The Great Big Question Thread!

jcw2018

Hey Ladies, I’m in need of some advice, and wondering if this is just me…so I’m dealing with painful stomach cramping/gas which is normal, but I’m very constipated too. I’m taking my stool softener (2 a day) and I haven’t started my new prenatal with iron yet which will make this situation worse for me. The pain hinders my sleep at night, my question is, should I up my dose of my stool softener? Or take a safe laxative? Also sorry I’m just having issues this week 🤪 sleeping on my side makes the cramping/pain worse and my back is the only way I’m getting relief, is it ok for me to be sleeping on my back still? (I’m 7weeks 4days) thank y’all in advance🤗

bows22

@jcw2018 definitely still good to be on your back, no worries there. As far as the rest I’d check with your OB!

katiebeth2022

@suze7679 yay so glad to hear that!! I’m 28 too so we are in the exact same boat!! Praying for you too girl ❤️

mckenzc

@jcw2018 call your provider! They might even suggest a fiber gummy or increase in water intake, etc. wouldn’t flex your intake on meds too much before checking with OB— mention the cramps. 

Safe on your back for now. It’s when baby is large and heavy— resting on your vena cava— that you should switch to side 

knottie0b579cdfe1080906

Not sure what to think of my hcg levels - my lmp was January 18 but I’m pretty sure I ovulate late, this month we did not track ovulation.


I went for hcg:
February 17 - 64
February 19 - 122


Not sure if it makes a difference that I did not go exactly 48 hours after my first. Just wondering if anyone had similar scenarios?

branchflower731

Try taking some magnesium citrate! A low dose, but it helps SOOOOO much. 

merostomata

@jcw2018 Gas-X helps a ton with the gas pains. I started taking it several times a day. And for the iron, if you take it along with Vitamin C (which is super important for absorption) the constipation effect seems to mostly cancel out. Ferrochel, ferrous gluconate or ferrous sulfate also are easier on the digestive system than elemental irons. Also 2nd the magnesium citrate for the digestive system...helps with muscle cramping too in later pregnancy.

@knottie0b579cdfe1080906 that seems fine! It's supposed to double every 2-3 days in the early weeks, so if it basically doubled at a little under 48 hours you should be good. But def ask your provider if you're concerned and they can do another draw.

jmbfirsttime1022

I am doing the same! Due dat Oct 22 (not confirmed) but have started ordering lots of books! One that was recommended to me for good husband reading was “eat, sleep, poop”. I ordered it and want to read it with him!

mlkelly716

I found out what I was having at my anatomy scan with my son. This time I’m still trying to convince my husband to wait, but so far he wants to know so we’ll see 😊

mckenzc

mlkelly716 said:

I found out what I was having at my anatomy scan with my son. This time I’m still trying to convince my husband to wait, but so far he wants to know so we’ll see 😊

I think it’ll be hardest in the beginning but we are excited not to find out! This is one third and every time you announce your pregnancy, friend/family seem a little less and less shocked/excited. I think this brings a whole new level of excitement and build up. It’s just especially fun because we have 2 girls so this is going to be SO thrilling— a hat trick?! Or will our house turn upside down with a *gasp* BOY

marimye19

@kkinder93, I’m a librarian! Expecting Oct 21 and finally get to read all of the best parenting/pregnancy books I’ve bought for my library! Just finished reading Emily Oster’s Expecting Better. Really engaging, fun, insightful read! She compiles all the medical research to help parents make informed decisions about pregnancy/birth. Just started her second book, Cribsheet, which does the same thing but covers from birth to preschool. Hunt, Gather, Parent is next on my TBR list!

jmacd22

mckenzc said:

Is anyone going to be “Team Green” with me? 💚 just curious! 

I will be going team green. This is my 4th pregnancy and this will be the first time I wait to find out. 

pangolindrome

What is with the nipple pain?

It’s been eight weeks since my nipples were fine with touch, water, clothes… and I look forward to them behaving more like normal again.

seevans

Any moms have a favorite breast pump?

kat_vegan87

Hi all, I am pretty sick during this pregnancy. With my son, I had nausea all day, everyday, but I never felt THIS bad. I had to call in sick yesterday and I work from home! I couldn’t even look at my phone and I had the blinds down all day long. I think i was only up for about 2 hours total yesterday. The night before that, I passed out and then threw up too. Today I’m feeling better, I’ve been sipping on ginger ale and ritz crackers with my seabands on (those were my only life savers with my first LO). Has anyone else had this bad of morning sickness? What are you doing to make sure the baby is getting the nutrition/fluid they need? I am 6W5D, this is my third pregnancy, but I lost my first early on. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

kat_vegan87

the only pump that would work for me was WIC’s. They rent them out for free and they’re super strong (also pretty big). 

krthouse

@seevans I like the medela freestyle because it's very easy to take on the go. I didn't exclusively pump though. If I had I likely would have opted for something hospital grade that you can rent

shortstack930

@mckenzc I am going to be Team Green! We also have two girls. We were Team Green for #2 and it was really special finding out at delivery!

mckenzc

seevans said:

Any moms have a favorite breast pump?

Medela Sonata! It’s only partially covered by insurance but worth the upgrade $$

I think there is going to be a discussion thread closer to October on pumps. You’ll get lots of (too much) info there I’m sure 

tessiesmom26

@seevans I EPed with DS and I started with the Medela Freestyle, but did end up using the Spectra 2 as well. They both worked well for me, and I loved the option with both to not have to be connected to the wall. 

hlewis2311

I totally am in the same boat (currently 6 weeks today). This is my second pregnancy/first child-I had a miscarriage in December at nearly 7 weeks in which my only symptom was feeling tired. this one is rocking my world with the all day nausea/dizziness/dry heaving. 

I have been taking vit b6 and uniso
 (same thing as really expensive nausea medication they would prescribe diclegis) but i haven’t noticed any improvement except it helps me sleep and keep the nausea at bay at night. Sipping on mint tea has been good (i can’t stand ginger anything). Hope this helps!

kat_vegan87 said:

Hi all, I am pretty sick during this pregnancy. With my son, I had nausea all day, everyday, but I never felt THIS bad. I had to call in sick yesterday and I work from home! I couldn’t even look at my phone and I had the blinds down all day long. I think i was only up for about 2 hours total yesterday. The night before that, I passed out and then threw up too. Today I’m feeling better, I’ve been sipping on ginger ale and ritz crackers with my seabands on (those were my only life savers with my first LO). Has anyone else had this bad of morning sickness? What are you doing to make sure the baby is getting the nutrition/fluid they need? I am 6W5D, this is my third pregnancy, but I lost my first early on. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

runwmusic

@seevans I absolutely loved elvie. It was so worth the price to not be attached to a wall. With my first I used spectra and it was fine but I hate having to be in a chair by a power source. 

haleyerinrichter

I’m trying to figure out what I may be dated at as my OB is out for part of the month and I’m seeing her later than we were hoping for our first appointment. We religiously tracked everything because I had very infrequent and irregular periods, and I know I had an LH surge 1/10 and 1/11 with ovulation confirmed vi pdG testing the following week and it worked! If I go based off my last period, that would have been back in early December but since I know exactly which days it happened, over one month after my last period, how would I proceed with dating my pregnancy? This is my first!

pangolindrome

@haleyerinrichter I would figure you count from conception if you knew when it was. We weren’t feeling very frisky for a while due to stress and life, and I know for sure what day it happened. That always makes more sense to me than counting by period.
If you have information, you should use it, right?

katier9090

It totally makes me nervous when symptoms stop and then I throw up a few days later...just anxious in general to get into the safe zone. Trying to enjoy it.

krthouse

@haleyerinrichter My cycles are always all over the map, so I calculated based on when I suspected ovulation and conception had occurred. Going by last period would have been mayhem because I fully skip cycles. Ultrasound confirmed I was just 2 days early in my guess. You know your body best!

mackenziep98

My doctor just let me know that I have a bladder infection. This ice storm is preventing me from being able to get out and get the medicine she prescribed for me. Have any of you ladies been through this? Will I be okay to wait until tomorrow to get the medicine?

pangolindrome

Can pregnancy make your bowels so sensitive that “too much cheese” basically triggers food poisoning symptoms (diarrhea, searing bowel pain, spent two hours evacuating my bowels), or was there more likely somehow something bad in what I ate last night?

scotia-293

@rockstarmomma152 I am a RMT and massages are perfectly safe at all stages of pregnancy. Some people are nervous about it causing miscarriage in the first trimester but there is absolutely no evidence to support this claim. Just let your therapist know you are expecting they may avoid deep pressure on the lower back . There is so many benefits of massage during pregnancy I highly recommend it to all pregnant women. 

merostomata

@pangolindrome I think pregnancy can bring up new food sensitivities that go away after delivery. Food poisoning like sounds pretty bad, but I've definitely heard of people developing dairy intolerances. I've been getting severely bloated and cramped from wheat over the last month. It's been so painful, so I've been avoiding it. Super weird!

kboydbowman

@mackenziep98 *lurking from Sept. BMB* yes, you will be fine.  The main issue with UTIs during pregnancy is it makes it more likely you would get a secondary kidney infection than if you weren't pregnant.  As long as you start tx sometime within the next week or so you should be good.

shortstack930

@mackenziep98 a bladder infection is just a UTI. You should be fine to wait to get the meds, just make sure you’re drinking lots of water. 

mackenziep98

@kboydbowman and @shortstack930 thank you, I went ahead and got out and got the meds. My doctor said she wanted me to get them as soon as I could to stop further infection. 

EmilyE13

@mackenziep98 I hope you’re able to get some relief soon!

pangolindrome

merostomata said:

@pangolindrome I think pregnancy can bring up new food sensitivities that go away after delivery. Food poisoning like sounds pretty bad, but I've definitely heard of people developing dairy intolerances. I've been getting severely bloated and cramped from wheat over the last month. It's been so painful, so I've been avoiding it. Super weird!

I talked to my husband and it seems like the cheese was bad. Because my GI system is slowed down, instead of churning it through like usual and having “one upset bowel movement,” the bad cheese was in there for long enough to cause some serious upset.
I know it’s better than going back to being lactose intolerant. I have been celiac since birth and was lactose intolerant until I was 12. 

I am sorry to hear that you have developed a wheat sensitivity!!! That is terrible!

jcw2018

Thank you friends for the support💕 I’ve gotten it under control and feeling better as far as that goes. Now I’m having allergy/cold like issues…what cold meds are safe?

mckenzc

jcw2018 said:

Thank you friends for the support💕 I’ve gotten it under control and feeling better as far as that goes. Now I’m having allergy/cold like issues…what cold meds are safe?

This is in the packet my OB clinic gives at your first appt. I will say from experience with my first two, pregnancy rhinitis is definitely a thing. Your nose can just be congested and stuffy without it being a cold or infection. It’s pretty miserable! I tried to avoid meds as much as possible and I slept in breathe right strips with my second pregnancy 🤣 so sexy. 

Just be super cautious on taking anything that “thins mucus” and cross reference between what your doctor hands out & some of the pregnancy apps have a med list. I know Ovia does 

jcw2018

@mckenzc thank you so much!! Lol sleeping in breathe right strips, gotta do what works. My OBs office will give me one as well at my first appointment, but that isn’t for two more weeks 😫

lilrubrdky

We did with the first one...debating if we will for this one. I am torn.

Australian_girl_in_Paris

@jcw2018 you can try putting boiling water in a bowl and put a towel over it and you head. Breathing the steam can help. You can also safely use salt water nose spray to try to unblock your nose. 

It’s the worse to not be able to take anything.