You Don't Need to Go to the Doctor or L&D for Every Little Thing!

[amileegirl]

I don't understand how people can live in a state of constant stress and worry and freak out their whole pregnancy over every little thing.         I understand worry, I don't understand letting it take over!    Sure I was worried about having a miscarriage again, but stressing about it 24/7 wasn't going to change the outcome of anything.   Sure I fretted a little getting to the age of viablity in case pre-term labor occured, but again it was in the back of my mind much like when I drive there is a subconscious worry that keeps me aware of other driver's activities.     If I got into my car every time with the expectation that I was going to cause and accident or create an accident, I'd stress myself and distract myself...and very likely WOULD cause an accident simply because I wasn't paying attention to what was really important.

99% of the time all you need to do is to sit down, relax, and practice a little inner focus.    If this is your first pregnancy, of course you are going to worry a little, but excessive worry is not healthy.  Neither is unchecked fear and panic over every ache, pain, twinge, or unknown.       Doing a little reading of a real pregnancy book (not one meant to entertain, but one meant to educate) can go a long way into giving you a guage as to what is perfectly in the range of normal.  That way you know what to expect and won't panic over normal vaginal dicharge, joint aches, mild edema, and other common changes of pregnancy.

If you get a sniffle, there is no need to ring up your OB / Midwife / PCP.      You might be catching a cold, you might just have some normal extra mucous, or there might be an unsual pollen/dust count in the air.   These aren't emergencies.     Unless your snot is green or you have a history of severe sinus infections or UTIs or have a medical condition that needs monitoring then just wait it out.       

If you run a mild fever, keep an eye on it and don't bother to call anyone unless it reaches 102 or is a prolonged fever.   All they will do is tell you to get plenty of rest, stay very well hydrated, and keep cool.   The majority of fevers don't even need medication and resolve themselves in 24-48 hours.     Use common sense, if it is a stomach virus and there is excessive vomiting and diarhea and you are getting dehydrated, then yes go to the ER.    If you know your illness is something that people in your family have passed around and their fevers spike higher than 102, then that is a clue that you have to be extra villigent and it warrants a call if you catch it.      I had a couple of short, low-grade fevers during this pregnancy that resolved within 24-36 hours.  It wasn't a cause for panic or worry or medication.

If your baby isn't moving as much as you remember.     Don't freak out!    Babies DO sleep and also may get into a very comfortable and content position.    If you are 16-24 weeks along, don't expect to feel movement every day all day all the time.  There is a LOT of room in the uterus and the baby is tiny.  Sometimes it moves close enough for you to feel, and sometimes the movement is such a subtle tickle or bump that you can easly miss it.      If you have a long torso like I do, expect that there is even more room and movements will be inconsistent that early.        

Mid to late second trimester there will be a lot of activity, but if you are busy or are getting used to the movements you might not notice them unless you sit down, relax, and focus on yourself for a while.    There are times when the baby IS moving, it is just YOU that isn't paying attention.      In the third trimester, the movements are different.  There is so much less room to romp around that the movements can be very subtle based upon how the baby is facing, or if it just wiggles a little.   They don't always feel the need to stretch or roll expecially if they are comfortable and having a good long sleep after an all nighter of partying while mother is sleeping.       

Drinking juice and relaxing for a while can help you focus on those movements again and then you will be reassurd with a thump of irritation.    It goes without saying to keep very well hydrated so that the amniotic fluid can replenish itself.      I don't put much stock in those "ten movements in an hour" guidelines.  Every baby is different.   If I went by that guideline I'd be a wreck.     If I am busy I'll miss movement, if the baby is sleeping in its favorite position I don't feel movement,  sometimes I can mistake a stretch or wiggling fingers  for a stitch in the side or a gas bubble, if I am up and about and keeping busy the baby is generally lulled into complacancy or I'm just distracted.   If I happen to notice that I haven't noticed the stirrings of the resident alien, that is a cue to me to sit down, hydrate, and focus on myself for a while.    Worry  and seek medical advice and tests only when you notice a profound difference in your baby's unique normal patterns.     

Awareness is a good thing.   Panic and fear does nothing but feed stress.

 

 

 

[jramsaran]

Aug. 27, 2009 at 10:44 AM

it doesn't help to watch anything on TLC either....

[wendy46121]

Aug. 27, 2009 at 12:37 PM

=D

I wondered this while pregnant last time.  Why is it that Almost every women in my DDG would come back from every 3rd trimester doctors appointment SCARED of something new! Every single time their OBs were telling them something different they needed to be afraid of!  Stressed out over, etc... It was very frustrating!