but I didn't pay attention and all I heard was "occiput" which is only part of the name of the position...pretty sure he is posterior...
Anyways I think it's entirely possible your pelvis is opening up in a sense, it may be a rush of relaxing (the hormone) too.

Did you also find any correlation between anterior placentas and back labor? I'm trying not to make too much out of it but I read that sometimes the 2 go together.

wildtot

Before this week the constipation was driving me nuts! Since I took miralax on Sunday (just ONCE!), omg i just can’t stop going multiple times a day!! No wonder the doctor said it was better than colace. I want to be normal already!!!

acunamatada

@SmashJam I think I’m getting that too. It almost feels like terrible period cramps, but they only happen when she’s moving a certain way so I think she’s doing it to me. Almost like she’s trying to engage? Idk. They’re worse for me when I’m sitting though. 

michelle_bird

My chiropractor has said that my groin and pelvic pain is definitely from my pelvis starting to separate.  And baby has dropped too, which makes that pressure worse. But it does mean that I can breathe easier and eat more!

foxbaby2016

Probably TMI but I've started spotting and losing my MP this morning. I'm not having contractions or anything so I'm wondering what this could mean. 38 + 3 days. I'd LOVE to go into labor naturally before my induction date of Wednesday. 

stlmegs

@foxbaby2016 that is exciting!  I don't know anything about losing mucus plugs and what that means, but I am pretty sure it's a good sign!!

I have my first internal exam tomorrow.  As many of you mentioned, I am excited to see what progress (if any) I've made    Hoping for her to stay put until at least July 1.  We can make it!!

SmashJam

@MichelleAG05 @acunamatada @kissableviv I am gonna pretend that that is correct, and that he's trying to engage! I am about 90% sure I was never engaged before induction the last two times, and have never, ever experienced this pain in my past two pregnancies. I'm holding out hope that this means something will go differently and I'll go on my own this time!

flockofmoosen3

@foxbaby2016 I want to say that you might be between 2-4cm dilated if you're losing your MP. I think that was the case for me at 2.5-3cm with previous pregnancies. So exciting!!!

chaser61

I saw that some of you posted about swelling “down there.” Did it come and go or has it been here to stay? Are you doing anything to get relief? I woke up feeling swollen and tender one morning. I was surprised it showed up then and not at the end of the day after being up and about. I soaked in the tub and it helped a little. I wonder if it is a sign that the baby is dropping? My first never dropped until I went to into labor.

runsomewhere

@chaser61 I'm not sure if I'm the only one but I've been posting about swelling down there. I first noticed it over a month ago after sitting in a really uncomfortable hard chair at a work conference. It felt better the next day but it never really went away, it gets worse after sitting in place for longer stretches of time. I also have a mild case of varicose veins  from the swelling, yes down there. My doctor says it's all totally normal and will go away after birth. I think getting an up-close look has been the scariest part of the whole thing.

In my case it was not due to baby dropping, baby has not dropped yet, I'm just out of room so it's from the pressure of the baby. My doctor said that for relief I could ice it, sit on a donut pillow and just avoiding sitting in positions that feel uncomfortable to the area.

KatyF0813

I've started to get jabs of pain like rights were my legs meet my body... Sort of along the sides of my vulva (ugh I hate that word but I can't think of any other way to describe the spot) like along my panty line I guess?  It can be either side, and it doesn't last long, but it's enough to make me nearly fall over. Is this what you guys are feeling when you say lightening crotch? #overit

SmashJam

@KatyF0813 My lightning crotch is straight down the middle of my vagina like, where the cervix is. Its cervical nerves I guess? What you are experiencing sounds like my hip flexor issues, which you might be experiencing more of because of everything loosening up? Or maybe it is some type of lightning crotch and its different from mine!

chaser61

@runsomewhere Thanks! I remembered that someone posted about vericose veins too, so that was you. I felt a lump too but luckily it went away when the swelling went down a little. I couldn’t see it though and my next appointment is not until Monday. 

wildtot

Anyone else dealing with sudden frequent BMs? All of a sudden i have to go multiple times a day and the cramping is super uncomfortable. Doesn’t help that my left legs goes numb each time i go. 

canucklehead123

@wildtot are they loose bms? Could be an early labour sign?

@KatyF0813 my lightning crotch is straight down the cervix 

wildtot

@canucklehead123 kinda nothing diarrhea though. Sorry TMI, but I’ve gone at least 4 time today! Got two more weeks for my c section. I’ve heard rumors of it being a sign of labor. I didn’t have this with DS.

stillcozy

I am having loose bowels and a lot of period like cramps. also a lot of nausea 

wildtot

@lindsayleigh1989 yes I’m feeling nauseous every morning! Not enough to actually throw up. 

babybakie

Omg @wildtot and @lindsayleigh1989... I just jumped on this board to see if anyone else was nauseated because I feel like throwing up now! I was only barely queasy in the first trimester so im surprised. And i too suddenly have frequent loose BMs. Also new this week, I feel like I need a cane to walk due to severe pelvic pain and newly swollen ankles. My symptoms were so slight until this week at 35 weeks! Now I'm wondering if I may go early by a couple of weeks. Sorry to all you ladies not feeling so great. I guess this is all a common part of late pregnancy. I realize now I was spoiled. 

stillcozy

@babybakie so with you on the pelvic pain! I thought I was going to cry the other day just walking to the bathroom! 

babybakie

@lindsayleigh1989 Ugh! Right!!? Feel better! I took off work Tuesday because it was so bad that morning. I just got a bellyband today so i am hoping that will help!