Conference moira::parenting_v3

    
    Hi,
    
    I have experienced the same symptoms as you have.  I am currently
    29 weeks along and some days I have difficulty getting around,
    the top of my legs ache, my belly feels very heavy, etc. Just when
    I think that this will be the norm for the next 2+months, I find
    myself saying "Gee, I fell really good today, lots of energy and
    no aches and pains".  I have found that I cannot overdo it, I get
    very tired if I spend a whole day shopping etc.  The walking and
    the crowds seem to tire me out.  I know that I cannot push myself
    when I am tired,  on the days that I do not have any energy, I just
    give in and relax as much as I can and try to make up for it on the
    good days. Since this is my first baby,  I can go home and relax 
    whenever I need to.  I give a lot of credit to those who have other
    little ones at home.
    
    Janet
    

    I went through pretty much the same thing every time.  It was
    worst with the first one and the third one, not as bad with the
    middle one. 
    
    I found I could almost predict when I was going to have a bad day
    by how well I slept the night before. I had bad days at other
    times, but a bad night's sleep guaranteed aches, pains, fatigue,
    and headache the next day. 
    
    Massage is good for the heavy belly and aching muscles.  
    
    So is a deep bath, or a swim.  It helps take some of the weight
    off your muscles for a while.
    
    I found it helped to put my feet up as much as I could.  My legs
    didn't seem to get as heavy and achy.
    
    --bonnie

    re: 1
    
    Sounds to me like it is stretching ligaments. It comes with the
    teritory! Relaxing with my feet up was the only thing that helped me.
    But it is perfectly normal, and it lasted untill the baby came.
    
    All I can say is grin and bear it.
    
    Sandy

    Try a warm water bottle when your sides hurt.  It is also a good
    excuse to lay down for an hour or two.  Check with your midwife/
    doctor, but IMHO, I think you could take a couple of Tylenol.
    I had this real bad in the early going -- so badly that I thought
    I had a tubal pregnancy after all!
    
    It doesn't sound like you have little ones at home, so take any
    opportunity of resting, going to bed early, etc.  I too get
    terribly tired if I overdo it.  The world won't come to an end if
    the laundry doesn't get all done on Saturday, or if you clean
    the bathroom every other week instead of every week.  
    
    In a lot of ways, I've found that pregnancy is just like the rest
    of life -- in other words, if I don't get a good night's sleep,
    I feel lousy the next day, and that happens whether I'm preggo or
    not.  It's just that pregnancy seems to magnify the symptoms.
    
    Kate

    
    I agree Kate....if I don't get enough sleep the night before, I tend to 
    feel worse the next day (today!).  I'm at 4 months pregnant now, and I
    thought I was over my morning sickness, until this week. We had some
    very tense situations happen this week, and boy did I feel awful. My
    nerves got the best of me. And because I couldn't sleep well, I woke up
    running for the bathroom!  Even this morning, I didn't get to bed till 
    around 11 last night, and felt terrible this morning at 6am. My first 3
    months I was in bed at 8-9pm every night.  Looks like I may revert back
    to that for another couple weeks I think!
    
    I was just saying to my husband the other day "Did I always come home
    from work and run for the couch to lay down for 1/2 hour?" Of course
    the answer was "no"...  Guess its just the pregnancy. I praise the
    women who have other children at home and are pregnant and work. i
    dont' know how they do it!!   Guess I'll find out soon enough.
    
    Chris
    

    The other aspect I notice with the pregnancy (my second) is that my
    fatigue level is higher because the novelty has worn off. With my
    first, it was different, fascinating and somewhat fun being pregnant. 
    This time I just feel BIG and want it to be finished already!
    

    I am 28/29 weeks along and had feelings of lower back pains at 2 months
    that have come & gone since.  I also had some lower pulling pains very
    early.  They (Matthew Thornton hotline) told me that it was ligaments
    stretching, but my midwife said that it was probably just gas.  Now
    that I'm into my 3rd Trimester - I have no (or little) energy as in my
    1st Trimester & I've been really feeling the weight of the pregnancy
    when I don't get a good nights rest.  My feet ache on ocassion, I feel
    swelling in my feet w/ the heat, & ocassion cramps in my pelvic area.
    But, all in all I feel I've had a real good pregnancy (more ups than
    downs).  This is also my 1st pregnancy & we're very excited about it.
    
    Warning:  if you haven't already experienced this;  when stretching in
    bed in the morning don't point your toes - you will most likely get an
    incredible "charlie horse" in your calf if you do this.  I've only just
    started feeling this this week.  Also, only this week have I had to get
    up at 3 or 4 am to pee every morning!  Bummer!!!
    
    Good luck to everyone!
    Sonia Johnson
                 

    
    I can relate to Wendy's first note, IMMENSLY these days. Compared to 
    a month ago, when I entered my last note in this topic. (I think shes
    about 1 month ahead of me:-))
    
    I swear I had a growth spurt last week. Bigtime. I did go to the
    doctors for the pain, because it felt as though something was "really" 
    wrong, compared to the small aches and pains I had been having.  And
    the doctors, said, as everyone else mentioned, it was probably
    ligaments stretching and to take a couple days off and rest.  The pains
    were really scary.  But, now, a week later, they are gone again.
    
    But I swear this baby (my first too) must of gone through a big growth
    spurt (if thats possible) during this last week, cause all of a sudden,
    in only 2 days...I felt like my stomach just POPPED out! I've had so 
    many comments just this week, that now I'm really "showing". Compared
    to just a week ago. ?????    I did read that in the 5th month the baby
    almost doubles (I think)...but I guess I thought it would be gradual??
    
    Has anyone else just "popped" in a day or 2???  Was there cramping
    before this??? 
    
    Chris
    

    I'm in week 5 of being pregnent and have my first Dr.'s appointment
    next week. I've been fighting with myself about calling them because
    I have (what I call) cramps. Would I be experiencing the pulled
    ligaments now? Or does It happen a little later on? 
    
    It is scary and I'm anxious to go to the Dr. I just don't want to be
    a complainer.
    
    
    Thanks to all for the great info. I've been reading this file for 
    about a week now and I think its great.
    
    Patty

    
    Patty - 
    
    Five weeks seems quite early to be experiencing cramps or pain due to
    stretching ligaments, but I guess that every pregnancy is different.
    If you are uncomfortable or very anxious because of the cramping,
    by all means, call your doctor!
    
    Good luck,
    Carol

    I second calling the doctor.  Most OB's have excellent staff to answer
    your questions.
    
    Secondly, I did read somewhere that as your uterus begins to grow you
    *may* experience some menstual type cramping.  
    
    But call you OB to be sure!!
    Lyn

    I had round ligament pain early in my pregancy. Not sure if it was as
    early as 5 weeks (Oh,how soon we forget!), but it definitely was in the
    first trimester. I worried too - for no reason, I have a lovely 8.5
    month old daughter now!  If you're nervous, I'd second a call to the 
    doctor's office. That's what they're there for (and they have TONS of 
    experience answering new mom-to-be questions). Just remember there are 
    NO dumb questions. I'd also take a look at the 'What to Expect when You're
    Expecting'...This helped me alot. Besh wishes and Congratulations!
    

    
    Patty....
    
    Youre not alone!  I had the same exact thing you are describing around
    the exact same time. I called the doctor and he thought it was
    ligaments, but sent me for an ultrasound just to make sure it wasn't a
    tubal pregnancy (it wasn't). This was at 7 weeks.   I was told to put
    my feet up and rest for a couple of days...(and it did subside). 
    It happened to me again probably about a month and half later...then
    once again about 5 mos pregnant. Each time I was off my feet for a
    couple days. And each timme the doctor said it was ligaments.  I
    remember one time feeling there HAD to be something wrong, cause it
    hurt so bad... but nothing.  I hated having to use the sick time for
    "cramps"...but...no choice. 
    
    But, as everyone said, all the doctor to be sure.   It sounds alot like
    what I had though.
    
    Good luck!
    (31+ weeks and counting)
    
    Chris
    

    I really agree with everyone's reply to call your doctor for assurance.
    
    I also had cramps and spotting around 5 wks.  My doctor gave me a
    blood test just to confirm the pregnancy. He told me that the cramps
    and bleeding could be caused by several things,  He suspected that, 
    either the egg had implanted itself to the uterus which can cause this 
    or that I could be miscarrying.  I am currently 31 weeks so it
    wasn't a miscarrage. If you just have cramps I wouldn't worry too much.
    
    Take care of yourself.
    
    Angie  

    I also had cramps fairly early. I called the doctor and he told me
    to take Rolaids, that it might be gas pains. He said that if that
    didn't help to call back. Well, guess what, it helped. My next 
    pregnancy, I will be taking out stock in Rolaids!! :^)
    
    Call, it can't hurt!
    
    Sheila
    

Cramping was one of the first pregancy symptoms I had - I knew I was pregnant
because I had cramping but no menstruation.  I was also about 5 weeks.

But, if you are concerned - ask your medical care provider.  Better to ask when
it's nothing than to not ask and it's serious....

    When people talk about how far along they are, do they count from
    the last period, or from the time of conception?  The ob/gyn told
    us they count from the last period and then add two weeks to the
    nine months to get a due date.
    	Linda

    Yup, most Docs count from the last period. (To me that made little
    sense at the time, since I KNEW when I had concieved. Later I just
    gave in).
    I started counting from conception but to avoid confusion stayed
    with the doctor's method. 
    My mom, however, still counts months, so when I'd tell her how
    far along I am, she'd say "what's that in months?" 
    
    Monica
    
    

    re-reading that last note, I think I gave the wrong impression --
    this was concerning a previous pregnancy.
    
    M.
    

    Hi Everyone
    
    	Thanks for the great input. 
    
    	I went to the doctors a few days after writing in this file.
    	They said it was stetching of ligaments along with gas pains
    	(eating to many grapes). 
    
    	Also, Acording to the Doctors I'm 2 weeks farther along than 
    	I really am. I was going by conception they're going by
    	my period. 
    
    	Anyway Thanks for the helpful comments.
    
    		Patty

    
    
    Yup, I was due for my period and the cramps were  *big time* to
    say the least.  I take muscle relaxers because the pain can get
    so bad.  I was telling my friends that I had bad cramps and this
    was going to be a bad month so I better start taking my muscle
    relaxers.  For some reason, I didn't take them and my period
    was 1 day late (I'm very regular) and sure enough I was pregnant.
    The cramps were so bad that I thought I was going to have a miscarraige
    but no bleeding at all.  I had also gone to the beach and got a
    2nd degree burn on my chest, arms, and legs which didn't help.
    I don't know why my cramps were so bad but they went away in
    a week or two.  Then I started getting cramps again but they
    weren't that bad and they turned out to be ligaments stretching.
    Gas pains are a real joy too!
    
    -Chris

    speaking of pregnancy growth spurts; I have a general
    question: isn't 7 weeks (by the doctor's count) a little early
    to be feeling any changes in shape at all?
    I had the feeling because of my recent pregnancy that my body
    would remember the shape soon enough, but for the last few days,
    both me and hubby have noticed a small bump -- my pants are getting
    tight too. but THIS EARLY??
    
    (darn, and I'd just LOST enough weight to fit into everything 
    again)
    
    Is this common?
    
    Monica

    Monica,
    
    My clothes got tighter quicker and I showed much earlier with my
    second.  I gained less weight, but the body has gone through this
    before and all the muscles are looser.
    
    Don't worry about it  -- just enjoy the pregnancy (if you can get
    passed the nausea)
    
    Donna

    
    
    Also, I've noticed women who are thin start to show almost right
    away because the baby has nowhere to go but "out".  I know someone
    who is 2 1/2 mos. behind me and she's bigger than I am.  I barely
    show and people are wondering if I really am pregnant (I know
    I am the baby kicks me on a daily basis :)).
    
    3 1/2 mos to go.  Time really flies once you've reached the
    1/2 way mark of your pregnancy (at least it did for me).
    I can't wait!
    
    -Chris

    like we always say (haven't a lot of us said this?) 
    Everyone is different.
    As well, there probably be a difference in size through subsequent
    pregnancies; I only had six months between pregnancies, so at 
    8.5 weeks, I already feel the difference, whereas I didn't notice till
    much later the first time. I'll probably show much earlier this time
    since my abdominal muscles are saying "oh, I know about this -- I
    remember stretching....")
    
    Monica
    

    Monica,
    
    HOW TRUE!!!!!!  When I got pregnant for the second time, it seemed like
    about 2 days before my stomach muscles 'remembered', and got all
    stretched out.  The 1st time took much longer to show (but was also
    more painful).
    
    5 1/2 mos and barely showing!?!????  I WISH!