How is this pregnancy different from your previous one(s)? « Back to Group Discussions

[cristeen]

My previous 2 I had severe M/S.  First 12 weeks for the first - to the point where I wasn't eating practically at all.  When it ended (right at 12 weeks), I sat down and ate a HUGE meal, and my DH just sat and watched with this big smile on his face.  With the 2nd, I had it for the first 36 weeks before it magically disappeared.  Not as severely, but I still lost weight the first half of the pregnancy.  This time, no m/s at all.  None.  I'm a little more gaggy than my normal, but no nausea. 

Last 2 pregnancies, I didn't have cravings.  Aversions, yes, but no cravings.  This time I seem to be a mass of cravings, and so far no aversions. 

Last pregnancy, the long-standing nausea meant I wasn't interested in doing much cooking, or being at all creative in the kitchen.  But this time I've been really creative the last couple weeks, and DH is loving it. 

Last pregnancy (but not the 1st that I recall) and this pregnancy both I seem to have lost all sensitivity to spiciness in my tongue.  Which seems to pair with a craving for spice.  I've been eating some pretty spicy stuff that I normally wouldn't touch.  Last pregnancy I kept it to tacos covered with Sriracha, but this time I've not been interested in that route.  My lips still feel the burn, but my tongue doesn't feel it at all, so I have to be careful for DH's sake (DS loves the spice, since I ate it through his pregnancy).  The other night I made cajun chicken, and had to serve DH a glass of milk with dinner just so he wouldn't be in agony. 

So how have your pregnancies differed?

[JynxGirl]

With my daughter, I didn't even know I was pregnant until I was 9 weeks. I had no symptoms at all. No morning sickness, no sore breasts, no tenderness or anything. Other than some seriously annoying palpitations, I was fine through my whole pregnancy.

This time however... my blood sugars are super high, and I'm on more insulin now than ever before. I appear to be growing a beard, and despite waxing three times in the last month, I still have a bunch of hair on my chin! It's mostly gone now, but I had some really awful morning sickness in the beginning. I'm also a lot more tired (which may be more that I am chasing around a special needs 8 year old this time and am not 20 anymore?).

[shastalily]

The biggest difference for me has been morning sickness.  My first three, all girls, I had severe morning sickness until 14-16 weeks.  Could hardly keep anything down.  This time it's been more moderate.  Had lots of nausea and some puking from about 5-11 weeks, but not nearly the severity as the others.  It's gotten a lot better the last week or so and just have nausea off and on now.

I'm also more tired this time I think.  But that could have more to do with the fact that I'm in my mid-30s this time instead of early-mid 20s.

[BubbleMa]

With DD I was nauseous all the time, but only threw up once.  This time I'm not really nauseous, but I've thrown up several times.  I gag really easily (especially with bad smells) and that sets it off.

I also don't remember being this exhausted all the time with DD.  I was working full time then too.  Now I'm only working part time, and I can barely stay awake all day long. 

My boobs have been sore from the very beginning, I don't remember that with DD.

I don't remember having headaches this much either.

Jynx, I always have hair on my chin.  It got a lot worse when I was pregnant with DD, and it never went back to normal.  It's so embarrassing.  I'm glad I'm not the only one though!  :)

[cristeen]

Chin hair can be a sign of high testosterone levels.  It might be that your own adrenals are going wonky (something to ask the OB about), or you could be carrying a boy. 

I always have chin hair, as a symptom of PCOS.  You get used to it. 

[alittlesandy]

With my first pregnancy, I was with a midwife, which was wonderful and magical. Her practice was in this beautiful old house and DH and I would walk there hand-in-hand, then walk to a nearby local restaurant for breakfast or lunch after. We planned for a homebirth, and we were very excited by and enchanted by our choice. My baby ended up breech, and despite doing everything to turn our baby, I ended up with a c-section.

Because my midwives will no longer see me, I am stuck with the only OB practice in town, a large OB practice. I like my doctor, but HATE the building, which is very cold, sterile, crowded, and medical. I feel like crying every time I go there.

I am spending time this pregnancy dealing with the stress of trying to research my VBAC choices, which involve traveling to the big nearby city three hours away, as well as spending my time getting yelled at and locked out of MDC threads.

I am so happy to be in the second trimester of a pregnancy after two losses. I feel happy and blessed. But my innocence about birth has been shattered. That's how this pregnancy is different.

[BubbleMa]

Sandy,   Why are you getting yelled at and locked out of threads??

[alittlesandy]

Because it's not permitted, via Mothering terms of agreement, to discuss RCS as a valid or positive birth choice, nor to discuss any previous c-section experiences in a positive light. Several posters have expressed that my desire to do so is part of the reason Mothering has gone downhill. I've also been told to go to a more mainstream forum.

[Kamiro]

Sandy, I'm ranting - sorry.

I wonder how many of them have hugged and kissed a baby that died due to no c/s being available or a 'trust birth' mentality gone too far?

Yeah. You know, I say this gently and with love - MDC may not be the place for you. Not because of YOU, but because it still might house a lot of the 'my way or highway' natural child birth women who have never really seen tragedy outside of mdc stories and 'some babies weren't mean to be alive' ridiculousness repeated inside hippy echo chambers. 

That would not be a very healing environment which I am guessing (just guessing) that is what you need for this birth. A RCS is a valid birth option and I would challenge any one to argue the point with statistics and facts not emotional hyperbole.

You don't need to be made to feel that your birth is any less of a birth. After suffering losses you know how precious a live baby is. If it takes a c-section or sterile office or whatever to get one, I would sign up in a heart beat. You obviously have also. I salute you.

So don't worry about those women masquerading as people who care 'alllll about the chiiiiiiildren' and can't be compassionate to their fellow human. Nothing wrong with the mainstream moms either, though they can be just as idiotic.

I personally think MDC is on the upswing because of birth diversity....Irony.

You can't fix people who haven't ever measured how much they don't know. They don't even know what they don't know. You can't fix ignorance, so why are you trying? Breathe. Save your sanity.

Mothering means mothering. Not "Meet certain milestones and sacrifices to earn this title"

Hang in there and stay out of those threads. It will just drive you crazy.

Originally Posted by alittlesandy 

Because it's not permitted, via Mothering terms of agreement, to discuss RCS as a valid or positive birth choice, nor to discuss any previous c-section experiences in a positive light. Several posters have expressed that my desire to do so is part of the reason Mothering has gone downhill. I've also been told to go to a more mainstream forum.

[Kamiro]

How have my pregnancies been different?

With number 1 I was still throwing up at this point and had food aversions like crazy.

Number 2 and 3 were slightly better.

I feel better now at 12 weeks than I did with the other 3.  Nauseau went away quicker.

My libido is nuts. I always had a strong libido but this time...It is almost out of control *****serious blush****** When it hits, it hits and it wont take no for an answer. lol

I'm starving all of a sudden.

I am trying to eat more raw or 'living' foods (being  more mindful iow) and I am starving now all the time.

The greasy food just doesn't sound good like it did previous pregnancies or even earlier in this pregnancy.

[alittlesandy]

Originally Posted by Onemoreontheway 

Sandy, I'm ranting - sorry.

I wonder how many of them have hugged and kissed a baby that died due to no c/s being available or a 'trust birth' mentality gone too far?

Yeah. You know, I say this gently and with love - MDC may not be the place for you. Not because of YOU, but because it still might house a lot of the 'my way or highway' natural child birth women who have never really seen tragedy outside of mdc stories and 'some babies weren't mean to be alive' ridiculousness repeated inside hippy echo chambers. 

That would not be a very healing environment which I am guessing (just guessing) that is what you need for this birth. A RCS is a valid birth option and I would challenge any one to argue the point with statistics and facts not emotional hyperbole.

You don't need to be made to feel that your birth is any less of a birth. After suffering losses you know how precious a live baby is. If it takes a c-section or sterile office or whatever to get one, I would sign up in a heart beat. You obviously have also. I salute you.

So don't worry about those women masquerading as people who care 'alllll about the chiiiiiiildren' and can't be compassionate to their fellow human. Nothing wrong with the mainstream moms either, though they can be just as idiotic.

I personally think MDC is on the upswing because of birth diversity....Irony.

You can't fix people who haven't ever measured how much they don't know. They don't even know what they don't know. You can't fix ignorance, so why are you trying? Breathe. Save your sanity.

Mothering means mothering. Not "Meet certain milestones and sacrifices to earn this title"

Hang in there and stay out of those threads. It will just drive you crazy.

Thank you so much, Onemoreontheway . Your words mean a lot to me.

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by alittlesandy 

Because it's not permitted, via Mothering terms of agreement, to discuss RCS as a valid or positive birth choice, nor to discuss any previous c-section experiences in a positive light. Several posters have expressed that my desire to do so is part of the reason Mothering has gone downhill. I've also been told to go to a more mainstream forum.

What!!?! Some babies NEED to be born by c-sec, and some moms have been traumatized by birth and c-sec is the best option for them- plus a whole host of other reasons.
It's not PERMITTED!? What the flip? That's just... wrong.

I thought Mothering was AP and natural choices and all of that- but that's just it, CHOICES. If you're not allowed to have choices, to do what's best for your baby and your body (and your brain, soul, pshyche, whatever) then how can you advocate for AP choices for your baby?

Now I'm irritated.

[Astraia]

How is this pregnancy different?

With my first I had intense symptoms right from the beginning. I thought I had the flu for awhile, then the exhaustion and super sore boobs kicked in. I felt really awful for awhile. Very high libido.

With my second I had no symptoms but a decreasing milk supply. Nothing, nada, zip. Very weird. Absolutely zero libido, thought my husband smelled like a wildebeast or something, I couldn't go near him.

This one I'm midline. No crazy symptoms but definitely not nothing. Have some libido, but my husband still seems like he smells a bit rank (he doesn't, it's definitely just my nose!). I just hold my breathe, haha. 

I feel like emotionally I'm a lot different. Very weepy this time about everything, but way more relaxed about the pregnancy. Connecting to my baby instead of freaking out about things that, in the end, really don't matter.

[JynxGirl]

Wow, I can't believe a place that's all about choices and natural parenting would be so darn blind... sometimes a c-section is the difference between having a baby and mom and not having either.

*sigh*

I'm already being pushed into a C-section because of my diabetes (and I haven't even seen the OB yet!!!!). While I'm strong now, I may very well cave before the next 7 months are up. 

Women here should be allowed to choose the birth that's best for them.

[LinnieThree]

Wow, wow, wow! I am in shock by MDC's stance on discussing c-sections. I have had two previous sections and this baby will have to be one too. I had a midwife with my first two and I deeply wanted an all natural birth experience. I planned for a VBAC the second time and that couldn't happen either. I really mourned the loss of my dream of a natural birth. I am still upset that I couldn't have my babies vaginally but if MDC thinks for one minute that I am going to just write about how sad I am and stop there then they have another thing coming. I am THRILLED that my babies were born healthy. My first was over 11 lbs (no gest. diabetes) and when my water broke, her head left the pelvic area and the cord went there instead. My friend had lost a baby due to a cord prolapse and there was no way that I was going to risk that. My second was measuring HUGE and my midwives along with an OB decided that my chance of uterine rupture was too high to carry him to 40 weeks so I had another section at 38 weeks. They said that if it ruptured, they had 5 minutes to stop the bleeding or I could die. All I could do was look at my first child who was 22 months and I knew that it was my responsibility to come home safe to her. I don't know that anyone LOVES a c-section. Its horrible and painful and I hate not being able to hold my baby right away and nurse immediately but its what you make of it. The minute that I am in the recovery room, we do skin to skin and the baby is put on my breast even if I can't hold the baby at the moment... the nurse will hold it to my breast. I will be going into this c-section with two kids waiting for me at home and while I am sad that this may be my last baby (due to the c-section limit), I will forever rejoice in the medical advances that brought a healthy mommy and baby home first in 2006 and then in 2008 and then hopefully again in 2012. I have to think of my c-sections in a "positive light" because of the beautiful, healthy babies that I have.

[alittlesandy]

Originally Posted by LinnieThree 

Wow, wow, wow! I am in shock by MDC's stance on discussing c-sections. I have had two previous sections and this baby will have to be one too. I had a midwife with my first two and I deeply wanted an all natural birth experience. I planned for a VBAC the second time and that couldn't happen either. I really mourned the loss of my dream of a natural birth. I am still upset that I couldn't have my babies vaginally but if MDC thinks for one minute that I am going to just write about how sad I am and stop there then they have another thing coming. I am THRILLED that my babies were born healthy. My first was over 11 lbs (no gest. diabetes) and when my water broke, her head left the pelvic area and the cord went there instead. My friend had lost a baby due to a cord prolapse and there was no way that I was going to risk that. My second was measuring HUGE and my midwives along with an OB decided that my chance of uterine rupture was too high to carry him to 40 weeks so I had another section at 38 weeks. They said that if it ruptured, they had 5 minutes to stop the bleeding or I could die. All I could do was look at my first child who was 22 months and I knew that it was my responsibility to come home safe to her. I don't know that anyone LOVES a c-section. Its horrible and painful and I hate not being able to hold my baby right away and nurse immediately but its what you make of it. The minute that I am in the recovery room, we do skin to skin and the baby is put on my breast even if I can't hold the baby at the moment... the nurse will hold it to my breast. I will be going into this c-section with two kids waiting for me at home and while I am sad that this may be my last baby (due to the c-section limit), I will forever rejoice in the medical advances that brought a healthy mommy and baby home first in 2006 and then in 2008 and then hopefully again in 2012. I have to think of my c-sections in a "positive light" because of the beautiful, healthy babies that I have.

What a great post LinnieThree! You are such a strong woman! Your story is something you should be proud of and celebrate.

For those of you who are interested in this issue, there is a discussion going on here:

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1334180/c-birth-c-section-surgical-birth-forum-request
 

Edited by alittlesandy - 10/27/11 at 9:40am

[alittlesandy]

I'm double posting because I want to apologize to the OP for the fact that this thread got a tiny bit derailed.

Now, to get us back on track:

This pregnancy I am sick as a dog! I had little or no morning sickness last time, but this time I am still in the throes of it at 13 weeks.

Also, this time I have a ton of baby stuff already, so not thinking as much about everything I need.

Finally, we can't decide if we want to learn the sex this time around.

[LinnieThree]

Awe- I am hugging you through the computer!!! I am a little scared to click on the link and see the discussion.... I don't want my heart rate and blood pressure to rise! haha

Originally Posted by alittlesandy 

What a great post LinnieThree! You are such a strong woman! Your story is something you should be proud of and celebrate.

For those of you who are interested in this issue, there is a discussion going on here:

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1334180/c-birth-c-section-surgical-birth-forum-request