Pregnancy in the Digital Age

Photo from pregtastic.com.

My Pyramid - Track What You Eat!

I recommend this to anyone who is pregnant or nursing, or really to anyone who is interested in tracking what they eat each day. As much as I care about what I eat I never take the time to write it down or count calories, as I find it tedious and rather annoying. I stumbled upon this website, though, as I was looking up things about breastfeeding, and I'm finding that it's actually pretty fun. I found it through this site, pregtastic.com, which is super awesome!

MyPyramid.gov has a special section designed just for women who are pregnant or nursing. It's super easy to start your own meal planner and it puts your results into a cute little graph. I really like that you can just type in what you ate into the search bar and a list of options show up. So pretty much whatever you eat you will be able to find on there.

I have only perused the website for a few minutes now so my opinion might change, but I think I'm going to try jotting down what I eat for a little while, a few days or so at least, and see if there is anything I am totally lacking in my diet that I should add.

Have fun eating!

Thank You!

I have heard from many family members and friends that they have been reading my blog and that they enjoy it. I don't get many comments on the blog itself and I do not have many followers so I was unsure if anyone was really reading it, but since I love writing on it I just continue doing it.

But thank you everyone for reading my blog! Blogging is such a fun way to communicate and share with others! I would love to read yours, too!

Week 22

This week baby is between seven and ten inches long and she weighs about one pound! I still cannot feel her move all that much, but I think I'm starting to feel her more. Maybe I'm just accustomed to feeling strange feelings inside of me that I'm not noticing this little baby. Hmmm. Everyone keeps saying that I'll start feeling her more as she gets bigger.

We got a second ultrasound yesterday because with the last one they did not get a good enough picture of her heart or of her spine. This time they got all the pictures they needed and the woman kept using the word "perfect" to describe our baby. That made us feel very good! We were showed the list of all the things they look for and everything was labeled "normal". Momma and baby are healthy girls!

She was being super cute! When we first saw the view of her profile she had her hand in front of her face as if she was inspecting her hand.

At one point she lifted her foot by her face and opened her mouth to nibble on her toes. That was pretty awesome. She also crossed her feet at her ankles; she was lying down just like I was. The woman doing the ultrasound told us that she has very long fingers and toes, and that was one of the first things that my family said about me when I was born. Maybe she'll be long like me. We'll see!

The next two pictures are of the same angle, but one is straight on and the other is from the side with the 3-dimensional view.

This one looks kind of creepy, but we know she's cute. I can't believe she's already so grown when I don't feel very different. This whole process is very odd to me.

I love this one. The woman kept trying to get a good 3D photo and this is the best she could get. She said the best 3D pictures they get when the woman is 32 weeks pregnant. But there's her little face!

Here's the growing belly in maternity jeans! I was oh-so excited to find jeans that fit me. I was skeptical to get the kind with the big belly flap like these, but I got them since they fit and it turns out they are super comfy. There is also a lot of room to grow into that big flap! I like that there is no real zipper so I can't ever forget to button my fly!

I have never had a belly this big; it is very strange.

Here we grow!

And last but not least for this post -- baby has a drawer full of stuff now! She got so much for Christmas this year, as I figured she would. We still have not started our room for her but this dresser will end up being hers. I cleared out a drawer for her and I didn't realize we had enough stuff already to fill it! This makes me very excited. :) She has a lot of cute "daddy" and "auntie" clothes so far.

Holidays, Kids, and Baby Bellies, Oh My!

This is our first Christmas tree ornament as a married couple. Thanks Mama Cheri!

We mailed out holiday cards this year for the first time, and I am so glad to have started this annual tradition. This is the picture we put on our cards. I apologize if I did not send a card to everyone; there are still some addresses I need to add to my address book!
Christmas was so great this year and it was awesome that Yohan was here to celebrate with us! Christmas Eve day I baked sugar cookies and make chocolate pie as we waited for Chad to get home. We had Christmas Eve at my aunt Cheryl's new house. The kids had a blast frosting and decorating the sugar cookies I made and we did a white elephant gift exchange this year for the first time; it was so much fun and I think we should do it every year! I forgot my camera so there are no photos from Christmas Eve (although many were taken by others).

Christmas morning we woke up nice and early and opened our gifts at our house before we went to my mom and dad's house. Chad didn't appreciate being woken up early.
As we walked into my parents' house it smelled like delicious breakfast and sounded like kids playing harmonicas. The kids each got one and boy did they like them. Our nephews and niece rock!

Karlie and Hayden made a nice little duo.There were TONS of presents to open! This photo doesn't come close to capturing the massive amount of gifts this year. It was crazy. We all had fun opening gifts.

The kidlets had fun playing with the paper and boxes.And picking their noses.

Tiffany and I managed to get a picture of our week 21 baby bumps. Now that we're growing so rapidly it will be fun to compare bellies along the way! Everyone is excited for two more girls.

Then it was off to the Ashbaugh household! Stefani got Wii Fit so we all had fun hula hooping for one another.

Chad's hula hooping is classic, but dummy me made the mistake of recording with the camera on its side and now I can't rotate it.

It was nice to see the other Ashbaughs who stayed awhile and played games. Charlie liked her new toys, especially Barbie.
She was our entertainment once we turned off the Wii.

It was an amazing Christmas this year! Happy Holidays to all!

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Last week as my students were silently reading one of my girls called me over to her and whispered in my ear, "Are you pregnant?" I whispered back "yes" and nodded as I smiled and walked away. I heard her say under her breath, "I knew it!"

Later that day another student of mine asked me if I'm pregnant and I told her that yes I am and that Kati (pseudonym) asked me the same thing earlier. She said, "well, I was the one who told Kati! And plus, you know how I know? Because when you first came here you had a flat stomach and now you have a little bump!" Then as the lesson went on she kept asking, "Can I please tell everyone the good news?" So I let her tell the others; the other girl in the group was super excited and cheery and the boys just sat there. Haha. Boys will be boys.

Today the same student rubbed my belly before I left (for the last time... very sad day).

The other intern, Joe, received a card from a very creative and silly boy that in a part, read, "you are the coolest college, university man ever!" Hahaha. I so miss kindergarten because of the all the funny things kids say... but now I realize that kids still say the darndest things even in fifth grade. So cute.

Milestone: Finding out Baby is a Girl

The original plan was to find out the sex of baby around week 20. Then after talking with people who had not found out whether their baby was a boy or a girl it seemed too amazing to wait until birth to find out. I tried convincing Chad that we shouldn't find out but he really wanted to and everyone else (and I mean everyone!) wanted to know, so it was too hard to convince him to change his mind.

So I came up with a plan. At first I was thinking that he could find out and that I wouldn't. I have heard that this has actually worked before, where the woman never found out the whole pregnancy. I knew that with my family and friends knowing I would find out somehow and I DID NOT want to find out from someone other than Chad. So I told Chad that it was his job to find out if baby was a boy or a girl and it was his job to tell me in a special way. I gave him some suggestions but left it up to him.

On Monday after the ultrasound and the regular checkup Chad was texting and calling people like crazy... and NO ONE called me. I thought that was strange. After sitting in crazy wet traffic on the freeway for forever we made it to Karlie's last basketball game. Afterward we all said our goodbyes and Chad insisted we go to his parents' house because he "had to pick up some stupid thing for work". I didn't want to go over there because I was sleepy and had had a weird, rough, sad day. But we went.

We drove up and there were a lot of cars in the driveway and around the cul-de-sac. I looked at Chad and he grinned. We opened the door and lots and lots of family and friends were there. I figured everyone already knew the sex of baby but upon closer inspection at the decorations, they were pink AND blue... so still no one knew but Chad.

Once everyone was there and had said their hellos Chad ran upstairs with two balloons, an "It's a Boy!" and an "It's a Girl!" balloon.

We waited in anticipation to see which balloon would go flying in the air... and...

"It's a Girl!" was released!! I was holding my youngest nephew Ben in my arms (all I wanted all day was just to hold a baby and relax) and I leaned into him and started bawling. I had strong feelings baby was a girl because I knew that there was no possible way that daddy, grandpa, great-grandpa, and our Jamaican brother could predict a girl and she wouldn't be a girl.

So there you have it... WE'RE HAVING A BABY GIRL!

Happy parents-to-be.

Happy auntie.

Happy grandparents.

20 Weeks

20 weeks pregnant... and what an eventful week it has been!
Here's the 20-week belly:

And here's what Baby Corner shows baby looking like inside me:

On Monday we had our very first ultrasound and let me just say... what an amazing technology we have to be able to see our babies inside of us before they are born. It was an absolutely incredible experience to see baby moving around. It seems so strange though that I can barely feel a thing. I'm told that I'll start to feel her a lot! Here are the four pictures we were sent home with:
I wish we would have gotten a video of the ultrasound because no still image can capture the magic of what goes on inside of pregnant bellies. The two pictures on the bottom I like the best. Those are babies little feet; she was curled up, knees to nose, and her feet were together like that; so cute. And the picture on the bottom right looks like Homer Simpson eating a hot dog... gotta love it!

The 19 Week Post Pass Out Bump

Last Friday was a CRAZY day! To make a long story short, I fainted. I was in a new environment, trying to be professional, hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep the night before (or the entire week before), was wearing too tight of clothing, am low on iron... and I passed out. It was a very strange feeling that I will try my best to never let happen again.

We went to the ER and everything looks good. My blood is good, heart is good, and baby's heart rate is beating like it should be. Now so many people are telling me that they passed out once or twice when they were pregnant and that there were many times when they nearly passed out. Apparently this is more common that I thought!

So now I have learned... if my world starts to feel strange and everything turns white, I need to sit down. Or better yet, I'll lie down! No more bumping my head on filing cabinets for me!

Milk Making Cookies?!

Milk Making Cookie Recipe: Enjoy Your Own Homemade Lactation Cookies

Now that I'm about to the halfway point in my pregnancy I'm thinking a lot more about the post-pregnancy part; the part when the baby's here! I am a firm believer in breastfeeding and I stumbled upon this article a couple months ago. It's too silly and wonderful not to share.

Can cookies really help increase your supply of breastmilk? Although scientists can’t prove it, most mothers find that oatmeal, flaxseed and brewers yeast help increase their production of breastmilk. Since these key milk making ingredients are all in this lactation cookie recipe, (plus chocolate) there’s a good chance they’ll work for you! (Fenugreek is an herb that is proven to be effective as well.)

There are two companies selling these little milk making cookies for a small fortune, but you can make them using the homemade lactation cookie recipe with the same success. I did tweak a few of the ingredients to make them only slightly healthier, but they still have more than enough fat and sugar to make you want to wolf them down by the dozen.

Homemade Milk Making Cookie Recipe

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup cooking oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry four
• 1 cup white flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 2 -4 tablespoons brewer’s yeast

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes.

3. Beat butter, oil, sugar, and brown sugar well.

4. Add eggs and mix well.

5. Add flaxseed mix and vanilla, beat well.

6. Sift together flour, brewers yeast, baking soda, and salt.

7. Add dry ingredients to butter mix.

8. Stir in oats and chips.

9. Scoop onto baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes.

Article and recipe from Green Baby Guide.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea -
Can this herb ease childbirth?
by Stacelynn Caughlan

First recorded in the 1500s, red raspberry leaf tea (Rubus ideas) has been used for centuries in Europe, China, and both North and South America. This popular tea has earned the reputation of "herb-supreme" amongst pregnant women. According to folklore it can relieve almost any discomfort of pregnancy from morning sickness to leg cramps. And there may be good reason for its reputation.

Red raspberry leaf tea is very high in an assortment of nutrients including calcium, iron, and B vitamins, all of which are very important during pregnancy. The herb also contains a variety of chemicals -most of which have yet to be identified- that produce a direct effect on the pregnant uterus. They have been shown to strengthen the uterine wall, relax smooth muscle, and help to make delivery easier and speedier by helping the uterus contract more efficiently.

Historically women have taken raspberry leaf tea throughout their pregnancies up to and including childbirth. Many mothers extol this herb's ability to make childbirth easier and less painful. In a letter to the editor of the medical journal The Lancet, Dr. Violet Russel wrote "somewhat shamefacedly I have encouraged expectant mothers to drink this infusion. In a great many cases labour has been free and easy from muscular spasm."

Some women also drink the tea throughout their labour, or suck on frozen cubes made beforehand. It reportedly helps expel the placenta, and its nutritional value is thought to be responsible for encouraging and enriching the mother's breastmilk. Many women continue to drink the tea long after childbirth as it is thought to help restore the reproductive system and continue to help nourish the new mother.

Studies have not yet been done to give us statistical data on the use of raspberry leaf tea, but as more women and health professionals discover its potential, its popularity will surely continue to grow. This is one herb that all pregnant women should have in their cupboards!

NOTE: Some medical and popular media make reference to raspberry leaf tea as something to avoid during pregnancy for risk of miscarriage. This notion stems from a study conducted in 1954 where fractions were isolated from Rubus sp. and applied in vitro to the uterine tissues of guinea pigs and frogs. The scientists discovered such things as one fraction acted as a spasmolytic whereas another caused uterine contractions. Herein lies the risk of isolating the parts of a whole. When used as a whole plant, neither action is exacerbated and the herb is deemed safe. If a mother is prone to miscarriages she may feel safer avoiding raspberry until the third trimester. This is an herb with centuries of safe use behind it, there is usually little cause for concern.

References:
C.J. Briggs and K. Briggs, Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal, April 1997
Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women, Fireside, 1993
Richard Mabey, The New Age Herbalist, Gaia Books, 1988
Susun S. Weed, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, Ash tree Publishing, 1986
Joy Gardner, Healing Yourself During Pregnancy, The Crossing Press, 1987

Stacelynn Caughlan is a Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Herbalist who specializes in Prenatal and Pediatric Health.

Photo from OH Baby!

Measure Your Life in Love

This has been one of the most rigorous, challenging quarters in my six years of college (pregnancy aside; that's the great part). I am surviving just fine but it seems that all too often I find myself stuck in a rut, trying with my all to convince myself to just be happy. It's the schedule, the commute, the work, the school, the everything combined. Nothing is necessarily going horribly, but maybe it's the lack of being at home and the long hours of sitting on public transportation that drains me. I'm drained. I feel rather empty. And I must find that something positive to fill myself back up again. I'm too positive a person for this; I can't let the little things get in my way.

So after an afternoon that involved tears and much thought about, well, many things, there have been some little things that have come along to brighten me up.

Upon arriving home from work I decided I needed something yummy for dinner so I headed to the store. I perused through some books as I passed the book section and I picked up a book titled something along the lines of Positive Quotes for Girls. I opened it up and I read a quote that went like this: "Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them" -Ann Landers. This made me think of my hard work a little differently; I have so much opportunity in my life that is sometimes completely disguised and unrecognizable. I have been working my ass off and what is it all for? It's for my beautiful, positive future is what it is for! Maybe I'm hidden from it now, but I am gaining so much opportunity in this, and it's all going to show sooner rather than later.

Then I got in my car to head back home, soup in hand. To my surprise the song to come on the radio was Seasons of Love from the absolutely beautiful musical, Rent. As I listened to the lyrics I couldn't help but smile. How do you measure your life? I pondered. What it all comes down to, I quickly realized, is that the only appropriate way to measure your life is in love. Although I cannot afford to splurge by treating myself to Hair this week at the Paramount, I always have the movie, both of that and Rent to indulge in when I need a little pick-me-up. So what am I doing now as I eat my soup and write this blog... watching Rent of course! It's helping...

As I sat down to write this blog I decided to check my Facebook, although there's usually nothing too exciting on there. My lovely friend with whom I worked last year updated me about some of my students from last year. She told me that one student is like a different child and that another is also doing well. "They're growing up and becoming what we hoped they'd be. You'd be so proud." I don't think I could have heard anything more perfect than that.

And then it just got even better. One of my lifelong friends, Whitney, just texted me "I bought your baby a Christmas present... I couldn't resist!"

I can miss past pieces of my life but I cannot live them all right now in this moment. What I can do during my now is live and be happy while keeping close the people whom I adore.

I can't control my destiny.
I trust my soul. My only hope is just to be.
There's only now. There's only here.
Give in to love or live in fear.
No other path. No other way.
No day but today.
Thank God this moment's not the last.
-Rent

Ms. Derry is truly amazing. Her optimism is contagious.

Such a Fun Workout!

I was at the library the other day (what better way to spend a freezing cold, snowy day) and I decided to look up pregnancy stuff just to see what I could find. I stumbled upon this workout and I recognized Erin O'Brien from some pilates workouts I have done with Ellen (from the previous exercise video mentioned). She's so chipper and fun in this workout, and she makes working out while pregnant look so comfortable and lovely, as it should be!

What I really like about this exercise program is the focus on the bum and the pelvic region. There is quite a bit is squatting throughout the video and as Erin says, this helps a lot to prepare for childbirth as it opens up the pelvic area and it prepares the muscles in the thighs and buttocks for what is to come (yes, that would be childbirth). I have always dreamed of having a butt, a nicely toned, sexy butt, that is, and this workout really helps do the trick! (I can tell because I've been nice and sore the past few days as my body adjusts to using those not-so-worked out glutes.) Enjoy me lady friends, and indulge in the wonders of prenatal exercise!

Week 18

What an exciting week!
I feel like there are so many wonderful things going on!

The baby is now between 5 and 6 inches long and between 5 and 6 ounces.
babycorner.com

Baby's now the size of a sweet potato!

Baby's becoming amazingly mobile, passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements (thebump.com)

The 18-week bump in uncomfy clothes.

Home sweet home! The 18-week bump in comfy pajamas!

Pregnancy Power Foods

These healthy choices have the nutrients that you and your growing baby need.
Full article found here.

Broccoli
It's not only packed with nutrients that are necessary for a healthy pregnancy -- such as calcium and folate -- but broccoli is also rich in fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants. And since it contains plenty of vitamin C, this popular green vegetable will help your body absorb iron when it's eaten with an iron-rich food, such as whole wheat pasta or brown rice.

Fortified Breakfast Cereal
You knew folate was important before conception and during your first few weeks of pregnancy, but your needs for the B vitamin stay high the whole nine months. Experts advise getting 400 micrograms per day through vitamin supplements or fortified foods (breakfast cereal is an easy way to do it, since many brands contain 400 micrograms per bowl), and another 200 micrograms through foods that are naturally high in folate, such as asparagus and black-eyed peas.

Dried Beans & Lentils
All women need 10 extra grams of protein a day during pregnancy (for a total of at least 60 grams); beans and lentils are an excellent source, with about 15 grams per cup. They're also high in fiber, which helps to combat constipation. And 1 cup of cooked lentils meets half of your daily folate requirement. "Add them to rice dishes and salads," suggests Lola O'Rourke, RD, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Bananas
Bananas are rich in potassium and offer quick energy to fight off pregnancy fatigue. "They're also easy on your stomach if you're nauseated," says O'Rourke. Slice them up into cereal or whip one into a breakfast smoothie with yogurt, berries, ice, and a splash of orange juice.

Oatmeal
It's easy to get your day off to an energizing start by trading in your usual morning bagel or muffin for a bowl of oatmeal a few times a week. Why? Complex carbohydrates like oatmeal keep you satisfied longer, and the oat bran it contains can help lower your cholesterol levels. Instead of buying high-sugar flavored oatmeal, cook up the plain kind and swirl in a teaspoon or two of maple syrup or jelly.

Leafy Greens
Cooked spinach has high levels of folate and iron, and kale and turnip greens are both good calcium sources. Increase the nutrient value of your salads by passing up traditional iceberg in favor of darker-colored lettuces (the deep colors signal higher vitamin content). You can also add greens to a sandwich or stir them into soups and pasta dishes.

Whole-Grain Bread
By swapping your traditional white bread for a whole-grain variety, you can make sure you're consuming the recommended 20 to 35 daily grams of fiber (scan labels to find a loaf that offers at least 2 grams of fiber per slice). Whole-grain bread also supplies you with a good share of your iron and zinc.

Oranges
They're packed with vitamin C, folate, and fiber, and since they're nearly 90 percent water, they'll also help you meet your daily fluid needs (skimping on your fluid intake can leave you feeling fatigued).

Nuts & Nut Butters
Fat is critical for your baby's brain development and it also helps keep you fuller longer. Experts recommend replacing some saturated fats (such as those found in meat and butter) with unsaturated, a form of heart-healthy fat found in nuts. But because they are high in fat and calories, stick to 1-ounce servings of nuts and 2-tablespoon servings of nut butters. There is one caveat, however. If you have any sort of allergy, experts recommend that you avoid highly allergenic foods, such as peanuts, during your pregnancy; some data suggests that babies can be sensitized to certain foods in utero, raising their risk of food allergies later on in childhood.

Soy Foods
It's perfectly safe to follow your vegetarian eating plan while you're pregnant -- as long as you're diligent about getting necessary nutrients such as protein (your doctor or a dietitian can help you devise a healthy plan). So be sure to include foods like tofu, which packs 10 grams of protein per half cup.

Dried Fruit
It's a tasty, portable snack that's especially helpful when you're craving something sweet. Choose dried fruits such as apricots, cherries, and cranberries (which can also help to prevent urinary tract infections), but stay away from dried bananas, since they're processed in oil and loaded with fat.

*I removed nonfat milk, lean meat, cheese and eggs from this list, as I believe from my research that these aforementioned foods, combined with a well-balanced diet, can provide all the necessary nutrients every pregnant woman needs. I will provide more data on this stance in a later post.

Turmeric

Photo found here.

Last night at our family Thanksgiving dinner my aunt told me that turmeric is bad to consume while pregnant. I don't quite remember her reasons behind this, but I was thinking that it's an herb that I rarely consume anyway, so I had nothing to worry about. I decided to look it up anyway, and I mostly stumbled upon GOOD information about turmeric!

I found a website titled "Turmeric: The Golden Goddess", and it tells how turmeric is good for basically everything. Turmeric has helped to fight cancer, it's a powerful anti-inflammatory herb, it has a special action to purify and nourish the blood and skin, it protects the liver from toxins and pathogens, it helps the entire gastro-intestinal system by helping digestion, it helps the respiratory system, it has believed effects in treating and preventing neurological diseases, and new research suggests that turmeric may play a vital role in fighting HIV/AIDS. Wowza! And what else is turmeric good for... pregnancy!

"Turmeric also plays a role in pregnancy and birthing in India. Traditionally, it is said that taking turmeric when pregnant will ensure that the child will always have beautiful skin. (However, turmeric is a mild uterine stimulant, so there is a chance of over stimulation; it is essential to consult a healthcare practitioner before taking any herbs during pregnancy.) Turmeric taken in the last two weeks of pregnancy in warm, organic milk helps to expedite a simple birth, while increasing the health of the mother and child as well. Turmeric is also an analgesic (pain reliever) and is sometimes used in natural childbirth to decrease pain" (all previous information on turmeric taken from ayurvedacollege.com).

I also found some places on the web that say to use extreme caution with turmeric while pregnant. Basically, don't take TOO MUCH! Shall we stress it again my dear preggos...

everything in moderation!

My Favorite Workout

Awhile ago I posted about the prenatal yoga DVD that I enjoyed... but now when I try to do that video it's too slow and rather boring. Right in the beginnings of when I knew I was pregnant, weeks 7-9ish, I was SO very tired and every muscle in my body was difficult to move, so at that time I loved the Yoga Mama workout! This workout video was actually too hard for me to do; every time I attempted to do it I would end up falling asleep on my floor. Now, however, since I have much more energy and am loving to put my muscles to work, I LOVE this video. Ellen Barrett has so many great workout videos and I absolutely adore her.

This workout is a pilates-yoga fusion that incorporates great breathing that flows with each movement. What I really like about this workout is that it is very flowy, yet I never find myself break a sweat or feel short of breath. I have never done a workout that targets my obliques so much, and lately since I am watching as my body protrudes from the sides of my pants I really appreciate the repetition of triangle pose! I notice obliques, abs, and glutes being a main focal point in this workout, although the arms are in constant motion and are definitely being worked! There's a portion in the video where you're supposed to go down onto your belly and this part I either skip through or do my own stretches at that time. It doesn't necessarily feel uncomfortable to be on my belly, but I just feel better about not putting so much pressure there.

Try out this workout! It really is great, and I do mine through Netflix Watch Instantly, which is a freebie through my Playstation since we pay for DVDs monthly. You'll love it!!

Week 16 - Prenatal Appointment Two

I just got back from my second appointment. Well, I guess I didn't really get "back" because that usually means home, and I am on campus, which honestly feels a lot like home. Tonight Chad's band is playing their biggest show yet and it's in SODO, so I decided that until I need to head down there I was just going to walk to campus and hop on a computer to pass time.

About the appointment; nothing really happened. I was weighed and I have officially gained 1.3 kilograms (which is a little over 2.5 pounds). My lovely midwife asked how things are going and my response was that they are generally good. I feel great other than that I cry about everything. Literally. This week I have been averaging once a day. Why does everything matter SO much?! She told me she thinks that's sweet. But anyway, she checked the size and location of my uterus and it's all good and normal, and I heard baby's heartbeat again. :)

That was basically it. I scheduled my 20-week appointment (the ultrasound!!!!) and then I had to go get some blood drawn. The lady at the blood place was a complete bitch. I asked her what she was drawing my blood for and she laughed at me, providing me with no further explanation. (We decided against tests of any kind but this was just for finding out my blood type and if I'm prone to infection, and whatnot.) She stuck the needle in my arm, took all of my blood, and then kicked me out. The whole time she was removing all my precious blood I could feel my heart beating in every part of my body. I got really warm and felt like I might faint. Then when she kicked me out I had to be on my way. Good thing I didn't pass out otherwise I'd have said some nasty words to that crazy blood woman! Now my arm hurts and I have a huge purple lump on the inside of my elbow. Grrr.

So there you have it. Baby's healthy and I'm healthy! And now I'm showing to the point where it's getting difficult to hide. Grow, baby, grow!

The Old Wives' Tales and My Pregnancy

I decided to compile these old wives' tales and add in my experience with some of them.

So sleep position is an iffy one because I'm a wild sleeper. I want to say that I tend to sleep on my right side, but I read that it's important to sleep on your left side when pregnant because it helps the baby breathe easier. This being said, I have been consciously trying to sleep on my left side and have found that difficult because I want to sleep on my right. What I actually do though is sleep in ALL over the place!

Extreme nausea? No. I actually was concerned about why I had not thrown up at all. I read that I should ask my mom is she was a barfer because much of this is genetic. Throughout five pregnancies my mom did not throw up once, and I have not with my first. This makes me feel better about not having gotten sick. Although yes I got nauseous in the beginnings of pregnancy it was never a huge concern. My mom said that her's got worse with each pregnancy, and she even passed out once. I am very lightheaded, just like she was!

I haven't had many food cravings but something that, especially in the beginning, I always wanted was juice, juice, and more juice. I cannot get enough orange juice!

Damn this adult acne! It started as bacne, then it traveled to my neck and face. Although not bad, it was bad enough for me. Finally now, at week 15, I'm starting to clear up. Am I getting that second trimester "glow" that they talk about??

As mentioned earlier I haven't had many food cravings, but I must say that now I eat cookies, candy, and ice cream more than I ever have before. So I guess this means I've been having sugar cravings... Mmmmm, chocolate...

Ask my husband if I've been experiencing mood changes. Yesterday morning I couldn't breathe I was crying so hard, and when Chad helped me try to take deep breathes all I could do was weep. At the Veteran's Day assembly at the elementary school where I work I held back tears the entire time; the kids were too darn cute and I felt so thankful for the veterans that have served our country. Would this have made me cry before? Most likely not. My mood changes = extreme sensitivity and many, many tears.

Ahh, the infamous pendulum test. My grandfather and my dad have both predicted correctly the sex of nearly every child and grandchild in the family. My cousin Janae and I once, at a family party, went around to every person and dangled a needle on the end of string over their hand. We thought it was amazing that it was accurate in determining the sex of every person! Then Chad did the pendulum test on me. He thought out loud and when he thought it would swing back and forth it did; when he thought it would swing around in a circle it did. Our conclusion, this is bullshit.

Age: 23, year of conception: 2010. One even, one odd means a boy!

A stress test is a tricky one because considering that the time of conception was right after our wedding and during our honeymoon, we were both very NOT stressed!

Last night I officially had my first baby dream! I have had dreams about nursing (everyone wanted to nurse from my breasts, including my cats and Chad) and other pregnancy-related things, but last night was my first real baby dream. I dreamt that my very easy birth gave me a baby boy and I could not for the life of me remember his name! He was a super cutie and I had the most difficult time unbuttoning my shirt so I could nurse him. Dream meaning: I'm having a girl.

Sleep Position - girl
Upset Stomach - boy
Soft or dry hands - girl

Food Cravings - girl

Adult Acne - girl
Sugar and Spice Food Cravings - girl

Mood Changes - girl

Even and Odd Numbers - boy
Dream Meanings - girl

Here's another tale that I heard from my Jamaican brother, Yohan. He told me his instincts say girl but he said that it's the father's instincts that are always correct. Although I think (or "thought" I should say; I'm starting to think otherwise) that we're having a boy, this entire pregnancy all Chad can think is that we're having a baby girl. We both feel very content about baby being a boy or girl, but according to Yohan's tale: we're having a girl.

Who has heard of the Chinese Gender Chart? This handy little chart tells me we're having a girl.

According to these tales the data shows a striking 9 to 2, we're having a girl!

Alright, so now we must wait in patience until we find out the baby's sex. Since we cannot agree as to whether or not we should find out the sex from an ultrasound, we decided to go with out first thought, to find out. And maybe this means that baby number two can be a surprise? A little more than four weeks and we go in for the 20-week appointment for our first ultrasound!

Week 15

The 15 week post-pilates belly.

Girl or Boy? Boy or Girl?

I found this fun little article that I thought I should share. It'll be fun to see if some of these things prove true or not. "Are you having a boy or a girl? These old wives' tales are a fun (but not scientific!) way to guess the sex of your baby." Read the full article here.

What the Old Wives' Tales Say About Whether You'll Have a Boy or a Girl

By Jenny Saltiel with Lexi Walters

Old wives' tales are little more than super-circulated rumors. Never proven to be true, they're sayings and adages that generations of women have passed down to one another regarding family health ("Eating carrots improves your vision"), safe parenting ("Wait an hour after eating before swimming"), and -- most popularly -- pregnancy. Whether you're trying to guess your own baby's gender or looking for shower games for a friend, read on for the top ways women have guessed: boy or girl?

Sleep Position
Pay attention to which way you lay down in bed tonight. If you prefer sleeping on your left side, you'll have a boy. Right side? Your pregnant with a girl.

Upset Stomach
Little girls aren't always sweet. Extreme nausea means you are having a daughter.

Soft or dry hands
If your hands are dry during pregnancy, you are having a boy; soft -- expect a girl.

Food Cravings
Your favorite pregnancy foods may tell you what sex the baby is. If you're craving citrus while pregnant, you're having a girl.

Adult Acne
If altering hormones makes your skin break out, expect a girl.

Graceful or Clumsy PregnancyIf you feel as though you're gliding through they day, you'll have a girl. Stumbling? It's a boy.

Face Weight Gain
If your face gets fuller, it means you're having a girl.

Sugar and Spice Food Cravings
Craving salt during pregnancy? Potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn means a boy is on the way. Need a little something sweet? Ice cream, chocolate, and candy means you're having a girl.

Mood Changes
If you're experiencing pregnant mood-swings, expect a baby girl to arrive soon.

High or Low Pregnant Belly
If you're carrying the baby low on your stomach, expect a boy. If it's high, you're having a girl.

Baby Weight
If you're carrying baby in front, it's a boy. Is the baby weight spaced all around your middle? It's a girl.

Pendulum Test
Dangle a chain with a charm over your palm. If it swings back and forth: boy. In a circle: girl.

Model Your Hands
"Show me your hands." If you would hold your hands palms up it's a girl. Down? You're having a boy.

Toddler Advice
Get baby advice from a nephew or friend's little boy. If a toddler boy shows interest in your belly, you'll have a girl. If he ignores you, it's a boy.

Eat Garlic
Guess the baby's sex by eating garlic. If the smell seeps out of your pores it's a boy. If there's no scent it's a little girl.

Key to Pregnancy
If you pick up a key by the round end, you're having a boy. If it's by the long end? A girl.

Even and Odd Numbers
If your age and year of conception are both even or odd, it's girl. One even, one odd means a boy.

Baby's Heartbeat
If the baby's heart beats more than 150 times per minute, you're pregnant with a girl. Less than 150, it's a boy.

Stress Test
A child tends to be of the same sex as the parent who is less stressed at the time of conception.

Dream Meanings
If you dream about having a girl while pregnant, you will wind up having a boy and vice versa.

Breast Size
If your right breast is larger than the left while pregnant, you are having a girl. If the left is larger, it's a baby boy.

Chai Tea?

So my poor self got on WIC (thank you federal government) and on this program they want me to consume A LOT of dairy. Considering that I have not drank milk for about six years I have no interest whatsoever in drinking milk. I have accepted cheese and yogurt into my diet but milk I'm having a very rough time dealing with. I could request soy but I actually have sensitivities to soy. And if I really want almond and rice milk I can buy it I guess.

So anyway, as I attempt to introduce nasty, stinky cow milk back into my diet (this is so unnatural) I am thinking of creative ways to do so. I searched through this tiny house of mine for my espresso machine and I found it, so that means I can start steaming milk and putting things in it. I bought organic chocolate sauce, vanilla and peppermint syrups, and chai tea mix (organic as well). Since chai has black tea in it, and since black tea has caffeine in it, I decided to look it up. Of course the easiest things to find online about pregnancy are everyone and his mother's opinions, so I found this information rather difficult to find, but this is the most promising information I have found thus far:

Pregnancy & Breast-Feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, black tea in small amounts is probably not harmful. Do not drink more than 2 cups a day of black tea. This amount of tea provides about 200 mg of caffeine. Consuming more than this amount during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and other negative effects, including symptoms of caffeine withdrawal in newborns and lower birth weight.

If you are breast-feeding, drinking more than 2 cups a day of black tea might cause your baby to become more irritable and have more bowel movements.

From MedlinePlus

Chai Tea & Pregnancy

Chai tea, also known as masala chai, is a fragrant, spicy beverage originating on the Indian subcontinent. This delicious concoction includes black tea with a combination of herbal seasonings. When consumed in moderation, chai tea and similar drinks are considered to be safe for use during pregnancy. Consult your obstetrician or midwife with any questions regarding the use of caffeine or herbal teas during any stage of gestation.

From livestrong.com

The Best Advice...

While talking with my friend Grace the other night she was giving me so much beautiful and not-so-beautiful information about birthing, her story, stories of her friends, random experiences, et cetera. We talked about birth, about babies, about health, about living, about diet, about jobs, and she shared with me many of her opinions. Throughout the evening as we spoke (we were at a Halloween party, mind you, where there were many people around) many others decided to come up to us and give us their two cents. As nice as it is to hear others' opinions, for some reason I was getting irritated. Grace told me the best advice that I have heard so far, and I think the best advice there is to give. She told me that everyone holds their opinions and that an opinion is just that, an opinion. She said to listen to what others say and to take all the opinions I'm hearing and all the craziness that I'm am learning about through websites, books, and documentaries, and use it to form my own opinion.

When people talk about pregnancy and about birth options, or really I guess about anything, they like to share what they know and what they feel is right and comfortable because they feel that others should know or experience the same thing. This information is so great to know and there is something I can take from everyone's knowledge, but in the end what it really comes down to is me and what I feel is right. Grace told me that this is my pregnancy and it is about me; that I loved to hear. I make the decisions (with Chad by my side of course, and in conjunction with his input) so I make this my experience.

Now while talking with people I know to come into the conversation with an open mind and open ears. I love to learn, I love to talk, and I love to listen, so with this lovely advice I know to take what others say and learn from it to make it something of my own.

Thanks Grace!

Green Babies!

Another great website that was recommended to me by my lovely friend Becky is Green Baby Guide. I love this site! Their little saying is "Earth Friendly, Budget Friendly", which sounds like my kind of website. There are many, many different categories that are discussed on this site, and overall it is worth the look.

When Can Baby Hear Me?

Lately I have been really anticipating for the time when my fetus can hear in-utero so I can start reading aloud to him or her. I love reading and I have hopes that my children will all love to read as much as I do. I have three very full and overloaded bookshelves of children's books, thanks to my lovely friend Annie, and this amazing collection will help tremendously to build strong readers in my classroom and in my house.

I was looking through my books the other day and thought about what I should read first to my baby. I have about five books that are collections of children's classics and those I am saving for when I can have baby sitting next to me, but for while baby is still inside of me I decided to start with Harry Potter. My beautiful Jamaican brother Yohan told me to tell the little one that Harry Potter is Uncle Yohan's favorite.

Here's some data I found about when baby starts to hear:

How Your Baby's Ears Develop

Your baby's ears begin to form around eight weeks and become structurally complete at about 24 weeks. Thanks to the magic of ultrasound and other high-tech tools, researchers have discovered that your baby is living in an auditory playground, responding to voices and other sounds they hear outside of the womb. Studies have found that a fetus can hear sounds, though muffled, at as early as 20 weeks and by the third trimester their hearing is intact. Sonograms show that your baby may turn their head in response to a noise.

So maybe I should wait six more weeks to start reading aloud,

or what the heck, maybe I should start now!

Milestone: Starting to Show

Here I am at 14 1/2 weeks. Two days ago I woke up in the morning and I was showing! Usually right before bed I look kind of pregnant and that I blame wholly on the food I ate. For some reason lately almost everything I eat makes me look bloated, although I don't feel bloated (food baby?). Maybe this is my body's way of trying to stretch itself out to make some room? Haha, who knows. But on Wednesday morning I woke up and looked in the mirror and it looked kind of like I had bloat but that's not what it was... it was baby! On Thursday morning again it looked the same and this morning did again; so now I believe I am actually starting to show. My belly is hard and now it's getting tough to suck in. Holy crap, I'm pregnant!

Another pretty cool thing is that after we went in and heard the baby's heartbeat I wondered if I could feel it. When I lie flat on my back I can feel right where baby is, and the heartbeat has been getting a lot stronger lately; it's growing! At first I thought maybe I was feeling my heartbeat but when I feel my pulse and the baby's heartbeat at the same time they are clearly different hearts beating. It amazes me that right now I have two hearts beating inside of my body. Sometimes when I have had a rough day I like to lie down and hold my hand to my belly and feel baby's heart.

Weelicious, A Beautiful Website

Photo from weelicious.com.

For all the mothers, fathers, caretakers, and those who love to make healthy, delicious foods for the little ones, check out this website! My friend Becky told me about this great site, Weelicious, which was created and designed by Catherine McCord, a beautiful supermodel and mother of two. She treats her children to local, seasonal foods and lets them join in on the process of food preparation. Check it out!

I want my nose pierced.

I told myself last spring that over the summer I was going to get my nose pierced so by the time the new school year started my piercing would be healed so I could decide whether or not to take it out while at work to be more professional. Chad was off and on about whether or not he wanted to get his septum pierced so we had on and off plans of going together, and we never ended up going. Now it's autumn and now I'm pregnant.

Last spring I was also really close to scheduling another tattoo appointment for September and I never ended up doing it because I knew that after the wedding I'd most likely be broke. Then when September came I was indeed broke and also pregnant. At Flaming Dragon before getting a tattoo a form must be signed and the first thing on it has you agree to not being pregnant. Of course being pregnant and getting a tattoo is a god-awful idea. But what about a nose piercing?

Chad just randomly decided again that he does want his septum pierced so I looked up a nose piercing and the safety of getting it done while being pregnant. No legit sources came up during my search but repeatedly I read that it's just plain not a good idea. So I told Chad to wait and I'm also going to wait because I really want to go together. So as soon as May comes and my baby is born Chad and I are getting our noses pierced, and as soon as I start (finally) making money next autumn I'm getting my next tattoo!!

Maybe this pregnancy is making me crazy, or maybe I just am crazy...

Week Twelve

Photo from Baby Corner.

I'm pretty sure this is all bloat... damn food.