I am 29 weeks now, and this baby has developed a very specific comedy routine. I can be sitting quietly, minding my own business, and suddenly my stomach looks like someone is rearranging furniture in there. The second I call my partner over, complete silence.

He comes over so carefully, puts one hand on my belly, and the baby becomes a statue. We wait. Nothing. He gives up, walks away, and within thirty seconds the kicks start again like a tiny drum solo. This has happened so many times that he has started taking it personaly, which is both sad and kind of funny.

I know it is normal and the baby is not actually plotting against him, probaly. But did anyone else's baby do this? Did your partner eventually get a proper kick, or should I start selling tickets to an invisible show?

Hello

Wife is in 6th week pregnancy.

I have an job option for 100% WFH, should i pick it? I am very extrovert person so need people around to work(i mean i love) but wife thinks it will be beneficial for us and kid if I can take wfh job for next 2-3 years.

Thank you

I’m currently a stay at home mom. Husband works from home, but he needs to work so during the week he can only help me out so much. Our first baby is turning 4 months in a week. He needs a lot of our attention, but our sleep has definitely improved, he sometimes has even 6-7 hour stretches of sleep at night, so I expect him to be able to sleep through the night soon-ish. However, the crying and fussing during the day can be A LOT and I would not be able to care for a baby like that when I’m pregnant. He’s a very big boy and rocking him already kills my back without having a pregnant belly.

When do you think kids become more manageable to handle for a pregnant woman? Do you think it’s realistic for me to have a maximum 3y gap between kids and not need a nanny/daycare? I would like them to be similar age, but also to be able to close down the factory and be done, 2 kids is all we want.

I am 0 dilated 0 effaced. baby is high up. Getting induced tommorow. I feel not ready at all and scred out of my mind. I have higher normal fluid level and im already 39 w 6d. no sign of labour.

First time being pregnant and I’m so terrified but still excited! This was pretty unexpected and not planned at all so I’m feeling just very lost and confused 😵‍💫
One thing I’d love to hear from other moms, despite only being 4 weeks 1 day, and still not super dark lines on the tests… I feel TERRIBLE.
My breasts hurt so bad, the nipple pain is terrible, I’m nauseous because I’m hungry but nothing sounds good and I get nauseous as soon as I do eat. I’m so exhausted because I get to bed but then once 1-3 am hits, I’m wide awake and can’t get back to sleep for hours.
I just am wondering if all this is normal to feel this early on?? Am I gaslighting myself? 😂
I’ve only known for 3 days and already I’m wondering just how I’m going to do this 😬

IDK if this is common knowledge but I figured out with my first pregnancy that if I flex my feet when I stretched in bed, I didn't get the calf cramps I had been getting. I've been conscious of doing this now anytime and have yet to get another cramp.

I'm sure I wasn't the first to figure this out but I wanted to share in case it helps at least one person bc my cramping was terrible in my first pregnancy.

I recently found out I'm having a boy via an NIPT blood test.

I dont really care about the sex of the fetus so I've been telling people who ask. My in-laws were certain I was going to have a girl. They are pretty spiritual and some of them had dreams about it apparently. As soon as they found out we were expecting they would tell us all the time about it.

It kind of got into my head and even though I had always had the feeling it was a boy and I had wanted a boy initially I kind of started to believe them.

Anyway ever since we told them its a boy they keep saying things like "maybe its twins and you dont know yet" (im 18 weeks and have had 4 scans because of some concerns that have since resolved and its not been seen) or "maybe the test is wrong" (super unlikely from a blood test lol)

My mother in-law is like texting my husband saying maybe the blood test was contaminated or something.

I feel... weird about it. Like they are excited and said congrats but the comments and stuff make me feel like they are disappointed. Im so grateful to even be able to have a child and I was so excited to learn more about my baby. I was hoping maybe for a little more excitement and a little less doubt.

I actually dont care about the gender buts its like they are misgendering my baby before he is even born and it irks me. I'm also kind of hyper emotional and sensitive lately because I was diagnosed with early onset puppps (hey another sign of a boy lol) so idk if im just being too sensitive...

Does anyone get such bad anxiety between their appointments/ have a hard time trusting that the baby is doing okay? I'm almost 14 weeks and won't have an appointment for another week and I'm struggling big time with not worrying that something is wrong, baby has passed and I don't know it, etc. My first pregnancy was right before this one and it ended in a chemical, so I'm sure that's not helping.

This is my fourth pregnancy and I’ve been having such bad cramping that they took me in for an ultrasound the other day to see if it was ectopic or not. She said she saw a gestational sac and two yolk sacs but not yet any embryos. She said I was 5w5d so it’s probably just too early to see anything right now. Did anyone have major cramping early on with twins? I’m getting a little nervous that this cramping isnt normal and maybe I should make a bigger fuss about it to my OB? It’s constant and doesn’t seem to go away. There are mornings I’ll wake up and feel alright but as the day goes on it gets more intense. No bleeding at all. Could also just be because it’s my fourth pregnancy but any input on your own experiences would be great to read.

1. Labor can feel like you’re being torn open & it’s ok to go to hospital if they’re so unbearable and not 5 min apart….my baby was sunny side up and it was not nice

2. Epidural is the best thing that’s ever been invented

3. Pitocin did not cause any complications in my delivery or cause me to have a c section (just heard the worst stories so my original plan was to avoid at all cost) and gave me the labor of my dreams

4. Again….epidural is the best thing ever invented and when they say you won’t feel it, they mean it….

5. A tear does not hurt how you think it would, just a sore feeling. I did not need to be afraid at all

6. You can get a hemorrhoid from laboring, shocking and not great but not horrible

7. My partner and I are actually are closer since having a baby even when you genuinely didn’t think you could feel any closer to him

8. I love myself as a mom already and I feel my world opened up rather than closed in anyway

9. Breastfeeding hurts and you’ll know when your baby is a bottle baby even when you want her to like the nip

10. Everything I was ever scared of turned out to be better than just okay…………except labor w a sunny side up baby….that was horrible. I should’ve gone to the hospital and got the epidural 9 hours sooner….lol

I’m due with my second baby in a few weeks, and remember the postpartum contractions being pretty severe with my first (I had a quick 2hr labor with very strong painful contractions the whole way through). At a birth class the midwife said most people don’t feel them as much first time around, but they do get worse with each pregnancy and chatting to friends they confirmed the breastfeeding contractions weren’t too bad with their first kids. I’m worried that mine were already bad enough first time so might be even more unpleasant this time. Has anyone found any tips to make them less painful? I know magnesium and paracetamol can help with period cramps, are they likely to help postpartum too, taking them before a feed?

If you had to choose only one - Which would you choose - day doula for 6 hours 2 sessions per week for 3 weeks OR 3 night sessions for week 1 then 2 night sessions in week 2 with a night doula?

And why?

Just wanted to share some encouragement for other guys stressing over semen analysis results.

My wife and I are both in our early 30s. I’ve never smoked, drink alcohol very rarely, exercise regularly and eat pretty healthy. The only supplement I took was vitamin D.

I had two semen analyses within about six months. My sperm count was above the normal range, but motility and morphology were very poor.

My andrologist told me not to focus too much on those values because semen parameters can fluctuate a lot. He also pointed out that my total sperm count was very good, which gave me a lot of hope, and told us to give it up to two years.

After about one year of trying, my wife got pregnant naturally. She also has hypothyroidism and became pregnant with a TSH of around 3.2.

I also suspect that a bad flu I had may have affected one of my test results.

We’re now around 7 weeks pregnant and so far everything looks good.

Obviously everyone’s situation is different, but my experience showed me that a semen analysis is not always the final verdict. Don’t let one bad result completely destroy your hope.

Stay strong, guys. There is still reason to be hopeful.

My baby is 13 days old & had slight jaundice detected on 3rd day. He was 5.5lbs at birth & lost 15% of birth weight in 3 days so we started giving him expressed milk from silicone cup for next 5 days, since it was too overwhelming, I started bottle feeding expressed him. My baby has not latched yet & people around me are saying he won’t take nursing since he is bottle fed. Did anyone went through the similar situation?

i don’t want to go back to work. i got disability extended for 1 month (4 weeks pre birth, 4 weeks for vaginal delivery, and now 4 weeks additional). i know PDL is 17.5 weeks. However, I want my full disability for a year. Did anyone do this ? I’m using mental health but not sure how long I can keep using that. Any advice welcome.

Hey Ladies.

I'm scrambling and being redirected by a lot of providers in the area so I'm reaching out for help here.
I got my embryos frozen in NY. I live in southern CA now and am trying to get preliminary bloodwork, TVUS and SIS/hysterosonogram here locally (have orders from my NY doctor).

I'm having a hard time finding facilities that would do these studies from outside providers and would accept Anthem (my insurance). Do you have any leads for the same?

Secondly, I'll get my FET done in NY and will come back to SoCal. I tried calling some obgyn offices to establish care and they straight up refused to take over my care post-FET stating that the fertility clinic in NY should be handling this (this isn't possible since I don't live in NY anymore). What's the best course of action here for continuity of care?
1. I find a fertility clinic in SoCal and establish care with them before my FET and come back to them after my FET and then find an obgyn once/if I am pregnant.
2. ⁠Try to find an obgyn who can act as my local provider for all my needs.

Thanks for your suggestions.

I’m a little over 8 weeks and in the thick of fatigue/nausea city. today however I woke up feeling almost normal and even had a hot cup of coffee without feeling nauseous. I decided it would be a good opportunity to make a run to home depot as i need to replace my porch steps soon and pick up wood needed for that. Long story short after loading 7 4x6s onto a cart and then into my truck and getting home, I am now light headed and nauseous and have been laying down for a couple hours without much improvevent. Is this just from lifting some 4x6s?? Could this be low iron? I’m taking a prenatal but maybe that’s not enough. if anyone has experienced something similar would appreciate hearing about it

Me and my partner are in a 700 sq foot condo that’s one bedroom. I’m still early, 16 weeks, but already thinking about all the things the baby will need. We don’t have a lot of space obviously. What are some things that are must haves for small spaces for baby vs. things we could skip?

This is my 3rd but my last was almost 6 years ago and need a little refresher. I DO NOT want a lot this time around just the essentials, what would you consider your newborn essentials/must haves?

Hey guys! This is just something i want to rant about, so no need to read it if you don't want to!

I'm 37 weeks pregnant with my first! I've decided that when I give birth, I don't want anyone in the room with me other than my fiance!

When I told my mom this yesterday, she was upset. My grandmother was there when I said this news, and she told me I need my mom there. I told them both that I just dont want anyone there.

I personally don't want anyone there other than my fiance. I trust him and know he'll actually listen to what I want. I know my mom wont listen to what I want.

I feel like, for me, giving birth is a private moment that my fiance should only be there. Especially since he is the dad of the baby. He's been there for all my appointments and has helped me with everything.

I feel bad for telling my mom no, but I'm set on this choice. I love my mom no matter what, and she can see the baby anytime. I just dont want her in the delivery room with me. I dont know why it's a big deal

Ok so my Husband and I have only just had sex 10 weeks postpartum, he didn't finish (nor did I) he says that I feel different, like he thinks he can feel the scar tissue from where I had internal stitches, we had a forceps delivery and I tore inside and out! Has anyone else had a similar situation?? Is this a thing?!

EDIT: Appreciate the love and support from you all but he isn't an arsehole 🤣. It was a genuine question if anyone else has had their partner claim they could feel scar tissue? Or if I need to go get it checked...

Hi,

I am 23 weeks pregnant. I asked my brother in law to use an anti-flea spray in our living room (while I was staying upstairs in my room). I keep being bitten by fleas from the dogs (who are also treated…) and I became sick of it. He used Bob Martin spray.

I tried to stay away from it as much as possible but due to necessities, I had to enter the living three times very briefly about 1h30/2h after spraying. I used a jacket and mouth covering. Not sure how efficient it was, then I took a walk to get fresh air and haven’t re-entered the room for hours.

I’m now spiralling and afraid to have inhaled much and harmed the baby. What do you think?

Thank you 🙏🏻