Anybody doing (or have done for previous PG) a babymoon? Particularly an overseas one? DH and I booked a trip to Madeira, Portugal a few months ago before we started TTC, knowing it was possible I could be pregnant but thought it would be unlikely. We figured it would be our last chance for a baby-free vacation. The trip is booked for the 1st week of October (our anniversary week) so I'll be about 15 weeks along. I wish it were a little later in my 2nd trimester but we are idiots and didn't purchase trip insurance. I'm a little nervous and also pretty sad I won't be able to have anyyyyy wine or soft cheese *cries*
@frenchiekinplusone, I don't have experience with a baby moon, but I am a lady who takes her cheese seriously. You can totally eat soft cheeses, just check the packaging to see if it says "pastuerized". If you see that, you are aces. The reason people say "no soft cheese is that they traditionally don't tend to be pastuerized, but in America, and countries in the European Union, unpasteurized cheeses are harder to find. Eat all the cheese!
@frenchiekinplusone, I am not sure, but I think some wine is seen as ok while pregnant, but maybe not until later in the pregnancy? I would probably ask, because how do you miss out on wine and cheese?
@frenchiekinplusone - I think 15 weeks is the perfect time to travel abroad! You'll hopefully be well past 1st tri grossness but the exhaustion that comes with late pregnancy won't have hit yet. I'd go for sure!
Thanks all!! @kmalls that makes me feel SO much better!! @holly321 hopefully I can get past the language barrier in restaurants and ask about the pasteurization situation
@frenchiekinplusone we traveled to London and Paris for our babymoon with DS. I was 7 months pregnant I think and it was amazing. We travel a lot and will likely go to Europe again while I'm pregnant. As long as your doctor is okay with it, it's doable!
We went on a babymoon with our first one to Jamaica. I think I was 27 weeks. This was before the whole Zika issue happened. It was amazing and I enjoyed the R&R before DS arrived and I never rested again... lol
Took a babymoon to sanibel island in Florida when we were first expecting. It's one of my favorite places. Now that we have DS I don't think a second 'moon is in our future. But I say go and enjoy!!! @valerieairam the bump baby book was really helpful! My husband read most of it.
@frenchiekinplusoneI say definitely go! I would probably avoid the TSA scanner (low level of radiation is supposed to be safe but personally wouldn't risk it), hydrate on the plane and make sure you walk around the plane or wear compression socks to avoid clots.
@holly321 I was under the impression that technically alcohol is not recommended during pregnancy but some schools of thought say a small amount is ok in the 3rd tri.
Anyone struggle with anxiety? I have always dealt with it and in my first pregnancy it was really bad in the beginning. I'm almost 6 weeks and getting such bad panic attacks! It's terrible. Anyone have any safe tips for dealing with this?
Has anyone ever done an unmedicated birth or is planning on one? I know it's so early on to talk about BUT I really want to try an unmedicated birth this time around so I want to mentally prepare as much as possible. What were/are some good resources and tips? Side note: I have absolutely NOTHING against epidurals, I had one with my son. I just want to try to experience an unmedicated child birth. At the very least I want to try and labor at home on my own for as long as I can. With my son I got my epidural right at 4 cm so if I decide the pain is too much I want to try and make it to a 6-7 on my own before getting an epidural. Any advice?!
@toniherdt have you considered hiring a doula? Friends of mine who have hired doulas swear it's the best money they've ever spent. A doula is a great resource for coaching you through labor, helping to reach whatever goal you have (in this case, an unmedicated birth). They're also a good advocate for you if/when you encounter a less-than-supportive OB during labor.
This is kind of a random question but does anyone know if your employer can force you to use FML towards prenatal appointments? I have read conflicting information online about it.
@kmalls my best friend's step mom is a doula so I've been thinking about speaking with her about it. I'll definitely have to look into the cost! I know of women who've done hypno birthing and I honestly have no clue what that is but I'm going to check that out too
@JJMNO1616 lots of states have their own FMLAs. Federal is the default but if a state offers a better plan, you can use that. I'd call your wages and labor department, or call the national 9to5.org hotline and ask them (they focus on issues for working women).
Has anyone ever done an unmedicated birth or is planning on one?
I had an unmedicated birth. I absolutely recommend reading Mindful Birthing by Bardacke. Throughout my pregnancy, I practiced pain control and meditation techniques and these ABSOLUTELY made a difference during labor. One of the most helpful concepts for me was to remember that this is transformational pain, as opposed to pain being caused by something being "wrong." Having a mindset in which you accept pain, instead of fighting against it and hating it, can make all the difference in how your body reacts to labor.
@JJMNO1616 does your workplace have it's own policy? My coworker uses FMLA for her medical condition (not pregnancy), and she uses it for appointments. I didn't have to use FMLA for my appointments.
@toniherdt I am also hoping to go unmedicated, so I'm interested in responses as well! I have a friend who just had an unmedicated, almost home birth a couple of weeks ago, and she was into hypnobirth, birth without fear and Ina May Gaskin's books.
TW
Me: 33 DH: 32 Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013 Started TTC August 2016 BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17 BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17 BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18 BFP: 2/27/20
@JJMNO1616 it does differ from place to place but if you have PTO/vacation time I thought you could use that up first. I remember with my first pregnancy I would use my PTO and just mark appointment. Does your work have a handbook you can look at? Maybe talk with HR?
@peppersmith22 It seems like my employer goes by the federal FMLA guidelines. I don't think most women are required to use their time for doctor appointments unless they want to (or need to because they don't have sick time) but I'm actually a state employee so I have a feeling they will be very strict about when FML is being used for qualifying conditions. Most of the information I have read only states that FML may be used for prenatal visits but I can't find anything regarding the employees rights to not use it.
@JJMNO1616 I wonder if you went over lunch or before or after work if that is an option? I work at a hospital so I either go over my lunch or don't take lunch. Do you have to tell them it's for prenatal care?
I might be a bit negative/cynical on this but I feel like most employers try to make your leave as short as possible. My boss wanted me to come back to work at 6 weeks last time, but I came back at 10 when my PTO ran out.
@peppersmith22 I wouldn't have enough time to go during lunch and my OB office isn't open early or late enough to go outside my work hours. I also feel like my employer may try to limit my leave as much as possible which is why I'm asking. I really do not want to be forced to use FML towards my prenatal appointments if I don't have to. I'm probably going to wait as long as possible before I tell my supervisor that I'm pregnant for this reason but I have a feeling he may catch on either way with my requests off.
@toniherdt I was unmedicated with my first all the way until I was 9 cm and then she got stuck and I had to have an emergency c/s. I did the hypnobirthing classes, and I think they really helped.
I know at my work @JJMNO1616 with FMLA I get it for appointments then when I go on maternity leave I do a separate leave with the company so my job is protected. Like others said it depends on state to state.
I think FMLA stipulations really matter employer to employer. DS was rather dick a few years ago, and I was missing work weekly. I mentioned applying for FMLA, and my boss looked at me like I was crazy and told me to take whatever time I needed.
@holly321 sounds like you had a very supportive boss! some employers might be more generous than the state or federal FMLA standards, but most are not. And all of them are required to follow their state guidelines, but tons of employers try to skirt around them with not-exactly-legal policies.
I used to work on writing and adapting FMLA policies. They can be a real PITA. The other thing you might want to do @JJMNO1616 is call your state senator and ask their office your questions. We used to get constituent questions like that all the time.
Question....I have a hair appointment at the end of august (I'll be about 8 weeks). Should I cancel my color or just do it??? I've read and received conflicting opinions about dying your hair in the first trimester.
@kimmerann3 absolutely do what you feel is best, but the legitimate peer-reviewed studies point to no issue with coloring your hair during pregnancy. I always cite Emily Oster's Expecting Better for these questions, and I highly recommend reading the book. The following isn't a science based article, but gives a synopsis of the book. The book cites all of the actual studies, etc.
@holly321 My DH will be at every one of my appointments unless there's some sort of emergency. He owns his own company so his schedule is very flexible.
pghren
member
Re: Questions week of 8/6
Anyone have any experiences or advice to share?
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
Married: 10/3/15
TTC: May 2017
BFP: 7/20/17
EDD: 3/29/18
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Ovulation Calculator"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1d9d18" alt=" BabyFruit Ticker" border="0" /></a>
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Parenting Advice"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1d9d19" alt=" Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker" border="0" /></a>
@valerieairam the bump baby book was really helpful! My husband read most of it.
HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
@holly321 I was under the impression that technically alcohol is not recommended during pregnancy but some schools of thought say a small amount is ok in the 3rd tri.
Side note: I have absolutely NOTHING against epidurals, I had one with my son. I just want to try to experience an unmedicated child birth. At the very least I want to try and labor at home on my own for as long as I can. With my son I got my epidural right at 4 cm so if I decide the pain is too much I want to try and make it to a 6-7 on my own before getting an epidural. Any advice?!
I had an unmedicated birth. I absolutely recommend reading Mindful Birthing by Bardacke. Throughout my pregnancy, I practiced pain control and meditation techniques and these ABSOLUTELY made a difference during labor. One of the most helpful concepts for me was to remember that this is transformational pain, as opposed to pain being caused by something being "wrong." Having a mindset in which you accept pain, instead of fighting against it and hating it, can make all the difference in how your body reacts to labor.
Started Dating: 2003 Married: 2013
Started TTC August 2016
BFP: 2/1/17 MC: 2/8/17
BFP: 3/8/17 MMC: 5/1/17
BFP: 7/23/17 EDD: 4/5/18
BFP: 2/27/20
I might be a bit negative/cynical on this but I feel like most employers try to make your leave as short as possible. My boss wanted me to come back to work at 6 weeks last time, but I came back at 10 when my PTO ran out.
I used to work on writing and adapting FMLA policies. They can be a real PITA. The other thing you might want to do @JJMNO1616 is call your state senator and ask their office your questions. We used to get constituent questions like that all the time.
HX
DSD: 17
DS: 4(Nov'14)
MMC:8/17
MMC: 1/18
BFP: 2/7/19 EDD:10/16/19
Tickers
https://www.businessinsider.com/emily-oster-pregnancy-expecting-better-2013-8
While not things I read said coloring hair is safe, I do believe highlights are considered safer because they don't touch the skin.