Pregnancy #65

[Greencatfysh]

You know when you look up a new "symptom" and it says its totally normal and in the next paragraph that it could be absolutely terrible?

That.

I'm 16+5 weeks pregnant with my second. My first is 8 so it's been a while since I went through this.

I've got HG so have lost a significant amount of weight. It's being medically managed and other than that baby is absolutely fine, growing well (I've had 6 scans now) and I'm doing not too badly considering how malnourished I've been.

2 nights ago I lay in bed and felt the bottom of my belly go rock hard and really tight. I thought oh that's strange that feels like braxton hicks but surely not. Ive got a very low small bump which popped around 14 weeks. Nothing at the top it's literally all along the bottom and I can feel my uterus stops below the belly button. But these carried on almost constantly all night and kept me awake. All day yesterday I had them every time I sat or lay down.

They've not been as bad today but I've just sat down for the first time in hours and I can feel it on the right hand side.

Ive had my cervix checked and it's closed and high. No cramps or bleeding and I feel fine otherwise.

Has anyone else had them this often and this early?

Google says its totally normal but then also says its absolutely terrible so that's no help. Ive got the consultant on Tuesday and plan to mention it to her then.

It's not sore it just feels uncomfortable but I only remember feeling them right at the end with my daughter. But then she was my first so maybe I did have them earlier and just didn't realise.

Definitely not dehydrated as I'm having IV fluids every few days at the hospital so I dont think it's being caused by that.

I definitely had them early-ish and I definitely wouldn’t worry, mention to the consultant and go to triage if you can’t wait til then 🩷

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I’m just 16 weeks but am experiencing painful(ish) pressure feeling down below.. a sensation that can only be described as feeling like I’ve just been kicked in the privates by someone wearing steel toe cap boots, or like my legs have been on stirrups for far too long, and it’s worse when I bend down. Assuming this is all normal and just ligaments and things stretching. Just feels like I’m quite early along to be feeling anything this intense, it doesn’t exactly bode well any recommendations for relief are welcome

I definitely felt like there was a small stone, maybe shot putt sized, bearing down on me quite early on, particularly near the end of a day when I was tired. Despite now being 28.5 weeks, it’s not gotten worse, it has become more manageable/ I’ve gotten used to it/ my body has adapted itself a bit.

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I’ve become hesitant to send scan pictures to friends and family since a friend informed me that when she sent hers to family, her sister in law replied with “I know what it is!!” as she had put the picture into ChatGPT and got an answer. This would make me absolutely furious and has made me think twice about sharing any updated scan photos now as you never know what nosey Nora might take a notion and do the same. Why does this make me so angry!

I can’t imagine doing this to someone. People are ghastly!

 

[fishsticks]

We never found out the gender with my first and I was sooooo anti-finding out until the twins... (I totally get why people want to know now) We've got 4 weeks to wait until we find out what are little fishsticks are and it's eating me alive I've never googled nub theory so much in my lifeeeeeee and even worse at like 3am!! I'm going crazy. 🫠

 

[lilykestrel]

Omg the cramp is brutal! Literally woke up screaming from the pain in my last pregnancy. And then sometimes I’d have muscle pain for the next couple of days too?! Someone told me to drink tonic water before bed and no idea if it actually helped but I seemed to start getting it less when I started doing that.

oooh possibly the quinine? I'll try some, I'm the same with my leg just feeling slightly background-level janky like it's threatening to cramp during the day.

 

[amarantine]

Oh noooo. What a worry!! Hope you're feeling a little better now. I've found previously that Drs and nurses have been PANTS at delivering baby related news. They don't seem to have an anxiety filter. I've been very fortunate that most midwives I've come across have been very understanding and sympathetic and have delivered news far more scientifically based (with pros, cons, facts, figures, etc.) in comparison. Fingers crossed you're all sorted and don't have to go through that again any time soon!! xx

I bloody hope I don’t - was quite a stressful evening baby is moving a lot today, whether to try and reassure me they are fine or because they are cross at being poked at for two hours last night so are kicking me in revenge, I’m not quite sure it was clear the midwife I saw was really experienced and thought I would be fine to go home but couldn’t really argue against her colleague! I think most doctors are notoriously bad at delivering news sympathetically and are just matter of fact about it which I’m usually fine with but not at 11 at night when I’m anxious about potential bleeding and my partner is away for work I’m not blaming her, just saying maybe she could have been nicer about it…I know it’s her job to run through the risks and “what might happen” but bloody hell…all fine today thankfully, just constantly feeling like I need a wee so that supports the UTI theory! Assuming it is just that as everything seemed fine on the obs!

 

[A1992]

Awww congratulations on your twinnie boys

Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly for you. Sounds like they're keeping a close eye which is great news although I know it can seem quite a lot.

Have they said about birth options yet? At only 8 weeks I'm being told conflicting advice by the midwife and consultant.

Thank you thank you! Are yours MCDA too? Our consultant today was brilliant - he basically said that with DCDA, there is an option for vaginal delivery or c-section at 37 weeks. However with MCDA, he said that they would strongly recommend a c-section at 36 weeks.

When I had spoken to the midwife, she did say there might be an option for vaginal delivery but speaking to the consultant today I think the safest option is the c section.

 

[amarantine]

Random question - trying to fathom out a pram and replacing my car, but no cars seem to fit the pram we’d like I currently have a fiat 500 which fits absolutely nothing in and was looking to upgrade to a Peugeot 208, but apparently that does not fit the pram we’d like! Any recommendations for a pram with active wheels because they seem the most practical, that also fit in a small car? We wanted the Silver Cross Cove but that might be too big…

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

Goodness me… I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus 🫠. I think we picked something up from baby group on Friday. On Sunday my little girl woke up feeling very sorry for herself and had the runniest nose, thankfully she is almost back to normal now. I thought I’d managed to escape whatever it was she had… how wrong was I. I woke up this morning and it feels like I’m swallowing razor blades! And everything hurts even more than usual - which is a lot anyway at 38+3 ha ha . I feel like such an awful mum, I’ve had nothing in the tank to give today so my daughter has had so much screen time. Touch wood I’d had no labour signs but all I have in the back of my mind is I hope I don’t go into labour feeling like this…! I feel so panicked and now just want to avoid everyone and everything until my estimated due date or whenever baby girl decides to arrive as I don’t want to catch anything else if I’m over this in time X

Covid is rife and this is similar to what it felt like for me. Paracetamol religiously and lots of fluids got me through in under a week, though I still am a bit tired now!

 

[RedPotter]

The thing I find most frustrating when I wake up in the night is whilst I'm tossing and turning trying to get comfortable and back to sleep, my partner is just lying there peacefully sleeping

On the topic of bumps, I know I had a bit of a rant about this a while ago, but I find it so weird how many people feel the need to comment on the size of the bump. Everyone carries differently as well and you should be able to wear whatever you feel comfortable in without comment.
I think a lot of people mean well but just don't know what to say or how to say it and then there are other people who are just idiots. To start with I had people telling me how small my bump was, then last week I was in the doctors waiting room and some random man asked me if I was sure it wasn't twins. I just awkwardly laughed it was so weird, he literally had said nothing else to me.
Basically my conclusion after that ramble is people just tend to say things without thinking and sometimes it would be better to say nothing at all!

 

[opintionatedperson]

Ohhh, it is the absolute worst isn’t it! I had it much more in the first trimester and it was grim, now I’m mostly just bloated as hell and so constipated, until it goes the other way for about two days then back to constipation again. I also know this is TMI but good god there is nothing dignified about being pregnant is there

Also I’ve found something new to worry about, yay! Baby is quite active now at 22 weeks but even at the 20 week scan baby was fine and they didn’t have any concerns but I’ve been really digging into the measurements we have and they’re all (except the abdominal circumference!) a bit smaller than average. I’m sure at our next midwife appointment in a few weeks I’m going to be told baby is small and to go for a growth scan (no reason to think this aside from our 20 week scan and my own gut instinct which is usually spot on) - and I know this happens to so many people but doesn’t stop me worrying about it! Just needed a little rant

You will 100% still worry no matter what anyone tells you. However do remember that those ultra sound measurements are estimates and depends on a lot of different factors. You could get two different people measuring and two different results. The main thing is that you are getting the extra scans and monitoring. Worse case scenario they'll get their eviction notice at around 37 weeks if you are otherwise ok and they are worried about baby size

 

[fishsticks]

I'm 6 weeks pregnant and struggling - I barely can keep my eyes open. Struggling to concentrate at work (work from home thankfully). I also haven't had a regular bowel movement in a few days and just feel shit in general. Would I be correct to say the doctor will just laugh at me and tell me to drink water.
You'd swear it was my first time I've been through this already but you forget

THE CONSTIPATION IS REAAAAAAAAAAL. 10 weeks and struggling with that, tiredness and nausea/sickness. We got thisssss. 🫡

 

[Greencatfysh]

I’m still none the wiser in regards to prams. Had a go of the Doona over the weekend and while it’s a nippy little fecker which I like, my 6 foot 5 partner looks utterly ridiculous pushing it and I don’t look the finest pushing it either. Why is it so dinky?!? It’s what I’m after in terms of being practical, nifty and handy.. but a bit too daft looking and baby is all the way down there which I don’t like. Basically I’m looking for something like that but not that I’m not too bothered about having a system that converts into a pushchair as I plan on getting a pushchair separately when the time comes. I just need something nippy to run around with, light on the ground and small enough wheels; why is this so hard? Why does everything have forty different contraptions and cost 5 million euros? I don’t need something to do me to see the child off to college in like! Just something handy for the newborn walks that doesn’t weigh a tonne. I’m stumped.

Me and my partner are tall and I highly recommend Nuna (we have the Mixx but they also do the Triv which is lighter weight). I rate it so highly. It folds down in one motion (with the pram seat, not the bassinet but that comes off super easy). I know they all seem expensive but honestly you use it sooo much it needs to be super easy to use and worth the extra bells and whistles. My husband also looked crazy with most prams but the Nuna Mixx comes up super high and we don’t kick the break every other step.

 

[Greencatfysh]

I really want to feel grateful after an early loss in April where I was having very little symptoms and I was worried. But the last two days have been rough, i am exhausted. It's funny how you forget

Ah bless you. You will feel like that. I remember feeling so guilty when I felt so awful post partum, I was like I remember feeling like I’d put up with anything to have my baby. Obv all feelings are temporary and valid!

 

[Tretps29]

For anyone wanting a good laxative ….try this. You can get it at the pharmacy and it’s safe for pregnant women. It works a dream. Nothing else helped me apart from this.

Now I’m 36 weeks and even on iron tablets I’m having the opposite problem 🫣

 

[lilykestrel]

Pah, I’m sorry. They need to do better. Yes to the union rep. Can you get signed back on a phased return so you’re not working every day?

The body changes are weird for sure. I’ve always hated my own body and have somehow managed to be reasonably kind and at peace with myself but that doesn’t stop it being weird, and it does get pretty exhausting when everything feels like a massive effort out of nowhere.

I probably will, but that also comes with its own stress (last time I was signed off I came back on reduced hours phasing back up to full time and Manager started throwing her weight around because she said I "told" her what working pattern, rather than "asking" her what reduced hour pattern I could work, and she went to HR about me because I logged off after 4 hours (as directed by fit note), "without permission" (she didn't respond to my email telling her about the phased return for over 24 hours)

Thankfully union rep is a bulldog and I imagine he's going to hit the roof when he gets back to work next week and sees email from HR.

Manager currently has been told not to speak to me one on one (which was the major stressor last time after I was signed off as she started saying things like she was going to look to have me removed from my role/shouting at me/then bringing up thing I said in my 1:1 and misrepresenting them in team meetings like "can I not be put on doing X task and stick to doing Y and Z for the next couple of weeks as I phase back, I find X really stressful" "in front of team LilyK has said she won't do X task but I've been to HR and they said I can ask her to do it" (although she has kept trying to confect ways to get me on my own with her lol)

It's just really frustrating as I'm caught in the crossfire of there being no money in my bit of the public sector and her being my manager is a money saving measure, so they're circling wagons around her. And of course I would have sodded off at the first opportunity were I not pregnant. I'm stuck with them just kicking the can down the road and suggesting I go to confidential mediation with her (lol no) and that I go back to Occy Health (willing to do that, because last time the OH woman went ballistic and wrote a really scathing report, so if I go back I'll go properly on the record about how my stress is caused by manager behaviour) If needs be I'll just say sod it and go nuclear and raise a grievance now I can say "well informal resolution didn't work" because yes that will be stressful but this is stressful anyway.

 

[amarantine]

Maternity leggings are ace. I tried a pair of normal leggings at one point and they fit but sort of cut my bump even more in half than it already looks! I love that maternity leggings basically tuck under my bra so comfy! I am still wearing a surprising amount of my normal clothes, many of my dresses and quite a few of my t-shirts, they fit differently but they still fit! Even some of my elasticated trousers are ok.

I started wearing maternity leggings for the gym at honestly about 10 weeks because normal ones felt too tight and they were such a revelation! I feel the same about massive maternity knickers too all of my normal knickers I can still wear because who doesn’t size up in their knickers! But they roll down under my bump and I feel like I’m constantly hoiking them back up again it’s only the last couple of weeks I feel like the bump has really appeared, I have been able to hide it with looser fitted T-shirts, midi skirts and flowy dresses, and suddenly it’s very much there and taking some getting used to!

 

[opintionatedperson]

THE CONSTIPATION IS REAAAAAAAAAAL. 10 weeks and struggling with that, tiredness and nausea/sickness. We got thisssss. 🫡

I've the opposite problem 🫣🫣🫣 you've double the symptoms with the twins!! I know it gets better but fecking hell why do we do this

 

[Scorpihoe]

I have an artipoppe🫣 but I also have an ikea high chair

do you recommend it? Looking at it for my baby!
he has the baby bjorn mini carrier at the moment and it’s okay but the antipoppe looks so good

 

[LittleMissMuffet]

You know when you look up a new "symptom" and it says its totally normal and in the next paragraph that it could be absolutely terrible?

That.

I'm 16+5 weeks pregnant with my second. My first is 8 so it's been a while since I went through this.

I've got HG so have lost a significant amount of weight. It's being medically managed and other than that baby is absolutely fine, growing well (I've had 6 scans now) and I'm doing not too badly considering how malnourished I've been.

2 nights ago I lay in bed and felt the bottom of my belly go rock hard and really tight. I thought oh that's strange that feels like braxton hicks but surely not. Ive got a very low small bump which popped around 14 weeks. Nothing at the top it's literally all along the bottom and I can feel my uterus stops below the belly button. But these carried on almost constantly all night and kept me awake. All day yesterday I had them every time I sat or lay down.

They've not been as bad today but I've just sat down for the first time in hours and I can feel it on the right hand side.

Ive had my cervix checked and it's closed and high. No cramps or bleeding and I feel fine otherwise.

Has anyone else had them this often and this early?

Google says its totally normal but then also says its absolutely terrible so that's no help. Ive got the consultant on Tuesday and plan to mention it to her then.

It's not sore it just feels uncomfortable but I only remember feeling them right at the end with my daughter. But then she was my first so maybe I did have them earlier and just didn't realise.

Definitely not dehydrated as I'm having IV fluids every few days at the hospital so I dont think it's being caused by that.

Could it just be that you’re carrying baby lower this time and it’s just moving around and balling up? I get a tightening and a bulge almost daily - lasts for a bit and then baby moves again. I’ve always just assumed it was little muff just moving rather than Braxton hicks. I asked dr google: