Anyone started Kegels? I feel like it was easier to do first time than this one. Also, not sure if they helped any. Did it help any of the STM/TTM in your earlier pregnancies?
I'm the worst at remembering to do kegels, pregnant or not 🙈
TTGP history (*TW*):
Started TTC Oct 2015 BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016 Re-started TTC Aug 2016 Started IF testing Nov 2016 Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017 BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
@mamamias, my pelvic physiotherapist said absolutely no to kegels. She was like why are North Americans obsessed with kegels (I’m in the Netherlands) so I don’t do them anymore. She shut it down real quick. She’s like kegels are for after birth. You don’t want to tighten the birth canal and pelvic floor when it’s supposed to be opening to allow a baby to pass through.
@akuzreve that's all the advice I need to *continue* not doing kegels haha.
My midwives here (Sweden) also never ask about kegels
TTGP history (*TW*):
Started TTC Oct 2015 BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016 Re-started TTC Aug 2016 Started IF testing Nov 2016 Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017 BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
I’ve never done more than a handful of kegels at a time... could be why this baby feels like if he gets any lower he’s going to pop a foot out... or it could be because my uterus is old and tired 😂😂.
@AKuzReve I think it depends on the level of pelvic floor dysfunction your experiencing... I agree during labor you want your pelvic floor relaxed, but if your constantly experiencing urine leakage or have a history of prolapses you may need to do kegals during pregnancy.
@mamamias it takes a LOT of kegals to make a difference. (more than 60 per day and that is of each length).
*TW*
TTC 1/2012 Diagnosed : unexplained infertility 6 rounds of IUI and a MC 2/2014, rainbow twins 4/2015 TTC #3 5/2016 Restarted Fertility tx IUI 2 rounds, baby girl 12/17
A lady in my office is leaving for mat leave and the office is throwing a send-off potluck. The organizer is asking that people make extra food for freezer meals.
I have no experience with freezer meals, but I was thinking that I could make some chocolate chip cookie dough frozen into individual servings. Obviously not a "meal" per se, but could come in handy for a snack for visitors. Plus, who doesn't love their house smelling like chocolate chip cookies!
We gave some homemade cookies with a frozen meal to a family before and they commented that it was so nice to have home-baked goods in the meal train. It's something that usually gets skipped over so I think they'd appreciate the variation imo
TTGP history (*TW*):
Started TTC Oct 2015 BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016 Re-started TTC Aug 2016 Started IF testing Nov 2016 Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017 BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
@Lotus_2008 cookies are always appreciated. What my mom does is she forms the cookie dough into a log, then when you want to bake you just slice off however many cookies you want and put the rest back in the freezer. Not sure if you had considered storage options yet, but if they are getting a lot to fill their freezer a log may be a little easier for them to fit than a tupperware, and it's still not a lot of work to get fresh cookies.
Has anyone ever used the post partum belly band thingy's after vaginal delivery? I'm sure there's a more scientific name...I've heard of them used more frequently after CS's so I was just curious if they'd been helpful...
@emqbee I had one from after my C-section that I also used after my vaginal delivery. I thought it was really helpful. Your belly feels like a bowl full of jello post birth... things are so loose and re-arranged...
*TW*
TTC 1/2012 Diagnosed : unexplained infertility 6 rounds of IUI and a MC 2/2014, rainbow twins 4/2015 TTC #3 5/2016 Restarted Fertility tx IUI 2 rounds, baby girl 12/17
@mrosek91 Thanks for that tip! When I've frozen the dough in the past, I've just portioned them out into balls and put them in a freezer bag. I never considered rolling the dough into a log, but I like it. Seems like much less of a hassle than doing individual portions.
@emqbee I had a complicated postpartum belly band setup (it had like 3-5 different pieces you wore layered at different stages) after vaginal delivery and absolutely hated it. I think I hated it so much I literally threw it away after a couple of days instead of donating because I didn't want anyone else to be subjected to it. I felt like my usual high-waisted cheapie sort-of-compression leggings from Amazon, and long fitted nursing camis, were enough structure. This time I'm eye-ing something a little more legit than that but not a full belly band: I'm thinking of getting the BLANQI postpartum leggings and tank, since they're still running the 50% off sale.
@emqbee I asked my OB for the belt and she told me to work it off since it was a vaginal delivery. She won't recommend using one since it will slowdown losing the pregnancy weight.
@emqbee not exactly sure because those first few days/weeks are a blur, but I know I went on my first (mild) exercise-y walk at two weeks PP so certainly by then. At home though there was a lot of lounging around in a robe. I probably wore the cursed terrible belly binder thing throughout the first week PP.
Anyone have any recs on a goodnight place to purchase a formal/black tie appropriate gown? I need one next month. I need something I can wear with flats. ANd speaking of flats - does anyone have suggestions on flats I could appropriately wear with a gown? I have not attempted heals since my broken ankle and I don’t imagine 35 weeks pregnant will be the time to try 😟
@olivemommaI'm a big fan of pinkblushmaternity.com they have a really nice selection of gowns. I got a bridesmaid dress from them last time I was pregnant and got a lot of compliments on it. ASOS also a good selection as does dessy.com but I do not have personal experience with either. Also, dessy is a little pricier. As for flats I wear them almost exclusively since I was pregnant with DS#1, and I think that you can get away with a lot more than you think. A simple patent leather flat in black or silver, depending on the dress color, could look great. Also, don't forget, if you decide to go floor length on the gown, then people won't see the shoes much. I get most of my shoes from DSW.
@olivemomma I second Pink Blush. Their lace overlay maxi-dress is really elegant (I am terrible and bought 3 in different colors) (and it's not especially long so hopefully you should be able to wear it with flats, especially with a third-tri bump). Another thing to consider is Rent the Runway if you want to go super black-tie fancy but don't want to buy a designer maternity gown you won't get much use out of.
@olivemama - I second RTR. I personally just purchased a dress for a black tie wedding from A Pea in the Pod, which wasn't cheap but I decided I deserved it
For flats, definitely check out Nordstroms, they will have lots of nice, dressier flats.
@olivemama I know it's weird, but Amazon has a ton of clothes for maternity. I think that if you're a Prime Member, you can do Amazon Wardrobe and try things on/send things back pretty easily.
Motherhood Maternity has a small selection of more formal dresses, but I second Pink Blush. They're adorable.
Would it be weird to give my Mom and Grandma's Mother's Day gift? For example, she wants to be called, "Gigi" and I found several cute kitchen items with that on it like "Best Gigi Ever" along with a scented candle and some nail polish she would really like (non-Gma related).
People think we become mothers when we give birth but the truth is we become mothers the moment we start calling our babies to us in our thoughts, dreams and prayers. Some paths are short and some are so long that you can easily forget where you were headed.
How I feel all of the time. My 7 Year Journey ***Tw in spoiler***
IVF IVF #1 - September 2018; Follistim, Menopur, Cetrotide & Lupron/HCG combo trigger; PGS; ICSI Back on Levothyroxine FET #1 - October 2018; cancelled, all PGS aneuploid FET #1 - November 30th, transferred anyway Wondfo BFP 5dp5dt, CB Digi 6dpt, 1st Beta on 7dpt 93 2nd Beta on 10dpt 510!
TTC #1 since 2011. Tried for 5 years before we knew there was a one year rule. Diag w/MS 2016; w/PCOS & IF 2017 New RE 2018; PCOS diagnosis taken away, IF due to ovary adhesions, but prev. RE insists PCOS IF
IUI IUI #1 July 2017 w/100mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts IUI #2 October 2017 w/50mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts IUI #3 February 2018 w/5mg Femara+trigger; low P BFP February; mc March; Subclinical hypothyroid started Levothyroxine IUI #4 March 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN Medicated cycle & TI April 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN Tried several cycles on our own; all BFN
@suzycupcake I don't think that's weird at all! If anything, I would guess they will love it even more than a typical mother's day gift. DH's mother hasn't decided on her grandma name, so we just did a regular gift, but we found some cute Granny things for my mom and I think she's going to love it.
@suzycupcake I agree, I don't think that is weird either. kind of related story, my cousin tried to announce her pregnancy on father's day by giving our grandpa something that said Great-Grandpa and he totally didn't get it (most of the family didn't either.) . He thought it was just telling him that he was great.
Okay, maybe I missed this discussion, but I have a question, what do you do for underwear/panties? fold-over, under the bump, rock it with your regular and just deal? (over the bump sounds miserable esp. with a late summer due date). Any brands that you prefer over another?
TTC#1 10/2016 TTC/IF:included medicated cycles, IUIs and 2 rounds of IVF with 1 embryo each. BFP finally in 12/2018
TTC#2 06/2021 planning FET
"Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks, some doors are open, some roads are blocked"
@Avrilmai all my underwear are low cut so they are always under my bump... I have not had to change them. Though with my last pregnancy I learned that there are maternity specific underwear and several moms I knew raved about them... I think you can just look them up on amazon
*TW*
TTC 1/2012 Diagnosed : unexplained infertility 6 rounds of IUI and a MC 2/2014, rainbow twins 4/2015 TTC #3 5/2016 Restarted Fertility tx IUI 2 rounds, baby girl 12/17
@suzycupcake Nope, I don't think that's weird at all! We got my mom and MIL grandma and nonna gifts, respectively, this year.
@Avrilmai I wear low rise panties normally, and so far haven't felt any need to buy anything different. My go-tos are VS because 5 for $28.50 and Hanky Panky. I have lots of other brands too, but those two are probably 85% of my underwear drawer.
@Avrilmai I ordered some of the low cut (below the bump) maternity underwear from amazon. They are amazing and super soft. Not sure why the model them on a flat stomached woman...
Thanks ladies, I've been wearing the Gap low-rise for a while and I love them, but I've noticed they're starting to kind of fold under the bump and it just bugs me.
@Avrilmai Hanky Panky original (not low cut) are all I want to wear, and I went and bought three more pair Wednesday, actually. They’re just so freaking comfortable. They sit under the bump and stay in place.
I bought some like what @thirdtimesacharm2019 posted. This is my third pregnancy and the first time I ever felt the need to get something different...because I exploded so much earlier than the other 2 pregnancies. The last 2 times, I would just scrunch up extra fabric under the bump but it was too uncomfortable this time starting around 18 weeks.
Thanks ladies. I went ahead and got my Mom a shirt that says “Happiness is being a GiGi” with a cute vase of colorful flowers on it. Idk why I thought it would be weird at first.
@Avrilmai During my Target trip a week ago, the thought was to purchase new underwear for this reason. Well, there were no maternity ones. I ended up getting the 5/$20 from their selection in those little drawers. There were many options in all kinds of styles and colors, and all ended up sitting under my bump nicely. I stayed away from the ones with a ton of elastic/seams or the ones that looked like they’d feel tight if that makes sense.
@thirdtimesacharm2019 Because they’re assholes lol thanks for posting those—gonna order now. I had seen those before but wasn’t sure if they were good.
People think we become mothers when we give birth but the truth is we become mothers the moment we start calling our babies to us in our thoughts, dreams and prayers. Some paths are short and some are so long that you can easily forget where you were headed.
How I feel all of the time. My 7 Year Journey ***Tw in spoiler***
IVF IVF #1 - September 2018; Follistim, Menopur, Cetrotide & Lupron/HCG combo trigger; PGS; ICSI Back on Levothyroxine FET #1 - October 2018; cancelled, all PGS aneuploid FET #1 - November 30th, transferred anyway Wondfo BFP 5dp5dt, CB Digi 6dpt, 1st Beta on 7dpt 93 2nd Beta on 10dpt 510!
TTC #1 since 2011. Tried for 5 years before we knew there was a one year rule. Diag w/MS 2016; w/PCOS & IF 2017 New RE 2018; PCOS diagnosis taken away, IF due to ovary adhesions, but prev. RE insists PCOS IF
IUI IUI #1 July 2017 w/100mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts IUI #2 October 2017 w/50mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts IUI #3 February 2018 w/5mg Femara+trigger; low P BFP February; mc March; Subclinical hypothyroid started Levothyroxine IUI #4 March 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN Medicated cycle & TI April 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN Tried several cycles on our own; all BFN
Should I be worried that only one ankle/foot is reallly swollen but the other isn’t at all? I know swelling is normal but wasn’t sure if it being only in one leg was
Re: Weekly Questions 5/5
BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016
Re-started TTC Aug 2016
Started IF testing Nov 2016
Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017
BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
My midwives here (Sweden) also never ask about kegels
BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016
Re-started TTC Aug 2016
Started IF testing Nov 2016
Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017
BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
*Live, Love, Laugh, Learn*
@mamamias it takes a LOT of kegals to make a difference. (more than 60 per day and that is of each length).
Diagnosed : unexplained infertility
6 rounds of IUI and a MC 2/2014, rainbow twins 4/2015
TTC #3 5/2016
Restarted Fertility tx
IUI 2 rounds, baby girl 12/17
I have no experience with freezer meals, but I was thinking that I could make some chocolate chip cookie dough frozen into individual servings. Obviously not a "meal" per se, but could come in handy for a snack for visitors. Plus, who doesn't love their house smelling like chocolate chip cookies!
Yay or nay on my idea?
We gave some homemade cookies with a frozen meal to a family before and they commented that it was so nice to have home-baked goods in the meal train. It's something that usually gets skipped over so I think they'd appreciate the variation imo
BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016
Re-started TTC Aug 2016
Started IF testing Nov 2016
Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017
BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
Diagnosed : unexplained infertility
6 rounds of IUI and a MC 2/2014, rainbow twins 4/2015
TTC #3 5/2016
Restarted Fertility tx
IUI 2 rounds, baby girl 12/17
ASOS also a good selection as does dessy.com but I do not have personal experience with either. Also, dessy is a little pricier.
As for flats I wear them almost exclusively since I was pregnant with DS#1, and I think that you can get away with a lot more than you think. A simple patent leather flat in black or silver, depending on the dress color, could look great. Also, don't forget, if you decide to go floor length on the gown, then people won't see the shoes much. I get most of my shoes from DSW.
For flats, definitely check out Nordstroms, they will have lots of nice, dressier flats.
Motherhood Maternity has a small selection of more formal dresses, but I second Pink Blush. They're adorable.
My 7 Year Journey ***Tw in spoiler***
IVF #1 - September 2018; Follistim, Menopur, Cetrotide & Lupron/HCG combo trigger; PGS; ICSI
Back on Levothyroxine
FET #1 - October 2018; cancelled, all PGS aneuploid
FET #1 - November 30th, transferred anyway
Wondfo BFP 5dp5dt, CB Digi 6dpt,
1st Beta on 7dpt 93
2nd Beta on 10dpt 510!
TTC #1 since 2011. Tried for 5 years before we knew there was a one year rule.
Diag w/MS 2016; w/PCOS & IF 2017
New RE 2018; PCOS diagnosis taken away, IF due to ovary adhesions, but prev. RE insists PCOS IF
IUI
IUI #1 July 2017 w/100mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts
IUI #2 October 2017 w/50mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts
IUI #3 February 2018 w/5mg Femara+trigger; low P
BFP February; mc March; Subclinical hypothyroid started Levothyroxine
IUI #4 March 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN
Medicated cycle & TI April 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN
Tried several cycles on our own; all BFN
Diagnosed : unexplained infertility
6 rounds of IUI and a MC 2/2014, rainbow twins 4/2015
TTC #3 5/2016
Restarted Fertility tx
IUI 2 rounds, baby girl 12/17
@olivemama RTR is great! Lots of great options!
DH's mother hasn't decided on her grandma name, so we just did a regular gift, but we found some cute Granny things for my mom and I think she's going to love it.
kind of related story, my cousin tried to announce her pregnancy on father's day by giving our grandpa something that said Great-Grandpa and he totally didn't get it (most of the family didn't either.) . He thought it was just telling him that he was great.
Okay, maybe I missed this discussion, but I have a question, what do you do for underwear/panties? fold-over, under the bump, rock it with your regular and just deal? (over the bump sounds miserable esp. with a late summer due date). Any brands that you prefer over another?
TTC#1 10/2016
TTC/IF:included medicated cycles, IUIs and 2 rounds of IVF with 1 embryo each.
BFP finally in 12/2018
TTC#2 06/2021
planning FET
"Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks,
some doors are open, some roads are blocked"
Diagnosed : unexplained infertility
6 rounds of IUI and a MC 2/2014, rainbow twins 4/2015
TTC #3 5/2016
Restarted Fertility tx
IUI 2 rounds, baby girl 12/17
@Avrilmai I wear low rise panties normally, and so far haven't felt any need to buy anything different. My go-tos are VS because 5 for $28.50 and Hanky Panky. I have lots of other brands too, but those two are probably 85% of my underwear drawer.
@thirdtimesacharm2019 that is so bizarre
TTC#1 10/2016
TTC/IF:included medicated cycles, IUIs and 2 rounds of IVF with 1 embryo each.
BFP finally in 12/2018
TTC#2 06/2021
planning FET
"Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks,
some doors are open, some roads are blocked"
@Avrilmai During my Target trip a week ago, the thought was to purchase new underwear for this reason. Well, there were no maternity ones. I ended up getting the 5/$20 from their selection in those little drawers. There were many options in all kinds of styles and colors, and all ended up sitting under my bump nicely. I stayed away from the ones with a ton of elastic/seams or the ones that looked like they’d feel tight if that makes sense.
@thirdtimesacharm2019 Because they’re assholes lol thanks for posting those—gonna order now. I had seen those before but wasn’t sure if they were good.
My 7 Year Journey ***Tw in spoiler***
IVF #1 - September 2018; Follistim, Menopur, Cetrotide & Lupron/HCG combo trigger; PGS; ICSI
Back on Levothyroxine
FET #1 - October 2018; cancelled, all PGS aneuploid
FET #1 - November 30th, transferred anyway
Wondfo BFP 5dp5dt, CB Digi 6dpt,
1st Beta on 7dpt 93
2nd Beta on 10dpt 510!
TTC #1 since 2011. Tried for 5 years before we knew there was a one year rule.
Diag w/MS 2016; w/PCOS & IF 2017
New RE 2018; PCOS diagnosis taken away, IF due to ovary adhesions, but prev. RE insists PCOS IF
IUI
IUI #1 July 2017 w/100mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts
IUI #2 October 2017 w/50mg Clo+trigger; BFN; benched w/big cysts
IUI #3 February 2018 w/5mg Femara+trigger; low P
BFP February; mc March; Subclinical hypothyroid started Levothyroxine
IUI #4 March 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN
Medicated cycle & TI April 2018 w/7.5mg Femara+trigger; BFN
Tried several cycles on our own; all BFN