Chaz Moms and Moms-to-Be Chat (everyone welcome)

[AllisonPitbullLvr]

I think the reason you're getting such strong reactions Barbara, is because that "something" you say has only a 1% chance of happening is the potential death of your unborn child. Or a serious, possibly permanent, health issue. Either way, as this child's mother, it's your job to suck it up and act a little bit like a "delicate flower"-- not for your sake, but for the baby's.

I don't agree with all the things that are on the list of "stuff to avoid" but I sit down and have a serious conversation about them with my midwife and then alter my decisions accordingly based on the risks. I stick to veggie sushi, I drink decaf, I stay away from alcohol completely. It's what being a mother is-- sacrifice.

It's not worth any risk IMO. You should wait.

And it's really not my business to tell people how to spend their hard earned money, but if I had an extra $60 right now, it would be going into an RESP or other savings account to help pay for the enormous expenses that come along with a baby. More sacrifice.

[milos_mommy]

It is NOT the same risk.

If you get a tattoo (safely) when not pregnant, maybe you'll get an infection. You'll probably take antibiotics. Maybe you'll get sick. It's REALLY rare or unlikely you'll have any long term effects, or serious complications.

Getting a tattoo when pregnant and getting an infection (which is significantly more likely when you're pregnant, btw), could very, very easily cause you to lose your baby. If it doesn't cause you to lose the baby, it might cause serious lasting health problems in your baby. Like brain damage. Getting a high fever because of a tattoo when you're not pregnant isn't a huge deal. Getting a high fever when you are pregnant, IS.

And you're not just as likely to get listeria pregnant as when you're not pregnant. I'm not sure exactly how much more frequent listeria occurs in pregnant women than non-pregnant women, but it's a very significant percentage, like 30% more or something. Because your immune system is compromised. That means you're also more likely to get an infection (or any kind of disease) from a tattoo.

Not to mention all the issues the physical stress could cause in an unborn baby, especially if you don't frequently get tattoos and aren't used to the pain, or end up quite sensitive to the inks or whatever.

It's like the difference between driving late at night in a snowstorm, and driving late at night in a snow storm after you spent the past three nights up with your child, with your kid in the backseat. Not only is not just risking your own health, but risking someone else's...but you're more likely to suffer negative effects because of the toll your child is taking on your body.

[Barbara!]

Okay... Different opinion tally now...


Opinion on exercise during pregnancy? I have been thinking about trying to walk a couple miles or more a day. My doctor says it can increase my ever decreasing circulation and help me maintain a better weight after pregnancy if I am exercising now.

[Romy]

Walking is really good exercise. It's different when you're pregnant in that you don't want to fatigue yourself to the point you would non-pregnant and doing serious endurance training. But as long as the doctor says you can handle it and you listen to your body, awesome.

I was only able to walk 1 block at a time during my last one, because it made me have bad contractions and they wanted me to sit and rest/lay down every time I had one. My first pregnancy I went on lots of 7 mile+ hikes up to 27 weeks. It's basically what your body tolerates.

The better shape you started in, the more you'll be able to do now.

When I was going stir crazy on bed rest, doing stuff with small free weights was really helpful. Just simple wrist, tricep, etc. type things.

[sparks19]

Exercise is definitely a good thing as long as you listen to your body. If it causes any abdominal cramping or contractions cease immediately and call your doctor.

But in theory the more in shape you are and the more core muscles you develop the easier the delivery. But if the doc says it is too much you need to stop.

Like romy said, work but not to fatigue

[sillysally]

Originally Posted by Barbara!

I find it more heartbreaking that people here insist on talking down to someone when they disagree instead of just disagreeing? I disagree with the viewpoint that I should behave and act like a delicate little flower and stay away from all things risky while pregnant, but I am not talking down to you for your viewpoints because it is your opinion and you are welcome to it, so don't do that to me. I just simply think that the attitude that I should wrap myself in a blanket and avoid all things with a 1% chance of something happening to be a viewpoint I don't agree with for myself. If you and others want to do that, more power to you and I admire you for doing and acting upon what you believe in, but I won't dare speak down to you about it the way I am being spoken to here. Seems to be a common theme with Chaz. "We are all welcoming and we don't argue and blah blah" but wait... Disagree with the consensus opinion and people will treat you like some sort of leper with a mental disability. I asked for opinions on the subject, not judgements. Seems to go hand in hand, though.

Also, back onto the tattoo subject, there isn't a risk at all if you can guarantee that the environment is sterile. So where exactly lies the problem? It all comes down to opinion, not actual scientific fact... Just opinion. Of which I have a differing one, but apparently that calls for pitchforks.

If your doctor gave you the green light and you clearly intend to do it anyway, I really curious as to why you asked for opinions then argued with people about it?

I also never heard anyone claim that we don't argue on here...

[milos_mommy]

Exercise during pregnancy is the bane of my existence.

I think a pretty general rule is "if you could do it before pregnancy, and it doesn't make you feel terrible/cause cramping/exhaustion during pregnancy, it's fine". I've heard things like you can't your heart rate above 130 bpm during pregnancy, but I think that's only if you're not used to doing cardio. Walking shouldn't cause that, anyway, barring complications or medical issues.

I was in decent shape before I got pregnant. Not as good shape as I was a year or two before I got pregnant, but whatever. My stamina wasn't great, but I could easily walk 2-3 miles without feeling any kind of tiredness, run up and down 5 flights of stairs... I could do cardio for about 15 minutes before I started feeling it at all...I could easily do most intermediate yoga positions...

Then I got pregnant. Even basic yoga positions for more than 5 or 10 minutes made me get cramps. So the doctor said stop when the cramps start. I'd get completely winded going up and down the stairs if I went up to grab something. I'd have to rest before going back down. I could walk about a quarter mile before feeling like I'd pass out (and if I didn't sit down, I would pass out). That was presumably due to my ridiculously low blood pressure.

Now, I'm almost 6 months in, and feeling somewhat better/more able to do things...but dear God I am SOOOOO out of shape. I'm really worried I'm going to have a difficult labor because of it. I'm still getting winded/exhausted on stairs if it's more than two flights...I got some exercise yesterday (nothing super-intense) and I'm literally limping because my thighs are so sore.

So yeah, my advice is if you are at all capable of getting exercise in early pregnancy, DO IT. You do not want to be 6 months pregnant and have tossing the ball for the dog or having sex or carrying groceries in leave you feeling like you hiked 15 miles over rough terrain.

[milos_mommy]

Originally Posted by sillysally

If your doctor gave you the green light and you clearly intend to do it anyway, I really curious as to why you asked for opinions then argued with people about it?

Because there is no way any qualified dr ok'd getting a tattoo during pregnancy. If a patient was told by the doctor that getting a tattoo was fine, and they got an infection or something (which is fairly likely), they would be at risk for a MAJOR lawsuit. Just like the same way no qualified tattoo artist would tattoo a woman during pregnancy. Every single tattoo shop I have ever been in has required the woman to sign a form acknowledging that she is not pregnant.

[jenv101]

Originally Posted by milos_mommy

So yeah, my advice is if you are at all capable of getting exercise in early pregnancy, DO IT. You do not want to be 6 months pregnant and have tossing the ball for the dog or having sex or carrying groceries in leave you feeling like you hiked 15 miles over rough terrain.

This is how I feel today after throwing the ball for the dogs yesterday and then making dinner afterwards

[milos_mommy]

Here's a fun topic!

I'm going to be traveling with this little one a fair deal in the first few months of his/her life (yay!). We'll be visiting my grandmother in August (and staying at her home), and visiting Orlando in a hotel with my dad, possibly mom, stepsister, and her BF.

I'm not too concerned about things like air travel, or doing amusement parks/visiting/figuring out a schedule with a newborn...but I'm curious as to what everyone did or plans to do as far as stuff like a pack n play, portable crib, etc. I told my grandma to keep a lookout for a pack n play in Florida, and if she can't find one I'll order one and have it shipped to her house (I'm sure we'll be back there frequently in baby and toddlerhood). And there's a possibility the timeshare will offer some kind of cribs for guests with babies, I'll call and ask.

So, what pack n play or portable/travel sleeping arrangements did or do you have for the lil ones?