I'm pregnant with my second child, another girl. I opted for a "natural" labor and delivery with DD1. Everything was great until transition. Transition gradually got worse and worse, to the point that it was a massive contraction that never stopped. She never dropped past a -1 station, so I never got the urge to push. 4 1/2 hours after entering transition with a stuck baby, I finally got an epidural. It still didn't help get her down further, so I had a c-section. She was only 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and the OB said she had to "wrangle her out." It's my body, an anatomically narrow pelvic space with little elasticity - my mom had the same issue. With this baby, it will be a scheduled c-section. It took me a long time to get over DD1's birth, but I'm totally okay now and actually glad this one will be scheduled.
Regarding the pregnancy differences/similarities...
They started off more or less the same - I got symptoms I don't get as PMS and vice versa. I had sore boobs, super sonic sense of smell, immediately worse heartburn, urge to pee, lethargy, and dizziness. I definitely had MS with DD2 but not with DD1, despite ongoing nausea particularly in response to smells. With both I didn't gain much weight until about 20 weeks, when all of a sudden it jumped about ten pounds.
With DD1, I'm pretty sure 20 weeks-ish was when my thyroid tanked. This time around, it's not only corrected but I'm being followed closely by my endocrionolgist, and I have felt much better as a result.
I have been anemic with both (and am anemic normally) but this time around the oral iron isn't cutting it; I go see a hematologist in two weeks.
I have had hand issues with both, but much worse with DD1. I had both carpal tunnel and deQuervain's tenosynovitis, which was EXCRUCIATING. I couldn't touch either hand without searing pain, use my hands, write, do anything. I ultimately got steroid shots (WHEW) while pregnant and had them both surgically corrected after DD1 was born. I had an anatomical variant which contributed to it being so bad and being recurrent after she was born. This time around, I only have CT and got steroid injections last week. They are much better but not 100%; I can live with that, though. It had been really interfering with me doing my job and waking me up because of pain and discomfort.
Horrible reflux with both; need a PPI instead of an H2 blocker this time around. Just had to increase my dose.
I had sciatica with DD1, which was better after some acupuncture. No sciatica this time, but I have had some SI joint pain and round ligament pain, both of which were new to me.
Belly showed early with both, but REALLY showed early this time (expected). This time I have a weird feeling with my skin on my belly - it feels like it's been sunburned! So weird and it's uncomfortable to wear clothing. :huh
I've had mild swelling in hands and feet with both, but nothing that compression socks and gloves can't help. BP has been fine. I haven't had GD with either, but I did have to do the three-hour test this time because they lowered the threshold for passing the one-hour since DD1 was born.
I think that's it? :grin::wink: