PAL (pregnancy after loss) mama's - Page 24

[AnnieA]

I was looking at the dopplers on ebay the other day. I keep telling myself that I just need to make it a few more weeks until I start to feel the baby move and then I'll be o.k.

My other problem right now is that I can't really feel my uterus. I'm going to get my doctor to show me on Friday what he feels so I know where to look. I feel like at almost 15 weeks, I should be able to feel my uterus in my abdomen, right?

[no5no5]

Annie, I can feel my fundus (the top of my uterus) easily, and my uterus is very pronounced.  I could feel my uterus right after it popped over my pubic bone, at about 12 weeks.  And I've been able to measure growth every week since then.  I am now 16 weeks, and I think I've been able to see my uterus when I lay flat on my back for a week or maybe two, but probably not more.

BUT I could not identify my fundus, at all, not at all, when I was pregnant with DD, and I was definitely thinner then.  I could not even find it after I gave birth and the nurse was like, "Keep checking your fundus to make sure your uterus is getting smaller."  So I think being able to find it this time is some sort of fluke, or maybe just because I was poking at my tummy on a daily basis even before my uterus popped out.  I guess I'm trying to say that you shouldn't worry too much if you can't find it.

I've been freaking out in anticipation of my next appointment, on Wednesday.  I was fine, smooth sailing, etc., until Friday when the office called to remind me of my appointment.  Suddenly, I'm in a panic.  I even had a dream last night that I was bleeding.   

[AnnieA]

Thanks no5no5. My only consoling thought is that I do have a retroverted uterus so maybe it's just still tilted back and I can't feel it? I mean, when I lay down and try to palpate my fundus, I do feel a change from my up by my belly button vs how it feels closer to my pubic bone. I just can't feel where something ends, you know?

[javilu]

I'm "lucky" enough to always have a little lower abdomen pooch, so I can't hyperanalyze my uterus' appearance.  Ha.  I can feel it when I am laying down, especially with a full bladder, though.  I've been too nervous to be intimate during this pregnancy, but I do know that with my son, my uterus was much easier to feel after an orgasm, so if you're up for it, you can try that "method" to help confirm where your uterus is these days.

I had a bad dream last night.  I hate those dreams.  I always "wake up" during them, but I'm not really awake (still dreaming, but I *dream* that I wake up) and have to go through it all twice.  Pregnancy is so scary.

[MarineWife]

Annie ~ I think it usually takes longer to show and to be able to your fundus with a first pregnancy. I think I was at least 4 months before I really started to show with my 1st and I was very thin back then. By the time I was pg with ds3, I looked like I was 4 months pregnant at about 8 weeks. My belly just popped sooner.

To find my fundus, I start feeling at my belly button where it's obviously soft and just work my way down until I hit something that feels harder. You could try that. I still wouldn't worry if you can't feel it. It may just be an experience thing.

[sassygirl5146]

Annie, 

I ordered a doppler from baby beats at nine weeks. It has been a true lifesaver. They bill us monthly I think its $45 and you can send it back when you chose or keep it until you reach the purchase price of around $600. Its the digital doppler that they use in the doctor's office. We use it EVERYday, sometimes multiple times. I plan on keeping it to use with future pregnancies. It's so worth the peace of mind. My doctors and MFM doc are pleased I have it and want me monitoring daily, as we had a previous unexplained 2nd trimester loss. Best of luck!

[MarineWife]

I hope I didn't just do something horrible. I just got in a huge fight with my 19yo. I've been trying very hard to stay calm and not lose my temper over anything but sometimes that kid just gets to me. I screamed at him at the top of my lungs. You don't think that would hurt the baby, do you? Now I'm angry, upset and scared.

[serenityjewell]

I wish I could give you a hug right now. After my loss, I was totally concerned during my next pg that I would do something to hurt our baby. I'm sure your body can deal with the changes in blood pressure from the fight. Maybe spend some extra time hugging and snuggling with your SO, son, or other kids today. That has to do some good, right?

Sarah*

[javilu]

MW - I think you'll be okay.  My sister is really hostile and was picking major fights with people (family, doctors, random strangers in Costco) and yelling all the time throughout her pregnancy (and the baby is fine, albeit now also becoming a bit aggressive herself, but I think that's a nurture (rather than nature) sort of thing).  =D

[no5no5]

Oh, heck no, MW, that is so not going to hurt the baby.  Everyone experiences occasional episodes of extreme stress/anxiety/anger, etc.

[MarineWife]

Thanks, guys. The whole time I was screaming I was thinking to myself that I needed to stop and walk away. I was so angry by that point that I just couldn't.

[no5no5]

Well, I'm back from seeing my midwife, and all seems well.  She found the heartbeat really fast and then there was a big thump and the heartbeat was gone.  Babe had kicked the doppler and swooshed away.    She found the heatbeat again (in a totally different area), and it was nice & strong, around 150.  I am so relieved.  Now if only this lovely feeling that everything is okay will last a bit longer this time. 

[MarineWife]

no5no5 ~ Glad to hear it.

[sassygirl5146]

Marine Wife,

I had a screaming at the dog moment today. And thought of you. I have all out screaming episodes at least a few times each pregnancy. I'm sure everything will be fine. It's part of us and they are renting a womb. I'm sure screaming won't do any permanent damage. ;)

[lesliesara63]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

Annie ~ I haven't gotten it yet. I just ordered it yesterday. I should get it this week. My MW was able to find baby's heartbeat with a doppler at 10w so I fully expect to be able to find it at 13+w. Like I said, I had one when I was pg with ds2 so I know how to use it. They are pretty easy. You can get one brand new off ebay for about $60.

I feel the same way. I keep measuring my belly. While I've gained about 2 inches since the beginning my belly hasn't grown any in the last few weeks. I also haven't gained any weight. If anything, I've lost a little bit. I'm assuming that's because I've been sick with a cold and haven't had much of an appetite. I haven't felt any of those fluttery movements in 4 or 5 days. It was my freak out over that that finally pushed me to just buy the darn doppler. I do think my uterus has grown. It seems to closer to my belly button. And when I first wake in the morning with a full bladder, I can feel a hard, little bump right below my belly button rather than just the overall bloated, fat looking belly. I can't see it, though.

I had ordered some low waist maternity pants from Old Navy that were recommended for the first and 2nd trimester. I got the same size as I normally wear because that's what they recommend. They were huge. I exchanged them for the next size down. Still way too big. I'm trying the next size down one more time and then I give up. The customer service rep I talked to about the sizing said that I just have just not gained as much weight as most pregnant women.

I haven't felt pregnant, either. It just occurred to me yesterday that might be because I stopped taking progesterone last Monday. Yesterday was my last day on metformin, too. Yay!

I've read a lot of reviews on Old Navy maternity clothes and it seems they run really big. I bought a pair of size 8 pants at a sale when I was first pregnant and they were huge. Even the six is pretty big. Actually they are kind of crappy pants. I have a medium shirt that is huge on me and I normally can wear a medium at Old Navy no problem.

Originally Posted by no5no5 

Annie, I can feel my fundus (the top of my uterus) easily, and my uterus is very pronounced.  I could feel my uterus right after it popped over my pubic bone, at about 12 weeks.  And I've been able to measure growth every week since then.  I am now 16 weeks, and I think I've been able to see my uterus when I lay flat on my back for a week or maybe two, but probably not more.

BUT I could not identify my fundus, at all, not at all, when I was pregnant with DD, and I was definitely thinner then.  I could not even find it after I gave birth and the nurse was like, "Keep checking your fundus to make sure your uterus is getting smaller."  So I think being able to find it this time is some sort of fluke, or maybe just because I was poking at my tummy on a daily basis even before my uterus popped out.  I guess I'm trying to say that you shouldn't worry too much if you can't find it.

I've been freaking out in anticipation of my next appointment, on Wednesday.  I was fine, smooth sailing, etc., until Friday when the office called to remind me of my appointment.  Suddenly, I'm in a panic.  I even had a dream last night that I was bleeding.   

I could hardly ever feel my fundus in other pregnancies either. I think I was just trying to early and it hadn't come out of my pelvis yet. It just seems so strange that you can be three months pregnant and the uterus hardly moves up at all. This time its a whole different story - at 11 weeks my fundus was almost at my belly button! The babies are still really low though.

I had an appointment on Tuesday and everything looks good. I don't go for a whole month though because I'm going on vacation next week. So at my next appointment I'll be 18 weeks and hopefully they can tell me the gender then. After that its going to be every two weeks.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by lesliesara63 

I've read a lot of reviews on Old Navy maternity clothes and it seems they run really big. I bought a pair of size 8 pants at a sale when I was first pregnant and they were huge. Even the six is pretty big. Actually they are kind of crappy pants. I have a medium shirt that is huge on me and I normally can wear a medium at Old Navy no problem.

The sizing charts really confused me. According to my hip measurements, it said I should wear an XS. That didn't make any sense to me since that would be like a size 2 and I usually wear a size 8. I finally got a pair of size 4 pants yesterday. They are still big and way too long. I returned all the shirts I ordered. They fit but they were very obviously maternity shirts even though they were in the 1st/2nd trimester category. I don't need maternity shirts yet where the front is longer and bigger than the back, just shirts with a little extra room. I've decided Old Navy clothes are junk. I just can't bring myself to pay the prices for the other brands knowing that I'll only wear the stuff for a few weeks. I'll have to get through the next month or two with the few clothes I have.

Glad your appointment went well.

I'm still waiting for my doppler. I now wish I had paid the extra $5 for the expedited shipping. It was guaranteed to arrive by today. With regular shipping, I may not get it until Monday. That sort of defeats the purpose since I see my MW on Monday. I really thought it would get here sooner.

I'm not sure if I've been feeling the baby move. Last night I was laying on my side and felt this very distinct thunk in my side. It didn't feel like any gas bubble I've felt before. IDK. I've also been feeling more little bubbly, wiggly feelings that I was sure before was baby moving. I've had a lot of gas lately, though, so now I'm not so sure.

[javilu]

I'm getting tired of these scares.  Reddish brown spotting this afternoon.  I don't think it's related to the bleeding incident.  With my son, I would sometimes get a little bleeding after straining on the toilet.  I think I have a sensitive cervix.  I am really constipated from the zofran and I try to ward it off, but do sometimes have to strain.  I strained last night.  I wonder if that annoyed my cervix.  I hope that's all it is.  I have a midwife appointment on Tuesday.  I was already nervous about it (so many horror stories of people going in and not hearing heartbeats), so now I'm super nervous.

[MarineWife]

javilu ~ Are you sure it's not coming from anus? I always have a little blood on the tp after a BM. I'm pretty sure I have hemorrhoids that get irritated. It only happens to me when I'm pg.

[javilu]

Yes, I'm sure.  I've had that kind of bleeding with this pregnancy, too!  This pregnancy is really taking a lot out of me, emotionally, and there's still so long to go!

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

javilu ~ Are you sure it's not coming from anus? I always have a little blood on the tp after a BM. I'm pretty sure I have hemorrhoids that get irritated. It only happens to me when I'm pg.

[Charlize]

Javilu, I'm so sorry everything is taking such a toll on you. I'm still dealing with spotting issues, too. The Prometrium is causing me stomach issues which lead to bleeding episodes if I have to use the bathroom. If I carry DD3 for more than a few minutes it's a bleeding episode waiting to happen. And it seems even though my job is strictly a desk job with no lifting, that causes bleeding episodes too. The only way I can keep from having them is to lay in bed and not move, which is exhausting in itself. My OB told me sometimes it's just the norm for a particular pregnancy. This will be our fourth baby, but seventh pregnancy and I've never experienced all the issues I have with this one in any of my others. My last pregnancy was the easiest, most uneventful pregnancy either.