I’m 28 weeks now … feeling lots of movement, but lots of aches and pains in my belly as well.
Can anyone explain what Braxton-Hicks contractions feel like? I don’t think I’m having them, I’m just curious.
Looking forward to meeting with our doula next week … and starting Lamaze classes soon …
Spending WAYYYY too much money on baby stuff - and boy oh boy, I’m so sick of yellow and green and white!!! (The u/s techs here don’t tell you the sex either - I would have to go to a different town and can’t be bothered).
Hi Stainz …I’ve been having quite a lot of Braxton Hicks action lately! I wouldn’t say they are painful exactly, just a little uncomfy. It feels as though your uterus is balling up in a knot. Lately I find they’re a bit more intense - so I usually have to sit down or stop what I’m doing when they happen. (They say that real contractions start more in your back area. Also, real contractions don’t subside when you sit down or change your activity.)
The nursery is almost done. My husband and I managed to put the crib together without too much cursing and gnashing of teeth… Now all we have to do is master that darn car seat!
I’ve been having some B-H lately; sometimes when I stand up, my whole belly just kind of tightens up, though it’s not particularly strong or painful. Once or twice it’s been kind of like very, very mild menstrual cramps. It stops when I sit back down, so it’s really not too bad.
Hi Stainz! I’m 37.5 weeks and I haven’t felt Braxton-Hicks either that I know about. Like you, I’ve had pain, on and off cramping but nothing like this “tightening” I keep hearing about.
I am so tired. It takes me hours to fall asleep regardless of how tired I am, and now that the baby has dropped, I’m up every 30 minutes to pee (I used to get an hour of sleep at a time - no more :(). I’m so out of it I can’t remember my phone number, I’ve tripped over nothing, I walked into a wall - I’m an absolute zombie!
Here is my 37 week picture. Curious to see how much bigger I might get.
Thanks … I have felt that tightening sensation a bit (mainly after an orgasm actually ), and some pain, but certainly nothing steady or take-my-breath-away strong.
Cyros - you should be a MODEL for pregnancy - what a gorgeous mom-to-be you are!!!
I go for my first appointment tomorrow. I’ll be exactly six weeks, so I’m interested to find out what they do. Apparently, my OB only does “first appointments” on certain days, and I’m supposed to be there 30 minutes early.
HubZilla, she is so beautiful! I love all your pictures, especially the “refund department” and the picture on top of the diapers. And your wife is stunning. Wow.
Avarie537, I’m sure it varies by doctor, but here’s what happened at mine (which was around 7 weeks). They asked me about my cycles, health history, concerns, calculated the due date. They gave me a little book on pregnancy and some hand-outs on what over the counter medications my OB considers to be safe to use in moderation. They gave me a list of classes available in the area and the forms to fill out ot pre-register at the hospital. He introduced me to the office staff and filled out a requisition for blood work and urinalysis. Then we set up another appointment in a month.
Apparently, many people have an internal exam / pap test at their first appointment. I didn’t. Mine was largely a “getting to know you” visit. It was a great introduction to his practice.
I can’t believe I forgot to mention the “pee on demand” thing. Not an issue now at almost 38 weeks (I have to pee every five minutes). In the beginning, I would forget and pee right before I left the house and then be desperately trying to will myself to have to go again. Here’s a tip: Ask for a few urine specimen containers (or if they’re in the bathroom, just pick up a couple extra) so you can pee in your own bathroom before leaving for your appointment. Much more pleasant than a bumpy car ride on a full bladder. Just don’t forget to bring the container with you!
Oh yeah, always be ready to pee when you get there. Weight and BP will also be done at every appointment. I did have an internal exam and pap at my first visit, since I was due for one anyway. I also got an ultrasound–this is definitely not routine, but given my age plus history of miscarriages, they wanted to make sure there was a heartbeat, which was nice, because we got to find out right away that I was carrying twins (and boy, was I glad my husband was able to be there for that visit!). If by some chance you get an ultrasound, it will most likely be a vaginal one, which goes up inside you; it’s a little, uh, different, but not really unpleasant, IMO.
I had a vaginal ultrasound during this pregnancy as well because of bleeding. Not painful, just maybe a little awkward. It’s a long wand (don’t worry - it doesn’t go in that far!) and they put a condom over it. They allowed me to insert it myself too.
Geobabe, that’s great that your husband was there. How did you react? How did he react? I think I would have fallen right off the table!
He’s really great about coming to most of my appointments with me–he likes to be involved and keep up with what’s going on, and he helps keep me calm when the doc keeps me waiting too long. I’m not a very patient person.
The doctor was so blase…“Blahblahblah…oh, and it looks like twins…blahblah…” He and I just stared at each other going, “Whu…whu…WHAT???” We were both pretty much in shock for a couple weeks. Heck, I’m still a little in shock when I really think about it: OMG I’M ABOUT TO HAVE TWO BABIES!!! AAAAACK!
I’ve been lucky with appointments - hubby has been in the room for all but the first visit (only because I thought they might do an internal and he’d like to skip that). He loves hearing the heartbeat and he chats with me while we’re waiting. He’s gone to the endocrinologist and dietician appointments too, just for another set of ears. My memory is pretty lousy lately.
I can’t believe your doctor was so casual about it! Craziness!
I’m still kind of in a state of disbelief that soon I won’t be pregnant anymore and the hospital will hand me a baby and tell me to go home and take care of it. It seems about as logical to me right now as someone telling me to go fly a plane - surely I’m not qualified to do that!
Ultrasound tomorrow. Hopefully the stubborn little monkey will show me the goods.
I had a biophysical profile today and I’m worried. The baby was so still. The technician is new and there was no one in for her to consult with. My OB is on vacation until tomorrow. I just don’t trust her judgement. She scowled and sighed and kept asking me if I had eaten. She didn’t give me the report (like the “real” technician does) so I don’t know how this affected the score, how much amniotic fluid levels remains, etc. She said since my OB wasn’t in today she’d just put it in his mailbox.
Charting fetal movements at home. Definitely 10 (small) movements within 4 hours, but a big decrease in normal activity levels for time of day.
Hopefully I’ll get some peace of mind tomorrow. Maybe they can repeat the ultrasound and non-stress test with the usual tech or the maternal fetal specialist (or at least someone with a better manner so doesn’t sigh, scowl and scare the shit out of me). I should soon find out the verdict on how and when this baby will arrive. I won’t be allowed to go post 40 weeks because of complications so c-section or induction in the next 2 weeks.
There’s no way I’m going to get any sleep tonight.
Cyros-I don’t know if it will put your mind at rest at all, but in the last few weeks of pregnancy the type of foetal movements change.
Instead of kicking, they become more writhing movements, which can be harder to see and feel, especially if the head is engaged and baby is sitting lower than before. There’s also less room, so baby’s not able to be quite as gymnastic.
But you know your baby, so if things don’t feel quite right, get it checked ASAP. Better an over-anxious mother-to-be than one who waits for 5 days without feeling a kick before she comes in.
Also, complain about the tech, saying you came in for information and weren’t given it. As a patient you have the right to know as much about your baby as she does-and if she didn’t know what was going on she should have called someone more senior. Remember to tell them that her manner was abrasive and unpleasant. Hopefully then the tech will learn better manners.
Thanks irishgirl. That does make me feel better. It’s quite likely the baby is darn near out of space - it’s expected to be quite large because of my gestational diabetes and family history of macrosomia. Does bigger baby = lower fluid levels = less ability to move?
I have an appointment this afternoon with my OB and will definitely share my latest profile experience and the decrease in activity. Hopefully he can set up another test for me so I don’t have to worry and stress myself out until next week’s profile.
), and some pain, but certainly nothing steady or take-my-breath-away strong.