Friday, September 26, 2014

Weeks 22 and 23: Baby Bump Alert!


The past couple of weeks have been quite hectic with the new puppy settling in and going from newborn to toddler in just two weeks. I’m chasing him around, getting him out of trouble, and constantly correcting him when he does something inappropriate, like climbing right out of his playpen. He’s a mess but we love him none the less and he’s definitely giving me some serious training for when the baby comes. Not only will I have managed to learn to once again multi-task while trying to watch an attention needing baby, but I’m also getting used to waking up in the middle of the night, spending all my free-time cleaning and doing chores, and most importantly, walking around and doing tasks as quietly as possible so I don’t wake up the sleeping pup. It’s actually quite hilarious HOW similar having a puppy is to having a very young child and HOW similar my responsibilities and actions are. To all pet ONLY owners whom for years I disregarded as being “parents”, I apologize. You ARE a parent. It’s hard work!
See his face!? Full of food!
Aside from puppy duty, I have been trying my best to take it easy in order to prevent the aching pelvic and back pains I encounter at the end of every day. Unfortunately, the  moment I get home I tend to get into this must-get-things-done-now mode and completely forget to take a break every 30 minutes or so until it’s too late and my body is screaming for rest. By 8:30pm everything from my waist down hurts; my tummy is contracting; my feet are swollen; and I’m straight up exhausted to the point I usually crash around 9:00pm. I’ve realized resting is a must, along with drinking more water. Haven’t been too good at that either… Oh the woes of a pregnant mother!
Other than that the pregnancy has been going well! Wohoo!

Ready for an update!?

DIET

Breakfast: For the past two weeks I have had a serious crush on yogurt parfaits. Fresh fruit, creamy plain coconut yogurt and nutty, crunchy nuts and seeds make the perfect hearty breakfast for the morning time. My favorite combinations include peaches and cream and strawberry banana. What I am a bit disappointed about though is the lack of protein in coconut yogurt. It contains a ton of fiber and some really good for you carbs (sans the sugar), but it lacks the protein you may find in regular greek yogurt. So now I’m on a search for high protein vegan yogurt that doesn’t contain soy. Any brands you know of?
I’m also starting to crave creamy, delicious green smoothies again so I’m sure I’ll be posting about those next week!

Lunch: I’m surprisingly doing very well on having one salad a day. This delicious recipe for Avocado Hummus by The Veggie Indian definitely helps! Mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, green onions and a huge dollop of hummus makes the perfect salad.  Yummy!
On my days home, I sometimes make a warm, cooked meal for lunch as opposed to a salad. My go to has been a spinach/greens and chickpea curry! Onions, garlic, spinach, chickpeas, tomatoes, bell peppers, and LOTS of curry powder with a splash of milk makes me smile every single time. The warming spices are just perfect for this time year as fall is slowly settling in to place. Mmm mmm!

Dinner: Speaking of fall, for the first time in my life, I am soooooo happy it is here! About a month prior to fall hitting, I was craving for everything fall like: pumpkin spice, apples, winter squash, cooler weather, etc and now that it’s here, I honestly couldn’t be more happy! With fall produce slowly hitting the shelves of the farmer’s market, I have been getting my fill whenever I possibly can! Apples are a daily snack and dinner is either a sweet potato or winter squash. Hearty, filling and oh so yummy!!! I’m sure I’ll eventually be sick of fall produce but until then, eat on I say!
Snacks and Cravings: Still enjoying my weekly growler fill of local kombucha. It’s my go to every single morning! Apples are a snacking staple, especially when combined with some sort of nut butter, which I consume a jar of per week. Yes, you read that right; one jar per week. I also love snacking on trail mixes. My favorite is Living Intention’s Sprouted Mixed BerryTrail Mix which I buy by the bulk at WholeFoods. That stuff is nature’s candy and trust me, I consume it like candy! It’s addicting. Thank goodness it’s loaded with healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

As for cravings, every time I smell popcorn I want popcorn. However, I have been trying my best to NOT cave in to that craving since corn is a common food allergy. It’s been hard! I also want all things chocolate - no surprise there - and fresh bread! The worse craving I have had is for cheese. Yes, cheese and NO, vegan cheese does not do…except when it’s on pizza. I’ll admit I take a nibble here and there of my daughter raw, local cheddar cheese but I haven’t caved in and eaten an entire bowl of mac n cheese or anything of that sort. Will power is key, but man is the struggle real!

EXERCISE

I can’t even…. The puppy gives me enough exercise. I do go on walks with my pup and chase him around continuously. I probably need to restart my yoga considering I’m in more pain now than I was before. I just need to find the motivation…


MY PREGNANCY

23 Weeks and 4 Days!
I had my very last 2 week appointment on Friday (*sniff*) and everything looked well. The baby’s head, while still measuring small in comparison to the rest of her body, is proving to be growing at a normal rate. It hasn’t caught up to her body but it hasn’t gotten smaller either so the concern of hindered growth is now behind us…at least for now. She’s gotten big that is for sure and so has momma!

22 Weeks: Thinking I may need to retire that dress soon.

If you recall from my very first post, I had lost a significant amount of weight, almost 15 pounds to be exact, due to severe nausea and vomiting. Eating was impossible and so my body suffered. After the 15th week I began feeling better and started consuming whole foods and meals again. At first I didn’t gain any weight but I didn’t lose any either. Then slowly I gained my weight back. Last month I had gained 4 pounds and weighed in at 119. This past Friday I weighed in at a whopping 127! Yes, I am back at my pre-pregnancy weight, and trust me you can tell! My belly has gone from adorably small to this huge soccer ball sized belly that is always tight and uncomfortable to carry around. The weight gain definitely explains why I’ve been having so much back and pelvic pain. It also explains why I’ve had to start putting away some of my clothes for post-pregnancy use. Waaaaahhhh! BUT I’m still happy because I know I’m healthy and my body is just growing like it’s supposed to. Now, instead of looking questionably pregnant, I look officially pregnant! Wohoo!

23 Weeks!
As for symptoms, I haven’t dealt with much except for the evening pelvic, back, and leg pains and well, gas. I actually have really HORRIBLE gas. I know that may be too much information for some of you but seriously I haven’t dealt with chronic gas this funky since I was eating gluten and beans. I mean it’s bad and every day! I can’t escape it! No matter what I eat, I get it. Must be a pregnancy thing. I feel so bad though because it’s so unpleasant that my puppy runs away from me when he smells it. HAHA! Anyways, other than those two things, no other weird or funky symptoms, thank goodness. I’m actually feeling normal sans the giant belly I’m carrying around nowadays. Can’t complain.

GOALS

Seeing as I’m past the half-way point I feel like now is a better time than never to really start prepping for this baby and to prep my body for labor and delivery. In order for that to happen, Mrs. Procrastinator needs a goal list. So here we go.
  1. Workout at least 5 days a week for at least 10 minutes – walking, yoga, etc
  2. Drink more than 3 bottles of water
  3. Begin drinking pregnancy tea
  4. Research and start practicing hypnobirthing techniques
  5. Start Registry
Let’s see how well I do this week before I add any more than 5.

Until then I'm  going to enjoy this beautiful FALL weather and honestly, so should you!

Beth

Monday, September 8, 2014

Weeks 20 and 21: Celebrating the Half Way Mark!

I’m so excited that I finally made it to the half way mark!! I’ve been anxiously waiting for this moment and it has finally arrived. I can now “relax” considering things are going well. The baby is doing well and so am I. We’ve made it this far and that deserves a celebration!

For most women, celebrating the half way mark means pedicures, massages or new wardrobes but for me, well, I did something a bit out of the ordinary. Okay, it was WAY out of the ordinary. Momma adopted herself a new puppy!

 
Yes, we added a new member to the family. Our Rex boy is a beautiful blend of purebred Golden Retriever and Black Lab Mix. He’s spunky and energetic with tons of love to give. We love him to death,.but boy has he been giving us some serious training! Right now, at only 7 weeks old, he needs to be taken out every two hours at night. Yes, my husband and I get up every two hours. He needs to be fed, pooped picked up, bathed, etc. Sound familiar!? Yes, Rex is our little baby. He’s a handful but hey, we figured, might as well get some training in before our baby girl comes right!?

 
What have you done or purchased to celebrate your half way mark!?

My Pregnancy: Weeks 20 and 21

My Diet

Breakfast – I’m still chowing down on chia/yogurt/fruit parfaits. An occasional apple and nut butter or smoothie or even a grapefruit gets thrown in from time to time but yogurt is hitting the spot right now. Creamy, sweet goodness. Mmmm!
Lunch – I’m still eating salads every day although I’m starting to get a bit sick of them. I haven’t been very creative with them, but even so, salads are becoming….eh. Time to start finding something new to enjoy! Any ideas?
Dinner – Dinner is still usually something cooked. I’m in love with winter squash or sweet potatoes right now slathered in vegan butter and sprinkled with salt. Some green onions is a fun addition every now and then.
Snacks  - Still drinking kombucha for a morning boost. I’m also craving and enjoying organic vegetable juice. There’s something about cold tomato juice that just hits the spot for me. Yumm! So does chocolate :P Oh and roasted seeds, especially pumpkin seeds, are another addiction of mine right now. Love crackin’ and chewin’ on them!
My diet right now is a bit bland and boring. I’ve been so busy taking care of the new pup and creating lunches for my daughter that my food has sort of been pushed to the back burner. No worries though. My focus is healthy foods…whether or not they hit the spot.

Exercise

Sooooo I was doing great with my daily prenatal yoga until the pup came. However, the exercise didn’t end there. No, actually I’m more active (and more exhausted!) than before! I’m constantly up and down two flights of stairs since the pup sleeps downstairs in the basement, and I’m always running around the house and outside keeping the pup active.  It’s an exhausting task but at least my heart stays pumping. I’m hoping to get back into prenatal yoga this week. Wish me luck!

My Pregnancy

The last two weeks have been pretty smooth sailing. The baby has been moving around A LOT and I feel every flutter, kick and punch. She’s an active one and I am quite okay with that. I love it actually!
On the unfortunate side, my clothes are beginning to get a bit snug or straight up not fitting at all. I’m down to one pair of capri style yoga pants and white capris for the summer. Some of my dresses are still working for me, but that won’t last long. Fall is definitely coming as the mornings have been getting quite chilly. Thank goodness for the long sleeve maternity shirts I found at all of these consignment shops I have been going to these past couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to attending a few more within the next few months. Whatever I can do to find cheap maternity clothes, I will do. Why spend hundreds on clothes I’ll only be wearing for a couple of months?

21 weeks with one of my consignment shop Ts. Sorry for the mess!
 
As for the baby, this past Friday, my husband and I attended my 20 week scan. This was my hubby’s first time going to an appointment and it was long, yet fun to watch. They viewed everything, from the uterine arteries to the baby’s bottom. We had to confirm just one more time that it was a girl. Hehe! As I mentioned, she was a serious mover. She moved around a lot during the appointment and made it a bit difficult to get every shot that the docs needed. We did happily get some good photos this go around which totally made my day. She’s grown so much!

 
 
The results of the test, so far, have been positive minus a few minor concerns. First, the baby was measuring 4 days behind schedule. Seeing as this was the first time they measured her via head circumference as opposed to crown-to-rump, it’s no surprise that her age is a bit off. However, because she’s measuring over 3 days behind, the doctors want to continue measuring her every 2 weeks to make sure she’s growing normally and to make sure that the bicornuate uterus isn’t hindering her growth. The other concern they have is with my heartbeat.
When measuring the pulses of the uterine arteries, the doctors discovered that my heartbeat is irregular. I recalled having this same issue when I was in the hospital getting ready to deliver my first daughter. While being poked, prodded and what not the doctors learned my heartbeat was irregular and ordered an EKG. From what I remember, it was nothing to be concerned about. A heart murmur or palpitation I think. I’m assuming the case is the same this go around as well. I never had any heart issues before being pregnant so I’m guessing this is just another pregnancy symptom. I mean my body is working overtime to pump blood. However, the doc recommends an EKG. Whether or not I will get one is another story.

Other than that, everything is going well with the baby and well, that’s all I really want!!

Have you or someone you know dealt with similar pregnancy complications, major or minor? If so, how did you or she deal with it? It can be quite stressful at times!

Beth