Coming out - and a few questions about this new pg (long)

northernvabride

So I'm 6w2d weeks pg with DC#2 (fingers crossed for a sticky baby).  we saw the heartbeat on Monday at my dating u/s and it was good.  DD is 13 months today.  I was just at the ob yesterday and they told me a few things which I wanted to bounce off you ladies. 

1)  No more carrying DD, who is 23 lbs.  Encourage her to walk everywhere.  They don't want me to hurt my back.  I love carrying DD, and I didn't think her weight would be an issue this early in my pg - has anyone else been told not to carry DC when pg?

2)  Stop BFing all together.  We only do AM/PM nursing sessions.  She said it wasn't nutritionally necessary anymore, so it was just for comfort, so to wean down all the way.  I wasn't going to keep going the entire pg, but I didn't plan on stopping immediately. 

3)  I am supposed to run in the ARMY 10 miler Oct 4 (signed up before I was pg obviously).  I am still running 5-6 miles one day a week and working out a few other times each week (except this week when I have had my first bout of m/s).  She said as long as I stay hydrated, go for it.  That surprised me since I have heard long distance running is a no-no.  You can't carry your daughter, but go ahead and run 10 miles----seems backwards to me. 

 Any feedback would be great.  Thanks. 

HikerBride07

Personally, I'd get a new OB.  Her advice, unless you are high risk, is bogus.

1. Anything you were doing before for physical activity, you should be able to continue doing as long as you listen to your body and don't overdo it. 

2. There are many people who continue nursing throughout pregnancy as well as tandem nursing.  Check out kellymom.com for more details, there are many articles on there.  There are also articles there about the health benefits of extended breastfeeding for your DD.  I would strongly consider ignoring your OBs advice in this case especially during flu season.

 3. As I said in #1 you should be able to continue doing any activity you were doing before.  You may want to slow your min/mile some though.

tracy042206

1) My OB never told me this and I carried Maggie all the time when I was pg with Molly.  I did try to encourage her to walk more since I knew I couldn;t hold her as much after.  She did great before baby but has been ultraclingy and has me carry her a lot since the baby arrived.

2) No medical advice since we FF'ed after 6w.  She is right that after a year most people switch to whole milk and they don't nutritionally need it but I don't see why she needs to be so alarmist and say to stop right now.  I would just try and slowly wean, but that is only WIWD, not what you have to do.  I have read things about people nursing both after the baby arrives so i think she should have been more open to what you wanted to do.

3) Does seem backwards when she said you couldn't lift the kid, but continue to run so muc.  Again no concrete advice since I am not a runner but I share your concern over the seemingly conflicting advice.

Artslvr

Are you AMA or high risk or anything like that?

ETA:  BTW Congratulations!!! 

amh_navyblue

I agree with pp that your OB is giving you some bogus advice.  I am 24 weeks along with LO #2 and I still sometimes carry my DD, who is 3 y.o. and over 30 lbs...its not super comfortable with the bump and I can't do it for long distances, but it's not going hurt anyone.  I also think that suddenly not carrying your DD will cause more issues in terms of jealousy, before the new one even arrives.

I know lots of women who run throughout their pregnancy (a friend of mine was running several miles at time practically up until the time she went into labor)...especially if you have been consistently doing before your pregnancy.  I even saw a post on the bump from someone in another city who ran a marathon when she was 25 weeks....now, that seems a little extreme to me, but it underlines the point that if you have been in good shape pre-pregnancy and you continue to take care of yourself during your pregnancy, you'll be fine.  I agree that slowing your pace a bit would probably be a good idea.

Good luck and H&H months!

 Alice

JARbaby

1)  No more carrying DD, who is 23 lbs.  Encourage her to walk everywhere.  They don't want me to hurt my back.  I love carrying DD, and I didn't think her weight would be an issue this early in my pg - has anyone else been told not to carry DC when pg? I carried my 23 pound DD all the time, I was high risk but for other reasons. I simply could not NOT carry my 10-18m old when she needed me to. Just be cautious when lifting as your joints are looser than before. Easy to injur yourself. I was never told not to because my OB said, "I know that is not realistic" just be cautious.

2)  Stop BFing all together.  We only do AM/PM nursing sessions.  She said it wasn't nutritionally necessary anymore, so it was just for comfort, so to wean down all the way.  I wasn't going to keep going the entire pg, but I didn't plan on stopping immediately.  I BF for 4 months into my 2nd pregnancy and stopped so I could have a little break.

3)  I am supposed to run in the ARMY 10 miler Oct 4 (signed up before I was pg obviously).  I am still running 5-6 miles one day a week and working out a few other times each week (except this week when I have had my first bout of m/s).  She said as long as I stay hydrated, go for it.  That surprised me since I have heard long distance running is a no-no.  You can't carry your daughter, but go ahead and run 10 miles----seems backwards to me. I ran through both pregnancies. I was told I could continue to do what I already did, just to not start anything new.

 

I do not think a minor difference in opinion requires a change in OB is you trust him/her. I speak up when I disagree. I am not there to make friends. I pay her to provide me with a service. If she is not providing the level of service I expect as in putting me in danger, I would switch. 

 

Hey Jellisy

I just wanted to say congratulations!  I agree with PP, I disagree with my doctors on occasion.  It's A-OK.  Advice is just that, advice.  I will say that weaning (slowly is fine) might be handy, your current LO could be jealous of the new baby feeding if you don't wean till close to your due date.

northernvabride

Artslvr, thanks!  I am not AMA (but I did just turn 30, so I feel a lot older all of a sudden) and I shouldn't be high risk for any other reason.  It was just the nurse who I met with, so I hope in 4 weeks when I go back to see the doctor, I can talk through these points (well, not the 10 mile race, since it will be over by then). 

Agrippa

1.  Lots of people carry their toddlers when PG.  Unless it seems to be hurting you in any way, I'd say that there's nothing wrong with it.  It's kind of impossible to not pick up a toddler and carry him/her at some point.

2.  It is possible to BF a toddler all of the way through a PG, if the toddler chooses to do so and your supply lasts.  Many self wean part way through.

3.  This is right.  It is possible to continue running while PG.

Sofka

Congratulations on your exciting news!

Is this the same OB office you went to during your 1st pregnancy? If you like the Drs and trust them, I would not switch.  It is certainly not your OB's job to tell you what's best for your child, that's why you have a pediatrician.

If you want to keep BFing and wean slowly, I say do what you want, my advice would be to drastically increase your calcium intake, add 1-2 glasses of skim milk a day to your diet.

H&H9mo!

barkers4jmm

Congratulations, A!  Great news - wow, two under two.  Busy, busy.

1.  I don't remember being told so early not to carry 25lbs - seem to recall that for later trimesters.  Plus it's not feasible when you have a toddler.  I'd be careful with your LIFTING (use your legs) more than just the carrying.

2.  PG is a toll on your body.  Nursing is a toll on your body.  PG and nursing is a double toll on your body as you're providing for three.  You'll need extra sleep and nutrients.  I think that's the concern.  I don't think immediate stopping is necessary, but weaning sooner than later probably wouldn't hurt.

3.  Stay hydrated and STOP if you need to.  Pay attention to your body, but if you feel good, go for it.  It's still early in first T.

4. Congrats again!

Karenbird

My DD is about the same weight now (at 8 months pregnant) as your DD is now.   So, when I was just 6 weeks along she was a bit lighter than your DD is, but not enough to make much of a difference.  My take is that your OB's advice is right on, but I suspect some of it is rooted in "Start the transition process now so that when it's critical, it's already done".

 

1)  I would do what you can to stop carrying DD as much now.  I feel so stupid saying this in hindsight, but it never occurred to me how much DD weighs.  If someone had asked me to lift and lug a 25 lb. box all day, I would have told them they were crazy, but I never added it up when it came to lifting DD (I was SAHM until just recently).  I have been in *excruciating* pain for nearly 3 weeks, now.  I am in physical therapy, I walk with a cane, and I can't bend over to kiss DD, much less pick her up.  I also can't make her dinner, go to the grocery store, drop her off or pick her up from daycare, go to the store to choose DS's crib, do laundry....do ANYthing.  The stress on me and the rest of the family has been enormous.  

I'm not trying to scare you, and I'm sure you will have an easier time because you are so fit. (I lost the baby weight, and my tummy was back to flat, but I hadn't done much strength training besides chasing/carrying DD).  But I really, really don't think anyone should be calling this advice bogus. Your doctor has seen hundreds of patients, and this is her advice based on her studies and her experience.  Unless you have reason to question it, I would take it over any one person's  anecdotal evidence (including mine!) any day.

I've never had a day of back pain in my life, and I did just fine lugging my toddler around until.....I didn't.  And then all hell broke loose.   It's going to take some getting used to for both of you, and my guess is the idea is that you need to start that process now, so that when it's critical later on, you and DD aren't pressured to make it happen all at once.

2)  FWIW, DD wasn't completely done weaning until I was about 4 months along.   Again, I suspect your OB is just trying to help you get your ducks in a row and cut down on the stress for DD by telling you to start the process now.

3) No comment, except that running and lifting are two very different activities.