Okay, this seems a little odd and I'm probably just being an overly anxious mom so I have to ask for my own sanity:-). I am about 27 weeks pregnant with my second child and this pregnancy has been especially challenging. For several weeks I've felt minor cramping, reminiscent of "I think I'm about to get my period" level of discomfort. Last week the cramping became very localized and much more significant. We went to L&D and I suspected a UTI or yeast infection was the cause. Since a yeast infection is what likely triggered pre-term labor at 34 weeks with my first pregnancy I didn't want to give it a chance to escalate. I was diagnosed with a UTI and put on antibiotics which I will finish tomorrow. The weird thing is the painful cramping went away, but that non-specific cramping has returned. According to the monitors the baby is just fine....I'm guessing the cramping is from normal stretching of the uterus and supporting ligaments/tendons, etc. My next appointment isn't until the first week of January and I dont' feel like I have specific enough issues to try to get one next week....am I crazy?
I know that every pregnancy is different. Have you noticed a difference in pregnancies related to the sex of the baby? This baby seems to do a lot more rolling/turning/twisting, etc that feels like gross motor movement (since boys generally learn gross motor coordination before fine motor skills and the reverse for girls this could make sense). The part that is weird is that whenever he makes one of these movements I feel like I've just crested the top of a roller coaster or large hill and get that "drop" feeling in my stomach and chest area. I am guessing he is just pushing on a nerve or one of the large blood vessels in a way that alters blood flow and this is what creates the sensation. However, the feeling is disconcerting. I have had trouble with anxiety in the past (and trust me I can absolutely identify anxiety attacks) and can say with certainty this is not anxiety. When I asked the doc (not my regular doc, another from the practice) about the sensations he said it was just anxiety. I feel foolish bringing this up again.....has anyone else had this sensation? Did it last the entire pregnancy?
-S.
With my two, because they were large babies, toward the end, I would feel that I would be kicked in the boob and the groin at the same time. Very disconcerting.
Also those most disconcerting cramps are probably Braxton Hicks contractions. I had them the second time around, but not the first time.
S.,
You say that your next appointment isn't for another two weeks or so and that you have a concern. You are also concerned enough to post here and as all of us for our advice. That tells me that you are more concerned than you're letting anyone else, including yourself, know. If your instincts say go see the doctor, then go see the doctor; appointments be hanged.
As for movement, I don't know at all. My son was first and had his periods of activity. My daughter was second and loved playing pinball with all my internal organs, with her as he pinball. I have heard it said, and believe it that with consecutive pregnancies, within 10 years of each other, that the body remembers what's going on and therefore will feel/experience the same milestones earlier than the first pregnancy. With my son I don't think I really felt him move until I was obviously pregnant. With my daughter I felt movement weeks before my husband could.
Hope this helps,
Melissa
"since boys generally learn gross motor coordination before fine motor skills and the reverse for girls this could make sense"
This is a wives tale.. Different children learn things at different rates, it doesn't have anything to do with the gender. My son was very advanced in fine motor skills and lagged behind in gross. Some kids are just much more wiggely than others.
To answer your question, it sounds pretty normal. I had all sorts of cramping, stretching, burning sensations. At one point it felt like the baby was going to split my pubic bone apart.. My midwives said that it's all normal. Pain seems to get worse with each pregnancy (hips/uterus) from my experience as well. So long as the pain is not contractions in a pattern (3-5min) then you're probably fine.
Good luck!
Personally, I think if you are worried about anything you should call the doctor. We need to listen to ourselves more. Make sure the doctor listens to you and addresses your concerns. I'm sure everything is fine, but you would hate to ignore that inside voice and then have something be wrong. Call your doctor!
My second moved a lot less than my first so it definately did feel much different. I had contractions most of my pregnancy with my second. They were never disabling in any way, but were general crampy/contracty. Trust your intuition but you also chose your provider for a reason too. :)
As long as you are not staining or have broken your water or the baby's movements have ceased for two days do not worry or fear. Once in a while a mother in the 7th month will have a cramp that makes her drop to the floor. When it's over her belly expands. That is because she has been an athlete or a dancer and has very tight muscles.
You are likely just fine and so is your son.
I used to teach at the midwifery college so I have seen many problem pregnancies.
Yours reads okay. You know you have no dangerous conditions such as diabetes of pregnancy or high blood pressure or kidney damage.
Did your doctor check you for a bladder infection?
If not go to your family doctor for one. That should settle your mind.
Enjoy being pregnant it doesn't last long.
I had 7 lb b/g twins my first time, a 9 lb 13 oz girl the second time and with this third preganacy I have been shocked at how much more "crampy" ligament stretching I have had and how much more this kiddo moves compared to the others. Not sure if it is a boy or girl since we don't find out, but it is absolutly different than the other times. I have always had a ton of braxton hicks with each pregnancy and this time is no different as well. At 31 weeks I can say that I am very suprised at how much earlier the stretching, cramping, and knock the wind out of me baby movement started. I would call your Dr with your concerns to be safe and to ease your mind though, even if your appointment is only a week away.
As long as you are not actually bleeding or having regular contractions you are probably fine. I've had 3 children, but I had the most pain with my 2nd pregnancy. I think it had to do with the way my daugter sat in my uterus and moved around. I had "cramping" feelings and lower back pain a lot. I also had strange light-headed headaches where I would get blurry spots in my vision. Never had anything like that with the other 2 pregnancies. I went full-term with her and labor/delivery was normal. She is 3 years old now and advanced in every way. I say to not worry too much. Every pregnancy, every child is different. My first pregnancy was my son and he gave me the "roller coaster" feeling every time he rolled, but my 2 girls didn't do that. Just take it in stride and try not to worry so much. :)
It sounds like Braxton Hicks to me. I only had them for a week or two before my first daughter was born, but for at least 4, maybe 5 months before my son was born. It's harmless.
It could be that your anxiety over the preterm labor of the first has triggered an emotional reaction to a normal part of pregnancy... but then, that is just my uneducated, unprofessional guess. I'm not a doctor. You should ask your regular doctor.
Hi, S.. I'm not sure what to tell you about the cramping. But I can say, and this is for both concerns, NEVER feel foolish asking your doctor, or any, a question you have concerning you or the baby. You are perfectly entitled to feel however you want to since it's you and your child involved. They are professionals and should know how to deal with it. If you feel like you didn't get a clear answer, ask again or ask another doctor. I asked about every stupid thing you could think of, and it was worth every penny for my peace of mind.
As of the second concern, my son did a lot of rolling/twisting, whatever you want to call it. I'm not sure about girls, as I only have a son, but there was certainly a lot of shifting going on. And yes, I did feel like he was taking a roller coaster ride in there! I never experienced that feeling, but you're right in that he could be pressing down on the major blood vessel that sits behind the uterus. It's the main one that carries blood to and from your heart so any change is going that have a reaction.
You're doctor knows you, as I'm sure you've dicussed your medical background with them, so if you have concerns, give them a call before your appointment. I even called to see if I could go swimming in a hotel pool, so no question is a stupid one!
I have the similar "roller coaster" drop feeling as well in my pelvic area and chest when I can feel flutters or the baby turning. I'm only 18 weeks and just started feeling popping and thumping. I think that it just still startles me and I have always been sensitive to my body changes. I also deal with anxiety so maybe it's just us being super sensitive or hyper alert about movements?! I have my anatomy scan next week and check up so I plan to bring it up to the doctor. Did you have any resolution to your issues?
Congrats on your second! I had "cramps" much of my second pregnancy, a lot like you describe. It bothered me somewhat enough to ask my midwife about it (there were days when I literally expected to go to the bathroom and have started a period!) but since I had no other pre-term labor issues/symptoms it was just something we monitored together.
I have two girls and my firstborn was a little lazybones in the womb and is most-definitely one of the most coordinated, active, and physically fit three-year-olds I know! My other daughter (born earlier this year) was a total gymnast in the womb and is still so! She's learned to roll, crawl, and sit up on her own on average 6 weeks earlier than her older sister's milestones. (the fine/gross motor skills are more toddler based, and gender is only one factor--I've seen many 6 month old baby boys with amazing abilities to grasp small objects and investigate threads on shirts, etc.!)
I had lots of dizzy spells with my second pregnancy but never worried about them. It was like you described, kind of a whooshing feeling, tingling my nerves or something. It was mostly when I changed positions. She also knocked me off my feet once or twice with her kicks, gave me a weak bladder during pregnancy, and broke my tailbone on her exit---
I would say as long as the feeling isn't constant, and you are able to rest well, it's probably what you think it is. I'd guess that the doctor might be suggesting the anxiety is coming from you noticing the feeling more than other women maybe?? That said, you should probably bring it up with your regular doc in the next visit. Did you tell this other doc that you know it's not "just anxiety?" Let your doc know you didn't feel "listened to" if that's the case.
Happy wishes for a fantastic 2010 and new baby boy!
Always trust your motherly instincts! Even though one doc says it's just anxiety, how does he know? DId he do tests & make sure that everything is okay? The way you say movement is making you feel is not normal for you personally & that matters most. So it seems that you are worried, so please trust yourself & go to see your regular doc asap. If they tell you it's nerves agin, say you'd like them to make sure. Some doctors have a funny way of making their patients feel like they don't know what's going on or are silly....but you DO know best & they are there to assist you during your pregnancy & birth, not the other way around, too many women tip-toe around their OB's. So use them for what you're paying them for & go see them. The best that can happen is that it's nothing & everything is fine. So good luck with everything.
My second daughter did a lot of turning around right up until the 39th week. She was transverse for several weeks (head on one side, feet on one side, not up/down).
When she would flip around it felt REALLY strange and my stomach would actually look flat in the front and stick out on the sides (she was a big baby 9 lbs 3 oz).
Although, I would say only you know your body and if you feel like something is wrong then trust that and see a doctor. Better safe than sorry.
<grinning> My 3rd favorite invention to date: The telephone.
Whenever I have a medical question that I don't feel rates a doctors visit, but that I don't have an answer to... I do the next best thing:
I call and ask a nurse what's up.
Then one of 2 things happens...
- They tell me what it is, and relief comes flooding.
- They tell me when to come in.
Interesting that 3 times out of 4 the "doesn't rate" question, is a come in immediately. The remaining 1/4 times though, it's either make an appointment for the coming week, or "if it gets worse/changes come in immediately, but OTW wait for your already scheduled appointment. 2 times out of ... oh... maybe 75 (aka, I've probably placed 75 calls in asking questions in the past 8 years)... it was "Go to your nearest ER, and we'll call ahead."
Love the telephone. Especially when it's attached to someone with my chart.
:) :) :)
Z
Hi, S.! By the fifth month of my second and third pregnancies I had a lot of cramping, stretching, aches, pains, you name it. During my third pregnancy by month seven I couldn't even walk without wanting to cry. My stomach lining and uterus felt as if they were going to explode, whether it was my son or me moving. Both babies labors went fantastic and my sons were 10's on the apgar sp? scale. Hope this makes you feel better.
I'm 25 weeks pregnant with my second (a girl) right now. I'm not going to comment on the cramping, since I'm really not experiencing much of that (other than frequent Braxton-Hicks contractions), so I don't have a lot of input there. But I can definitely relate to that "drop" feeling you describe. I described it to my husband like being on an elevator, but it can be pretty disorienting when it happens several times a day (or whenever the baby moves) and you're not expecting it! I don't remember that feeling so much with my first pregnancy, either. But it really isn't anything to worry about. It doesn't sound like anxiety--just a normal sensation in response to the baby's movements. Congratulations on your new little guy and all the best to you!
