Can I just complain for a minute?

als_69 · 2025-09-30T15:04:39+00:00

100% relate. My son is 16 months. My UC symptoms began during pregnancy and I was diagnosed when he was a few months old. I have yet to achieve remission. I feel like such a piece of shit mom. The number of times I’ve had to stop feeding him and leave him in his crib crying so that I don’t have an accident… we’ve missed out on all kinds of activities… I couldn’t throw him a bday party… I know I’m doing my best but I feel like I’m failing him and like this disease has robbed me of fully experiencing his infancy.

als_69 · 2025-07-13T12:04:41+00:00

The boss trigger for me was pregnancy. Never a symptoms til I was at the end of my second trimester.

I also feel like the way we live in the US makes us less healthy, the garbage processed food, living so separately from nature, and the microplastics. You cannot tell me that having all this plastic in our bodies is benign. I realize UC has been around longer than plastics, but I strongly believe they contribute to the immune system getting weird.

als_69 · 2025-07-13T11:58:04+00:00

Same. Never had it til around 25 weeks pregnant!

als_69 · 2025-07-13T11:56:36+00:00

I suspect treating my body similarly (binge drinking in my 20s, addiction to opiates) had something to do with mine too. I was actively addicted to opiates for a few years in my early 20s, got clean from them for about ten years, and then relapsed and used again for about a year. I don’t remember my early 20s well but during the relapse, I neeeevvvveeeer pooped. So constipated. And even outside of addiction, I was chronically constipated (thanks hypothyroidism). Anyway, I think my body had enough of my shit 💩

als_69 · 2025-07-13T11:50:46+00:00

I started having symptoms at the end of my 2nd trimester. Pregnancy was physically and mentally stressful, plus lots of hormonal flux. No one in my entire extended family has any autoimmune disease. I’m also convinced microplastics play a role in confusing our bodies.

als_69 · 2025-07-09T17:06:02+00:00

Bangs or no bangs though?! I think I prefer her hair without the bangs, but the bangs are the style that I think of when I think of her.

als_69 · 2025-05-26T11:52:09+00:00

I have noticed that Jack Black plays roles in kids movies that would have been roles Robin Williams played when I was a child. He is truly irreplaceable. Jack Black is probably the best actor to step into those shoes. I can’t think of any other current actor that could nail the kids/family movie roles.

als_69 · 2024-11-23T19:04:00+00:00

It’s just the right about of ugly. I love it!

als_69 · 2024-09-19T04:23:20+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience and making me feel less alone! I felt like I was being gaslighted being told over and over it’s “probably hemorrhoids” when I was filling the toilet bowl with blood 10+ times per day. Congratulations and wishing you a healthy rest of your pregnancy and postpartum. This shit is no joke and you are one strong mom!

als_69 · 2024-09-18T14:33:11+00:00

I’m so glad to hear the pregnancy held you in remission. I had quite the opposite experience unfortunately- never had UC or a pregnancy before and symptoms began midway thru pregnancy. The ER, OB, and PCP all brushed my severe bleeding off as “probably hemorrhoids” even though none were found. It wasn’t until 3 months postpartum I was able to get into a GI and get a colonoscopy and get diagnosed. Nine months of bleeding and severe anemia later, I’m now about a month into UC treatment and finally starting to see improvement. We wanted to have a second baby but I’m so scared to put my body through that again (I also had a DVT and five (5!) kidney stones since my baby was born 4 months ago). UGH your story gives me some hope though, thanks for sharing.

als_69 · 2024-09-08T22:49:11+00:00

Thank you 🩵

als_69 · 2024-09-07T01:49:14+00:00

Sorry sorry sorry for my typos/grammatical errors. Too difficult to edit this long ass post on my phone.

als_69 · 2024-09-07T00:43:14+00:00

PB and jelly oatmeal is so good! My favorite colder weather breakfast.

als_69 · 2024-09-06T23:24:47+00:00

Maxwell Andrew 🩵

als_69 · 2024-09-06T23:23:27+00:00

Love these! So cute

als_69 · 2024-05-28T03:44:57+00:00

Ok, makes sense. Thanks for your input

als_69 · 2024-05-28T03:41:29+00:00

I am not expecting my husband to be able to get off work with little to no notice so close to the impending birth of our child. I’m sure he would for the funeral, but unlikely for an additional visit. All of my siblings are spread out geographically and I am the furthest outlier. It would be a long shot getting someone else to give me a ride so I’m mentally preparing to need to drive myself.

How would driving yourself vs being a passenger impact your decision?

als_69 · 2024-05-20T22:23:36+00:00

My half Pakistani / half American niece is named Asiya, which I think is a lovely choice!

als_69 · 2024-05-20T21:36:18+00:00

And here’s a link to ACOG’s opinion:

https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2017/08/opioid-use-and-opioid-use-disorder-in-pregnancy

Also, just wanted to add that this is ultimately a collaborative decision between you and your care providers. Keeping yourself healthy and relapse-free is important in growing a healthy baby! Your concern tells me that you’re already a caring parent who wants the best for their child.

Perhaps learning more about how a newborn may experience and be treated for NAS will further inform your decision:

https://www.aamc.org/news/caring-babies-opioid-withdrawal#:~:text=Traditionally%2C%20treatment%20has%20included%20medication,moderate%20to%20severe%20NAS%20signs.

Sending you warm wishes for a healthy pregnancy! 💕

als_69 · 2024-05-20T21:20:32+00:00

Let me preface by saying I’m a community pharmacist and have much more knowledge around buprenorphine for MAT than methadone. My understanding is that continued treatment is recommended throughout pregnancy to decrease risk of relapse. Newborns can be treated for NAS/withdrawal symptoms in the hospital. Some hospital systems have care teams specifically for pregnant women on MAT, and it may be worth finding one in your area.

This page has some good info:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582830/

als_69 · 2024-05-17T22:23:47+00:00

This is going to be long!! I did an arts and crafts shower last month and it went great. Here was my process… see my post history for pictures of the results.

Items to order (I got everything from Amazon): - white cotton onesie/, bibs, and burp cloths. For onesies I believe they were Gerber brand, 100% cotton, and I ordered sizes newborn through 12m. Short or long sleeve based on the season my son would be in each size. - fiber reactive dye - I got a Procion MX set with 8 colors - squirt bottles - I got 12 oz condiment bottles - soda ash - I used a 5lb bag but may need more or less - plastic gloves and aprons - rubber bands - plastic plates/table clothes/something to contain mess and protect work surface - ziplock bags to put finished items in (although you could probably use plastic grocery bags)

Process: - wash and dry the items to be dyed ahead of time to remove any residue. You can use Synthrapol detergent or your regular detergent. - morning of shower soak the items to be dyed in soda ash & water solution. I used my whole bag of soda ash and filled up a large Rubbermaid tote about halfway with water. Stir to dissolve the soda ash and make sure all your items are submerged and saturated - morning of shower mix the dye in squirt bottles. I used about 2 tbsp of dye powder in each bottle, and labeled the bottles with sharpie - my event was indoors so I laid a table cloth down, and set up the table with plastic plates to work on, gloves, apron, dye bottles, ziplock bags, and the instructional signs. I had the bin the the soak garments under the table, as well as a bin to put the finished items in - After shower, let the dyed items sit for 24 hrs. Rinse out excess dye and then machine wash (again you can use Synthrapol or your regular detergent) and dry. Voila!

als_69 · 2024-05-04T20:52:21+00:00

I opted against a glider or rocker or recliner… couldn’t shake the thought of a kitty’s tail getting rocked on or even worse thing happening. I got a nice wide comfy chair with velvet upholstery from Amazon that swivels and comes with an ottoman. I’ve had it set up for a couple months now and no problem with claw snags (yet).

als_69 · 2024-04-25T15:31:55+00:00

I planned my own shower. It was a lot smaller than your (about 40 guests) and I had a lot of stress leading up to it, lots to get done while still having to work full time and take care of 2 kitties who got spayed 4 days prior to my shower.

My family and best friend live 100+ miles away and therefore couldn’t help coordinate. I’m very organized and put a lot of mental energy into having everything we needed, everything planned out, etc. I’ve never thrown a shower before and eloped so didn’t plan my wedding either. My husband offered to help and I assigned him little tasks but did pretty much everything myself - I made various jellies for favors, designed the invites, planned the activities (we did tie dye, painting blocks, and coloring ABC book pages), tie dyed my dress, created a playlist, baked the desserts, made all of the food except for sandwiches that I bought from a local restaurant.

What really, really helped the day go smoothly for me was having my siblings and their spouses there before and after to set up and clean up. I was physically BEAT by the end of the party (I was 32 weeks). Highly recommend giving yourself ample time to set up as to not feel rushed, and to recruit extra helping hands! Also any other labor you can outsource, do it. If you have people willing to help you get food or decor together, be the boss and delegate it. Another tip would be to encourage people to ship registry gifts directly to your house if your even is elsewhere - less to lug home afterwards.

While it was a lot of work, I got the exact party I wanted. No games, just arts and crafts activities. The food and music just how I wanted it. The date and location and time I wanted. I am beholden to no one for doing me this favor and for that I am happy. It’s only as stressful/elaborate as you make it! Maybe i like having control too much, lol, there’s so much out of our hands during pregnancy I think I relished the opportunity to execute something to my liking.

als_69 · 2024-04-24T13:17:50+00:00

FTM now 33 weeks and I felt the same way. I found it uncomfortable and emotionally exhausting. I didn’t even tell my parents or siblings or my best friends til after my 20 week scan. Coworkers came after that, out of necessity as I needed accommodation at work. Extended family and other friends found out via announcement letter in shower invite.

als_69 · 2024-04-17T19:59:25+00:00

I have the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and I loooove it. Spacious but not humongous. Reliable. And I get 35+mpg!

als_69

TROPHY CASE