The Great Big Question Thread!

melyrae

Hey all, in order to prevent so many one-off posts, we can post some of our pregnancy related questions here! 

s_eliz8927

Hi all, I just started experiencing some spotting today enough to need a liner pad. Im really scared and nervous about our scan tomorrow. Has anyone else experienced this?

jtayl962

@s_eliz8927 was it pink? If it was I would contact you doctor.

melyrae

@s_eliz8927 wishing you well. I hope it’s all ok. In my pregnancy with my son I experienced light spotting at 6+2 for a day, and all was well. Hoping you get good news at your scan 

gwhatmore

s_eliz8927 how are you doing? I was experiencing spotting at about week 5 or 6 and my doc said it was normal as my uterus was getting use to the baby. 

Question- my morning sickness/feelings of exhaustion are coming and going. I am feeling less nauseous at 9 weeks 1 day than I did last tuesday at 8 weeks 2 days... I was exhausted all weekend but my anxiety driving me up the wall since I read that week 9 and 10 are supposed to be the worst but then also read its normal to come and go and some women start to feel better around 9 weeks. Any reassuring words? 

rdothoward

I was feeling the same at 9 weeks, and was also concerned. Even my breast tenderness has subsided. Now at week 10 the tiredness came back, and the nausea too. Not as constant as before, but I think of it coming in waves. Everything I’ve read says to be thankful for the relief when it comes, so I’m trying to think of it that way. I don’t know if it’s reassuring, but you’re not alone ♥️

gwhatmore

@rdothoward that helps!!! Knowing I’m not alone is the reassurance I needed! Thank you!! 🙏🏻

jtayl962

STM+ anyone feel like your showing already? I'm 9 weeks

leamarai

@jtayl962 I keep telling myself it's just bloating but then I find myself turning to my husband and asking if I look fat or pregnant.

kaitykins

I’ve found I’m irritated by my standard clothes. I’m trying to wear low cut undies and my high waisted leggings when I’m laying around the house. I’ve actually lost 10 lbs over the last 5 weeks so it has to be my tiny little bump. Hiding under my standard roundness. I ordered some crossover underbelly underwear so hoping that helps with the annoying sensation. I’m a 3rd time mom 

knottie903780c81f7cf42f

hi mamas 👋 I’m 13 weeks and have been eating a lot. I hear that it’s better to gain a little too much weight than too little. I already gained 8 lbs. my doctor won’t comment on the speed of weight gain but just says 25-35 total. Is that too much weight gain at 13 weeks? I feel like it’s not going to my uterus but just fat 😬 thanks for the advice 

meandthebirds

Hey y’all. Is anyone experiencing all day sickness. I have no appetite and food aversions are at 100. I’m beyond exhausted. This is my third pregnancy and I’ve never experienced any type of sickness or aversions before. 

jtayl962

@meandthebirds yes to the all day sickness. I just feel sick all the time. I don't remember having all day sickness with my daughter.

erinar13

@meandthebirds yes!!! It’s been so awful! My first two I never had any nausea, I knew I was lucky then. But I’m paying for it now! I’ve been so miserable. Trying some vit b6 and unisom. Also hard candies have helped some. 

melyrae

@jtayl962 STM and definitely showing at 12 weeks. Even in the morning I’ve got a little bump. The morning bump isn’t pronounced enough to be a preggy bump (more like “did she eat a burrito for breakfast” bump) so I’m not ready to show it off yet. But meanwhile the evening bump is rockin and it’s hard to hide and nothing fits me so… I’m at the awkward stage

melyrae

@meandthebirds also all day sick. Taking the max dose of diclectin and still feeling like a pile of hot garbage. If I feel like eating I make sure to really lean into that. And if I don’t feel like eating I try to stomach something, knowing that hunger makes my nausea worse. 

@knottie everyone has different bodies and relationships with food and weight. I have always been small and gained more than the recommended amount with my son. I’ve always tried to frame it as “what feels good to feed my body and my child” and forget the “average numbers” 

tuxielove93

Re: weight gain. According to my midwife, if youre eating good food (aka not oreos and ice cream ALL day long) you'll gain what you need to. They didnt worry about my weight gain. With my first I gained 50 pounds, second 30, third 25 (but lost 15 in the first trimester from sickness). All happy healthy big babies. My third was 9 pounds! And Ive always dropped back to my normal breastfeeding baseline weight after. (I havent stopped nursing and you should hold onto a baby emergency pack of 5-15 pounds of weight while breastfeeding.) 

swk2023

I am now 12 weeks pregnant with my first pregnancy and am starting to not be able to wear certain pants. I would love to know from any experienced mums if I should just get some stretchy pants to tide me over or just get a pair of maternity jeans? Thanks ladies!

leamarai

@Knottie1464960566

Stretchy pants are great! I'll be honest, I never got any maternity jeans with my first. I worked in finance so at work I stuck to dresses/skirts or maternity leggings and a nice top. If you have Ross's/Marshall's/TJ Maxx where you live they're also worth checking out. I just picked up some super comfy maternity pants for like $11 each and I know they had jeans too.

melyrae

I live for my leggings during maternity! My son was born early September so I spent all spring and summer in dresses. With this one I’ll be buying some maternity pants because… well… winter in Canada… for now I’m wearing leggings and stretchy pants though. 

curlycatmom

I’m 12 weeks and probably gained about 5 lbs. I wouldn’t call it a bump but I already had some roundness to my tummy pre pregnancy. I am however having pretty bad round ligament pain in my belly. Anyone else?

jtayl962

@curlycatmom yes, same for me. I also had a belly before and having round ligament pain here and there.

tuxielove93

Its normal. I get the RLP so bad when I sneeze I scare my husband. Its such an instant shooting high level pain. 

tuxielove93

Re: clothing. Just get the clothes now that will make you comfy all the way through. The transition is going to be so short it doesnt make sense, at least for me and most women Ive talked to. 

zamzy

@s_eliz8927 i started spitting at 11+4. Saw my doctor who did ultrasound and internal exam and found nothing out of the ordinary. Said pink and brown spotting is normal due to hormone changes. Especially if it’s not your first pregnancy. Still spotting at 12+1 but staying hopeful. 

jtayl962

Hubby and I did the deed last night. I started on bottom and can tell a belly is starting because it was a little uncomfortable.  Could I hurt the baby being in that position?

tuxielove93

@jtaly962 no. Outside of a car accident or a fall directly onto the belly in the late stages of pregnancy, its nearly impossible to hurt the baby. They are VERY well insulated by design. Theres your stomach fat, your stomach muscles, your uterus, and then the amniotic fluid, which is like a giant airbag surrounding them. Missionary may be uncomfortable for you though. If it is, doggie and side lying tend to be the most successful positions for pregnancy sex 

leamarai

Is anyone else getting super dizzy? I know it can be common in the first trimester but it's driving me nuts, especially because it often happens when I'm sitting which honestly makes it more disorienting.

rdothoward

I have a question about nips: is anyone else having extremely sensitive nipples? Like, I was in the shower and it felt like the head was a pressure washer. Does anyone have recommendations on nip care for a first timer?

jtayl962

@leamarai no dizziness here. I had it once very early on. Hope you get relief soon.

@rdothoward no help here either. I did have some sensitivity around the nips bit nothing crazy

practicallypierson

I mostly deal with the dizziness when transitioning to standing, but I had a really bad dizzy spell a few weeks ago, and our school nurse had me drinking cold water in a dark room until it passed. Sometimes closing my eyes helps. Sometimes focusing on one point in the room helps. If you can get your head lower than your heart, that can restore blood flow to your brain a bit faster and help the dizziness pass. Sitting down is definitely a safer position to be in than standing, since you’re less likely to fall, but I agree, it’s awful when the dizziness hits while you’re sitting. 

If it’s constant, it doesn’t hurt to call your OB nurse line and see if they have any other suggestions. 

leamarai

@practicallypierson I think I will mention it since I have to call today anyway. They said 5-7 days for my nipt and it's been 9 so I want to make sure my sample wasn't lost. 😂

cjb_april24

I believe someone mentioned this a couple weeks back, but has anyone else passed mucus-like substance? 14 weeks. It was brown and smelly but I’m not cramping or have pain? Should I reach out to my OBGYN? I don’t have another appt until 11/3. 

jtayl962

@cjb_april24 I would because it could bacteria Vaginosis 

melyrae

Anyone else starting to maybe feel some flutters??? Such an exciting time !!!

maryjones521

@melyrae yes I think I've felt a few! It helps that this is my second pregnancy. I want to feel them all the time but I know baby is still so small & it will get more intense!

practicallypierson

I started getting them about two weeks ago (second time in second trimester, and I felt them early with my son, too). I love them so much, and I really look forward to them getting more consistent. I have to remind myself sometimes that it's still early, and they aren't going to be consistent yet. 

bellybiscuits

How do you ladies feel about a glass of red wine? 

kaitykins

bellybiscuits said:

How do you ladies feel about a glass of red wine? 

No amount of alcohol is safe for baby during pregnancy. They are developing the entire time and it can impact that. So personally I don’t consume any. I realize not everyone takes it as seriously as me but the impact can be lifelong. 

jtayl962

I personally wouldn't either. 

practicallypierson

There is no amount of alcohol that is known to be safe to consume during pregnancy. Standards of consumption vary pretty widely across cultures, with a lot of anecdotal evidence that a single glass occasionally does not have large-scale negative effects, but that's a cost-benefit analysis you'll have to do on your own. Personally, I'm not going to risk it. There are too many unknowns about fetal alcohol syndrome for me to feel comfortable.