The Great Big Giant Question Thread!

paytonpedro

@and_peggy & @dimeadozen thank you ladies! I just won’t pee again before just to be safe lol

dimeadozen

@and_peggy good point. At least at my doctor, I had to give a sample at every single appointment. 

When did you schedule your appointment for @paytonpedro?

paytonpedro

@dimeadozen It’s at 6pm est and I’m 6 weeks today. I think it’s probably too early but this is the date the receptionist gave me so idk. I’m hoping to at least see the heartbeat and given my high hcg I’m hopeful. 

dimeadozen

@paytonpedro good luck!! We’re all eager to hear your results. High HCG, maybe twins? 😜

daffodil_shoe

@paytonpedro I just scheduled my heartbeat confirmation US, and she told me to drink 32 oz before the appt so my bladder would be full

coco2787

@paytonpedro I just scheduled my first u/s and they told me to have a full bladder. Typically if it’s going to be a TV ultrasound (which is what I assume they’ll do at 6 weeks) they want you to have a full bladder. 

becks105

I can’t remember, but yes, my dr has me pee in a cup every appointment, so I don’t know how you’re supposed to have a full bladder! I don’t remember doing so with my daughter, but I went at 8 weeks instead of 6. Those two weeks make so much difference!

paytonpedro

Thank you ladies! I went with a full bladder and she didn’t say much about it one way or the other. But she didn’t have me pee before so it must have been fine/good. @dimeadozen unless another magically appears, there is only one!!! I did just read a study that high hcg could mean girl, so that’s what I’m banking on right now lol. 

bearmomma1

@becks105 I take Ritual prenatals. It's an online subscription. I'm not sure how they affect nausea as this is my first pregnancy I'm taking them with. I guess I'll let you know as I get more into the 'nausea zone'

My question is: I haven't had my Covid booster. I was planning on getting it if I wasn't pregnant this cycle, but alas, here we are. I know they say getting the vaccine while pregnant isn't a big deal, but now I'm pregnant and I'm nervous. Do any of you plan on getting a booster now and/or have you already? (and not trying to start controversy with those who can't/won't get the shot)

anniemarie887

@bearmomma1got boosted 11/8, got pregnant pretty much right after. i believe the recommendation is to get it asap. if i hadn't already i would not hesitate to get it.

maggiemadeit

@bearmomma1 I am in the same boat, I had 2 doses back in May, and was scheduled for my booster on Monday, but I cancelled it when I found out I was pregnant. I personally am going to wait until my first appointment in January to get my doctor’s recommendation on the best timing. It’s getting pretty bad where I live right now, and I am nervous to get the booster and also nervous to wait for the appointment, ugh! 

daffodil_shoe

@bearmomma1 I got my booster 10/29, knowing we would be doing a FET a few weeks later. Had I been pregnant already, I still would have gotten the booster. Getting covid while pregnant terrifies me. I work in L&D, and we’ve had multiple patients in Covid ICU with an emergency mini c/s set in their room. In the event they died, we would have immediately performed a c/s on the deceased patient to save the baby.

I got Moderna all 3 doses. First dose I had a sore arm, second I had fever and chills that went away after taking ibuprofen, and with the booster I had zero side effects.

ambelance

@bearmomma1 I got my booster 2 days before my bfp, all the research suggests it's safe. I had a sore arm for a day and no other side effects

maggiemadeit

@daffodil_shoe Thank you for sharing that, I think you effectively just changed my mind about waiting until January to get boosted ❤️

returning_bump_member

@bearmomma1 I got my booster 2 days before my BFP and had no crazy symptoms, just a sore arm and fatigue (but that could've been the pregnancy). 

darkrose88

@bearmomma1 I'm really glad you asked that question. I've been debating on the when to get my booster (I wasn't eligible pre-pregnancy when I looked into it). Looks like I need to scheudle my booster sooner rather than later. 

and_peggy

@bearmomma1 I am going to wait and talk to my dr. TW** I got my second dose in June, several days before I got pregnant and then had a blighted ovum. Know it’s likely not related, but obviously it made me spiral. If I can, I’m going to wait until 3rd trimester. I feel okay waiting it out. 

coco2787

@bearmomma1 you’ve gotten some good responses but I also want to add that the science shows COVID can cause miscarriage and preterm labor, but there is no evidence to show the vaccine is harmful in pregnancy. Plus you may be passing on the antibodies to baby! 

wisewitch222

@bearmomma1 I got my covid booster three days after I ovulated this cycle. I stared at the "Are you pregnant/could become pregnant?" question for a good five minutes before circling "could become" and checking "yes." I plan on telling my ob/gyn about it and seeing if he has any thoughts, but so far my pregnancy symptoms square with the ones I had with my first two kids and I don't think the booster had any affect on it whatsoever. I did have worse side effects for the booster than for my initial two shots though, which was a surprise, but they side effects weren't stay-home-from-work bad, I was just achy at work that day.

buffythevampireslayer

I got my booster while pregnant. It’s getting real out there and the booster will help keep me and the little babe safe. 

mehugg

I got boosted during the cycle we conceived. Most docs I know think the risks of COVID for pregnant mamas & their babes far outweigh the risks of the shot. I had less of a reaction to my booster than other shots too - other than a wicked sore arm, haha! Omicron is scary, if you need a gentle push to go for it, consider this it of course your OB is a great person to ask if you're on the fence too.

mehugg

I'll also say - I was pregnant when covid like "happened," and delivered well before vaccines were on the horizon. COVID impacted everything about my first pregnancy and everything about becoming a mom. I'll never forget the fear. So for me it was a no brainer.

lmaplejc

@bearmamma1 Thank you for posting.  I asked my OB on Friday, because I had the same question.  As a background, I just became eligible for the booster and I had Covid in March.  I spiked a high fever for 24 hours after my second dose, so she suggested I wait until my second trimester to get the booster.  She is also going to have me take Tylenol when I do get it, to prevent a high fever during pregnancy.  She recommends getting the booster right away to moms who didn’t have a reaction to the second dose.   Maybe call your OB to discuss your concerns and your own particular history to put your mind at ease?  But hugs, these are all incredibly stressful calculations we have make.

luckypenny11

@bearmomma1 I got my booster during the TWW, and I had an easy time with it (triple Pfizer - sore arm for 48 hours, but that's it).  I think it's always reasonable to talk with your OB and make a plan together that you're comfortable with  

@wisewitch222 - I also stared at the question for a while before I checked "could be"!  I felt like I might jinx myself 

starkette

Got my booster days before my BFP appeared. No bad symptoms from the booster except sore arm for a day. And so far everything is good with this pregnancy, had my first ultrasound last week. 

darkrose88

So I've noticed on and off small (like dot sized amount) of blood in my discharge the past few days. I'm reading spotting is common during pregnancy but that small amount is throwing me off. Anyone experience this?

and_peggy

@darkrose88 obviously not this but I did have some moderately heavy bleeding on Christmas, accompanied by cramps. It was more than spotting for sure, and my husband had to remind me that I’ve bled around 9 weeks in every single pregnancy. Must repress it.

I think if it’s light and it stops, probably no concern.

darkrose88

@and_peggy I did end up having some spotting after I posted this but it seems to be gone. This was the second time this week I had random spotting. Definitely not something I experienced with my first full term pregnancy so it has had me a little concerned despite knowing it is normal. 

paytonpedro

Bumping this because we’ve had a few one off posts for questions.  🙂

and_peggy

I know it’s a little early to talk L&D but this is one of my sources of anxiety. I’ve had 4 smooth vaginal deliveries but the latter 3 were precipitous and 2 has pre-e. So my question is twofold.

1. Has anyone else ever dealt with pre-e and are you doing anything to prevent it this time? My OB said at my next appt she’s going to start me on baby aspirin to see if I can make it to my due date. But if possible, I’d like to start doing other things to make sure my BP stays down. It already started at 145/90 at my first appointment (hopefully just nerves) but I don’t want more issues.

2. Anyone else have precipitous labor? I’m always concerned I’m going to have a home birth.

Baby #1 - 8 hours (induced at 39 weeks pre-e)
Baby #2 - 3 hours (induced at 39 weeks)
Baby #3 - 20 minutes (spontaneous labor at 38 weeks)
Baby #4 - 3 hours (sent over from my 38 week appt for pre-e)

paytonpedro

@and_peggy I can’t answer any of your questions, but your 3rd labor scares me a little because my first two were almost identical to yours (length and induction, although induced after my due date). So scared to have this baby at home or in the car!

and_peggy

@paytonpedro so the story goes like this:
With babies 2, 3 & 4, I’ve been about 4cm dilated from 35 weeks on. On the night that I started having contractions with my third, we went to the hospital but they wouldn’t admit me because I wasn’t past 4cm. So I basically labored at home the entire next day. I legit scrubbed my floors because I was not going to let these contractions fizzle out. About 6pm the next night, I started having contractions like 5 minutes apart but I didn’t want to get sent home again so we waited a bit and then they were like 2 minutes apart out of nowhere. Lost my mucus plug. Called my mom in a panic. My only prayer was it wouldn’t be rush hour, and it wasn’t. So we got to the parking lot at 8:30pm, we live close to the hospital thankfully. I ran through the contractions and collapsed when I got up there. They check me and I was ready to push. I didn’t plan for unmedicated birth but had no choice. He flew out at 8:50pm.

The whole thing could have been avoided if they’d have kept me the night before but I’m actually glad I was able to labor at home. So I say 20 minutes but maybe that’s not exactly the case. Either way, it was pretty crazy and quick and had it been any other time of day, he would have for sure been a car baby.

So when baby #4 was causing pre-e, I was semi relieved knowing I wouldn’t have to panic again about going into labor.

paytonpedro

@and_peggy that’s crazy!! My last my epidural didn’t work so I know the pain of an unplanned unmedicated birth. I was so not prepared and am definitely planning on learning some kind of coping techniques this go around. I also think I’m going to switch to a different hospital that also offers nitrous oxide just in case!! 

and_peggy

@paytonpedro bless you! my epidural didn’t work with my first either 😆 I will say it was nice to be able to get up and move around immediately.
When I had my second, it was like, “ooooh that’s what it’s supposed to feel like”

I have lots of wild labor stories. I’m very grateful they’ve been relatively easy and quick. Just depending how everything goes when we get to that point, I may try for unmedicated this time but I’m also not trying to be a hero 😆

paytonpedro

@and_peggy I am definitely not a hero! Lol. I also had pitocin that was working too well, which I think probably made it drastically more painful. I’ve considered trying unmedicated if I go into spontaneous labor and don’t need pitocin, but I probably won’t. I just want to be (more) prepared in case that epidural doesn’t take haha. My first labor was a dream compared to my second. Second was definitely traumatizing. 

paytonpedro

Ok I got a question!

What is the soonest your doctor has gotten a heartbeat on the Doppler? I’ll be 8+4 at my appt on Monday and I’m curious if she’ll try to find it. 

wigglyicecream

@paytonpedro if I remember correctly my dr didn’t even try until I was 10 or 12 weeks. She also strongly discourages buying at home dopplers since it can cause anxiety if you can’t  find the heart beat 

ETA change can to can’t 🤦🏻‍♀️

anniemarie887

@paytonpedro def not at the first appt which was around 8 weeks, the 2nd at 12 and then each one after.

kkfaye

You can totally take B6 in addition to your prenatal. I just asked this yesterday and I can take it up to 3x if needed. 

paytonpedro

@wigglyicecream & @anniemarie887 thank you ladies! I dug through my (over 20,000) pictures and videos and found a video I took with my first when I first heard his heartbeat. It was at 9 weeks on the dot. Maybe I can ask her to try? Technically it will be my second appt, but the first was really just a confirmation and to get betas started.