It's probably because it's the middle of the night and I'm overthinking things because I can't sleep, but whatever....
My doctor isn't concerned about my lack of weight gain. But I keep hearing about how not gaining enough puts baby at risk for being too small and whatnot. And I'm also worried it will affect my ability to breastfeed. I started pre pregnancy at a healthy weight and have only gained 18 pounds at 37 weeks. I tried. But I just can't eat.
Again, my doctor(s) aren't worried. The last one I saw reminded me how women in third world countries have little access to good nutrition and have reasonably healthy babies. But that doesn't help! I want a very healthy, not reasonably healthy baby. And my OB practice doesn't do growth ultrasounds (which I know are iffy) so they've gone entirely off of fundal height measurements. So I have no idea how big she is.
Anyway, I guess if they're not worried, I shouldn't be. But why do I keep finding articles in the middle of the night on how I need to gain the minimum recommended amount or she's going to be too small or I'm not going to be able to produce enough milk for her? Waaaahhh I need to just stay off of Google.
@HGRich I gained 20 lbs with DS, and lost 4 of those lbs the few weeks before he was born. I ended up weighing 15 lbs less leaving the hospital, than I did pre-pregnancy, but I was still within a healthy BMI. DS was a healthy 7.4oz at 39 weeks, and my OB says that is the perfect size baby for my petite body type. I had ZERO issues breastfeeding. In fact, I had oversupply issues. My appetite returned with a vengeance after delivery, and I ate everything in sight! As long as you maintain healthy eating habits- With a couple of treats mixed in , and drink plenty of water, your pregnancy weight gain should not at all effect your breast milk supply.
@HGRich Stay off of Google! Your doctors actually know you and your medical history - if they are not worried, you should not be either.
With DS, I gained the exact "recommended" 30 pounds by the time he was born. He was a big baby - 9lb6oz - but otherwise completely healthy. However, I had huge issues with my milk supply. In all of my meetings with the LCs, my pregnancy weight gain was never mentioned as a potential factor in my supply issues. So, I wouldn't stress about your success with BF being related to the amount of weight you gain (because simply gaining "enough" isn't all that you need!).
This time, I have gained 5 pounds. That's it. I started 5 pounds heavier pre-pregnancy than I did with DS...I just haven't had much of an appetite and I am chasing a toddler around all day every day. My fundal measurements are all right on track and at my AS she was right where she needed to be (actually was measuring a little ahead), so my doctor isn't worried. She just keeps joking that I'll be lighter when I leave the hospital than when I started.
Every body and every pregnancy will gain weight differently. Trust that your body is doing what it needs to be doing to grow your little girl.
With DS, I started in the normal range and gained 17 lbs. And he was a beautifully perfect 6 lb 14 oz sugar muffin! This go around, I was slightly overweight (stupid BMI) and am still right on track to gain about the same amount of weight. Don't google. Google is not your friend.
Thank you ladies. Logically I know you're right. But in the middle of the night panicking about motherhood I forget everything I ever studied in grad school about logic. Haha. Sigh.
I started overweight with both pregnancies - DS I gained about 15 lbs and with this one I think I've gained 2lbs. I've lost quite a bit of weight this go around and subsequently gained it back via the baby. While your actual weight hasn't increased, I think you're just not seeing the lost weight being replaced by the baby gaining weight. After I delivered DS, I left the hospital down 20 lbs. It was quite the shock but was consistent with what my Dr thought I had lost during the pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different and I'm sure your little one is gaining just fine! That stinks that they won't do a growth ultrasound at all. They aren't super accurate in 3rd tri but can be very reassuring.
All of a sudden my back keeps cracking and popping when I shift positions. It's kind of amazing, but kind of weird too. Anyone else have this, or am I just weird
@m&max wow--20 pounds down. That's a good point though. I'm certain I've lost a lot of muscle tone from not exercising like I wanted to. And I'm pretty sure I've eaten less than or equal to normal this whole time due to nausea or reflux. I suppose I may well end up less than I was to start with shortly after birth. Though I'm hoping to get an appetite while breastfeeding!
@HGRich I certainly didn't feel like I was down 20 lbs with the jelly belly after pregnancy and all - haha. But I did have my appetite come back during breastfeeding which definitely helped keep my milk supply up. I also stocked up on lactation cookies/smoothies during that time to ensure I was eating enough- super important for your supply.
I had a cervical check today at 38+1 and have been a little crampy since. But my question is....how much spotting/discharge after is normal? I know she said some spotting afterwards is normal but about an hour after my appointment I went to the bathroom and felt a little odd so I put in a new liner and when I stood up and started washing my hands I legit soaked the liner. TMI WARNING RIGHT NOW *Some of it was clear and some of it was tinged brown, almost maybe like dried blood, but no red/pinkish* END GROSS-NESS i put in a new liner and have continued to "leak" but I just don't know how much is normal
@Taylor72 When I was checked at 36 weeks I had spotting for a few days. It was never heavy but it started out dark red/brown and gradually got lighter. Could that be your mucus plug maybe? Not sure if getting a cervical check could cause it to fall out or not.
I ended up calling my OB back and she told me to go to L&D to make sure my water wasn't leaking. Baby sounds good and after a couple tests they don't think my water is leaking so apparently, the answer to my above question is...LOTS of fluid leaking after a check is normal lol
@taylor72 ugh, glad you got reassurance but it's such a nuisance to have to go in. Crazy that happened to you! I didn't even spot after my check and I thought for sure I would. Every woman is different though. Good to know it's not a concern at least.
@taylor72 I had spotting after a cervical check when I was pregnant with DS. I did the same as you...called the doctor and they had me come in to check that all was okay. It was a pain, but worth it for peace of mind.
Soooo during this morning's episode of pregnancy insomnia I was sorting through all the pamphlets, handouts, etc. we've received to determine what I need to hold on to, and I found one I hadn't read yet about the dangers of accidentally leaving an infant in a hot car. Horror stories and everything and now I'm freaking out that this could easily happen to DH or me since we live in the South and it's already so hot in the car during the day.
STM's+, do you have any tips or tricks you use to make sure this doesn't happen? I read one about putting a stuffed animal in the carseat when not in use and moving it to the front seat when LO's in the carseat as a reminder. Just wondering if anyone has any others that work for them?
@schef070911 I have friends who take off their left shoe while driving and put it in the backseat with the car seat so that they can't get out of the car without remembering to look in the backseat. I'm always worried about this too. Fatigue and absent mindedness can be real, and I'm sure much worse with a newborn!
@schef070911 In the summer, the traffic/navigation app Waze reminds you about a potential kid in a carseat when you stop. The stuffed animal trick seems like a good one. Another thing I've heard to do is to put your bag/purse in the backseat (instead of the passenger seat) all the time so you have to go into the back before getting out of the car.
DD #1: April 2017 DD #2: May 2020 Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
I always put my purse and bags in the backseat with the kid. I always need my stuff to function, so I cannot forget a kid when all of my belongings are next to him (or her). I also have a mirror in the backseat facing the baby, so I can see him or her in the rear view mirror. This also helps when the baby is fussy, so I can easily see him or her without having to turn or do something completely dangerous.
I like @ebloom3 always put my purse in the back with the baby. If I get a phone call during my commute, oh well it can wait. I don't have a mirror in the backseat however, because I know I'd get distracted and want to look at my baby the whole time and probably end up rear-ending someone.
@schef070911 I used to leave my purse in the back seat. My husband does daycare drop off and it is literally right down the road from work, so he usually tosses his lunch and work badge in the back seat to make sure that he can't go to work without checking that the back seat is empty.
They also make carseats and stuff that have sensors to alert you when you get out of the car that your baby is in it.. I've never used one so not 100% sure how great it works but maybe worth looking into for piece of mind
With my first my water broke so having to monitor contractions didn't really happen for me and even when I was induced contractions never really felt crazy intense, so I was wondering if STM+ could help me out... I've had a lot of contractions the last week, the last two days they have increased in length and intensity but still not with the consistency that they say. I'll have an hour of every 5-7 mins then they slow down for a while. Then I'll have an hour of every 4 mins then it'll stop completely. The last 5 hours or so I've had constant period cramps in my hips butt and legs and occasionally in my back. My husband thinks I should call. I don't think this warrants a phone call and that it just makes sense that everything is increasing as I'm getting closer to the end, but I'm not sure if I'm just putting it off because he isn't home so I don't really want it to actually be anything right now. Thoughts?
@McFarKane I'm probably not a good one to ask on this because I apparently wait til the last minute to get to the hospital, but for me, cramps are not enough to go to the hospital. But every body and every person is different. It may just be your body prepping and becoming more dilated but not active enough labor to be admitted.
I ended up calling because it got more intense. Which got me sent to the hospital. 50% effaced 2cm dilated contractions 3-5mins apart for over an hour now. I have to wait a couple hours to see if they're productive contractions or not.
They sent me home saying "you'll probably be back tonight or tomorrow at some point". They checked me again after letting contractions happen consistently for an hour and was 70% effaced so I went from 50-70 in an hour but still only 2cm. They told me to go home and eat and sleep and come back when they start taking my breath away or my water breaks. The nurse also used the word "gooder" which then made me question everything she said to me. So now I need to try to sleep with contractions happening every 4 mins.
@mcfarkane like @mwoodside I also had labor like that for about a week before DS was born. I went to the hospital twice before my contractions actually made me progress. The nurse told me to come back when I started to sweat (which kind of pissed me off at the time). Good luck to you and hopefully things move more quickly!
@MWoodside@chelle087 I didn't even process that this was a possibility I always just thought once they were a certain length apart it meant go time. I felt kind of stupid and confused leaving the hospital both times now. And my family getting frustrated by my false alarms doesn't help. I feel better hearing that this isn't abnormal so thank you.
How I could tell the difference was real surges will be over the whole belly and I can't talk thru them and they will be the exact same # of minutes apart for over an hour without variance.
Prodromal were like 5 min apart, then 2, then 8, etc. somewhat intense but not like real labor ones.
Hang in there. Even though it's frustrating your body is working now so it will likely be less work when the time comes.
My labor with my first was very consistent and I labored for hours until contractions got to 3min apart. Even at that point, I was only 5cm. But every person is different and it's better to go in and get checked versus having a baby in the car!
Taylor72
member
Re: Questions 3.26
My doctor isn't concerned about my lack of weight gain. But I keep hearing about how not gaining enough puts baby at risk for being too small and whatnot. And I'm also worried it will affect my ability to breastfeed. I started pre pregnancy at a healthy weight and have only gained 18 pounds at 37 weeks. I tried. But I just can't eat.
Again, my doctor(s) aren't worried. The last one I saw reminded me how women in third world countries have little access to good nutrition and have reasonably healthy babies. But that doesn't help! I want a very healthy, not reasonably healthy baby. And my OB practice doesn't do growth ultrasounds (which I know are iffy) so they've gone entirely off of fundal height measurements. So I have no idea how big she is.
Anyway, I guess if they're not worried, I shouldn't be. But why do I keep finding articles in the middle of the night on how I need to gain the minimum recommended amount or she's going to be too small or I'm not going to be able to produce enough milk for her? Waaaahhh I need to just stay off of Google.
With DS, I gained the exact "recommended" 30 pounds by the time he was born. He was a big baby - 9lb6oz - but otherwise completely healthy. However, I had huge issues with my milk supply. In all of my meetings with the LCs, my pregnancy weight gain was never mentioned as a potential factor in my supply issues. So, I wouldn't stress about your success with BF being related to the amount of weight you gain (because simply gaining "enough" isn't all that you need!).
This time, I have gained 5 pounds. That's it. I started 5 pounds heavier pre-pregnancy than I did with DS...I just haven't had much of an appetite and I am chasing a toddler around all day every day. My fundal measurements are all right on track and at my AS she was right where she needed to be (actually was measuring a little ahead), so my doctor isn't worried. She just keeps joking that I'll be lighter when I leave the hospital than when I started.
Every body and every pregnancy will gain weight differently. Trust that your body is doing what it needs to be doing to grow your little girl.
Edited for a typo.
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
my back pops too!!! It only happens in the middle of the night when I'm switching from left to right or right to left. So odd!
cervical check when I was pregnant with DS. I did the same as you...called the doctor and they had me come in to check that all was okay. It was a pain, but worth it for peace of mind.
Soooo during this morning's episode of pregnancy insomnia I was sorting through all the pamphlets, handouts, etc. we've received to determine what I need to hold on to, and I found one I hadn't read yet about the dangers of accidentally leaving an infant in a hot car. Horror stories and everything
STM's+, do you have any tips or tricks you use to make sure this doesn't happen? I read one about putting a stuffed animal in the carseat when not in use and moving it to the front seat when LO's in the carseat as a reminder. Just wondering if anyone has any others that work for them?
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
DD: 6/20/11
DS: 2/23/13
EDD: 4/15/17
I like @ebloom3 always put my purse in the back with the baby. If I get a phone call during my commute, oh well it can wait. I don't have a mirror in the backseat however, because I know I'd get distracted and want to look at my baby the whole time and probably end up rear-ending someone.
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
MMC @ 10w March 2016Cautiously expecting April 5, 2017
<a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://lmtf.lilypie.com/ZBoVm5.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Maternity tickers" /></a>
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
like that for about a week before DS was born. I went to the hospital twice before my contractions actually made me progress. The nurse told me to come back when I started to sweat (which kind of pissed me off at the time). Good luck to you and hopefully things move more quickly!
Prodromal were like 5 min apart, then 2, then 8, etc. somewhat intense but not like real labor ones.
Hang in there. Even though it's frustrating your body is working now so it will likely be less work when the time comes.
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.