April Question Thread

tpeci · April 2022

It's been mentioned a few times in the discussions that it would be good to get a monthly question thread as the original one has gotten huge! So I figured I'd make one!

Ask away mamas to be!

P.S. no idea how to tag admin to pin this but if we will make a monthly one it's probably not worth pinning? Let me know!

krthouse · April 2022

Mamas I'm really struggling with this cold not going away. It's now been in my chest for days with a whole lot of mucus coming up, especially in the mornings. Confirmed not covid by PCR and rapid test. I'm not sure at what point I need to be concerned about bronchitis or pneumonia having developed from the cold, or if I just need to keep riding it out because pregnancy makes it take longer to clear. It's now day 8 and no improvement since it got into my chest. What would you do? Contact midwife?

bows22 · April 2022

@krthouse Is it getting worse or just not getting better? Either way I’d call your general/family doc tomorrow to see if they can get you in even if it’s just for peace of mind.

krysnicole1022 · April 2022

Every single cold I get turns into bronchitis. It's a real pain and it's not receptive to meds so I just have to wait it out. It usually takes 3-4 weeks. I would definitely contact a doctor to get seen as quickly as possible.

robbinsegg317 · April 2022

So my last ultrasound was at 6w5d (currently at 13w) and I’m not scheduled to have another until 18w5d, which is so long to wait! Should I ask my OB about doing another at cost or maybe go to an independent place? I just want to see my bean again so bad!

tpeci · April 2022

@robbinsegg317 you don't have one around 13 weeks for nuchal translucency? Mine is soon for that reason, and I haven't had any yet so I'm excited!

Talking weight gain here; how's everyone doing? With my first I had put on 4lbs in the first trimester despite the nausea and vomiting but this time around I've actually lost half a pound, despite already showing quite a lot. I'm pretty confused. I am under a lot of stress with two jobs, a toddler I'm constantly running after and a lot of personal stuff going on but still. Am a bit worried!

krthouse · April 2022

@bows22 It's plateaued at awful in mornings, functional during the day but still a constant tickle that makes me cough, bad again at bedtime.

@tpeci I've lost 12lbs so far this pregnancy, largely due to reduced appetite and food aversions. Really struggle with meals, but I have several go-to snack options tiding me over

robbinsegg317 · April 2022

@tpeci not that I’m aware of? We opted out of the nipt/genetic testing so maybe that was part of it? Though I am getting blood work done for the basic stuff.

tpeci · April 2022

@krthouse yikes yeah lots of food aversions here too. And I can never eat the same thing more than twice because then I'll have an aversion to it.... It's been quite a pain since we would cook huge dishes to last us the week.

@robbinsegg317 ah yes then that would explain!

kaystrutt · April 2022

@tpeci I’m in the same boat! With all the nausea and food aversions to pretty much everything other than cereal and fruit, I’ve actually lost 3 lbs in the first trimester. My doctor said it is totally normal though and nothing to be worried about at this point. Hoping the aversions chill out soon!

bows22 · April 2022

I’m still having a lot of anxiety about my appointment and how long it took her to find the heartbeat (I posted in the check in but she was just about to send us for an ultrasound when she found it). I’m 15 weeks so shouldn’t it have been easier? It was 130 bpm when she found it, even if my heart was racing from being nervous she would still have been able to tell the difference between baby’s and mine right? I almost want to call and ask if I can have an ultrasound anyway but I think they will think I’m crazy.

krysnicole1022 · April 2022

Yeah I would worry because that's the type of person I am. I'm going in for weekly ultrasounds because I occasionally have a spot or two of red blood. I had such a meltdown last week that they were like" okay let's keep an eye on you, crazy person." Haha. I'm no longer worried about it but I'll take the extra precautions. It also takes them awhile to find the ultrasound with me. They started and I was like...um no the baby is usually over here and that's where they ended up finding the heartbeat. Another explanation for the 130 could be that they got the echo of the actual heartbeat. That's happened to me multiple times.

bows22 · April 2022

DH just informed me he could see the count on the Doppler and that when it was on mine it was 103 and then when it switched to the baby’s it was 130 at first and then 140. So I am feeling better, of course this was also after I did message my OBs office and asked for an ultrasound.

robbinsegg317 · April 2022

Question- at what point are you supposed to avoid sleeping on your back? I’m 15w5d and my OB hasn’t mentioned it yet and I’ve read conflicting things online.

krthouse · April 2022

@robbinsegg317 I've mostly seen 14 weeks. Typically though you will also notice the difference and after awhile on your back you may feel nauseous or lightheaded. You can lay on your back with a pillow propped under one hip though so that you're tilted enough to take pressure off the vena cave.

shortstack930 · April 2022

@robbinsegg317 after 20 weeks is when the OBs usually encourage you not to lay on your back anymore.

pangolindrome · April 2022

@robbinsegg317 What I keep hearing is that your body will tell you to get the heck off your back, more emphatically for some than others, and that if you are comfortable you’re probably fine. I am a FTM so I wouldn’t know.

EmilyE13 · April 2022

@robbinsegg317 I was googling this last night because I had the same question. The articles I read indicated 20 weeks because that’s when your uterus is large enough to start putting pressure on your inferior vena cava. But like others said, you’ll also likely feel lightheaded while on your back if blood flow is being restricted, so your body should let you know. I’ve been trying to sleep on my side but keep waking up on my back.

robbinsegg317 · April 2022

Thank you all! I’m normally a belly or back sleeper so it’s been pretty hard for me to adjust, and I wake up sore every morning.

krthouse · April 2022

@robbinsegg317 I'm remembering that in my first pregnancy I asked about this and my midwife said "sleeping is the best way of sleeping". She said if it was harmful for the baby my body would tell me and I would move instinctively. If on your back is working for you for now no reason to change yet.

I think the 14 weeks I mentioned was from a source saying that's the earliest laying on your back might bother you. I make big ol babies and have a slightly larger uterus than average so I definitely feel it earlier than 20 weeks.

mcclanna · April 2022

@krthouse I love that attitude and wish more doctors and nurses and websites adopted this!!

krysnicole1022 · April 2022

@krthouse I'm the same way. I have a large uterus and giant babies. I stop sleeping on my back pretty early on. I'm 15 weeks now and I stopped probably two weeks ago. I'll occasionally wake up half propped up on my body pillow. 🤣

mia80 · April 2022

@krthouse, my OB said basically the same thing! If it's bad for baby your body will let you know!

Also it's so hard to make strict rules for when to stop anything, because each person's body and baby are different.

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