Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: a hard boiled egg
Upcoming appointments: had one on the 28th, next one is August 26th
How are you feeling?: So over the nausea! I've been on medication for it but seriously still struggling. My doctor is concerned at this point because I've not gained any weight and only lost it.
Rants/Raves: Rant: We told my husbands grandparents about the pregnancy, this is the first great grandbaby in over 10 years. His grandma said that's nice. Then completely changed the subject to something about her. His parents tried several times to bring the convo back to baby because they were excited, and his grandma every time would change it right back to her. Super frustrating we couldnt share our good news with her and have her be happy for us or even take a slight interest in it.
Questions:
GTKY (stolen from January BMB): What was your favorite trip/vacation you ever took and what's one destination you really want to go to? Favorite trip weve ever taken was to Colorado springs! My husband and I stayed at the Broadmoor for our honey moon/first anniversary. It was great! I really want to take a trip to Australia some day!
@scottijo2012 I'm about 13 weeks and just had a checkup. I've gained 1 pound so far and my doctor was not concerned at all. She said it is very normal to lose weight or stay the same in the first trimester. This website seems to have decent info https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/weight-gain/
Also, when my husband called to tell his grandma our first daughter was born in pretty sure she asked "where did that name come from" and wasn't entirely interested 🤷🏻♀️ I wouldn't take it personally, must be a grandma thing. I'm glad your husband's parents were excited though!
@manditchka24 on the food thing, I was really weirded out by this with my first labor as well. Two things:
1. Eat all the time in third tri when you're close to giving birth. On the morning I went into labor, I had had a green smoothie for breakfast, gone to yoga and the grocery store, and had a snack in the car, but not a real lunch. I went into labor late afternoon, ended up trying to eat a hamburger for stamina, and threw it all up immediately. I definitely wish I'd had a substantive lunch in me before labor started!
2. I was too nauseated and in too much focused pain to want to eat during the 20 hours of labor. BUT. My doula brought gatorade and straws of honey to suck on, and those were enough to keep me going. I ate 2 dinners the night my DD was born and 5 meals the next day lol (3 hospital meals and 2 containers of takeout from friends), so I more than made up for it once I pushed her out!
Rainbow Baby? {2.1.21} MC at 8 weeks {EDD 9.2.20} Rainbow Girl! {2.28.16} Baby boy, lost at 16 weeks {EDD 6.10.15}
Back with a question... is anyone else noticing their heart rate jumping all over?? When I was getting lunch ready and stuff together for my Big for school this morning, I noticed my heart rate bounced from 131-71-105 in 3 minutes. I felt awful and close to passing out. It’s not the first time I’ve noticed it in the past two weeks doing 40-50 pt jumps. I pulled out the BP cuff yesterday just to check it. So far my BP has been normal ((100’s/70’s)) but I haven’t managed to take it when my heart rate is bouncing around.
@scottijo2012@jumpy57 we named my son with two middle names (I have 2 as well) one is my paternal grandmothers maiden name and the other in my maiden name, both names either don't have any descendants or only one descendant left with it as a surname so we thought it was very special to keep the family names goes. Anyways, when we told my grandmother his name, her response was "Well that's a mouthful" so yeah, it's a grandma thing...
Also, I lost 4 lbs between my 7 week apt and my 11 week apt and my midwife is not concerned at all. I'm basically back to my pre-COVID normal weight right now since I've been so sick in the first tri. This happened with my first and the lbs packed on at a normal pace in the my second tri. For reference, I'm a "normal" BMI.
I agree with @adorebel that food was nowhere on my mind before I got my epidural. If I didn’t get an epidural there is no way I would have wanted to eat or been able to keep anything down during labor
@mdfarmchick yes with the heart rate!! Mine has randomly skyrocketed and I instantly feel lightheaded and my watch tells me to breathe. It is SO weird!
@jumpy57@KLS123 ya, I am not sure why he was worried about my weight (probably more because I have been so sick with nausea and struggling that way). My BMI is still in the "normal" range even with the weight loss. The only other thing I could think of is more about dehydration, but that wouldn't be indicated by my weight. It does make me feel better that it might be a grandma thing though!
Interesting Baby Fact/Baby is the size of: A Legoman
Upcoming appointments: NIPT was today & Tues I have my MFM consult/NTS
How are you feeling?: Very very mood swingy and tender/sore in abdominal area otherwise most symptoms subsided last week, lately my heart has been POUNDING outta my chest so hard and fast it's making me feel like I'm having an adrenaline response
Rants/Raves: Currently not getting along with s/o or my mother...it's been really difficult not having much of a support network. I'm pretty introverted so am stuggling and today it's catching up with me HARD. Really not having a good day. It's the first day I've cried... On the positive side, I just switched OB/GYNS and LOVE the new staff/practice so far. Everyone was super supportive and really took their time with me. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat.
Questions: Is feeling the adrenaline response thing normal? Any tips to handle it? What about the mood swings? These are much stronger than anything I've dealt with. I'm pretty much fine & calm until someone irritates me. Like, I can feel my heartrate in my belly and it kinda is unnerving at this point.
GTKY (stolen from January BMB): What was your favorite trip/vacation you ever took and what's one destination you really want to go to? Probably to Canada. My family had an island there in the 1000 Islands and I miss being able to get lost exploring it and being in nature. And, otters. I desperately want to go to Scotland.
@animommy I have a high heart rate and palpitations at baseline (previous cardiac work ups normal). It has been off the charts since becoming pregnant because of the increased blood volume and increased respiratory demands. While it seems to be normal to experience this during pregnancy you should also mention it to your provider, so they can make sure your heart is in good shape if necessary. I had a repeat ekg and echocardiogram after becoming pregnant just to be safe and everything was normal. I’ve found acupuncture to be very helpful in reducing my symptoms as is keeping track of triggers and avoiding them (caffeine, sugar, processed foods are common culprits).
If cleared by your provider, maintaining some level of cardiovascular exercise helps because it trains your heart to pump blood more efficiently (that being said, I have had a hard time keeping up exercise these first few weeks bc I have been so exhausted, so I get it if that’s not doable for a bit). Focus on exercising at a level where you could talk but not sing and be accepting of the fact that it could be a much lower level than you are used to. If it happens during daily life (I get them often after walking up stairs or incline), slow your pace and focus on slowing your breathing (in through your mouth out through your nose) until you feel better.
If it’s only happening when someone irritates you the cardiovascular exercise can still help but you should probably also be addressing any underlying anxiety or stress management. Meditation or yoga could be helpful.
I am a physical therapist who often works with patients with posture orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, just so you know where my advice is coming from 😊.
I just had my first ultrasound. Everything is looking great! Baby has a heartbeat. I measured 8 weeks though so my Due date is March 12th. I had a false positive ovulation test and actually ovulated almost two weeks later than that first positive OPK, which explains why I didn't have a positive pregnancy test until 30 dpo. I'll move to the March BMB but I love how caring and kind everyone has been here on the February board so I am so sad to not be with you wonderful ladies! 😭
@manditchka24 Excellent info! Thank you so very much! If you work with POTS people, you prolly are familiar with what I have going on actually which is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I appreciate the nudge for a cardio doc because that's something I prolly shoulda done by now anyway & forgot so this is prolly a good time.
It is entirely when my emotions get poked and it feels very fight or flight. I'd tried going for a long walk when it happened as that's normally how I deal with it, burning it off & it helped minimally. Typically, I can consciously lower my heart rate (old Martial Arts training) but can't seem to during pregnancy and that's unnerving for me. I also recall getting panic attacks during puberty involuntarily and I *think* the EDS has something to do with how I synthesize hormones (such as adrenaline! yay!) so an echo is smart! I'd forgotten to bring it up to my doc, as I wanted to ask about the palpitations I was having (but have seemed better?)
@animommy the reason I work with POTS a lot is bc I actually work with patients with EDS a lot! I also have hyper mobile EDS myself! Yes, if you have EDS you should definitely get an echo. Sometimes patients with EDS have aortic root dilation which would be important to know prior to going into labor.
Are they recommending you see MFM due to EDS? I do have an MFM consult, but from all my research and knowing my personal symptoms and history, I don’t think I have too much to worry about it terms of labor or delivery complications related to EDS. I am actually looking into midwife attended home birth and I thought EDS would automatically exclude me, but the midwife I’m likely to go with has actually already had a client with hyper mobile EDS, so it didn’t bother her at all as long as I have been medically cleared.
I think my biggest EDS related issues in pregnancy will be musculoskeletal. I’m already having SI joint pain (which is not usually an issue for me), but a Seroula belt has been very helpful. I’m also hoping as I feel better and can return to more exercise that should help.
Let me know if you have any other questions I can help with! There is a lot of scary information out there about EDS and pregnancy/childbirth but if you dive into the actual medical papers you realize that a lot of the research is not of great quality and it really depends on what type of EDS you have and your individual symptoms.
@manditchka24 Get out!!! This just made my whole day! Yes, I have hypermobile EDS as well! You've definitely motivated me to get to a cardiologist!
Yes, because of the EDS, because I am over 35 & (please no one hate me) because of how I have to manage my pain w/meds with the EDS (under a doctor's care of course). Pretty much everything on this point dislocates on me. Right before I got pregnant, I was healing a dislocated fibular head (I didn't know it was a thing lol) and omg yea I hear ya on the back pain. My discs dislocate and rotate it's great haha! Oddly enough, after being with my s/o for awhile, I said I think you also have EDS, he got checked out & he does so I'm worried how it's gonna affect kiddo.
See, that's interesting, they told me because of the EDS I couldn't do a home birth (which with what I hear about easy delivery-I dunno if it's true) but I'd rather than race to a hospital. That's fantastic you get to have a home birth tho! How exciting and personal! How fortunate too that your midwife has experience with EDS I think that makes all the difference. If they only "read" about it I think they're too afraid to treat us. Which, I get.
Thank you for the belt info too! I was wondering about this as I too am having an increase in pain. I'm using a yoga ball & want to start walking. I haven't had a chance to meet with my new docs (long story, was dropped by my previous OB/Gyn 'because I had an appt sched w/a different provider later on' Not kidding.) So I'm starting from scratch. I just met my new OB nurse last week & I meet with MFM Tues tho. I did have a horrific experience w/an inexperienced u/s tech in a previous pregnancy so I don't know how I will react but it left me shaken. It rattled my confidence but I know it was a freak thing.
Anyway, sorry for the long post but excellent! Thank you so much! I will def let you know if I think of anything! How fortunate to meet another EDS-er! I wish you excellent luck in your pregnancy journey! Is this your first kiddo if you don't mind my asking? Thank you again!
I have a somewhat different viewpoint as I just completed program and am taking boards soon to be a nurse anesthetist (ie, we place epidurals and manage anesthesia for C-sections; depending on your hospital, you may primarily see CRNAs rather than anesthesiologists). When I was on my OB rotation, we were required to talk to every woman admitted with a fetus that could be viable outside the womb, because you can't predict who will need an emergency intervention at 2am. If you don't know anything about that woman's medical history, you will be woefully unprepared, and she and her baby will suffer the consequences. I always approached it from the standpoint of "I'm here if you need me, but if your OB team doesn't page me after we are done talking, you will never have to talk to someone in green scrubs again." (At this hospital, anesthesia wore green, OB including the nurses wore blue). Some women who were dead set on not having an epidural changed their minds, some didn't--but I can't predict who will be that from our initial talk.
My talk always went through the pain management options that the OB team could offer without us, the procedure and risks associated with epidurals, and the three main options we use to manage anesthesia for C-sections. These are important things for a woman to hear before she receives IV medications that can alter her legal ability to give consent as well as before she's too distracted by pain to really listen. Most providers will still place epidurals on those women when it's what they're requesting, but it gets into a grey area of informed consent at that point.
Anyway, hopefully your anesthesia team will have a similar approach; I do think even a low-risk mom deserves to know what she's in for if the plan changes, and your anesthesia team deserves to know something about you and have your permission to care for you in case of emergency. But they do not get to be pushy or try to talk you patients into something they don't want.
Yes, I am and was even having palpitations from it in early pregnancy. Particularly if I get stressed (like slightly even) or when I go to get up or eat especially. Hope you feel better soon!
@eqv I like your hospitals approach. I didn't initially want an epidural with my first, but I was induced and contractions were erratic and I changed my mind. It would have been nice for someone to explain everything to be ahead of time, I just remember yelling I wanted one and they came in and did it. Everyone was very nice though. Not enough time for any pain management besides yelling with my second 😂
Re: Weekly Check-In 7/27
Also, when my husband called to tell his grandma our first daughter was born in pretty sure she asked "where did that name come from" and wasn't entirely interested 🤷🏻♀️ I wouldn't take it personally, must be a grandma thing. I'm glad your husband's parents were excited though!
1. Eat all the time in third tri when you're close to giving birth. On the morning I went into labor, I had had a green smoothie for breakfast, gone to yoga and the grocery store, and had a snack in the car, but not a real lunch. I went into labor late afternoon, ended up trying to eat a hamburger for stamina, and threw it all up immediately. I definitely wish I'd had a substantive lunch in me before labor started!
2. I was too nauseated and in too much focused pain to want to eat during the 20 hours of labor. BUT. My doula brought gatorade and straws of honey to suck on, and those were enough to keep me going. I ate 2 dinners the night my DD was born and 5 meals the next day lol (3 hospital meals and 2 containers of takeout from friends), so I more than made up for it once I pushed her out!
MC at 8 weeks {EDD 9.2.20}
Rainbow Girl! {2.28.16}
Baby boy, lost at 16 weeks {EDD 6.10.15}
Also, I lost 4 lbs between my 7 week apt and my 11 week apt and my midwife is not concerned at all. I'm basically back to my pre-COVID normal weight right now since I've been so sick in the first tri. This happened with my first and the lbs packed on at a normal pace in the my second tri. For reference, I'm a "normal" BMI.
European vacation to Croatia was my favorite. I would love to get to the Smokey Mountains sometime soon with the hubs before the baby comes.
It does make me feel better that it might be a grandma thing though!
11w+4d
FTM
A Legoman
NIPT was today & Tues I have my MFM consult/NTS
Very very mood swingy and tender/sore in abdominal area otherwise most symptoms subsided last week, lately my heart has been POUNDING outta my chest so hard and fast it's making me feel like I'm having an adrenaline response
Currently not getting along with s/o or my mother...it's been really difficult not having much of a support network. I'm pretty introverted so am stuggling and today it's catching up with me HARD. Really not having a good day.
It's the first day I've cried...
On the positive side, I just switched OB/GYNS and LOVE the new staff/practice so far. Everyone was super supportive and really took their time with me. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat.
Is feeling the adrenaline response thing normal? Any tips to handle it? What about the mood swings? These are much stronger than anything I've dealt with. I'm pretty much fine & calm until someone irritates me. Like, I can feel my heartrate in my belly and it kinda is unnerving at this point.
I desperately want to go to Scotland.
If cleared by your provider, maintaining some level of cardiovascular exercise helps because it trains your heart to pump blood more efficiently (that being said, I have had a hard time keeping up exercise these first few weeks bc I have been so exhausted, so I get it if that’s not doable for a bit). Focus on exercising at a level where you could talk but not sing and be accepting of the fact that it could be a much lower level than you are used to. If it happens during daily life (I get them often after walking up stairs or incline), slow your pace and focus on slowing your breathing (in through your mouth out through your nose) until you feel better.
If it’s only happening when someone irritates you the cardiovascular exercise can still help but you should probably also be addressing any underlying anxiety or stress management. Meditation or yoga could be helpful.
I am a physical therapist who often works with patients with posture orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, just so you know where my advice is coming from 😊.
It is entirely when my emotions get poked and it feels very fight or flight. I'd tried going for a long walk when it happened as that's normally how I deal with it, burning it off & it helped minimally. Typically, I can consciously lower my heart rate (old Martial Arts training) but can't seem to during pregnancy and that's unnerving for me. I also recall getting panic attacks during puberty involuntarily and I *think* the EDS has something to do with how I synthesize hormones (such as adrenaline! yay!) so an echo is smart! I'd forgotten to bring it up to my doc, as I wanted to ask about the palpitations I was having (but have seemed better?)
Thank you so very much again!
I think my biggest EDS related issues in pregnancy will be musculoskeletal. I’m already having SI joint pain (which is not usually an issue for me), but a Seroula belt has been very helpful. I’m also hoping as I feel better and can return to more exercise that should help.
Let me know if you have any other questions I can help with! There is a lot of scary information out there about EDS and pregnancy/childbirth but if you dive into the actual medical papers you realize that a lot of the research is not of great quality and it really depends on what type of EDS you have and your individual symptoms.
Haha yes!!
Yes, because of the EDS, because I am over 35 & (please no one hate me) because of how I have to manage my pain w/meds with the EDS (under a doctor's care of course). Pretty much everything on this point dislocates on me. Right before I got pregnant, I was healing a dislocated fibular head (I didn't know it was a thing lol) and omg yea I hear ya on the back pain. My discs dislocate and rotate it's great haha! Oddly enough, after being with my s/o for awhile, I said I think you also have EDS, he got checked out & he does so I'm worried how it's gonna affect kiddo.
See, that's interesting, they told me because of the EDS I couldn't do a home birth (which with what I hear about easy delivery-I dunno if it's true) but I'd rather than race to a hospital. That's fantastic you get to have a home birth tho! How exciting and personal! How fortunate too that your midwife has experience with EDS I think that makes all the difference. If they only "read" about it I think they're too afraid to treat us. Which, I get.
Thank you for the belt info too! I was wondering about this as I too am having an increase in pain. I'm using a yoga ball & want to start walking. I haven't had a chance to meet with my new docs (long story, was dropped by my previous OB/Gyn 'because I had an appt sched w/a different provider later on' Not kidding.) So I'm starting from scratch. I just met my new OB nurse last week & I meet with MFM Tues tho. I did have a horrific experience w/an inexperienced u/s tech in a previous pregnancy so I don't know how I will react but it left me shaken. It rattled my confidence but I know it was a freak thing.
Anyway, sorry for the long post but excellent! Thank you so much! I will def let you know if I think of anything! How fortunate to meet another EDS-er! I wish you excellent luck in your pregnancy journey! Is this your first kiddo if you don't mind my asking? Thank you again!
You better check in every now and then, so we get updates!
I have a somewhat different viewpoint as I just completed program and am taking boards soon to be a nurse anesthetist (ie, we place epidurals and manage anesthesia for C-sections; depending on your hospital, you may primarily see CRNAs rather than anesthesiologists). When I was on my OB rotation, we were required to talk to every woman admitted with a fetus that could be viable outside the womb, because you can't predict who will need an emergency intervention at 2am. If you don't know anything about that woman's medical history, you will be woefully unprepared, and she and her baby will suffer the consequences. I always approached it from the standpoint of "I'm here if you need me, but if your OB team doesn't page me after we are done talking, you will never have to talk to someone in green scrubs again." (At this hospital, anesthesia wore green, OB including the nurses wore blue). Some women who were dead set on not having an epidural changed their minds, some didn't--but I can't predict who will be that from our initial talk.
My talk always went through the pain management options that the OB team could offer without us, the procedure and risks associated with epidurals, and the three main options we use to manage anesthesia for C-sections. These are important things for a woman to hear before she receives IV medications that can alter her legal ability to give consent as well as before she's too distracted by pain to really listen. Most providers will still place epidurals on those women when it's what they're requesting, but it gets into a grey area of informed consent at that point.
Anyway, hopefully your anesthesia team will have a similar approach; I do think even a low-risk mom deserves to know what she's in for if the plan changes, and your anesthesia team deserves to know something about you and have your permission to care for you in case of emergency. But they do not get to be pushy or try to talk you patients into something they don't want.
This is my first (and likely only) child.