Weekly Check-in *** Week of July 6

whitealbum29

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days:

FTM/STM/STM+:

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out:

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of:

Upcoming appointments:

How are you feeling?:

Rants/Raves:

Questions:

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend?

whitealbum29

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 1/8, 13+3

FTM/STM/STM+: FTM

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Pink

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: developing white blood cells, size of a jalapeno

Upcoming appointments: 8/4, 16 week although I'll be 17 weeks

How are you feeling?: Pretty good, lost a bunch of sleep last night but it's my own fault...when I get up to pee I have to not check to see what time it is, just get up immediately and immediately go back to bed and close my eyes. Otherwise I start thinking about the time and how much time I can still get and it just keeps me awake. I know this but I checked last night!

Rants/Raves: I've told most of my friends now which has been fun but I always feel uneasy after telling! I'm holding off on any more announcements till week 14.

Questions: I can't believe I forgot to ask this at my last appt but in general, when do most people see the next ultrasound? We had one at 7 weeks....should I expect one at 20 weeks or does it really vary?

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend? I've only gotten one book so far called Nurture, by a doula named Erica Chidi. I find it to be very level-headed and calming and informative. It has some recipes, recommendations for kinds of exercise, info about the "fourth trimester" etc. I think in her practice she works with a lot of home births and leans kind of "new agey" (?? for lack of a better term - big into essential oils and stuff, which I am too so I'm not using that term in a negative way!) but is very firm that she wants women to feel like any birthing method (hospital birth/home/birthing center/natural/pain medication/vaginal/c-section) is a huge accomplishment, which I think it nice. I feel like I see eye-to-eye with her in general. I haven't found any podcasts yet but last week I signed up for Fit Pregnancy Club which has pregnancy workouts...kind of a mix of strength/pilates/low impact cardio. I was using Baby2Body but got annoyed by the format. 

briemo

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 1/23 11w2d

FTM/STM/STM+: FTM

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Finding out 

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: LEGO man / Lime

Upcoming appointments: phone call today & 12 week scan next Monday 

How are you feeling?: Tired 

Rants/Raves: agree w @whitealbum29 I’ve told a few people and made me super anxious but it’s exciting at the same time. Also I loved soup before this pregnancy and now the thought of it makes me wanna gag.

Questions: Is everyone getting/gotten NIPT I feel like it’s a fairly common test these days and I’m like fighting for my dr office to give me one- my insurance covers it but the dr office claims it’s for “high risk” or causes more problems than necessary with potential false positives 🙃 everyone I’ve talked to about it has had it done. 

@whitealbum29 I had one done at 7w, 10w and again next week 

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend? 

No pregnancy podcasts so far..just the usual My Favorite Murder or anything on their network! Looking forward to the suggestions!

carleym93

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 1/20, 11+5

FTM/STM/STM+: STM+

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Our NIPT is tomorrow! 

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: A macaron 

Upcoming appointments: MFM tomorrow, OB on 7/15

How are you feeling?: Nauseated and tired 😫

Rants/Raves: My maternity clothes fit well, so at least I’m comfortable. 

Questions: None yet but @whitealbum29 this varies so much by providers and pregnancy. Generally a low risk pregnancy will have a dating ultrasound (8ish weeks) and then nothing until 20 weeks and then nothing after that unless there is a concern (baby might be breech, low fluid etc). If you’re opting into nuchal testing, that ultrasound is done around 12 weeks. The 20 week ultrasound is standard across the board and checks for birth defects or other concerns, so everyone gets that one. I know some providers give you an ultrasound around 36 weeks just to check baby’s position, but my doctor doesn’t. So some women see 4 ultrasounds per pregnancy, some have 3, some have 2, and some only have the 20 week anatomy scan. With my oldest (low risk) I had an 8 week and a 20 week, my second was high risk so I had one during week 5,7,10,16,20, and then weekly or biweekly until he was born. This time I’m having a lot too. 

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend? I had an epidural with my first and not with my second, and I want to go med free again so I really like Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read. I feel like What To Expect is a little outdated. I read so much more with #1 and this time I haven’t read anything because I just don’t have the time or the energy. 

carleym93

@briemo So I have actually read that it causes more headache than its worth in a low risk mom. For whatever reason, the test just doesn’t perform well in a young otherwise healthy mother, so I know some doctors don’t recommend it (mine included) but because I had a twin with a birth defect I’m getting it done even though my age isn’t a concern. 

amm126

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 1/28, 10 weeks 4 days

FTM/STM/STM+: STM

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Undecided

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: tart kumquat

Upcoming appointments: Friday for a HB check

How are you feeling?: Pretty good, tired and bloated mostly

Rants/Raves: Most of our families know now. My husband is anxious to announce on social media, I could care less about a public announcement. 

Questions:

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend?
None yet, I've been listening to more podcasts on my drive so I would appreciate any good recommdations. 

krisspy22

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 11 weeks

FTM/STM/STM+: STM

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Finding out 

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: Poker chip (?) 

Upcoming appointments: Tele appt on 7/15 and our NT scan on 7/16

How are you feeling?: Tired, slightly less nauseous. 

Rants/Raves: I didn’t start showing until 18-19 weeks with my first pregnancy but definitely have a small bump going already here. We haven’t told a lot of people yet (waiting for the NT scan to make sure everything’s ok) so I’m ranting that it’s summer and it’s hot, and I’m trying to hide my stomach all the time. 

Questions:

GTKY: What pregnancy
books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend?  I’m usually the type to just stick with science, so my first time around I read the articles and packets from my doctor’s office. I do have the Ovia app that I enjoy opening everyday. It just gives little fun facts about the baby each day. 

Mayday31

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days:
1.15.21 12weeks 3days

FTM/STM/STM+: Baby #4

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out:
Undecided this time!

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: Plum

Upcoming appointments:
7/29 at 16 weeks

How are you feeling?: Absolutely awful since 5weeks. This time around my nausea has been classified as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. I cannot wait to start feeling better! 

Rants/Raves: I’m so sick of (well meaning) people asking me if I’m feeling better yet...nope and it might not go away. 

Questions: nope! 

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend?
I love pregnancy reading! Some favorites include Ina Mays Guide to Chilbirth, Real Food For Pregnancy by Lily Nichols, and The First Forty Days. I also love Expecting and Empowered for workouts designed by a Women’s Health PT and her sister (they have 6 kiddos between them). They also have tons of free information on Instagram and Facebook! Things I don’t recommend? Letting others tell you what is best for your body and baby! Each person and pregnancy is different. 

aels12

@briemo I also had to fight my doctors office for it this time. I am 31 with no risk factors other than a prior miscarriage. I’ve heard the risk of false positives is actually very low for the NIPT so I wasn’t worried about that. My doctors office didn’t mention that as a concern either, they just had their list of reasons they would or wouldn’t do it and I didn’t meet their reasons. My insurance also covers it for me but it’s actually a lot cheaper for me to pay out of pocket since I have high deductible insurance. I just kept pushing until they let me 🤷🏻‍♀️

aels12

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 1/21 11w5d

FTM/STM/STM+: STM+

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: finding out TONIGHT!!!

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: lime

Upcoming appointments: 7/16

How are you feeling?: fine, so fine that I don’t feel very pregnant the last week or so and I’m freaking myself out a bit. 

Rants/Raves: we got our NIPT results and everything looks great!

Questions:

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend? I’ve only read what to expect when you’re expecting and it was fine! I’m sure there are many better ones out there though. 

briemo

@aels12 @carleym93 thanks y’all!

I found out today that at my next appointment if I sign the “consent papers” they’ll go ahead with the NIPT which my doc didn’t tell me last time 🙃
can’t wait!

supersara2

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 1/10; 13w1d

FTM/STM/STM+: This will be my second

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Finding out

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: A lemon

Upcoming appointments: July 29 for 16-week appointment; I hate having to wait this long between appointments!

How are you feeling?: Gassy but otherwise pretty good!

Rants/Raves: We still haven't told anyone yet, not even family. I wanted to wait for the NIPT results, but that can be a couple of weeks. The NT scan went fine, so we might tell our families this weekend, when I'm closer to 14 weeks. One thought was to take a picture of our daughter reading a book about being a big sister, posting it on an app we use to share photos of her with family, and seeing if anyone notices.

Questions: Has anyone else not told anyone? 

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend? I read the Ovia and Bump apps. I also have What to Expect When You're Expecting, Great Expectations, and Baby 411 on my nightstand. I found all 3 useful during my first pregnancy.

MaryNog

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 14w

FTM/STM/STM+: STM

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Girl! 

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: beet

Upcoming appointments: end of the month for check-in and bloodwork

How are you feeling?: actually feeling better!

Rants/Raves: having some anxiety about telling people. I don’t like being fussed over and I know that with the pandemic there will be a lot of stress from our families.

Questions: none

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend? 

Last time I read the American Obstetrics Society Pregnancy book and liked it. I’m not one for cutesy and prefer to stick to the facts. 

lavenderclouds

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 1/5; 14w -- welcome 2nd tri!

FTM/STM/STM+: FTM

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Green

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: (length?) of a fist, apparently.

How are you feeling?: A bit demanding this week; mostly bc we've had unpredictable meal schedules while on the road and I feel like I need to eat more than 3 meals a day. Otherwise, feeling pretty good.

Rants/Raves:  A few things. 1) I think I must be imagining it, but I'm quite sure I can start feeling these so-called "flutters." It feels different than anything else and hard to describe, so of course still not sure I'm able to feel this early as a FTM. 2) WTF. I know I'm demanding about eating more than 3 times a day, so it's my fault. I seemed to have gained 5 pounds in this one week on the road! 3) Road trip has been lots of fun. At Sioux Falls, SD. Going through the badlands, Mt. Rushmore, and Montana next. Ending at the west coast, and staying with the in-laws before we can move into our place. 

Questions: Anyone else have a week of outrageous weight gain? Advice: is it possible to try and not gain weight for the next couple of weeks, or is this a bad plan? I do want to make sure the baby is getting enough calories.

GTKY:  I'm surprised no one has mentioned this, but I read Expecting Better, which I thought was very informative. I read most of What to Expect, but am reading the months when I reach them. Two is more than enough pregnancy books for me, so now I'm onto baby books. Looking forward to when we have a discussion on these.
I looked for podcasts a few weeks ago when I wanted less screen time. Found The Pregnancy Podcast, 40 Weeks Pregnancy, and Informed Pregnancy, but not really into them. Sometimes, you can find a really good one on The Informed Pregnancy, but the majority of them are birth stories, which I'm not into (at least not yet). So I would recommend searching: https://www.informedpregnancy.com/listen

whitealbum29 my doctor said the next ultrasound was 20 weeks (I've only had one at 10w). 
aels12 yay on good NIPT results!
briemo great to hear you will be able to get a NIPT. I find it really gave peace of mind. Bc it seems to give lower than a 99.9% false negative (referring to research studies cited in Expecting Better). Which is much more reliable than the other tests.

jumpy57

Hi! I'm new to the board, not to the Bump. I've been lurking a little bit but wanted to start participating. I have two little girls (4, 1.5), two dogs, chickens, and various critters. I'm an engineer and enjoy the outdoors. 

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: 1/30, 10+2

FTM/STM/STM+: third time!

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: green

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: a strawberry

Upcoming appointments: will have a checkup at 12 weeks

How are you feeling?: Tired and nauseous but it's controlled pretty well with medicine

Rants/Raves: none right now

Questions: none for now

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend?

I've read What to expect and it's nice to read along through pregnancy. I highly recommend Birth Skills by juju sundin. If focuses on birth and labor and provides some techniques to keep you focused. It's very inclusive for different birth plans as well. Another book to read before baby comes is Precious Little Sleep... Because you won't have the energy to read about baby sleep once baby has arrived

whitealbum29

@briemo I got the NIPT b/c I'm 36 so it was covered (I suppose....it sounds like I actually am paying more for it than some people who are under 35 and are just paying out of pocket, because I have to meet my deductible! Grr). Someone else here said they also had to fight with their doctor's office to get it approved! I probably would have tried to get it done if it wasn't covered...SO and I are people who need a lot of info and peace of mind!
@carleym93 Oh that's good info, thanks!
@krisspy22 I like Ovia too! I'm always careful to log all my physical activity b/c I like the praise that the app gives me, haha.
@mayday31 Oh no I'm so sorry to hear you have HG! I hope it doesn't last too long.
@aels12 yay for good NIPT results!
@lavenderclouds Ooh I love the Badlands! Jealous of your road trip!

aels12

@whitealbum29 check with your dr office, they might be able to change it to bill you out of pocket instead, mine looked at what it would cost for me to pay through insurance compared to out of pocket and gave me the cheaper deal. 

oaktree6

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days: Jan 20, 2021/ 11w6d

FTM/STM/STM+: STM

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Finding out

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: Lime 

Upcoming appointments: NT Scan- July 13th

How are you feeling?: Finally starting to feel like myself again. Able to do a little more in the evenings once my toddler is in bed. 

Rants/Raves: A horrible stomach bug went through my house this week (fever and diarrhea). All three of us ended up getting it (luckily at separate times) Both my son and I had trips to the ER for a lot of blood in our stool. Everyone is on the up and up now, thank goodness. It was especially scary because of my pregnancy. I didn’t know if I should seek help but I was very happy I did. 

Questions: Not at the moment 

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend?

I haven’t been reading anything this time around and hardly did with my first. Some random online reading and my husband and I took a course through our local health unit. 

hp242

Was on vacation last week so I'm slow on catching up with what happened last week and posting this week.

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days:  11W3D

FTM/STM/STM+: FTM

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: Finding Out

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: Lime

Upcoming appointments: 12wk US on Monday and follow up appointment with my Family Doc the following Monday.

How are you feeling?:  Meh, nausea has mostly gone away but its so hot I just want to lay on the couch all day.  Southern Ontario is going through a crazy heat wave that looks like its going to break on the weekend.  I reorganized our bedroom yesterday so that the air conditioner constantly blows on me while I sleep which helped last night.

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend?  I'm slowly reading Expecting Better but haven't read or listened to anything else yet.

@whitealbum29 I have ultrasounds at 6-7, 12 and 20 weeks for sure, I don't know if/when there are any in the second half.
@supersara2 I like that way of telling family! It's like an announcement and a game in one.

HappyFeet34

@whitealbum29 as others have said it is totally different every pregnancy and provider. Standard and basic is 8w and 20w. With my first I had U/S at least once a month for various reasons, couldn’t find her early on, SCH, bleeding at 18w, placenta previa, fear she was too big (I also had awesome insurance and feel like my dr used any excuse to give me pictures, she was totally healthy). Second I had about 4-5 U/S. I’ve had two so far this time. I will have an elective in two weeks to find out the sex (not by my provider) and then the AS at 20. Then we will see from there. A lot after 20w depends on what they see then and how baby grows in the second half. 

Estimated Due Date/Weeks + Days:
14+2 1/4

FTM/STM/STM+: third baby

Team Green/Pink/Blue/Finding Out: finding out 7/17

Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: baby’s bones are starting to harden

Upcoming appointments: next appointment is our elective US to find out the sex

How are you feeling?: Nausea is starting to go away and my energy is beginning to return yay!

Rants/Raves: so...my youngest had a known positive COVID exposure at school last week. They didn’t tell us until Monday and then shut her class for 2 weeks. I pulled my older one out too because it’s easier with both home than just the baby. I feel awful, we were with neighbors and my parents for the 4th and I’m hoping we didn’t expose them. We all went and got tested yesterday. I told my kids it would tickle and when it was over my oldest said “mom! That did not tickle! That felt like a crab climbed up my nose and pinched my throat” 😬 😂. The child in class and their family are all asymptomatic they only got tested because they were informed of an exposure. My kids have no symptoms but my throat is hurting bad - I kind of think I have strep. I’m just hoping our tests all come back negative. My OB and their pediatrician seemed oddly calm about it all, it seems like their stance is that we will all get it eventually it’s just a matter of when not if. Still so scary.

Questions: not right now 

GTKY: What pregnancy books/podcasts/blogs/apps have you found helpful so far/in previous pregnancies? And what would you *not* recommend?
Not really this time around, I did with my first. I like anything by Ina Mae and I swear by hypnobabies it was amazing for my second labor. 

whitealbum29

@aels12 - Ooh thanks, I will check!
@oaktree6 - Oh no, sorry about the bug and glad you are all on the mend.
@HappyFeet34 - Ugh so sorry about the Covid exposure, how scary. I hope everything comes back negative and your sore throat is just strep or something random that goes away!