December symptoms

acleverusername

acleverusername

My nipples are on fire. Sooooooo painful. I am trying the trick my friend told me: put bra in the freezer for 15 min. Argh... 

etnyah

@acleverusername never too early to buy some nipple gel soothing pads! And yep, stick them in the fridge.

The Braxton Hicks are getting annoying over here. Also, nosebleeds. Yuck.

pocket_owl

Yes, like the smallest amount of rubbing on a tshirt and they chafe like a mother. I started applying lanolin after showering to try to soothe things. 

nsk489

Ugh my nipples have been soo sensitive and uncomfortable lately. Also my boobs finally got bigger lol 

mcmanda4321

@etnyah I thought I was the only one getting nosebleeds! I had no idea that was related to pregnancy! 

enw1028

@etnyah @mcmanda4321 i had awful nosebleeds when I was pregnant with my son! I’ve only had 1 this time around so far 

baby shifted positions yesterday and it made me feel nauseous - almost car sick 🤢
later in the night you could see some part of her hanging out in one part of my stomach and it was so hard 👀 I experienced this SO much later with my son haha 

scaredunprepared

@acleverusername my nipples and boobs have finally gotten to the point of sore/ultra sensitive too.  Nursing my son SUUUUCKS so bad right now.  I have the gel pads that @etnyah suggested and they are helping a little. 

The heartburn is so bad this time.  I definitely am eating tums like candy and popping a pepcid before bed too.  And the sore hips/back/pelvis!  I want to take a Tylenol before bed because it helps so much much I know taking so much probably isn't the best idea.  I was not this sore at all during my other pregnancies

trubaby411

My hips and back are so sore by the end of the day. I have a hard time finding any way to get comfortable after around 8pm. I can only imagine how things are going to feel in another 10 weeks. 🤦‍♀️

returning_bump_member

@trubaby411 same here! A pregnancy support band is definitely minimizing the back pain. I started using a heat pack during/after dinner and stretching my lower back/hips. My prenatal yoga class taught some poses and stretches husband can help with to release the pressure and OMG it's divine. (There's so many dirty jokes I want to type 🤣)

trubaby411

@returning_bump_member haha I love it! Bring on the dirty jokes! 🤣 I need to get back to yoga. I've been trying to stretch some, but not with any consistency. I ordered a belly band, as well, so hopefully that will bring some relief too. 

acleverusername

How’s everyone’s iron levels? I’m barely above the minimums for pregnancy (hemoglobin is at 11.7; hematocrit is at 35.4; haven’t had my ferritin checked). I’m taking iron supplements (Floradix Liquid Iron + Herbs) but I’m thinking that I need to optimize when I take it.  

Any thoughts or advice? I can’t take it in the morning when I wake up since I take Synthroid and taking iron would impact its efficiency. 

iiirene

@acleverusername when we started solids with my son I learned that vitamin c helps with iron absorption. Maybe try to take it with some fruit or a glass of OJ

returning_bump_member

@acleverusername I inherited low iron levels from my mom so I am always on the low side. Supplements do more to constipate me than anything. Lightly sautéed spinach (with scrambled eggs) for breakfast and red meat (in moderation, 2-3x/week) help keep my levels at "acceptable" levels.

gingerbunny23

Anyone else need a MOTN thread already 😅🤦‍♀️ Idk if it’s all the hip and belly pain I’ve been acclimating to this week or what, but I was really starting to get used to halfway sleeping normally again…..so naturally pregnancy insomnia has come back full force…..It really is always something isn’t it?

scaredunprepared

@gingerbunny23 lol yes always something!  I am definitely up a lot at night already

v_flowers

Not really a symptom, more of just an observation, but is anyone noticing their baby’s movements to be very inconsistent? I’m going to be 22 weeks tomorrow, and I can usually feel a few kicks/movement in the evening and at night. However, it’s radio silence during the day.

 I know it’s still early for predictable movement and my anterior placenta is also a factor. I still can’t help but overthink and stress about it. I’m starting to think that feeling calm and relaxed during this pregnancy just isn’t going to happen for me. 

etnyah

@v_flowers same! And it differs from day to day as well, some days she’s active literally all day long (how?) and then the next I’ll only have a couple kicks after I go to bed. I think it’s pretty normal. 

It’s also normal for baby to be more quiet during the day since you walking around rocks them to sleep, and then they wake up when you sit/lay down and aren’t moving. This trend will follow after birth 

v_flowers

@etnyah That’s a good point about sleep/wake cycles. I’m a reassurance junkie and just can’t get enough of feeling her move around. 💕

nsk489

@v_flowers I had an anterior placenta during my first pregnancy (and again for this one!) and remember feeling so worried that it took forever to feel movement, and when I did finally feel movement it was inconsistent. If you start getting worried during the day when you aren't feeling movement, try sitting down to relax for a few minutes and drink something cold--it sometimes helps get baby moving 

returning_bump_member

@v_flowers I get this too! I'll drink some water, eat a small sugary snack, or poke around my belly if I really start to worry. 

I am finding I feel more in the evenings and when I go to bed (utero dance party!) which then drives me crazy because I just want to sleep, lol!

v_flowers

@nsk489 I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one! Thank you for the tip! 

etnyah

I’ve started feeling baby hiccups! Totally forgot how weird this feels. My son had the hiccups alllll the time, and it continued after he was born

MsBeachNJ

Anyone else have first tri exhaustion come back in week 20? Man I am DRAGGING!!!

iiirene

@MsBeachNJ yes to the exhaustion but for me it never really went away. I’m just completely wiped out by the end of the day most every day. 

scaredunprepared

@iiirene same. I've been going to bed at 9 most nights (except when I can't sleep!)

firsttimemama1987

My immune system sucks. This is the second cold I’ve had in a month. I coughed so hard the other day I threw up and peed my pants simultaneously, fun times!

trubaby411

@firsttimemamafromboston been there! The violent cough that causes both puking and peeing at the same time is probably the funest pregnancy experience yet 🙄. I hope you feel better soon! 

scaredunprepared

@firsttimemamafromboston definitely been there!  

acleverusername

@firsttimemamafromboston Ooph! That sounds ROUGH!

v_flowers

I was rudely awoken last night out of a dead sleep  by the worst leg cramp of my life. I scared my husband and dog to death. I was literally yelping. Fortunately, it went away really quickly. I’m seriously hoping that doesn’t become a routine thing. 

etnyah

@v_flowers ahhh that’s a Charley horse. They’re the WORST. I did have them regularly last time and it sucked. So far nothing yet this time! 

Staying well hydrated helps prevent them, but then of course you’ll need to get up multiple times at night to pee. I prefer the peeing for sure though. 

v_flowers

@etnyah I’m definitely going up the water intake. I’m with you. I’ll take an extra bathroom trip over that! 

etnyah

@v_flowers I hope it helps and you never have one again!

The “fun” part is when you have them in late third tri and sitting up and yelling in pain wakes your husband, and he’s like “ARE YOU IN LABOR” lolol. No it’s just my leg again, go back to sleep

acleverusername

@etnyah LOL @ "the fun part" bahahaha. Can't wait to frighten H to death. 
I've been getting leg cramps at night as well. Sigh. Gonna keep up taking my magnesium and hopefully it doesn't get too bad. 

etnyah

Okay I wrote in the check-in thread that I feel okay besides some aches and pains but like. Those aches and pains didn’t show up until third tri last time, and I’m also still puking, despite taking zofran. Not every day but it’s getting old. I’m supposed to be in the “good” phase, but I’m having first and third tri symptoms simultaneously. Pregnancy is not my favorite time.

acleverusername

@etnyah sending you hugs. 

Over here, I'm just leaking out. And it scares me to death cause every time I rush to the bathroom thinking it might be blood. Argh. *TW* doesn't help that a friend who's 9 weeks ahead recently shared that she had short cervix situation around 23-24 weeks. Guess where my head is at now? *end TW*

etnyah

@acleverusername oh that is so scary re: your friend. I hope everything is working out for her, at least she’s far enough along now that things would likely be fine! But still, getting that news is terrifying. 

And yeah, the leaking is next level. Nothing can prepare you for the amount of stuff that ends up in your underwear during pregnancy. I completely forgot about that part, it’s pretty gross lol.

cortsull0724

New this weekend, first stretch marks 😢 obviously knew it was a likely thing to come, but still pretty shocking when you notice them. My husband says my boobs are still amazing, but man I was sad to see them. Just remembering I won’t care about those in April when we meet our little guy, but really not loving seeing them start. 

trubaby411

@acleverusername OMG the leaking! I, too, have been paranoid lately at what in the hell is happening down there. I have definitely googled too many times checking for any potential signs of danger. I have a friend who had incompetent cervix, plus my brain always goes to doom and gloom, so that doesn't help. 🥴

nsk489

@acleverusername later pregnancy is always "fun" when you get to play the game "did I pee myself or did my water break?"