|
I'm knocked up. At least that's what the stick I had a wee on says. I have no idea how far along, because I have never, ever, in my life had a normal period. I have maybe four or five a year. I am constantly on the verge of throwing up, which is how I twigged I might be pregnant. I am completely ambivalent about this. I'm in a foreign country (actually, a foreign-foreign country, as I'm an American who has recently gotten UK leave to remain who is now in France for the next year plus)where my command of the language isn't great. I think I've found an OBGYN who speaks ok English, but I have to go through their office staff, too, who don't speak it. My husband won't actually discuss anything with me, aside from telling me I should take more language lessons so I'm fluent by the time I'm delivering. All I can get out of him is that he's pretty set that I'm not going home for this. So I get to deliver my kid at a hospital that ran human experiments in WWII and where I don't speak the language. At least my mother-in-law might come over to my side. When I'm allowed to tell her. And here we were planning to go Interailing this summer.
|
#
¿
Feb 6, 2013 12:24
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 16, 2024 07:10 |
|
|
hookerbot 5000 posted:Where are your inlaws based? Could you go back to the UK for the birth? Not that that would be ideal either I can imagine but at least it's closer than the US, you can get there without flying and the language barrier won't be there. Yeah, I would prefer to go back to the UK for it, if it's going to happen. Has anyone else had trouble convincing a partner that early on is really the time to talk about this poo poo? I mean, am I freaking out for legitimate reasons?
|
|
#
¿
Feb 6, 2013 12:38
|
|
|
Sockmuppet posted:
It's just a creepy place, which adds to the misery at the moment. I'm not actually sure I want to be pregnant yet. I think his feedback will help on that. If he is holding out in a 'don't want to get my hopes up' way, I can deal with that. But this is a man who waited until they were nearly ready to deport me to marry me so I can't tell.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 6, 2013 13:50
|
|
|
Well, hell of a week and a half or so. I told husband rather emphatically that we didn't have to stay pregnant and he revealed that he's been picking out names. So I feel better on that count. We are still, however, absolutely nowhere on the argument about which country the peanut will be born in. I've ordered a book that purports to teach you the French concerned with pregnancy and childbirth, as well as teaching you exactly how the French do things. I've also called to try to make a first OBGYN appointment (I have no idea if I'm late on this). It's the only doctor I know of who speaks some English- you're actually not allowed to post a doctor's details online/advertise or discriminate based on whether or not the doctor speaks another language. So you have to find someone who knows someone who knows someone. So my friend at the Council of Europe gave me the name of hers- who is on holiday this week and is so jam-packed that she may or may not be able to see me when she gets back. Her secretary, of course, only speaks French. At least I can do 'appointment' stuff in French. But it's pretty awkward going through the 'when was your last period' and explaining you have no idea because you're so irregular. To which she responds 'So, you're not really sure you're pregnant then?'. And even after I explained I had several home tests come back positive she didn't sound convinced... This is either going to be great or terrible.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 19, 2013 12:49
|
|
|
So I've had the first scan. The gynecologist speaks better English than most English people and is easily the best I've ever had. She squeezed me in after hours, since she had nothing until late March and got me pap-smeared and scanned. There was a tiny little heartbeat and I nearly cried right there. I think I'm in love, even though I want to puke all the time. She figures we conceived on the 5th of January and then said 'is that okay'? Like I was going to have to check my diary or something. Viva la France.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 26, 2013 13:47
|
|
|
So, I was worried about gestational diabetes, being that I've got the regular kind on both side of the family. Nope, no problem there. What I am is vitamin D deficient. Despite my prenatal multi-vitamin that tears up my stomach something wicked. Anyone else have to deal with this? I used to live in Scotland, but I've been out a year and get some sun now. And, as I said, I've been taking the multi-vitamin. I eat plenty of eggs, but fish is a bit tricky here- especially things like tuna (which they're always wanting you to avoid eating a lot of). I have an OBGYN appointment tomorrow, but I'm a little freaked that it's a full on deficiency rather than an insufficiency.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 20, 2013 20:05
|
|
|
Bubble Babble posted:On a more serious note, for the person who was vitamin D deficient... You should be able to pick up supplements anywhere. I take (in addition to the 1000 IU in my prenatals) 4000 IU of D3 separately. Having sufficient vitamin D in the mother's blood when the baby is in utero has been shown to decrease the risk of autism in children. And D3 pills are tiny and not horrible to take, which is an extra bonus. Oh, that's too easy for France. They give you some mega-huge glass ampoule of D3 oil to be taken once every 15 days. Which your husband will try to show that he's capable of handling for you, so you don't cut yourself. I'm still cleaning up the glass. And I have to try to explain at the pharmacy that he's a doofus and broke the first one and beg for another without a prescription (you need scripts for real vitamins here). Doctor didn't like my thyroxine levels (in range, but high) or my sugar (also in range, but higher than she likes)so it was back for another blood panel. Twice in two weeks, good times. But on a happier note, I had my 12 week scan and NT and it looked good. So we told people. And my family is thrilled. His 'took it well' according to him. Much luck and stamina to the people fighting their own families for the sake of baby's health. I'm really lucky on that count.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 26, 2013 11:18
|
|
|
bee posted:Hi everyone. I'm currently at the 5 week mark and I already feel like my hormones are going absolutely berserk. I seem to be rapidly switching between fits of rage and feeling teary, and I get frustrated ridiculously easy at the moment. Is this something that may stabilise or get worse as things progress? Yeah, this part gets better. 5-8 were a teary mess. I'm 13 now and it's much better.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 28, 2013 10:54
|
|
|
Anyone ever have to change doctors? I've now been told that if my doctor doesn't work 'with' a particular hospital, I won't be able to continue with her. I definitely don't have the cash to go to a private clinic to follow the doc.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 2, 2013 22:07
|
|
|
Congrats! Good to hear you're both safe and sound.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 4, 2013 10:57
|
|
|
His Divine Shadow posted:So my gf found out she was pregnant a few weeks ago, last she went to an ultrasound and found out she's 11 weeks along and it's twins. Anything in particular we should consider? Yes. Sit in the corner and have a good think about what you've done. And how the hell you'll afford college for both of them. Seriously, though, congrats. I have no practical advice v  v
|
|
#
¿
May 7, 2013 14:01
|
|
|
His Divine Shadow posted:Thanks and we're not worried about that. Education in Finland is free, and the government gives you loads of help and money for having kids. Yeah, they do here in France, too. They sent me a nice little booklet when I registered the pregnancy with the Assurance Maladie and the Family Allocations office- have you got to register the pregnancy with the government? They've got special provisions/guidelines in the French booklet for people having twins+, including all the extras you're entitled to.
|
|
#
¿
May 7, 2013 14:56
|
|
|
I appear to be on the Gestational Diabetes boat. What fun. Any advice there? I've got the glucose tolerance test coming up in a couple weeks, but according to my lady, I'm 'a little bit diabetic'. We were also supposed to find out what it was yesterday, but no dice. Gynecologist said 'you weren't expecting to know, were you? Because I have no idea'. I love her, but she's weird.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 4, 2013 12:09
|
|
|
Killer_Frost posted:Thanks Bee. I've gotten good sleep the last couple nights and we don't hate each other for "getting stuck with the baby." I think I'd probably have an easier time low-carbing in the US- they don't even really do low-fat here (Can I tell you how much I miss skim milk? Rag on it all you must, but drat. Also, the French dietetic stuff is called 'Gaylord'. Really.). I doubt I'll see good numbers, as my fasting bloodsugar is right at the limit (1 g/l). She's telling me to avoid a lot of fruit and eat more dairy/crackers, but that doesn't seem to jibe with the glycemic index stuff I've been reading in English.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 4, 2013 18:19
|
|
|
hepscat posted:Things to avoid: "white" carbs ((white bread, white potatoes, white bread, regular pasta); fast sugars (juice, sodas, honey); and anything obviously sweet (pastries, ice cream). Cheers on the advice- she was sounding a little bit mad advising me to have a slice of bread when I was hungry instead of an apple. She's also yelling at my for gaining weight. I've put on like... 5 kilos? 6 maybe? I know I'm already overweight, but I thought I wasn't doing too badly at less that 15lbs for six months, considering I could eat a whole cow by myself.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 5, 2013 10:06
|
|
|
I come with nothing but questions- how swollen is too swollen for one's feet? My feet are quite puffy, but it's coincided with three days of 95 degree (35C) weather, walking several miles each day and standing around for a few half-hour stretches. My hands are also swollen, enough so that I've taken off my wedding ring.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 20, 2013 18:05
|
|
|
bamzilla posted:How far along are you? I would say walking several miles each day in 95 degree weather is not ideal. Unless this is a one off thing. I wouldn't really make a habit of it. I'd talk to your OB and possibly go in for a checkup if it's alarming to you. 26 weeks. It's not a habitual thing, we just had visitors that had no sense of what I could and couldn't do. The temperature's dropping tonight for the next week, so I'll watch and see. I've sat all day today and I'm still puffy.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 20, 2013 19:20
|
|
|
Well, low-carbing it (less than 60g a day) has done nothing. My fasting blood sugar was the highest I've tested yet. One hour was bad. Two hours was even higher than one hour. I suppose Doc'll tell me what's what on Tuesday.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 27, 2013 22:05
|
|
|
bamzilla posted:I called my family doctor first, they sent me in to get blood work done to make sure HCG levels were rising properly and then from that point my family doctor gave me a referral to an OB. I hope I can get a dietician- but I have actually been trying to track carbs properly, using diabetic association guidelines. I'd really rather not go on insulin, having been pretty careful all my life to avoid that family trap.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 28, 2013 14:31
|
|
|
My doc has actively told me to have caffeine to keep my headaches away, since the caffeine/paracetamol combination works really, really well for them and keeps me off stronger things. I think she said any risk with caffeine was primarily in the first trimester relating to early miscarriages.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 3, 2013 08:55
|
|
|
No way, can't ruin a baby by loving him. Can you make your toddler into an insufferable beast? Probably...it would explain some things in my family. I'd agree that what I've been reading suggests that if a baby starts to know that there's always someone there, it fusses less.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 5, 2013 15:18
|
|
|
If it isn't one loving thing, it's another. I've gotten my glucose meter and can pretty happily keep my blood sugar within range. I just can't eat the third of a plate of starch/bread that the dietician wants. But I did a 24 hour urine collection and I've got more than twice the white blood cells that I should. I have no idea what could be wrong (not a UTI, as far as I know). This poor baby is hosed, isn't it?
|
|
#
¿
Jul 11, 2013 12:09
|
|
|
SpazForPickles posted:(Also, I had GD for the last 3 months of my pregnancy and I ended up having to give myself insulin. If anyone has any questions or whatever, I may have some answers or insight for those of you dealing with it too) I actually think I've lucked out on the GD- after all the fasting blood sugars of 1,0, 1,05 or so, my morning stick has come back at between 77-83 since I got the monitor. I really just can't eat the amount of bread that they said I could (you can tell it's France, because my diet sheet actually says '1/4 baguette' at breakfast). My following that bit of advice was the only thing that's knocked me over 1.25 post-meal. I still kind of worry that baby's not getting quite enough, as the heat's killing my appetite and I can't eat a few of the things I really, really want.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 12, 2013 08:22
|
|
|
Don't worry. It's not *that* bad. I say that as someone who thought it was disgusting, got the shakes, the chills and nearly passed out and/or vomited. I got to lay down in a back room until it was over. I have got GD, as the numbers actually went up astronomically for the second hour. I started with a fasting sugar of 105 and peaked at something like 250. Had my followup consult at the hospital yesterday and they've decided I'm doing well enough on the diet that I won't have to take insulin at all. They don't offer metformin here, as they haven't declared it safe enough for preggos. So it was diet or insulin.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 16, 2013 16:26
|
|
|
Anya posted:21 weeks in, and it's a boy! Only 8 pounds up so far, which seems like a ton for me - but after spending the first six month of the year grinding it out in the gym and kitchen, any weight gain seems like a mountain. My mind is really messed with because of this. Doc told me I was doing perfectly fine but I just feel paranoid that I'm gaining too much too fast. Apparently it's my punishment for everything going smoothly so far. If the doctor says you're fine, you're good. I was looking up the numbers and found the numbers and found the breakdown on the NIH website somewhere- all in all, baby-stuff can weigh something like 25lbs all on its own. I mean, you've got baby, your blood volume doubles and that obviously weighs something, the amniotic fluid, extra breast tissue... In other words, it's not like you've just porked out for no reason. There's a few good ones. I'm learning to relax and go with the doctor. It's only taken 32 weeks.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 7, 2013 07:23
|
|
|
ChloroformSeduction posted:I even had some lady tell me "that had better be breastmilk!" I've decided the correct answer to this is 'White Russian'. I'm through being an incubator, myself. I'm hot, nauseous and congested. She has found something to kick that hurts. 30 days. Motherfucker.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 29, 2013 14:45
|
|
|
Soulex posted:Alright. So I am a military goon. And this pregancy has kicked up a few problems. My wifes due date is near the end of may and beginning of June. This is incidentally when I should be moving stations. You can definitely get your A+ care in Europe. I'm an American, with a British husband, expecting a baby in France. Expecting in the next week, actually. Comparing my care to what other people I know have been getting, I'm thrilled. Some funny language issues, but the care itself has been stellar. She'll likely get a few more days in hospital to get things sorted out and if the German system is anything like the French one, it's a few extra bucks a day to go from a double room (free) to a private one.
|
|
#
¿
Sep 20, 2013 11:51
|
|
|
Little girl is now six weeks old. I'm breastfeeding and have had a problem with severe pain on the left side- which cleared up, only to turn into sever pain and now loving bleeding from a deep crack on the right. Breaking her off only makes her clamp down harder the second time. As far as I can see, the latch is exactly as they showed me how to do it, and I've been smearing myself with Lansinoh. What the hell else do I do?
|
|
#
¿
Nov 15, 2013 00:39
|
|
|
jota23 posted:They didn't give me any further instructions. My blood glucose number was 159 so not crazy high or anything. I just think that if it's high in the first place, then I should at least not fill my plate with known carb killers. It'll be cool- I got through mine completely diet-controlled . You'll find out what things do and don't do bad things to your blood sugar pretty quickly. They don't give Metformin here, so the choice was diet or insulin. I may still be diabetic, though, thanks to crappy genes- I get my follow-up in January with another glucose test. That said, she's pretty awesome. And a great sleeper (for now).
|
|
#
¿
Nov 28, 2013 10:24
|
|
|
Have had the cracking and bleeding. In addition to the lanolin and air drying, I switched to disposable pads for a while and briefly used a silicone shield until the cracks closed.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 2, 2014 22:24
|
|
|
Miranda posted:I failed my drat 1 HR glucose test goddamnit. Even if I don't have GDM I really need to eat better. What are the recommendations docs give for a GD diet other than the obvious whole grain, fruit, veg, protein. I also get to go see a cardiologist because my heart palpitations have been out of control. Meanwhile pudding is hanging out super drat low in my uterus even the NP was surprised, usually bub is up higher by now. She didn't seem concerned, pudding just has a happy spot. I had GD almost four years ago now (and get my GTT for this round in December). I even came in here and freaked out about it. I diet-controlled the whole way and no macrosomia, 10 out of 10 Apgar. No problems whatsoever. Did my finger sticks, basically went 'keto' and exercised. In terms of diet, the 'not so obvious' was lactose spiking my blood sugar (hard cheese FTW), not being able to eat as much in the way of whole grains as I was initially advised, and making better choices about vegetables. My mother, the nurse, couldn't understand why I could have broccoli in bulk but not peas/corn. Eating to a schedule really helped, too. I did three set meals, roughly the same time every day. If I smacked all day, I couldn't get the right pre-prandial or post numbers.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 10, 2016 19:46
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 16, 2024 07:10 |
|
|
So, uh...medical-ish question? I'm in the US right now and about 12 + 6 (no dating scan yet, as I'm away on a long-planned trip). I had a go with my grandmother's bp cuff and got a result of something like 170/90. Retested later at about 150/85. I'm usually about 115-120/65-70 and have been for years. Can I have done this to myself with a some cashews and a few slices of pickle every day? Or is the unending stress killing me (a long, nasty story of people threatening to kill themselves and others)? Either way, I'm getting a more accurate check tomorrow before I test my travel health insurance.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 29, 2016 07:05
|
|