I have spent so much time writing about our fears and hopes and doctor’s visits and MORE FEARS and good news, etc, that I’ve spent very little time talking about my symptoms.
I’m sure you’ve noticed. And I’m sure this upsets you.
Okay, I realize you have not noticed.
But still, sharing is good. (it is! DON’T LEAVE.)
My name is Beth and I have a saliva problem. It’s like I’m at the dentist office and there is one of those water-rinsey-hosey things and it’s turned on…all of the time. One night, while Anna was sleeping, I leaned in to kiss her good night and dropped a huge pile of spit on her face. Please do not tell her.
EVER. (fortunately, she sleeps like she drank a pint of gin before bed, so nothing wakes her.)
At night, I wake up with spit covering an entire side of my face. Last night I woke up, to pee for the 3rd time in 90 minutes (more on that later) and actually became angry at all of the spit. First I wipe near my mouth and it still felt wet, I continued to wipe towards my ear and then all the way down my neck, I literally yelled out “what the hell?“ I was angry. It was gross.
In the middle of the night and sometimes in the middle of the day, I start choking on it.
I realize how attractive I’m making myself appear to all of you, but the glamor of pregnancy should always be shared.
My most frustrating symptom is my inability to pee. This is difficult to explain, so bear with me. When I lay down for bed at night, usually around 10:30, I have just gone pee, quite successfully. As soon as I lay down, I have to go again. I usually wait about 30 minutes and I go again. I fall asleep, wake up an hour later…pee again. I wake up 30 minutes later…pee again.
(don’t worry, I was just tested for an infection yesterday)
Although ALL OF THAT PEEING is frustrating, the real frustration comes hours later. Around midnight, I fall into a nice, deep, restful sleep, dreaming about french fries and caterpillars. (oh, like you never dream about french fries.) This morning, to be specific, I woke up at 5:17 and had to pee. BAD.
I get up, sit on the toilet and nothing will come out. It literally just sits there in my bladder, stubbornly refusing to make it’s descent into the damn toilet. It’s so frustrating, I have literally cried. It’s so frustrating that I actually WANT a catheter.
This condition should not alarm you, it doesn’t alarm me or my OBs, it just happens. It happened when I was pregnant with the twins. What can I do to prevent this from happening? Pee more frequently between the hours of 2-5, like set my alarm clock, was the advice I was given. Which sounds like fun but UM…NO.
(OHMYGOD THIS POST WON’T END.)
So, I sit down this morning to pee and it won’t come out. I lean back, forward, side to side, I push, I squeeze, I touch my toes and at one point, I can feel it start to descend, I can actually feel it traveling down “there.”
It hits the water with a momentary “plop” and that’s it. All that work for a drop of pee.
I lay back down AT 5:28, frustrated, cursing and have to pee so bad I can’t see straight. I get up, try again and finally after 292 attempts, it comes out, in a trickle.
But I’m not going to lie to you. Pregnancy is still awesome.
(unless there are onions nearby, then it’s not really awesome at all.)
oh, a pregnancy post could be soooooo much worse. especially in the, um, ‘potty word’ arena
thanks for keepin’ it real!
The joys of Motherhood- hang in there……..Enjoying your blog, I followed you from Twitter!
I had the same peeing issue, although not quite as severe as yours. But I can understand your frustration! Hope it gets better for you girl!
The joys of Motherhood- Things will get better, right? Enjoying your blog.
So I’m new here. And read all the down fearing for your condition, only to discover you’re pregnant. Whew! I feel better for you now. And yes, I feel your pain. The pregnancy pee-ing thing was so very annoying. I had to plan my days (and nights) around it.
I totally remember the rocking and swaying in the bathroom pee issues. It was hard for me not to laugh in the moment but I didn’t want to be the woman at work….laughing in a bathroom stall…I would imagine the coworkers would have thought I was crazy!
I’m 31 weeks. Last night I wished for a catheter. Before I settled in to bed I was on the potty every 5 minutes for a trickle. it was awesome.
Awww Ptyalism. You are not alone:) read here: http://edensbouquet.com/blog/?p=1076
Hilarious. But only because it’s not happening to me.
I had the spit thing when I was pregnant the second time. And I was in a church choir. And every time I opened my mouth to sing I was pretty sure I was going to drool all over myself. Fun.
Well that sucks. Good thing pregnancy is worth the reward. I didn’t even know that could happen and am now greatful it didn’t happen to me.
The peeing thing did for me, though, but not as severely. I remember one night I just laid my head on the counter beside the toilet and fell asleep there waiting.
The joys of pregnancy.
Omygosh I had totally forgotten about the spit thing until this post. ACK! UGH!!! Misery.
They joys of having children. Our bodies go through so much.
I’m glad I’m not the only person with the excess spit and inability to pee like a normal person. Now of course, baby is big enough I can kind of lift up my belly and that helps.. but damn the first couple of months sucked.
Oh, the pee! I felt like it was being held hostage by the baby sometimes. It WAS truly anger inducing. I feel your pain, sister! Hang in there!
I didn’t have spit, but for some reason I got BO for the first time during pregnancy. That was SEXY.
oh my that is hilarious(not for you though)but the descriptions is awesome!
I am learning so much useful and entertaining tips from you pregnant ladies…thanks for sharing!
I did not laugh at you, I did not laugh, nope not me. Except when I was cracking up.
I have MUCH sympathy for you and I hope it gets better but this post was hilarious. I laughed right out loud (who cares who hears me??) at the OHMYGOD THIS POST WON’T END……. and maybe a few other parts. I had the spit thing, but not that bad, and I didn’t have the pee thing I had the “every second there is a DROP in there I have to go so bad and once I go I am great until there is ONE MORE DROP then I have to go so bad again” thing. It’s fun too. 
Thanks for sharing ALL the fun stuff that comes with pregnancy!
Not to play doctor or anything but this might help. If you don’t like it, throw it out.
I would drink more water. I know that sounds contradictory, but if you have more water in you then you’ll actually have to go. But, don’t drink a ton at night for obvious reasons. I actually drank a gallon of water a day while pregnant. It’s really good for you and baby.
One reason you’re probably feeling you have to go is from the weight of the baby {like you didn’t know}. When I felt that I would get on hands and knees and do pelvic tilts. This moves the baby forward and just repositions him/her so that he/she is not RIGHT THERE ON YOUR BLADDER.
Anyway, I’m not playing “knowitall” just thought I’d share what helped me.
I’m right there with you on the spit thing. I’d love to blame it on pregnancy but alas, I’m spitty all the time. The pee thing has to be frustrating. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve just been introduced to a new pregnancy symptom this week that’s equally awesome. The roids. Yeah, it’s all glamour all the time around here.
i had the exact same problem with the peeing thing when i was pregnant. this is going to sound ridiculous but the only thing that seemed to help me was drinking MORE liquids. it seemed like the more liquids i pumped into myself, the easier it made the actual getting the pee in out of my bladder.
Oh, friends, there is no way I could drink more water. I honestly drink close to 100 oz a day, not including about 18 oz of milk. It’s when my bladder gets too full that it moves itself into an awkward place and it’s not able to let myself release the pee. I just need to not let it get so full. (easier said then done.)
i love you, beth.
and seriously, if you could’ve seen me read that post….cracking up. bianca is on my hip, so SHE is cracking up because i am. and ellie is mad at me, “WHY YOU LAUGHING, MAMA?!?!!!!”
It’s funny how we endure all sorts of weird symptoms for little bundles of joy
But it’s always so worth it!
Funny. (Well maybe not to you.)
Ever since my last pregnancy, for some reason I have to do that pee, try to go to sleep, get up to pee again thing every night. Sometimes returning again after that. I know it must be psychological…like the experience of pregnancy is so ingrained in my head, that I just feel the need.
Wow… thanks for the honest post about the interesting realities of hatching a baby. Don’t know your local population size, or neighborhood availability, yet I wonder if you can find an acupuncturist? They have helped me with a condition no ‘western’ doctor had a clue about. They are all about balance in the body, even while pregnant.
Blessings of peace always ~
Where do you get these strange pregnancy symptoms? Not from me, you know. I drooled some, but I’m so glad I escaped that pee (or not to pee) symptom. And I’m so glad for you that it’s temporary.
Maybe drink more water at nite (a small half cup each time you go to the bathroom) and less water during the day.
Drink more water during the day and less water in the late afternoon (few hours before bed).
Good luck!
oh … the pregnancy pee issues. argh. i have the same lay down and must pee again issue. and since we’re sharing … i do … and my husband keeps saying … holy … didn’t you just pee … how can you possibly pee that much again. i’m a horse i tell ya.
and no … i don’t ever dream about french fries … it’s the one food that absolutely makes me want to hurl. besides spaghetti.
ok … enough about that … it’s making me sick. now chocolate, ice cream and olive juice. yum. drooling just thinking about it.
I hate to laugh at you…so I’m laughing *with* you. Yeah, that’s it, with you.
Gosh Beth, you are hysterical. I know it’s torture, I hope it improves soon. I didn’t have the pee issues, but the spit…oh golly, I changed my pillowcase every other day. It was insane.
Love you.
It feels so good to laugh! I totally agree the the real “wonders” of pregnancy need to be shared, particularly with ladies that can relate. I never trust the women that say being pregnant was like roses or bunnies or some other crap like that. I am thankful for everyone of my pregnancies and all of my babies, but I could of done without the insane pregnancy gas (belching and the other kind) and the inability to poop for weeks on end. Thanks for keepin’ it real!
Oh, GREAT.
The joys of pregnancy!
Seriously though, I found it most frustrating when I couldn’t poop! The primeval grunting that would issue forth from me was definitely not lady like!
I remember the pee problems of pregnancy. As the result of having 9 1/2 lb. babies, I still have some, uh, issues.
This is CRAZY!!! You poor thing! Hang in there!
So glad I’m not the only one who COULD. NOT. pee in the middle of the night. Drove me nuts…would sit on the toilet for like 10 minutes just trying to pee when I had to go SO. BADLY! Best wishes!
I am now re-living how I slobbered like a Saint Bernard for nine months… I threatened to carry around one of those awesome spit cups like the gentlefolk who chew tobacco.
Wishing you easy peasy.
Well, I didn’t have the peeing issue….but I certainly had the drool issue. EVERYWHERE!! I would have to change my pillow cases every morning. Gross, gross, gross!
~ Jennifer
http://thetoyboxyears.blogspot.com
Ugh I am so with you. Literally right now. Waiting to go to bed. Some parts of pregnancy are not glam that’s for sure. But thhen, the baby did not move all day and because I too have experienced loss, I panicked. And then, while trying to pee – she got pissed off and kicked me. Hallelujah!
May the pee pee come easier tonight and each night hereafter!
That is so funny – I’ve never had either of those symptoms! But I snore like a sailor – oh, my word – my hubby recorded it on his Blackberry & plays it for me just to make fun of me – it is insane!!! Also, I do go to the bathroom CONSTANTLY through the night – at LEAST every 2 hours, if not every hour and a half. And sometimes it’s like I just get down the hall & have to go back to the bathroom again!
Oh dear….
I COMPLETELY understand the saliva thing (although yours sounds worse!) I drooled SO much in my sleep during pregnancy. As far as the pee thing, I’m sorry I don’t have any advice…sounds awful. I’m sure it will get straightened out soon and that it’s only temporary, but still…love ya!
I have heard of the spit thing before, but not the pee thing. Oh the things we are willing to go through for those little bundles that arrive after none months of torture
You know about my spit issues already, but when I was pregnant with Luke, I had the pee issues, too. I once fell asleep ON THE TOILET because I was up trying to pee so many times a night. Tommy, however, was the nicest baby ever because he gave me no pee issues. The spit, however…
Oh, you are so ridiculously cute, I could punch you!
Um, let’s see. Perhaps eating/drinking more cranberries? Could be a bladder issues (cranberries are naturally good for that). Also, perhaps you’re intaking too much salt and retaining water, so instead of peeing, it stays? Just a few guesses.
Regardless, you are the cutest thing ever. The end. <3
Okay, it’s been a few years (read: thirteen) since I was pregnant, but I do remember the potty issues. The only thing that helped me was to go standing up.
Yeah. We’re not built for it. Think shower. It seemed to help with the bladder cramp problem. Well, that and trying to make a point of going once every couple of hours.
Hang in there, it’s all worth it in the end!
And congratulations!
I had the pee issue when I was pregnant with Boo. It is awful, and there is nothing you can do. I hated that part of it.
Now the spit problem…so on your own with that one! lol
somebody told me this when I was pregnant and it helped. If you run your fingers across your lower back, it somehow stimulates things and makes you pee. Seriously. It works. I used to pretend I was tickling my kidneys somehow. I know it sounds crazy, but if it helps…
)
Hi Beth, I came to check out the db problem… and 4 or 5 posts later I’m still READING! Dang, you’re good girl! And I love the story of the drool. Lol serves ya right for being so happy (I hate pregnancy!).
Hugs!
I’ll email you later about the db thing….
Cathy
long time lurker here, thought i would chime in, i had the same issue for a little while with the pee and i started (i know this is going to sound crazy) putting a few drops of pepermint essential oils in the toilet before i sat down and smelling the bottle of peppermint while sitting there trying to pee.
something in peppermint allows the bladder to relax, my midwife suggested it and i thought she was nuts but was so desperate i tried it anyway.
it works! really well!
anyway, good luck, from a mom due in april.
danielle
I have been reading your posts for a while & decided to respond to this one. Maybe because you of your “saliva issue” you are losing most of your water through your mouth during the night on your pillow (and your daughter) so you don’t have much to get out in the morning! Just a thought…
I love reading your posts.
Long time “lurker” as well but wanted to comment on this post. Maybe because of your “saliva issue” you are losing most of your water while drooling in the night on your pillow (or your daughter) and in the morning, there isn’t much to pee out. Just a thought…