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Post by redhead610 on Aug 23, 2018 19:51:32 GMT -6
Another thing that's starting earlier with this pregnancy are the Braxton Hicks contractions. I'll be going about my day, not really thinking about being pregnant, and... oof, there's a reminder that something's going on in there! Me TOO. Glad I'm not the only one. I know with DS2 they started earlier than with DS1 but I don't remember it being this early -.- I got BH regularly after 20 weeks with ds2. I had a few NST to make sure it was nothing. After 32 weeks I'd get BH contractions 8 minutes apart for a bit and then they'd stop. Mostly if I was sitting for awhile, driving or something. So weird! So far I've had this twice it but wasn't too bad. With this one I started feeling flutters around 12 weeks. I have regular kicks now, but it's all in my pelvis. He's upside down, and boy does it feel weird to be kicked in the crotch all day rather than my belly. I go back in 2 weeks for a second anatomy scan since they couldn't see everything the first time with how he's positioned.
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Foxy
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Post by Foxy on Aug 23, 2018 20:34:16 GMT -6
PSA - bamboobies is having a sale, 30% off ends tonight, they have a free reusable pad set, I added 40 of them to my cart 😂 free shipping with orders over $30. Just in case anyone is interested
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Post by notagoddess on Aug 24, 2018 7:35:28 GMT -6
Is anyone else having concerns about labor?
I used a doula for my first birth. I feel like having her around was essential to surviving early labor, which was really intense for me. Within 30 minutes, I was in the 3-1-1 pattern of contractions. I was throwing up and shaking from the pain, but it still took me 14 hours to get to 4cm when I was admitted to the hospital.
There is no way we can swing my doula's fee this time around. I am upset at the idea of facing this alone or with just H, who really can't function on no sleep. I hope that 1) labor is shorter this time around and 2) it starts earlier in the day instead of 8pm, but obviously there's no guarantees.
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Foxy
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Post by Foxy on Aug 24, 2018 8:15:23 GMT -6
Uhhh @notagodess try everyday. Lol I've been nervous about labor this whole pregnancy. I want the drs to just hand him to me
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Post by strawberrykiki on Aug 24, 2018 9:03:39 GMT -6
I haven’t even thought about labor. This is my first baby and I’m not sure what to expect or even how to prepare. I’m trying to avoid thinking about it for now. Hah
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Post by notagoddess on Aug 24, 2018 9:26:15 GMT -6
@amc, that sounds rough, I'm sorry. I also had an infection and fever after my water broke. It resulted in heart rate irregularities for DD and a forceps delivery (if that had failed, then we would have gone to emergency C-section). Fortunately, she was OK once she came out.
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Post by notagoddess on Aug 24, 2018 9:34:52 GMT -6
FTMs, I feel like the best way to go is to prepare what you can, but don't have some idealized image of how birth will go. Find providers you trust, do a class or read some books, go on the hospital tour. But a lot of it is luck of the draw.
FWIW I didn't find labor unimaginably painful or anything, more like super intense and LONG... think marathon.
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Foxy
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Post by Foxy on Aug 24, 2018 10:44:55 GMT -6
I haven’t even thought about labor. This is my first baby and I’m not sure what to expect or even how to prepare. I’m trying to avoid thinking about it for now. Hah +1 this is me Did everyone go to birthing classes? My H seems to think classes are unnecessary. 😯 so I decided I should pull STMs and see if they were and if you went
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Post by thelittleredm on Aug 24, 2018 11:23:38 GMT -6
Foxy, H and I were going to do the refresher birthing class with DS2 since he was deployed when I did them with DS1 but our schedules just didn't match up enough with the class schedule. I still wish we would've taken it but our doula did a couple pre-birth visits to help give us pointers, specifically to give H pointers. I'm so nervous about this labor. I try not to think about it because it makes my anxiety skyrocket. And the thing is, I have no bad experience birthing that should make me this nervous. DS1 was a 9hr experience and besides some incredibly awful back labor, it was uncomplicated and manageable without any meds. DS2 was 1.5hr from start to finish and while eventful due to barely making it to the hospital, it was another uncomplicated birth. And I felt amazing afterward because I'd had a full night's sleep just before lol
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Post by notagoddess on Aug 24, 2018 11:39:26 GMT -6
Foxy we went to the birthing class at the hospital. I had read about birth and didn’t get new info from the class, but it was super useful for H. It was also useful for both of us to see the birthing/postpartum facilities at the hospital to know what to expect in terms of logistics on the big day.
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hrh
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Post by hrh on Aug 24, 2018 11:53:19 GMT -6
Foxy I did a hospital class which gives a bit of info about all the options and then a lamaze class which was decently useful during labor when contractions got out of control and I had to try to focus hard to get a grip. thelittleredm 1.5 hours?! Hope you live super close to the hospital! 😉 @amc similar experience, hemmhoraging was by far the worst part for me. I'm trying not to focus on it for now; so much of L&D is out of my control that I will worry about it when we get there and I know for sure I'm having a vaginal delivery etc. But I hear you, I would rather have a more positive experience and recovery this time!
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hrh
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Post by hrh on Aug 24, 2018 11:55:37 GMT -6
Foxy we went to the birthing class at the hospital. I had read about birth and didn’t get new info from the class, but it was super useful for H. It was also useful for both of us to see the birthing/postpartum facilities at the hospital to know what to expect in terms of logistics on the big day. I don't know how to bold on mobile but YES to the hospital class being old news for me but SUPER helpful for DH! I had told him half the stuff but it didn't click well until he heard it from someone else.
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Post by thelittleredm on Aug 24, 2018 11:58:51 GMT -6
Foxy we went to the birthing class at the hospital. I had read about birth and didn’t get new info from the class, but it was super useful for H. It was also useful for both of us to see the birthing/postpartum facilities at the hospital to know what to expect in terms of logistics on the big day. I don't know how to bold on mobile but YES to the hospital class being old news for me but SUPER helpful for DH! I had told him half the stuff but it didn't click well until he heard it from someone else. This! Watching videos and being instructed really seems to be more beneficial for H than me just saying something.
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Post by thelittleredm on Aug 24, 2018 11:59:49 GMT -6
hrh, LOL We live about 20 min from the hospital since we just take the freeway to get to it but we still barely made it. DS2 showed up 10 min after arriving.
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hrh
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Post by hrh on Aug 24, 2018 12:03:22 GMT -6
thelittleredm something to be said for a quick birth, I guess! 😉 Wowza. I hope for the same again for you, a solid night of sleep before and fast birth - just not much faster! 😉
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cch
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Post by cch on Aug 24, 2018 12:26:26 GMT -6
Bought a maternity/nursing bra today. I’ve only made one maternity purchase thus far so shopping around today made everything feel that much more real. I also put on the fake belly at Motherhood Maternity to show DD how big my belly would get and her eyes about popped out of her head 😳😂 Crazy knowing things will change that drastically in the next few months.
I felt DD for the first time at 17 weeks and I believe MH felt her for the first time on the outside at 19 weeks. This time I have an anterior placenta (ugh) so even though I think I may have felt a couple things in the past week, I doubt myself knowing it will likely take longer with an AP. Hoping to feel movements sooner rather than later though! That was my favorite part of being pregnant with DD.
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Post by redhead610 on Aug 24, 2018 12:31:13 GMT -6
I took a few classes at the hospital before ds1, but in the end I found them pretty useless. I feel like I felt better qhile prgnant taking them (being proactive!) but labor is such an intense time and has so many variables so it didn't help a ton.
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Post by thelittleredm on Aug 24, 2018 12:55:36 GMT -6
Guys, all I've eaten today is Chick-fil-a. H and DS2 brought me tea and a spicy sandwich this morning for breakfast and my dad picked me up the meal version for lunch. I love the place but like, I might need a break.
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cch
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Post by cch on Aug 24, 2018 14:26:35 GMT -6
Guys, all I've eaten today is Chick-fil-a. H and DS2 brought me tea and a spicy sandwich this morning for breakfast and my dad picked me up the meal version for lunch. I love the place but like, I might need a break. I’m not proud of it but I ate Chick-fil-A at least 4x a week when I was pregnant with DD. Usually breakfast. It was probably half the reason I gained 45lbs with her. Definitely won’t be making that mistake again. CFA is the freaking best!
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Post by thelittleredm on Aug 24, 2018 14:51:12 GMT -6
Guys, all I've eaten today is Chick-fil-a. H and DS2 brought me tea and a spicy sandwich this morning for breakfast and my dad picked me up the meal version for lunch. I love the place but like, I might need a break. I’m not proud of it but I ate Chick-fil-A at least 4x a week when I was pregnant with DD. Usually breakfast. It was probably half the reason I gained 45lbs with her. Definitely won’t be making that mistake again. CFA is the freaking best! The best part is, I didn't ask for Chick-fil-A at all. Lol They know me too well. I gained some serious pounds with DS1 (60+ >.<) and I didn't even eat that shitty. With DS2, I swear I ate worse and only gained 30-35lbs. I figure I'm screwed either way.
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cch
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Post by cch on Aug 24, 2018 15:04:36 GMT -6
I’m not proud of it but I ate Chick-fil-A at least 4x a week when I was pregnant with DD. Usually breakfast. It was probably half the reason I gained 45lbs with her. Definitely won’t be making that mistake again. CFA is the freaking best! The best part is, I didn't ask for Chick-fil-A at all. Lol They know me too well. I gained some serious pounds with DS1 (60+ >.<) and I didn't even eat that shitty. With DS2, I swear I ate worse and only gained 30-35lbs. I figure I'm screwed either way. Haha can’t go wrong with CFA! I’m still hanging onto 15lbs from DD. Sucks to be starting this pregnancy out heavier but I have some serious goals to gain no more than 35lbs max. We eat much healthier now than we did 3 years ago so I’m thinking it’s doable.
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Post by sunshiney on Aug 24, 2018 15:53:17 GMT -6
I am so awed by those of you who have/will experience labor and delivery. That's not even a remote possibility for me...I absolutely refuse to go through it even if they decide I medically don't require a c section. Sorry I know that is probably flame worthy but I just can't put my lady bits through that. Not afraid of the pain really, just the risks of long term effects.
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Post by sunshiney on Aug 24, 2018 15:58:27 GMT -6
On the subject of weight gain...I started this pregnancy several pounds into the overweight range and totally out of shape. Weight gain over last few years from Crohn's meds, infertility treatments, on crutches for half of last year, and then loss recovery this spring brought on the last few pounds. So my goal was not to gain during first tri (which I've basically managed, might be up a pound but it fluctuates). And then gain no more than 25. The how being that I'll be able to lose it and then some after birth. Is that even realistic or possible? Or do baby and extras (fluid, placenta, boobs, etc) Mean that I can't really control the gain while still eating what baby needs?
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Post by redhead610 on Aug 24, 2018 16:49:04 GMT -6
On the subject of weight gain...I started this pregnancy several pounds into the overweight range and totally out of shape. Weight gain over last few years from Crohn's meds, infertility treatments, on crutches for half of last year, and then loss recovery this spring brought on the last few pounds. So my goal was not to gain during first tri (which I've basically managed, might be up a pound but it fluctuates). And then gain no more than 25. The how being that I'll be able to lose it and then some after birth. Is that even realistic or possible? Or do baby and extras (fluid, placenta, boobs, etc) Mean that I can't really control the gain while still eating what baby needs? I feel like I didn't go crazy overboard with eating while pregnant with ds1 or 2. But, I still gained around 40-45 lbs with each. With ds1 I still held onto about 7 lbs after, but that took me over a year to get to that. Ds2 was a different story - I started higher due to weight gain surrounding my loss.
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Post by thelittleredm on Aug 24, 2018 17:12:34 GMT -6
On the subject of weight gain...I started this pregnancy several pounds into the overweight range and totally out of shape. Weight gain over last few years from Crohn's meds, infertility treatments, on crutches for half of last year, and then loss recovery this spring brought on the last few pounds. So my goal was not to gain during first tri (which I've basically managed, might be up a pound but it fluctuates). And then gain no more than 25. The how being that I'll be able to lose it and then some after birth. Is that even realistic or possible? Or do baby and extras (fluid, placenta, boobs, etc) Mean that I can't really control the gain while still eating what baby needs? Honestly, I just think whatever happens will happen as far as weight gain is concerned. I was eating pretty healthy, well balanced meals with DS1 and a lot of that had to do with living with my parents at the time and my nephew is a Type 1 diabetic so our meals had to be well balanced. I still gained 60+lbs. I only managed to get a little more than half that off before having DS1 and I only gained about 30lbs with him and I definitely ate worse that time around. DS1 was a pound smaller than DS2. Pregnancy is weird.
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Post by notagoddess on Aug 24, 2018 18:41:37 GMT -6
sunshiney I gained a little more than I hoped with DD because I was hungry all. the. time. It felt wrong to go hungry, even if I ate an hour before, so I was eating constantly. Huge portions too. All but the last 10 pounds came off in the 3 months post delivery. I had to work for those last 10, but it was totally doable. This is such an individual thing how your body will respond.
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hrh
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Post by hrh on Aug 24, 2018 19:55:03 GMT -6
I agree with notagoddess, it varies so so much person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy. My approach is don't stress your weight gain unless the doctor says something. And even then make sure he/she isn't just being an ass about it. (It happens.) I was near a newborn crying baby today and had to literally stop walking and grab my chest as discreetly as possible. Holy burning Batman! Forgot that feeling happens at first for me, yikes.
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TashaLa
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Post by TashaLa on Aug 24, 2018 20:26:11 GMT -6
+1 to feeling Braxton Hicks early! I see need to be drinking more water
I gained close to 40lbs with DD. A lot of it was water weight and gone within a few weeks PP. I got back into pre baby shape. Over the last year, with the frustrations of trying to get knocked up and the loss, I gained some weight. I’m trying stay body positive and kind with myself through the weight gain of this pregnancy. But it’s hard to embrace the change even if for the very best of reasons!
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dashook
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Post by dashook on Aug 25, 2018 11:50:38 GMT -6
Catching up here!
Re: labor preparation; with DS we attended a day long birth class at the hospital. I’m glad we did it but it honestly didn’t help much once the actual event started. I still had a very long, arduous labor and the lesson I can impart from that (which I knew going in but learned firsthand to be true) is that you really can’t predict what is going to happen so in the end you are going to need to just be ready to trust your body and your medical team and you WILL get through it.
With DD I did do the refresher course with MH but I was much more focused on mentally preparing. I must have read a million birth stories; I love them and absolutely think they are helpful in terms of understanding the different ways labor can go. I watched dozens of unmedicated birth videos on YouTube and Mama Natural. I highly recommend birth stories and videos to anyone (FTM or not). They’re free and really inspiring/empowering.
I also read the Hypnobirthing book before I had DD. While I didn’t officially do hypnobirthing, the meditations and principles helped me a lot during active labor.
Both of my babies were born after induced labors and this one likely will be too because of my blood pressure. I got to 7 cm with both before asking for an epidural. I’m hoping this time things will be moving even faster and I can maybe make it all the way through without the epi.
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dashook
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Post by dashook on Aug 25, 2018 11:54:36 GMT -6
Re: weight gain; I gained 40 lbs with DS and 39 with DD. I started out this pregnancy about 20 lbs heavier than I was when I got pregnant with DD so this time I truly would like to gain less. I’m aiming for 20-25 max. I’m not going to stress if it’s more though.
So far I am doing well; at my 16 week appointment I had gained zero pounds net (having lost a couple in first tri then gained them back). I’m curious to see what the scale says at my 20 week though because my appetite has been monstrous the past two weeks!
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