The Great Question Thread

name1109

@auburnvelvet86 I’m not sure it matters if it’s common or not. I would probably bring it up to my midwife. Like hey I saw this...why didn’t you bring this up? I need you to communicate with me ... or something. 

I need to feel comfortable and if this makes me comfortable... I need support. 

dumbledoredies

The anterior placenta shouldnt cause any issues but I would definitely bring it up to your midwife that you'd like to be told these things!

Ecat504

@auburnvelvet86 I had AP with my first daughter through the whole pregnancy, which resulted in a c section because it never moved. They noted it around 20 weeks but never scheduled the section until 38 weeks for the following week. They were super adamant it would move! They told me at my A/S with LO that it’s again AP but they’re not worried about it (mix of its still early and very likely to move and I’m already having a scheduled section)! I wouldn’t worry yet!

hedgepig

@Ecat504 Do you mean placenta previa/low lying placenta? Anterior placenta is just attached to the front of the uterus instead of the back and doesn't affect delivery/likelihood of a csection.

auburnvelvet86

@Ecat504 Yeah, that was one of my concerns. But like @hedgepig said, I wasn't sure whether it was necessary that it move or not before birth. My main question for the midwife was that if it needed to move, how did they check. And they pretty much responded with, they don't check again. The place I go really only does one ultrasound during pregnancy, so any additional checks would be things they added on. So I guess I'm just confused whether checking its placement later is necessary or not.

crizz13

@auburnvelvet86 If it's just an anterior placenta, it doesn't need to move to have a successful vaginal delivery. 

auburnvelvet86

@crizz13 I think it's just normal which, yes, sounds like it shouldn't be a concern. I'm going to talk to my midwife about more communication in general and will confirm, but I think it should be fine. Thanks everyone!

krystrist2014

@auburnvelvet86 I found out last week at AS that I have anterior placenta as well - and only because ultrasound tech just verbally noted as she was going along. Googled it after my appointment just so I could know. OB sent portal message later that day Saying all looked well with my anatomy scan and didn’t mention the AP at all. Based on my research the only concerns are baby being sunny side up which I won’t worry about until later on so I figure if it has any implications later in pregnancy, OB will mention. 

Ecat504

🙃 disregard me. Previa with the first. AP this time. I’m going to be honest and show my ignorance but I never googled it when she said it at my last appointment and she didn’t tell me much about it so I just assumed they were the same things 🤷🏼‍♀️😬😂 

lovelee3

I was wondering if any STM+ moms have done placenta encapsulation (placenta pilling). I asked about it in my week thread, and there is mixed research on it. I have only ever heard good things about it from a couple friends. DH plans to do his research as he is a vet and thought it made sense (even though very gross) since other mammals eat it. 

laurenmicheley

@lovelee3 One of my closest friends did with both of her babies and raved about it. I'm not doing it; I'm not really the type to. Also, the CDC and FDA warn against it.

mama-buckets

I don’t know where to put this, if this is the right thread or not, but I’m kinda needing some support I think. 

We had the anatomy scan on Monday. We had to go to a radiology center for it (not exactly sure why). I thought little miss was looking absolutely perfect! Moving well, all parts where they should be, etc. I got a call from my regular doctor early early the next morning. She mentioned she was concerned with her growth, specifically her head measurements. She’s measuring in the 6th and 11th percentile for BPD and head circumference measurements. I have a follow up scheduled with a high risk specialist to take some additional measurements. I’m hoping she just took a break growing her noggin to spend time perfecting something else, but I can’t help but wonder and worry. I haven’t been the greatest at getting protein in my daily diet, so of course I start to think it’s my fault...but I don’t really know if there is anything that I can do. 

I guess what I’m wondering is, has anyone else experienced something similar in their past or current pregnancies? Was there anything you were able to do other than schedule more appointments to keep an eye on it? I’m feeling a little lost and confused...

bserena

@mama-buckets I don't have any experience with this, but I just want to know I am thinking of you and hoping you are correct in that she just was focusing her growing power somewhere else! When is your follow up scheduled for??

mia80

@mama-buckets. I don't have personal experience, but a couple years ago a close friend was told that baby's head was in the top 10% (big head... So opposite to you I think). She was very concerned for the last three months... And then when baby came her head was perfectly normal!!! Her OB just said that sometimes the ultrasound measurements can be off, and they just kinda brushed it off and noone ever said anything about it afterwards. It was really frustrating because my friend was really worried prior to birth, there was nothing she could do, and then it turned out that there was no problem in the end.

I don't know how common this is, but hopefully your baby is in the same boat 💕

mia80

@mama-buckets Oh and also, there's no way this could be your fault for not eating enough protein!!!! In my first trimester I was pretty naseausous and lived on crackers and toast for a couple weeks. I mentioned this to my OB and she said said babies are kind of like parasites... They will suck out all of your nutrients and mom will suffer well before baby! 😂 Her suggestion was just to try my best and take my prenatals. 

mama-buckets

@bserena I luckily got it scheduled for just about 2 weeks out (the 24th). The Dr said it wasn’t urgent but I know I can’t let this weigh on my mental for too long. 

@mia80 thank you!! Yea I’m super self conscious about my eating so that’s helpful to know that’s likely not the cause, at least as is in your case. Also, that’s so frustrating in your friends position! I couldn’t imagine no one really communicating anything after something like that. Like don’t make me to turn to the internet CAUSE I WILL lol. But for the last few months not knowing anything...😬😬

Ecat504

@mama-buckets no experience, I'm sorry! DD1 has always had a head in the 99th percentile since utero though. Thinking of you and your baby girl

laurenmicheley

@mama-buckets Thinking of you! Ultrasound measurements are notorious for being off. Not the exact same thing, but my friend was told her baby was weighing in at 12lbs and that they'd have to do a c-section at 38 weeks. Baby ended up weighing 7lbs 5oz. It's definitely fair to be cautious and worried; but hopefully LO was busy growing in other areas and now has so much time to catch everything up!

surlyjaneausten

@mama-buckets thinking of you and hoping everything looks normal. With DS I had to go back for additional scans because of a “high side of normal” amount of spinal fluid. It turned out he just had a big head due to inheriting his father’s huge head and that was the reason. Hopefully taking a closer look at it will give some clarity and it’s no big deal. 

ETA your eating habits had nothing to do with it!!

lurvleybunchococonuts

@mama-buckets as hard as it is *please* try not to overly worry there is absolutely no way you not eating protein is the fault for this and like many others have said hopefully it's just a fluke/off measurement.  On the bright side being referred to MFM (high risk specialist) will hopefully just mean getting to see baby more often.  I know it's not quite the same, but we just found out that baby B appears to have a 2 vessel cord and there were a few key measurements they couldn't get at our AS so my OB referred me to MFM also.  I've told myself that I'm officially not freaking out over it until I at least see MFM and find out exactly what we're dealing with.  Also, think of it as your OB is good at their job, but MFM are the EXPERTS and will know what to do/what to look for/make sure you and baby are safe and healthy.  Praying that baby girl is okay and that you're able to not get too anxious.  Also +1 to what @mia80 said.  Babies are totally a parasitic relationship to mom.  They will simply take what they need from you with no regard for mom needing to use it herself.  If you want to look at it slightly more bleakly, many babies in 3rd world countries where mom has little access to good nutrition and clean water let alone prenatal vitamins still continue to give birth to perfectly healthy babies, why?  Because baby will take what s/he needs   That being said, take care of yourself!  I'm just a PM away if you ever need to vent

kelk5

@mama-buckets it's not exactly the same but the umbilical cord for this pregnancy is attached to the edge/side of the placenta which my high-risk OB said can cause baby to be smaller. She said not to worry about it right now but that it'll require more frequent monitoring to check that baby is growing. She didn't give me any percentiles. My next ultrasound with the high-risk OB is 5 weeks from my last one. I think as long as baby continues to grow that it's okay. The measurements on ultrasounds aren't exact and with percentiles there are healthy babies who will fall in the lower percentiles just as some healthy babies fall in the higher percentiles. I can't say don't worry because then I'd be a hypocrite but know you aren't alone and that there isn't anything you could do differently. Keep taking your prenatals and doing your best with nutrition, that's really all we can do. Hugs❤️

vetgirl2011

@mama-buckets I also have no experience with this, but I do see a high risk specialist that is AMAZING! They are the best of the best, so you will be in good hands! Ultrasound measurements are definitely unreliable. Hugs!

wychets

@mama-buckets
This isn't experience but I had a friend that was told her daughters brain wasn't growing properly, of course she freaked out and had to wait 4 miserable days for a follow u/s. They sent her to the high risk floor where the machines were more advanced and could see more and everything was fine. The doctor even said that it was a common mistake made with regular u/s. Sending love your way, I know it's hard not to stress.

jaclyn0405

@mama-buckets I don't have any experience with this, but just wanted to send you hugs and please know that it had nothing to do with you!  

mama-buckets

@ALL

y’all ladies are so sweet. I really appreciate all of the encouraging words. This is our first baby therefore this is all uncharted territory for us both. I’m going to definitely stay off the internet about this because I know it’s not going to do me much good. I did have to research a few things just so I knew what was being talked about in her report but I have been pretty good at keeping away from the worm holes haha. 

Me and hubby are alternating being each other’s calm right now. If I get in my feelings, he reassures me and vice versa. All we can do is wait until we get more info. I’m also hoping they make and exception and let him come to this appointment (long shot, but I’m putting it out there). I think it would be helpful for him too to be there and see and hear what’s going on real time versus a recap from me after. 

It’s “good” to know that these types of mis-measurements are fairly common. It makes me feel less “on my own”. And I definitely feel less on my own here even though not many have experienced the SAME thing. We are all working our ways through our different roller coasters. I guess she’s just prepping me early for the drama she’s gonna unleash on me huh? 

💜💜💜 sending my love and hugs right back to all of you. I will absolutely keep you all posted as I learn new info! 

magdaaaa

@mama-buckets I’m a little late, but echoing what everyone else said. Absolutely nothing controlled by you, and also ultrasounds are notoriously off (like, a lot in my case). As a mama of 2 giant headed babies, if sweet babe just ends up with a more petite head you will be thanking them for years to come if you have a vaginal delivery. Hugs and keep us posted! Xo

crizz13

@mama-buckets late to this, but sending you love. I don't have experience with head size, but know that there have been freaky moments from ultrasounds with both of my girls and they are totally fine. Also, babies take EVERYTHING they need from mama first. IF anything, you'd be the one not getting enough of something, not the little bean. Hugs and calm until you get more answers. 

hedgepig

Sorry this got so long...
With my first baby I had a very fast (almost precipitous) labor - 3.5 hours from waking up/water breaking/1st contraction to delivery. The hospital is 90 minutes away and we barely made it. During the pushing, baby's heart rate was dropping and I had to push him out fast. As a result of the speed of everything, I had a 3rd degree tear and hemorrhage (although whether the bleeding was related to the tear or my uterus isn't really clear). So, I've obviously been worried about making it to the hospital, especially since 2nd babies tend to come faster, and it seems that 1 fast birth is a pretty good indicator of more fast(er) births to come. Due to the distance, I'm not comfortable with a home birth, and due to previous heartrate/bleeding I'm more worried than I otherwise would have been about an unassisted/car baby. Add to that the Covid concerns that make me even less enthused about getting an ambulance or going to the ER of our closer hospital (with no L&D).
I'm very committed to low intervention/med free birth, but my midwife did offer a 39 week induction due to history of fast birth. So my question is - anyone have experience with precipitous labor and/or inductions for precipitous labor? I would only consent to an induction if I were already dilating and pretty well effaced. I would have never considered an elective induction, but I was reading through some really positive experiences and now I'm hungry for more! I am surprised to find myself considering it.

lurvleybunchococonuts

@hedgepig with how quickly baby 1 came and all the other extenuating circumstances like how far you hospital is, planning to induce might be a good idea. How many weeks were you when you had DS? I know labor usually goes slower with induction. My HR lady at work had an induction with all 3 of her babies and each one went well for whatever that's worth 🤷🏻

My water broke spontaneously the evening of 38+4 and DD was born just over 14 hrs later the AM of 38+5. I believe she would've come sooner if I hadn't gotten an epidural when I did. My contractions slowed a lot after I got it and since my water had already broken they didn't check my dilation much. My OB came in that AM and laughed cause the nurses were thinking they'd have to start pitocin, but I was at 10, fully effaced and ready to go. She left for about 45mins to let DD drop a little lower and then she was born. I had a slight tear, but otherwise no complications. Contractions were actually still about 4 mins apart so it was actually slightly comical, push push push, okay wait 4 mins. If I recall correctly I only pushed for a total of 5 times contractions. It's definitely why delivery went so well. I even got to reach down and be the first person to touch/feel DDs head 😍 it was amazing.

crizz13

@hedgepig I haven't had an induction or precipitous labor, but given your circumstances, I would definitely consider it. My second came in half the time that my first did in terms of hours in labor and she was also posterior which meant she was stuck in the birth canal and not descending for a while, so she probably would have been even faster if in the right position. 

Could you have your midwife strip your membranes at 39 weeks in the morning or something less than an official induction and stick around her practice for the day before doing a full blown induction? Or set some boundaries around what type of induction you'd have? Cervadil vs. Foley blub vs low dose of Pit? 

auburnvelvet86

@hedgepig I posted my birth story in the STM birth story thread and it included the fact that i had an induction for pre ecampladia. I was already 4 in dilated when we started so I got to skip the cervix softening portion which can tack on added time to the process. I would say that overall, the induction itself was fine. Pitocin does increase pain and due to having to be hooked up to monitors, your natural pain management options are reduced some. It all kind of depends on priorities, but I'd say that given your circumstances it's definitely worth considering. Just give yourself plenty or grace and room for adjustments as you go. I had a lot of guilt and shame about getting the epidural, and now I'm a big advocate for not letting those kinds of unnecessary and unfounded thoughts happen for other women or myself this second go around. What's important is the safe arrival of baby and the safe process for mom!

hedgepig

@lurvleybunchococonuts @auburnvelvet86 @crizz13 Thanks for the support ladies! I definitely would go for a membrane sweep, and do wonder if just breaking my waters would be enough to kickstart things if my cervix is already favorable. I really hope things all go ok, whatever happens! 

acdc1109

@hedgepig if it helps, I was dilated to about a 3 with both of my pregnancies when my membranes were stripped and both times my baby's were born the next day! But my cousin had it done and nothing happened so I think it depends on your body's readiness. It sounds like a planned induction wouldn't be a terrible idea, given your history but I totally get wanting things to happen on their own!

potofgolden

@hedgepig this is a hard one for me. 

 I have no plans of being induced and am anti being induced for my body and baby. But if push come to shove I guess I’ll have to...if it is what works and is the best scenario for you then go for it.

I know the main priority should be healthy baby and healthy Momma!

I have heard too many stories of people getting induced from pressures from the doctor and then having to have a C-Section because baby and body just were not ready.  In all the scenarios, I guess the main trend is the doctor forcing induction down moms throat. And it wasn’t really moms idea and that’s what I don’t like.

I’m only 45 minutes from the hospital so it’s a little different, plus there are minor ERs on the way.

Are you totally out in the sticks, with no doctors and ambulances close? Or just in a small town?

Some other crazy options to consider:
-When you are getting close to the due date, rent an AirBNB in town for a little vacay before baby. 

- Stay with a friend in town as much if possible 

hedgepig

@potofgolden I'm totally with you on inductions in general, and would have never willingly considered one until this! Especially because I feel strongly about avoiding an epidural, but I know how hard that can be with pitocin. We are way out in the sticks - 5 miles up a dirt road and 30 minutes from the nearest small town with a fire dept/ambulance. Then there's another town with a small hospital with no L&D, then the big town with our hospital. We have family/friends in our town, but no one in the bigger towns. We have been thinking about renting an airbnb or hotel room, but then, what to do with DS? We could convince someone to come down with us maybe, and if we had a good idea of when baby was coming, then that's a possibility but we can't stay down there for weeks and weeks. It sucks.

name1109

@hedgepig kids make it so darn hard! I found that despite all my worries it all works out. Not necessarily the best advice but just wanted to send some encouraging vibes your way. 

hedgepig

@name1109 I am definitely trying to channel that feel. I'm balancing my desire to research and be in control with a feeling that since I can't control it, there's no point worrying about it. Some days I do better than others.

name1109

@hedgepig when we were expecting baby #3 we lived further from the hospital than I was comfortable with. My husband was gone on a business trip for the last four months of pregnancy. I had routine dreams of giving birth in a taxi or train. Turned out his job sent him home a month early and her labor/delivery were the longest of the three! Things work out it’s just sooo hard for me not to know. I will say the day she was born I kind of thought she was coming and took a 3-4 mile walk.  We had previously had several false visits to the hospital but all ended just fine. Not sure if that helps. 

potofgolden

I didn’t know that the picotin brought on pain... no F’n wonder I hated it. I didn’t want to get, but I gave in a got it.  Once I got it the monitors kept beeping and it drove me into a near panic attack. I just wanted the beeping to stop and pain to stop. I’m hoping no picotin this time. 

name1109

@potofgolden I didn’t know that! Thanks for saying that!!!