Stupid Questions Sunday 9/26

slartybartfast · September 2016

Starting it a day late but I have dumb questions that need smart answers!

slartybartfast · September 2016

Now let's just see if I remember them.
First, why do people talk about trying to stop braxton hicks? My midwife said, unless I think they're accelerating toward preterm labor, they are healthy and fine and not to worry about. In fact, they are just a healthy prep step the body can take. But I feel like I'm missing something because everyone talks about trying to stop them?

dmontgo · September 2016

What did you STMs labor in if you were at the hospital? An old shirt? A hospital gown?

jennbaylor12 · September 2016

dmontgo said:

What did you STMs labor in if you were at the hospital? An old shirt? A hospital gown?

Because I was induced, I was required to wear a hospital gown. Which, at first I wasn't happy about but pretty quickly didn't care

sourlemon · September 2016

@slartybartfast, because they suck. For me, if I get them right now it means I'm overdoing it. I don't get them if I'm taking it easy. I don't try to stop them (lay down drink water) because I'm typically moving on to the next task. But on weekends I at least sit down if they keep going for 30 minutes or more.

@dmontgo I did the hospital gown. If I was walking the halls I put on a robe as well. But trust me, labor is gross so don't wear anything you care about. Fancy labor gowns are hilarious to me. After the kiddo was born in wore nursing tanks and a maternity skirt pulled above my waist (c section). It was about 12 hours after my c section when I was allowed to put clothes on instead of the gown.

slartybartfast · September 2016

jennbaylor12 said:

dmontgo said:

What did you STMs labor in if you were at the hospital? An old shirt? A hospital gown?

Because I was induced, I was required to wear a hospital gown. Which, at first I wasn't happy about but pretty quickly didn't care

I was also in a gown. This is a good question though. I'll do the gown again, it's fine, but if you don't like hospitals, being able to swap out for something else - perhaps a robe or shirt that you feel you can ditch afterward - is a good option to not feel like a medical patient. That matters to some, understandably. - ask your care provider if this is an option

Also, this leads to thoughts about the hospital/birthing center bag which should probably be a separate thread. I wished I had brought a few big button down shirts. After delivering I was super tired of the gown and wanted just a button down shirt that I could nurse in easily but offered me more of a sense of normalcy... or something... than the gown.

dmontgo · September 2016

Thanks ladies! I guess because I will be induced I will have to wear the gown, but I got a soft short jersey robe to wear afterwards. I had seen some blogs mention an old T-shirt so I thought I'd ask.

slartybartfast · September 2016

@sourlemon - ah... They don't suck for me... they're more like... huh. That's happening. I get them when I'm swimming - especially with sprints - but the midwife said - no worries. Just don't over-do it (which I am so far from this go-around)

jennbaylor12 · September 2016

slartybartfast said:

jennbaylor12 said:

dmontgo said:

What did you STMs labor in if you were at the hospital? An old shirt? A hospital gown?

Because I was induced, I was required to wear a hospital gown. Which, at first I wasn't happy about but pretty quickly didn't care

I was also in a gown. This is a good question though. I'll do the gown again, it's fine, but if you don't like hospitals, being able to swap out for something else - perhaps a robe or shirt that you feel you can ditch afterward - is a good option to not feel like a medical patient. That matters to some, understandably. - ask your care provider if this is an option

Also, this leads to thoughts about the hospital/birthing center bag which should probably be a separate thread. I wished I had brought a few big button down shirts. After delivering I was super tired of the gown and wanted just a button down shirt that I could nurse in easily but offered me more of a sense of normalcy... or something... than the gown.

I took swimsuit cover-up strapless dress thingies that were awesome for pp! Just popped a boob out to nurse, no waistband to bother the c-section site (although I didn't know going in I'd be having one), easy to pull on and off, easy for bathroom going.... def taking those again

sourlemon · September 2016

They only suck for me when they keep escalating. Last pregnancy I thought I was having BH for the last month or so non stop. Well, they were early labor real ones which I guess is why they wouldn't stop. I just assumed they were BH but nope. So now if possible (weekends) I try to stop them just be sure they are BH and stop.

ashleaf2018 · September 2016

Yeah, I usually try to stop mine because BH contractions can be stopped and the real ones can't be stopped.

kbduke · September 2016

@jennbaylor12 love that idea!

princesslockness · September 2016

ashleaf2018 said:

Yeah, I usually try to stop mine because BH contractions can be stopped and the real ones can't be stopped.

^This. Also with the issues going on, any time I have more than 6, BH or actual/uncomfortable) I have to go in. They aren't taking any chances.

For my labor I wore the gown, but afterwards I got a cheap Walmart nighty. It was like$10 and since it was like a sundress it was easy to pop a boob out.

For the hospital bag, I took: clothes to go home in- baby+me+1 set for H; a charger for everything, phone/camera, nursing pads, toiletries, flip flops, brush and extra hair ties. That's all I have so far as well.

SmashJam · September 2016

@dmontgo I was induced and wore my own PJs the night before I gave birth (they induced at ,9pm) but when things progressed to laboriing I was butt a** nekkid or in an old tshirt- I labored a lot in the shower.I don't think I had a gown on ever and they just wrapped me in a towel to get me to the tub room and back.

DiFazette · September 2016

@slartybartfast being pregnant with twins I worry about pre term labor. If I can get BH to stop, I know they're 'practice'.

@dmontgo I wore a hospital gown for a while - there was lots of blood and I didn't want it all over everything.

Mamax2 · September 2016

Another mama for the hospital gown while laboring. Also, add another for trying to stop BH, so I can know they aren't the real deal.

penelope4612 · September 2016

I know this probably depends a lot on the individual - but what is a "reasonable" price to pay for nursing bras or nursing tanks? Any ideas? I'm seeing some nursing bras on Zulily for like $10 which seems like a good deal, right? I won't go overboard in case I don't want or need them, but I want to have a few things to try out so that I'm not running out to Target with a teeny baby trying to figure this out then. Also, any opinions on the nursing bras that clip down vs the ones that look like you can just push them aside? I have a small chest (even pregnant I'm a 34A) so having mega support is not currently a major concern of mine.

princesslockness · September 2016

@penelope4612 I'm most likely at the highest of price range, and I found a couple good ones on eBay for 20-30 a piece, where as my regular bras run 60-90 a piece. So maybe get 1-2 and try them out, and grab a nursing tank to see what you like better. Then you can watch for deals and stock up as you go.

penelope4612 · September 2016

Thanks @Kate08Young - do you like a specific brand?

ashleaf2018 · September 2016

I've had a really good experience with motherhood maternity's bras. I paid $15 for a sports bra and $45 for an underwire full coverage bra. Sometimes they have deals going on where it's buy 3 bras get 1 free.

princesslockness · September 2016

penelope4612 said:

Thanks @Kate08Young - do you like a specific brand?

For regular ones, anything from Lane Bryant. Nursing, not so much.

SarahF8611 · September 2016

I wore a hospital gown, it's NOT pretty by the end they're made for this.

zubenescamali · September 2016

@penelope4612 i'm hard to fit (32 band size is nearly impossible to find in retail), so I usually end up spending a lot on bras ($30-60 depending on the style). tanks you can usually find cheaper, but it depends on what you are looking for. a bra replacement tank (like bravado) will run you the same or even more expensive than a bra because you get the same support as an actual bra. I think in the past my stash has included 2 bra replacement tanks, 3-4 cheapie tanks, and 5-6 day/work nursing bras and 2 sleep bras. you'll want either a sleep bra or a good shelf style nursing gown where you'll get a little support and can be assured pads will stay put as you sleep.
you can also convert any cheap spaghetti strap tank into a slide-over nursing tank. you just cut the straps, sew a few stitches to loop and then pull the loop over your nursing bra clip. double duty instantly. this is also great for repurposing any maternity tanks if they aren't too stretched out in the belly. I love this option because the shelf-bra style nursing tanks (like Target's) offer me no support whatsoever and I might as well buy a bunch of 5 dollar tanks that I can mix and match over my regular nursing bras. then I don't ever have to worry about showing tummy pudge when pulling up my shirt to NIP.

Austenista · September 2016

Really stupid question: When you're counting kicks they don't have to be just kicks right? It can be shifts and rolls and punches too, yes?

acreight13 · September 2016

@Austenista Yes, I read that it's more movement counts than just kicks.

fauxpa-2 · September 2016

Is anyone else not having (or at least not feeling) braxton hicks yet? A lot of people have mentioned them and I'm starting to wonder if it's strange that I haven't felt any yet.

Austenista · September 2016

@fauxpa as far as I know I've not been feeling them either.

kattyc-2 · September 2016

@Fauxpa I haven't had any either. Currently waiting to see my OB and it is on my list of questions to ask her for that exact same reason - I'll let you know what she says

ETA: she says it isn't anything to worry about

Christinaruth74 · September 2016

HG mommas- racing heart? Do you get it? How do you treat it? It's only gotten really bad a few times (right now being one of them.. ugh). The first time I just took a Benedryl. This time I took 1 diclegis since I'm nauseous too (2 birds 1 pill?) but it's still going.

tinattt23 · September 2016

@Fauxpa Not my OB, but my birth class instructor said some people will never experience Braxton hicks. I don't think it's unusual to not feel them yet or maybe even ever.

ETA @slartybartfast because I literally just asked my OB about stopping BH. She said 4 in an hour means time to relax. If they still don't go away with rest/water then call her. But anything less than 4 an hour and I keep doing whatever.

ashleaf2018 · September 2016

Question related to a pp question: what if it's normal to not feel 10 movements in an hour? Rhett has never been super active that I can tell, sometimes I won't feel anything in an hour and sometimes it's only 1 or 2 movements. I've never been worried about it because for him that's "normal," but should I really still be considering this normal at 30 weeks?

ea301 · September 2016

I'm glad you asked that @ashleaf2018 - my doc said to monitor for 10 movements in 2 hours, but even that seems a little high for me too. I haven't been able to spend the 2 hours yet but I would be surprised if we get that active. Curious what others think.

maamawaabangi · September 2016

I tend to look for movement at times I know my baby is in a routine of being wakeful. Even on the inside I find they have a "schedule"... My LO moves when I rest and doesn't when I'm at all active. I'd have other ones who moved all the time or only after I'd eat... Count or look for them then. If I've not felt movement after sitting or laying down (or at usual times) I give the baby a nudge or two and usually that does the trick... Or drink some cold water.

penelope4612 · September 2016

@ashleaf2018 - It's not 10 movements every hour, it's 10 movements when baby is active. Like if baby is usually active at night you should feel 10 movements during that hour. If baby isn't moving enough try drinking ice water and lying on your side. Overall though, I think the idea is just that if baby suddenly stops moving as much as they usually do to call the doctor.

sourlemon · September 2016

@ashleaf2018 my first kiddo was pretty chill on the inside most of the time. I could get more movements only after my morning oj. My Dr didn't care about kick counts at all. She just said if you notice LESS than normal movement and oj doesn't work, then call.

My new dr is a firm kick count believer. Good thing this kid moves constantly! There's never an awake hour that I don't get 10 movements...usually in a minute or 2. It's literally non stop. It kinda sucks sometimes.

jptrumptone · September 2016

@ashleaf2018: My doctor told me I should feel 8 movements in a 2 hour period once every 24 hours. She also told me not to worry about it. My LO is active at night and so I'll often kick count when I'm lying in bed before falling asleep. I only do it on days I didn't feel her as much as others. Also, as other have said, if you feel you kiddo less that normal you might call.

ashleaf2018 · September 2016

Thanks everyone! I think it is one of those things where I would "know" if something was wrong but at the same time he is just not active. He doesn't even respond if I try to poke or prod or agitate him. But that's his normal, I imagine him just being a very chill, happy baby who can't be bothered. Which is awesome for him because I've been miserable!

mrsg2390 · September 2016

@ashleaf2018 I feel the same way. Jace is so chill and even when he kicks every once in a while, it's literally 2-4 and then I can just feel him moving or readjusting. Hopefully he's chill when he comes out!

My dumb question I've already asked my CNMW, and while I really do trust her to make good judgement- I am wondering still how they monitor your fluids for meconium other than being aware of coloring when your water breaks? I don't know why but I'm worried about that happening and somehow them not knowing.. Or if the cord is wrapped around his neck.

My anxious mind always goes to worst case. Midwife assured me they could tell from his heart beats if the cord was affecting him and they could tell from my fluid color...

Any STMs have any words of BTDT?

(yes I will ask during birthing class but I also qualify this as a stupid question)

sourlemon · September 2016

@mrsg2390 your water keeps leaking long after it breaks. You keep making more until the baby is out. So they can keep an eye on the color that whole time. They would put basically a puppy pee pad (but medical of course) under me and check the color every half hour and change the pad. Tmi: blood is normal to see but meconium is really a distinctive color.

With DD her cord was compressed, not wrapped around her neck. But you could definitely tell watching her heart rate when it was "almost pinched" vs just being a little compressed. I would imagine a wrapped cord would definitely show signs on the monitors.

mrsg2390 · September 2016

@sourlemon Thanks! That definitely does make sense. I wish I could shut my brain up and not always think worst case scenario. Birth shouldn't freak me out.. It's happening one way or another!

I love the support of this group. Real talk.

acreight13 · September 2016

@mrsg2390 My DS had meconium when my water was broken at the hospital, which meant that there was a strict time line for my labor to progress. He also had a nuchal cord (cord wrapped completely around his neck which only happens less than a third of the time) but luckily it was loose enough to not cause too many issues and I was able to deliver vaginally. Because his cord was wrapped it definitely did show up on the monitor - I had to be in a very specific position during labor, but it all worked out fine and the nurses were on top of it.

I too am a worst case scenario person - and a lot of those actually happened, but everything was fine and my DS is amazing.

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