Pregnancy Chatter and Questions - Week of 10/17

swanbrooner · October 2016

This is the place for your pregnancy questions, comments, rants, and raves this week, June 2017 Mommas!

swanbrooner · October 2016

Have any Moms used an HSA plan before through pregnancy and delivery?

I pretty much much have to go with the HSA plan through my work. My husband is an independent contractor and needs insurance through me. For a traditional plan, the premium for both of us would've been around $800 a month! We put quite a bit into our account each month, but I still have a feeling I'm in for some upcoming sticker shock.

Mashunya425 · October 2016

@swanbrooner Do you know what percentage your plan covers and what portion you're responsible for?

swanbrooner · October 2016

@Mashunya425 An HSA plan basically makes me responsible for everything (other than preventative services)until I hit my deductible. It's not like a traditional plan where it might be 80/20 after deductible. Worse case scenario, I'm looking at $6000.

I'm curious about how much ultrasounds and other services ran for other women with HSA plans.

delujm0 · October 2016

@swanbrooner I used one for my first pregnancy. my deductible was $2k I think, and then most things were 80/20 until I got to my out of pocket max BUT maternity was covered 90/10 (look into yours, I think that is pretty standard). I think my max was $4,800 or something? It was fairly low until I added the baby at least. I wound up not hitting the out of pocket max that year (I delivered in June), though I was close. I believe it went up to $5,500 or similar once I added DD to the plan.

I delivered vaginally and with an epidural if that helps - I suspect C-section would have been more expensive between the surgery and also spending more nights in the hospital. I was only there two nights. The only cost I specifically remember was that the epidural cost $6k - and I had to pay $600 for it myself. And I thought to myself "this is the best $600 I have ever spent" haha. Other than the epidural, I wound up being responsible for about $3k in delivery/hospital lodgings/pediatrician visits after delivery.

Edit to add: ultrasounds were pretty cheap actually....I remember my non ultrasound doctor visits costing less than $100 and the ultrasound ones being like $250.

lmc929 · October 2016

@swanbrooner prepare for sticker shock. If I didn't have insurance, delivery (med free and only one night) was $17k. I couldn't believe it. Fortunately we DID have insurance but I remember seeing the bill and thinking that was out of control, especially considering I didnt have any "bells and whistles" on there.

Sbrm8809 · October 2016

I met my Out of pocket maximum of $5,000 with DS. So I figured it would be the same again this time around. But I also had insulin controlled GD, and was getting weekly ultrasounds for the last 8 weeks...

DungeonTrollMel · October 2016

Some OB offices have a "cash pay" rate that includes a certain number of ultrasounds and delivery and blood work is you are HSA it may apply

Praying41 · October 2016

For anyone that's had 2+ pregnancies. How quickly did u show with #2+ vs #1? I'm 6 weeks and I swear I look 3 months pregnant. My belly was still completely flat at this point with my first.

alm52386 · October 2016

I am not looking forward to the bills. Neither of us have insurance through work right now so our deductible is over 10k!!! We will just pay a negotiated rate for my, hopefully, 2 appointments before the end of the year. I'm hoping to get a full time job starting at the end of December or beginning of January with way better insurance!

c1tym0m22 · October 2016

@Praying41 - I totally know what you mean! I'm just over 4 weeks with my 2nd, and the bloat is REAL. (I need a GIF to express that opinion...)

delujm0 · October 2016

I will offer this if you have an HSA - your OBGYN office, and likely your hospital post-delivery, will try to get you to pre-pay them for services, before they actually put it through to your insurance. DO NOT PAY FOR THESE THINGS. Tell them you will pay as you go, after each bill is submitted to insurance. I did this with my doctor's office, and they were fine with it, but I was so groggy and out of it after delivery that I just handed my HSA card to the hospital billing lady after she assured me that they called my insurance and verified the amount I would be on the hook for. Well, they overcharged me by over $600. Once they put it through my insurance and I realized I had overpaid, I called and confirmed the overpayment amount. Long story short, it took at least a half dozen angry phone calls and almost THREE MONTHS to get my money back, and then I had to go through all of the trouble of submitting it as a reimbursement to my HSA account, which was a massive pain in the ass.

It completely made me a Rage Monster that they needed money from me within 12 hours of crapping out a baby, but they assumed I could wait THREE MONTHS to be reimbursed for my overpayment to them. I will be telling them this time, in no uncertain terms, that there is no way on this earth they will receive a cent from me until the bill has been sent through my insurance. I mean by that point the baby will already be out of me so there's not much they can do about it except maybe ask me to leave a night early which I will gladly do because being at the hospital is the worst. Seriously, I'm going to go crazy on them if they try this on me next time. They will rue the day they attempted to cross me.

Anyway...consider yourselves warned.

Heliumgirl717 · October 2016

The bloat is serious here too.

I couldn't button my work pants this morning. If it doesn't deflate soon I won't be able to wear my normal clothes....

loopstation104 · October 2016

Yes. Seriously with the bloat. I gave up tonight and am wearing black pajama pants that are fleece at work. This is number 2 for me. Oh well. Made me eat salad for dinner at least.

AimeeSue02 · October 2016

Praying41 said:

For anyone that's had 2+ pregnancies. How quickly did u show with #2+ vs #1? I'm 6 weeks and I swear I look 3 months pregnant. My belly was still completely flat at this point with my first.

I am plus size so don't show as soon as some, but I definitely have more bloat this time around! My pants are snug from the get go! I didn't size up pants or wear maternity clothes with my first until....17/20 weeks? I'm only 6 weeks and already reaching for the stretchy pants. I know it isn't that baby GROWS faster, our bodies just have a "memory" of being pregnant (ab muscles and uterus have stretched out once before) so you show pregnancy "bloat" faster.

lizerspitz · October 2016

For the squeamish and ill, this post is not for you. I experienced the worst case of diarrea today that I have ever had. No embarrassing moments, luckily, but I was required to stay in the bathroom for a good 45 minutes to expel whatever I had ingested. No fever, so I'm not "sick," so I am 100% blaming hormones and pregnancy. I was not expecting to be sick in this way. Now I am attempting to re-hydrate but I'm having my first bout of food aversion at the same time. Yippee.

LMMama · October 2016

I too have been experiencing the awfulness of bloating. This is my second as well. I didn't start showing with my first until about 20 weeks, I'm hoping the bloat tapers off and I can get close to that this time. I did unbutton my jeans at the movies the other night. No regrets.

babytuck15 · October 2016

@praying41 - this is only my 2nd, but every time I put clothes on I ask my DH if I look pregnant and he gives me this look

luckily (or unluckily, depending) I didn't lose all the weight from my first so I can just blame the bloat on being fat.

mamaelle27 · October 2016

@lizerspitz, I feel ya, that is terrible! I drink 3/4 water 1/4 gatorade when I'm concerned about being dehydrated. I know gatorade isn't the best for you, but sometimes you need a little something more. Feel better!

FSUNole31 · October 2016

TW:

I have been having an overly anxious day. I woke up just not feeling pregnant so my PGAL brain has been in over drive thinking of every possible negative scenario. I just can't wait until my ultrasound next week for at least peace of mind for a day. Sorry to be a downer.

sagehens47 · October 2016

@FSUNole31 I'm so sorry you're feeling anxious, no apologies! I just hope the time goes fast until your appointment.

@Praying41 I started showing pretty early for my first because my bloat was ridonculous. This time it's not as bad, but I can already see the outline of my uterus if I suck in. I probably do that a bit too often

.

Assiram42 · October 2016

@FSUnole31, PGAL brain is no joke. FX times flies to your appt. I think there are quite a few people who can commiserate, unfortunately.

Mashunya425 · October 2016

@FSUNole31 I am right there with you lady. I have my first apt on Thursday and the PGAL brain is so real. I was totally cool and collected until about a week ago and now I'm starting to freak out and think of the worst. I don't have good advice... but hoping you are able to get your mind off of bad things.

FSUNole31 · October 2016

Thanks @sagehens47, @Assiram42, and @Mashunya425. I was totally fine all last week and this morning all the anxiety hit me. I hope you have a great first appointment @Mashunya425!

DungeonTrollMel · October 2016

@FSUNole31 right there with me. Sometimes I'm ok and others im convinced everything is wrong again. The time between appointments is horrific

FSUNole31 · October 2016

@DungeonTrollMel liking out of commiseration. Hoping our appointments go well and these babies stick around!

Poppy2014 · October 2016

I ended up having a c-section and a 5-day stay. We just got out bill last week - $73k. I couldn't believe it. Thank goodness we had insurance.

Jendink · October 2016

@Poppy2014

. I had a c sections with my first and it wasn't that much. That's insane!!!!

Knottie42089123 · October 2016

I feel like I've done 50,000 reverse crunches. My baby is my personal trainer!

mombod · October 2016

I had a high deductible with my first. They should bill you for the initial visit and then nothing for regular appts. Blood work and ultrasounds are seperate. Then the delivery and stay is billed at the end. I delivered with no monitors, IV, meds of any kind. DH literally caught the baby himself. We stayed less than 24 hrs. I still reached the out of pocket max which for me was about $4800. When the bill comes ask for a payment plan. They should have to do that interest free. Sorry dont want you to be sticker shocked or think you have to try to go minimal to save some money.

Ahutch428 · October 2016

I am also insanely bloated. Anyone have any ideas for reducing it? Clothes are getting tight!

sjohns908 · October 2016

@FSUNole31 I'm right there with you. This is my 4th pregnancy that has made it past 4 weeks and I have way less symptoms than I did with the last 3. I had 2 chemicals this year and I haven't been able to let myself be excited yet. I have a nurse appointment next week and am asking for an ultrasound to help put my mind at ease. So lots of creepy internet hugs, I know how hard it is to not let the negative thoughts take over

Ahutch428 · October 2016

@sjohns08 Good to see you here!

JessyKV · October 2016

I started showing way earlier with my second but somehow made my clothes work longer. I feel huge already this time too with my bloat bump.

I think my csection and 3 night/4 day stay was 14k before insurance and since she was born in January I think we paid about $3500.

My son was born in November and we had an hsa plan so we flexed a bunch of money to pay for the birth. He was vaginal and no epidural and I think we paid about $2000. We stayed 2 nights.

dlphndoc · October 2016

Praying41 said:

For anyone that's had 2+ pregnancies. How quickly did u show with #2+ vs #1? I'm 6 weeks and I swear I look 3 months pregnant. My belly was still completely flat at this point with my first.

With my first I started showing around 18/20 weeks. With my second I had a small bump and was in maternity pants by about 12 weeks. Just bloat with this one right now.

meg2704 · October 2016

When should I start looking into childcare options? After the first trimester? I will be going back to work full time but since I haven't told work yet I haven't had a chance to ask coworkers what they do for daycare etc.

riverrainez · October 2016

@meg2704 If you're thinking daycare, depending on where you live, the sooner the better. I was on a waiting list for a year before a spot opened up for my son. You could at least start looking into places and seeing how long it generally takes to get in.

Nanny share is another option (that's what we did for the first 9 months) and those might be easier to find within a short time period. I figured out my nanny share arrangement while on maternity leave with another mom I met at a local new moms group.

helloaustin123 · October 2016

Is anyone still drinking coffee or did you give it up for first tri?

kfry22 · October 2016

@helloaustin123 I gave up coffee and ice tea last pregnancy. Coffee mostly because the caffeine and sugar (I love my flavored drinks) made me feel much more jittery and shakey. Ice tea because I thought I should. This time around, I am only giving up the coffee and limiting myself to one ice tea a day. I have seen some good graphics before on the amount of caffeine that is ok in pregnancy but can't seem to locate any now. I'm sure your doctor would have a good answer as well.

riverrainez · October 2016

Still drinking coffee. I drank it throughout my first pregnancy as well.

loopstation104 · October 2016

I think caffeine is supposed to be under 200mg a day. I typically (and constantly) google whatever caffeinated drink I may want in order to see if its actually worth it. But, for me, as long as I keep it under 200 a day I'm happy. I did the same last pregnancy as well. I am totally in awe of anyone that can nix caffeine, ever. Especially in first tri!

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