@sammierose464 make sure you’re well hydrated. If they don’t subside, it’s not a bad idea to get checked out to make sure things are okay. Everyone in L&D would rather you go in and get checked out, and be able to send you home, than have you stay away and there be a true issue.
@sammierose464 real contractions will not subside and they do not get weaker. They will eventually form a real pattern. Get a timing app. Most Drs tell you not to go to the hospital until your contractions are every 4 minutes and can last 30 seconds to a minute. Some say at 5 mins a part. Ask your dr about which they recommend. Also, if they are real, you cannot get rid of them or make then less intense. Braxton can usually ease or subside by changing position, laying down, sitting down.... and then continue to grow weaker.
@HoosOnFirst not really. The 5-1-1 timing (5minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour) will usually have you at the beginning of active labour, so around 3-4 cm. Normal progression from that point for a FTM is 1cm every 1-2 hours. The difference would be how difficult sitting in a car for an hour contracting will be. Is there somewhere near the hospital (a mall maybe) where you could head a bit earlier and walk around, so you don’t have to deal with a long drive while contracting?
I see a lot of info for FTM. I am a STM but had a planned c-section last time. Does all of the FTM stuff apply to me since I’m attempting VBAC? I know everybody is different, but I’m talking about things like 1-2 cm/hour once you hit 5-1-1.
Does baby dropping mean anything? I know they can stay high until delivery, but what about dropping early. I was laying down *not* napping and suddenly felt like I could breathe again. I didn’t think anything of it, but MH said something after I got up about how low baby is right now. I never dropped with my twins.
@purplegoldfish2 since you haven’t laboured before, your body will likely labour like a FTM.
Dropping early doesn’t really mean anything, and it can be more common when you’ve carried babies before. It can make breathing easier but peeing harder
I’m enjoying having use of my lungs again... really hoping I don’t have trouble peeing though (or start peeing myself - I’ve been fortunate to not have that happen during either pregnancy).
@HoosOnFirst not really. The 5-1-1 timing (5minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour) will usually have you at the beginning of active labour, so around 3-4 cm. Normal progression from that point for a FTM is 1cm every 1-2 hours. The difference would be how difficult sitting in a car for an hour contracting will be. Is there somewhere near the hospital (a mall maybe) where you could head a bit earlier and walk around, so you don’t have to deal with a long drive while contracting?
Thanks! I’m a stm but I was induced the first time. So I’m worried I won’t make it to the hospital. It’s an urban downtown hospital so no mall close by... but of course I could walk around the city with Dh (although we need to have family with DD as soon as we leave for... wherever we go).
@HoosOnFirst sorry about that! If it’s your second I’d give yourself a bit more leeway. If the contractions are feeling like the real deal, and are between 7-10 minutes apart, I’d head in.
@cdepperschmidt not always, but usually they do. Certain complications can delay a second labour, or speed up a first one. For example preeclampsia or an abruption will speed up a labour, poor baby position (sunnyside up, etc) will slow it down.
My first labour was around 17 hours and the second was 22 hours - but it was twins, Twin B was a lot bigger, and poorly positioned, and I pushed over an hour between the two of them.
@cdepperschmidt not always, but usually they do. Certain complications can delay a second labour, or speed up a first one. For example preeclampsia or an abruption will speed up a labour, poor baby position (sunnyside up, etc) will slow it down.
My first labour was around 17 hours and the second was 22 hours - but it was twins, Twin B was a lot bigger, and poorly positioned, and I pushed over an hour between the two of them.
I'm so curious how this will differ from my first. With Z, I was induced at 41 weeks, never got to the Pitocin because she had to break my water when his heart rate kept dropping, but then I was only in active labor for 4 hours before he popped out. I hope my labor starts sooner and on it's own, but I don't know how we'd even get me and H to the hospital in time if I progressed faster this time around.
I'm curious to see when this baby will want to be born. They say that second and subsequent children will usually be born earlier than the first one or around the same time. ODD was born at 38 weeks exactly but I didn't technically go into labor naturally. I woke up with my waters ruptured and had to be induced. Not sure if I can count on this one being born at 38 weeks. We'll just have to see!
Ladybug - April 2013 Dandelion - October 2018 Angel "Aurora" - July 2020 Angel "Sawyer" - May 2021 Angel "Maxine" - January 2022 Angel "Violet" - March 2022 Baby Dove due March 2023
Not anti vax but trying to be very informed - I heard this about the tdap - so make sure your relatives get the shot 6-8 weeks before baby is do so they aren't silent carriers! @jennybean80 can you confirm this? also saw a few drug inserts that say the drug has not been tested on pregnant ladies so It is also not known whether the vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity... (direct from the FDA website)
TDaP is not a live vaccine, so therefore it doesn't shed. That being said, they have found that recipients can be asymptomatic carriers for up to six (I think, could be more) weeks following the shot. If they come into contact with the pertussis bacteria, the bacteria will be alive and well (and spreading) but they themselves won't have symptoms, but they will be nicely sharing the bacteria as if they did. There is no way to tell if someone is carrying or not, so I would insist that anyone who has had TDaP in the last 8 weeks not visit.
6-8 weeks!? My doctor told me 2 weeks. My husband is getting his tomorrow and I’m due in 5 weeks so I hope that’s ealry enough. I’ll be lingering to see the professional’s response to your question!
I’m not super familiar with the TDaP. It isn’t recommended or given during pregnancy here. I’d run those questions past your doctor.
But I can speak to the fact that it hasn’t been tested on pregnant women. No meds are ever tested on pregnant women. It’s considered unethical, so no studies are ever conducted. That doesn’t mean the meds/vaccines are unsafe, just that current ethics guidelines don’t allow for testing.
@jennybean80 and @sammierose464 I got the Tdap in Canada. My OB said it's now recommended and research shows it's best because of whopping cough being on the rise
Me 33 DH 41 TTC since 2016 Due: October 12, 2018 Location: Ontario, Canada
I just looked at the CDC website and they recommend pregnant women get it between 27-36 weeks and anyone else coming into contact with the newborn receive the vaccine two weeks prior. Hope that helps!
@jennybean80 a mom from my last bmb who is in Canada just asked about the TDAP! She said that it was recommended for her this time around, but not last time.
Who else is everyone recommending get the tdap? DH got it and we are having the grandparents get it since they will be around more often but anyone outside of that I feel like is difficult to keep tabs on. FIL already made a joke that pissed me off along the lines of "are you going to check everyone's immunization cards before visiting?" Eyeroll.
@jellybelly114 everyone who plans on visiting often OR those who will be around for multiple days visiting (ex. out of state relatives who visit). So SIL would get one since she plans to stay a week and visit, but I’m not going to stress if my cousin who might see LO for a few hours one day doesn’t. In situations where we might see a large group of people for a short period of time who may/may not be sick/vaccinated/carrying a bug I plan to baby wear to discourage people from getting too close and passing on germs (especially when the holidays roll around).
I can’t control everyone and their own choice to vaccinate, but putting it out there as a reminder for everyone is a good start, and then double check with those that are going to be around often/an extended period before baby arrives.
@jellybelly114 DH is getting his again, my mom and stepdad are getting theirs, I just have to talk to my ILs. When DD was born they said they wouldn’t be getting any more shots, but when I was at the hospital the other day they told me that the pertussis outbreaks here in TX have been bad in the past few years and they’d highly recommend it for anyone who will be near the baby. So if my ILs choose not to get their booster, then they’re choosing not to see my kid for the first couple of months. They’re already on thin ice with me because of some things they’ve done while they’ve had DD and DS recently so I have no problem telling them that they can’t be around the baby.
@tlmill how old is your youngest kid right now? I only ask because DS is 2, we just had the TDaP when I was pregnant with him and they said even with the outbreaks, DH didn't need to have another since his is current. Said it's good for 10yrs and the only reason mom's get it more often (every pregnancy here) is passive immunity to baby. So I'm interested if they told you he needs it again. Because it's something I worried about.
DS is almost 3 but DH didn’t get it when I was pregnant with him. Neither of us can remember if he got it when I was pregnant with DD (4.5) so both the pedi and my OB recommended that he go ahead and get it.
with my older boys (5 and 3) I was given the TDap shot after birth, but this time around my doctor indicated that "rules" have changed and they now give it during pregnancy (standard at 33 week appt) so that the immunity will pass on to the baby
@jennybean80 It's so frustrating - I'm in BC and it's not considered routine, even though it's now recommended. I have to try and get it through a health unit, and have to pay for it. I can't even get it through work (I work at one of the health authorities), unless there is an active outbreak. DH and I are still going to get it, but they make it so hard!
My OB told me to have DH get it again, even though he got it when SS was born (6 years ago). I am not having SS get it, and my ILs got theirs when SS was born so I'm comfortable with them as well.
@Sailing_Mama I can understand your frustration. I have now tried 3 places (my OB who doesn't administer, my physician who won't because i'm pregnant, and the urgent care who wants to charge $100) and have had no luck. I'll be going too Walmart or CVS to get it and it'll be around $55. Although, that's a drop in the bucket compared to the $5,000 out of pocket i'll be paying for all of the medical services this year.
My husband & I went to CVS and it was coded as preventative so we didn’t have to pay anything. My parents got it as well (at their PCP) & their doctor said they’d try to bill it as preventative but we’re pretty sure insurance wouldn’t cover it.
We asked grandparents to get it but most of them already had it because of their jobs (almost all work in a school setting). DH got his last time (4 years ago) and I just got mine again back at 32 weeks. We are all good here. Everyone else I just remind them to not come when coughing, sneezing, feeling hot. I also limit contact with other children as much as I can. My 4 year old is up to date on all recommended shots. Really, all you can do is be as careful as possible. I'm not real anal about it but you get to be how you want with your kid. Your kid, your rules. Remember that and stick to your guns.
@jennybean80 +1 to having to lift my belly to pee lol it's nice to be able to breathe but yeah peeing can be difficult. At 35 weeks this one was much quicker to drop and start getting engaged. She's pretty far down there now. Had a follow up ultrasound for my GD and even the tech was surprised how low she was.
Re: Ask Me Anything:Third Tri/Labour Edition
real contractions will not subside and they do not get weaker. They will eventually form a real pattern. Get a timing app. Most Drs tell you not to go to the hospital until your contractions are every 4 minutes and can last 30 seconds to a minute. Some say at 5 mins a part. Ask your dr about which they recommend. Also, if they are real, you cannot get rid of them or make then less intense. Braxton can usually ease or subside by changing position, laying down, sitting down.... and then continue to grow weaker.
Me 32 and DH 40
Fur-baby named Bella
1 MC Nov. 2013
DD born Nov. 2, 2014
Little 2 EDD Oct. 1
The difference would be how difficult sitting in a car for an hour contracting will be. Is there somewhere near the hospital (a mall maybe) where you could head a bit earlier and walk around, so you don’t have to deal with a long drive while contracting?
I see a lot of info for FTM. I am a STM but had a planned c-section last time. Does all of the FTM stuff apply to me since I’m attempting VBAC? I know everybody is different, but I’m talking about things like 1-2 cm/hour once you hit 5-1-1.
Does baby dropping mean anything? I know they can stay high until delivery, but what about dropping early. I was laying down *not* napping and suddenly felt like I could breathe again. I didn’t think anything of it, but MH said something after I got up about how low baby is right now. I never dropped with my twins.
Dropping early doesn’t really mean anything, and it can be more common when you’ve carried babies before. It can make breathing easier but peeing harder
I’m enjoying having use of my lungs again... really hoping I don’t have trouble peeing though (or start peeing myself - I’ve been fortunate to not have that happen during either pregnancy).
Certain complications can delay a second labour, or speed up a first one. For example preeclampsia or an abruption will speed up a labour, poor baby position (sunnyside up, etc) will slow it down.
My first labour was around 17 hours and the second was 22 hours - but it was twins, Twin B was a lot bigger, and poorly positioned, and I pushed over an hour between the two of them.
I'm so curious how this will differ from my first. With Z, I was induced at 41 weeks, never got to the Pitocin because she had to break my water when his heart rate kept dropping, but then I was only in active labor for 4 hours before he popped out. I hope my labor starts sooner and on it's own, but I don't know how we'd even get me and H to the hospital in time if I progressed faster this time around.
Dandelion - October 2018
Angel "Aurora" - July 2020
Angel "Sawyer" - May 2021
Angel "Maxine" - January 2022
Angel "Violet" - March 2022
Baby Dove due March 2023
TDaP is not a live vaccine, so therefore it doesn't shed. That being said, they have found that recipients can be asymptomatic carriers for up to six (I think, could be more) weeks following the shot. If they come into contact with the pertussis bacteria, the bacteria will be alive and well (and spreading) but they themselves won't have symptoms, but they will be nicely sharing the bacteria as if they did. There is no way to tell if someone is carrying or not, so I would insist that anyone who has had TDaP in the last 8 weeks not visit.
But I can speak to the fact that it hasn’t been tested on pregnant women. No meds are ever tested on pregnant women. It’s considered unethical, so no studies are ever conducted. That doesn’t mean the meds/vaccines are unsafe, just that current ethics guidelines don’t allow for testing.
I got the Tdap in Canada. My OB said it's now recommended and research shows it's best because of whopping cough being on the rise
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
In situations where we might see a large group of people for a short period of time who may/may not be sick/vaccinated/carrying a bug I plan to baby wear to discourage people from getting too close and passing on germs (especially when the holidays roll around).
I can’t control everyone and their own choice to vaccinate, but putting it out there as a reminder for everyone is a good start, and then double check with those that are going to be around often/an extended period before baby arrives.
@Sailing_Mama I can understand your frustration. I have now tried 3 places (my OB who doesn't administer, my physician who won't because i'm pregnant, and the urgent care who wants to charge $100) and have had no luck. I'll be going too Walmart or CVS to get it and it'll be around $55. Although, that's a drop in the bucket compared to the $5,000 out of pocket i'll be paying for all of the medical services this year.
Me 32 and DH 40
Fur-baby named Bella
1 MC Nov. 2013
DD born Nov. 2, 2014
Little 2 EDD Oct. 1
+1 to having to lift my belly to pee lol it's nice to be able to breathe but yeah peeing can be difficult. At 35 weeks this one was much quicker to drop and start getting engaged. She's pretty far down there now. Had a follow up ultrasound for my GD and even the tech was surprised how low she was.
Me 32 and DH 40
Fur-baby named Bella
1 MC Nov. 2013
DD born Nov. 2, 2014
Little 2 EDD Oct. 1