our wonderfully obsessive "is this normal?" thread

[peacechief]

So I am finding myself obsessing over every little twinge, pain, indigestion, etc (or lack thereof) and find it so reassuring to hear from other people that they have felt similar things and it's normal (especially because this is my first pregnancy). I also realize I can't call my midwife with every little question... So, maybe we could have a thread where we can post questions about if stuff we're feeling is normal - with no question being too silly or small. And obviously, we're not the experts, but it might help to have a sounding board... help keep us a little saner :lol

I'll start. My biggest question right now is re: various random twinges, fullness, heightened awareness(??) etc. around my uterus/groin. I had been having a lot of these - almost constant since before implantation. The past few days it's stopped for the most part. I still have some - often when I have to pee it feels especially uncomfortable, and sometimes to one side or the other I'll have a twinge of pain (when I move funny?). But it's a lot less. Does that sound normal? I had been starting to worry because I was feeling so much down there, now I'm worrying because I'm not :bag:

[grapejuicemama]

Annie-the logical BTDT part of me knows that this is normal, as I'm experiencing the same things. BUT the crazed hormonal cry-during-radio-commercials part of me worries about this too!

The weirdest thing about me when I'm pregnant is that I develop a certain craving for strong smelling personal hygeine products.:o This time, it's my medicated St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It smells so good, I want to eat it. I won't, of course, but ever heard of PICA? With my last pregnancy, it was my Tea Tree Oil shampoo. I actually had to stop buying it because I was afraid I was smelling it too much. I've already hidden my tea tree essential oil bottle. I don't know if it's harmful to smell during pregnancy!?

Is this normal? Am I just a total freak? :flipped

[koofie]

I'll start. My biggest question right now is re: various random twinges, fullness, heightened awareness(??) etc. around my uterus/groin. I had been having a lot of these - almost constant since before implantation. The past few days it's stopped for the most part. I still have some - often when I have to pee it feels especially uncomfortable, and sometimes to one side or the other I'll have a twinge of pain (when I move funny?). But it's a lot less. Does that sound normal? I had been starting to worry because I was feeling so much down there, now I'm worrying because I'm not :bag:

I have lots of feeling down there. The gas makes it feel like the baby is moving! Also I am having round ligament pain and cramps:irked:

[peacechief]

What's round ligament pain?

I hear you on the gas :o

[koofie]

It is a pain that is like a side cramp or stitch of the ligaments that are attached to the sides of your uterus. I feel it when I move suddenly, and feel it on the inside of my hip bone. But I didn't feel it this early with my first or second, but I have more of a belly this time (before baby).

:yeah: I found this on Carolynn's facts and figures thread. She explains it far better than I would!

[Bella Babe]

I am totally already getting the round ligament pain! Already. And I look 3 months, at least. I freaking have a round bump already.

My nausea has diminished a whole lot though, so my mom is of course trying to freak me out about the impending doom of miscarriage. Thanks mom.

I am having more indigestion, weird amounts of hunger (Not just very hungry, but sometimes not hungry at all) um, sleep issues, I have been travelling this weekend and not going to the bathroom well. Just not that much nausea.

Feel very much pregnant already. So everyone says "TWINS!" :dizzy: :dizzy:

No...... (Well, maybe, obviously...) Just Preg #3.

[peacelovingmama]

I also have lots of pulling and twinges in the uterine area. Even though I KNOW it's perfectly normal, still I worry. Is it a cramp? Is something wrong? Etc. Hopefully these fears will lessen with each passing day! I also check the toilet paper after wiping (for blood) each time I use the bathroom. I hate being so worried but I just want this baby to be healthy so badly...

This thread is a great place to vent about these things.

[peacechief]

thanks Kelsi! So I've had some of that, too, I think.

Shelley - I've heard that symptoms can get better & worse & that's normal.

I've been having some weird hunger things, too, though it's calmed down some - sometimes feeling really hungry, but then start eating and feel super full right away, sometimes no real appetite - nothing sounds good.

So today (sorry if tmi), one time after I peed, there were a very few bits of thin, stringy, very lightly pink stuff. It was only the one time, and like I said, very little - haven't had any since. I'm still taking meds (vaginally) for BV, so I'm wondering if that could be it? The midwife said she thought the bv could have caused the spotting I was having earlier...

[peacechief]

I also have lots of pulling and twinges in the uterine area. Even though I KNOW it's perfectly normal, still I worry. Is it a cramp? Is something wrong? Etc. Hopefully these fears will lessen with each passing day! I also check the toilet paper after wiping (for blood) each time I use the bathroom. I hate being so worried but I just want this baby to be healthy so badly...

This thread is a great place to vent about these things.

:yeah: I'm the exact same way. I was wishing earlier that I could just take some sort of sedative and wake up after the first trimester's over... :duck: :zzz For a while I really was loving being pregnant, despite being kind of scared. But now the scared has taken over :irked: I'm working on getting the enjoying it part back on top... Helps so much to vent.

[peacelovingmama]

:yeah: I'm the exact same way. I was wishing earlier that I could just take some sort of sedative and wake up after the first trimester's over... :duck: :zzz For a while I really was loving being pregnant, despite being kind of scared. But now the scared has taken over :irked: I'm working on getting the enjoying it part back on top... Helps so much to vent.

I am right there with you! The first stages of pregnancy can be very unnerving. I want to focus on falling in love but I have this underlying fear that something might happen... I think time is the only "cure."

[MichelleW]

hi everyone,
i'm ready to take the paper bag off my head & come out from the chair. I still have lots of hesitations, but reading about that crampy thing in the lower abdomin/hip area that relates (in a good way) to the uterus, made me commit to stop lurking!
I am 10DPO. My partner & I were both concerned about that twinge, cause the size & feel of my boobs are otherwise telling us things are good! (iykwim)

Glad to come out of the woodwork! I'll wait at least another day before the formal intro on the roll call list :wink
Everyday that goes by with 'is this normal' symptoms, the more comfortable I am. *sigh of relief*

[wanderinggypsy]

OK I'll forge into the potentially too much info territory here with the lovely topic of Discharge! As in holy moly there seems to be quite a bit of it! ANy comments?

[MonkeyPrincess]

I also check the toilet paper after wiping (for blood) each time I use the bathroom.

Me, too! Every single time...with each pregnancy! :dizzy:

[CarolynnMarilynn]

Me too -- how many times is that I wonder?

2 full-term pregnancies (266 days) x 10 pees a day + 2666 x 2 = 5332 times I checked for bleeding (and never found any)

+

This pregnancy so far, oh about, 200 pees and checks =

More than 5500 times I have checked for bleeding in pregnancy!!! :dizzy: :lol

Sigh...

[koofie]

Any one know how there is discharge if the cervix is closed with a mucus plug? Just a weird curious question that I have been wondering about for awhile...:lol

[wanderinggypsy]

I have read that early in pregnancy our bodies start to 'manufacture' the mucous plug, which accounts for a great deal of early discharge (which in my research, is usually abundant).

[Holiztic]

This seems the place to share symptoms, though I am not going to drive myself crazy trying to decide if they are "normal". With my personality, that is never a good thing! So I am here to share and interested to hear if anyone else can comiserate.

I have read some of you are alternating between constipation and diahrea. I have not had any such issues until this weekend. I didn't have a movment on Saturday (I guess that constitutes constipation), then woke up first thing this morning, feeling fine, went straight to the bathroom to pee, then as soon as my bum hit the toilet, realized I had to do more than that. Then I OUT OF NOWHERE and with no warning, became extremely nauseous. I mean like bad food poisoning--dizzy, sweating profusely, think-you-are-going-to-die kind of nausea, during which I was having mild diahrea, but the nasuea kept me from really noticing that. The whole thing lasted about 5 minutes.

Then nothing! I felt weak and dehydrated, and was sweaty--but the nausea left as fast as it came on--exactly as long as the 'movement' lasted.

Do you guys agree this IS NOT morning sickness? Lasting less than 10 minutes and being SOO strong. So, maybe I am looking to know if I am "normal" :wink My mom thinks it was some kind of hormone surge or something. FYI--I have been fine the rest of the day (little weak/tired).

Thanks!

[CarolynnMarilynn]

I have also had diarrhea, and thought I had food poisoning, except it lasted about an hour and then went away. There is a bug going around my neck of the woods though, so I may have a mild version...

[CarolynnMarilynn]

[QUOTE=arismomkoofie]Any one know how there is discharge if the cervix is closed with a mucus plug? Just a weird curious question that I have been wondering about for awhile...:lol[/QUOT

It's usually vaginal secretions at this point, as opposed to cervical secretions, which usually happen just around ovulation and then to make the mucous plug.

[desilou]

hello all!
just got a bfp this morning - i am 10 days dpo. i am terribly but cautiously excited! i was very sore/sensitive in bbs last week and have had a lot of gastrointestinal craziness. thus far that is all. my projected due date is 4/28/2007!

[annettemarie]

How 'bout an itty bit of a lower back ache? Normal?

[koofie]

I've had a bits of backache on a few occasions:irked:

[kewpie-o]

OK I'll forge into the potentially too much info territory here with the lovely topic of Discharge! As in holy moly there seems to be quite a bit of it! ANy comments?

I'm definitely experiencing this. I almost constantly have that "wet" feeling (like the 1st day AF comes)......so I'll go to the bathroom all the time thinking I must be bleeding or something, but when I wipe, it's just a little bit of discharge. :nut

[peacechief]

How 'bout an itty bit of a lower back ache? Normal?

I was just going to ask about that, too - mostly it's been not as much pain as tense/strained... but over the weekend I had a few twinges of pain. I also had a few little stabs of pain in my abdomen (though over to one side where I was having pain even before I was pregnant...) and was worrying about those. Especially since maybe twice I had a tiny bit of brown spotting (just when I wiped). But it hasn't been bad or lasting, so I'm assuming that it's ok & normal.

I'm definitely experiencing this. I almost constantly have that "wet" feeling (like the 1st day AF comes)......so I'll go to the bathroom all the time thinking I must be bleeding or something, but when I wipe, it's just a little bit of discharge.

Yep, me too! Not my favorite. Not good for the obsessing... (or, I guess good for the obsessing...) :shake

What about a little bit of lightheadedness/feeling off balance? Not major, but enough to notice on & off? Anyone else?

[kewpie-o]

Haven't had any lightheadedness or noticed my balance being off-kilter or anything like that yet.

Should I think it's strange that I haven't felt the least bit nauseous yet? I think I'm just about 3 weeks pregnant (5 lmp) and I haven't had any aversions to food or upset stomach. Maybe this comes later? I know my hCG must be climbing because I've been taking a dollar store pg test every morning (yeah, I know, I have problems :lol ) and the line keeps getting darker and darker. Today's seemed a lot darker than yesterday's.....but then I don't know if that's really an accurate gauge of if my hCG is doubling every 36-72 hours, like I've heard is "healthy".

[peacechief]

kewpie-o - I didn't have any nausea/food aversions for a while. I was actually feeling extra hungry for a bit. The past few days, though, I've started feeling a bit green sometimes, but nothing too bad yet :fingersx: I hear that some women never have nausea, or only just a little bit, so I'd definitely say nothing to worry about (something to rejoice over, for as long as it lasts! :lol )

[koofie]

I never really felt sick with DD, so that is why I was so surprised this time to be feeling awful everyday:(

[peacelovingmama]

[QUOTE=kewpie-o]
Should I think it's strange that I haven't felt the least bit nauseous yet? I think I'm just about 3 weeks pregnant (5 lmp) and I haven't had any aversions to food or upset stomach. Maybe this comes later? QUOTE]

During my second pregnancy, I had virtually NO symptoms until I was around 8 weeks. Then sick. Very sick. But until then, I drove myself crazy worrying about my lack of symptoms. Then, as I curled up near the toilet, I drove myself crazy thinking the baby couldn't possibly be getting any nutrients! I don't feel sick yet either (at 5 weeks) and am just trying to enjoy it.

[grapejuicemama]

What about a little bit of lightheadedness/feeling off balance? Not major, but enough to notice on & off? Anyone else?

This is totally me. I find it very distracting and can't string a sentence together half the time.

I think I'm in for a rough ride this time around. I wonder if that means I'm having another boy since my pregnancy with DD was such a breeze.......such a breeze. Man, I miss that pregnancy!

[kewpie-o]

Peacelovingmama, I think we're in the exact same week. Maybe we can compare symptoms along the way. :wink I know that this is totally normal, but being constipated is driving me nuts. I think it's a combo of pregnancy hormones and not having my giant cup of coffee @ 7 or 8 am. When I used to drink caffeine, my body was like clockwork.....sometimes when I took the first sip of coffee (or even smelled it, I swear) I had to run to the bathroom. But now, I'll go the whole day and think, "Oh my gosh, I haven't pooped today! :dizzy: " :lol I've been drinking tons of water and I know I get a lot of fiber. I love bran flakes. Anyone else having this problem and what are you doing to fix it?

[onemoretime]

What a perfect thread!

With every one of my pregnancies, I worried about every symptom or lack thereof. My biggest worry today....I took my temp this morning (probably shouldn't have) and it was down from where it was (about .5 degrees). I am 17DPO and my test today was even darker than it was on Sunday, and my temp is still above coverline.....but still something to worry about.

I think I *might* be the slightest bit nauseous, but not enough to be debilitating. And trying to figure out if it is more nerves than anything.

Excuse me, I need to go pee.....so I can wipe and look at toilet paper.

[peacechief]

Excuse me, I need to go pee.....so I can wipe and look at toilet paper.

:lol heading there myself in a minute...

your temp dip's probably not anything to worry about - especially since your test was even darker & it's still above the cover line. I had some of those dips and it always went back up - I hated them! I stopped temping over the weekend in the hopes that I would have one less thing to worry about. So far, it's been ok... except when I took my temp yesterday evening when I was feeling kind of fevery and the temp was about what my waking temps had been...:irked: I'm blaming it on the thermometer batteries.... Thankfully I had a followup scheduled with my midwife tonight, so I'll get to see if things are still looking ok & hopefully be reassured :fingersx: :thumb

[peacelovingmama]

Peacelovingmama, I think we're in the exact same week. Maybe we can compare symptoms along the way. :wink I know that this is totally normal, but being constipated is driving me nuts. I think it's a combo of pregnancy hormones and not having my giant cup of coffee @ 7 or 8 am. When I used to drink caffeine, my body was like clockwork.....sometimes when I took the first sip of coffee (or even smelled it, I swear) I had to run to the bathroom. But now, I'll go the whole day and think, "Oh my gosh, I haven't pooped today! :dizzy: " :lol I've been drinking tons of water and I know I get a lot of fiber. I love bran flakes. Anyone else having this problem and what are you doing to fix it?

Absolutely! I am also constipated (alternating with the lovely opposite). I haven't given up caffeine altogether though (1 cup in the morning). I'm trying to eat lots of fruit, drink lots of water and walk every day. It seems to help some. What doesn't help is that I only feel like eating protein (cashew nuts, chicken, tofu dogs, etc.)

[teachermommy14]

I am not experiencing constipation, although the "lovely opposite" and I are best friends now.

What I AM worrying about is the potential for losing this baby before we've even begun! I've already had my positive blood test (I'm 5-6 weeks pg depending on which dr you ask) but at Target today, I couldn't resist buying 2 more tests to check tomorrow morning just to be sure! I'm driving myself, my dh, my cats and every single one of my friends crazy!! Ladies who are pg for the 2+ times: HOW DO YOU GET THROUGH 12 WEEKS OF WORRYING EVERY SECOND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THE BABY WITHOUT GOING INSANE?????:nut

[peacelovingmama]

I am not experiencing constipation, although the "lovely opposite" and I are best friends now.

What I AM worrying about is the potential for losing this baby before we've even begun! I've already had my positive blood test (I'm 5-6 weeks pg depending on which dr you ask) but at Target today, I couldn't resist buying 2 more tests to check tomorrow morning just to be sure! I'm driving myself, my dh, my cats and every single one of my friends crazy!! Ladies who are pg for the 2+ times: HOW DO YOU GET THROUGH 12 WEEKS OF WORRYING EVERY SECOND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THE BABY WITHOUT GOING INSANE?????:nut

I also worry. I have never lost a baby and my heart goes out to every woman who has had to endure that heartbreak. But I do fear it.

I am trying, though, to focus on the joy of being pregnant and on those things I can control (like what I put into my body, how much exercise I get, efforts at relaxation, etc.). Also, I tell myself that my baby grows stronger with each passing day. With my other 2 pregnancies, I did relax after seeing the heartbeat and then even more so after the first trimester was over.

I hope we both are able to enjoy our pregnancies and get past the worrying phase. I'll be curious to see what others have to say....

[mezzydotes]

Since I've spent the last week and a half wandering around thinking I *wasn't* pregnant (as I had tested but it came up negative), I was starting to despair over the following:

1. my enormous appetite, which I attributed to me just being a big, fat, greedy pig;

2. the headaches which I had almost immediately which I thought were due to caffeine-withdrawal (since I had cut down on my cups of tea per day);

3. my growing boobs which I thought were a result of me putting on weight owing to 1., above;

4. my brain, which seems to have developed pregnancy-brain mighty early - better invest in a notepad which goes everywhere with me right now!

Now that I know they are all due to being pregnant, I must admit I am rather relieved. I don't usually get morning sickness, thankfully (and touch wood!), but just feel generally a bit poorly and occasionally vaguely nauseous. That hasn't kicked in as yet. Only other symptoms I've had are a bit of mild crampiness and a bit of a twinge or two that I've really only just started noticing today.

On the issue of worrying, I must agree with peacelovingmama. I've never lost a pregnancy, but I have worried each time. It's kind of inevitable, and I always feel glad for each twinge, wave of nausea, or otherwise icky feeling as it reminded me that I still had my baby.

[ktmelody]

Annie-the logical BTDT part of me knows that this is normal, as I'm experiencing the same things. BUT the crazed hormonal cry-during-radio-commercials part of me worries about this too!

The weirdest thing about me when I'm pregnant is that I develop a certain craving for strong smelling personal hygeine products.:o This time, it's my medicated St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It smells so good, I want to eat it. I won't, of course, but ever heard of PICA? With my last pregnancy, it was my Tea Tree Oil shampoo. I actually had to stop buying it because I was afraid I was smelling it too much. I've already hidden my tea tree essential oil bottle. I don't know if it's harmful to smell during pregnancy!?

Is this normal? Am I just a total freak? :flipped

I was like that with my 3rd child. I could not stop smelling the vapor bath. I would stand in the shower for like 20 min and smell it. I wanted to eat it too. Thank god i didnt! :lol

[MonTana Mama]

I was like that with my 3rd child. I could not stop smelling the vapor bath. I would stand in the shower for like 20 min and smell it. I wanted to eat it too. Thank god i didnt! :lol

I feel that way about Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Foot Scrub! Isn't it wierd?

[onemoretime]

Well, my temp went back up today, and I have vowed to stop charting. I do not need to keep obsessing over it.

And Vapor Bath....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ;)

[BeccaBear]

Chalk me up as another one that doesn't seem to have any symptoms. I'm still trying to convince myself that I actually am pregnant. But, I just tested positive today, I'm sure I will get those symptoms soon enough!

[treemom2]

I worry a lot that I am not pg anymore. I mean I know I am because I haven't had any mc symptoms, but I also am not vomiting yet (I tend toward doing this a lot when pg). I guess once the vomiting starts I will feel a lot more secure in this pg:dizzy:

[gaidinsgirl]

Hi, I am new but I agree with most everything on this list! I am at 5 weeks and right now my biggest fear is that I am not really pregnant. That would be so devastating. I have taken SIX tests and they are all unmistakingly positive. I even tell myself that when I am nauseated or sick feeling that I am making it up in my head. I have issues, but I want this SO bad!

[annettemarie]

Tiny little twingy almost ovulation like pain? Nothing consitant and nothing really ouchie, just every now and again.

[wanderinggypsy]

Yes to the twingy ovulation type pain! I've had it on both sides, even though I no longer have my right ovary!!!!!!!!

[Holiztic]

I thought I was feeling ovulation type twinges too, but realized it is actually a little farther south and a bit outside of my ovaries. Then I did a little research and decided it is round ligament pain. I felt it most when standing up quickly and when making quick position changes (right side to left and vice versa) when sleeping.

Any chance this is what you are feeling. Oh, and FYI, I haven't felt it much this week (week 6). Maybe I'm as stretched as I need to be so far (not for good, obvisouly, maybe just done for now???)

[annettemarie]

Maybe. It's my fifth pregnancy, so I'm sure things get all loosey goosey a little sooner.

[moppity]

Oh, Ive been getting the ovulation type/mild AF pain too and it's freaking me out!! DH is convinced I had the same with DD but I can't remember :lol

[hulamama]

Is it ok to have symptoms like discharge and cramping and then to not have it? Yesterday, both just stopped and it is freaking me out. I need to stay away from scary pregnancy stories--they are wierding me out.