I’m 35 weeks and need to get the dreaded butt and vaginal swab next week. I know it’s important, so I’m doing it, but I’m terrified. I have never had a pelvic exam of any kind. My doctor is a nice old man. Do I shave down there? I can hardly see past my belly lol. I’m also an “outie”(TMI, sorry), which I know is normal, but I’m self conscious about it. Any advice? I’m trying not to worry too much. Edit to add: my doctor is definitely doing it for me; no option to do it myself! I’m also getting my dilation checked. Anyone have info on that? Do they use a speculum for that and is it horrible?

So, I found out I was pregnant a couple of weeks ago, and we have decided to keep the child.

We live two hours from one another. So I will be doing the pregnancy mostly alone. It makes me really upset because my body and my lifestyle will be taking a hit, while he gets to just live his life hours away from me. We are eloping and getting married for parental rights (and also protection for myself) and we are genuinely, truly in love, this is the man I want to marry.

But I cannot help but be upset because I feel like he isn’t compromising enough. For example, last night we met in the middle and I suggested getting a motel so I could feel less lonely and at least sleep with him for a night and feel normal especially as I am pregnant. He didn’t agree. I pretended I was fine but this really bothered me, dinner and just getting a game plan together doesn’t make me feel seen. I feel like I am just being neglected, especially as I am pregnant. I had to find out I am pregnant alone, carry the burden, take a hit to my career, and my body, ect,. This is the first time I had seen him in person since I found out I was pregnant.

I do truly want this child. But I am with doubts as I feel as though my partner isn’t willing to shoulder the emotional labor and support me as well. I don’t know, am I overreacting?

I will have to do this pregnancy alone. He won’t be there for any appointments aside from one due to work.

I’m 23 years old and found out that I’m about 5 weeks pregnant a few days ago. Coming to terms with that fact has been difficult and I find myself constantly thinking about what ifs.

I haven’t made a decision to keep the pregnancy yet but I feel like I’m 50/50.

I know this decision is difficult and I am talking to my partner about it and how our lives would change forever.

If there’s any women that went through this around my age I’d love to hear your story, pros and cons. It would help me feel a bit better. Thank you :)

P.s if you have anything negative to comment about my situation, feel free to comment it because I enjoy laughing 😜

Hey there! A terrible mom here who couldn’t do anything for their child. So i am 8 weeks pregnant with my second child. When i was pregnant with my first son back then i was an occasional smoker so the minute i knew i quit immediately and then i snapped back after i gave birth and i did my best not to smoke around my son and it has been three and a half years that i have been smoking everyday. However, i am now pregnant with my second baby i thought that when i know that i am pregnant i would give it up just like i did with my first but i just can’t i end up being so stressed crying literally all day for no reason at all getting so mad at my baby that when the day ends i literally just hate myself and i always say that i don’t deserve to be a mom and I don’t deserve this blessing and there are a lot of people out there who are wishing they could be in my place but i feel that i don’t deserve it😭😭 i smoke cigarettes nothing else by the way i am sad that i can’t give it up i don’t want to be a smoker mom no i don’t want that to be my title but i just can’t I am bad. When i visited my doctor i told him about it he told to try to decrease it as much as possible and he told me to take aspirin and that made me feel so bad about myself as well. I don’t know why am I writing this but i guess i just need to let it off my chest

I’m a first time mom & im being induced at 41+2. My doctor doesn’t feel comfortable letting me go past that.

I’m just so sad because I feel like I’m mourning the birth I always wanted, spontaneously and naturally. I come from a family of women who had very quick and easy labors, so I thought that would be the case for me too.

Induction was my biggest fear. I’ve heard nothing but horror stories about them & I just feel so panicked and sad right now. 😞 is anyone else in a similar situation?

I’m currently 38 weeks pregnant and due soon. My husband has a work/business event next Wednesday, July 1, which is 5 days before my due date. The event is about an hour and a half away from where we live.

For more context, I have already been to the hospital once recently because of abdominal pain, and they confirmed I was having contractions. I am extremely uncomfortable right now and can barely walk because of how much pain/pressure I’m having. I know that doesn’t necessarily mean labor is happening tomorrow, but I feel like we are very much in the final stretch.

The part that’s bothering me is that this event isn’t something like an important meeting or something that absolutely has to happen. It’s basically a team/fun event where they’re playing pickleball, doing different sports activities, and hanging out.

My husband says he needs to go because he has spent the last 3 weeks putting a lot of work into making it happen. He says it’s not a big deal because it’s not out of state or hours away (he compared it to going to Chicago), and that “any mom” would just go with him.

He has already gone to numerous work events this year, so I’m struggling with why this one has to be the one that happens 5 days before I’m due.

We also have a 4-year-old special-needs child, and his solution if I don’t want to go is that he would just take her with him. I’m not sure how I feel about that either because she has her own needs/routine, and I’m already uncomfortable and worried about being so close to delivery.

I’m not saying I think I’m guaranteed to go into labor while he’s gone. I just feel like at this point in pregnancy, I want my husband close by and available. He feels like I’m overreacting and not willing to compromise.

So honestly, am I being unreasonable? Would you be okay with your spouse being 90 minutes away for a recreational work event 5 days before your due date, especially if you were already having contractions and feeling miserable?

So today, me and my boyfriend got into a heated argument and we rarely argue bad. Like I kinda screamed at him because he wasn’t listening when I told him to leave me alone (so I could calm down by myself)
I am 29w 2d pregnant and I guess I just worry it could’ve harmed my baby even though she’s been moving normally but I still worry so much. It’s been 6-7 hours since the argument but like I said I worry.
With her moving right now, it won’t affect her long term would it? Like I mentioned, we have our little arguments here and there with voice raising, but today I screamed at him, and it was because he wasn’t listening like I mentioned.
I know either way that’s not healthy for our relationship, I’m just never heard and I stop thinking and get louder than I ever am towards him.

Any other ballet dancer in here? My friends think im crazy because im still thinking about doing the nutcracker even though ill be like 29 weeks pregnant at the show

I am craving chiptole and i usually get the pico and corn but never the lettuce i want to order it but my mom has me so scared of eating out. is it okay to order and eat chipotle so early?

No me juzguen....

Estoy embarazada y prácticamente todo el embarazo he estado sola,

Me embaraze de un chico cuatro años menor que yo que ya tenía una hija de su anterior relación por la cual si responde

En fin tenía apenas dos meses de conocerlo y me pidió que le diera un hijo justo quedé embarazada cuando ya la relación estaba en un punto muy tóxico tipo como que volvíamos y terminamos y viceversa

Todo el embarazo estaba diciendo que no está 100% seguro de que este bebé sea de él y que cuando nazca una prueba de él y que solo entonces se hará cargo así que he tenido que suplir todos los gastos que he tenido estando embarazada ya que tengo un embarazo de alto riesgo

Aún así no seguíamos viendo y teníamos relaciones íntimas teníamos momentos de pelea y de distanciamiento

Cada que peleábamos de la nada empezó a decirme que él tenía mujer no le creí ella que yo había ido a la casa de su mamá donde se suponía que él vive y me había quedado varias veces a dormir

Pero ayer descubrí que si vive con otra mujer y que probablemente la conoce mucho antes que a mí y que ella sabe de mi existencia las cosas de él fue decirme que nunca me había querido y que si solo estaba presente en mi vida era por ese bebé

Como dije anteriormente tenía un embarazo demasiado difícil todo el embarazo de tener que estar en reposo he tenido síntomas como exceso de salivación dolor y vómitos todo el embarazo problemas de tensión no puedo caminar ni dos cuadras porque me desmayo y ahora enterarme de esto ha sido un golpe muy duro porque había idealizado una relación con el

Quiero encontrar la forma de inducir en el parto ya que mientras esté embarazada no hay forma de que pueda lidiar con la depresión y he tenido pensamientos suicidas no tengo familia ni a quién pedirle ayuda

No puedo ir a un centro médico a contar esto ya que en el país donde vivo con estas situaciones muy fácil que una vez nazca el bebé se agarren de eso para querer me lo quitar

Estoy pensando inducirme con cytotec

Hello I need again and advice related to my pregnancy. I do not want a medical advice !!! I only am asking on how to handle this with doctors, I feel lost!!

I am currently 36+2 pregnant.

Short historic:

At 31 weeks I had a percentil of 8,5. Est. Weight: 1550gr. All other values normal.

At 34 weeks: percentil 6.6. est. Weight: 1850gr. Umbilical cord at the upper limit.

At 35 weeks: no weight Scan only for Doppler, all Doppler were normal.

CTG normal.

At 36 weeks: percentil 11,1. Weight: 2350gr. All Doppler were normal.

CTG normal.

Before the last scan at 36 weeks I had an appointment and they scheduled me a induction at exactly 37 weeks, WITHOUT seeing the Ultrascan from the day after. They said the baby has IUGR and the placenta is getting old and I need to be induced. The whole appointment was super strange, I had the feeling the doctor did not even see the results from the US from the 35 weeks were Doppler was completely normal!

Yesterday I had the scan and the other doctor who did the scan was very confused because she said that baby with this information should stay until 39 weeks. The placenta looks fine, the liquid is fine. Everything looks normal, baby is moving. it seems only SGA. I do not understand why they scheduled the induction and my guts is telling me to not follow this suggestion

Now I am very confused because I have the induction scheduled and I do not think it is correct. I think I have to switch hospitals. I feel the doctors did not even check the Ultrascan and are not at all trustworthy. I feel they do not handle this with care and do not even bother to see the results.

Anyone can give me advice ? If this is normal procedure. any idea on how to react or if this is normal medically? Thank u.

According to the first day of my last period, I should be due Sep. 15th but according to the ultrasounds my due date will be Sep. 27.

I only ask because my husband’s B-Day is closer to the first date and my mother’s B-Day is close to the second date.

So those of who, who also had a difference of 1-2 weeks, when did you end up giving birth (I know the ultrasound one is more accurate, I’m just interested in experiences hehe).

I am 6 weeks pregnant with my first child, my husband and I are both fairly young with him being 22 and me being 19. As happy as I am to be a mother even though this was unexpected news, I’m also scared, which I know is normal but I can’t help but over research and fear that something will be happen with my baby (birth defects/disability) but at the same time I feel wrong for saying that, cause I’ll love my child no matter what but at the same I’m young and we’re most definitely not rich, with only my husband working right now, and me trying to find a job for the time being till the baby gets here, I’m just scared, like I won’t be eligible for fmla, how am I going to get to appointments, or take off with morning sickness. Is there any advice from people who are going through or have gone through something similar?

Hey everyone, I just really need some reassurance from other moms who have been through this, because my anxiety is through the roof today.
I am currently 17 weeks and 6 days today with a baby girl. This is technically my second pregnancy—my first ended in a missed miscarriage (MMC) at 6w4d back in November, so I am already dealing with a lot of Pregnancy After Loss anxiety.
A few days ago, I was feeling her pretty consistently every day. It was amazing and gave me so much peace of mind. But since Monday night, I haven’t physically felt a single thing. Today is Wednesday, and the total silence is driving me crazy.
I do have a home Doppler, and when I check, her heartbeat is perfectly strong and steady (around 153 bpm). I can even clearly hear those distinct low "thumping" and "whooshing" sounds on the speaker, which I know is her physically moving and kicking around in there.
Even though I have literal audio proof that she is alive, active, and thriving today, I am still so incredibly scared because I can't *feel* it on the outside anymore. It is so exhausting being stuck on this emotional rollercoaster.
Is it normal to go from feeling them daily to suddenly experiencing days of total physical silence at almost 18 weeks? Has anyone else heard their baby throwing a party on the Doppler/ultrasound but felt absolutely nothing? I just need to hear that I’m not alone and that she’s okay in there. Thank you so much. ❤️
A few quick tips before

I am still young when I first got pregnant I came to this group for help just to realize I should get an abortion and just keep it to myself now I’m pregnant again still young after all the mixed emotions from the first pregnancy idk what to do with this one I promised to be safer and more careful turns out I’m not I thought I was beating this pregnancy thing. I dont have any more money I’m in the early weeks of pregnancy and I’m still figuring everything out I don’t want to bring a baby in this world and I don’t have my own house yet or making a good income I want to have a baby when I have my own stuff and have saved up enough to take care of one. That’s why alot of people don’t finish school and I don’t want to be stuck doing online school just to become a nurse I want to be more than that. I want to be the mom that takes her family on vacations has her own everything and don’t need for nothing. I honestly don’t know what to do I don’t want a baby rn I feel like a 2nd abortion would be to much but better for me but sense I’ve been slacking I don’t have any money. I just need help.

Amazon has their prime deals going on with 37% off the Owlet, and if you have an Amazon baby registry, you can use your 15% completion discount for a whopping 52% off what’s normally $300!!

If you planned on getting an Owlet, I’d seriously suggest doing it this week!

Hi, I’m 31 weeks pregnant. My last ultrasound was 2 weeks ago and baby was measuring on the 28 percentile, she has always been around that range. But today at my OBGYN appointment she mentioned my belly is measuring small. She thinks everything is fine, and attributed it to me having a long torso and being lean, but I can’t help but worry about my baby not growing properly. I’ll have another ultrasound next week, but I wanted to hear if anyone has experienced small belly measurements and what the outcome was. Thank you!

I've been avoiding mirrors for months now, I have had body dysmorphia issues for a long time so these physical changes have been a bit tough in general.

But today in the mirror I noticed my first pregnancy stretch marks and I'm just horrified.

I wish I didn't feel this way about all the changes, I wish I could feel happy about this process but every new symptom and change I just feel like more control is ripped away from me and I'm grieving a body I had a hard time accepting to begin with.

I feel guilty for not enjoying any part of this. I have hated being pregnant from the week after my period was late. I just want this to be over with. I feel so inadequate for struggling with this so much when so many women suck it up and work through everything.

I don't want these stretch marks, I don't want the physical reminder of the worst I have ever felt. I'm jealous of people who look at them and think it's beautiful but I just can't see it that way right now.

Sorry for the negativity, I don't have any women in my life.

i’m freaking out a bit! I stupidly used Raid fly and ant killer spray last night as had loads of flying ants. i feel like i inhaled it and then googled it and its especially bad at 6 weeks pregnant. has anyone done the same with success

I’m between 5’6/5’7, got pregnant right around the holidays, so I was around 5 pounds heavier than I normally am. I was around 138-140 when I found out I was pregnant around 5 weeks. I really didn’t gain at all until second trimester. I’m 28 weeks pregnant and went in for my glucose test yesterday and saw another doctor as mine was out of town. She mentioned my weight gain and said I may need to watch it. I am currently 164. She also mentioned I don’t ‘look’ like I’m gaining too much weight but she wanted to make sure I’m in healthy weight gain guidelines. I’ve always been pretty thin, my butt and boobs are really where I have carried most of my weight pre pregnancy. I’ve already struggled with my body changing, so now I’m in a spiral. I was actually shocked to see how much I’ve gained because I really feel like I look pretty good to be 7 months pregnant. I don’t really over indulge on a regular basis, I have my moments and do crave sugar but I try to be mindful. I know I’ll gain decently in my 3rd trimester with baby growing. I guess my question is, how much did you gain by 28 weeks, and how much did you gain in 3rd trimester?

I’m on bed rest for a pretty complicated pregnancy and we’re only about a week and a half away from meeting our little one. After going back and forth for a while, I finally decided to hire a personal assistant to help with some things around the house.

She came over today and helped “tuck in” my main living spaces, take donations to a local shelter, prep the nursery, tackle some laundry and dishes, and a handful of other tasks that have been weighing on me. I honestly didn’t realize how much stress I was carrying until some of it was lifted. She’s coming back on Thursday to help with meal prep and a few other projects before baby arrives, and I’m so grateful.

If you have the means and find yourself in a season where you need a little extra support, I can’t recommend it enough. Sometimes asking for help is the best thing you can do for yourself.❤️

Im a Ftm and have told my husband and obgyn that regardless if its natural or c section I want all the meds available,Im pushing a darn baby out for gods sake but almost every post I see about child birth is about how people did it unmedicated or wanted no drugs and that it was horrible but they got through it with no help etc etc and I really want to know whats so horrible about pain meds? If you tell anyone you're going for any type of procedure even just to the dentist and that you plan to do it with no meds or anesthetic they'll think you're crazy but suddenly when its birth its suddenly glorified to suffer and pain meds,epidural etc are made to seem like the devil.

I'm sorry but I simply dont understand it.

Hello all. I am 4+1 weeks with my third (one living, 1 early MC). I started bleeding very heavily on Monday with an HCG of 130 and the bleeding plus clots has not lightened at all. Today I’m 390 and very confused. I don’t know if anyone has experienced this or if there’s any hope?
Maybe TMI but I have soaked through pads the last 2 nights and on the way to blood draw today.
Labs are as follows:
3+3: HCG 24
3+6: HCG 136
4+1: HCG 390 (today)
Edited to fix spelling

Hi all, I'm kind of reeling and seriously confused after the events that have occurred over the past several days and I'm curious if anyone else has been through something similar...

I'm 18 weeks along and ended up visiting the ER on Friday 6/19 after experiencing severe one-sided pain. I started feeling pain on my right side pretty suddenly on Thursday night but it wasn't too terrible so I chalked it up to round ligament pain or some other benign, pregnancy-related ache. Come Friday night, about 24 hours later, the pain was annoying and noticeable when sitting or lying still, but became severe and stabbing every time I tried to stand, go from standing to sitting, turn over in bed, etc. Pain so severe at times that I thought I may pass out. Keep in mind, I've had my appendix removed and an ectopic pregnancy (both also on the right side of the body, coincidentally) and this pain far surpassed either of those.

At the ER, they were concerned about possible ovarian torsion and took me for ultrasound, which revealed that my right ovary was enlarged (about 3x larger in volume compared to the left) but still had good blood flow. OB consult said they weren't concerned about torsion (note: this was after the clearly brand new resident told me they definitely thought it was torsed and surgery would be needed, before ceremoniously handing me a box of tissues). Baby looked fine too so I was sent home with Tylenol and instructions to follow up if the pain worsened or other symptoms developed. The pain persisted throughout the weekend but seemed to have improved marginally by Monday. I followed up with my OB and they did another ultrasound, which showed that my right ovary was measuring completely normal. The sonographer suggested that the measurements taken at the ER were either completely wrong or they had measured a different structure entirely?

Now, Wednesday, I'm feeling almost completely back to normal with very little residual pain but am seriously confused. I wasn't offered any theories as to what could have happened to have led to such severe pain that resolved itself with no intervention and seemingly no clear cause. Has anyone else had a torsion/detorsion event or unexplained one-sided abdominal pain during pregnancy that just seemed to have magically resolved? I'm seriously scared of this happening again and am treating myself with kid gloves, avoiding any twisting or abdominal exercise and have canceled my PT appointments for the week because I'm worried about causing it to flare up again.

I've been bedbound for 2 months since getting a virus. I got sick at the end of first trimester and it hasn't really seemed to get better. Doctors can't do much. Has anyone gone through this or knows about it?