[LMo]

So we went to the OB today for a prenatal checkup, at 15 weeks 3 days.

I was very relieved to know, though, that I've only gained a pound in the last month, for a total of 5 pounds so far in 15 weeks. I feel so big right now that I was really worried that I had been overeating, considering I've had to cut back on exercise due to a fluid sac that is attached to the placenta. But that's one less thing to worry about.

My doctor also said that I can eat brie as long as it's pasteurized (and it wouldn't hurt to heat it first), and drink white or green tea in moderation (I've been resorting to drinking hot water because I was afraid to drink tea). She also reassured me that I can sleep on my back - I read (god, the internet is your enemy when it comes to medical stuff!) that I should only sleep on my left side, but that's really uncomfortable for me and I've slept worth crap for the past 3 weeks. So what a relief! We got to hear the heartbeat again, which is wonderful! I'll have another ultrasound in 3 more weeks (at 18 weeks) and hopefully they'll be able to determine the gender!

[Raynaadi]

Right on!!!!! Congratulations!! The internet can be so so bad. My neurologist told me the best thing I can do for myself is not read things online, so I've stuck to that pretty well.

Stick to all those books and your doc!!! I'm so excited for you!!!!

[bebop]

hon my oldest is not 34. when I was preggie with both my kids my drs told me I could do anything I normally did as long as I was use to it. go with your gut.

[smiley1984]

trust your body, it is good at telling you when you are doing something you shouldn't be. The lying on your L side thing can help when you are very pregnant - and by then your body will know itself not to lie on your back, it will be uncomfortable.
It sounds like you are doing all the right things and your scan will be exciting, you might see babies face.

With all the information on the internet and some sites not accurate, it can sometimes be good to ask your doctor if she can give you a few good sites to look at?

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LMo said:
So we went to the OB today for a prenatal checkup, at 15 weeks 3 days.

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Oooo you are certainly getting up there! I started feeling movement in just three more weeks than you, I hope you get it that early too its fabulous.

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I was very relieved to know, though, that I've only gained a pound in the last month, for a total of 5 pounds so far in 15 weeks. I feel so big right now that I was really worried that I had been overeating, considering I've had to cut back on exercise due to a fluid sac that is attached to the placenta. But that's one less thing to worry about.


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I haven't gained that much weight either, just a few pounds. I was big to begin with so that might have something to do with the fact that I am not gaining at an incredible rate. A fluid sack on the placenta? Have they told you much about what that means, does it mean you have to be careful the entire pregnancy or is it benign?

Its nice to hear you are doing well, and things are going smoothly for you

[January]

You teeny-tiny thing! You have to gain some weight because you are eating for two. Just eat healthy things and the others are right. Go with your gut. I, too, wonder about the sac.

Aunty Jan

I check out who is responsible for the site. Is it a site affiliated with a reputable clinic (e.g., menninger, mayo) or is it some random person calling himself 'Dr'?

I check for converging evidence from different sources, too. If I find something mentioned only once then I am dubious. If I find lots of reputable sites saying it then I figure it is likely to be professional consensus (or close to).

I also check for spelling mistakes, typos, or other things that I know to be false. If a site isn't professionally presented then it is likely that it isn't put out there by professionals!

If a person offers their credentials then you can be sure they are staking some of their reputation on what they are saying.

If a person offers references then you know they aren't just giving you their own idiosyncratic opinion.

Take what consumers have to say with a grain of salt (lots of old wives tales mixed up in there)!

Take care...

[Fuzzybear]

[LMo]

Hi there:

The sites I'm referring to are user-supported, just like PC. I KNOW I shouldn't read them and I KNOW I need to take what they say with a grain of salt, but I've never known such health paranoia until now! It all changed when I realized I have another human being who is completely, 100% dependent upon my behavior and decisions. Kind of blows the mind...

About the fluid sac - I'm very curious, too, but my OB said that the only way to know for certain is to do some invasive and risky testing, which is most likely a moot point since both doctors did agree that the sac would disappear on its own, and that as long as I am careful (no high-impact exercise or.. sigh... sex), it shouldn't pose a problem. So I still don't know what it is but I'm not as worried about it. I feel fine. I have another ultrasound in 2 weeks so I'll know if it is gone and can start exercising again.

I also like my shape a lot better. I no longer feel tubby - originally I bulked up a lot in my upper abdominal region. My OB said it was my organs that got pushed up as my uterus was growing. I looked like I had a redneck beer gut and it was very unclear to an outside observer if I was just getting fat or if I was perhaps pregnant. Everything seems to have settled down, now, and I really like my belly now - I am normally a fairly curvy woman, but I actually feel pretty thin with the exception of my lower belly. Odd considering I haven't exercised worth squat in 4 months. I love my belly now! My husband does too - he's always kissing and touching it. Very cute.

What's not so cute is the random other people who have decided it's ok to pat it. Only a few have done it so far, and I know them as acquaintances so it's not as shocking as it could be. But still - I have a pretty big privacy bubble and it's feels intrusive even though I know that their intentions are nothing but good. I'll get over it, I'm sure.

[Raynaadi]

No sex? What about when you hit that really horny phase I always hear about with pregnancy?? Will the sack be gone by then?

I love pregnant bellies!!!!! I've got a friend who's pregant right now and she looks so cute. She's got Crohn's disease, so they say its a miracle she got pregant, and she's having ultrasounds every 2 weeks. She's very much got that protective bubble. She said the baby was kicking on Sunday and I asked if I could feel it. She kinda grimaced and quickly came up with "I don't think you'd be able to feel it, he usually stops when someone touches me." I knew she didn't want anyone touching her. I learned a long time ago to always ask a pregnant woman before just touching her belly.

[LMo]

oh, that phase has already hit! But can't do anything about it -- no contractions allowed (on my part) and no going anywhere near my cervix (on his part). Doesn't allow for much fun, does it?

I'd be fine with it as long as it as a friend and as long as they asked first. Actually, if it was someone I was close with, they wouldn't have to ask and it would still be ok.

I can't wait to feel the baby kick! It should be any day now, from what my OB says.

[Raynaadi]

You HAVE to let us know as soon as you feel that kick!!! I'm just having so much fun watching your progress from afar!!!!

[LMo]

[bebop]

why no sex right now? dang! that stinks lol

[LMo]

I know! It's been FOUR MONTHS!!!!

The fluid sac is directly above my cervix, so it could rupture and cause an infection.

[lenjan]

Give your stomach growth another month or two, not to mention the labor and delivery part, and you will have no interest in sex whatsoever, I promise.

I prefer to sleep on my stomach, which became completely impossible around month 5 or so, and when my then-bf came running up to me from half a mile away because he saw my stomach before he saw my face, ... oh yeah, beached-whaledom is a blast.

I looked in the mirror and definetly felt the beached whaledom thing the other day.

*wry smile*

I suspect it will be worth it in the end though.