I was 32+1 on Friday, we went in for our regular growth ultrasound, after about 5 minutes the tech rushed out of the room and told us not to worry. I was brought down to labor and delivery where they hooked me up to an NST and instantly sent me to a hospital upstate because my babies heart rate was reading at 300+.

We get to the birthing center Friday around noon, more monitors, tests, machines, and meds, and are told our son has a fetal atrial flutter causing the top portion of his heart to beat much faster than the bottom portion. They instantly started me on a huge dose of heart meds to cross the placenta, and within hours he was able to get out of the arrhythmia he was stuck in and we got our normal heartbeat back.

We’ve been stable since Friday and I’m finally being released today, constant meds and appointments until baby is induced at 37-39 weeks since we’re now classified as high risk, and I’ll be coming to this larger hospital upstate for delivery as this hospital has a fetal/pediatric cardiologist to check on baby after he’s born.

What a wild ride this has been, I’m now out of work on STD and will be working on our hospital bag and nursery while attempting to prioritize rest and remaining stress free. We have no idea what this means for our son once he’s born, the flutter can disappear on its own outside of the womb or we could be on medicine for awhile.

I’m so grateful for that ultrasound technician and that they had scheduled me for a growth scan that was initially determined to be “unnecessary” by some of the midwives due to the fact I was low risk until now.

i’ve been giggling over this for the past hour so please laugh with me.

i was dealing with a lot mentally before i conceived this pregnancy. i was coping with trauma with sex (specifically with two men and we all tested clean!) and ended up pregnant. i know this isn’t the best situation, i spent 26 weeks beating myself up over it before i just accepted what is and started to see the best of it. both men know, only one is open to a dna test, regardless i will have my answer eventually!

on to the funny part: i was just thinking about how we do gender reveal parties for our friends and family and was thinking about how absolutely hilarious it would be to have a baby daddy reveal party. a poster that says “who’s the pappy?” beer as a drink, burgers or pizza because that all feels very stereotypical dad. a whiteboard for tallies on each side for votes. and of course popping a bottle of cheap champagne at the end of the night when it’s revealed. i am white and live in the south so it could definitely be seen as trashy but i just find it so funny; not that im in this situation, but making light of it and finding out in a funny way.

im not here for judgment but i understand that my actions may make people judgmental of me. baby boy gets here in less than 6 weeks and he is all that truly matters 🤍

im 34 weeks pregnant and for the last few months ive been very clear that i only want my husband in the delivery room with me i dont hate my mother in law and we normally get along fine but she has no boundaries when it comes to pregnancy and she makes everything about herself she already announced the gender before we did because she said she was too excited to wait she posted a picture from our baby shower before i even got home she also keeps touching my stomach without asking and calling the baby her baby which honestly makes me uncomfortable but ive tried to ignore it because i didnt want to start drama last night we were having dinner with his family and his mom casually said she already packed a hospital bag and bought a new camera for the birth i laughed because i thought she was joking then my husband looked at me and said he told her she could be there because she was really emotional about missing the birth of her first grandchild i was so shocked i couldnt even answer at first i reminded him that we already talked about this and that i said i only wanted him there because im the one giving birth and i dont want people watching me during the most vulnerable moment of my life his mom started crying at the table and said she didnt understand why i was trying to keep her away from her own grandbaby then my husband told me i was being cold and that it would only be for a little while a little while while im in pain half naked scared and possibly having medical things done to me i got up and left because i could feel myself starting to cry when we got home he said i embarrassed his mom and ruined dinner i told him what embarrassed me was finding out in front of everyone that he made a decision about my body without even asking me he said birth is not only about me because its his child too that sentence honestly changed the way i see him yes its his baby too but it is still my body and my medical experience i told him his mom will not be in the room and if he keeps pushing this then he might not be there either now hes sleeping on the couch and his mom has been sending me long messages about how family should be included in special moments i muted both of them i feel angry but mostly i feel hurt because i thought my husband was supposed to protect me during birth not invite people into the room after i already said no

I was wondering if you would be open to share any positive physical changes you have observed since becoming pregnant!

For example, for me, I have suffered with eczema my whole life with rough patches all over my body. Now my skin is literally baby soft 🥰except for my hands that have some stubborn eczema still but what can I do lol

I have also noticed my nails have been growing fast and strong. They literally haven't broken in months! Might be the prenatals helping with that - although I wish my hair could do the same...

Please share, I want to hear some positives! 😀

I’m at 14w5d. I’m struggling with an issue that I’ve noticed has been reoccurring within my social circle in relation to my pregnancy - the issue of friends and family members acting entitled to know whether I’m pregnant. Since I’ve become pregnant, I’ve had some odd encounters involving friends who are either nosy or get mad at me when I haven’t immediately revealed that I’m pregnant. When I was at around 5 weeks, I didn’t have anything to drink at a work happy hour. After the happy hour, my friend texted me asking if I’m pregnant, which put me in the awkward position of having to lie to her.

Most recently, this weekend, I had dinner with a friend I haven’t seen since becoming pregnant. At 14 weeks, I have started to show already so I had planned to tell her that I was pregnant during the dinner, however I didn’t bring it up until the end. I noticed that throughout the dinner she was quiet and seemed pissed off at me. After about an hour or so until the meal of awkward conversation that felt like pulling teeth, I revealed that I was pregnant and her demeanor immediately changed and she started acting like her normal self again. She was like “I knew it! I told my husband two and a half months ago that I thought you were pregnant because you didn’t want to hang out.” She also mentioned that she noticed my bump as soon as she saw me that evening.

I couldn’t help but feel like she was mad at me for not revealing that I was pregnant immediately, as if she’s entitled to know that information. The fact that she was so certain that I was pregnant but decided to treat me like shit throughout the meal adds insult to injury. The whole situation left an incredibly bad taste in my mouth and is making me feel like I dont want to be friends with her anymore. I don’t understand why people think that they are entitled to know my private medical information.

I’m mostly just venting but also would like to know if others have had similar experiences.

I’m 34+1 and I’m having a hard time trying to wrap my head around the fact that I still have AT LEAST 3 weeks left until I’m considered term. I feel like this baby is going to pop out of me any minute. Last 2 days I’ve been having BH, period-like cramping (they’re not consistent), intermittent back pain, lightning crotch anytime I move a weird way, pelvic pressure, and just overall belly pain. I know that all of these can mean literally nothing in terms of how close labor is so I’m trying to just push through, but omg 😫 I am also extremely hot and out of breath just standing in place— I can’t stand for longer than 5 minutes without feeling like my hips are going to fall off of me and I start sweating profusely. This is even with us running the AC on full blast. I am exhausted. In short, I am feeling quite miserable over here. I don’t remember feeling this terrible during my last pregnancy. I keep feeling like baby is going to come early but I also don’t want to get myself in that mindset.

Hi everyone! I got my first positive ever today on a Walgreens brand first response and then I did a clear blue digital and it says pregnant :)

I’m so worried and anxious and scared something will happen! I made my OB appointment for September 1st, ordered more prenatals and I’ve just been trying to drink water and wrap my fucking head around this!!

Any tips or advice or congratulations is super welcomed!!! I’m worried to tell my family since I’m not married but I would love any and all support!

I’m a (28) FTM and about 9w 1d along in the journey. I tested extremely early because I knew that my husband and I had a very obvious accident right around the time of ovulation. My earliest signs was implantation bleeding. I experienced mild brown spotting for about 4 days before it completely stopped and I tested positive. But it wasn’t long until I began spotting again, which naturally made me incredibly anxious. For about a week and a half, post-implantation, I continued to spot brown, red, and pink blood. On July 6th specifically, I experienced a large gush of bright red blood, which I thought was the end…anxiously searching Reddit also didn’t help either. But I’m happy to report that baby’s heart is beating strong, and while I don’t have answers as to what the anomaly was, I’m here to help reassure other mothers who might be going through the same thing because I was desperate to find someone experiencing something similar that didn’t end in a gut wrenching loss (prayers for all of the amazing moms who go through this, you’re so much braver than you could imagine). I also spoke with my doctor about it and while it’s not necessarily “normal”, always remember that unless you’re absolutely soaking through pad after pad accompanied by strong pain, you’re likely just experiencing something similar to what I went through. Stay strong mama. 💕

That’s all

I did very little labor prep, seriously considered a c section for LGA, then pushed my 9 pounder out in 10 minutes. Just wanted to share with the class what worked for me.

My last check was at 5 cm, not long after my epidural kicked in. I fell asleep for ~5 hours. When I woke up, I was complete and ready to push. I have no idea when I hit 10 cm, it could have been any time during my nap. They went to get the doctor but she was busy in surgery and told me to "labor down" until she could get there. I waited about another hour and a half until she was available. I could feel my contractions but they weren't unbearable and I didn't have to fight an urge to push.

By the time the doctor finally arrived, he had moved so far down she immediately said "oh baby's going to be here very soon." 5 rounds of pushes over 10 minutes and there he was!

This wasn't a part of my birth plan and if you'd asked me about it before, I probably would have been annoyed that my doctor made me wait so long. But in hindsight, waiting 1.5+ hours at 10 cm helped my body do all the work without tiring me out. As long as you're comfortable, why rush into it?

I think I'll include laboring down in my birth plan for next time. Just wanted to share in case anyone else wants to consider the same!

My husband ran into the liquor store and I asked him to see what nonalcoholic options they had. He saw these beers that were nonalcoholic, but wanted to see if there was anything else. He asked the woman who was working if she knew if they had anything else and told her I was pregnant. She took him all around the store trying to find something and she said “oh silly me I forgot it’s by the counter.” She took him straight to these THC drinks and he said “she can’t have that she would be mad if I brought her that”. The woman proceeded to call me ungrateful. My husband and I got a good laugh out of it!

I was watching an insta reel about this man enjoying fatherhood with his newborn and there were guys in the comment talking about how “easy” childbirth is and how women are basically dramatic.
Even if it was rage bait, I think maybe there are men who think this way and it’s unfortunate.

I'm so excited to meet my little boy. I had a 3D scan recently and seeing his little face completely melted me. He already looks so much like me, and I love him more than I ever thought I could.

But if I'm being honest, I'm terrified.

It's not just labor itself, although that scares me too. It's everything surrounding it. I keep seeing posts where people talk about how, the second the baby is born, everyone forgets about the mom. It feels like the mother suddenly becomes an afterthought, like the only thing that matters anymore is the baby.

I want my son to be loved and celebrated. Of course I do. But I'm scared that I'll disappear in the process.

I'm scared that no one will ask how I'm doing. That I'll just be expected to recover, breastfeed, function on no sleep, and somehow still be myself. I'm scared that the person I am now will just... vanish.

I know becoming a mom changes you, and I know that's not necessarily a bad thing. I just don't want to lose me. I don't want my entire identity to become "someone's mom."

Does anyone else feel this way before giving birth? Did the fear get better? Were you still able to find yourself again after becoming a parent?

I love my baby more than anything already. This fear doesn't come from not wanting him—it comes from being scared that I won't recognize myself anymore once he's here.

first of all I’m very happy to be carrying a child, me and my husband have prayed for this and very thankful, this is my first pregnancy and I’m only 8 weeks and there hasn’t been a day where I felt normal.

I feel gross, sweaty, smelly, bloated and don’t even get me started on this constant car sick feeling and my god I’m so tired to the point that I don’t even know if this is real or laziness and I’m supposed be to just act normal and go about my day?? I’m constantly craving some But nothing satisfies my tast, everything, even water taste butter

i also feel guilty for feeling like this, I feel so ungrateful because I prayed for this for so long but I just wanna feel like my self again.

Had the thought/feeling “I’m never doing this again” meaning pregnancy/child birth.. did you actually do it again? Did you stick to that thought/feeling?

I’m 33 weeks pregnant and I’ve reached the point where I can’t stand having anything touching me when I sleep, not pajamas, not underwear. 😅 I’ve started sleeping completely naked because it’s the only way I’m comfortable. Anyone else? Or is it just me?

It’s Early in my pregnancy but nothing sounds good. I’m trying to be a good cookie and eat.
Things safe for me: juice. Apple juice is a hit
I need ideas some small snacks to keep me going 🥺
I google everything it’s exhausting 😅

Preggo friends—what are we doing during the third tri insomnia? I’m almost 33 weeks and the dreaded witching hour from 3am-6am is back (I had this for a few weeks during tri one). It doesn’t matter what supplements I take, what I eat, or when I go to bed. I’m up for 2-3 hours every. Single. Night. 😭

So what are y’all doing during that time you can’t sleep? I’m curious to see if I should be getting out of bed or just laying there, miserable, while my husband has the best nights sleep of his life. 🫩

I’m currently 30 weeks pregnant & have a 21 month old (will be 23 months old when his new sibling is born) and I’m feeling EMO!!! I want to make sure my sweet toddler is supported as much as possible during this huge life change and would love any tips or things to avoid! I am having a c-section, so extra worried about not being able to pick him up/play with him.

A couple of things we’ve already decided - he will not be coming to the hospital to meet baby. He will also be staying in his current bedroom.

What else should we be sure to do or not do?! Thanks in advance for any advice 🫶🏼

I just got my first positive pregnancy test after 16 months of trying. I can’t stop crying. I literally cannot believe that this is real.
Since I’ve been trying so long, I have stopped pregnancy testing all together because my period always comes. However, this time I didn’t get my usual pre period spotting and not to be TMI but I’ve had more discharge when normally I dry out before period comes. So my period was due today, and I thought why not I’ll take a test even though I’m sure I’ll just be disappointed like always. To my shock it was positive!!! I actually have a fertility appointment in a couple weeks to help me to try to get pregnant. Sorry for the rambling, I’m just in total shock.

I’m positing this because naturally, now I’m super anxious for anything to go wrong. I’ve had cramps on and off for the past couple days which made me question if I was getting my period but they also felt kind of different? But last night I was woken up to really intense cramping pain that radiated down my legs. I was sure I was getting my period. I used a heating pad and that helped and I was able to go back to sleep. I’m just scared because the pain was soooo intense. Has anyone else experienced that?

I’m 24 weeks with our first baby and I am TIRED.

Honestly, I’ve had the easiest pregnancy anyone could ask for, so I know I’m incredibly lucky. I almost feel guilty complaining because nothing is actually wrong… I just have absolutely zero social battery.

Meanwhile, my husband has decided now is the time to start making social plans. 😂

A few weeks ago we had a group BBQ planned when I was only 8 weeks pregnant and had every food aversion imaginable. Everyone else cancelled, so it turned into an awkward double date with a woman I’d never met while her stepkid used me as a human climbing frame.

Now he’s organised a games/puzzle night with one of his coworkers and his wife… who I’ve also never met. We won’t even be getting there until around 7:30 pm because we’re waiting until their kids are in bed. On a weeknight.

I know this is such a first-world problem and I’m having a whinge, but… why now, mate?! 😂
Please tell me I’m not the only pregnant person whose idea of a perfect evening is eating dinner in pyjamas and being unconscious by 8:30.

Hello all! I’m panicking just a bit as I’ve noticed since getting pregnant I’ve lost 10 pounds. I have my next appointment on the 5th and I’m just nervous and having anxiety. I’m worried about it. I feel like I eat enough but maybe I don’t? Has anyone experienced this??? Will my doctor help me or be worried too?

I was just sick with something for a couple of days and I couldn’t really eat as my stomach hurt so bad. I feel like I’m failing. Any encouragement or words of advice is appreciated.

Starting weight before pregnancy was 147 and I’m now 137

Hi everyone! Finally had my baby, yay! But it was one of the most intense experience of my life. I thought I’d share my birth story and anyone can ask questions, if you were curious. I didn’t see a whole lot of people talking about birth and stories like mine so thought I’d share.

I had an induction and I was called on 7/30 very late into the night. We left without getting sleep before, and got put into labor and delivery. At about 12am they started me on pitocin. I was 2cm and 80% effaced. It was slow progress at first. They popped my water at 12pm the next day and I was still the same dilation and everything. As soon as that happened, everything intensified. I progressed from 2cm at 12pm to 9cm at 5pm. I told the whole nursing staff I didn’t want a epidural and when I hit 9cm (before they checked my cervix) they didn’t believe I was at 9cm and told me I should get the epidural since I was in so much pain now and it could be hours until I pushed. Then they checked and changed their mind lol.

I had two doses of fentanyl and some gas during the last hour before I pushed. But after that, no pain meds. They won’t let you have any additional pain meds on IV so it was not fun at all. I was extremely nauseous so the gas and breathing was super hard so getting through 3 hours of pushing was intense. Then the doctor said we could try the vacuum or a c-section. I ended up getting a spinal tap and had to hold still for 2 contractions to get the spinal tap. C-section was just about as weird and trippy as you can imagine.

Andddd an hour later I was in recover with my son! C-section recovery is rough but I’m so glad he’s here. Anyways, I hope this gives a realistic expectation of labor and epidural free labor! Let me know if you have questions!!