@mackenziep98 BOTH! You could still be fine. My failed one hour was less than that with my second but it's entirely possible your body will be back to normal by the end of the two hour. Right now I'm enjoying everything I love but in moderation because I know it's going to change. I'm sure everything will work out!
Ugh. We just finished a 3 hour "preparing for baby" class. It was crap. Literally mostly the instructor reading from slides then clicking play on some videos. Also giggling like a schoolgirl at one of the parent's questions and telling him how cute he is. Aside from awkwardness, it wasn't super useful. I've signed us up for a childbirth course (3 x3 hour long classes) through the same hospital group and I'm annoyed with the waste of money tonight was so I'm considering cancelling the next set.
But I don't know if I should keep the classes and just deal with annoying people or cancel and figure I can get info from a book/YouTube/my doctor.
I'm open to opinions and requesting suggestions for books.
@rcgw I remember feeling the “Baby Basics” class was eh, but it was useful for my husband as he had zero experience with babies.
The childbirth class I attended for my first back in 2016 was conducted by a former L&D nurse. I found it more useful, as she stressed the things to consider during early labor, and when to go in. She also covered induction scenarios and C-section. The stretches were also good, especially as some were helpful for just late pregnancy discomfort. There was also a good emphasis on what the partner can be doing for support (like being an advocate, and not eating in the delivery room). And I really appreciated them reviewing the pain management options offered at that specific hospital, and covering things like foods to avoid, as they may cause stomach issues during delivery.
If anything, the booklet they provided was worthwhile for taking notes and having on hand for what I inevitably forgot.
@rcgw The Birth Partner is a fantastic book for labour prep. I would also look into videos on the practice called Spinning Babies, which has tons of techniques that aid in getting baby in the optimal position and moving labour along safely. I would definitely watch them with your partner so they can know how to support you physically in labour
@rcgw I didn't take any baby classes or labor classes. The baby classes seemed like a lot of money for stuff I already knew and I don't like having too much information or I get stressed out. I think it depends on how prepared you need to feel. @bunnybb13 I've needed help getting anything with buckles on for weeks. I'm 24 weeks now. It's my fourth but I'm smaller than I was with my last two.
I have my GD test tomorrow (24 weeks) and I'm kind of just obsessing and freaking out about it. We're traveling for an entire month literally 2 days after the test and then moving states and doctors. I'm already scheduled with the new doctor for my 28 week, but my current OB wanted to test for GD this week instead of waiting for 28. I asked if there was any specific reason and she said no, we're within range for testing. I guess I don't have a specific question... I'm just freaking out... Anyone have experience with GD? What did the follow-up appointments look like?
My GD doesn't show up until 27.5 weeks. Follow up appointments depend on your OB. Most of them aren't actually qualified to give you direction in handling it. I remember my OB told me this wasn't her area and she didn't feel comfortable telling me how to manage it. Better than my friend whose doctor told her it wasn't that serious and that she didn't need to change her diet. She ended up having her baby at 34 weeks. The follow up appointments with an endocrinologist or nutritionist aren't really overwhelming. They teach you about the diet and how and when to check your blood sugar. A bad one will push insulin to make your life "easier" and good one will stress diet and exercise. It's really very manageable.
@krysnicole1022 okay that makes me feel a lot better, maybe I can do virtual visits with the specialists while traveling if needed... I'm wondering if GD doesn't show up until later sometimes, is it likely I'll get tested again at 28 weeks? What if its negative now and then I get it later and don't get tested for it? 😂😭 Sorry this is just my brain right now
So there are a few signs to watch for: excessive thirst
Light headedness (this can happen before or after you eat. Too many carbs make you dizzy. Not eating on time can make you dizzy) Glucose *should* show up in your urine test
Exhaustion Mood swings
There are others but I know for me it's the first two. GD absolutely shows up later sometimes. I had a friend that barely passed hers at 24 weeks and then I insisted she get retested at 30 weeks when she started showing signs. Turns out she did have it it just developed a little later. Her doctor was also incompetent and is no longer practicing medicine.
@wileybliss do you have risk factors for GD? I was curious, so I looked up the stat and it says about 6-9% of women in the US develop GD, so if you don't have any risk factors the odds are that you'll be fine and have nothing to worry about!! And even if you do have risk factors you'll probably still be fine!
My OB said they check between 24 and 28 weeks. I had GD with my son, so she tested early this time to confirm that I haven't developed actual diabetes and then we'll re-test at 28 weeks. But it's different for everyone!! I think one way to look at it is, if you do have GD and are tested at 24 weeks you'll be able to start managing it earlier, which will be a better result for you and for baby.
IF you do fail the 1 hour test, the process is to do the 3 hour test next to confirm. For myself, when I failed the 3 hour test I was referred to the local GD clinic and an MFM. It took over two weeks for all that to go through, so I was about 28 weeks when I did the 1 hour test, and by the time I got into the GD clinic I was already over 30 weeks. At the clinic I had full appointments every second week until I delivered where I saw the MFM/Nutritionist/Endocrinologist and the weeks in between I went in just for heartbeat/movement monitoring (I can't remember what it's called when they put that thing on your belly for half an hour!!) I was put on metformin to control my overnight fasting numbers and never had to go to insulin. When I was first diagnosed I was totally freaked out and overwhelmed, but it ended up being perfectly manageable and I delivered a healthy baby boy.
Which is a really long-winded way of saying don't freak out! haha If you do fail this week then you know that you need to start managing things earlier and that will be better for baby. It might make travelling for the next month a little more difficult, but it's completely manageable and knowing will be a better long term outcome for everyone. But if you pass then it doesn't matter and you can know you can enjoy all the sugar you want over the next month!! hahah
@wileybliss you can always ask to get tested again, I'd imagine, especially with a new doc!
I BARELY failed the 1 hour glucose, so I got the 3 hour glucose test. I then barely failed 2 of the 4 blood draws (literally 1 and 5 over the limit) so technically I didn't get diagnosed, but my OB said it is better to monitor it in case it progresses. @krysnicole1022 was absolutely right in that it's manageable and and I'm way less upset about it now, lol. I prick my finger 4 times a day to keep an eye on it and understand what causes my blood sugar to spike. I've found that eating the small round of babybel cheese with a sugar/carb curbs my blood sugar. So, my afternoon grapes/berries have turned into afternoon grapes with cheese, which I have no complaints about hahaa.
EDIT: I think a dedicated GD thread would be a great idea!
I'm also down for a dedicated GD thread! @mia80 I have 2 risk factors that I think qualify, my dad was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this year and I think that raises my chances 🤷♀️ and I was 183 lbs/ 5'4 prepregnancy which puts me in the obese category for BMI (it's not muscle 😂) so definitely not 0 risk... I don't know, I also think I just like to obsess and this was the next thing I could obsess about. The travel is also making it way more stressful, it's not really like I can say we're not gonna travel because it's a really round about road trip to move... To some extent I just need to be patient and wait for answers, I am feeling a lot better seeing it's not that big of a deal if I manage it properly!
I had absolutely zero risk factors. Even now when they look at me I have to remind them that I had it previously. I should say that I didn't do all the appointments with the nutritionist as scheduled. The clinic was super far so I just stayed in contact with her via my chart and MyFitnessPal so she could watch my diet. @stephers_ I'm glad they are monitoring it still! That happened to another friend of mine and they just said she was fine instead of monitoring it. It did not go well for her.
@krysnicole1022 I passed my 3hr test but my numbers were really close to the cutoff and after reading that some people don’t develop it until later I think I’m gonna ask to be retested for it in a few weeks.
@wileybliss I think those are risk factors... but still probably a low chance you have GD!!
When I went to GD clinic for my son they gave me a bunch of info that included a graph of hormones and weeks pregnant (I found a similar picture online and copied it below). The way they explained it to me is that the pregnancy hormones really start to increase around 24 weeks and then typically level off at 36 weeks (although can go up or down at 36 still). And with GD your body doesn't produce enough insulin. So at 24 weeks you're just producing a little less, but as you get further along in pregnancy it gets harder to manage on your own.
My completely uneducated opinion is that even if you do test positive tomorrow it would be easier to manager in the first couple weeks, especially when some people don't even get tested until 28 weeks!
@mia80 ooo okay that's really really good to know! I think I can truly start to be in the "it's better to know early" camp because then maybe it'll just mean changing up my road trip snacks, not cancelling altogether or driving straight to the new state and trying to figure out housing a month early at the same time. @mackenziep98 I'll probably do the same, if my numbers are close I'll ask my new OB to retest
@wileybliss and if your numbers are close and you're worried, you can always just buy a monitor/test strips and test yourself on your road trip! Then you'll know if you need to be eating more nuts/beef jerky and less chips/candy as road trip snacks lol
is anyone else starting to get rib pain? It was so painful yesterday after falling asleep in an awkward position with DS that I ended up sleeping on the recliner since that’s the only thing that helped! It’s on both sides of my ribs in the top part. TW But of course because I read that upper right rib pain was a sign of preeclampsia, I’ve been freaking out. What does everyone else do to help their ribs hurt less? I don’t recall my ribs hurting at all with DS! Im just about 26 weeks.
@bunnybb13 I wouldn’t say it’s too early. Your mobility depends, as I’ve learned, a LOT on your core being malleable. It no longer is, and I think 24-25 is when I really started struggling with regular shoes. I am 27+5 today. My hiking boots are a couple inches taller and that makes them easier to tie, but this week, my SIL got me a pair of Birkenstock sandals as early baby shower gift and my MIL gave me a pair of slides so I don’t have to worry about tying shoelaces unless the weather is really crappy.
It is a little startling how an occupied core affects mobility.
How do you tell the difference between Braxton hicks, contractions, and normal cramping?
Sorry for the super weird formatting I'm on my phone and it's going haywire. Basically Braxton Hicks are uncomfortable but not painful per se; I've had them since week 6 this pregnancy and majority of them are just annoying but nothing more. I had a few stronger ones I had to breathe through but again, more discomfort than pain. This is a bit of a theoretical concept for me as I never had actual contractions with my first (planned early c-section) but that's what everyone says. Another difference is the actual timing. Braxton Hicks are not rhythmic and all over the place, whereas actual contractions you can time and you will see they are every X amount of time repeatedly and gradually getting closer and stronger. Cramps won't actually make your uterus hard and will probably be shorter, more painful (at least in my experience!). Hope this helped!
@rcgw I didn’t take any classes with my daughter and the only thing I regret is not finding and taking a breastfeeding class (if that is what you want to do). I had an emergency csection with additional complications - so I was real drugged up and was trying to learn how to breastfeed in that state was horrible- i did it but huge regret!
@daisyyyy braxton hicks tend to be uncomfortable tightening in your uterus but not painful. They are also random and hardly happen more than once or twice in a period of time with no real pattern. Contractions will start out as uncomfortable tightening and progress to painful cramps/tightening in sequences or patterns that you can begin to time because they increase in frequency . When a contraction hits it will literally take your breath away!
@daisyyyy agree with the others that BH is tightening/uncomfortable but not actually painful. I do feel like real contractions can start off deceivingly because there is a fine line between “uncomfortable” and “a little painful” but as they progress you will be able to tell the difference. Towards the end with DD I started tracking even my BH just so I would have an idea if they started becoming regular.
Hey all! I’m 26+ 5 and starting about a week ago, I began to have terrible pains in the underside of my pelvis in just the right side. The pain is an extreme wrenching/throb and I can barely walk. Went to labour and delivery and they said it’s pelvic girdle pain and I have another appointment on Friday where I’ll hopefully get a referral to somebody who can help.
Has anyone had experience with this? My mobility has been cut off and I can’t imagine 3 months of not being about to walk/roll over/sit in most positions.
Had a virtual 24w OB appointment yesterday. OB mentioned that feeling “bigger” is normal and that aches etc happen earlier. Does it catch up at some point? Am I going to need bigger clothes than last time? I’m technically within normal weight gain amounts but just on the higher side instead of the lower side this time. I feel like my “pregnancy” work tops that I didn’t need until the end are out already and I have to order if I’m going to need even larger
@scotia-293 what the actual F. I’m 23 weeks and my little one is super active but I can’t imagine him dislocating my ribs?! This happens? Let’s add this to the list of things people don’t tell you about pregnancy
@allycat0209 I think it just depends on how your body is built. I've had multiple friends have dislocated and bruised ribs from their babies kicking. I have a super narrow rib cage so they rarely get up under there (and also why I just get huge). I might get a lower rib bruise but they've never gotten stuck at least so far. Maybe the fourth time is when it happens. I have big babies and they can't quite get under my ribs. It absolutely happens. It's so messed up.
@scotia-293 i had my rib displaced a couple of weeks ago - fun stuff lol!
Is anyone experiencing a lot of fluid discharge? I have anxiety and i keep thinking im leaking amniotic fluid. I had my water break dramatically in my last pregnancy but im not sure what a slow leak is like! I am assuming im experiencing the normal pregnancy discharge/pee/sweat cause it’s summer but my anxiety is really telling me something else !
@relizabethp yes!!!! So much wetness!!!! I’m so anxious about it too. I’ve had to start changing panties when done at work because it’s so hot and I sweat so much more down there now. And way more discharge.
@jilliboo that makes me feel better! I remember this happening with my daughter but i was so much more naive with her pregnancy- that i didn’t think anything of it- i miss the ignorance is bliss aspect of pregnancy 🤰
Re: The Great Big Question Thread!
But I don't know if I should keep the classes and just deal with annoying people or cancel and figure I can get info from a book/YouTube/my doctor.
I'm open to opinions and requesting suggestions for books.
@bunnybb13 I've needed help getting anything with buckles on for weeks. I'm 24 weeks now. It's my fourth but I'm smaller than I was with my last two.
excessive thirst
Glucose *should* show up in your urine test
Mood swings
GD absolutely shows up later sometimes. I had a friend that barely passed hers at 24 weeks and then I insisted she get retested at 30 weeks when she started showing signs. Turns out she did have it it just developed a little later. Her doctor was also incompetent and is no longer practicing medicine.
My OB said they check between 24 and 28 weeks. I had GD with my son, so she tested early this time to confirm that I haven't developed actual diabetes and then we'll re-test at 28 weeks. But it's different for everyone!! I think one way to look at it is, if you do have GD and are tested at 24 weeks you'll be able to start managing it earlier, which will be a better result for you and for baby.
IF you do fail the 1 hour test, the process is to do the 3 hour test next to confirm. For myself, when I failed the 3 hour test I was referred to the local GD clinic and an MFM. It took over two weeks for all that to go through, so I was about 28 weeks when I did the 1 hour test, and by the time I got into the GD clinic I was already over 30 weeks. At the clinic I had full appointments every second week until I delivered where I saw the MFM/Nutritionist/Endocrinologist and the weeks in between I went in just for heartbeat/movement monitoring (I can't remember what it's called when they put that thing on your belly for half an hour!!) I was put on metformin to control my overnight fasting numbers and never had to go to insulin. When I was first diagnosed I was totally freaked out and overwhelmed, but it ended up being perfectly manageable and I delivered a healthy baby boy.
Which is a really long-winded way of saying don't freak out! haha If you do fail this week then you know that you need to start managing things earlier and that will be better for baby. It might make travelling for the next month a little more difficult, but it's completely manageable and knowing will be a better long term outcome for everyone. But if you pass then it doesn't matter and you can know you can enjoy all the sugar you want over the next month!! hahah
I BARELY failed the 1 hour glucose, so I got the 3 hour glucose test. I then barely failed 2 of the 4 blood draws (literally 1 and 5 over the limit) so technically I didn't get diagnosed, but my OB said it is better to monitor it in case it progresses. @krysnicole1022 was absolutely right in that it's manageable and and I'm way less upset about it now, lol. I prick my finger 4 times a day to keep an eye on it and understand what causes my blood sugar to spike. I've found that eating the small round of babybel cheese with a sugar/carb curbs my blood sugar. So, my afternoon grapes/berries have turned into afternoon grapes with cheese, which I have no complaints about hahaa.
EDIT: I think a dedicated GD thread would be a great idea!
I should say that I didn't do all the appointments with the nutritionist as scheduled. The clinic was super far so I just stayed in contact with her via my chart and MyFitnessPal so she could watch my diet.
@stephers_ I'm glad they are monitoring it still! That happened to another friend of mine and they just said she was fine instead of monitoring it. It did not go well for her.
When I went to GD clinic for my son they gave me a bunch of info that included a graph of hormones and weeks pregnant (I found a similar picture online and copied it below). The way they explained it to me is that the pregnancy hormones really start to increase around 24 weeks and then typically level off at 36 weeks (although can go up or down at 36 still). And with GD your body doesn't produce enough insulin. So at 24 weeks you're just producing a little less, but as you get further along in pregnancy it gets harder to manage on your own.
My completely uneducated opinion is that even if you do test positive tomorrow it would be easier to manager in the first couple weeks, especially when some people don't even get tested until 28 weeks!
It is a little startling how an occupied core affects mobility.
@daisyyyy braxton hicks tend to be uncomfortable tightening in your uterus but not painful. They are also random and hardly happen more than once or twice in a period of time with no real pattern. Contractions will start out as uncomfortable tightening and progress to painful cramps/tightening in sequences or patterns that you can begin to time because they increase in frequency . When a contraction hits it will literally take your breath away!
Is anyone experiencing a lot of fluid discharge? I have anxiety and i keep thinking im leaking amniotic fluid. I had my water break dramatically in my last pregnancy but im not sure what a slow leak is like! I am assuming im experiencing the normal pregnancy discharge/pee/sweat cause it’s summer but my anxiety is really telling me something else !