LadyChroe

My first child was almost 5 years ago, I had her when I was 31. This pregnancy is proving to be more challenging. I'm only 17 weeks today, but I popped early and I feel so uncomfortable already! My belly is sore, it feels heavy and it drags at me, especially when I'm reclining or trying to roll over in bed.

I know that second pregnancies typically show earlier, but I wasn't prepared for these physical differences. I remember feeling like a million bucks in my second trimester last time, and not feeling all huge and heavy until I was 7 months pregnant! Is this normal? Is it because I'm older now or is this true for all second pregnancies?

Personal experiences appreciated!

My first child was almost 5 years ago, I had her when I was 31. This pregnancy is proving to be more challenging. I'm only 17 weeks today, but I popped early and I feel so uncomfortable already! My belly is sore, it feels heavy and it drags at me, especially when I'm reclining or trying to roll over in bed.

I know that second pregnancies typically show earlier, but I wasn't prepared for these physical differences. I remember feeling like a million bucks in my second trimester last time, and not feeling all huge and heavy until I was 7 months pregnant! Is this normal? Is it because I'm older now or is this true for all second pregnancies?

I am 9 weeks pregnant, I charted so I know my ovulation date (10/11/13) and gestational age was confirmed by ultrasound. So I know I'm not farther along than I thought. This is my second baby.

I can feel movement already! If I felt it once or twice, or even several times during an hour, I would say it must be gas. But I've been feeling it off and on all day! I know what it feels like from my first pregnancy, like popcorn popping. Please tell me I'm not nuts :)

I got pregnant with my daughter in 2009 my third month after stopping the pill. We were very lucky, as it was the first month of trying. After she was born, I went on Depo for a few years, but went off it last winter because I found out that it can take months and months to get your fertility back. My periods resumed in June 2012, but were very irregular until September. I was on NuvaRing until a couple months ago.

My hubs and I were thinking of conjuring up a brother or sister for her. I'm now 35, and I understand that I may not be as fertile as I once was, and it could take a year or more to conceive. Should I be worried? I've also heard that once you've been pregnant one time, it's often very easy to conceive again. Any thoughts or experiences on this?

Hi,

1 year ago, my tailbone broke during the delivery of my daughter. It was 3 months before I could function and sit and even now I still have some pain from it. The first three weeks were excruciating and I felt I could hardly enjoy my daughter, esp since I was breastfeeding and could not take pain meds.

I was wondering if anyone else broke their tailbone during delivery, and if so, did it break again during later births? Should I opt for a c-section?

PS - I broke my mom's tailbone while I was being born as well. My doctor says we probably have a slight genetic malformation in our family.

Hi,

I had my beautiful baby girl May 30, 2009 (almost 7 months ago). I had mild, diet-controlled gestational diabetes during the pregnancy. At 6 weeks postpartum I tested negative for diabetes. But ever since the birth, my weight has been declining steadily.

I was 140lbs before I got pregnant, and for 5'8", that's pretty slim. I gained only 15 lbs during the pregnancy due to the dietary restrictions of the gestational diabetes. Now, I am down to 123 and still losing, despite a healthy, mostly balanced diet and a large serving of ice cream every night, plus various junk food during the day with the intention of gaining weight. I feel skeletal and unhealthy, and I can tell my husband is not as attracted to me because of it, though he doesn't mention it, the sweetie.

I am breastfeeding my daughter, and she is chubby. I read that breastfeeding takes 300-500 calories a day, but I am sure that I am eating at least 500 calories more a day than usual, probably even more most days.

I'm sorry if this sounds obnoxious to those who are having trouble slimming down after the pregnancy, I don't dare discuss it with my friends for this reason.

Has anyone else had this experience? I haven't been to the doctor since my 6-week postpartum, but I plan on going back soon.

My husband works at a school and brought me home a cold! I am 38 weeks, and the two other colds I had lasted 3 weeks each. One of them ended up a sinus infection and double ear infection.

My due date is 11 days away. Have you had to deliver while sick with a minor illness? Was it a big deal or did the labor process eclipse it?

By the way, cold drugs don't work for me at all, with the exception of Afrin, which is not recommended during pregnancy but I may be allowed to use during labor (will ask the doc). I'm taking the Zicam nasal gel (zinc) to try to slow the cold, and of course all the usual home treatments for cold - Vitamin C, hot tea, honey, soup, etc. Rest.

Please tell me how your delivery went if you were sick! I'm also worried about infecting my baby once she's born... will the colostrum protect her or will I have to avoid her until I'm better?

Lately, every time I wake up I have numb hands. Even when I just get up to go to the bathroom every two hours. I've been having a little swelling in my hands, nothing huge.

Also my fingers seem a little stiff and sore all day if I flex them. Is this pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome? All my fingers on both hands are affected equally. Or is it just what happens when your fingers get puffy?

I was hoping to hear some schnozz stories. I look so much different than I used to, and I miss my old nose. Will it go back after I deliver? I'm 37 weeks on Monday.

I'm 36 weeks pregnant and my hips have been hurting for quite some time. But today the one is just horrible. I literally can't walk and I'm at my wits end. It takes me 10 min to hobble to the bathroom, holding onto furniture the whole way. I've tried sleeping with a pillow between my legs, which helped, but as soon as I walked to the couch this morning, it all came back even worse than before. Please help.

I'm 30 weeks pregnant with my first child, and from the beginning it has just been one problem after another. First I was diagnosed with a bicornuate (heart-shaped) uterus that gave me only a 50-60% chance of the pregnancy being successful, with high risks of late 2nd trimester miscarriage, pre-term labor, etc.

We escaped the 2nd trimester without incident (thank God, but what a lot of worrying we did!) but now there's a whole new round of issues. Starting at 21 weeks, I've been having problems with preterm labor. I have to take medicine to prevent contractions but I still get them all the time. Usually just Braxton-Hicks, but sometimes big, crushing ones that are just terrifying. At 26 weeks, I had to go to the hospital to stop the contractions.

Yesterday I just got the word that I have gestational diabetes. I am the healthiest eater I know and I'm right on target with my weight gain (15-20 lbs, depending on how swollen I am that day, heh). It's not too bad, but I'll have to stab myself 3-5 times a day to check my sugar and choreograph my food - though I honestly don't think I could eat any better than I already do. I meet with the nutritionist tonight to learn how to manage it.

I've tried so hard to be a good, healthy mom-to-be, and I just feel like my body is turning on me. Like my body, with its deformed womb and sugar issues, is just not good enough to support my daughter. I am usually an optimist, but I just feel so discouraged because this stuff never ends. Plus I'm still working, yet on restricted activity, so I can't even cheer up by getting the nursery ready or anything.

My husband has been great, but I can't help feel that my issues are letting him down. I just wanted to make a sweet, healthy baby for us, not a never-ending hassle. I know you guys know how I feel, please share your experiences and help me not feel alone, ok?

I've had 2 episodes with early contractions.

At 21 weeks, they were very painful, every 5-6 minutes, but stopped after 2.5 hours by themselves before I could get to the hospital.

At 26 weeks, I was admitted into the hospital for contractions that started painlessly, but progressed quickly to moderately painful contractions every 2-3 minutes. They got better after they IV'ed me full of fluids, and went away almost completely when they gave me a shot of something hours later. I had a negative FFN (labor protein test), and my cervix went from 3.9 to 3.2, but anything over 3 is considered normal.

Now I'm 27 weeks, and terrified that this baby is going to come early. I know she would likely survive, but I want her to be healthy and not spend months in the NICU. I have a bicornuate uterus (heart-shaped), by the way, and I have a 30% chance of early delivery.

Has anyone else had a similar experience to mine? Did your baby come early or stay put until term?

I was wondering if anyone else felt a strong urge to urinate while having Braxton-Hicks contractions.

I'm looking for a store to register at that has baby stuff that isn't all pastels. I'm a graphic designer, and I just can't stomach all this cutesy pale pink girl stuff... I like color and style. Suggestions?

My ankles and legs have been getting progressively more swollen over the last few weeks. They're not huge, though - at least, not yet. :) For the last few days or so, they have also been sore. Kind of like a mild achy feeling in my lower shins.

It's in the same area on both legs, so I'm pretty sure it's not a blood clot. Does anyone else have this?

I'm 23 weeks.

I drank the liquid that artichoke hearts are packed in. It was really, really good.

I thought you guys might get a kick out of this. Please don't tell anyone :-)

I'm 21 weeks along. At about 12:30am on Sunday night, I started having contractions. Not Braxton-Hicks... they felt like bad menstrual cramps, but started low and then spiraled up until my whole stomach was cramping and rock-hard. I could still walk and talk through them, but they were every 7-10 minutes. I drank 2 glasses of water and lay down to see if they would go away.

After an hour or so, I fell asleep, but the contractions woke me up an hour later. This time they were even worse, but were less regular. After 20 minutes I was about to call my doctor when I felt I had to go to the bathroom. I did, and it was diarrhea. Then the contractions stopped cold... just like that. That was the end of it.

I talked to my doctor, and she checked my cervix and said it was still tight, but she was very concerned. She said they were definitely contractions, but she didn't know if they were caused by the diarrhea or if the diarrhea was a symptom.

I should mention that I have a heart-shaped uterus which puts me at a risk of early labor. I am so afraid that my baby is going to be born too early to live that i can barely breathe.

Has anyone else had contractions this early and still gone on to have a healthy baby? Is this common? What were your experiences?

I'm 21 weeks tomorrow but my belly is already getting really big:

http://public.fotki.com/chroe/ultrasound/1002964.h...

It's starting to get very itchy. Does this mean I'm definitely going to get stretch marks? Is there anything I can do besides Palmer's cocoa butter?

Yes, my pulse! I feel it in the back of my head, the backs of my shoulders, all the way down to the backs of my thighs. In some positions it's worse, but I feel it all the time and it's so annoying. Does anyone else have this?

I know that I have 40-50% more blood while pregnant than usual, and my heart beats faster to keep up. I just didn't know it would be so annoying! I'm 20 weeks. Will I have this until I deliver? Should I mention it to my doctor?