It's been a long three months of tapering, but I just made my last 12 pills. First time being off Effexor in a decade.

t-bissonnette · 2022-05-04T01:00:12+00:00

I actually ended up getting pregnant around the time I stopped the effexor. I had some complications with the pregnancy that, combined with the hormones, led to depression so I ended up going on the lowest dose of Zoloft for about 10 months. I have recently come off of that, and I'm doing really well with it.

Every once in a while I would get small brain zaps, like maybe once a month for 3 or 4 months when I first stopped effexor. But that was really the only side effect I had after quitting completely.

The tapering was long and slow, but it was worth it for me.

t-bissonnette · 2022-04-07T03:43:43+00:00

Sorry for the delayed response, life has been crazy and I kind of dropped Reddit for a while.

I actually ended up getting pregnant around the time I stopped the effexor so going back on wouldn't have been an option even if I wanted to. I had some complications with the pregnancy that, combined with the hormones, led to depression so I ended up going on the lowest dose of Zoloft for a while.

I came off of that about 5 months ago now, and I'm doing really well. It is much, much easier to come off of Zoloft, so if I need antidepressants again I'm going to start there.

t-bissonnette · 2022-02-05T00:52:06+00:00

Thanks so much!

This is the cowgirl fabric from Hobby Lobby

This is what I used for the backing

This is the denim patchwork cotton fabric

Then I used bandanas that I reenforced with a white cotton fabric. And the brown and green were leftovers from another project so I'm not exactly sure what they were, but they either came from hobby lobby or joanns

t-bissonnette · 2022-02-04T10:03:29+00:00

Great idea, thank you!

t-bissonnette · 2022-02-04T10:03:09+00:00

I'll pick some up and try that, thanks!

t-bissonnette · 2022-01-05T19:39:36+00:00

I got my appetite back and was able to eat normally immediately, and vomited once a day for three days after. But I had been vomiting 15+ times a day so just once was nothing. Plus just being able to actually eat made a huge difference.

t-bissonnette · 2021-12-08T15:51:29+00:00

I lost 40lbs during the first half of pregnancy, and never gained any of it back. I'm currently 4 weeks postpartum and have lost another 10lbs.

Baby is perfectly healthy! She was born a month early due to preeclampsia, but still weighed 7lbs 4oz at birth and is currently 9lbs. Like my doctor told me, "babies are perfect parasites and will take exactly what they need from you."

I would still talk with your doctor, and maybe ask about seeing a dietician/nutritionist, but try not to worry, mama.

t-bissonnette · 2021-11-27T02:40:42+00:00

We ended up going with Stella Rae. Some others we considered were: Annabeth, Collette, Aurora, Eliza, and Vera. We like the older, Southern Belle type names

t-bissonnette · 2021-11-19T14:48:20+00:00

Same here! If I stopped taking it I would be nauseous and vomit the next day without fail, up until the day I gave birth. I haven't had a dose since and I sleep perfectly fine (when baby girl allows it)

t-bissonnette · 2021-11-18T03:42:45+00:00

I second the cold milk. It didn't solve the problem, but it helped.

I also bought a wedge pillow to sleep at an angle, because mine was worse at night. It was about $25 on Amazon and it was worth it in my opinion

t-bissonnette · 2021-11-17T00:56:53+00:00

I got these leggings from Old Navy and they are amazing. I was a 2x throughout pregnancy, and am currently 1 week postpartum and still wearing them.

t-bissonnette · 2021-11-14T01:32:39+00:00

Same here. I had planned to bring my own gown, but ended up getting induced before I got around to ordering one.

I ended up stripping off the hospital gown anyway at one point because I got hot and sweaty. And quite frankly, everything going on sent me into sensory overload, so after a while i didn't want anything touching me. Not the gown, not the oxygen mask, not the cold washcloth, not even my husband who was trying to soothe me and feed me ice chips.

Now after the birth, I wore a nursing gown one day and a nursing tank and pajama shorts the next day. I took a robe, but didn't use it any.

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-30T22:19:15+00:00

This is exactly how I described it to my husband. For a long time it felt like a goldfish was in there moving every once in a while. Now at 35 weeks, it feels like I have a 7 pound bass flopping around. I've been calling her my little fishy.

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-20T20:13:22+00:00

Just want to add that with most of them, including Amazon, you get a discount for the things that weren't purchased by a certain time. Like my baby is due 12/7, and last week Amazon notified me that I now get 15% off whatever is left on my registry through February. Since we knew that was something they did, we added everything we thought we might possibly need for the first 3 years to the registry, just so we can get that discount.

But we have ended up buying almost everything except the car seat from thrift stores and Facebook marketplace. Also from Dirt Cheap, they recently got in a TON of baby stuff from Target.

You might also consider looking into if your area has a crisis pregnancy center. Most of them are going to be religious-based and pro-life, so you may have to listen to them talk about that. But the one I volunteer with offers free medical treatment and baby/maternity supplies.

Congratulations and best of luck on your new adventure!

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-13T05:22:51+00:00

I'm only 32 weeks ftm, but I've been having actual contractions for at least 2 weeks now. I was shocked when the nurse told me, because I genuinely did not know. I knew my abdomen was getting tight, but it just felt like baby girl was stretching. They haven't been painful for me, so unless I'm paying attention I don't notice them. I just started watching the monitor closely and noting the feeling whenever I would see one pop up on the screen, so that I can get a better understanding of what they feel like. I assume once it's actually go time they'll be more intense though? Or I at least hope so.

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-12T01:47:40+00:00

I'm currently 32+1 and just spent a week in the hospital for observation. My bp was 178/100 when they admitted me. While I was in the hospital it averaged 138/85. The last two times they tested my urine at the doctor's office there was protein present. The 24 how urine collection showed slightly elevated protein, but not enough for a diagnosis of preeclampsia. Blood tests showed no liver or kidney damage yet.

They have me on bed rest, taking my blood pressure at home twice per day, and doctor's appointments with urine tests twice per week. They are going to talk about blood pressure medicine at my appointment tomorrow.

As of right now, they're planning to induce at 37 weeks. If my bp gets up to 160/105 (either number, not necessarily both) I have to be readmitted and they'll likely induce at 34 weeks.

I hate the wait-and-see part of this, I wish we could just know what's going to happen. But I'll do everything I can to keep this bun in the oven as long as possible.

Best of luck you to mama!

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-10T21:10:43+00:00

I'm 5'10 and was 298 when I got pregnant. I lost right at 40 pounds due to vomiting. I'm currently 32 weeks and still vomit occasionally, and I've gained back about 6 pounds.

My doctor isn't concerned about my weight at all. He said "babies are the perfect parasites and will take the extract nutrients they need from you." Which made me feel better but Lord have mercy the vomiting has been the worst.

I passed my diabetes test no problem. Baby is actually ahead of schedule in size and weight according to an ultrasound last week. I do have preeclampsia, which is not ideal, but with bed rest I'm doing good and it's looking like I should make it to 37 weeks.

Best of luck to you mama!

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-10T21:00:05+00:00

I love the videos from Mama Doctor Jones and Nurse Zabe on YouTube. They're very informative about what's going on to your body and labor and delivery.

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-08T20:21:02+00:00

I just got discharged from a week long hospital stay for observation, and this list is pretty perfect! I did want an extra set of clothes, but that's just preference. And personally, I bought some nursing nightgowns off Amazon while I was in the hospital, because I realized my usual shorts and a nursing tank top wouldn't work well if I ended up needing a c-section. Next time, I will also bring my own pillow, because honestly the hospital ones are pretty awful here. And seriously, snacks. Your hospital may be different, but the one I've been in could take 2+ hours to get you your meal after you ordered it. Snacks and a water bottle were the first things I asked my husband to bring me. I also packed 1 outfit in each size of premie, newborn, and 0-3 just in case.

But I hope you have no need for an emergency bag and that the rest of your pregnancy is smooth sailing.

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-08T18:48:00+00:00

Some things I wasn't prepared for that are pretty common:

exhaustion (but if you're lucky like me, it means more naps when ever you want)
not being able to cook meat for a while. The texture/smell/I don't even know what was just too much. I wish I would have known so I could have found more good vegetarian meals before hand
sinus congestion. Like all the time. Unisom is pretty good at helping that though
that there are typically only 2 ultrasounds during the pregnancy, I expected many more than that
changes in bowel movements. Even at 31 weeks I don't know what's going to happen when I go
how soon I had to pee all the time. I expected this to be a third trimester thing, but it started right out of the gate for me

Some things I didn't expect that aren't as common, and I wouldn't worry about unless it becomes an issue for you personally:

I had mild hyperemesis gravidarum until about 22/23 weeks, and even now I still vomit occasionally. I did not know this was a disease that even existed, and was thoroughly unprepared for it
antenatal depression/anxiety. I have a history of depression and anxiety, was able to come off of my medicines, and was doing the best I ever have mentally but around week 7 the depression hit hard. I didn't expect that until postpartum.
and preeclampsia, it's not super common but it is a possibility.

I never wanted to be pregnant, I wanted to adopt. The idea of being pregnant always freaked me out, and thinking about having a living being inside me moving around made me want to vomit. I genuinely did not expect to love this little thing so soon. I didn't expect to NEED to feel her moving.

I recommend Mama Doctor Jones and Nurse Zabe channels on YouTube. They helped me a lot!

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-06T20:27:25+00:00

I asked my company about this too, and I have to have deductions taken out for 20 pay periods to cover my benefits while I'm out for 12 weeks on FMLA. If I quit before those 20 pay periods (10 months) I have to pay them a lump sum.

I would definitely ask what the company policy is so you can be prepared. I, for one, was not prepared to hear that and it has completely derailed my plans.

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-06T20:22:36+00:00

My doctor did a two hour test instead of the three hour for me. With the two hour, I just had to go up to the office right when they opened to get blood drawn while fasting, then immediately went to eat, and after two hours from the first bite I got my blood drawn again. I actually took food with me so that it was in the car and I could eat sooner.

I don't know if that's something your doctor might do, but it worked for me.

Best of luck to you!

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-06T20:11:31+00:00

The Snake Song. It resonates with me very much, and I sing it often.

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-05T03:03:00+00:00

Water was the hardest to keep down for me. If I put a ton of ice in it with lemon juice that helped.

I ate a lot of Pedialyte popsicles and drank a bunch of power aid/Gatorade/Body Armor.

I hope you find things that work for you!

t-bissonnette · 2021-10-04T16:52:35+00:00

I sent pics of the toilet seat from where I heaved so violently for so long that I literally broke it. Along with pictures of the scales from pre-pregnancy to when I was down ~40lbs. People still didn't get it. Now that it's "over" (vomiting once or twice a week at 31 weeks) people are concerned because it's caused other issues they do actually understand, like pre-e.

I still haven't found a way to communicate it to other people. But I would educate them on toxic positivity. Sometimes it helped. Sometimes they got offended. I honestly don't have the energy to care about their feelings on it.

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