Week 29 - I miss my bladder
July 11, 2006
One of the things that everyone talks about for pregnant women is frequent urination. They say that during the first trimester women often need to use the facilities often because of hormone changes. Then in the third trimester, the baby takes up more space, leaving less and less room for your organs, which obviously includes the bladder. Well, I never experienced this irritation during my first trimester. If I was urinating more, it was simply due to the greater fluid intake, and not really a problem. This past week however, I find myself in the bathroom a ridiculous amount of time. It seems like every 15 minutes I have to go back again. As I am waddling back and forth to the bathroom, I have pondered how much time, both work and leisure I have wasted on this process. That of course, makes me even more frustrated. I’m nearly to the point of wishing I could have a cathater for the last few months, just to save the hassle of getting up 4 times an hour to waddle back and forth to the bathroom.
Another concern I’ve recently had is my belly button. Apparently some women’s belly buttons pop out during pregnancy. I have always enjoyed my “innie”, and have never ever had a desire for an “outie.” As the baby has grown, my belly button has shrunk to less than half its previous depth. Since I still have 2 1/2 months to go, I’m worried that the increased rate of the baby’s growth will soon leave no more room for my belly button, and I will indeed “pop.” They also say that belly buttons generally go back to their normal shape after the birth, but I’m still not looking forward to the possibility of toting around an “outie” for a few months - so please send positive “innie” thoughts my way, and hopefully I won’t have to mourn the loss of my belly button.
HI, I was looking on the internet to find info on fetal movement and baby hiccups and found your site. It looks like we are on the exact same week! I am 29 weeks today.
Last night baby had strong hiccups and I was trying to burp her by patting my belly, It didn’t seem to work though.
Yeah, the peeing is getting crazy.
Anyway, congratulations
Just checking in. You certainly seem to have found a topic to blog about besides me!
Enjoy the rest of the pregnancy and treasure every moment of your leave - they grow up fast!
Regarding hiccups, I found with my first pregnancy that this was a sign that he was hungry (i.e. he got them if I went too long without eating). Funnily enough, as a toddler and now as 6 year old he still does the same thing, and I can ask “are you hungry?” and the answer is always yes. So try eating when the hiccups start and see what happens (or at least try to pay attention whether there is a correlation between time between your meals & baby’s hiccups).
That is an interesting correlation between hiccups and hunger. I seem to get hiccups in the evening when I’m in bed (well after dinner) or sometimes in the morning - I’ll try eating (as long as I’m not falling asleep) and see if that helps. It can’t hurt, right? Thanks for the tip!
I am also 29 weeks and I can understand your potty problems, however I may have you beat. My little one will hit my bladder the wrong way or I will cough and have no time to get to the bathroom. If you make it in time, consider yourself lucky. I am tired of wetting my pants.
Although, my husband gets a good laugh!
Hi Carrie - I think you definitely have me beat! I have luckily always made it to the bathroom in time, so I guess I should be grateful that my little one has been a little more gentle on my bladder. They say that leakage sometimes continues after delivery - I certainly hope that doesn’t happen to you! Good luck!
hello..im 30 weeks and also worried about my belly button popping out. it hasnt yet and every morning i wake up i look to see if it has popped out.
Hi Babygirl, I was very worried about my belly button as well. It was very depressing when it did finally pop. The good news is that almost immediately after delivery it went back in. The bad news is that it still isn’t quite right. It’s in, but it’s stretched funny, and not the same old belly button I remember… I hope that yours manages to stay in!
Hi, I was surfing the net to find out what was going on with my baby right now in his development. I am 35 weeks, and I have not had my belly button popout, though it is now quite shallow. Not everyone’s does, and I hope this makes you feel better.
Hi Brandy, congrats on your pregnancy! I’m glad your belly button hasn’t popped. Mine didn’t until the very end of my pregnancy - I was hoping it might stay in, but alas, there was just no more space in there… my mother couldn’t remember if her belly button popped. Both my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law managed to keep their belly buttons in while they were pregnant. My belly button went back in almost immediately after the delivery, but it’s stretched out, and I don’t think it’ll ever be the same…
I have searched all the literature I can find and still can not find the answer to a question. I have a severe achiness in my vaginal area but not around the opening. If I am laying down and try to move or roll over it feels like an ache around my clitoral area but not the clitoris. Ever have anything like this?
Hi Stacy, I did have a very similar feeling when I was lying down, particularly the more pregnant I got. I found that a body pillow helped, especially when I had something between my knees, keeping everything level. I had the most trouble when I needed to roll over because my hips would begin to ache if I stayed on one side too long. The rolling over always produced more pain in the vaginal area. I never did ask my doctor about it, but I think if I had it to do all over again, I would definitely put that on a list of questions. If you do find and answer, I’d love to hear about it!
well I am soon to be 35 weeks and I am more concerned about weather my baby will have some sort of birth defect not about my belly button.
Hi Michelle - congrats on your pregnancy! I was of course worried about everything that every parent worries about - birth defects, diseases, cancer, low birth weight, premature birth, genetic abnormalities, etc. I worried because my mother was adopted, so there is a huge piece of genetic history that I’m missing - I have no idea if things like downs syndrome or spina bifida run in that side of the family. We had every test done that we could, and every sign pointed to a healthy baby. As we all know, stress also isn’t good during pregnancy, and I had a lot of family stress going on, as well as regular pregnancy worries. So, this blog and my mindset was to try to keep a sense of humor - to ponder less serious things. I hope all goes well and that you have a relatively pain-free delivery and of course a healthy and happy baby - good luck!
Hello and congratulations to everyone,
I had an ultrasound today, and my baby had hiccups. I’m only 8 weeks and 4 days. This is my first, and like everyone else, very nervous to do the right thing. I told my mom today, and she never heard of hiccups in the first trimester. I’m a little nervous! Can this be normal?? Please someone answer.
Hi Vicky,
I think fetal hiccups are normal I am 34 weeks along and this is the 3rd child for me all my babys had hiccups. I think it is nothing to worry about and you should ease your mind and enjoy this time before all the aches and pains start.
To All,
I am 34 week along and I have found the best advice you are going to get is to ask your doctor about any problem and concerns. I now live in Germany and have a wonderful doctor he always has time to speak with me and you must also make that a must when you all visit your doctors. I have 2 children and one on the way but in November 2005 I had lost a baby at 20 weeks along I have never found out way but I believe if I would have had better care and some one would have really listens to my concerns and not just said all women worry so during pregnacy my baby might have made it. So make your doctor or midwife really listen it your baby and it is there job!!!!!!
Hi Vicky - congratulations on your pregnancy! I agree with Nicole, I think fetal hiccups are entirely normal, and the hiccups were the first movement I ever felt with my baby. I’m guessing your mom hadn’t heard of fetal hiccups in the first trimester because most women can’t feel movement in the first trimester, and how often are we lucky enough to catch something like that on an ultrasound? I also think that if there was any reason for concern, you would have heard about it from your doctor or the technician doing the ultrasound. Call your doctor if you’re still worried, but also try to relax, and remember that in a few more weeks you’ll be able to feel your baby when he or she hiccups!
Hi Nicole, the advice about speaking to and listening to your doctor is excellent. I think that’s always the first place you should go with concerns. I think we get too worried about sounding silly, or bothering someone, or sounding like we worry too much. But if you’ve got a good doctor (and hopefully we’re all able to find a doctor that we’re able to work well with) then that person, or at least a nurse in the doctor’s office, should be able to alleviate any concerns we have. Good luck to you on your third pregnancy!
Hi, I’m 34 weeks pregnant and I have a very bad and dry cough. I coughed so much in these past two days that I have a very bad sore throat. I’m very stressed out right now because everytime I cough my stomach hurts and my baby moves when I cough. I don’t want anything to happen to my baby. It’s 8:30 in the morning and I have to wait 30 minutes more to call my doctor since they open at 9:00. I’m keeping myself busy at this moment by posting my comment so I won’t have to worry so much!!! I just hope that there’s nothing wrong with me and nothing bad is happening to my baby boy. It’s amazing how much a mother loves her child even before he or she is born. Well, I hope i can get better soon!
Hi Lisa, I’m sorry you’re feeling so ill lately. I’m sure your baby was just moving because your chest and belly were moving when you coughed, though it sucks that the cough is so painful. It is amazing how much we love our kids even before meeting them! How did everything turn out? What did your doctor say??
hi, i am about 16 weeks, and my stomach just started popping out….i am very petite. i have noticed that i have had one bladder infection after another, could this hurt the baby? also the doctor thinks my uterus is tipped, can i still go through a natural labour? when should i start getting maternity clothes, espicallly since the weather isnt quite warm but its warm enough? this is my first pregnancy.
hi im 26 weeks, and look like im about to drop and finding it very hard to move about as my back is forever in pain. when is the best time to start buying things for the baby.
Hello,
I’ve read a couple of your entries but this is the first time I’m commenting. I can totally sympathize with the bladder “issues”. Mine is about the size of a pin now. My problem is every time I sneeze, I wet myself. My husband thinks it’s funny, but social situations have become truly a nightmare.
Hi Amiee - congrats on the pregnancy! It’s miserable having to pee all the time. I was lucky enough not to wet myself, though I’m worried I won’t be so lucky the second time around! Have you thought about wearing a maxi pad or something? I don’t know if that would even work, but I suppose if it did, it would at least make social situations a little less awkward! Good luck, and please keep us posted on how you are doing!
hi sara,
i hear you on the non stop peeing.ive even built up a good library in my bathroom since all the time im spending, i might as well put it to good use.im on Week 18 now and its been funky, with lower abdominal pains and possibly even a yeast infection which is bothering me to the max. your baby’s prolly running around right about now since your entry’s been super long ago, but im glad to hear your feelings.am travelling for the month with my husband in morocco and its not the best place to be feeling this sick. wish me luck will ya?
Hi Aeshon, congrats on the pregnancy! I’m glad you’re at least getting some reading done while you’re in the bathroom so often - very creative! My baby is running around now, but #2 is on the way, and the frequent trips to the bathroom are back - my least favorite is the middle of the night trip… Morocco sounds like an awesome place to visit! If you haven’t already left, you might want to get a copy of your medical records from your OB/Gyn to bring with you. God forbid something happen that you need medical attention while you’re out of the country, but at least if you did, you’d have your medical records for the staff in Morocco to refer to. Enjoy your trip, and I’m sure if you don’t know already, you’ll learn in a hurry to ask about the nearest restroom in the Moroccan