Lizzie asks…
Second pregnancy fears?
I am currently 32 weeks pregnant with my second child. My first is 2 years old. Apart from being constantly tired and feeling fed up with being pregnant I am finding that I am really anxious about childbirth. In my first pregnancy I never worried about childbirth at all. Its not pain I am worried about but I keep thinking what if something goes wrong this time? what if something happens to me? I think its because I already have a child to take care of, whereas in my first pregnancy there was just me. My first labour went really smoothly, just 10 mins of pushing, so it doesn’t make sense that this time I feel scared. I am also scared of having a general anesthetic should it be necessary. In fact I am that anxious I am considering having a c-section with epidural instead of a natural birth!!! Has anyone else felt like this during a second pregnancy and is it normal? Am I stupid to feel like this? I just want to try and enjoy the rest of the pregnancy. Thanks
Michelle answers:
I’m EXACTLY the same.
With my first, I didn’t worry at all during pregnancy, especially when I started going over her due date.
My labor and birth did go extremely well and I only used gas & air, So I really surprised myself at how good my pain tolerance actually was.
This time around, I’m thinking about it quite a bit and I’m only 14 weeks. I think it’s because we know how painful the contractions are and we know what too expect. I just think to myself, I done great last time, so this time should be better =)
Steven asks…
Do any new mothers miss the way they looked before pregnancy?
I have a wonderful 11 week old daughter who is my angel.
Im ashamed to say that lately Ive been concentrating on missing my pre-pregnancy body/face, it was so much better in so many ways. I felt grossly unattractive throughout my pregnancy, put on 48lbs. Now I have b**bs down to my stomach and a stomach down to my knees. Ive also got tree trunk legs, leathery skin and dark circles aroubd my eyes, the list goes on. I look 10 years older.
Im dieting and trying to exercise but cannot help but miss the old me.
Do you judge me to be selfish? Or are these feelings natural? I wouldnt change things for the world as Im blessed with such a beautiful daughter but I feel so low when I think about it.
PS. My Husband tells me Im gorgeous but I know what I see.
Michelle answers:
No, I do not think that you are selfish at all. I think that those feelings are natural. I miss the way I looked before pregnancy too. I was a tiny size 2, flat tight belly, everything about me was tiny. The only good thing now is that I finally have boobies..lol. Now my boobs, thighs, butt, and stomach, are convered in ugly purple stretchmarks and my boobs have blue veins on them. I have dark circles under my eyes, my skin is really dry, the skin on my face is oily in some places and dry in others. My face keeps breaking out. So does my chest and lower back. My tummy looks like a butt, especially when I wear jeans. I feel so ugly now. I know how you feel..
I feel blessed to have a beautiful little girl as well though.
Ken asks…
Pregnancy back pain- sciatica? Help!!!?
I am having KILLER backpains the past week.
I am 23 weeks pregnant, with a retroverted uterus (my uterus is tilted towards my spine instead of outwards).
What the pai feels like is a pinched nerve in my lower back, only on the left side. Sometimes my whole leg goes numb. It flares up more and more with each passing day. Usually happens when I bend or twist my torso, which is REALLY hard to avoid doing (I have a 5 year old son, a dog, etc). It feels like a pinching, twingey pain that shoots up my back and down my legs. Pain is almost in my left bum cheek, if that makes sense. I have an appointment with a chiropractor in 4 days, thank goodness. My dr prescribed me some painkillers and anti inflammatories until then, but I want something natural and easy to stop the pain… It’s almost like I have to shuffle my feet because when I lift my left leg its excruciating pain… do you know exercises that would help me? I do pregnancy yoga most days but havent been able to because of the pain
Michelle answers:
I also have sciatica, and one thing that has helped is to do exercises that stretch the piriformis muscle, which is located in the buttock and extends from the sacroiliac area to the outer thigh.
It’s kind of hard to describe things only in words, without pictures, but — here are two exercises that have helped me. (Maybe you should talk to your dr first, since you’re pregnant?)
1. Sit in a chair with your feet touching the floor. Cross your left leg over by putting the outside of your left ankle on top of your right knee. Bend forward as far as you can, without leaning to one side or the other. You should feel a deep stretch in the side of the left buttock.
2. If you can safely lie on your back — lie face up, take your left foot and place it on the floor to the outside of your right knee. With your right hand, gently pull your left leg toward the floor on your right side. This stretches the piriformis in a slightly different way.
Good luck, it’s a difficult thing to put up with, and hopefully it’s only a temporary thing related to the pregnancy. 🙂
Description of piriformis syndrome:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/piriformis_syndrome/piriformis_syndrome.htm
Charles asks…
Does anyone own an old-style siamese? Or believe in all-natural pet care?
I really like to plan ahead-this won’t be for at least a couple years, but I plan on getting two kittens when we live in a bigger place. I want to get the healthiest, longest lived ones possible with the lowest risk of FIP (I also have two healthy 16 year old god-knows-what cats) and all research points to old-style (i.e. applehead) lynx point siamese. From what I understand the old style are much healthier than wedge-heads and lynx points are even better because they also have mongrel-cat blood. They also have a pretty low risk of FIP. Please tell me about your experiance, and feel free to reccomend breeders. I am really into pet health-I do all organic and grain-free whenever possible and may consider raw for the new kitties, but my older ones can’t handle it (I tried) I also keep cats inside and go vaccine-free for all my indoor pets after initial baby shots. I won’t declaw (my current ones are spayed/declawed but I was three and didn’t get a vote) I also own an intact female 8 lb chihuahua/pomeranian mix and a spayed 7 year old ferret. I don’t believe in spaying unless specifically medically indicated because they hurt my Tigger’s throat when she was spayed and I’ve done research indicating the risks of spaying are greater than going intact, providing you’re responsible enough to prevent pregnancy. Sorry to make this so long, but just being specific in case there are special vaccine considerations or dietary specifications with Siamese, or in case Siamese should be spayed for some reason. Thanks
they will both be female and our reasons for wanting them are that we have seen how good kittens can be for older cats, and our puppy seems to need a friend too, but Tigger and Tabitha aren’t interested and we can’t really handle more than one dog. She loves cats though. Of course we have more than enough love to go around as well
Michelle answers:
No and yes.
Please interview breeders and take up to a year to find a good one and be on a waiting list. Consider adoption at least get to know some cats in rescue and do some volenteer work. There is nothgnin wrong with wanting a Responsible breeder and doing the proper leg work and putting in the proper time in finding one.
The risks of spaying do not outweight intact cats. As a matter of fact cats can die being in heat, die at giving birth, get FELV and FIV much more eaily if intact. Being intact cat is highly annnoying as well. Which is another reason I reccomend a rescue cat as it’s already done all this and there is nothing left to do but love them.
Cat handbook
http://www.tallyville.com/owners.html
Holistic Cat
http://www.holisticat.com/
Vaccine Revisions
http://www.critteradvocacy.org/Feline%20Vaccination%20Guidlines.htm
Breeder responsiblitly
http://www.exoticbengals.com/rep.htm
Feeding
http://www.catinfo.org/
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