The thing I’m wondering about is the waiting time,3 hrs and with all the Covid stuff at my 1 hr they said wait in your car and come back right before 1 hr to test,it’s now 100 degrees where I live and waiting in the car for 3 hrs does not sound fun,if I remember I have to get blood drawn every hour so I’ll see how they expect me to wait,good thing gas is cheap now to leave the AC on.
Who has used a doula? We have been fortunate to have relatively quick births. At this point DH is a champ at knowing what I need. Our third babe was our longest birth. I think I want to try natural again to help with my mental recovery post babe (as mentioned I get postpartum depression/anxiety/problems...it’s just a fact at this point). I think a doula might help? I’m not sure. I think they can really help post baby as well when I’m spiraling. Having someone to help me get back on track will be invaluable (this part DH is not good at...he tries but no sorry bud no dice).
@name1109 I haven't had experience with a doula, but I have heard good things, and applaud you for being proactive and thinking ahead. I know there are postpartum specific doulas, so since labor isn't the problem you could seek out someone who would primarily be available after birth? I bet that there are some who specialize in helping with PPD/PPA. I'm looking forward to hearing if anyone else has experience! One other thing to think about, if we're still dealing with covid this fall, which seems likely, you may not be able to have more than 1 person with you during delivery, so a doula for L&D may be out of the question anyway.
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
@name1109 I haven’t used a doula, but I am looking into it. It’s our first baby and DH seems freaked out about birth. I want to go unmedicated and I know if DH sees me in pain then he will jump when the midwives offer me meds.
Me: 27 DH: 30 Started dating: 10/2010 ;; Married 10/2017 Started TTC: 10/2019 BFP: 12/20/19 ;; MC: 12/24/19 BFP: 3/5/20 ;; EDD: 11/11/20
What did you do at your first appointment, and did you have the option to do the genetic testing? I really don’t want to have to go back anytime soon if I don’t have to.
@KateBee it wasn’t my first appointment because I was seen earlier to check on spotting, but at my nine week appointment which would’ve been my confirmation appointment I got a vaginal ultrasound, talked about general plans, made allllll my appointments up until the due date, and got orders for genetic testing. I will be 35 at delivery so my doctor said the testing was standard (and I wanted it).
@katebee I have had a few appointments already but they all were for spotting. My first official/intake appointment is on Wednesday (12.5 weeks along). My OB told me last time we will do the pap smear, blood work, etc. and explained my options for genetic screening and said whichever I decide I can just tell her when I come in and we will do that (NT scan or NIPT, carrier screening, etc.). So it seems like, at my OB at least, genetic screening can be done at first appointment as long as you are far enough along. However, you may want to call and just see if they can tell you how they do it specifically!
@surlyjaneausten I used a haakaa with DS, and collected anywhere from drops to several ounces. It's one of my go to recommendations for nursing moms. As far as bottles, some people pick 1 brand and stick it out, others try every type they can until one works, and some get lucky and baby takes a bottle no issue.
@surlyjaneausten I 100% recommend a haakaa! I plan on using it from the very beginning this time. With my first, I would constantly leak from the side I wasn’t actively nursing on in those early weeks such that I’d have to put a burp cloth to catch it. Looking back that was such a waste! Such an easy way to start storing breastmilk without having to pump.
@KateBee I second @bserena’s recommendation on nursing bras that I haven’t stopped wearing since nursing because they’re so comfortable! Amazon has a bunch of different distributors - the specific ones I bought are apparently no longer available- but I think they’re all the same. Just search “nursing bras” on amazon and several like this one will be right up top.
@name1109 it’s great that you’re starting to plan and raise awareness for others here about PPA/PPD. I don’t believe I suffered it initially, and it caught me by surprise when I started weaning between 10-12 mo. I hadn’t heard of that being a thing, but read more online about women suffering from depression and hormonal mood swings toward the end of breastfeeding. I continued to nurse and pump till about a week before her first birthday and then finally told my OB and got on some medication that fortunately helped pull me out of it.
Whether a postpartum doula or a trained counselor, I definitely recommend finding professional help even before you give birth so as to have established a relationship and comfort level. That way you’re not waiting until it gets bad but have someone to check in with along the way.
Having my husband home with me for the first 4 weeks was also a lifesaver and likely a huge component of why I did feel okay and not completely overwhelmed as I probably would have if on my own or dealing with my parents. I will probably lean on others more this time, as I really limited the time my parents and in-laws were here after my daughter’s birth, and I was not comfortable nursing around others.
You listed several other great tips, which I’ll have to remember in 6-7 months!
Anyone else paying for this baby out of pocket. 😩😩😩 Just got my first U/S bill. 915.00 folks. I'm gonna be living on the streets by the end of this pregnancy. It's sad but I'm hoping I will only need the 20week ultrasound. 😭 Welcome to the middle class/self employed life. Hello anxiety. Ugh.
@doublestroller one of my good friends experiences the later arrival of post problems. Do you mind if I ask what they gave you? I’m certainly looking to see what options I have. Everything from brightly colored baby clothes to help afterwards. For #2 and #3 the help was not as easily accessible. I’m hoping for better this time around.
This will be the first time that my DH will be around post baby. He was home for 10 days post baby #3. So hopefully good things.
@krystrist2014 the uninsured discount brings it down by 25% so 600 and something. We looked into different plans and basically if you have already conceived most won't cover a pregnancy.
You'd think I would know by now but when do y'all consider the start of the second trimester? 13 weeks? 14 weeks? Don't we have some ladies who are coming right up on it?
Ladies, several of you have posted in the US thread that you took a video or FaceTimed your SO. Every US room I have been into says clearly no video no phone...etc. - Does your rooms not have the signs? - Do they have the signs and you are asking anyway? - Has anyone asked and they told you no?
I really want to ask if I can FaceTime or video it, but I was figuring they would tell me no.
@potofgolden I went to 2 different clinics for both my 8 and 12 week US. First clinic, they didn't mention it and I didn't even think to ask. 2nd time I wanted to ask but I was so nervous I think I was forgetting about it but the technician was the one to tell me to get my phone out and how to set up. I was allowed to FaceTime and then she had me hang up to take a video. I think they now make exceptions...it's our partner's baby too after all.
@potofgolden The receptionist at my office told me we could facetime because I was the only one allowed in. When I asked the technician it was okay, she said no, that it was against policy. It was the first say of the policy change and she didn't know. When I told her the receptionist said it was an option, she checked with her coworker and said okay. Even though they had the policy, they were making exceptions due to the circumstances. I would say it couldn't hurt to ask; perhaps you could call the office ahead of time at a point where you're not putting them on the spot.
@potofgolden my OB does have signs up, you can clearly see the sign in the video I took lol. However, because of COVID they are allowing it. I just asked and she said "yes, of course! we are allowing it since partners cannot come back".
@bserena@mimser@warmwinter thank y’all! Y’all have made up mind, I am asking next time. My next appointment is 5/5, I doubt they are going to let SO come in yet. I really hope this ends soon.
@potofgolden I asked my OB at my last appointment and she said I could absolutely take a video. I didn't end up taking one because we didnt listen to the heartbeat but I plan on asking again at my next appointment. DH is allowed to come to my appointments at this time but because of the stay at home order he has to stay at home with DS. I hope your doctors are being lenient and allow you to get a video
@name1109 my OB put me on Lexapro. She may have prescribed something different if I were planning to continue nursing, but we agreed it best for my hormones not to drag that out any further - at that point I was barely producing. I later found out another friend of mine had similarly struggled and had success with Lexapro after a few weeks. I was on it for 3 months, then spaced out the doses per doctor’s recommendation and didn’t see any issues after fully warning myself back off.
When did you do your bloodwork for the NIPT? The OB's office said I could do it between 10-11 weeks, but then said I should do it closer to 11 weeks? I'd like to have it done the second I'm able to.
@potofgolden My first ultrasound is tomorrow and I intend to FaceTime hubby and DD. I know I will be allowed to because my u/s is in the OBs office Andy OB has posted on FB that they are making exceptions and allowing moms to do this since they are no longer allowing partners to attend the u/s due to covid.
@KateBee I did mine at 11 weeks. The concern is that if you do it too early there won't be enough fetal DNA floating around, so you'd have to re-do it. One factor is BMI - if your BMI is higher, you probably want to wait a bit longer.
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
@KateBee I'm waiting until my 13 week appointment to have my NIPT done. When I was pregnant with DD I had it done around 12 weeks and it came back as insufficient fetal cells. So we did a redraw around 16 weeks which also came back insufficient fetal cells. It was so scary. I was so terrified that there was something wrong. My OB offered to send me to MFM for further testing. Thankfully the 2nd result came back just about a week before my 20 week anatomy scan. So we decided to wait for those results before deciding on any further testing. Thankfully baby girl was completely perfect and "unremarkable" for her anatomy scan so we decided to not follow up with MFM. Now she's a happy, healthy, completely normal 17mo.
So that being said we're waiting until 13 weeks to do the NIPT this time around (because every pregnancy is different), but if it comes back insifficient we won't bother with a redraw and just wait/pray/stressout until the AS.
Disclaimer: that being said I was NOT the norm. Just one of the outliers of what *could* happen.
BFP 3/21/2020! OMG We're having TWINS! 4/17/2020 -------------------------------- LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby! -------------------------------- Me: 33 | DH: 41 Married: March 2016 TTC #1/IUD out January 2017 PCOS dx January 2018 Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018 BFP 3/10/2018! -------------------------------
TTGP December Siggy Co-Winner: Favorite Moments from Holiday Movies/TV
Update* I failed my 3 hrs glucose and I’m only 10 weeks,that’s 29 weeks I have to monitor my blood sugar and prick my finger 4 times a day😭I meet with a nutritionist soon,I’m sad,but I had GD with my first,and didn’t have it with my second,so I’m kinda not surprised,just wished things went a different way,I can handle this though,I have done it before.it’s just not fun.
@vetgirl2011 I was definitely considering one, but at my OB appointment yesterday my OB used one on me and couldn't find the heartbeat (12w and 5 days). She allowed me to get an ultrasound and baby is doing great but I just know had I not been able to find it at home it would've just made me super anxious and worried.
@vetgirl2011 For me the line between something that would be reassuring and something that would worry me is really thin. I'm known to turn something reassuring into a worry. So I think it depends on you and the reason why you would want a doppler.
Re: The Great Question Thread
Any thoughts would be awesome!
One other thing to think about, if we're still dealing with covid this fall, which seems likely, you may not be able to have more than 1 person with you during delivery, so a doula for L&D may be out of the question anyway.
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
Started dating: 10/2010 ;; Married 10/2017
Started TTC: 10/2019
BFP: 12/20/19 ;; MC: 12/24/19
BFP: 3/5/20 ;; EDD: 11/11/20
@surlyjaneausten I 100% recommend a haakaa! I plan on using it from the very beginning this time. With my first, I would constantly leak from the side I wasn’t actively nursing on in those early weeks such that I’d have to put a burp cloth to catch it. Looking back that was such a waste! Such an easy way to start storing breastmilk without having to pump.
@KateBee I second @bserena’s recommendation on nursing bras that I haven’t stopped wearing since nursing because they’re so comfortable! Amazon has a bunch of different distributors - the specific ones I bought are apparently no longer available- but I think they’re all the same. Just search “nursing bras” on amazon and several like this one will be right up top.
HOFISH 3PACK Full Bust Seamless Nursing Maternity Bras Bralette S-XXL with Extra Bra Extenders & Clips https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EFNPD7W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4iKPEbAF4MXF2
I also tried some Kindred Bravely nursing bras which were comfortable but I’m not sure they were worth the price
Just got my first U/S bill. 915.00 folks. I'm gonna be living on the streets by the end of this pregnancy.
It's sad but I'm hoping I will only need the 20week ultrasound. 😭
Welcome to the middle class/self employed life. Hello anxiety. Ugh.
- Does your rooms not have the signs?
- Do they have the signs and you are asking anyway?
- Has anyone asked and they told you no?
SO
SD (11/2010)
DD1 (09/2014)
DD2 (10/2015)
Baby Girl #4 (11/2020)
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
So that being said we're waiting until 13 weeks to do the NIPT this time around (because every pregnancy is different), but if it comes back insifficient we won't bother with a redraw and just wait/pray/stressout until the AS.
Disclaimer: that being said I was NOT the norm. Just one of the outliers of what *could* happen.
--------------------------------
LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby!
--------------------------------
Me: 33 | DH: 41
Married: March 2016
TTC #1/IUD out January 2017
PCOS dx January 2018
Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018
BFP 3/10/2018!
-------------------------------
@vetgirl2011 For me the line between something that would be reassuring and something that would worry me is really thin. I'm known to turn something reassuring into a worry. So I think it depends on you and the reason why you would want a doppler.