WEBVTT - Your Top Pregnancy Questions 0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:08.840 Who baby A baby? I need you, Oh hell, I 0:00:09.160 --> 0:00:13.960 need you. What to Expect is a production of My 0:00:14.200 --> 0:00:18.239 Heart Radio. I'm your host, Heidi Murkop and I'm a 0:00:18.280 --> 0:00:20.960 mom on a mission, a mission to help you know 0:00:21.120 --> 0:00:27.159 what to expect every step of the way. There's no 0:00:27.400 --> 0:00:31.920 question about it. Pregnancy comes with questions. We've got you 0:00:32.040 --> 0:00:35.240 covered today on the What to Expect Podcast. We're going 0:00:35.280 --> 0:00:39.760 to answer your biggest questions about what to expect when 0:00:39.800 --> 0:00:44.120 you're expecting. And if anyone knows what moms and the 0:00:44.159 --> 0:00:48.200 What to Expect community are asking about, it's my mom 0:00:48.360 --> 0:00:53.680 friend Sarah, who oversees what to Expect community. Hey Sarah, welcome, 0:00:54.200 --> 0:00:57.400 Thank you. I'm so excited to be here today. So 0:00:57.760 --> 0:01:01.080 you have been literally part of the to Expect family 0:01:01.640 --> 0:01:06.120 since day one. You live and breathe what to expect. 0:01:06.319 --> 0:01:10.000 I would say, like no other mother. You have your 0:01:10.040 --> 0:01:14.759 finger on the pregnant pulse and you have been behind 0:01:14.840 --> 0:01:18.120 the social scenes on what to expect. And for anyone 0:01:18.120 --> 0:01:22.000 who ever caught us on our Instagram lives everybody out there, 0:01:22.200 --> 0:01:24.679 you know, Sarah and I like to get into all 0:01:24.840 --> 0:01:29.880 the juicy questions. Nothing is t m I, nothing can 0:01:30.000 --> 0:01:33.319 make us blush, but you are welcome to try for real. 0:01:33.520 --> 0:01:36.960 I mean, we get into it. I just got to say, 0:01:37.080 --> 0:01:41.160 for our listeners, it's been amazing seeing the connections that 0:01:41.240 --> 0:01:44.800 you make with moms, whether it's in person at USO 0:01:44.920 --> 0:01:49.000 showers or during our live chats. The experience is always 0:01:49.040 --> 0:01:52.280 just amazing to witness, and you often become so close 0:01:52.280 --> 0:01:55.640 with moms and their partners, some for years and years. 0:01:56.840 --> 0:02:00.960 Your passion for empowering moms reaches across how many platforms 0:02:00.960 --> 0:02:05.480 and borders. It's just an incredible level of support and 0:02:05.560 --> 0:02:08.760 comfort that you bring. It gives me goose bumps and 0:02:09.160 --> 0:02:13.160 all the time like tears too. So I'll stop my mushy, 0:02:13.320 --> 0:02:16.880 my mushy moment now because we have a ton of 0:02:16.960 --> 0:02:21.280 questions for you today. They came from our community and 0:02:21.360 --> 0:02:23.919 for our listeners that use the what to Expect app. 0:02:23.960 --> 0:02:27.600 You know, we have a very active group of parents 0:02:27.680 --> 0:02:30.239 in our community and we also do want our what 0:02:30.320 --> 0:02:35.360 to Expect Instagram page and that's where our questions came from. Today. 0:02:35.680 --> 0:02:39.800 We have a variety of your biggest pregnancy questions including 0:02:39.919 --> 0:02:44.160 symptoms and labor and delivery and so much more. And 0:02:44.200 --> 0:02:46.359 then we're going to do a speed round at the end, 0:02:46.440 --> 0:02:49.280 just to get a ton of information and really quick tips. 0:02:49.720 --> 0:02:51.640 And Heidi, even though I've been doing this for a 0:02:51.680 --> 0:02:54.920 really long time, I'm always surprised by the variety of 0:02:55.000 --> 0:02:57.680 questions that we get. I like to say that nothing 0:02:57.760 --> 0:03:01.080 surprises me anymore, but then as soon as I say that, 0:03:01.240 --> 0:03:06.600 something surprises me. So therefore, there's always a twist and 0:03:06.680 --> 0:03:10.400 no one size fits all when it comes to pregnancy 0:03:10.440 --> 0:03:13.760 experiences or when it comes to pregnant moms or babies. 0:03:14.160 --> 0:03:17.440 And the same goes for questions or answers to your questions. 0:03:17.440 --> 0:03:20.760 So we're gonna have to get really really personal. Let's 0:03:20.800 --> 0:03:24.320 do it. So speaking of personal, we're going to dive 0:03:24.320 --> 0:03:27.280 in with questions. But first we asked our community what 0:03:27.320 --> 0:03:31.000 they thought was one important thing every expecting mom should know. 0:03:31.760 --> 0:03:33.520 And I just wanted to share this quote with you. 0:03:34.320 --> 0:03:37.840 Not to worry. Everything falls into place, believe it or not, 0:03:38.360 --> 0:03:43.640 you even begin to miss the hard days. Yeah. Yeah, 0:03:43.840 --> 0:03:47.120 those those who are listening right now who are in 0:03:47.200 --> 0:03:50.720 the throes of I don't know, like mourning sickness or 0:03:50.840 --> 0:03:55.080 having that out of heartburn, might be saying I'm gonna 0:03:55.240 --> 0:04:00.320 say nay to that. However, it might take some time. Actually, 0:04:00.360 --> 0:04:03.800 if you're having a really rough ride in pregnancy, for 0:04:03.920 --> 0:04:08.160 you to look back longingly on all of those symptoms 0:04:08.200 --> 0:04:11.840 that you had. Maybe you never will or maybe you will, 0:04:11.920 --> 0:04:13.960 but it is true. You're not going to save her 0:04:14.040 --> 0:04:17.840 every moment of pregnancy. You might even seriously hate some 0:04:17.960 --> 0:04:21.400 of the moments. But there is no matter what, there 0:04:21.560 --> 0:04:23.800 is a light at the end of the tunnel. So 0:04:23.839 --> 0:04:26.279 it's really important to keep your eye on that sweet 0:04:26.320 --> 0:04:28.960 baby Price. And I think that's exactly what that mom 0:04:29.600 --> 0:04:33.360 was saying. Yeah, so true. Um, so let's get into 0:04:33.400 --> 0:04:37.359 these questions. The first mom that sent in a question said, 0:04:37.440 --> 0:04:41.240 I'm nine weeks along, but when should I actually start 0:04:41.320 --> 0:04:46.320 to feel pregnant? So you might be one of the 0:04:46.440 --> 0:04:49.800 lucky ones. And those are the ones who might not 0:04:50.360 --> 0:04:53.760 feel heartburn or not or vomiting. You may never have 0:04:53.800 --> 0:04:56.719 a headache, You might not even feel all that tired. 0:04:57.520 --> 0:04:59.919 If you peel a lot, you might be used to 0:05:00.000 --> 0:05:02.080 being a lot, so you might not even notice the 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:05.719 difference with urinary frequency. So there isn't a single symptom 0:05:05.800 --> 0:05:09.440 of pregnancy that is I must have that every single 0:05:09.520 --> 0:05:12.719 mom has, even not getting your period. Some moms continue 0:05:12.720 --> 0:05:16.040 to get their period during pregnancy. Um, so some moms 0:05:16.080 --> 0:05:18.960 may seem to have every symptom in the book, and 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:21.480 just when I think I've covered every symptom in the book, 0:05:21.520 --> 0:05:24.359 I hear of a new symptom somebody and I and 0:05:24.440 --> 0:05:26.839 I have to add it to the book. But you 0:05:26.920 --> 0:05:30.599 might not have many or any to speak of, or 0:05:30.720 --> 0:05:34.200 you know, even any to complain about, or and this 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:36.880 is just as likely you might have symptoms that are 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:40.360 right around the corner. But the bottom line is without symptoms, 0:05:40.400 --> 0:05:43.560 without yet feeling your baby kicking, which I know we're 0:05:43.560 --> 0:05:47.240 going to cover later, without a bump, you know, besides 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:52.159 the bloat always get early in pregnancy. It is so 0:05:52.560 --> 0:05:56.719 hard to actually feel pregnant. And you are not alone 0:05:56.760 --> 0:06:01.120 in this because I actually worried moost because I didn't 0:06:01.120 --> 0:06:04.039 have symptoms. I didn't know at the time. I was 0:06:04.120 --> 0:06:08.360 just lucky, right, So no signs isn't necessarily a bad sign. 0:06:08.640 --> 0:06:11.479 You might be lucky exactly. But of course if you 0:06:11.520 --> 0:06:14.200 have any any concerns, you always check with your doctor 0:06:14.320 --> 0:06:17.599 or midwife. So another question that we had a lot 0:06:17.640 --> 0:06:20.640 of moms asking, and one in particular said, she's twenty 0:06:20.640 --> 0:06:23.719 two weeks along, why doesn't she have a bump yet? 0:06:23.800 --> 0:06:26.440 And I know we hear this a lot all the 0:06:26.760 --> 0:06:30.560 time because here's the thing. You can't tell a baby 0:06:30.600 --> 0:06:33.799 by its cover, so you would assume the bigger the bump, 0:06:33.839 --> 0:06:37.479 the bigger the baby. Not so. And every mom carries 0:06:37.560 --> 0:06:42.640 differently because every mom is built differently. First time moms 0:06:43.200 --> 0:06:45.719 might not show as early as second and third and 0:06:45.760 --> 0:06:49.000 fourth time moms, and that's because they're abdominal and uterine 0:06:49.040 --> 0:06:53.279 muscles are tighter, so there's more resistance to the bump. 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:57.680 Popping genetics plays a role, skin tone, abdominal tone. Your 0:06:57.720 --> 0:07:00.880 bump will come on its own timeline, and maybe you'll 0:07:00.920 --> 0:07:05.159 be popping soon, maybe you'll be popping later, maybe you'll 0:07:05.200 --> 0:07:09.120 pop overnight. Maybe it'll be gradual. You might be high, low, wide, 0:07:09.160 --> 0:07:13.080 all in front, small art. Do not compare your bump 0:07:13.160 --> 0:07:18.720 to anybody else's bump, including your own bumping your last pregnancy. 0:07:18.760 --> 0:07:24.240 It's what's inside that counts. So if your doctor midwife says, hey, 0:07:24.280 --> 0:07:27.040 what's inside is perfect, you know I'm measuring your funnel height. 0:07:27.080 --> 0:07:30.920 Everything is measuring right, then you're good no matter what 0:07:31.000 --> 0:07:33.200 you look like on the outside. Yeah, I feel like 0:07:33.240 --> 0:07:36.440 the second pregnancy I looked pregnant the second I knew 0:07:36.520 --> 0:07:41.320 I was pregnantly. It happens all the time, not inevitably, 0:07:41.360 --> 0:07:46.160 because again, everybody is different, but it might happen alright, Hetty, 0:07:46.280 --> 0:07:50.160 I love this question so much. I'm pregnant and baby 0:07:50.280 --> 0:07:54.679 is constantly having hiccups? Is to safe. It's not only safe, 0:07:54.880 --> 0:07:58.000 it is like one of the cutest things on the 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:01.920 planet to witness. Sarah, did your babies have hiccups? It's 0:08:02.000 --> 0:08:04.600 one of my favorite memories. It's just sitting there and 0:08:04.680 --> 0:08:06.320 like feeling that it's I don't know, it's just like 0:08:06.360 --> 0:08:10.200 such a fun connection totally, and it is one of 0:08:10.200 --> 0:08:14.920 my favorite baby tricks, hands down, you know, except maybe 0:08:14.960 --> 0:08:18.360 those little hands poking out everywhere is also super cute. 0:08:18.680 --> 0:08:22.480 But it's so entertaining to watch your belly is just 0:08:23.000 --> 0:08:27.400 having these rhythmic, very very rhythmic spasms, you know. And 0:08:27.480 --> 0:08:31.080 though you might not see them as early as the 0:08:31.080 --> 0:08:33.720 baby is actually hiccupping, because you don't see or feel 0:08:33.720 --> 0:08:36.840 the movement as early as the baby starts moving either. 0:08:37.559 --> 0:08:41.360 Sometimes doctors can see it on ultrasound, which is pretty cool. 0:08:41.400 --> 0:08:44.200 The babies are hiccupping. Why do they hiccup? Nobody really 0:08:44.240 --> 0:08:47.319 knows for sure. Chances are it has something to do 0:08:47.480 --> 0:08:51.520 with getting those diaphragm muscles working. It's kind of like 0:08:51.640 --> 0:08:56.120 practice breathing, that's what they speculate. Some babies have them 0:08:56.240 --> 0:08:59.480 often a few times a day. Others don't seem to 0:08:59.520 --> 0:09:02.320 have any. Either way, it's all good. I love it. 0:09:02.880 --> 0:09:04.800 I know. We got this question like a million times 0:09:04.840 --> 0:09:07.960 when we were doing lives. When does your baby start kicking? 0:09:08.200 --> 0:09:11.960 And is it different in your second pregnancy? Oh? Yeah, 0:09:12.000 --> 0:09:16.600 So there is such a wide range of normal when 0:09:16.600 --> 0:09:21.000 it comes to feeling babies first kicks. It might come 0:09:21.040 --> 0:09:24.559 as early as fourteen weeks. Most moms feel that first 0:09:24.640 --> 0:09:28.840 kick between eighteen and twenty two weeks. Sometimes moms don't 0:09:29.000 --> 0:09:31.280 know it when they feel it. Maybe they think it's 0:09:31.320 --> 0:09:34.520 gas because you certainly got lots of that when you're pregnant. 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:39.480 There's always that possibility. All those gas drigg movements can 0:09:39.559 --> 0:09:42.560 be mistaken for fetal movements and the other way around. 0:09:43.320 --> 0:09:47.120 First time moms tend not to feel it as early 0:09:47.160 --> 0:09:49.840 as second and subsequent moms for the same reason that 0:09:49.960 --> 0:09:54.680 they don't show as early. There's more resistance, so you 0:09:54.720 --> 0:09:58.440 wouldn't necessarily feel the kicks though they are happening. You 0:09:58.480 --> 0:10:01.760 will see them on ultrasound if you get an ultrasound. Also, 0:10:01.800 --> 0:10:06.000 if you have a anterior placenta, which is a placenta 0:10:06.160 --> 0:10:09.440 that's facing the front instead of the back, that muffles 0:10:09.480 --> 0:10:12.600 a lot of the kicks. It has no clinical significance 0:10:12.600 --> 0:10:15.600 other than you're always going to be thinking, I don't 0:10:15.679 --> 0:10:18.520 feel the baby kicking. One thing you don't have to 0:10:18.559 --> 0:10:21.440 worry about. For instance, you could feel your first kick 0:10:21.480 --> 0:10:25.440 at eighteen weeks, not feel another one until you're twenty weeks, 0:10:25.600 --> 0:10:27.920 or you might feel them every single day from the 0:10:27.960 --> 0:10:30.920 first time you feel them, but you don't have to 0:10:30.960 --> 0:10:33.600 worry about how many times a day your baby kicks 0:10:33.800 --> 0:10:36.960 or whether baby seems quiet on one day until you 0:10:37.000 --> 0:10:40.120 get to the twenty eight week. At the twenty eight week, 0:10:40.400 --> 0:10:43.440 fetal movement should be more regular and it should be 0:10:43.520 --> 0:10:46.920 something you should be able to count and rely on. 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:50.160 So every day from twenty eight weeks on you should 0:10:50.160 --> 0:10:53.439 do a kick count. Lie down, because babies always are 0:10:53.440 --> 0:10:56.240 more likely to kick up when you're lying down. Have 0:10:56.400 --> 0:10:59.120 a glass of orange juice or or a piece of fruit. 0:10:59.520 --> 0:11:02.600 Just stimul like the baby, and chances are you'll field 0:11:02.600 --> 0:11:06.120 ten movements within an hour. And if you don't you 0:11:06.160 --> 0:11:08.920 want to check again and then make sure you check 0:11:08.960 --> 0:11:11.920 with your doctor. But before that it can be all 0:11:11.960 --> 0:11:15.280 over the place, all right, Heidi. Before we move on 0:11:15.480 --> 0:11:18.559 to labor and delivery, I have a really good question, 0:11:19.160 --> 0:11:23.160 which supplements other than prenatal d h A do you recommend? 0:11:23.920 --> 0:11:28.359 So for most moms, at least initially, no extra supplements 0:11:28.360 --> 0:11:32.200 are necessary beyond your prenatal that you know you can 0:11:32.240 --> 0:11:34.320 ask your doctor or midwife to prescribe it. There are 0:11:34.320 --> 0:11:36.920 plenty of good ones to pick off the shelf. D 0:11:37.120 --> 0:11:40.240 H is a good ingredient in a prenatal because there's 0:11:40.280 --> 0:11:42.800 a lot of baby brain and eye development going on. 0:11:43.440 --> 0:11:46.439 There are prenatals that keep even more of your bases 0:11:46.520 --> 0:11:49.280 covered that contain iodine, which a lot of moms are 0:11:49.320 --> 0:11:52.199 short on because many of us don't get iodine from 0:11:52.200 --> 0:11:56.680 our salt anymore. Um Colleen is great for baby brain development, 0:11:56.720 --> 0:12:01.040 and you shouldn't take anything beyond your prenatal supplement unless 0:12:01.160 --> 0:12:04.480 it's been okay by your doctor midwife. And that also 0:12:04.559 --> 0:12:07.880 goes for herbals. Now, in terms of other things that 0:12:07.920 --> 0:12:11.440 you might need eventually, iron stores tend to run low 0:12:11.679 --> 0:12:16.040 by week twenty, and at that point some practitioners actually 0:12:16.679 --> 0:12:21.360 start routinely prescribing an iron supplement, and preferably a slow 0:12:21.520 --> 0:12:24.960 release one because slow release is easier on your digestion. 0:12:25.000 --> 0:12:26.959 I don't know, but you, Sarah, but Watts and moms 0:12:27.000 --> 0:12:30.640 get constipated or get nauseous from the iron supplement. A 0:12:30.720 --> 0:12:34.840 slow release one is often easier on your digestion. Vitamin D. 0:12:35.160 --> 0:12:38.040 Many women are low in vitamin D, and a lot 0:12:38.080 --> 0:12:41.720 of doctors are now doing vitamin D screenings early in 0:12:41.760 --> 0:12:44.240 pregnancy to see if a mom is low on vitamin 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:47.079 D because it's a super important nutrient for baby making, 0:12:47.679 --> 0:12:51.080 especially if you have dark skin or if you wear 0:12:51.120 --> 0:12:53.920 sunscreen all the time, which walks the absorption of the sun. 0:12:54.720 --> 0:12:57.080 Then you should talk to your doctor about your vitamin 0:12:57.160 --> 0:12:59.880 D levels and whether you need extra vitamin D v 0:13:00.000 --> 0:13:03.520 beeg nds might need extra B twelve because B twelve 0:13:03.600 --> 0:13:09.040 is only found in animal products. If you have morning sickness, 0:13:09.080 --> 0:13:11.319 if your skin is really broken out, you can ask 0:13:11.360 --> 0:13:15.080 your doctor about extra B six. Some prenatal supplements already 0:13:15.080 --> 0:13:17.959 come with extra B six. And then if you're having 0:13:18.000 --> 0:13:23.679 constipation and leg cramps, both are very common in pregnancy, 0:13:23.720 --> 0:13:27.680 a magnesium supplement might help especially at night, and of course, 0:13:27.679 --> 0:13:31.319 a healthy diet covers the most of your nutritional basis. 0:13:31.640 --> 0:13:33.760 I wish I had known about the leg cramp help 0:13:33.880 --> 0:13:37.280 because that was like terrifying waking up in the middle 0:13:37.320 --> 0:13:39.040 of the night with the leg cramps. I didn't know 0:13:39.120 --> 0:13:42.240 what was happening. Oh yeah, it hurts. The important thing 0:13:42.280 --> 0:13:46.120 is to flex your toes up instead of pointing your 0:13:46.160 --> 0:13:48.439 toes down. And you can even do that to ward 0:13:48.520 --> 0:13:50.719 them off. But if you have a leg cramp in 0:13:50.760 --> 0:13:52.600 the middle of the night, that's the best thing to do, 0:13:52.800 --> 0:13:54.960 not screaming at your husband. That was what I did. 0:13:55.360 --> 0:13:58.720 If it works, listen, I mean, whatever gets you through 0:13:58.720 --> 0:14:12.600 the night, all right, Hey ny, So the questions on 0:14:12.760 --> 0:14:17.600 basically every expecting mom's minds are about labor and deliberate. 0:14:17.960 --> 0:14:20.920 Starting off, how will you know you're going into labor 0:14:21.000 --> 0:14:23.400 if you're pregnant for the first time? Okay, well, you 0:14:23.400 --> 0:14:25.680 guys probably know this story already because I tell it 0:14:25.800 --> 0:14:28.520 all the time. But I didn't know I was in 0:14:28.600 --> 0:14:31.040 labor when I was in labor for the first time. 0:14:31.360 --> 0:14:33.840 But that's only because I wasn't listening to my body 0:14:33.880 --> 0:14:36.120 and I was one of those people who was so 0:14:36.200 --> 0:14:38.640 afraid of getting to the hospital and being turned away 0:14:38.640 --> 0:14:42.040 because I was in false labor. Don't be me. Listen 0:14:42.080 --> 0:14:45.120 to your body. Chances are, if you listen, you will 0:14:45.160 --> 0:14:48.200 know when you're in labor. Chances are you will know 0:14:48.280 --> 0:14:51.520 it when you feel it. Because it hurts. False labor, 0:14:51.560 --> 0:14:54.400 we worry about that, But for the most part, it 0:14:54.480 --> 0:14:58.800 should come on somewhat gradually and then increase as time 0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:01.920 goes on. Some times it starts and then it stops. 0:15:02.080 --> 0:15:05.680 That's super annoying, but for the most part, it should 0:15:06.040 --> 0:15:10.240 continue to get a little bit more intense, more regular. 0:15:10.680 --> 0:15:14.080 If your water breaks, that's definitely a reason to call 0:15:14.160 --> 0:15:17.640 your doctor and midwife at any time, even if you 0:15:17.720 --> 0:15:22.480 haven't had any contractions, especially if you're pre term. Every 0:15:22.480 --> 0:15:25.800 woman feels it differently, but you'll probably feel some pressure 0:15:26.200 --> 0:15:31.280 lower back, upper side, aching, but aching sort of feels 0:15:31.280 --> 0:15:35.640 like your period, lots of crampy feelings. You might notice 0:15:35.640 --> 0:15:38.320 a change in your discharge if we're going to get 0:15:38.360 --> 0:15:41.560 real about it now. One thing that you can't take 0:15:41.600 --> 0:15:45.160 to the bank, though, is a mucus plug, because you 0:15:45.200 --> 0:15:49.160 could lose your mucus plug at any time, like three 0:15:49.200 --> 0:15:52.800 weeks out, even longer. Heidi, I was the opposite of you. 0:15:52.920 --> 0:15:57.080 I went right to the hospital right away and then 0:15:57.160 --> 0:16:01.120 had twenty six hours of labor. And the thing is 0:16:01.160 --> 0:16:04.320 that they are suggesting that you don't rush to the 0:16:04.400 --> 0:16:08.880 hospital because and some hospitals won't even admit you unless 0:16:09.040 --> 0:16:14.560 you are five centimeters or sometimes in some hospital situations 0:16:14.600 --> 0:16:19.840 even more. And that's just to avoid you know, labor 0:16:19.920 --> 0:16:22.680 at the hospital being too long and possibly leading to 0:16:22.720 --> 0:16:25.800 a C section. Yeah, definitely. I I learned the hard 0:16:25.800 --> 0:16:30.320 way the second time around. I took my time. Um, okay, 0:16:30.400 --> 0:16:33.640 So Heidi, we have another question that came up quite 0:16:33.640 --> 0:16:37.320 a bit. That's about round ligament pain. What is it 0:16:37.760 --> 0:16:39.680 and what do you need to do? And this is 0:16:39.720 --> 0:16:42.600 another first time on moment of mine. I went to 0:16:42.680 --> 0:16:46.520 the e er thinking round ligament pain was like a 0:16:46.520 --> 0:16:48.960 sign of extreme danger and I needed to hurry up 0:16:48.960 --> 0:16:52.960 and go to the ear. Yeah, and I always say, 0:16:53.040 --> 0:16:55.360 went into check it out. So if you feel that 0:16:55.440 --> 0:16:58.640 pain is so intense that you need to be seen, 0:16:58.760 --> 0:17:02.400 an absolutely call your doctor or midwife and see what 0:17:02.440 --> 0:17:06.440 they say about it. What this essentially is is growing pains. 0:17:06.680 --> 0:17:10.160 And you know, as your belly grows, as your uterus 0:17:10.200 --> 0:17:15.639 and baby grow, the ligaments supporting your uterus stretch and 0:17:16.119 --> 0:17:19.000 that can be a pain. They're also loosening up in 0:17:19.000 --> 0:17:23.880 in preparation for childbirth. All of this can can definitely 0:17:23.960 --> 0:17:26.359 lead to those pains that you could feel on the 0:17:26.359 --> 0:17:30.240 lower sides of your abdomen, often on both sides. It 0:17:30.320 --> 0:17:34.239 could be down near the groin too, It can be 0:17:34.400 --> 0:17:39.120 stabbing is usually brief. Sometimes you feel it more when 0:17:39.160 --> 0:17:41.960 you're changing positions or when you're getting out of bed, 0:17:42.080 --> 0:17:45.920 but it can happen at any time. I always suggest 0:17:45.960 --> 0:17:48.320 wearing a belly support because that can take some of 0:17:48.320 --> 0:17:53.040 the pressure off. And we're not using pelvic floor therapists enough, 0:17:53.240 --> 0:17:56.679 I believe. So if you feel that you're having a 0:17:56.760 --> 0:17:58.960 lot of pain, check with your doctor and see if 0:17:58.960 --> 0:18:02.000 you can get or for to a pelvic floor therapist. 0:18:02.720 --> 0:18:06.439 Another question, how can I tell if it's Braxton Hicks 0:18:06.720 --> 0:18:12.399 or contractions. So everybody who's old enough or watches the 0:18:12.480 --> 0:18:15.959 old episodes of Friends, there's one where Rachel, you know, 0:18:16.119 --> 0:18:19.840 Rachel was pregnant, right, and she goes to the hospital 0:18:20.040 --> 0:18:24.639 thinking she's in labor, but it's braxton Hicks. And you know, 0:18:24.920 --> 0:18:28.480 I had a lot of Braxton Hicks with Emma, which 0:18:28.520 --> 0:18:32.280 is strange because They're more common in second and subsequent pregnancies, 0:18:32.320 --> 0:18:36.919 and she was my first. They are practice contractions, like 0:18:37.040 --> 0:18:41.479 the dress rehearsal. So your uterus is contracting, not in 0:18:41.520 --> 0:18:43.520 an efficient way, not in a way that can birth 0:18:43.600 --> 0:18:45.840 your baby, but in a way that can still make 0:18:45.920 --> 0:18:49.960 you plenty uncomfortable. And what you'll feel, which is different 0:18:50.040 --> 0:18:54.919 from labor contraction, is that your belly bunches together in 0:18:55.359 --> 0:18:59.520 feels super hard and kind of pressure. You feel a 0:18:59.560 --> 0:19:03.360 lot of ussure, and it's got this strange contorted look 0:19:03.440 --> 0:19:07.439 to it, your belly. And they can last just a 0:19:07.440 --> 0:19:10.800 few seconds, they can last a couple of minutes. If 0:19:10.840 --> 0:19:14.760 you're having a lot of them, like a lot a lot, 0:19:14.880 --> 0:19:17.479 or you're noticing that you're having more than usual, and 0:19:17.560 --> 0:19:20.159 they are more common in the last trimester. You can 0:19:20.240 --> 0:19:24.760 have them anytime after twenty weeks, then definitely check with 0:19:25.040 --> 0:19:28.760 your doctor. Don't be shy, make that phone call. So 0:19:28.920 --> 0:19:32.239 for all the listeners that are, you know, approaching their 0:19:32.280 --> 0:19:35.840 due date and they're anxious and they're really wanting to 0:19:35.880 --> 0:19:39.200 bring on the big day, what are some safe ways 0:19:39.240 --> 0:19:43.040 for them to induce labor. Okay, so first we got 0:19:43.040 --> 0:19:45.040 to keep them baking for as long as we can, 0:19:45.600 --> 0:19:50.160 as anxious as we are to hold them. That said, 0:19:50.440 --> 0:19:53.960 if you are getting really close to that due date, 0:19:54.080 --> 0:19:56.920 or maybe baby has gone for the late check out. 0:19:57.320 --> 0:19:59.280 In my case, it was a very late check out. 0:19:59.680 --> 0:20:02.960 There r d I Y tricks that you can try 0:20:03.119 --> 0:20:06.199 at home. Most of them are safe. Um, none of 0:20:06.240 --> 0:20:09.440 them are really backed up by clinical evidence, so it's 0:20:09.480 --> 0:20:14.040 like no harm in trying these. Raspberry leaf tea. I 0:20:14.160 --> 0:20:18.280 tried that. Seemingly it worked, but that said, I was 0:20:18.359 --> 0:20:20.239 nine days late, so who knows, maybe I was going 0:20:20.280 --> 0:20:22.320 to go in the labor. Anyway, it worked within a 0:20:22.359 --> 0:20:25.600 couple of hours. Dates the dates that you eat, there's 0:20:25.600 --> 0:20:27.800 some evidence you do have to eat a lot of them. 0:20:27.800 --> 0:20:30.960 I think it's like ten at a sitting and if 0:20:31.000 --> 0:20:34.840 you have testacial diabetes or otherwise you know, can't handle 0:20:34.880 --> 0:20:38.560 the sweets. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but that might 0:20:38.880 --> 0:20:43.400 speed up the process a little. Um sex, We've all 0:20:43.440 --> 0:20:45.679 heard of this d I Y technique, and like I 0:20:45.720 --> 0:20:48.520 always say, if it works, great, If it doesn't work, 0:20:48.680 --> 0:20:52.520 still great. The same with having an orgasm. For you, 0:20:52.520 --> 0:20:58.040 you're releasing oxytocin, which is actually can help start labor. 0:20:58.359 --> 0:21:01.280 Probably not in the amounts that you need, but why not? 0:21:02.119 --> 0:21:05.840 Why not go for the gust though sperm has prostaglandins 0:21:05.920 --> 0:21:09.440 um similar but not as effective as those they use 0:21:09.520 --> 0:21:15.000 in the hospital. Those might help ripen your cervix um, walking, 0:21:15.119 --> 0:21:19.320 bouncing on a ball, eating hot sauce, pineapple Italian food. 0:21:19.840 --> 0:21:23.119 People swear by these techniques. I mean, they all just 0:21:23.200 --> 0:21:26.919 sound like really pleasant things for the most part. Anyway, 0:21:27.160 --> 0:21:29.240 Once if you don't want to try at home, is 0:21:29.359 --> 0:21:34.320 nipple stimulation that needs medical supervision. Nipple stimulation you'd have 0:21:34.400 --> 0:21:37.359 to actually go at it for hours, and it sounds 0:21:37.400 --> 0:21:40.200 like fun. Not so much fun. It could cause really 0:21:40.600 --> 0:21:46.000 really strong contractions. Again, the principle of releasing oxytocin um. 0:21:46.200 --> 0:21:49.439 Say no to castor oil, just say no, please, don't 0:21:49.640 --> 0:21:52.679 do it. And I'm surprised that topic comes up a 0:21:52.720 --> 0:21:55.520 lot still, and it does because it's passed down from 0:21:55.560 --> 0:21:58.480 generation to generation. But it's got to stop being passed 0:21:58.480 --> 0:22:03.639 because it causes intense cramps. That are you know, on 0:22:03.760 --> 0:22:08.200 top of your contractions, you have intense cramps um diarrhea. 0:22:08.280 --> 0:22:11.760 Oh man, you don't need that. Yeah, that sounds awful. 0:22:11.840 --> 0:22:15.879 We have a whole list of other alternatives. Okay, Heidi. 0:22:15.960 --> 0:22:19.639 Another question, is it true with a second pregnancy that 0:22:19.800 --> 0:22:24.359 labor is a lot faster. Yeah, so, by and large, 0:22:24.880 --> 0:22:28.720 in general, all other things being equal, it tends to 0:22:28.760 --> 0:22:32.399 be shorter. What tends to be most significantly shorter is 0:22:32.400 --> 0:22:36.760 the pushing. Again, you've got that lived in look, you're 0:22:36.840 --> 0:22:41.840 more relaxed down there. Baby faces less resistance leaving the buildings. 0:22:41.840 --> 0:22:44.240 So that's a good thing. But chances are you are 0:22:44.440 --> 0:22:47.480 in for an easier time. I pushed three and a 0:22:47.480 --> 0:22:50.600 half hours with Emma and just about twenty minutes with Wyatt. 0:22:50.880 --> 0:22:53.760 Oh that sounds nice. I had the same number of 0:22:54.160 --> 0:22:57.800 hours pushing both times, but the labor was cut like 0:22:57.880 --> 0:23:01.320 exactly in half, So out that's a perk. I was 0:23:01.359 --> 0:23:03.880 a little mad about the pushing part, but at least 0:23:03.880 --> 0:23:19.240 the labor was quicker. So we are going to get 0:23:19.240 --> 0:23:22.920 into our speed round, which we're calling help me Heidi 0:23:23.240 --> 0:23:27.159 in a hurry. Yes, I'll try to hurry. I was 0:23:27.200 --> 0:23:29.000 sure we're going to kick off with some true or 0:23:29.040 --> 0:23:33.840 false questions, and then someone word or one sentence answer questions. 0:23:33.920 --> 0:23:37.640 So true or false labor always starts with water breaking. 0:23:37.960 --> 0:23:41.560 Oh that is so false. It's true only in the 0:23:41.640 --> 0:23:45.560 movies and on TV that it happens every time. In 0:23:45.760 --> 0:23:50.160 real life, it only happens about fent and the time 0:23:50.680 --> 0:23:53.840 before labor starts. The rest of the time, the membranes 0:23:53.880 --> 0:23:59.040 stay intact until labor has already begun. Really only while 0:23:59.080 --> 0:24:03.080 they've really ran with that storyline, I know, because it's 0:24:03.119 --> 0:24:08.040 it's dramatic, right Yeah, um, sure fault. My baby will 0:24:08.119 --> 0:24:11.359 arrive exactly on my due date. Okay, So that's true 0:24:11.400 --> 0:24:15.640 five percent of the time, and the rest of the time. 0:24:15.680 --> 0:24:18.480 Now it's called an e d D or an estimated 0:24:18.520 --> 0:24:21.320 due date for a reason. Yeah, five percent of the 0:24:21.359 --> 0:24:23.240 time if that's when your baby will arrive, and the 0:24:23.240 --> 0:24:25.720 rest of the time, who knows. I know. I feel 0:24:25.760 --> 0:24:28.320 I've never heard of anyone that actually delivered on their 0:24:28.400 --> 0:24:31.919 due date. It does seem so rare, okay, true or false? 0:24:32.040 --> 0:24:35.919 I have to give up blue cheese false, Thank goodness. 0:24:36.040 --> 0:24:39.359 False if you choose pasteurized cheese. If you know the 0:24:39.359 --> 0:24:43.040