r/BabyBumps

I do enjoy a mix of meat and vegan meats in general, but since getting pregnant, I started craving vegan meats or substitutes all the time like the impossible burger, black bean burgers, meatless meatballs, lentil pasta etc. I still have some meat, but I'm not craving it.

I've heard of vegans/vegetarians craving meat during pregnancy, but not the other way around.

Anyone ever experienced this or heard of it?just curious

I’m looking at diaper bags…..

I don’t see why I can’t just use a regular backpack, I plan on exclusively pumping (if possible), and I’m not sure that there will be a time I’ll be out of the house for that long that I will really need an insulated pocket. I feel like if it’s all day I can just bring a cooler???

Do I really need a backpack with insulated pockets? Someone please de influence me 😂

I was diagnosed with GDM at 24 weeks, but I was diet controlled and did not have any spikes. I could count on fingers the days I spiked and I knew exactly what caused it. I was still advised to go for an induction at 39 weeks because the baby was measuring a bit smaller and my blood pressure was climbing slightly.

I was not very happy about the induction and it felt unnecessary and more for hospitals planning logistics rather than my individual scenario. I was induced with a foley balloon on 39+1. Nothing happened for 24 hours except some very uncomfortable cramping and I roamed around in the hospital. Then they gave me a tampon with Prostaglandis and and it fell of in 12 hours and my mucous plug was also out. I was given Prostaglandins pills and that took me from 0 to 7 cm dilated in 3 hours. I had very light pain in this time, i took a shower, roamed around the hospital, had a big lunch and watched Netflix in these 3 hours. I started painful contractions at 1 pm which were 4 minutes apart and my son was born exactly at 18:30. I asked for an epidural but it didn’t do much for me, I could feel the full force of contractions. By the end doctor suggested vacuum extraction as I was exhausted and baby was almost out. One last push from me and a little help from vaccum , baby was in my arms. I didn’t tear much, his head is fine and overall I didn’t find the induction as bad as I had imagined. His blood sugar is also perfect. So, if anyone is having doubts or concerns over induction or overall about GDM, don’t worry, it will all be worth it in the end with the little one in your arms.

PS- I have a lot of GDM friendly recipes now which don’t suck, if anyone is interested. DM Me. 😅

I’m jumping the gun on this early because I feel like there’s still a lot to be ready for and I want to do this well. My partner and I just found out she’s pregnant with 4 positive tests over 2 days. We’ve calculated ~6 weeks and are planning to cal OB tomorrow. We’re both mid 20’s. I’m the non pregnant partner, if that’s not obvious. What should I expect now, near future, and long term pregnancy? How can I best support her? What helped you during pregnancy in any aspect of it (mentally, physically, items, etc)? And literally any other info/suggestions/anything you’d like to share.

Hi! I’ve searched high and low through all services but I can’t seem to find a doula who is in network with my Blue Shield PPO network (not promise plan!). Please note I am not looking for someone to superbill as my insurance is barely covering out of network providers.

I am due to give birth at Huntington Hospital, Pasadena in a few weeks, and am still crossing my fingers to find someone!

I cannot afford to pay out of pocket unfortunately, so really needing someone in network.

If this is you please get in touch. Thanks so much!

Hi all. I know this should be the happiest time of my life what with all the fun planning and organizing for babies arrival into the world... but I can't help but feel afraid for what's to come. All the unknowns, the hurdles to climb, the constant "what ifs". I have no idea what I'm doing or how I'm going to do it but life just expects us to know and be prepared?

This is a very wanted and planned pregnancy and I feel like I have all the means to care for my new little one to be. I just don't know how I'm going to be a good mom or if I'll be good enough. All I can do is my best. Idk. Does anyone else have thoughts or feelings like this as a first time mom? What helps you cope?

Hey everyone, I need some insight here. My current partner wants to name our baby (due in August, my 2nd his 3rd) after his grandmother who raised him. This is if the baby is a girl.

I like the name itself, I have no issue with that. I knew her for a couple of years before she passed and I understand the special bond they shared. She was a great lady.

The issue- this was a name he and his ex chose to use for a girl when they had their child. He's a boy, so that didn't happen. This came out, he was not planning on telling me. His ex and I got along well initially (or so I thought) but unfortunately that has devolved. She doesn't like how close I've gotten with her child (we have him 50/50) and has brought it up several times that I have no right to have a relationship with him. (there are other issues, that being the biggest. My partner is on my side with that one, he knows the only reason we are close is because I am kind to him and treat him as my own. I never put her down as she does to me and I place their relationship above ours, as I would want someone to do with my babies should the situation be reversed).

Becuase of all this, I have major mixed feelings. I definitely have some resentment as it feels like she would have some hand in naming my child, and the fact that he wasn't going to tell me is also really bothersome.

That said, I love my partner, like the name, and understand what it means to him, and I do not want to undercut that oe hurt him.

What would you do?

I’d like to share my birth story. I’ve written about my first and second births in another online community for pregnant women, and it was really helpful to reread my own experiences before giving birth to my third baby. I also always appreciate reading other women’s stories.

On Sunday, April 5th, I gave birth to a baby girl at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. First of all, I’m incredibly thankful to all the medical staff there. They were respectful of my wishes, very attentive and kind. The midwives and nurses were amazing, so energetic, with such positive vibes. I’m not sure if it’s the whole birth experience and hormones that made me feel that way, or if they’re just truly wonderful people, probably both.

I started feeling painful contractions on Friday night and couldn’t sleep at all. I had to wake up for each contraction. At first, I tried to time them, but they were about 10 minutes apart. Throughout Saturday, the contractions continued. I had to breathe through them and really focus, but they never became regular enough to go to the hospital. So I stayed active, I walked on the beach, cleaned the house, vacuumed everything, and got ready for the baby’s arrival.

By Saturday night, the contractions became stronger, but still not quite intense enough to go in, until around 1 a.m. on Sunday. At that point, I couldn’t walk through the contractions anymore. They were about 40 seconds long and 5 minutes apart. My OB-GYN had said they weren’t long enough yet, but I decided to go anyway. When I arrived, I was already 6 cm dilated.

Initially, I didn’t want any cervical checks because I remembered from my first delivery how painful it was when they checked during a contraction. But this time, the nurse checked between contractions, and it was completely fine.

My husband went back home to stay with our kids, and I went to the delivery room. I spent most of the time in the bath, lying in the water and trying to relax. Being in the hot water was actually really helpful, it allowed my muscles to fully relax, and it felt very comfortable.

By 7 a.m., I had only progressed to 7 cm. That meant just 1 cm of progress after 6 hours of very painful contractions. At that point, I decided to get an epidural, even though that wasn’t my original plan. I hadn’t had one with my first two babies and wanted to avoid it this time as well.

They started IV fluids, which took about 30–40 minutes, and then we waited for the anesthesiologist. By 8 a.m., the epidural started working and I was at 8 cm dilation, and I was finally able to relax and sleep. I slept for a little over an hour.

Then the nurses woke me up and said it was time to push. My husband arrived just in time before pushing started. He stayed quietly in the corner, close, but not too close.

I pushed for about 15 minutes, and our baby girl arrived, no tearing, no swelling, and just like that, a new life began.

I was also worried about pushing with an epidural. The midwife pressed her fingers on the area where I was supposed to push, and the nurse kept her hand on the upper part of my uterus, helping guide the contractions. They really guided me through it. I remembered from my previous birth experiences how to push, and I think that helped a lot. Still, it felt like the trickiest part, because you don’t have that same intense urge to push that usually guides you, it’s more about following the pressure, their guidance, and the idea of pushing. It worked well in the end, but I think if it had been my first deliver with an epidural, it probably would have taken much longer than 15 minutes.

Another thing I noticed is how much faster recovery has been after my third baby. The healing process felt much quicker, by the second day, I had already switched from pads to liners. The postpartum contractions were quite painful, especially during breastfeeding, but it felt like my body was doing exactly what it needed to do. My milk came in on the second day as well.

Now, on day six, I almost feel like I was never pregnant, it’s surreal. Somehow, I just have a baby.

Overall, it was a very positive experience, and I hope sharing this might be helpful to someone else.

Is anyone else feeling this way? I live a 5 hour drive away from my family and have done for the last 14 years.

Baby girl is due next week, my husband and I are of course really excited. However I’m starting to get fed up of people asking how we will cope without having nearby family etc. I’m off for a year and my husband has 6 months paternity leave. I know of course it will be harder and would love to be closer to my family, but this is the way it is. I just want to scream that we will be okay!

A couple of friends from my home city offered to come and help as soon as baby is born which is so so lovely of them - but honestly I don’t think we’ll want visitors that soon and feel like we’ll manage just fine. Not sure if it’s the pregnancy hormones that are making me overly sensitive but others are making me feel like we won’t be able to cope…..

I had my first scan yesterday where I thought I was 6+2. There was only a gestational sac, yolk sac and ‘prominent amnion’ and I measured 5+4. I ovulated later than the typical 14 days they use but didn’t think it was more than 2 days. The tech seems to think it’s a dating issue too. Idk tho 😥 any similar experiences?

Just suffered my first MC. I was 6 weeks along w/ an empty gestational sac. I got a D&C. I've always known I've had a septated uterus, but it's not as bad as a full one. I'm waiting for my baby's remains to be tested for abnormalities but cannot help but wonder if my septated uterus had anything to do with it. Anyone have any experience? Did you get it shaved off? TIA.

Hi guys, I‘m 16 weeks pregnant. I‘ve been feeling some new sensations since last week (week 15) but I‘m not sure if it‘s the baby or not.

The first thing I felt was a twitch in my lower abdomen. It felt like my uterus was twitching. It was exactly like an eye twitch but in my uterus area.

The second feeling is something like a muscle spasm too but it‘s on my or next to my belly button. I can‘t quite locate it as it‘s very short lasting. But I feel it in my belly button area.

Is this my baby? Is this gas? I‘m a FTM so I didn’t expect to feel anything right when I hit 16 weeks. Even less in week 15.

Hi everyone. I’m one day shy of 38 weeks. So far I’ve shopped at Carter’s, H&M, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Janie & Jack, Burt’s Bees, Children’s Place, and Little Sleepies. It’s my first pregnancy so I’m not quite sure of all of the other options.

What other reputable stores would you guys recommend for shopping for baby clothes? Specifically NB & 0-3 months.

Thank you!

Shew. Maybe I’m just looking for solidarity… but does anyone else have their husband in a different room right now? My bat has been cosleeping with me since he was a few months of age. My toddler was waking up in the middle of the night and coming in, and since I don’t feel safe having all FOUR of us in the bed, my husband moved to an air mattress to co sleep our toddler. Now here we are at the almost one year mark and I don’t think either one of us know what we are doing or how to fix it. Baby cosleeps with me in bed. Husband is cosleeping with toddler on a mattress in a different room. Miss my husband in bed with me so much, but I don’t think I’d get much sleep at all if all four of us were in here.

I am in my late 20s and used estrogen birth control for 10+ years, up until 9 months ago. We loosely tried 7/9 months and haven’t had success yet. We have no symptoms of any health issues. LH strips, temperature, and CM all show signs of ovulation. Has anyone else been on long term estrogen

BC and how long did it take to conceive?

I (29F) am 29 weeks pregnant and at my limit. For weeks, my partner "Jay" hinted he was getting us both new phones. He kept the models a secret, but he talked it up. I’ve actually been using a broken phone since last year when he broke it during an argument, so he’s known for a long time that I needed a replacement.

Yesterday, he came over and said he was giving me my "push present" early. He handed me an iPhone 17 Pro. But then he started rambling. He said his sister has been "upset lately due to personal reasons," so he gave HER the Pro Max. Then he said he didn't even want a new phone for himself anymore because he'd just "break it at work"—so he basically just handed me the one he’d originally bought for himself.

It feels like the Pro Max was meant for me, but he downgraded me to give his sister the best one, then handed me his "spare" and expected me to be grateful for a gift I only needed because he broke my property months ago.

To make it even worse, I’m currently already using a Pro Max (even though the screen is cracked from when he broke it). So he knew I prefer the larger, better model, yet he still chose to give that one to his sister and hand me the pro for my push present. It felt like he was literally trying to downgrade my life while upgrading hers.

This isn't just about a phone. He let me go to my first pregnancy scan alone on Christmas Eve because he was in a mood. He tells me I’ve "fell off" because I don't get my hair/lashes done while I’m in constant pregnancy pain, and he’s even snatched back baby supplies like the changing mat during arguments. We don’t live together because even though he talks big about being a "provider," he hasn't actually provided a home.

I didn't even peel the stickers off. He asked for it back because i didn’t set it up quick enough for his liking. If his sister’s feelings are more important than his partner’s push present, he can stay with her. I blocked him immediately.

My mum says I’m ungrateful, and I feel like a mug because I’ve dealt with this before. My eldest’s dad once told me I could only go to Mother’s Day dinner if his brother decided not to come. I feel like every man in my life treats me as an afterthought.

Am I wrong for refusing to "submit" and take the leftover phone, or is my dignity worth more than a "second-best" gift?

Anyone else having trouble drinking enough water or liquids while they’re pregnant, or is it just me?

with my first pregnancy, I couldn’t stomach plain water and always had to add lemon or some sort of water flavor enhancement, or was simply drinking lemonade or diet root beer(not great, I know)

currently pregnant with my second & still cannot stomach plain water, I always add lemon juice, and sometimes a ‘mio unwind’ with magnesium and B vitamins.

I also use a brita pitcher for my water, with the ‘elite’ filter. But I constantly have to remind myself to drink more water or “force drink” it a lot of the time.

Again, am I the only one who can’t stomach plain water while growing a tiny human being?? just curious to see what other women’s experience has been

Hi everyone,

I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding for the last 8.5 months. My baby seems to be self weaning herself off of the boob. I started pumping a month ago during the night so I could give her one bottle a day, well I think she really enjoys the bottle now. She seems to get frustrated when nursing. Anyways blah blah blah to my story but my real question is how do you know how much formula to give them a day? Right now I’m still nursing her throughout the day, but her feeds are short so I’m offering a bottle of pumped milk after. However I am not an oversupplier so I am only able to put about 6oz during the night (that’s about 3 pumping sessions).

I think my supply is already starting to dip so I will probably be full time on formula soon. So yes my question was how much should I be giving my 8.5 month old throughout the day? Is every baby different?

also, any advice to not feel so damn guilty for stopping breastfeeding? I’m honestly just tired…it’s been hard lately on my mental health. But I feel so selfish :(