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TTC: Is anyone trying lunaconception (the theory that a full moon triggers ovulation, and that artificial simulation of such, by leaving your bedroom lights on for three days starting on cycle day 14, can also trigger it)? If so, is it working?
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
BOTB
TTC: Is anyone trying lunaconception (the theory that a full moon triggers ovulation, and that artificial simulation of such, by leaving your bedroom lights on for three days starting on cycle day 14, can also trigger it)? If so, is it working?
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it?
L&D: Did you use massage or acupressure during your labor? If so, did it help?
First days: What are your strategies for coping with your own sleep deprivation?
Updates:
Up next:
Re: BOTB
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
I never had any spotting or bleeding, though I constantly looked for it until I was probably 16 weeks or so.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
I distinctly remember feeling little flutters that I now think were baby (b/c I could feel kicks and stuff more easily within days) at about 17 weeks. T still hasn't felt the baby move, but I think we're getting close. I can very faintly feel it, so every night we try to lay still and see if he can feel it. I am dying to see other people's answers to this question!! T says all the time he wants to feel it, and I feel bad that he can't yet.
Updates: 22 weeks today, had a couple clients that I've known for years ask me yesterday (so, essentially my first "you're obviously pregnant" questions by people who didn't know before), and I'm feeling really great. I am so smitten with baby kicks - best feeling in the world. We're nearing the end of our Bradley classes, so just trying to keep up with diet and exercise and relaxation and reading. Not a whole lot else to report
TTC: Is anyone trying lunaconception (the theory that a full moon triggers ovulation, and that artificial simulation of such, by leaving your bedroom lights on for three days starting on cycle day 14, can also trigger it)? If so, is it working?
I did not try this
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
N/A
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
I started to feel them around 19 weeks this time, I had/have an anterior placenta, I was hoping to feel the kicks earlier this time around. DH felt kicks around 22-23 weeks.
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it?
I do not have swelling yet. I had it bad with DS and just tried to keep my feet elevated and off my feet.
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
Yes, I had spotting throughout my pregnancy. It sucked and was scary everytime, even after they found the cause was polyps on my cervix.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
I felt the baby pretty early, at about 16 weeks and John felt her by 20 weeks.
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it? Nope! I was pretty lucky in that regard, no swelling
L&D: Did you use massage or acupressure during your labor? If so, did it help? I did try accupressure the night before I ended up being induced, but i don't think it helped
First days: What are your strategies for coping with your own sleep deprivation? This is hard for me to answer b/c I've never needed much sleep, and during the early days I slept even less then Ellie b/c of my PPD/anxiety, it was at its worst when I was trying to sleep. I ended up sleeping on our sofa the first 6 weeks of E's life. The only way I could fall asleep was with the TV on. I watched lots of Conan. During the day I drank lots of water and went on lots of walks which helped me feel more awake.
ERD 01.16.11
Surviving postpartum depression & OCD one day at a time.
Also experienced antenatal OCD.
Feel free to ask me questions about my experience.
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you? I had quite a bit of bleeding and spotting during the first trimester than freaked me out, but it tapered off around week 9 or 10 and LO is doing fine.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy? I think I felt them around week 18. I felt some fluttering before then, but I wasn't absolutely sure that I was feeling kicks until week 18. DH felt them around week 21 which did make him feel a little more involved.
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it? I currently have sausage feet and cankles and my calves are larger than normal. I thought I was in the clear with swelling until we had that heatwave a few weeks ago causing my feet to puff up and stay that way. Luckily, my fingers haven't swollen too much but I did removed my rings a few months ago just in case (my mom had to have her wedding ring cut off and I didn't want to repeat her mistake). Nothing seems to help much except elevating my feet when I can at work and at home and drinking lots of water.
Updates: I am so happy that tomorrow is my last day of work because I am totally fed up with BART and my commute. Baby has definitely dropped and I have to pee all the freaking time. I am so ready to be done with pregnancy!
TTC: Is anyone trying lunaconception (the theory that a full moon triggers ovulation, and that artificial simulation of such, by leaving your bedroom lights on for three days starting on cycle day 14, can also trigger it)? If so, is it working?
N/A
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
N/A
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
It was pretty late... I think I started to feel flutters around 20 weeks or so. DH wasn't able to feel anything until closer to 25 weeks once I started to feel it on the outside but it was so hard to catch. She was often shy and stopped as soon as he looked/felt. He thought it was neat, and we both thought it was weird.
I was able to catch my belly rolling around yesterday on video. It is reassuring at times, and annoying/uncomfortable at other times (especially when trying to go to sleep) - this is now, not in 2nd tri. Her kicks sure are strong now!!
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it?
Mostly when walking the neighborhood and/or when I get hot. Otherwise I am still able to wear my rings, shoes, etc. My socks can be restricting sometimes. Haven't tried to reduce the swelling.
Updates: Still baking a baby! My family and I joke that we're trying to break a record by only being 1 week late. My nephew (2nd baby from my sister) was the earliest among my siblings and nephews at 8 days late. I'm just hoping she comes before May and to avoid induction!
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you? With DS1, I had some spotting around week 7 or 8 and that was it. This time, I had bright red bleeding, probably 2x/week until 16 weeks. It really freaked me out, but baby was growing appropriately, so the doctor wasn't really concerned. Around weeks 12-13 I got pneumonia and while that really really sucked, it meant that I couldn't focus on the bleeding, which was actually good for me.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy? I have an anterior placenta again, and didn't really feel this baby until week 20-21. DH felt him not too long after and now I can lay in bed and see my stomach jumping around.
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it?no.
L&D: Did you use massage or acupressure during your labor? If so, did it help?no
First days: What are your strategies for coping with your own sleep deprivation? this time I'm REALLY going to follow the "sleep when baby sleeps" idea. With DS1, when he'd sleep I'd figure that I could get stuff done around the house. This time I don't care how messy my house is. I'm sleeping!
TTC: Is anyone trying lunaconception (the theory that a full moon triggers ovulation, and that artificial simulation of such, by leaving your bedroom lights on for three days starting on cycle day 14, can also trigger it)? If so, is it working?
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?No bleeding. But lots of cramping and every time I went to the bathroom I expected it.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?I have an anterior placenta so I didn't start feeling anything until about 21 weeks, which I was told was expected with an anterior placenta. There might have been some a bit earlier that I didn't know where kicks, but nothing before 20 weeks. DH hasn't felt her yet, but she's getting really strong and now I think it's just a matter of timing: she is really active late at night when I'm trying to go to bed and around 3pm at work. But I think it'll be soon. He's very anxious to feel her.
Updates:
we start our Bradley class next week - I'm really excited to get started. We hired Kelly M to do our birth photography. Ordered furniture, but still have no idea what I'm doing with the nursery, but I've got a couple design minded friends helping me out.
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy?
Yes, I had spotting week 7-8...went in for an ultrasound to make sure everything was ok and it was.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
I felt him at 17 weeks, DH felt him at 21.
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it?
Oh boy, I started with the swelling in my second trimester. By 20 weeks I couldn't wear my rings. By the end I only had two pairs of shoes that fit, my tennis and my flip flops. I was diagnosed with polyhydramnia late in the game and that was my primary problem with the swelling and water retention. I kept my feet up as much as possible. Tried to not eat super high sodium foods. Kept the water intake going.
First days: What are your strategies for coping with your own sleep deprivation?
Adreneline.
Naps and even short amounts of sleep are better than nothing.
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you? I didn't. Although I constantly checked and continue to.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy? I felt them right at 18 weeks, then I didn't for a while, and then I did again. I can't remember when DH started to feel them. He goes back and forth between them being really cool and really freaky--we watch a lot of horror movies ;-)
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it? Not yet. L&D: Did you use massage or acupressure during your labor? If so, did it help?First days: What are your strategies for coping with your own sleep deprivation?Updates:I didn't have any with this pregnancy. I probably would have been pretty nervous though after having a m/c before.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
I started to feel them around 18 weeks I think. He was able to feel them shortly after that. I don't know that it made him feel more involved but I think it did give him more of a connection (it did for me too)
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it?
Some days it's worse than others. I'm trying to be extra careful about salt which is pretty easy for me. I sit at a desk and have a 2hr commute which my Dr thinks adds to the problem so I've been trying to be more active by taking long walks at lunch or before a long drive.
I just wanted to mention this b/c I think it's kind of counter-intuitive to what we always learn (and when I first heard it, I did not buy it at all), but in Bradley classes at least, part of the diet they preach is to salt your food to taste (i.e. do not limit your salt intake), one reason being that not getting enough salt is a common cause of swelling. Here are a couple articles that confirm it:
http://www.ivillage.com/pregnancy-7-ways-ease-late-pregnancy-swelling/6-n-145631
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/symptoms/a/swelling.htm
In truth, I should say that a google search will turn up articles that say the opposite too (to limit salt, etc to prevent swelling), but my understanding is that new research suggests too little salt is just as bad, if not worse for swelling, as too much salt.
Very interesting, that's great. I just held back from things like Chinese food that under normal circumstances would make me retain water. No way anyone was keeping me away from salty French Fries, popcorn or potato chips.
I might have eaten their arm off.
TTC: Is anyone trying lunaconception (the theory that a full moon triggers ovulation, and that artificial simulation of such, by leaving your bedroom lights on for three days starting on cycle day 14, can also trigger it)? If so, is it working? I had never heard of this.
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you? I had some mild cramping, but by the time I felt it, I knew it was normal during the first tri, so I don't think I worried at all. I had previously had 2 CPs, so I watched for spotting like a hawk, but didn't have any.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy? I felt flutters around week 19 and real kicks a few weeks later. I don't know when he was able to feel them, but by Thanksgiving (25 weeks, I think?) I had everyone around feeling my belly!
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it? I had quite a bit and didn't realize it until it went down after the delivery. I should have tried to manage it better, but I was on my feet a lot and didn't rest enough.
L&D: Did you use massage or acupressure during your labor? If so, did it help? No, I didn't really want massage at all. I think my husband or doula may have done a little in early labor, but I honestly don't even remember.
First days: What are your strategies for coping with your own sleep deprivation? I didn't have any strategies. I just dealt. I really don't do well with the whole "sleep when baby sleeps" strategy, it's not realistic in our situation.
Updates: Baby has colic. Mama's losing her mind. "This too shall pass" has become my mantra.
PM me for our family/baby blog
Haley Beth ~ March 3rd, 2011
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
I had 2 threatened miscarriages at 6 and 8 weeks, which had accompanied cramping and bleeding. It was scary, and since I work in the ED I was able to get some early scans to make sure all was good with the pregnancy. Everything always turned out fine, even with the 2 episodes of bleeding and an emergency appendectomy at 15 weeks, and we have a healthy DS.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
Around 22 weeks due to an anterior placenta; however, I probably felt little flutters earlier but just attributed it to gas. DH felt them probably at 24 weeks or so.
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it?
I had massive cankles the last few weeks. I think it was b/c I was on my feet all day at work. I just tried to put my feet up after work and relax.
L&D: Did you use massage or acupressure during your labor? If so, did it help? n/a
First days: What are your strategies for coping with your own sleep deprivation?
Definitely having DH help bottle feed the baby at night. DS is pretty good at sleeping at night, and more alert during the day, so it hasn't been that bad. Also, DH usually stays up a lot later than me, so I get to bed as early as possible to prep for the late night feeds.
Updates: DS is 6 weeks old today. He started smiling and laughing this week, and last night he slept nearly 5 hours. Hip hip hooray! Hopefully he can do this again tonight!
TTC: Is anyone trying lunaconception (the theory that a full moon triggers ovulation, and that artificial simulation of such, by leaving your bedroom lights on for three days starting on cycle day 14, can also trigger it)? If so, is it working?
No we haven't tried this. Though I might need to read up on it.
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
Having had two M/Cs now any spotting, if we have another pregnancy, will probably make me insane.
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
I had two internal exams early in the pregnancy (8 weeks and 10 weeks), and I had bright red bleeding after both of them. I was told to expect bleeding, but I was still worried.
2nd trimester: When did you feel the first kicks? When was your SO able to feel them? Did it make your SO feel more involved in the pregnancy?
I felt flutters at 18 weeks, but didn't think much of them. Because of my anterior placenta, I didn't feel definite kicking until 22 weeks. And even though I started feeling her from the outside at 24 weeks, we couldn't get the timing right for my husband to feel them. She would stop moving when he'd put his hand on my belly. It wasn't until 27 weeks that she got super active and he finally felt her for the first time. Now it feels like she's trying to claw her way out of my uterus. It's awesome
3rd trimester: Did you or are you experiencing any swelling? What did you do to try to reduce it?
My feet and wrists are swollen for sure. I'd given up on wearing a watch and certain footwear a long time ago. But I had been able to wear my wedding rings until today. I'm going to drink lots of water tonight and see if the rings fit tomorrow.
1st trimester: It?s fairly common to experience cramping and/or bleeding in the first trimester. Did anyone experience this and continue on to have a normal pregnancy? If you?d previously had an m/c, how did these symptoms affect you?
Actually, I'm currently having spotting right now and trying really really hard not to freak out. Thank you SO MUCH for putting this as the 1st Trimester topic today. It's really reassuring, especially since I've already gone through a miscarriage.
This totally makes sense to me. If you have enough osmotic pressure (ie electrolytes) in the intravascular space (ie blood vessels), it is more likely to hold the water in the blood vessels. (salt draws water). If the salt/electrolyte level in the blood vessels is low, the water is more likely to leak out and cause swelling in the interstitial space in the tissues. Although technically the body should be regulating how much salt is in the blood stream but if you are low in salt I could see that causing swelling.