Weekly Questions 1/27

MamaK225 · February 2019

@cmessamore - Dying @ fisting. My OB - bless his heart - has TINY hands and LET ME TELL YOU, when he swept my membranes, checked me during induction, and when he broke my water ... I nearly levitated. I was not expecting the up-to-the-elbow treatment like some milk cow

@suzycupcake - I've only ever been preggo after IF, but my doc generally does an initial U/S around 8 weeks to get EDD, one at 20 for measurements, and then one around 34 or so, to check if baby is head-down. That's what he charges for anyway, that being said ... he did do a cervical measurement around 16 weeks because I had a LEEP done in my early 20s (to verify sufficient thickness) and we peeked in on baby "just because." My next appt with him (with #2) is at 16 weeks and he told me to schedule it on a Thursday (his ultrasound days); even though it's not technically an U/S appt, he said we could pop in really quick to get a peek and reveal gender. He's a one-man practice so he has very few OB patients and is very thoughtful, open to anything that puts ours minds at ease. He also had his second child via IVF, so he is very familiar with the process and it adds to the many reasons I just love him.

aecm · February 2019

@suzycupcake My practice does 2 in a standard pregnancy - a dating ultrasound at 8 weeks, and an anatomy scan at 20 weeks. With DD I was sent over to MFM and received the 12 week NT scan b/c the NIPT test didn’t work for me. I never had any to check positioning near the end - they just felt my belly, and were pretty confident she was head down (and they were correct).

wabash15 · February 2019

@suzycupcake it depends on the pregnancy.... with the twins I had an US every month (and then one just before my c-section to ensure breech positioning)... with my next pregnancy I had 2 with the RE then with the midwifes I chose to have the NT scan at 12 weeks otherwise it would just be the anatomy scan. I had nothing after the anatomy scan.

database6 · February 2019

Standard in my practice is one early US for dating around 8 weeks, NT at 12 weeks, and anatomy at 20 weeks.

I am high risk though, so I get those, and then more in later pregnancy. Once a month until late in second tri, then one every other week until about 34 weeks and then weekly. This is to monitor for complications only.

wanderlustsoul · February 2019

Standard here is 2: one at 10-12 weeks and one at 20 weeks. I am getting more as I couldn’t go that long without seeing baby.

bluebonnet15 · February 2019

@suzycupcake I understand that I’m very lucky to have already had 4 US (and be a low risk pregnancy). The way my appts fell during the holidays, they had to split them up, and I ended up getting an US at both, in addition to the initial dating US and NT US. My understanding is I’ll have two more: anatomy scan and one closer to “go time.”

WinchesterGirl · February 2019

It is not standard at my practice to do the later ultrasound. That is only if there are concerns about size, position, or something else. I personally would not want to be induced due to size, so I'd prefer to skip that one.

zamoraspin · February 2019

On male OBs - I have a slight preference for a female OB but I had a male OB I really liked at one point (became out of network for insurance), and I have chosen a male OB recently. My RE is female and she is my favorite dr of all time. I told her I was in the market for an OB and she recommended four all at one practice, and even ranked them into two tiers. Of the top tier folks one was male, one was female, and the female dr takes very few patients and was already full for my EDD, so I picked the male one because my RE had endorsed him so highly. There are lots of female nurses and NPs at the practice and I get the feeling most of my appts will involve them.

Question: Like most every pregnant ladies I've had sore boobs for a while now. I didn't mind because it was a reminder I am pregnant. Yesterday the pain started getting sharp on the side of my left breast, and today my right. They hurt when I walk. I assume this is related to structural changes that are happening. How long does this last? I don't really like tight bras, but would that generally help? It's not a huge deal but I'm curious.

olivemomma · February 2019

@zamora_spin if it’s happening in a similar way in both boobs my guess is it’s all just lovely pregnancy changes. MIne hurt a lot with my first, I think it lasted about halfway through second trimester but my memory is vague on that. I would actually recommended a looser bra, maybe a sports bra that still has support but is also more comfortable. I’ve rarely heard tighter bras in pregnancy are helpful.

zamoraspin · February 2019

@olivemomma Thanks! I probably wasn't clear - I don't think it's anything other than normal pregnancy stuff, I just noticed an increase in the sharpness/severity so I wondered how long that usually lasts. I wear the same bra style most days and it's not that tight, although yesterday I wore a dress that I realized part way into the day was very tight on me suddenly (between bloat and bigger boobs) so maybe that made it worse.

suzycupcake · February 2019

Thanks ladies for all of your responses.

@Allycat11 I'm really not shocked by it since my baby is the result of IVF and I've already had 3 u/s before 12 weeks. I wasn't sure what the norm is. It sounds like there are different #s of u/s even for healthy pregnancies across the board, depending on the office. I probably won't allow more than one or two for personal reasons, but there is still a part of me that wants more since I've also experienced loss. My husband and I have already talked to our RE about paying the $200 to come see him when we are feeling really really nervous and just want to make sure he is okay. Maybe we can get a Kaiser RE to agree to it so that our insurance will cover it.

purplg8r · February 2019

For those of you that went to a MFM, how far along were you for your first appt? And how often did you have ultrasounds there?

Beauxbaton · February 2019

@suzycupcake all of my babies were conceived naturally. I had the dating ultrasound at 8 weeks, NT at 12 weeks, anatomy scan at 20 weeks. Oddly enough I had to get follow up scans with all three of my previous babies at 24 weeks to get a second look at the heart. Then I started biophysicals at 32 weeks. So I had weekly quick ultrasounds from 32 weeks until delivery. And growth scans every 4 weeks. That was because of my thyroid. I guess thyroid issues can cause growth issues and the like.

For this pregnancy I know I will have a scan of the heart at 28 weeks and probably start BPPs at 30 weeks because of Sjögrens.

Beauxbaton · February 2019

@purplg8r this is my first pregnancy seeing an MFM and my first appointment is Thursday, which I will be 12w 5d. I'll know more after that.

sourlemon · February 2019

@purplg8r I was 9 weeks (ish) for my first mfm appointment.

cmessamore · February 2019

@MamaK225 Yes! That’s how I feel with some of my female OBs with tiny hands!

@purplg8r my MFM doesn’t see people until 12 weeks. She does the NT Scan and meets with you after. It worked out well for us, timing wise.

car1a · February 2019

@suzycupcake my practice (through Mayo clinic) only offers one standard u/s - the anatomy scan. Many people under 35 also get the NT scan, since I'm getting the NIPT they skip this u/s for me. With my last pregnancy, I did not have a scan to check position late in pregnancy, nor during labor (though maybe if their position wasn't easy to determine they might have?) but I did get a scan at 40w because I was going over my due date and they want to check movement levels. I would've had another scan at 41w but I luckily delivered the day prior!

BigBadWolf12 · February 2019

I'm in Sweden, so different from the states where most people are, but there is one standard scan - the anatomy scan somewhere in 18-20 weeks. That's all I'm getting this time, assuming I stay low risk. You can pay for extra testing which involves a scan at 10-12 weeks but we opted not to since the testing itself has a small added risk of injury to the baby and it wouldn't change our choice about continuing with the pregnancy regardless of test results.

Tw loss mentioned below
Last time I had a scan at 5 weeks and 8 weeks since the 5 week one obviously didn't show much. I got these because of PGAL anxiety and we had just started IF testing (though only one or two rounds in, hadn't completed the works so our RE didn't follow us through first tri since we had no dx and did end up conceiving spontaneously even though it took longer than average both pre and post loss) so I was extra terrified of losing another baby and having to start from scratch so we paid for the scans through a regular obgyn, the midwives wouldn't do it that early. Then after the routine a/s I had more scans at 35 weeks due to decreased movement monitoring (baby was breech and quite literally stuck) and again at 37 to check size (determine if vaginal attempt was possible or not) and right before c/s delivery to confirm he was still breech before operation. I hope to avoid all those extras this time and stay low risk! Though I will admit pangs of jealousy for everyone who is low risk AND gets to see their baby at least once before the anatomy scan lol.

olivemomma · February 2019

@BigBadWolf12 where in Sweden are you? My soon to be SIL is from Gothenburg. Pretty sure we will all be flying out in 2020 for a wedding.

BigBadWolf12 · February 2019

Nice! I'm in Stockholm

@olivemomma haven't been to Gothenburg yet. Might do some travel around Sweden this July since we can't go to Canada during our summer holiday though

(going to Canada in June while I can still fly)

wanderlustsoul · February 2019

@BigBadWolf12, are you also Canadian or are you Swedish with family from Canada.

BigBadWolf12 · February 2019

@akuzreve I'm Canadian (as is hubby, so our son and this baby are also Canadian by birth). We just live in Sweden on work visas. Could apply for swedish citizenship in a couple years if we are still here. We will see

wanderlustsoul · February 2019

@BigBadWolf12, oh awesome! We’re also Canadian living in the Netherlands. I’m going home in May one last time before I can’t travel and then we will go again in December (hopefully if we can get the baby’s passport in time 🙏🏼). How long have you been in Sweden? Do you plan on going back to Canada? (Feel free to ignore if too personal)!

BigBadWolf12 · February 2019

@AKuzReve we have been in Sweden 4 years this coming summer. We are going to Canada in June to visit just barely in time before the 36 week travel ban lol. We will probably move back to Canada in the next 2 years ish. But who knows, things can change.

My son was born in September and we had his passport pics taken on his ue date (9 days old) and we had his passport by 6 weeks old in plenty of time before Christmas travel. Hopefully your embassy is fast too! We will probably go back at christmas too. Wet didn't this past year, but baby's first Christmas and all....we went back for my son's first Christmas and it was the first time most family met him!

My parents got over for his birth and this time the in laws will come in August and my patents will come in September probably. But extended family will meet Baby at christmas. Will your family be able to make it over? Is your partner Dutch (family close?) or Canadian or other?

wanderlustsoul · February 2019

@BigBadWolf12, that’s good to know! Did you apply for the certificate to prove Canadian citizenship? From what I’ve seen lately, it says can take up to 4 months but I’m hoping that’s extreme cases and not like ours. The Hague embassy can be chaotic.

My H is also Canadian so no family here. My mom is coming for the birth and then his parents will come in September/October. We also want to go home for the 1st Christmas since we also have 4 pregnant friends right now and it’ll be nice to see the family and our friends. My sister can’t travel here so she is excited to meet the baby.

We will also likely go home in about 2 years. Where in Canada are you from?

BigBadWolf12 · February 2019

@AKuzReve I inboxed you to continue the convo

aecm · February 2019

@AKuzReve - I’m also Canadian, but living in the US...which is where DD was born. We applied for the certificate of citizenship, and it definitely took a few months. I could look up exactly how long, but 3 or 4 months sounds about right.

Now that we have the certificate we’ll work on getting her a Canadian passport, but we’ve travelled to visit before and just used her American passport. So if your child qualifies for a Dutch (EU?) passport, and you might want to looking into getting that so you can travel by Christmas.

BigBadWolf12 · February 2019

@aecm they let us apply for passport and proof of citizenship (certificate) at the same time (2 weeks old). We had the passport by 6 weeks old and used it at 3 months old. Didn't get the citizenship certificate until after 5 months old. Maybe even 6 or 7 months old. Maybe they only do that for babies with only one nationality? So since your baby could have an American passport they didn't allow a second passport before the citizenship proof? Or maybe it's just different processes in different countries/embassies. That's good that you had the option of the American passport. I can't imagine being stranded for months!

wanderlustsoul · February 2019

@aecm and @BigBadWolf12, the baby doesn’t get Dutch citizenship so will be stateless until we get the Canadian passport. I’m hoping that since this is the case, like @BigBadWolf12 said, we can apply for both at once. I can’t imagine not having a passport for so long and unable to travel. I have to think they figure it out. We will be able to travel Europe with a resident permit but not outside of Europe. I sincerely hope my experience is like yours and we get the passport quickly.

MamaK225 · February 2019

Question: has anyone used lotion with magnesium in it to assist with sleeping issues? Currently reading up on it because I'm starting to get desperate and it's only 12.5 weeks in!

wabash15 · February 2019

@mamak225 I have but not specifically for sleeping. If I go to bed and my muscles are feeling achy or restless I have put some on my feet and it seems to help, with the bonus of I sleep well.

aecm · February 2019

@MamaK225 Magnesium cannot be absorbed through the skin, so it’s not going to do you much good in a lotion. You could take it orally I suppose, but you would probably want to double check how much you’re already taking in your prenatal vitamin so you don’t overdo it. If you’re desperate, Unisom is probably going to be a lot more effective - and it’s safe in pregnancy.

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