Question Thread Week of 8/5

CecilB93 · August 2018

I feel like we haven't had a question thread in a while, and I have a question...so here it is! Lol

CecilB93 · August 2018

Okay ladies, as a STM+ I feel silly asking this, but what do Braxton Hicks feel like? I don't think I ever had them with my son, I feel like if I did I'd know it. But this morning while I was showering I had some strong-ish cramps all along my lower belly, a little stronger on the left than the right. Felt like super bad period cramps, but obviously not as bad as actual labor contractions. I've been laying down for about 5 mins now and the cramps have pretty much subsided. So is this BH? It doesn't feel like any RLP I've had in the past, but I know that can feel different from one day to the next, but this was all along my lower belly, not just one spot/side.

Activebaby · August 2018

It could be BH. Sometimes they feel like tightening and your uterus feels firm.

CecilB93 · August 2018

@Activebaby see that's what I'd always heard, so I was thrown by actual cramps. I didn't feel any tightening but I think things were pretty firm when feeling my belly. Baby was laying facing my spine at our AS so I never know if I'm feeling baby's back or my uterus hardening lol. Belly does feel softer now, so I'm thinking it was BH. Man I hope this doesn't happen the whole pregnancy for me lol.

PensiveCrayon · August 2018

@CecilB93 Hmm...I never had pain with my BH. Definitely rest up and drink some water if it happens again. Doesn’t hurt to bring it up at your next appointment!

hkom · August 2018

@CecilB93 I've been having what I assume are BH for the past few weeks. The very front of my stomach will tense up and get super hard. Never anything around the sides. It's uncomfortable but not painful. It's also pretty superficial. The cramps feel like they're just at the surface, not inside my body like RLP. They usually go away after a minute or two, especially if I sit or lay down.

CecilB93 · August 2018

Thanks ladies. I may mention it at my appointment Tuesday and see what my OB says. The cramps have gone away now, so I'm not too worried at the moment.

snugglyduckling25 · August 2018

I only had them with my second pregnancy, they made the outside of my stomach tight - no pain, just annoying. I would put your feet up and drink some water for now. I’m glad it’s gone away!

Jens_Hoes · August 2018

@CecilB93 I would say if its painful, then maybe you need to slow down a little? The only cramps I remember having my last pregnancy was when I wasn't drinking enough water.

Does anyone know when the latest the baby can flip? The baby was breach at my A/S and I know there is still a lot of room, but don't know how much longer the baby can move around.

PensiveCrayon · August 2018

@Jens_Hoes I want to say I've heard of babies flipping at like 36 weeks. You've got plenty of time! You could always visit the Spinning Babies for techniques if you're worried.

kristah2 · August 2018

@Jens_Hoes Babies will flip up to and past due date.
If for some reason you end up still breech and scheduled for an c-section they will actually do an ultrasound that morning to check to see if baby is still breech and if baby flipped that night they will send you home.
You have lots of time yet!
My OB's favorite story is one where baby was breech and mom was so upset. Finally accepted it would be a section and had her husband fly in from away for the birth and that morning the baby flipped and she was sent home and delivered naturally.

I wouldn't even worry about spinning babies yet since baby could still flip around 100 times over before the birth.
But closer to check out that site.
You also have the option for a version which is where a doctor will assist the baby flipping with the help of an ultrasound and being monitored. This isn't done until after 37 weeks because it can often send the baby into distress and end up with an emergency section but some moms try it for the possibility to get the baby to turn and have a natural birth.

Jens_Hoes · August 2018

@PensiveCrayon @kristah2 thank you!
I don't know why I am irrationally worried about a breech baby. One lady in my last BMB did a version, and it sounded pretty traumatic, so I'm not sure I'd want to do that. But glad to hear I have lots of time (to worry and pray) for this baby to be facing the right direction lol

Katzalia · August 2018

@Jens_Hoes what @kristah2 said. My first flipped at 36-37 weeks. My OB told me after 36 weeks there is less room to flip but plenty still do.

PensiveCrayon · August 2018

@Jens_Hoes yeah, I was actually talking with a woman from my BMB this weekend who had a version for a side-lying baby. Noooooo thank you. Hers was unsuccessful — she started contracting partway through so they did a c-section.

binxybaby · August 2018

My glucose test is coming up in 3 weeks. I'm wondering if I need to prepare for it in any way? I've been trying to cut down on sugar, but it's been tough since I'm a sugaraholic. My pregnancy cravings have centered around fruit a lot and I like to have a few cookies or a little ice cream after dinner. I'm worried I'm going to fail

Looking for any advice/past experiences that might help.

Jens_Hoes · August 2018

@binxybaby I don't think there is a way to technically prepare for it. Last time around I failed the 1 hour and passed the 3 hour. I honestly think I failed the 1 hour because the night before at like 10pm I had a McDonalds Flurry and then took the test at 9am the next day. That could just be a coincidence. Having sugar here and there won't affect your GD test overall. I believe some people had some protein the morning of their test (if they were taking it in the am), for the 3 hour test, I believe I had to fast. Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much, because you either have GD or don't, and you don't want to "fool" the test into thinking you don't have it when you do. There are some pretty scary consequences for baby with untreated GD. If for some reason you do fail the 1 hour, the 3 hour is much more accurate, and will be able to truly capture if you have GD or if it was a fluke.

CecilB93 · August 2018

@binxybaby there's no real way to prepare honestly. Don't eat a sugary/carby breakfast, make sure you get a lot of protein, but even dinner the night before shouldn't affect it as long as you eat breakfast that morning.

@Jens_Hoes Not enough water could have been part of it, but I had just woken up so I doubt activity was the issue lol.

scaredunprepared · August 2018

So for the GD tests you should eat and drink before?

binxybaby · August 2018

I definitely don't want to do anything that would give a false reading. If I have it, I want to know and I especially want my doctor to know. I guess I'm just anxious that I will have it and my husband will nag me about eating the rest of this pregnancy. "It's not all about you...you have to think about the baby." Ugh. He makes me cranky sometimes.

maureenmce · August 2018

@Jens_Hoes My DD flipped around 36 weeks if I'm remembering correctly. We just had a coworker in my office whose baby flipped from head down to breech at 39 weeks! Which sucks! So, like others said, I guess they can move even until the end.

echo-charlietango · August 2018

scaredunprepared said:

So for the GD tests you should eat and drink before?

Depends on Dr.’s orders - mine is in the morning (later this month), and I was told to fast - no food after midnight, then drink the glucola entirely in five minutes or fewer.

PensiveCrayon · August 2018

@binxybaby Ugh, sounds like my H. Such a buzzkill when I want sushi or a tiny glass of wine. Like, read the research dude. But after what happened with our first, ANY risk is a risk not worth taking, to him.

CecilB93 · August 2018

echo-charlietango said:

scaredunprepared said:

So for the GD tests you should eat and drink before?

Depends on Dr.’s orders - mine is in the morning (later this month), and I was told to fast - no food after midnight, then drink the glucola entirely in five minutes or fewer.

I've never been told to fast for the 1 hour test, so it must vary.

@Jens_Hoes I don't think you can cause a false reading, even if you do eat protein before if you have it you'll know. When I failed they asked what I had eaten that morning, so it can affect it some, but not drastically to my knowledge. For the record though, I did fast (because no one told me and I couldn't remember if I was allowed to eat) and I failed pretty bad, but since having to take my numbers I see that my fasting number is higher than after meal numbers. However, I do still have high meal readings if I'm not careful. So I probably would have still failed, but maybe not as bad as if I had eaten beforehand.

snugglyduckling25 · August 2018

@Jens_Hoes At my A/S baby flipped from head down to breech and back, so they definitely still have time. My twin pregnancy, baby B was breech at 30 weeks and my doctor was talking about scheduling a c-section. I told her I wasn’t ready to do that yet and he flipped to head down sometime that next month, even with a whole extra baby in there.

morgantu · August 2018

Question for people who's partners have been able to feel the baby kicking on the outside: do they just sit there with their hand on your belly? Can you make the baby kick? I *think* I can feel it outside, but so far, H hasn't. Any tricks?

scaredunprepared · August 2018

@morgantu I haven't tried it, but a friend of mine swears when she puts a cold pack on her belly baby kicks it. I was thinking of trying it soon.

LLynde5 · August 2018

Re: kicking babies. For my DD and this baby a glass of ice cold water and then laying down and being very still made both of them go crazy. My DH is just starting to feel this baby! But half the time I think it’s my reaction to the baby is what he feels. I’m almost 20 weeks.

deutschmama · August 2018

@morgantu I’ve noticed the baby moves around a lot more right after I eat, and right before we go to bed, so my husband will wait with his hand on my belly (more like right above my pubic bone- LO is so low!) then. It’s one million degrees here at the moment, and of course there’s no AC in our old ass building, so it’s not my first choice to have his hand on my sweaty belly but whenever he’s gotten to feel baby move he’s been SO excited that it’s worth it.

gorgeousariel · August 2018

@morgantu after DD goes to bed we just chill on the couch. Sometimes baby has a little dance party. After a few consistent kicks I will tell DH. Then he will put his hand there and " hopefully" not wait too long. So my advice is to lay really still for a while on the couch or right before bed.

Jens_Hoes · August 2018

@morgantu I'd suggest cold water, or sugary drinks (like orange juice) and laying down and being still. I think when we are moving throughout the day we don't notice the kicking. When I am most still I notice it.

temmetime · August 2018

@morgantu I usually drink metamucil in the evening and baby kicks like crazy after, so DH will come sit by me on the couch and leave his hand on my belly. LO is best felt slightly below my belly button and to the right - must have his/her feet there!

hkom · August 2018

@morgantu I do what @gorgeousariel does and just let H know when the baby is being super active. If he wants to feel he'll just put his hand where I tell him most of the kicks were and usually he can feel something fairly quickly and doesn't have to sit there with his hand on my stomach. If baby decides to stop moving we'll just try later.

katy0990 · August 2018

@morgantu As others have said, eating or drinking something cold and sugary (ice cream) gets my LO moving. I’ll have DH put his hand wherever I feel movement, so he can feel too. I got further along with DS, I could push on my belly to get him to move.

maureenmce · August 2018

Completely random, but does anyone know if Crest white strips are safe for pregnancy? I'm planning to ask my OB when I see her Tuesday but I'm just curious if anyone has already asked their doctor?

hoosiermama-2 · August 2018

@maureenmce I haven't asked my doctor but I remember reading about it when TTGP and what I read said to just stay away from them. There's no evidence either way. They've always made my gums sensitive, and gums are sometimes already more sensitive during pregnancy.

Though, one can usually find whatever answer they want on the internet.

texas_t · August 2018

@maureenmce Have you tried activated charcoal? It works really well for teeth whitening!

maureenmce · August 2018

@texas_t Oh I haven't heard of that - I'll have to check it out. Was mainly asking because I found a half open box of white strips I forgot I bought right before getting pregnant and wondered if I could just finish off the box while I'm thinking about it. Guess we'll see what my OB says tomorrow! Cool to know there's another option though, if she says no!

rawarr · August 2018

Has anyone's OB mentioned placental lakes? At first I wasn't too concerned about it, but now I'm being referred to a Maternal Fetal medicine Specialist, and it's got me really worried.

tunnel · August 2018

@maureenmce I'm curious about what your OB said about the Crest white strips?

maureenmce · August 2018

@tunnel She said they were fine to use!

tunnel · August 2018

@maureenmce SWEET! I found a big stash too!

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