Questions Mega Thread

lmn823 · January 2023

What are everyone’s thoughts on dying hair during pregnancy? I have naturally dark hair but have been dying it blonde with highlights for as long as I can remember. I held off during the first trimester just in case but not sure if it’s safe to dye hair at all?

emeraldcity603 · January 2023

@lmn823 I have done low lights. I plan to do it in the second trimester at some point because my grays are really bad.

msjaay · January 2023

I've always died my hair darker. I talked to my hair stylist about it with my first pregnancy and she said there is so little absorbed through your scalp and the dye hasn't really been shown to be highly toxic either. I'm pretty sure ACOG says it's fine too.

novelblessings · January 2023

@lmn823 my first pregnancy I kept with one color, brown. But by the time I was pregnant with my second I had a lot more grey so I highlighted my hair. I plan to keep up my highlights this time too, but try to spread appointments out a bit more. I typically go every 6 weeks.

novelblessings · January 2023

I have a question! Has anyone been ordered a 24 hour urine screen? I had to do one with my second pregnancy but I was probably closer to 30 weeks. They ordered me one to do before next week. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I totally forgot to ask why they wanted it done other than I have a history of gestational
hypertension with my previous pregnancies. Fingers crossed this time around it stays away!

ki1244 · January 2023

@novelblessings I did with my daughter, around 32 weeks. I had an elevated blood pressure one appointment (I maintain it was because the nurse was talking to me and started taking the reading while I was answering her question) and the protein in my urine sample was a little higher than usual. So they were suspecting preeclampsia, and I got to go home with a urine hat and keep my pee in a cooler all weekend (because I didn't trust my husband to not grab the wrong bottle overnight when he stumbles to the kitchen for water and take a big swig). Turned out to be nothing but my OB did me a solid and told me I needed to work from home until I delivered, "just to be safe."

forzaebellezza · January 2023

I held off but I'm almost 13 weeks now so planning to go in for root touchup & gloss. Can't stand the gray that's popping up!

cherrystorming · January 2023

@novelblessings I’m also guessing it’s to get a baseline protein/creatinine ratio, which can be elevated in preeclampsia (which is different from, but also can develop from gestational hypertension). Some people have an elevated ratio at baseline, which makes it tough if we check that lab once you start having problems as we don’t know if it’s a change from your normal or not.

Most of the docs I work with do the random urine sample (pee once in a cup and test), but some definitely prefer the 24 hour urine test and feel that is more accurate!

troystory17 · January 2023

Yes they do it early on to get a baseline.

novelblessings · January 2023

That makes sense. They have changed some things since I was pregnant 5 years ago. They don’t do the urine testing at every appointment anymore, just starting at 20 weeks. I never had protein in my urine with the last two. Just the blood pressure that kept creeping up and wouldn’t go back down. Hopefully it’s all fine. That’s what makes me most anxious about this pregnancy is high blood pressure again. Last pregnancy I ate healthy and exercised the entire pregnancy and it still got me.

lmn823 · January 2023

Has anyone done their NIPT? I did this two weeks ago and we don’t want to find out what sex until after the baby is born.

My friend and her husband were looking online at their results and I guess the dr/nurse forgot to cross out or deny where they want to know what sex the baby is, although they requested it and they found out online while looking at the NIPT results. They were pretty upset about it for finding out right there and then.

For anyone who has done it, is it obvious where you can read what sex the baby will be? We’re nervous that it’ll ruin the surprise for us if we check. I did tell the nurse and doctor we did not want to know the sex, but nervous that someone might make the same mistake.

emeraldcity603 · January 2023

@lmn823 I have always been told the results over the phone. I guess it all depends on how they give that info out.

emeraldcity603 · January 2023

@BumpAdmin I tried to report this comment as spam but the screen kept freezing. Will you please address it.

BumpAdmin · January 2023

emeraldcity603 said:

@BumpAdmin I tried to report this comment as spam but the screen kept freezing. Will you please address it.

It's now been removed - thank you!!

forzaebellezza · January 2023

lmn823 said:

Has anyone done their NIPT? I did this two weeks ago and we don’t want to find out what sex until after the baby is born.

My friend and her husband were looking online at their results and I guess the dr/nurse forgot to cross out or deny where they want to know what sex the baby is, although they requested it and they found out online while looking at the NIPT results. They were pretty upset about it for finding out right there and then.

For anyone who has done it, is it obvious where you can read what sex the baby will be? We’re nervous that it’ll ruin the surprise for us if we check. I did tell the nurse and doctor we did not want to know the sex, but nervous that someone might make the same mistake.

Yes, I did it three weeks ago (the day I started my 10th week). The results came first from LabCorp (i have an existing account so they emailed me) and they are all in one PDF. Sex is at the top before the chromosomal results, so very easy to find out.

The doctor told us she would separate sex out so we could be surprised but not much use if you hear from LabCorp first.

lmn823 · January 2023

Ok so good to know. I don’t want to be shocked to see it when I don’t want to! Thanks so much @forzaebellezza

msjaay · January 2023

@lmn823 we also use Labcorp but it goes to my doctor and then the results are communicated to us. I honestly can’t remember with my daughter, but we clearly didn’t find out so I’m assuming my doctors office just filters it out. Our results should be back soon for this LO

slothstatus · January 2023

Hello ladies,
I was just informed I have bacterial vaginosis and was prescribed flagyl gel to be inserted for 7 days. I don’t want to use the medication as I feel it will cause harm to the baby since I’m still in my first trimester and also it will kill off any good bacteria I still may have. Has anyone experienced BV during this pregnancy or previous pregnancies and not had it treated and baby turned out okay?

Supposedly if left untreated it can cause miscarriage, preterm labor or low birth weight.

emeraldcity603 · January 2023

@slothstatus I have never had BV so I can’t really give my experience. If the alternatives are mc, preterm labor, and lower birth weight I think those are pretty serious. So if I were in your shoes I would take it.

msjaay · January 2023

@slothstatus no experience, but I read a few articles about the medication and it seems safe to take while pregnant. The alternatives to not taking it seem much more worrisome.

lily.hazel · February 2023

@slothstatus Definitely take the antibiotics! They only prescribe what is safe for pregnancy/what is essential for you/baby. This isn’t a case of letting your body fight the infection on its own—you need antibiotics. Untreated vaginal infections can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and uterine infections, which can cause miscarriage and/or future infertility.

If you’re worried about using the gel vaginally because of its proximity to baby, you can ask and see if there’s a oral version you can take instead. Pregnancy-safe antibiotics won’t harm baby, and you can ask your doctor if there’s anything you can do to help promote a better balance of good bacteria if you’re worried about dysbiosis.

g37 · February 2023

This is most likely a silly question but here goes. I’m 13 weeks into my first pregnancy and worry about every single thing, including stretching right after I wake up. I’m not stretching intentionally and it’s usually just my legs. Should I be concerned about this?

pickle-chips · February 2023

@g37 basic leg stretches in the morning shouldn’t be cause for concern. There are lots of benefits to stretching during pregnancy to help with muscle pain, discomfort, help blood flow. Just don’t over do it, your body is producing a hormone called relaxin which helps your muscles, joints and ligaments loosen up to accommodate growing baby. So if you’re going absolutely ham on intense stretching you might pull a muscle.

There are some stretches, like ab twists and other abdominal stretches that are NOT recommended.

There are lots of good resources on sites like TB and What to Expect that show you pregnancy safe stretches. If you are really concerned, I’d speak to your doctor about what they recommend for you or seek out a pregnancy/postpartum certified fitness specialist.

I am not a doctor, but this is all advice I’ve been given!

tumbleweed-1 · February 2023

The only thing I have to add about stretching that hasn’t been said, is that later in pregnancy (3rd trimester) I would get Charlie horses if I stretched in bed too quickly. So take it easy in case that happens to you too. They hurt so bad, but aren’t really dangerous, I don’t think.

ki1244 · February 2023

I taught pilates up until 34 weeks pregnant with my daughter. My OB actually encouraged that. Obviously I had to modify a few things, but basic stretching (or exercise in general, which should include some stretching!) is no big deal.

wendy838 · February 2023

omg, I've forgotten about the charlie horses. they hurt like a mother. I used to get so many in the mornings.

msjaay · February 2023

@g37 stretching is fine, and actually gives me a lot of relief throughout pregnancy! I did CF until I was 40w with my first. It’s easy to worry, so I totally get it, but movement is good for you and your little one (all of the normal caveats being that your doctor okays it and that it’s movement you’ve been doing before pregnancy)!

justyouraveragemama · February 2023

Does anyone remember what monthly threads besides a symptoms thread is needed? We just had stashattack making all the threads but now that she’s not on the board I’ve been trying to pick up making threads but I can’t remember all of them😅

emeraldcity603 · February 2023

Aren’t they listed in the Read This First thread? Thursday is UO and Friday is FFFC. I can’t remember any of the others off the top of my head.

pickle-chips · February 2023

They’re all listed in the read this first board organization thread. Monday BF, TW Tuesdays. I think there is a monthly AMA.

ETA: wss ^^ @emeraldcity603 was faster

slothstatus · February 2023

Thank you ladies for your input. I did do my research and that’s what led to the hesitation because either side is inconclusive. However, I decided to proceed with inserting the gel and hope it has no teratogenic effects on baby given I’m still 2 weeks away from being in 2nd tri.

It’s quite frustrating as I take care of myself because I’ve suffered from BV for 2 years now and I take a probiotic, I don’t use soap, etc etc. doctors say there’s no known reason why this happens but a lot of women experience frequent BV despite doing the “right” things.

Please pray for my baby that this medication causes no harm 😊🙏🏻🫶 thank you.

slothstatus · February 2023

@justyouraveragemama what about a one time board with moms putting the gender of their baby?
I found out what I’m having this past Saturday 😊

justyouraveragemama · February 2023

@emeraldcity603 oh duh, why didn’t I think to look there!

@slothstatus I think that was talked about at some point as being a poll but I have no idea how to post a poll lol

pickle-chips · February 2023

I think I did the poll thing...*sweating profusely*. Why is the UI so miserable!? If I messed it up, just turn it into a gif party.

emeraldcity603 · February 2023

I tried to make a poll and I couldn’t figure it out. I was going to combine the NIPT with the gender but we could do separate. Or we could keep the NIPT discussion on the question thread and do a gender thread. I like seeing how many boys vs girl each group ends up with.

wendy838 · February 2023

@pickle-chips I see it! looks like it worked. I can't answer it yet though for another few weeks lol

novelblessings · February 2023

Is anyone not doing the NIPT testing? Our insurance has never covered it and they have always said we really don’t need it. So we opted out again this time. We will have to wait until our anatomy scan to find out if it’s a boy or girl, which is soooo far away!

estadt · February 2023

I have never heard of that testing but I am in Canada. We have genetic testing between 11-14 weeks which is an ultrasound and blood test but they don’t do gender

tumbleweed-1 · February 2023

@novelblessings I have never done the NIPT. I also thought my insurance didn’t cover it the first time, then this time decided not to again. I’ll be waiting for anatomy scan along with you. Although I did have a dating u/s at 11 (turns out 12) weeks and the tech “guessed” boy, but also didn’t spend much time looking and didn’t want to officially call it. So we are waiting for the anatomy scan follow up for that.

BeccaJeans1991 · February 2023

@novelblessings and @tumbleweed-1 we don’t do the NIPT either. We wait for the anatomy scan. I have to hold out til the end of March to find out. You’re not waiting alone!

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