Special concerns for Pregnancy?

[Jill & Brian]

Hey, guys! Well, I guess you figured out our news....

Is there anything special I should worry about with the tank, corals, etc? Is it all right for me to put my hands in there to feed or move things around? I know, you'll probably all suggest that I talk to my ob/gyn, but it's not the kind of thing they usually know much about. LOL

...I figured I'd go to the "real" experts, right guys?

(And yes, I will talk to my Dr. about it, but I'm sure some of you know more about this than the average obstetrics doctor.

Ps...I'm especially concerned about zoo's---I know how toxic they can be, and I did read that story about the guy's dog...I'm keeping my hands out of the tank for now.

Thanks so much--

Jill

 

[dad300]

congrats!!!!!!!


pm or email flighty.. she has recent experience with pregnancy and reefing.

 

[~Flighty~]

Congradulations! I didn't do much different except have Eliot do all of the water testing. The baby is pretty well protected from things that would irritate your skin like stings. Take it very easy with things like aquascaping and moving water around. It is really easy to tork your back or pull a ligament when you're pregnant. I did some research and didn't find anything reef related to be specificly woried about. The smells might be a problem if you get morning sickness.

Find a doctor that you trust and who really takes time to answer questions you have, That makes all the difference. I interviewed 5 doctors after a bad experience with the ob/gyn for the first delivery and ended up choosing to go with a midwife group. I would highly recomend it (if they have them at hospitals in RI) . The other piece of advice I have is to deliver at a hospital with at least a level 2 neonatal unit. Chances are, you won't need it, but if you do, minutes can make a big difference.

 

[dad300]

Good advice on the neonatal unit Cindy. We needed them with our first. Thankfully our local hospital at the time was/is the largest Hospital in that half of the state. It also was/is a teaching hospital with all the latest of everything. Made a huge difference when Josh was born not breathing after having a bowel movement in the womb. His apgar was a one. Neonatal icu was down the hall. Crash carts were in all the rooms.
14 years later we still have him.

 

[~Flighty~]

ya, I was pretty cockey about the second delivery because the first one went so easy for me and Abby (apgar 9,10). I even talked (not too seriously) about maybe having the baby at home.

Evan had a rough birth (apgar 3,5) and needed to be transfered to the level 2 neonatal unit in the hospital down the road and later lifeflighted to dartmoth. We were lucky in his case and we got him to the more specialised equipment in time and he made a 100% recovery. There was one procedure (iv line into the umbilical cord vein and artery) that they weren't experienced enough to do at the first hospital and it was too late to do at the better neonatal unit. It didn't matter in the end, but it did limit some of the drugs they wanted to give him.

 

[Matt L.]

I've always felt that its easy to forget the laws of nature until pregnancy reminds you of them, and hard.

Congratulations, and its great that Cindy is here to provide all that excellent information, although I don't know what apgar means...

My two cents is to simply avoid man-made chemicals as best you can. The easiest way to do this is to simply avoid their smell, if they are volatile, and avoid handling them if they are non-volatile. This would be things like glues, solvents, and PVC cement.

Some of the test chemicals are totally "harmless", while some are more harmful, so if you're concerned about a specific chemical, feel free to post it here. Each chemical reacts differently, and even some of the dangerous ones would pose no risk. Of course, you're Doctor always knows best.

Matt

 

[TBoisvert]

Congrats Jill & Brian!!!! You have a wonderful journey ahead of you

 

[Jill & Brian]

Thanks, guys!

Good to know about the chemicals and tests and things...hadn't even thought about that. And yeah, I do get morning sickness, so the smells are a bit of an issue already. Even the smell of the sump and skimmer are starting to get to me...ugh!

As far as the doctor/hospital/neonatal stuff--I've sort of been there before. This is baby number three for us. I did change ob/gyn this time, but I think they'll be really good. Last time I went to a private practice with a doctor and a midwife, and it was a fantastic experience. I hated to leave my midwife (she's awesome!), but they joined up with a clinic-type thing now, and I can't bear to go there. Went Weds. and it was so depressing. The new place was recommended by our pediatrician's office, so I think they'll be good. And we'll be going to Women & Infants' Hosp. in Prov.--they're among the best, and have a superb neonatal unit, so I think we have most of that stuff covered. And I'm hoping we won't need it, but it feels good to be prepared, you know?

Can anyone comment on the safety of my hands being near zoanthoids? (sp?) That's the thing I'm most concerned about right now. Of course, I'll ask the Dr., too, but unless they know anything about reef setups, he/she probably won't be able to answer. Guess I'll be giving them a run for their money, huh? All kinds of weird questions that they're going to have to look up for me.... hee hee hee

Thanks!

Jill

 

[NateHanson]

Have you ever had a reaction to palyotoxins in zoanthids? I'd venture a guess that the biggest danger to the baby would be from you having an anaphalactic reaction yourself, and that affecting the baby indirectly. My understanding is that really very little is capable of passing to the fetus in utero. Your don't even exchange blood with your infant. You pass oxygen and nutrients from your RBCs to the infants RBCs through a barrier at the placenta that separates your body from his/hers. Not that there aren't things that don't pass (heavy metals for instance), but they are very few.

Disclaimer: Take all this with a grain of salt. I'm no expert, just giving my recollection from school, our pregnancy, and absorbed medical knowledge from my wife (a Family Doctor who does obstetrics).

Oh, and congratulations!

 

[~Flighty~]

Don't eat zoanthids, even if you do have a wierd craving.

If this is your third, you know the drill, I shouldn't have been so long winded

Are you going to find out if its a boy or a girl? ( I know you're probably sick of people asking that, but at least I didn't ask if you're excited, why do people insist on always asking that?)

 

[Jill & Brian]

Nate--no, I don't think I've ever really reacted to them, but I was worried about them just the same. So maybe if I've never reacted, I probably won't? Seems to make sense...

Just what I was looking for...

thanks!

 

[Jill & Brian]

Cindy--LOL

Good tip on eating them...you never know with these cravings! I insisted on burritos tonight, and I am already regretting that...oh well!

I think we will find out if we're having a boy or a girl, though. Our first is a girl, and I said with the second that I needed to know, because if we had a boy, all I had was pink. So we did find out, and we did have a boy. So now I guess I don't really have a good reason to find out...

But, I probably will anyway! Can't help it--have to know! But it's pretty early yet, I'm only 6 weeks, but it's never to early to be cautious about this stuff. Oh, and we ARE excited...

I know, WHY DO people insist on asking that? As if when someone's not excited they'd ever say so, right? Der! Your whole message totally cracked me up!

Thanks so much!

Jill

 

[~Flighty~]

We're in the same boat. A girl then a boy, now a new baby girl. We didn't find out with all three. That's one of my ways of making it through the delivery, knowing that I'm finally going to find out. That and knowing that I'll be able to easilly turn over in bed soon gets me through it.

 

[Jill & Brian]

Cindy,

I wish I could not find out, too...but I may just be too curious. I know, curiosity killed the cat, but I can't help it!

Good to know that someone else's been there recently--I'll be sure to contact you if I come up with any more questions! Thanks!

Jill

 

[MarkO]

Congrats!
your lives will be forever changed. It's a good thing, you'll love it.
Speaking of cats, if you have any you should have the hubby handle the kitty litter.

 

[NateHanson]

I'll bet some pregnant genius invented that whole toxoplasmosis-kitty litter thing just to get out of scooping litter.

 

[nunofs]

I'll bet some pregnant genius invented that whole toxoplasmosis-kitty litter thing just to get out of scooping litter.

Right... and the morning sickness, and the food cravings... And on top of that, my wife also "invented" RSI on the wrists due to the hormonal changes of breatsfeeding, making her unable to carry most tasks around the house

But to get back on topic, let me add: congratulations, Jill! I don't think there are any special concerns, but most common sense things apply, like avoiding the chemicals that we tend to use in and around the tanks (test kits, kalk, etc)... they're probably not dangerous at all for the fetus, but better safe than sorry.

If you're concerned about the zoos, better play it safe too... from what I read I believe their toxins are only an issue if the zoas have been damaged somehow (eg, by fragging) and if you have open cuts on the skin (or eat them!)... but again, best thing is to avoid it if you can... that way you'll have one less thing to worry about... and believe me, you'll find plenty of things to worry about during the next 9 months.

Nuno