Health...vent about your lovely symptoms

[Cassagc]

So Dustin has now decided that his favorite place to sit is on on my right hip, right on my siatic (sp?) nerve. It's really causing issues for me since I can't walk well when he does it. I spoke to both my OB and my chiro and they gave me some movements/stretches to do to try to convince him to move. No such luck... This is scaring me since I'm only 22+ weeks along. Anyone have any ideas or are ya'll experiencing this too?

[Ombeline]

Sorry for your pain, Cass! I really hope he'll move soon. Maybe as he gets bigger and more squished in there he'll shift off your sciatic nerve. :(
I don't think I have quite the same problem but I've been in bad pain for over a month. My lower back (and down to my thighs...e.g. my whole behind) and hips and tailbone are so sore. Whenever I hold still for a few minutes at a time they get blocked, incredibly stiff, and I moan and groan as I try to turn over in bed or get up from a chair and I'm hobbling and bent double for a few minutes before I can straighten up.
I've been trying to avoid sitting at all and instead lie on my side as much as possible, and it helps with the tailbone thing at least. I've also been trying stretching exercises. Walking really seems to loosen it up--once I get moving, it almost completely stops hurting. But it comes back as soon as I sit or lie down again. And if I'm on my feet too long, I get other kinds of pain and now even uncomfy contractions.

The weight of my big stomach is just too much for my body, apparently! I've always been active, 15-mile hikes every weekend, walking to work instead of driving, biking and stuff, but with bleeding problems I had to more or less lie around for a lot of the first trimester and I feel like I've lost all my muscles. I'm going to start going to the local pool tomorrow and see if that helps. I hate public pools but I've got to do something.

[Cassagc]

Have you tried going to a chiropractor? I go to one who uses the pressure method which has been approved for pregnant women. I'm on my back for the session which doesn't last more than 5 min. He'll put a block under one hip, press down on both far a min, then move the block to the other side and do the same thing. Then he'll pull on my neck, arms and legs to settle them back into alignment. It provides amazing relief from the very pain you're describing. Also, see if there's not a massuse in your area that does pregnancy massages. They should have a chair designed especially for pregnacy with a hole for your face and belly, if not, don't use them.

I know a lot of people don't believe in the "new age" medicine stuff but I've been going to a chiro and massuse for 3 years due to a preexisting arm/shoulder/neck injury and it really has done wonders. I was doubtful that it would help when I first started going.

[Ombeline]

That's a good idea, Cass--I actually hadn't even considered the possibility that I could do anything about the back pain, other than try to walk it off. That's my Dad's way of managing all his health problems, not always efficient, I'll admit. I'll look into a chiropractor around here.

This health/symptoms thread is a good place to ask all you other May ladies (if you care to share) about weight gain, contractions, and all other the nasty stuff: hemorrhoids, varicose veins, acne, constipation, popped-out bellybuttons, itching skin, stretch marks, swollen feet, bleeding noses/gums...

I've started to notice some contractions lately when I get tired and overdo it and I don't like the feeling at all.

Last week at the doctor's office I was up 15 lbs or so from my pre-preg weight. American books on twin pregnancies say you should TRY, and try hard, to gain 40 or so lbs, as early as possible, because prematurity and low birth weight are such frequent problems for twins and studies show that early (2nd trim) weight gain has the biggest effect on the babies' birthweight. And you should rest a lot, not try to burn your extra calories, and especially not try to lose weight because breaking down fat creates toxins that affect the babies.

But here in France the motto is "do all you can not to gain an ounce... be happy if you have nausea and morning sickness because it'll keep you from getting too fat and have large and hard-to-deliver babies... feel really guilty with every bit of weight you gain and prepare to be scolded by your doctor" and so on. I'm getting mixed messages.

As for the other stuff, stomach is itchy and bellybutton is much less deep than before but still an inny, my nose bleeds a tiny bit every morning, acne seems to flare up every few weeks, fortunately no constipation, swelling or varicose veins yet (I'm really doing all I can to avoid them: eating right, lying on my left side as much as possible, not standing or sitting too long, drinking lots of water, walking a lot) but I think I'm getting my first hemorrhoid anyway. Sorry for the gross factor. I guess the weight of this womb is just too much for my circulation down there. Yippee. This is fun.

[Cassagc]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with hemorrhoids. Those stink! Hopefully they'll go away easily for you with meds.

As for the weight gain, my OB told me not to even step on a scale. As long as the baby is growing properly and getting the nutrients they need, your weight really doesn't matter. There's no real connection between mother's weight gain and baby's birht weight. I've known women who gain 75 lbs and have a 5 lb baby and women who gain nothing and have 10 lb babies. I was really worried about weight at first because I'm a bit overweight and the books tell you not to gain more then 15 lbs. So far though, I lost 27 lbs due to the extreme morning sickness and only gained back 5 lbs. I would tell your doctor to sit on it when she/he scolds you but then again, I'm mean.

I totally have the worst stretch marks on the bottom of my belly. I've tried to keep them away by slathering all over with cocoa butter and vitamin E but no such luck I guess. I've also noticed the really dry itchy skin no matter how much lotion I use. So far though I haven't experienced anything else and I'm crossing my fingers that morning sickness and stretch marks are the worst things that I deal with.

Enjoy your morning, everyone!

[karenjk12]

Ok, let's see. I've had a stuffy nose with occassional light bleeds through most of the pregnancy so far. I kept telling everyone how pregnancy was so easy and I felt so good all the time. That is until I hit the 5th month! Now I'm tired and I have Round Ligament Syndrome. Which is basically the two ligaments that run from the top of your uterus down through your goin stretching and pulling so much that it causes severe pain. Most times it doesn't last too long but I've gone upto 5 hours with no relief. Doc says this shouldn't last more then a few weeks and I am starting to notice that the pain doesn't come as often so I am relieved.

I do get constipated occassionally but try to do well drinking lots of water. I am 23-24 weeks and I have gained 17 pounds. But mostly, I just want to get more sleep!

[karenjk12]

Oh, and I've hit that point where all I want to do is eat!

[Ombeline]

Me too, Karen! These days I get horrible hunger pains again just an hour or two after a meal. People tell me to watch my weight and not snack between meals, but there must be a reason that pregnant women's hormones and metabolisms make us feel so ravenous, right? Growing a baby requires fuel!

I was having that awful round ligament pain in the second-third month and my doctor gave me magnesium supplements to take twice a day. They seemed to help a lot. They're routinely given to pregnant women here. Maybe you could ask your doc.

[debe94]

Ombeline,

If you weren't pregnant I can see where people would tell you not to snack in between meals and to watch your weight. I think if you are hungry you should eat just make sure it's something healthy.

I'm 25 weeks and have only gained a pound. My doctor told me that I need to eat about six small meals versus three larger meals that way it's easier for me to digest and the baby has a constant flow of nutrients. I ran into the problem where I would get full after eating a few bites, but they have assured me that in the coming weeks I will gain weight.

[Cassagc]

Has anyone else experienced side pain? This past weekend, I've been having this stitch like pain under my ribs from sturnum to spine. No amount of stretches or movement would make it go away. I'm asking my OB about it today since I have my monthly appointment.

[Ombeline]

I hope your doc says it's just ligaments stretching! Good luck. I've been having weird pain like that lately, mostly going from my groin up the sides of my stomach (probably more round ligament stuff?), sometimes starting up higher, too, and around my navel, which is slowly turning inside out. Everything burns and throbs and stretching definitely doesn't help! I asked my other doctor about this once and she said pregnancy was supposed to be full of little pains. Ugh.

[annaliese]

Hi Cass,am experiencing the same exact thing.Am planning to ask my OB about next week,i tried to just massage it a bit but it keeps coming back especially in the evening when am trying to have a rest.
Please let me know what you OB said.

Good luck

[Cassagc]

So I asked the OB and she checked me for tenderness and swelling in the area. She said that since all my organs are now in my ribcage, any kind of pain like that could be caused by multiple issues, such as appendix, kidneys, ulcers ect. Most of the time it's just that those organs are sore because they've become punching bags for the baby. It's nothing to worry about unless you have swelling, fever ect but check with your OB.

Everything was good with me. She ran a quick ultrasound and verified that it's just Dustin stretching out as much as he can. I'm unusual because my utarus tilts to the left instead of to the right like most people so I'm apparently going to have a bit more discomfort since there's more organs on the left side.

Omb - It sounds like round ligament pain for you. I can't imagine my body having to stretch for two babies. Hopefully things get easier for you soon.

[karenjk12]

Cali (that's the name we decided on!) has now decided to start keeping me up at night! Hours and Hours of flips and punches. I guess with only 14 weeks to go I should have known that the third trimester grief would begin to settle in.

My back is starting to ache and I am getting more and more exhausted! They are calling for blizzard conditions this weekend and I am sooooo looking forward to getting snowed in and catching up on rest! I will surely make sure the fridge and cabinets are full of food :)

[Cassagc]

Karen- and have lots of movies/books avalible. Along with pillows and a blanket on the couch so you can sleep when she decides to. That's what kept me sane during our winter storm activity last week (4 days of not being able to go outside for fear of falling on ice). Good luck.

Cali is a beautiful name. I do completely understand the thrid trimester grief, if you're ever up at 0245 in the morning...

[Ombeline]

As if this wasn't uncomfortable enough, I think I've got a stomach bug now because I have cramps way up in my rib cage where I think my stomach has migrated and diarrhea (TMI, sorry). It's been 3 days so I'll try to get in to my GP today or tomorrow. I haven't had real tummy problems since I was 7 and got stomach flu and threw up for a week. Actually, that was the last time I actually threw up! Early pregnancy made me nauseous and gave me indigestion, but that was it. I usually have a tough digestive system. I guess it's not so tough these days. I feel awful.

[Cassagc]

Yeck, hope you feel better soon. I think the diarrhea always makes things worse then throwing up.

[Ombeline]

Thanks, Cass. The doc was booked all week but has consulting hours tonight, where you line up and wait to be seen without an appointment. I don't know if it's worth it. I feel better, mostly, after a few days of a boring white diet (bananas, rice and yoghurt), and see the gynecologist Friday night anyway. If it's just a passing stomach bug then there's no reason to go to the doctor's over it, but I'm just a little nervous that it could be something else that might hurt the babies, some kind of scary bacterial infection. They are as active as ever so that reassures me.

I have another gross detail I'll talk to the doc about. Anyone have an idea? When I am standing, especially putting weight on my left leg, a big bump shows up on the left side of my pubis, like a detached ligament balling up. It hurts like a deep bruise. It might have something to do with the stomach and pelvic muscles and ligaments separating. I hope that's it.

[g0dd3ss13]

Hello all.
New to the forums
Jena: 31 wks; having a boy[no names yet] Baby Monkey is the affectionate nickname.

So twice now the baby has seemed to get his hands on jumper cables and zap me just to the right of my naval(internally). I see my Obgyn next week and I am unsure of how to describe this without a raised eyebrow from him. Has anyone else experienced this weird, strong, not neccesarily painful feeling?

[Ombeline]

Welcome, Jena. :) Do you think this pain could be related to your navel turning inside out? A muscle twinge from all that stretching? My mom described a constant burning pain as hers (a deep deep inny) slowly turned inside out. Mine is going out, too, but I don't have constant pain. It hurts a bit, like being burned or zapped from the inside, just next to my bellybutton, to the right, actually, and it's only happened 4 or 5 times that I've noticed. A mystery!

[g0dd3ss13]

Yes, I suppose that is a more logical explaination than my child has some strange science fiction electricity power like Gambit from the X-men.

I too have/had a deep inny and it is about as deep as my pinky nail now.
Hmm, and the weird just keeps getting weirder...:)

[Cassagc]

I totally felt the same thing this weekend! It's crazy. I wonder if the babies could be pulling on their umbilical cords and that's what's causing it. ;)