The Big QUESTION Thread

farm_mama

alexxajams said:

@farm_mama how did home birth experience go? I’m very curious but also just terrified of being a worst case scenario.. I was thinking about talking to a midwife to see if that would give me some peace of mind

I can't say enough about my homebirth experience. I was so much more comfortable and relaxed which made all the difference. My midwife and I had a transport plan. Our local hospital and my doctor were advised of my situation. She diligently monitored my vitals and babies vitals. We checked position and the state of my incision site prior to labor with an ultrasound. She really encouraged me to lean into my intuition. I felt safe and comfortable. If that had changed at anytime we would have transported.

I did like the extra precautions of my hospital vbac of having a continuous fetal monitor and having an IV in place just in case of emergency. If it was an option I would choose to do that at home.

Overall for me it was just a better fit to be at home. I am very sensitive to medical environments. My labor was three hours from standing in my kitchen when the midwife got there to baby in my arms. As I mentioned before I did a lot of reading ahead of both VBACs and the more I learned the more comfortable I felt. My midwife was incredibly reassuring. My doctor was incredibly supportive of the vbac and frustrated that an in hospital vbac with a midwife isn't an option.

I plan to go over everything again this time before birth go get into the right head space.

k_simmons

I’ve had every medela, a lansinoh, and spectra and spectra is my absolute favorite and felt it cleared / emptied me most! 

avocadotoast30

Hi everyone! I'm 12+4 and just had food poisoning. Basically throwing up all morning yesterday and couldn't keep anything down including water. After talking to midwives they suggested taking gravol and drinking Pedialyte to hydrate, and both definitely helped. I ended up being able to keep down about 1L of Pedialyte yesterday and a couple pieces of toast. I am feeling a bit better today and so far have not had any vomiting even without taking gravol. I asked if I should be worried about baby and they said as long as I'm able to stay hydrated there is no concern, baby will use up whatever food storage my body has. But when I asked about long term effects from the more scary food borne illnesses like listeria or salmonella, they said it's too early to tell and only the 20w anatomy scan will show any impact on baby. I'm obviously worried sick, this is my second pregnancy and I feel like I've been so relaxed about what I'm eating, and ordering way more takeout (which I guess is normal when you have a toddler running around that you need to take care of). But I keep beating myself up about it 😞 of course it doesn't help that I had my 12W scan scheduled yesterday morning which I wasn't able to go to because of how sick I was. So now will also have to wait to get that rescheduled to see if baby is ok...

Are there any tests I can ask to take (blood or stool sample) to help rule out the more risky types of food poisoning to baby? Any stories of food poisoning during pregnancy that can help reassure me everything will be fine with baby would be really appreciated 🙏

cioccolata16

I don’t know about salmonella, but I listened to a This Podcast Will Kill You episode about listeria, and it doesn’t sound like you had the right symptoms. Usually there is a fever and it lasts at least a few days. I think the usual course of treatment would be antibiotics (for either, and during pregnancy), so if you’re concerned you should see a doctor about your symptoms. There are tests they can run, as well, to try to pinpoint the specific bacteria. 

hedgepig

@cioccolata16 I love TPWKY! I was going to say the same thing, that it doesn't sound like listeria. I listened to the one on salmonella and I think that's usually longer, with lots of diarrhea, so hopefully it's not that either. 

alexxajams

I wouldn’t be too worried! That happened to me with my first. Ate at Chili’s and I didn’t even make it out the front doors before hurling in the bushes then again before getting into the car. I was sick the whole day but fine the next. Just stay hydrated and try B.R.A.T to slowly start eating again 

lesada2021

Has anyone been experiencing post nasal drip or drainage and shortness of breath in the evenings? I’ve tested twice 3 days apart, it’s not covid. I feel fine in the day time teaching but around 4 when I start coaching my voice starts to give out and by the end of practice and dinner time it’s hard to take a deep breath and I cough too sometimes. It’s been a week and I’m 15 weeks today. Anyone else dealing with allergies and sob?

dinomeetsjedi

@knottie yes, and it is terrible. Last week was miserable for me and I have had it on and off for 3 weeks. No positive covid tests, so increasing symptoms. At this point I would rather I was just sick so I could get it over with. Zyrtec did help (and is safe for pregnancy according to my doctor), lots of people recommend saline nose spray or hot/cold on sinuses or massage, but none of those things seemed to help me.

mom2be_again

Anyone have cramping around 19 weeks? Still feel baby moving around in there but my low pelvis has been very crampy and achy today. I keep telling myself it’s probably stretching/ growing pains but I’m still kind of worried. 

cioccolata16

Was it cramping cramping or just pain? I have had a variety of different very low abdominal and pelvic pain since around 20 weeks. My doctor said that unless there is a noticeable pattern or regularity, or if the pain is accompanied by bleeding or a gush of fluid, then it’s probably just stretching (same for braxton hicks contracts, which I think I started getting around then or a couple weeks later)

alexxajams

What do Braxton hicks feel like? I’m a STM but first pregnancy was so smooth so I feel like a new mom with this pregnancy being drastically different. 

k_simmons

@alexxajams for me, they feel like a tightening/ hardening of your stomach. Basically they feel like contractions. This will be baby #5 for us and it’s also drastically different 😆 isn’t that crazy how each pregnancy has its own slew of stuff?! I never had the amount of BH I’m having now with any of my others! What’s odd is i can even pinpoint when I’ll get one - certain positions i sit in, like if i lean back/recline a certain way, i start getting them. Weird! My husband keeps telling me, you think you’d be a pro at this by now and everytime there’s something new 🤣

knottie583d2ed2369f398c

FTM here - my baby girl is currently 10 weeks…at around 5 weeks she began to develop darkness around her upper lip and looks like a mustache…I know with just growing a healthy human this should be the least of my worries but I’m curious if anyone else has has this experience? 

knottie387496a24e838096

I am 8 weeks postpartum. I was having yellow discharge till 6 weeks and started bleeding bright red blood. It bled for 10 days before going away for a week. I thought it was maybe my period except that it’s back again? Anyone have this experience?

k_simmons

I know I’m super late here, but yes i actually had the same thing happen to me twice. The bleeding didn’t last that long but random just like that. Maybe 3-4 days bright red blood