Stats:
Total weight gain 3 lbs
Total in last month 1 lb
Fetal heart tones 150's
Fetal movement present during exam
The big news for me at this visit is I get my week back! Woot!
At the nuchal translucency they estimated the baby's age to be about a week less than I had thought by dates, which might not seem like a big deal but it really was to me. Now my midwife says that likely my conception and period dates are far more accurate than the ultrasound and we should stick with that. So I am officially 17 weeks.
The constipation of the first trimester has resolved - thank god. I do still have some back aches but these are minor compared to what they were before. I am under regular chiropractic and acupuncture care.
I have been waiting for my second trimester energy spurt - maybe that comes later the second time? I find myself going to bed at 8:30 sometimes. To be fair I am not as tired as I was last month.
Also I am starting to show which is nice. I love a pregnant belly, can't wait for it to get even bigger.
Exercise has been somewhat dismal - maybe 2 hours a week at best. I know I need to do better.
Excited to find out the baby's gender in three weeks. We didn't find out last time but this time I want to know.
Otherwise everything is routine and run of the mill - just the way you want it to be.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The Constipated Pregnancy
Re: Constipation.
Wow! I do not remember being this constipated in my last pregnancy!
It finaly seems to be easing now that I am stepping firmly into my second trimester.
I do eat a lot of whole fruits, and a midling amount of steamed or baked veggies. Also everything we eat is whole grain or whole wheat. Of course one can always get more fiber - I could chew lettuce topped with grapenuts, but let's talk about what's realistic here.
Here are the things that I tried for treatment:
1. Fiber Powder: Metamucil mixed with 12 ounces of Water
-effect - overall increased feeling of bloatedness, and increased stool bulk, no relief of constipation
-tolerability - very tolerable - the orange taste is actually kind of nice, and it gets me to drink more water
- pregnancy safety - 4 stars - not absorbed
2. Walking - no less than 30 minutes per day
-effect - increased sensation of urge to defecate, no relief of constipation
-tolerability - moderate - it's hard to get on that treadmil when you're tired and you've had a long day and your back hurts, but in the end it actually increased my energy
- pregnancy safety - 5 stars - moderate to mild exercise always recommended in pregnancy
3. Switching to liquid Calcium Magnesium Supplement
- effect - decreased muscle cramps and back pain, no relief of constipation symptoms
-tolerability - moderate - the stuff I have tastes like vanilla but it's still a thing I have to take
-pregnancy safety - 5 stars - calcium and magnesium are recommended in pregnancy - see vitamins and supplements post
4. Aloe liquid
- effect - none discernable
- tolerability - low, this stuff tastes fairly awful although I have had worse
- pregnancy safety -2.5 stars - unknown
5. Senna 17.6 mg at bedtime
- effect - over relief of constipation or no effect - ie diarrhea
- tolerability - very good - just throw it on the pile with the other pills
- Pregnancy safety - 3.5 stars - Short-term use of senna is generally considered safe during pregnancy*
5. Colace - Docusate Sodium 100 mg Oral Three times daily
- effect - fair relief - easier bowel movements although not as soft as could be desired
- tolerability - fair/moderate- easy enough to swallow these but hard to remember to take something three times a day
- pregnancy safety - 3 stars- Short-term use of docusate is generally considered safe during pregnancy*
* Mahadevan U and Kane S, "American Gastroenterological Association Institute Medical Position Statement on the Use of Gastrointestinal Medications in Pregnancy," Gastroenterology, 2006, 131(1):278-82
Wow! I do not remember being this constipated in my last pregnancy!
It finaly seems to be easing now that I am stepping firmly into my second trimester.
I do eat a lot of whole fruits, and a midling amount of steamed or baked veggies. Also everything we eat is whole grain or whole wheat. Of course one can always get more fiber - I could chew lettuce topped with grapenuts, but let's talk about what's realistic here.
Here are the things that I tried for treatment:
1. Fiber Powder: Metamucil mixed with 12 ounces of Water
-effect - overall increased feeling of bloatedness, and increased stool bulk, no relief of constipation
-tolerability - very tolerable - the orange taste is actually kind of nice, and it gets me to drink more water
- pregnancy safety - 4 stars - not absorbed
2. Walking - no less than 30 minutes per day
-effect - increased sensation of urge to defecate, no relief of constipation
-tolerability - moderate - it's hard to get on that treadmil when you're tired and you've had a long day and your back hurts, but in the end it actually increased my energy
- pregnancy safety - 5 stars - moderate to mild exercise always recommended in pregnancy
3. Switching to liquid Calcium Magnesium Supplement
- effect - decreased muscle cramps and back pain, no relief of constipation symptoms
-tolerability - moderate - the stuff I have tastes like vanilla but it's still a thing I have to take
-pregnancy safety - 5 stars - calcium and magnesium are recommended in pregnancy - see vitamins and supplements post
4. Aloe liquid
- effect - none discernable
- tolerability - low, this stuff tastes fairly awful although I have had worse
- pregnancy safety -2.5 stars - unknown
5. Senna 17.6 mg at bedtime
- effect - over relief of constipation or no effect - ie diarrhea
- tolerability - very good - just throw it on the pile with the other pills
- Pregnancy safety - 3.5 stars - Short-term use of senna is generally considered safe during pregnancy*
5. Colace - Docusate Sodium 100 mg Oral Three times daily
- effect - fair relief - easier bowel movements although not as soft as could be desired
- tolerability - fair/moderate- easy enough to swallow these but hard to remember to take something three times a day
- pregnancy safety - 3 stars- Short-term use of docusate is generally considered safe during pregnancy*
* Mahadevan U and Kane S, "American Gastroenterological Association Institute Medical Position Statement on the Use of Gastrointestinal Medications in Pregnancy," Gastroenterology, 2006, 131(1):278-82
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