The Great Big Questions Thread

whatabout2ndbreakfast

I’m not sure where my placenta is but I have not been noticing consistent movement yet at 18 weeks. I was actually kind of worried today because I haven’t felt him today but I don’t remember when the kick counts start

krash_

@whatabout2ndbreakfast FFFC: I never did kick counts with DS

chewie5990

@krash_ none of my OBs ever recommended doing regular kick counts. I was always just told that If I don't notice any movement within a 3 hour period then to drink a glass of ice cold water or juice and lay down, if you can count 10 kicks in an hour period then all is good. @whatabout2ndbreakfast I don't think kick counts start until 28-30 weeks

williams-jen

@krash_ I never did kick counts either! Just paid attention to whether I generally was feeling them or not.

Aerialmrs

I never did kick counts either, mostly because I never went long without feeling movement. So far this new little one is pretty similar. Constantly squirming around in there!

emeraldcity1214

I have a posterior placenta and I was actually getting worried because the movement I was feeling wasn’t regular and consistent. Then at 18 weeks I started feeling him all day long. Even if you have a posterior placenta, if baby is turned and kicking mostly to the back then you will feel less. 

rainbowstarrr

Anyone else dealing with leg cramps at night? 

CanadianGamerMom

@rainbowstarrr A little bit. Yesterday my leg (the front of my right thigh only) was so sore and I couldn't figure out what I had done to it. Last night when tossing and turning I realized it's likely from flexing my leg or something like that in my sleep. It's still pretty sore this morning.

optimisticoctopus

Has anyone bought a fancy dress to wear while pregnant? I’m going to a wedding in early June, and I can’t seem to find anything cute and affordable that I like! DH is one of the groomsmen, so I would definitely like to look nice. I’ve been looking for like 2 days now with no luck 🙄

agea

@runningoncookies I’ve heard Lulus is good
assuming you tried pink blush? I didn’t have great luck with ASOS. Rent the runway? 

I would probably look for a style that’s not maternity but can accommodate a bump.

muggsd

@runningoncookies Last year I got a nice dress from target of all places for a wedding! It’s not the nicest fabric ever but it looked nicer than you’d expect. 

whatabout2ndbreakfast

@runningoncookies I’ve been eyeing up this place called Baltic Born that has a ton of bump friendly stuff. One of the photographers around here suggested it after a few of her clients have used them. I haven’t ordered from there yet. I got a cute dress from ASOS of all places for my SILs wedding coming up- very affordable so you could pick a few options and return what you don’t like. 

lmcw

@rainbowstarrr I struggled with leg cramps with my first, I found that taking magnesium before bed was helpful! Maybe talk to your doc or OB about if that would be appropriate  

@runningoncookies I second a vote for Pink Blush (but am guessing you've already checked there), and I would definitely try ASOS. They can be hit and miss, but free returns makes it way easier to buy a few things to try and just send back whatever you don't like.

emeraldcity1214

@rainbowstarrr I second the liquid magnesium. It is suppose to help with that. I have been taking it for a month now and I honestly don’t see myself ever stopping. 😆

runningonindie

@whatabout2ndbreakfast @runningoncookies - Baltic Born looks amazing! I have been eyeing them for my baby sprinkle and for a wedding in august! 

williams-jen

@runningoncookies I ordered a dress from pink blush for my brothers wedding which will be in August. It’s a floor length dress with a lace back and lace sleeves, and is available in a lot of colors. I got it in navy. They randomly and often have sales that are 30% or 40% off, which makes a difference on a $100 dress. 

I have also done rent the runway before, for a wedding I went to at 25 weeks last pregnancy, and for my maternity photos last pregnancy. The dresses were not technically maternity, but had reviews where it was obvious that most people wore the dress while pregnant. 

Here’s the one I wore to the wedding:  It’s by Dress The Population and it’s the Black Emery Dress. The one I rented for my maternity photos was a floor length strapless turquoise gown and I got a silver belt to accentuate the empire waist. It was by Halston and was the “on my mind maxi” 

emjeve

I highly recommend Baltic Born! I have 4 dresses from there and 3 of them are bump friendly! My only complaint is that they are very long! So if you’re short, be prepared to need to get them altered or wear sky high heels! I wear 5 inch heels with mine and two of them still drag on the ground! But for reference I’ll attach a photo of me wearing one not pregnant and a photo of me in the same dress pregnant! You can see how much the dress drags in the non-pregnant photo!

lmcw

@emeraldcity1214 I've never tried the liquid magnesium, just tablets; if you've tried both do you notice any substantial difference with the liquid? I've been taking the tablets pretty regularly for a few years now and have found they definitely improve my sleep in general and help with restless leg and leg cramps during pregnancy. 

Edited because cramps should definitely have an "m" in it...

runningonindie

@emjeve okay I am SOLD! 😍😍😍 that is gorgeous!!!! I’m only 5ft so I’ll most definitely need to hem but I am here for it. 

emeraldcity1214

@lmcw I originally got the liquid magnesium because of constipation but it helps with all that stuff. It is amazing. I haven’t ever taken the pills though. I think the liquid is suppose to absorbs better. I can tell you that it’s something I get out of bed to take when I realize I forgot and I don’t do that for many things. The regularity it has given me is so amazing that I can’t believe it hasn’t been recommended to me before this. I have suffered from Charlie horses in past pregnancies to the point I wake in tears and can’t get my calf to relax. My husband has to force my foot to flex. I haven’t had any of that this pregnancy. 

lmcw

@emeraldcity1214 Oh interesting, that would make sense that it absorbs more quickly. The few times I've stopped taking it was usually because I ran out and didn't think it was THAT big of a deal, but then my sleep was noticeably worse. I've started keeping mine in my bedside table so that if I avoid getting out of bed lol it's seriously great stuff, I'm glad it's helping you!!

optimisticoctopus

@whatabout2ndbreakfast @emjeve omg Baltic Born!! Those dresses are gorgeous! I just ordered one and am hoping it fits - now I’m thinking that may be where I look for a dress for maternity photos too. Thank you all for the suggestions!

@emjeve I think I bought that same exact dress that you posted (but in green)! It looks amazing on you. I’m pretty tall, so length usually isn’t an issue for me!

krash_

I have no events coming up and not planning on doing maternity photos this time around but y'all are making me want to order a dress from Baltic Born. 

emjeve

@runningoncookies Yay! They have so many beautiful colors! I bought another dress from there, before being pregnant, that I plan to use for maternity photos! I love how versatile they are!

@krash_ do it! 

krash_

Does anyone else feel like their BO is stronger? Idk if it's because I'm actually stinkier or if my nose is just in overdrive. Either way I can smell me and I don't like it. I'll have to ask MH if he think's I'm stinky. I showered last night and I put on regular toxic Dove deodorant this morning so I don't think it's a hygiene issue and I am typically a very neutral if not good smelling person so this is definitely new. 

muggsd

@krash_ I’ve had this in all my pregnancies!  It’s like my deodorant wears off super fast. I end up re applying it halfway through the day cause I can smell myself and I hate it. Just another wonderful pregnancy symptom. 

penny624

@krash_ Not necessarily on the BO, but my smell has been so overly sensitive, so I definitely understand where you are coming from! 

emjeve

@krash_ I get much sweatier when pregnant and smellier! I always switch to natural deodorant during pregnancy because I think it helps. I use Tom’s.

marymh80

@krash_ I def had this last pregnancy (and even post partum) and usually have a super sensitive nose even when not pregnant...but this has been the one major benefit to having COVID and getting pregnant at the same time. My smell still isn't back fully and I'm not even at normal scent levels yet. 

Thought it's also kind of worrisome given how gassy I am when pregnant. I have absolutely no clue if I smell or how bad I do  🤣

deziraywatt

I had such horrible no after I had my first.  I can't remember if it started during pregnancy though.  So far I haven't noticed anything this time around.  

bluebell08

Has anyone ever heard of being given a pain blocker in you abdomen after a c-section?? A friend of a friend reached out to me because she was given one and had a pretty bad experience. She said it deadened her whole stomach for 48 hours. I haven't heard of this before and haven't had much luck with google.  

chewie5990

@bluebell08 I've had two c-sections and that was never something mentioned or needed...never heard of it, but it sounds awful. I hope she had recovered and is doing well now!

agea

Pregnancy does weird things to hormones and smells. 

I actually feel smellier when I’m postpartum/nursing.

nasalot188

I definitely notice i have stronger BO...and need to reapply deodorant. Such joys!

kissyfir1586

Not sure if we've talked about this yet...but is anyone putting a baby wrap/carrier on their registry? With DS1 I had one that had like plastic clips, and you set the baby down into it. It was fine but he got really heavy and sweaty. With DS2 I got a Moby wrap and never figured out how the heck to put it on.  I keep seeing ads for the K'tan on Facebook, otherwise I would've probably just forgotten about the whole baby wearing enterprise. Anyone tried that one or think another is better? 

whatabout2ndbreakfast

@kissyfir1586 I have a structured carrier (lillebaby) and a wildbird sling. I would like a moby for the newborn stage! Sakura bloom has some kind of inbetween things like sort of structured by more wrap-like but those are a little pricier 

Aerialmrs

@kissyfir1586 I saved 3 carriers that I used with my son, and already purchased 4 more... oops. I LOVE them, though, and I wore my son for a solid 3 years! There are so many different types that work for different reasons/occasions/people. I definitely recommend some kind of soft structured carrier, but a more cozy newborn-friendly carrier is also a good choice. A ring sling or stretchy wrap works great for newborns and they don't have to be super hot. I haven't used a Solly, but they seems bit on the thinner side of stretchy wraps, so that may be a good newborn option. The moby I had and got rid of was pretty thick and hot, but they might have more weight options now. I never tried the K'tan, but know others have liked it. I didn't love that it wasn't as adjustable as other options, so it seemed more difficult to get a good/safe fit.

emeraldcity1214

@kissyfir1586 I have the K’tan, ergo 360, Tula, and wild bird ring sling. I reach for the my K’tan until they get about 3 months and then I’m always using my ergo 360. Just FYI, an ergo isn’t the same as an Ergo 360. My ergo 360 is very supportive. I go on hikes all the time with my 25lb toddler on my back and feel perfectly comfortable. Last summer I hiked with him on my front and never got uncomfortable. I found a new soft structured carrier that I plan to try. I saw an ad for it on Instagram. If I can find the link I saved for it I will post it. 

marymh80

@kissyfir1586 I got a mesh Lillebaby when I was pregnant with my son and really liked it. It's the only way we made it to church for close to two years (my husband is not religious, so I went on my own with a toddler...I pretty much HAD to wear him or he'd bolt). 

I'm registering for something similar like a k'tan because that just seems so much easier, especially when they're little. 

krash_

Here is the link to our baby carriers product spotlight thread that has a lot information:
https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12758396/product-spotlight-series-baby-carriers-1-18/p1?new=1

I never liked the k'tan, it isn't adjustable and I never felt tight and secure enough. I suppose if you size down it might be better but all their sizing information said I should get a M and that was too big. I used a Moby wrap and loved it. A few YouTube videos about wrapping and it was pretty easy. You can always make it tighter which I liked because I liked it to feel really tight. 

I also never liked our Lillebaby. It was too bulky and cumbersome. I love Happy Baby Carriers which are a soft linen buckle carrier. I still use their Onbuhimo style with my almost 3 year old. They are a little hard to come by right now but there are other brands of apron style SSC's that might be in stock but I haven't tried them.