2nd trimester symptoms/complaints thread - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[odinsmama]

I, unfortunately, am a bit of an expert on hemorrhoids.
Coconut oil works well for me, better than any of the OTC hemmie cream.

Sitting on a narrow ice pack also works really well. If it weirds you out to have your undies pushed right up in there just change into clean ones when you're done.

I had some leftover herbs from a birth (the mix that midwives will give for a sitz bath) and made a strong tea with that, did a sitz bath with part of it and soaked some cotton balls with some of it. Put the cotton balls in the freezer and sit on one (place it right on the hemmie) when needed. Very cold but works well. I sit on a folded prefold when I do this as it will melt into a puddle.

There are also some homeopathics out there that can help. I have no knowledge of safety during pregnancy, but I feel safe enough taking them.

Something that is supposed to help with either diarrhea or constipation is psyllium husk powder (same as the ingredient in Metamucil). I have many gut issues but I tend more toward the loose stool end of the spectrum, but I've heard from many others that it helps with being stopped up as well.

If you decide to try psyllium, start very slowly, with like 1/4 of a tsp and let your system get used to it before upping the dose. If you take a whole dose right from the start it can cause gas. I take it every day.

[Chloe'sMama]

anyone feeling out of breath already?  I ate a big dinner and I felt so short of breath after.  It took about 30 minutes for me to feel like I could catch it.  Feeling yucky now.

[etsdtm99]

Originally Posted by Chloe'sMama 

anyone feeling out of breath already?  I ate a big dinner and I felt so short of breath after.  It took about 30 minutes for me to feel like I could catch it.  Feeling yucky now.

 yes.. that is actually one of my earliest symptoms..  it doesn't really go away..  it is way worse after a big meal ..

[kellybeth]

i was doing dishes this morning and felt these low, deep cramps. holy moly. when i squatted it went away, but it was not comfortable for the couple minutes it was happening. is there a name for this? is it normal? booo!

[Teles]

Originally Posted by etsdtm99 

 yes.. that is actually one of my earliest symptoms..  it doesn't really go away..  it is way worse after a big meal ..

Me too. I live in a city that essentially one steep hill after another and don't have a car so I walk everywhere, not to mention the three large flights of stairs that I have to walk up just to get to my apartment.

It's embarrassing to be winded all the time
 

[neversummer]

Originally Posted by JessNP 

- Hip pain is UNREAL at night, radiates down the outer thigh - only relief is lying on my back which I know is a no-no.

Jess-- try this stretch I learned from my rolfer before I got pregnant. It's a combo of IT band stretch and glutes stretch...

1: lie on your back with your knees bent and on the floor, a little more than hip's width apart

2: start by just slowly moving your knees to the floor while keeping your feet on the ground, moving from one side to the other. this is commonly referred to as windshield wipers... keep it up until you've done 10-15 per side.

basically this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAWzfHh50vg

more advanced:

http://www.ehow.com/video_4946131_windshield-wiper-yoga-pose.html

3: after you've warmed up, come back to the neutral position of bent knees in line with your body. take your right ankle and cross it over your left thigh. Keep the bottom of the foot at the same line as the outside of your thigh (this is the set up for most "figure-4" stretches). Once you're set up, take your right foot and bring it to your left side until it fully touches the floor. You can move your foot up towards your chest or down towards your hips, whatever you need most. Keep breathing and hold the position for 30 seconds or so. This is a little bit of a twist, which is contraindicated in pregnancy, but since it's mostly in the hips I don't think it poses as much of a concern as painful hips!

I hope this helps.

[loveandgarbage]

I'm also winded. It sucks.

[typebug]

I was starting to get a ton of energy back these past few weeks and so we went ahead and paid the rest of our deposit on the sailing course my hubby and I have been planning to take for years. It was an obscenely expensive course and I knew there was a risk that I'd be feeling nauseous so I brought a bunch of homeopathics with me. On day one we hit open water and were heeled over as far as the boat could handle at a good clip and I felt great... or so I thought. Suddenly I was being sick over the side and that just didn't stop. I've never been so violently ill in my life. It was morning sickness on steroids. I waddled into the Marina that night and felt blood slowly drain back into my sunburnt face. The night on board was unbearable with hip pain as I was in a bunk on a boat set up for racing not cruising. I nearly lost my breakfast before we'd even gone anywhere that day so I made the call to mutiny. I wandered up to a resort, got a room and ordered a bunch of fresh squeezed juice and thanked my lucky stars this place was there when I needed it. And there I stayed for the rest of the three day course. By day three I had also picked up a gastrointestinal bug - probably from the ice in my juice concoctions. Generally I have an iron gut and don't react to stuff like this anymore but I guess I have a weaker system now. I took a ferry home on my own and will miss part two of the course next weekend. Lesson learned. Will have to try this again one day but pregnancy and sailing really don't mix. 

[loveandgarbage]

typebug, that sounds like torture! You poor thing. Glad you were able to escape to shore.

[kellybeth]

yes, definitely sounds awful. i almost went sailing with my fiance's friends a couple weeks ago and he convinced me not to do it. glad i didn't, especially considering i have vertigo, prego or not.

[sweetestday]

I don't have much to complain about. I guess my face is breaking out worse than ever, and I'm getting out of breath easily. It's funny how I notice it when I'm reading to my boys. I can't figure out why reading makes me get so out of breath. 

I just weaned my 12 month old so when the baby comes he will hopefully not be jealous when I nurse the baby. Weaning went amazingly great. Now instead of nursing him to sleep, I snuggle next to him in bed, and he drifts right off. It is SO nice not to have to deal with sore nipples and a teething baby that keeps clamping down as he falls asleep. It was horrible! If it weren't for this pregnancy, I wouldn't have weaned so early, so I still miss the time we could have had... I just am not one to tandem nurse, though. :/

[HouseofPeace]

my 17 month old just weaned this week.  *sniff*  

that said, hubby brought her into bed b/c house was really cold the other night, and she snuggled up to my back and slept great.  so there are benefits.  but i'm always sad that my little ones seem to all wean pretty early.  18 months for my DS (firstborn) when i was 3 months pregnant with his sister.  and then i did wean my 2nd instead of waiting for her, but i was nursing 2 girls and felt like my body was overwhelmed (turns out i either had just gotten or was just about to get pregnant with number 4), and DD3 weaned when my baby was about 4 months, so she was 22 months.  

and the breast tenderness was pretty extreme some days- what were the mom's saying about shooting nipple pain in the cold?  yeah, that horrible 'don't even TOUCH those things' phase finally passed!

i will probably wish she was nursing when i give birth and start this whole insane lactation thing again!  

typebug- 

wow.  and WOW.  i'd envy the adventure if i weren't just feeling your pain!!!  rest well and heal soon!

[odinsmama]

I get totally winded while reading out loud, too! So weird, I don't get winded while talking!

[loveandgarbage]

Haha I also get winded while reading! DH has taken over bedtime routine for the most part, which includes a lot of books, but whenever I do it I have to like, pause in between pages.

[typebug]

Originally Posted by kellybeth 

yes, definitely sounds awful. i almost went sailing with my fiance's friends a couple weeks ago and he convinced me not to do it. glad i didn't, especially considering i have vertigo, prego or not.

Good for you, do not be tempted. Sailing while pregnant is evil. ;)

[typebug]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

typebug, that sounds like torture! You poor thing. Glad you were able to escape to shore.

Yes, I am grateful that I marooned myself on an indonesian island with a resort and wifi. It was at least a beautiful spot. I am still dealing with the Gastroenteritis from whatever in ingested there. I know better than to drink something with ice cubes in it.

[HouseofPeace]

magnesium supplements plus Scharffenberger chocolate have helped a bit on the constipation.  still frustrated though.... thanks for the mate/caffeine suggestion- made a mild yerba mate/hibiscus/red raspberry leaf tea for breakfast and it did seem to help too.

i don't do coffee well, but have wanted it in smoothies (for flavor and maybe for bowels) but have been fighting it.  maybe i'll stop and ration myself a small cup.

[loveandgarbage]

I can't drink coffee anymore because it triggers GI stress, but if it didn't I would use it as a laxative for sure! And as long as I'm fantasizing I'd having a nice hand-rolled cigarette to go with it . Obviously wouldn't go there, but me (and my bowels) fantasize about it sometimes.

[josie423]

I have been eating tons of sunflower seeds and then come to find out they have magnesium in them. Well, a couple days ago I finally went, like a normal BM, and I don't think I've ever gone so much! I've done nothing different lately but eat sunflower seeds (large quantities, lol!) and I really think they helped.

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

I can't drink coffee anymore because it triggers GI stress, but if it didn't I would use it as a laxative for sure! And as long as I'm fantasizing I'd having a nice hand-rolled cigarette to go with it . Obviously wouldn't go there, but me (and my bowels) fantasize about it sometimes.

LOST IT AT THIS!!!  i totally agree!!!  

was coming on to say that my yerba mate chocolate (rhyming them is fun) this morning worked wonders.  but mate is rich in many minerals, so it's helping balance for sure.  not nervy yet

off to organize playroom in basement!!!

also got my 25lbs of raw almonds from Just Almonds and intend to bake up a few treats that usually help as well!!!