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

[joce]

When did you all start taking prenatal vitamins or what vitamins did you take when you decided to start ttc?

I think the folic acid is three months prior to reduce birth defects? It really does make a difference to so take it. Your dr may put you on a prescribed higher dose vs an OTC one if you have a family hx of any birth defects or have been in any questionable meds etc.

I took a prescribed prenatal with a higher folic acid in it. Or maybe if was a separate folic acid. I can't remember. Lol

 

[FG167]

I tried but they made me horribly sick!

I started mine as soon as I went off birth control. They made me sick too, I started to take them just before going to bed and that really helped.

 

[stardogs]

When did you all start taking prenatal vitamins or what vitamins did you take when you decided to start ttc?

My midwife said that the women's multi I was taking already was aok, but I realized recently it doesn't have calcium or magnesium, which I'd like, so I'm going to be trying the Rainbow Light one a day prenatal.

I have heard good things and it's supposed to be easier on your stomach. Iron is usually what gives me an upset stomach and it does have more than others, but it's supposed to be in a more digestible form. It also has folate instead of folic acid, which is supposed to be more bioavailable.

I'm also considering adding red raspberry leaf to my tea rotation because it is supposed to have good effects for periods, pregnancy, and labor!

 

[amberdyan]

My midwife said that the women's multi I was taking already was aok, but I realized recently it doesn't have calcium or magnesium, which I'd like, so I'm going to be trying the Rainbow Light one a day prenatal.

I have heard good things and it's supposed to be easier on your stomach. Iron is usually what gives me an upset stomach and it does have more than others, but it's supposed to be in a more digestible form. It also has folate instead of folic acid, which is supposed to be more bioavailable.

I'm also considering adding red raspberry leaf to my tea rotation because it is supposed to have good effects for periods, pregnancy, and labor!

I've heard the same thing about folate vs folic acid. I would definitely add the rasberry leaf tea! We're going to start ttc in less than a year and my best friend is starting next month, she loves the rasberry tea.

 

[stardogs]

I've heard the same thing about folate vs folic acid. I would definitely add the rasberry leaf tea! We're going to start ttc in less than a year and my best friend is starting next month, she loves the rasberry tea.

Any idea what tea she prefers? I want something tasty! The Fecundi-Tea from Mountain Rose Herbals looks interesting, but I'll be running it by my midwives before buying.

 

[amberdyan]

Any idea what tea she prefers? I want something tasty! The Fecundi-Tea from Mountain Rose Herbals looks interesting, but I'll be running it by my midwives before buying.

She drinks Tropical Traditions (ETA: this one http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/organic-raspberry-leaf-tea.htm said, and I quote "I like it. I don't love it, but I don't drink it love it I guess!" lol. .She takes a separate powdered magnesium supplement (I take it too, it's awesome) that she can dissolve it in the tea (it's rasberry/lemon flavored) and she likes that.

 

[milos_mommy]

Can't too much raspberry leaf tea be a miscarriage risk early on? (I could be 200% mistaken or it could be a myth, so don't take that seriously!)

I never TTC Lillian so started prenatals (CVS brand) when I found out I was pregnant, with a Rx folic acid supplement.

Now I take prenatal and folic acid OTC supplement (when I remember) but we're not really TTC (NT/NP though)...I pretty much just do it for the health reasons (I bruise horrifically and have nightmares when I stop taking them)

 

[amberdyan]

Can't too much raspberry leaf tea be a miscarriage risk early on? (I could be 200% mistaken or it could be a myth, so don't take that seriously!)

My mom is a L/D nurse and she says it's a myth based on a study done in like the 50s where they isolated parts of the RLT and applied it directly to uterus of guinea pigs, which did cause uterine contractions and eventually miscarriage. I've talked to doctors and midwives and they've all said it's a bad study since part of the tea was isolated, it was a small population of rodents and it was applied directly to the uterus.

 

[*blackrose]

What are some good, informative resources that you guys found useful to help you prepare for conceiving, pregnancy, birth, and everything in between?

Things won't even be attempting to happen until August...but I'd like to have all of my ducks in a row for when the time comes! I'm really excited that we've decided this summer will be the time. I just hope timing and things work out the way we're hoping.

 

[stardogs]

What are some good, informative resources that you guys found useful to help you prepare for conceiving, pregnancy, birth, and everything in between?

Ok, so fair warning, I'm preeeetty crunchy so my resources all slant toward natural, but here's my list of things I checked out in my initial research phase. I kind of take the "take what you can use, lose the rest" tactic with many, so ymmv. I also haven't checked all of them recently, so there may be some dead links.

Books/DVDs (I found both books at the local library!)

DVD: "The Business of Being Born" - documentary on birth in america. About 90 minutes in length and I found it very informative. Available on netflix streaming.

Book: "BabyCatcher" - great, relatively easy read about the life of a midwife. I found it incredibly educational while also being entertaining.

Book: "Pushed" - book on modern american maternity care. Lots of great research-based info, but could be a bit startling for someone who is looking at birth in the near future because it does point out the flaws in the system.

Websites

http://www.yourbirthright.com/ - source of *free* telecourses on various pregnancy/birth topics.

http://www.pregnancybirthandbabies.c...th_stories.htm - positive birth stories of all kinds.

http://www.hypnobirthing.clairebushell.co.uk/ - info on the HypnoBirthing method.

http://bringbirthhome.com/ - extensive site on all things homebirth.

Blogs

http://atyourcervix.blogspot.com/ - L&D nurse's perspective on birth.

http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=663#more-663 - research-based blog from Lamaze International

http://www.theunnecesarean.com/ - blog striving to reduce unneccesary ceseareans by educating consumers; also publishes c-section rates for states in the US.

http://thefeministbreeder.com/ - much more extreme blog than what I usually gravitate toward, but I do find it very interesting and she has a great VBAC story IIRC.

http://obnurse35yrs.wordpress.com/ - another OB nurse's perspective.

http://enjoybirth.wordpress.com/ - hypnobabies instructor, mother, etc. blogging about all things birth.

http://rixarixa.blogspot.com/ - one of my fav blogs, but I don't know exactly why...LOL. The author did a dissertation on unassisted child birth, so a bit more extreme natural birth than my own preferences, but I find it fascinating.

http://nursingbirth.com/ - a fairly slow blog written by a nurse. The "Don't Let This Happen to You" series is what started my odyssey into birth education, but can be a bit overwhelming in and of itself, though I found it quite educational.

http://birthingbeautifulideas.com/ - doula authored blog.

http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/ - The name says it all!

http://momstinfoilhat.wordpress.com/ - mom in medical school. A bit more snarky than some of the other blogs, but the perspective she has is very interesting.

 

[HayleyMarie]

What are some good, informative resources that you guys found useful to help you prepare for conceiving, pregnancy, birth, and everything in between?

Things won't even be attempting to happen until August...but I'd like to have all of my ducks in a row for when the time comes! I'm really excited that we've decided this summer will be the time. I just hope timing and things work out the way we're hoping.

Yay!!! We will be TTC around the same time. So exciting.

I also recommend ina may's book. It's so good

 

[Dizzy]

My biggest advice would be research ALL possible births and outcomes, because it's so unpredictable. Our plan went totally out the window and I think the only reason it wasn't traumatic is because I wasn't naive and knew what might happen and what can lead to what.

First rule of birth, plan for the unexpected. Same with pregnancy really. You don't know how it's going to affect you till you're in it. I was lucky that I loved being pregnant. Others aren't so lucky.

 

[stardogs]

My biggest advice would be research ALL possible births and outcomes, because it's so unpredictable. Our plan went totally out the window and I think the only reason it wasn't traumatic is because I wasn't naive and knew what might happen and what can lead to what.

First rule of birth, plan for the unexpected. Same with pregnancy really. You don't know how it's going to affect you till you're in it. I was lucky that I loved being pregnant. Others aren't so lucky.

Totally! I definitely have a long list of things I'd prefer, but I also researched the science behind a lot of my choices so that I can be more able to balance pros/cons if something doesn't go as planned. I seriously feel *so* much more relaxed about the whole thing because of all the research I've done!

I'm being picky about my care providers, too, because I want support for decision making, not a 'my way or the highway' clinician. I'm driving 45 minutes to have the care I want because the practices in my area are all very hit or miss and you won't know who you get until the day of.

 

[joce]

My biggest advice would be research ALL possible births and outcomes, because it's so unpredictable. Our plan went totally out the window and I think the only reason it wasn't traumatic is because I wasn't naive and knew what might happen and what can lead to what.

First rule of birth, plan for the unexpected. Same with pregnancy really. You don't know how it's going to affect you till you're in it. I was lucky that I loved being pregnant. Others aren't so lucky.

I can not like this enough! And we don't even have a like button on this forum!

You have people that are so adamant about things, you MUST breast feed or not have a c-section or you are not a good parent. And god forbid you have any baby blues.

I'm one to say read a little here and there and you'll find your own thing. Find a dr or midwife you trust and follow them. Enjoy it to!

I also loved being pregnant till that last week or so when I was so swollen I could barely move.

 

[Greenmagick]

Yes, I think the importance of the birth plan is that it SHOULD be heavily researched. Meaning knowing at each step or whatever the possibilities and how things can change. You do need to be flexible, but also strong and know why things are changing and be educated enough to fight when necessary and let go when necessary.

 

[HayleyMarie]

I think ^^^ all of that needs repeating. Things can change, learn to go with it.

 

[HayleyMarie]

When you guys decided to TTC, when did you go off BC? I want to go off now, but use condom, we double up now as well. but don't want to get pregnant until after the wedding. I want my pretty dress to fit ha ha. But I'm worried not getting off BC soon enough before TTc will cause issues with conceiving. And reguarding the matter I've seen info all over the place so I am not to sure what to believe.

I'm going to be making an appointment with my dr To get a wart burned off so I'm going to chat about TTC when I get there.

Is there particular things I should ask??

Thanks friends

 

[*blackrose]

When you guys decided to TTC, when did you go off BC? I want to go off now, but use condom, we double up now as well. but don't want to get pregnant until after the wedding. I want my pretty dress to fit ha ha. But I'm worried not getting off BC soon enough before TTc will cause issues with conceiving. And reguarding the matter I've seen info all over the place so I am not to sure what to believe.

I'm going to be making an appointment with my dr To get a wart burned off so I'm going to chat about TTC when I get there.

Is there particular things I should ask??

Thanks friends

I stopped my birth control in November, actually. We had talked and were at the point that if I were to become pregnant the first month being off, that'd be okay. We didn't use a backup method. I'd say the month of December my body was definitely adjusting to being off of the pills. Weird sporadic cramps, weird nausea, just all around weird. My cycle was about 2 weeks later than what I was anticipating and it was definitely a change to go back to a "normal" cycle after being on "easy" birth control cycles!

I haven't had any issues at all this month, so I'm hopeful that my body is now back in the swing of things. I'll just be tracking my cycles now that I'm off the pills to get a sense of how long I'm going between them.

We'll just be using condoms should we not want to start TTC as soon as he gets home (which will be epic annoying). If I didn't have the perk of not having to worry about it for the next 8 months regardless, I probably would have stopped my birth control 3 months before we wanted to start trying. My understanding is that conceiving directly after stopping birth control won't cause any issues, but that some people don't have a normal cycle until up to three months after stopping.

But this is all my understanding, I could be way off base.

 

[stardogs]

My understanding is that conceiving directly after stopping birth control won't cause any issues, but that some people don't have a normal cycle until up to three months after stopping.

I've heard this too. We planned to wait 8 weeks after my IUD came out to help get my body back on some more regular cycle. DH counted down the days until we were done with condoms. We said screw it after my first normal period right around 6 weeks.

 

[joce]

Sometimes they use bc to trick the body Into cycling right to. Dr thinks only reason I caught this time was because I was coming off my bc because I never did in the past. I wouldn't worry about it. I know for me being off bc means being miserable. Being pregnant was great lol. Aim for little inbetween!