Million Question Monday (just a few hours early)

simsk3887

Ok, ladies. Bear with me here. I've thought of a million questions lately (ok, maybe like 5 that I can remember right now but I reserve the right to add on later ) and while I know I can call my OB, I figure a lot of you may have lived this already and/or have the same questions now so I thought I would just start a thread with all of them to get them in a central location.

1. Stretch marks - I know nothing can prevent or completely resolve them, but what's your favorite cream/treatment for them? My baby belly is doing fine but my boobs are out of control growing and they're taking this stretch mark thing a little too seriously.

2. Braxton Hicks - Those who have experienced these, can you describe your feelings? I've had issues with my pelvis tightening up since HS and the other day, just getting out of my car, my whole pelvis tightened up and I couldn't stand up straight or walk. Possible muscle spasm, or possible BH?

3. TMI question - When should I be concerned about diarrhea while pregnant? I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 15 and had it under control, without meds, by the time I got pregnant. My first tri was plagued with constipation but since week 23, I've had diarrhea many times a week. It doesn't bother me so much since I grew up with IBS, but I worry about the lack of nutrients getting to little man since my digestive system passes everything straight through.

4. Sleeping - What are your tips and tricks for sleeping through the night? Rolling over is getting hard and I'm only 25 weeks. I have a body pillow but it only does so much.

5. I'll come back and add more as they return to my horrible baby brain.

carcrashheart

since i'm up and waiting for the baby to wake and eat......

1) no recommendations. i haven't heard of anyone i know having much luck with lightening their stretch marks, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. my marks didn't come until after i gave birth. i don't see them going away so i just live with them. meh. battle scars?

2) i didn't experience BH's either, but everyone seems to say that it feels like your belly tightening up. so in my non professional or experienced opinion-if it happens again, i would call it BH's. if not, then a spasm. 

3) i would mention it to your OB, but i don't know if i would be too concerned. i was on magnesium while pregnant and it caused similar reaction and it didn't seem to phase anyone. the baby is going to take what it needs first, so i'm thinking it's really you that would be missing the nutrients, not baby. i'm not sure if it running through your system quickly really matters since it's still going to run through baby. but again, i would mention it to your OB.

4) LOLZ. i slept on the couch the majority of my pregnancy both times, but this recent pregnancy i opted for the couch because it was better for me to sleep on. moving and rolling was damn near impossible the second time around. my belly was huge and my lower back had extreme pain if i so much as thought about moving while laying down. it was awful. the couch was more comfortable and allowed me to sleep in one position for longer periods of time before feeling the need to move (if at all). since moving sucked and made me cry in pain, i opted to find one comfortable position to sleep most of the night in. for me, that was on my back and slightly propped up. the bed was worse for me-rolling over was harder and the mattress was softer, which was more painful (my dad has a bad back and also prefers things that are firmer for his back-chairs and beds alike, so apparently it wasn't just in my head that the softer bed was more painful). so i guess i am suggesting that you try out a different sleeping spot if possible. i know it seems undesireable to sleep anywhere other than in bed with your husband, but when it comes to getting some decent sleep while pregnant i suggest doing whatever helps. i didn't have a pregnancy pillow for either pregnancy, so i can't speak to their benefit. plus, i could grab on to the couch to help pull myself up or help roll myself over. 

good luck!

brij2006

1.  Stretch Marks:  They're inevitable and unavoidable.  However, I've used Mederma before on the stretch marks on my boobs and it lightened them a bit.

2. Braxton Hicks: Mine mostly feel like period cramps.  Lately they've started to tense up certain areas of my belly.
The hip pain may be from RLP instead.  From your ligaments expanding and stretching to prepare for baby to come through.

3. Diarrhea:  I have actually had this same issue since 2nd tri.  My midwife wasn't concerned about baby not getting nutrients as long as I was eating and drinking plenty of water.  It also helped a little when I started drinking Gatorade.  Must be the electrolytes or something.

4. Sleeping:  Yeah, just understand that you will no longer sleep.  Okay, I know that's not helpful.  But I've gotten to the point where I have to read a little bit before bed so that way my brain gets shut down completely, and it seems that I'm able to sleep through a little bit of the pain.  When all else fails I move to the spare bed so I can sprawl out and try to get as comfortable as possible.    

simsk3887

@carcrashheart‌ - I'm thinking the couch is in my future. DH works midnights so it's no different to sleep alone in bed than it is to sleep alone on the couch I tried it Friday night though and my legs were so restless. We may have to reattempt in the near future though.

@brij2006‌ - Your response for sleep made me laugh. It's very true that my body is getting me ready for the lack of sleep. I'm just shooting for more than 30 min at a time right now. Thanks to awful knees and hips growing up, I've slept with a pillow between my knees and up every 2nd hours for years. I can do multiple wake ups, but the 30 min thing is wearing me down quickly.

Thanks for your responses, ladies! I'm really glad that I have this board and you ladies to help convince me that I'm not completely insane. Haha.

Sewilson33

1) Stretch marks unfortunately can come with or without cream. I just use Palmer's Cocoa Butter Oil & Lotion twice a day. I do my butt, upper thighs, stomach and love handles and boobs.

2) As for BH I have no idea if I am feeling them but I assume I am. Usually it feels like a strong pull in my abdomen to my pelvis. Then it goes away like nothing happened.

3) Sorry no help

4) Sleeping - I sleep 10x better if I do the slightest bit of cardio in the evening or during the day. Anything for like 15 minutes.
I also put a pillow on my back at night so if I do want to move I have a wedge under me and it prevents me from laying on my back. If I end up flat on my back I wake up.
THAT being said... I still do not sleep peacefully all night. I get some good hours in but there are nights where my congestion has me up alllll night and my mind is on super speed. Those nights suck and nothing helps them.
Think of it as preparing for the baby haha.

LuckyAngel07

1. Stretch marks - They're mainly genetic, so if you're going to get them, there's not a lot you can do. However, I used body butter every day on my belly, hips, and boobs. At least I was moisturized, and if it helped even a little, awesome. Mine is just a blend of shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil. You can use straight coconut oil, too. 

2. Braxton Hicks - Mine felt a lot like period cramps. I'd usually have to sit down to get them to ease up. There weren't super painful, but were uncomfortable for me.

3. Diarrhea question - I had a little constipation for a while, and then some diarrhea/looser BMs for a while, but neither to the extreme. If it's been diarrhea for a while, I'd mention it. And try upping your fiber intake to try and firm things up, but keep it all moving.  

4. Sleeping - I didn't have a ton of trouble sleeping toward the end, but my hips would get more sore after being on my side for a long stretch (and I'm a side sleeper to begin with). I'd keep a pillow shoved behind me, so if I needed relief for my hips, I could roll mostly onto my back, but be slightly propped by the pillow so I wasn't totally flat. That's what was comfy for me.