@businesswife Apparently it’s the “little brother” of the medicine they’d give you for more extreme cramps/contractions. It has something in it similar to a muscle relaxant to help my “cranky uterus” to calm down. I’ll probably forever call my uterus cranky now.
@SkilledSailor Wow!! I hope everything has calmed down. I hope you are doing okay. The heat and 3rd trimester combo is no joke! I’ve been pushing myself too hard and thankfully no problems besides swelling, but everyone be careful! Oh, I think I still get RLP too. And I’m definitely growing. They feel like short pinpricks of pain in my lower abdomen.
@SkilledSailor Glad you went in to get checked out! Hope things are improving.
I think I'm starting to get stretch marks. They seem to be emanating from my bellybutton in a starburst pattern. They're not bright red or anything (yet), but I'm pretty sure that's what is going on. Sigh. I know stretch marks are mostly genetic, and in fact my mom didn't get any...but I'm having twins. And I'm shorter, so the belly is having to stretch out very far.
@SkilledSailor I'm glad you got checked out and I hope your cranky ute has calmed down by now. I've been trying to figure out if I'm feeling the baby roll or if it's BH. How did you figure out the difference? Also, sometimes when I'm walking very fast and exerting myself I get a sharp cramp on the right side below my belly. Is this RLP or BH?
Me: 34 | DH: 33 Married Aug. 2013 TTC #1 Sep. 2016 ***TW***
BFP Jan. 15, 2017; MMC Mar. 4, 2017 at 10w6d BFP Jun. 5, 2017; MMC Aug. 2, 2017 at 11w6d BFP Nov. 20, 2017; ended in CP All the tests. Everything normal except treated for ureaplasma and DH potentially has high DNAF. BFP Dec. 25, 2017; EDD Sep. 5, 2018; DD arrived Aug. 26th My chart: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/63f71d
@SkilledSailor glad you got the swab. Please take it easy, I have a cranky uterus too. I'd consider pelvic rest for a bit even if everything checks out ok (obviously not going to tell you to disregard doctor!) but I wish I had last time with my cranky uterus and couple of scares. Sending you waves of "keeping baby in dust!"
_______________________________________________
Me: 33 DH: 32 Married 7/18/15 1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16 Team green turned BLUE! 2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18 Team green turned PINK! Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
@starla Honestly, I had a contraction at my last midwife appointment so she was able to show me the difference. When I put my hands on my belly, if I just feel firmness on one side it’s baby, but if it’s both sides high and low then it’s a contraction.
@pourmeamocktail Thank you! I was actually wondering what your experience was like before your DS made his early arrival? I ended up at the L&D with more monitoring and a whole bunch of IV fluids to calm my cranky uterus down today. Lots of rest planned for this afternoon.
@SkilledSailor Haven't had a chance to comment yet but thinking of you and sorry you had to go back to L&D today! Hoping lots of rest calms down your ute. Glad your H is pitching in extra to make sure you don't over-do it!
ETA: @starla I agree that BH feel like my whole belly is tightening (doesn't hurt, but is slightly uncomfortable) while baby pressing his body out makes my belly feel tighter on just that side. I also sometimes experience the sharp cramp you mentioned when I walk too fast/make movements I don't normally make and that is likely RLP and not BH. Although for me, exerting myself too much or not drinking enough water can bring on BH. Even as a STM, I've noticed lately it's more difficult to distinguish BH from baby's body pressing out as he gets bigger and takes up more room!
Me: 32 DH: 32 BFP #1: 1/23/2012 DD: Born 9/20/2012 BFP #2: 12/30/2017 DS: Due 9/10/2018
Sorry to hear you ended up at L&D @SkilledSailor! I've heard of moms dealing with an "irritable uterus" before and they basically end up with contractions all the way until birth, that don't do anything. Hopefully it's nothing more than that! Although that sounds like no fun so hopefully you don't even have to deal with that!!
@starla - +1 that my whole belly gets tight with a BH. It doesn't hurt, but they can be uncomfortable. Baby rolling around I'll feel the movement and potentially a hard spot where he's pressing up against me, but my uterus itself doesn't tighten up at all. If I poke myself during a BH, it's all hard. If it's from baby moving, I may feel hard spots but my belly in general remains "squishy".
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
Another one for BH has my entire stomach getting hard. Not painful. Just very uncomfortable.
Movement just has a hard spot, not allover tightening and hardness. And they can be uncomfortable depending on where baby is pushing but it's usually just a moving sensation.
Me: 34 | DH: 33 Married Aug. 2013 TTC #1 Sep. 2016 ***TW***
BFP Jan. 15, 2017; MMC Mar. 4, 2017 at 10w6d BFP Jun. 5, 2017; MMC Aug. 2, 2017 at 11w6d BFP Nov. 20, 2017; ended in CP All the tests. Everything normal except treated for ureaplasma and DH potentially has high DNAF. BFP Dec. 25, 2017; EDD Sep. 5, 2018; DD arrived Aug. 26th My chart: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/63f71d
@starla The biggest thing that I notice if I'm standing up is just a tightening sensation that even gets my ribs involved, so it can be a bit more difficult to catch a breath. Not actually knocking the breath out of me, my ribs are tight and just don't expand as well. Again, just a very uncomfortable feeling and I feel like I'm not describing it very well.
@SkilledSailor I was having painless but annoying contractions in a pattern I could time (between 5 and 15 min apart) for a couple hours a day, every day. They kept telling me to drink more water, which didn't help and also tended to make me get extra contractions from too full of a bladder all day.
I went in for monitoring twice, couldn't convince them to swab or give me lung steroids-even tho 36 week babies aren't rare in my family. I started having the nightly contraction hours right around 31 weeks.
I was told to change nothing about my habits and that I didn't need to cut down on activities, so kept running, taking care of my horse, and having sex. TMI: Started losing plug 3 days before he was born, they didn't worry, had my bowels clear out the day before, had sex after the poop day, lost more plug the morning of, and was having 5 min contractions by noon.
_______________________________________________
Me: 33 DH: 32 Married 7/18/15 1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16 Team green turned BLUE! 2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18 Team green turned PINK! Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
@pourmeamocktail Thank you for sharing! I’m surprised they didn’t do the swab for you. It’s helpful to hear your experience with the irritable uterus thing. We’ve been told no sex, extra hydration, and try to limit physical activity (ha, gotta pay bills but I’ll try) until my follow up next week.
Has anyone used or know someone who has used Bloomlife? My mom sent me the info wondering if that would help determine when I should be concerned about contractions and when I should just ignore them. I'd love to hear if any of yall used it and if so, did you find it helpful?
I have never heard of Bloomlife before! I'd want to look into how it works more before ever using it, but if it's as safe as the monitoring in L&D that's a neat idea for people who could benefit from being able to monitor contractions!
Although I'm cheap and would probably just stick to pen any paper for myself, lol.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
I’ve been having a lot of pains when up walking around, basically feels like the external muscles on the bottom half of the bump. It’s more like sore muscles than contractions. Anyone else have this? Suggestions? I have a regular OB appointment and a non-stress test (for other reasons) tomorrow so I’ll ask, but ugh, it’s really getting in the way of life these past few days!
@skilledsailor I hate to hear you ended up at L&D again today. They little guy needs to keep on cooking a little longer. I know you have to pay bills, but hopefully you can do a lot less than you have been and just supervise your crew and husband when he is available.
@MandyMost I have been having the same thing. Mostly in the early evenings or when I am doing a ton of physical activity. It kind of feels like before my period cramps, just down low and not all over.
@pourmeamocktail you are around the same time as before when your issues all started. How are you feeling? Since you had a cranky uterus last time do they expect it to still be cranky or do they think it can be different from one pregnancy to the next?
@danytargaryen Haha that's my dilemma. It looks so helpful for our situation but like..maybe a free app could get the job done? Although I will say, being monitored and being able to see my contractions on the chart made me feel less crazy. FTM problem, but I felt so weird telling people I was having contractions at 32 weeks since I wasn't 100% confident that's what it was.
@mandymost@klj0228 I've been feeling that a bit too. Are y'all carrying low? My support belt helps with that feeling sometimes. I wonder if those muscles are just tired?
@klj0228 so so so many less contractions this time, but I also am intentionally doing less physically active stuff too. Been comfortable enough still being intimate with husband because there haven't been ill effects. If contractions come back into a pattern, I'll cut myself off of many things. But so far, so good. And I've been generally less totally stressed this pregnancy which I believe firmly has helped. Last time my husband and I both lost our jobs, and our entire savings and were forced to move cross country and into a family member's home at 31 weeks..
_______________________________________________
Me: 33 DH: 32 Married 7/18/15 1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16 Team green turned BLUE! 2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18 Team green turned PINK! Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
@MandyMost@klj0228 That's what I've been experiencing as well. It might be RPL? Although @klj0228 I've read that BH can feel like AF cramps.
I was planning on using TB app for counting contractions.
Me: 34 | DH: 33 Married Aug. 2013 TTC #1 Sep. 2016 ***TW***
BFP Jan. 15, 2017; MMC Mar. 4, 2017 at 10w6d BFP Jun. 5, 2017; MMC Aug. 2, 2017 at 11w6d BFP Nov. 20, 2017; ended in CP All the tests. Everything normal except treated for ureaplasma and DH potentially has high DNAF. BFP Dec. 25, 2017; EDD Sep. 5, 2018; DD arrived Aug. 26th My chart: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/63f71d
I’m having crazy insomnia - every night. I still have a stuffy nose - my Ankles are swollen and I have a ton on pressure in my legs. I am getting mild cramps in my lower abdomen - but mostly when I move a certain way or am standing or walking to much - RLP probably or maybe BH. I feel like all of this is just 3rd trimester combined with crazy heat. I’ve been doing too much at work and am going to try to rest as much as possible this weekend.
@SkilledSailor - Even as a STM if I started having contractions now I'd be trying to figure out what else they could possibly be.
Peace of mind is always nice. It's the reason I own a fetal doppler. I know you said you have a follow-up next week, any idea if they were planning an NST when you go back? Personally I'd hate to spend the $20 a week if you're going to end up being monitored more closely anyway, BUT this is very much an outside looking in opinion and I could easy have a very different answer if I was actually going through what you are.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@danytargaryen I don't think they plan on regularly doing an NST. I was given a routine to do if my contractions come back (a full glass of water, feet up, hot bath) and if after that routine they're still happening regularly then I can call in for monitoring.
@pourmeamocktail I just read your story about your first pregnancy, oh my goodness!!! My level of anxiety sky rocketed for you, for something that happened in the past!!!
The talk about contractions has helped.
I ended up in L&D last night. I was teaching a group fitness class and I fell yesterday. I fell on my butt, but I was pretty crampy and when I called my OB's after office number they said to go in. They monitored me for about 2 hours, I was having some contractions, but sporadically and far apart. A few of them I didn't notice. They started to subside and then said I could go home. The nurse told me to take it easy for the next few days. Baby girl was perfectly fine. I am struggling with self induced pressure and anxiety to still be able to "do it all" and I think this was my eye opener that I can't do it all. My body has been aching all week and me ignoring it was stupid. It is a hard pill to swallow, but I am hopeful that taking it easy and then pulling back a little bit will make a significant difference.
TMI: they wanted to swab me for pre term labor and couldn't. Apparently you can't have sex within 24 hours as it will most likely produce a false positive. Of course, we had a dry spell for about 2 weeks until yesterday morning
Sorry to hear you ended up at L&D @lisac113. I'm glad all ended up being well. It can be hard to slow down when you really don't want to, but it sounds like it might be time to put your feet up once in a while!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
Sorry you ended up at L&D @lisac113. I would definitely encourage both FTMs and STMs to try to listen to their bodies as far as what they can physically handle and not pushing yourselves too far! This isn't a competition of who can do the most for the longest period of time while pregnant, and paying attention to your body is really important. We all need a lot of water right now whether it's hot or not, and to not physically exert ourselves too much. Rest is our friend. It's not unheard of having to take a trip to L&D in the last trimester before you actually deliver, but drinking some water and putting your feet up go can a long way. Just wanted to throw out a reminder to be easy on ourselves as our due dates are approaching.
@SkilledSailor that bloomlife looks cool! But it's sciency so of course I like it. I might be interested in renting it because with my first pregnancy I couldn't really feel contractions until my water broke (I was induced at the hospital) but was for sure having them.
@lisac113 Girl I feel ya! Glad everything turned out ok for you! Will they want to see you again to do the swab?
@nlc8424 So so true. I definitely struggle with relaxing, I like to be busy. But I'll probably be glad I forced myself to take more quiet time. We'll only get so much in the future.
I've noticed a big decrease in my appetite the past week or so. I get full faster when eating a meal and no longer need snacks. I've been having crazy baby-related dreams. So uncomfortable in the evenings with baby stretching everything out/pelvic pressure.
Me: 32 DH: 32 BFP #1: 1/23/2012 DD: Born 9/20/2012 BFP #2: 12/30/2017 DS: Due 9/10/2018
@lisac113 Glad everything turned out OK! Yeah, end of my last pregnancy was rough, and my birth was...awful. Thankful we both made it through, but that's pretty much all the good about it. After that experience, I'm super aware and conscious to take it easy and make demands on doctors to listen. Full term baby is our biggest goal this time!
_______________________________________________
Me: 33 DH: 32 Married 7/18/15 1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16 Team green turned BLUE! 2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18 Team green turned PINK! Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
@lisac113 glad everything turned out okay. Try to relax and not overdo it.
@nlc8424 I think that is a great reminder! I think many of us are so used to going going going and forget that we have to slow down. We are growing humans here and that alone is a lot of work. Add regular life, work, spouses, other children, middle of summer, among countless other things and the stress on our bodies is even greater. Our biggest responsibility at this moment is keeping these babies safe and growing in our bodies until it is their time to come.
@lisac113 I'm glad you are okay! My doctor is telling me to put my feet up a lot more (because of the swelling) and to do that, I would need to do a lot less of other things. I agree with everyone that it is hard to slow down with so much still to do (both at work and at home). It's just that the summer heat and the 3rd trimester are not a good combination! Everyone take it easy this weekend.
And, @southernlady07 yep, I can barely sleep or eat. I'm living on smoothies and maybe 4-5 hours of sleep a night. The only thing comforting is that I get to feel the baby dancing when I can't sleep. His favorite time of day is 4am.
Ladies, I really appreciate your kind words, I need to hear them along with the sit down and it isn't a competition. It is slightly embarrassing how much of a "mastery/I need to achieve person I am". I need to make my goal to achieve a healthy baby as many of you have said. It also makes me feel human that I am not the only one that has a hard time slowing down. Gosh, it was a pill to swallow and yesterday it hit home.
@SkilledSailor I am actually not sure if they will do the swab. The nurse was commenting about how they like to use it get get a "no" versus a yes. I didn't think to ask if they wanted to do it later as I had a bit of internal shame (for no reason) that oh yes, my husband is actually on vacation and we had sex this morning. I have an appointment in 2 weeks so I suppose I should ask them. They were very clear on my discharge paperwork of when to call them, when to come in, etc. They were also incredibly comforting and to not ever worry if I feel like I need to go in for monitoring, they are happy to do it and would prefer women be overly cautious.
@lisac113@skilledsailor I'm glad you guys are both doing OK. @skilledsailor I lol'd at cranky uterus. Here's hoping both your babies stay cooking another few weeks!
Re: Weekly Symptoms and Questions 7/9
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
I think I'm starting to get stretch marks. They seem to be emanating from my bellybutton in a starburst pattern. They're not bright red or anything (yet), but I'm pretty sure that's what is going on. Sigh. I know stretch marks are mostly genetic, and in fact my mom didn't get any...but I'm having twins. And I'm shorter, so the belly is having to stretch out very far.
Married Aug. 2013
TTC #1 Sep. 2016
***TW***
BFP Jun. 5, 2017; MMC Aug. 2, 2017 at 11w6d
BFP Nov. 20, 2017; ended in CP
All the tests. Everything normal except treated for ureaplasma and DH potentially has high DNAF.
BFP Dec. 25, 2017; EDD Sep. 5, 2018; DD arrived Aug. 26th
My chart: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/63f71d
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
@pourmeamocktail Thank you! I was actually wondering what your experience was like before your DS made his early arrival? I ended up at the L&D with more monitoring and a whole bunch of IV fluids to calm my cranky uterus down today. Lots of rest planned for this afternoon.
ETA: @starla I agree that BH feel like my whole belly is tightening (doesn't hurt, but is slightly uncomfortable) while baby pressing his body out makes my belly feel tighter on just that side. I also sometimes experience the sharp cramp you mentioned when I walk too fast/make movements I don't normally make and that is likely RLP and not BH. Although for me, exerting myself too much or not drinking enough water can bring on BH. Even as a STM, I've noticed lately it's more difficult to distinguish BH from baby's body pressing out as he gets bigger and takes up more room!
BFP #1: 1/23/2012 DD: Born 9/20/2012
BFP #2: 12/30/2017 DS: Due 9/10/2018
@starla - +1 that my whole belly gets tight with a BH. It doesn't hurt, but they can be uncomfortable. Baby rolling around I'll feel the movement and potentially a hard spot where he's pressing up against me, but my uterus itself doesn't tighten up at all. If I poke myself during a BH, it's all hard. If it's from baby moving, I may feel hard spots but my belly in general remains "squishy".
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
Movement just has a hard spot, not allover tightening and hardness. And they can be uncomfortable depending on where baby is pushing but it's usually just a moving sensation.
Married Aug. 2013
TTC #1 Sep. 2016
***TW***
BFP Jun. 5, 2017; MMC Aug. 2, 2017 at 11w6d
BFP Nov. 20, 2017; ended in CP
All the tests. Everything normal except treated for ureaplasma and DH potentially has high DNAF.
BFP Dec. 25, 2017; EDD Sep. 5, 2018; DD arrived Aug. 26th
My chart: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/63f71d
I went in for monitoring twice, couldn't convince them to swab or give me lung steroids-even tho 36 week babies aren't rare in my family. I started having the nightly contraction hours right around 31 weeks.
I was told to change nothing about my habits and that I didn't need to cut down on activities, so kept running, taking care of my horse, and having sex.
TMI:
Started losing plug 3 days before he was born, they didn't worry, had my bowels clear out the day before, had sex after the poop day, lost more plug the morning of, and was having 5 min contractions by noon.
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
https://bloomlife.com/how-it-works/
Although I'm cheap and would probably just stick to pen any paper for myself, lol.
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@MandyMost I have been having the same thing. Mostly in the early evenings or when I am doing a ton of physical activity. It kind of feels like before my period cramps, just down low and not all over.
@pourmeamocktail you are around the same time as before when your issues all started. How are you feeling? Since you had a cranky uterus last time do they expect it to still be cranky or do they think it can be different from one pregnancy to the next?
@mandymost @klj0228 I've been feeling that a bit too. Are y'all carrying low? My support belt helps with that feeling sometimes. I wonder if those muscles are just tired?
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
I was planning on using TB app for counting contractions.
Married Aug. 2013
TTC #1 Sep. 2016
***TW***
BFP Jun. 5, 2017; MMC Aug. 2, 2017 at 11w6d
BFP Nov. 20, 2017; ended in CP
All the tests. Everything normal except treated for ureaplasma and DH potentially has high DNAF.
BFP Dec. 25, 2017; EDD Sep. 5, 2018; DD arrived Aug. 26th
My chart: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/63f71d
Peace of mind is always nice. It's the reason I own a fetal doppler. I know you said you have a follow-up next week, any idea if they were planning an NST when you go back? Personally I'd hate to spend the $20 a week if you're going to end up being monitored more closely anyway, BUT this is very much an outside looking in opinion and I could easy have a very different answer if I was actually going through what you are.
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
I just read your story about your first pregnancy, oh my goodness!!! My level of anxiety sky rocketed for you, for something that happened in the past!!!
The talk about contractions has helped.
I ended up in L&D last night. I was teaching a group fitness class and I fell yesterday. I fell on my butt, but I was pretty crampy and when I called my OB's after office number they said to go in. They monitored me for about 2 hours, I was having some contractions, but sporadically and far apart. A few of them I didn't notice. They started to subside and then said I could go home. The nurse told me to take it easy for the next few days. Baby girl was perfectly fine. I am struggling with self induced pressure and anxiety to still be able to "do it all" and I think this was my eye opener that I can't do it all. My body has been aching all week and me ignoring it was stupid. It is a hard pill to swallow, but I am hopeful that taking it easy and then pulling back a little bit will make a significant difference.
TMI: they wanted to swab me for pre term labor and couldn't. Apparently you can't have sex within 24 hours as it will most likely produce a false positive. Of course, we had a dry spell for about 2 weeks until yesterday morning
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@lisac113 yikes I'm glad you are ok!!!
@nlc8424 So so true. I definitely struggle with relaxing, I like to be busy. But I'll probably be glad I forced myself to take more quiet time. We'll only get so much in the future.
I've noticed a big decrease in my appetite the past week or so. I get full faster when eating a meal and no longer need snacks.
I've been having crazy baby-related dreams.
So uncomfortable in the evenings with baby stretching everything out/pelvic pressure.
BFP #1: 1/23/2012 DD: Born 9/20/2012
BFP #2: 12/30/2017 DS: Due 9/10/2018
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
@nlc8424 I think that is a great reminder! I think many of us are so used to going going going and forget that we have to slow down. We are growing humans here and that alone is a lot of work. Add regular life, work, spouses, other children, middle of summer, among countless other things and the stress on our bodies is even greater. Our biggest responsibility at this moment is keeping these babies safe and growing in our bodies until it is their time to come.
And, @southernlady07 yep, I can barely sleep or eat. I'm living on smoothies and maybe 4-5 hours of sleep a night. The only thing comforting is that I get to feel the baby dancing when I can't sleep. His favorite time of day is 4am.