Signs of problems in the 2nd tri?

C

clowe77

Registered User
I'm about 20 weeks in and this is my first pregnancy. Everything seems to have been going well so far... Had my last checkup a month ago. But of course being the paranoid person that I can be, I am already starting to think of all the things that could be going wrong or could go wrong. Or that I could be doing wrong. Like, did I exercise too hard this morning? Or, why haven't I felt any movement in a week?

Anyway, my question is: I've read horrible stories of missed abortions and second trimester losses, many of which are not even detected until weeks after the fetus has stopped developing (via ultrasound). Does anyone know of any signs/symptoms of a second trimester loss? Often it is due to an "incompetent cervix" and there is not even any blood involved to indicate the loss. So I'm just wondering- outside of doing an ultrasound at the clinic, is there any way of knowing whether or not there is a "problem" with your precious little one, in the second tri?
 
Seriously if you are worried I would recommend going and seeing the doctor. It doesn't matter what anyone says on this forum, because if they give you a symptom, it sounds like you're so concerned that you'll end up convincing yourself you have that symptom.

Go and see a medical professional and put your mind and rest. Worrying about things isn't going to help you or the baby, so go and get your worries dealt with by the people who know. As parents we worry alot about our kids even before they're born, but you need to get things into perspective if you're going to survive.
 
As a first time mother-to-be, I have to say that I do not appreciate your insensitive and curt tone. If you didn't have an answer to my question, you certainly didn't have to post. Of course I'll be asking my OB this during my next visit - I just wondered if anyone knew of any signs that they could volunteer in the meantime. That's the point of this whole forum, right? If we wanted answers from medical practitioners, we'd just ask them during our visits! I had thought this was a friendly open forum over which normal people can share knowledge or input - NOT a forum over which we can be bashed for innocent questions.

Yes, I worry as I'm sure all new parents do. Responses like yours do nothing to alleviate whatever worry we already have.
 
Another thing - The reason I asked this question on the forum instead of running off to see my doctor is 1) because I am not THAT worried and 2) because I don't have the spare $1800 to spend on a visit+u/s. Having given advice and gotten such great advice before from folks on this forum, I thought I'd use it again. Secondly, I am not "so concerned, I'll end up convincing myself that I'll have that symptom" - but thank you for your harsh and hurtful judgement of me without knowing a thing about me.
 
It is normal to feel movement sporadically at 20 weeks, it will be several more weeks before you feel movement all the time. SEcond trimester losses are not common. Statistically it is unlikely to happen. But of course everyone wonders what if??????

I have to agree with what jool said, when pregnant everyone will tend to worry, and as a first time parent you will worry even more once baby arrrives, with time you get used to it.

I was suprised by the reaction. I didn't find anything offensive in what was said.
 
I second that. I didn't find anything she said offensive. Plus, second trimester losses are not that common.

And can I just add something? A colleague told me (while I was pregnant) that if I thought it was normal to worry during the pregnancy...just wait until the baby is born!! Then you really start worrying...and it doesn't stop until they are adults!!! Fact of live...parents worry!
 
i didn't think that it was offensive either. she gives good advice. if you are very worried, then the best thing to do to set your mind at rest is to make an "extra" appointment.

i made one at 15 weeks at a private dr, even though i was going exclusively public, simply because i couldn't wait to see what sex the baby was. so, i booked myself in for an extra ultrasound. this wasn't even my first baby, it was my second. the difference between the two pregnancies though was that during my first, i took part in a study at QMH. they gave me 6-
4D ultrasounds and with my second i had to pay and so only got one.

i also agree with celtic... the worries are ONLY BEGINNING with pregnancy, just wait to see what you have in store!

good luck!
 
PS> if you are worried about movement of the baby, lie down and take a break. usually putting your feet up and relaxing wakes the baby from the slumber they enjoy when they are bouncing around during your own movement.
 
P.S. It is ENTIRELY normal to have worries (ranging from silly to totally major) when you are pregnant. Especially if you are a first-time mum. Honestly, read what you can in the pregnancy books and see a doctor if you are concerned.
 
Thanks for all of your replies - they were really helpful. It wasn't the answer that jools gave that upset me, but rather the manner in which it was given which I felt was rather insensitive. But then again, my hormones are a-ragin, but perhaps I was feeling extra sensitive.

PS - I am with Dr Dawkins and he charges 900 per session + 900 for the u/s so 1800 in total per visit.
 
Does Dr Dawkins charge you $1800 every visit?

Even though he does an ultrasound at every visit he only charges me extra for the 12, and 20 week scans.

So if you need to go in for an extra visit if you feel something is wrong should only cost $900.

I know it's difficult, but it would be much better for your baby if you could relax a little.
Maybe it would be reassuring for you if you went to the bookstore and found a pregnancy book that could reassure you what is normal and what you should worry about.
 
I'm pretty sure that I am charged 900+900 per visit with Dr D!!! Wow, if you are not, then I will be sure to take this up with him on my next visit this coming Friday! Thanks for letting me know, Matty. His price board says 900 per consultation + 900 per u/s, so I just assumed that I was being charged the correct amount.

Re "The Worries", I get them every now and again but in general I am really not the worrying sort. Once in a while during this pregnancy I've had a thought that's led to another thought that's led to... you know how it goes. In general though, I am happy and excited. Nervous yes but excited even more.

Took me 8 months to get pregnant (I had some ovulation issues that were not so easily addressed) so now that I am finally, I guess I'm just super careful about signs and symptoms and resolving a potential problem before it gets out of hand.

I've got PLENTY of books, but thanks! I think reading those books is what tends to make me paranoid. I mean seriously, isn't "What to Expect..." just a 600 page bible of things pregnant mothers are NOT supposed to do? That's why I enjoy this forum - I think sharing ideas with REAL WOMEN is more informative that reading theoretical info out of a text book.

Thanks again for all your replies. It does help me with my jitters. And it helps to know that it's normal to worry.
 
Btw, I don't actually feel that anything is wrong. Actually, I feel wonderful and very healthy and all my checkups to date have been perfect. I guess my posting was only to ask if anyone knew of any warning signs that women should be looking for in the 2nd trimester, in order to prevent a potential problem before it becomes a problem.

I should stop surfing the Internet and making myself paranoid when there is no reason to be. Guess I've always believed in "an ounce of prevention..."
 
Dear Clowe,
I really didn't mean to cause any upset, believe me I would be the last person in the world who would wish to offend anyone.

With what my little family is going through at the moment, my youngest child has just been diagnosed with a chronic life long illness, I was just trying to say that when your worried about something medical then the best thing to do to put your mind at rest was to ask someone with medical training. I too have surfed the internet about my son's condition and I agree there are things on there that have absolutely scared me to death. I have got myself worked up on several occasions and for me the only relief was to talk to a professional who could put things in perspective and that was the idea that I was trying to get across. I'm sorry if you felt my tone was offensive, this was never my intension. Being a parent is worrying full stop and I agree this starts before the little angel has even made an appearance.

Good luck with your pregnancy and with the birth of your little angel.
 
I agree that some perspective is needed. If you're searching the internet for second trimestre problems well of course you're going to hear about bad things happening because it's generally only people like that who will take the time to write. The remaining 99.9% of the population who had no problems aren't going to get online to tell you about how uneventful their second trimestre was. Statistically there is a very low chance of something happening in this trimestre. Relax while you can because as everyone else has pointed out, it only gets harder.

p.s. i was with Dawkins and paid $900 for check up and u/s. Maybe he's doing an extra special one or extra long one for you because you seem like you need extra reassurance.
 
Jools - thanks so much for your note. I'm sorry I made a big deal of your reply. I guess it just shows that even in threads like this, it's impossible to read the tone of what people are saying and obviously i mis-read your tone. Also, I'm pretty sure my hormone levels were out of control that evening as a few hours later I lashed out at my poor husband for something totally ridiculous... DAMN THESE FEMALE HORMONES TO HELL!!!

I am so sorry to hear about your little angel. So sorry. I have good friends with children suffering from chronic illnesses so I know how one should not take for granted babies who are born in "perfect" health. Maybe this is what has been making me paranoid as I head towards my own delivery date. That said, it would certainly not in any way be the end of the world if he/she had a "problem" - we would get through it just like you are getting through your experience. And I'm sure it's making your family tighter and more loving (and more knowledgeable) as you go along.

Best of luck to you and thank you for sharing. Your son is so lucky to have a mom like you.
 
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