24 WEEKS - Pregnancy Survey

HOW FAR ALONG? 24 Weeks!

SYMPTOMS: Leg cramps and sore hips at night, and mild back pain during the day, usually lower back! Probably because I've been slacking on my stretching and strengthening exercises.. oopsie.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN/LOSS: Still at 119 lbs - A total gain of 14 lbs so far!

SLEEP: My pregnancy pillow is a MUST these days, otherwise I become a cranky tossing and turning mama! 

FOOD CRAVINGS: Oranges, Brown Rice, Ham and Pineapple Pizza... We sell individual slices in the bistro I work at, and I may have had a piece every day this week.

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Pete feeling the baby kick! And buying our first summer outfit for her! See it here.

MOVEMENT: Lots! She's been kicking almost every night that I lay down to sleep, and there's nothing better then falling asleep to that. :)

GENDER: Girlie

BELLY BUTTON IN OR OUT? Innie! 

WHAT I MISS: MY BRAIN!! Seriously been feeling the 'pregnancy brain' lately. I can't complete sentences, constantly forget where I left things, and forget simple words. I couldn't remember what 'dish soap' was.. the only words that came to mind were 'dishwashing liquid'. 

WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO: An 'empowered birth' class with Pete in two weeks! It's an 8 hour realistic and holistic approach to birthing. Can't wait!

MELTDOWNS: Nothing specific - just the odd teary eyes out of frustration because of my pregnancy brain!

MILESTONES: Getting my first pre-natal massage! I had a ton of knots on the left side of my back around my ribs. Felt good having them worked out! 

WEEKLY WISDOM: Don't sweat the little things!

22 WEEKS - Pregnancy Survey

HOW FAR ALONG? 22 Weeks, 4 days

SYMPTOMS: Lower back stiffness, restlessness, noticeably heavier belly which makes it hard to get on and off the couch when I'm tired.

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN/LOSS: Started at 105 pounds (during morning sickness), Now at 119 pounds - Yay! A much healthier weight.

SLEEP: Glorious when using my preggo pillow! But I have had the odd restless night - brain can't fall asleep as fast as my body.

FOOD CRAVINGS: Oranges, LEMONS (been making lots of homemade lemonade!), PB & J Sandwiches, and Granny Smith Apples - but they have to be CRISP... It's my high maintenance craving, I'm picky with my apples!

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: The baby responding to touch - She kicks faster and harder when I put my hand on my belly :)

MOVEMENT: She's been kicking hard enough to visually see the movement without touching my belly - I can't help but smile when I see the little vibrations.

GENDER: Girlie :)

BELLY BUTTON IN OR OUT? Innie! 

WHAT I MISS: Sleeping on my back, the sweet taste of coffee and chai latte's (I'm currently looking for a good decaffeinated chai mix without anise seed), and bending down without having to squat.

WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO: Other people being able to feel the kicks other than myself now! As well as my next midwife appointment and planning the baby shower with my sister in law!

MELTDOWNS: Oh dear...  I came home early from work because I was tired and getting random dizzy spells - then ended up sitting on the couch having a temper tantrum because I was overtired and uncomfortable. (Pete laughed at me again, I'm glad he is so patient in these situations!) I cried myself to sleep and had a two hour nap. After I woke up, my amazing boyfriend took me out for dinner and dessert. He's the best! :) 

MILESTONES: Seeing those kicks! And being down to only ONE pill a day for morning sickness! 

WEEKLY WISDOM: Don't overwork or overtire yourself - it's not worth it! Sometimes it's okay to be a couch potato :)

21 WEEKS - Pregnancy Survey

HOW FAR ALONG? 21 Weeks, 4 days

SYMPTOMS: Discomfort and pain in my 'quadratus lumborum' - a muscle in the lower back. (see diagram below!) It goes from your bottom rib to your pelvis - ouchie!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN/LOSS:  Not sure again for this week!

SLEEP: Been having a hard time getting comfortable enough to fall asleep. But I love waking up in the middle of the night and feeling my little girl moving about!

FOOD CRAVINGS: Banana's, Oranges, and Chocolate! Nom nom nom

BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK: Found out we are having a GIRL!! 

MOVEMENT: She's been wriggling around a lot still, but this time her kicks and movements are stronger and higher up! 

GENDER: Little lady!

BELLY BUTTON IN OR OUT? Innie!

WHAT I MISS: Sleeping on my back, Cardio workouts and lifting heavier objects - I know that may sound a bit ridiculous, but I have been feeling kind of useless lately! I miss being able to break a sweat or use my muscles like I used to. Prenatal workouts feel like walk in the park sometimes and I often wonder if they are doing much at all??

WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO: Picking out paint and planning the babies room! And now that I know we are having a girl, I can actually buy those frilly dresses and adorable onesies I've been eyeing for months! And I plan to book myself a pre-natal massage - so excited!!

MELTDOWNS: Luckily, I have avoided a meltdown this week! I made sure to steer clear of sugary treats, and I think that made a huge difference! 

MILESTONES: Finding out the gender, being able to eat foods with garlic and onion in them without wanting to vomit, and weaning even further off my morning sickness medication! I am officially down to only two pills a day and I've been feeling great!

WEEKLY WISDOM: Give in to your cravings - even if they don't seem like the best choice. 

(I was craving a chocolate chip cookie at work but decided it was a bad idea, and therefore avoided it and ended up eating EVERYTHING else around me, which resulted in me feeling like crap. It wasn't until a couple hours later when I gave into the cookie craving that I suddenly felt GOOD. I instantly felt better and had energy for the rest of the day. I'm still confused as to what the baby wanted so badly from that cookie but I'm not questioning it. Guess sometimes a little sugar once in a while won't do you harm!)

Iron Deficiancy

 On my last visit with my midwife, I was told the results of my most recent blood test.
Everything was excellent - except my iron. Even though I was aware that pregnant women are often iron deficient, my results came as a bit of a shock. On the blood test I had prior to the last, I was told my iron was excellent - above average for my situation. I wore my successful iron results like a badge, proud to know that I was one of the few whose iron was plentiful. So, as you can tell, I was a little disappointed in my latest results. How did I go from iron super mama to this? I can only assume it's because this sweet little baby is getting bigger, and demanding more iron as it grows. So, I've decided to spoil her with as much iron I can get. In the words of Vince Vaughn in the movie The Breakup -
"Whatever my baby wants, my baby gets"

I've decided to share with you my tips and advice for raising your iron levels. I work in a health food store, and am blessed to get some helpful and diverse advice from all the ladies in the vitamin department. They have some great advice and recommendations - some unconventional, and some quite common, but all are equally as helpful and holistic. (Now that's my cup of tea!)
Here are a few things that are aiding me in my journey back to iron super mama!

1.) Blackstrap Molasses - One tablespoon of this sweet and syrupy treat contains a whopping 19% or your recommended daily iron intake. It's also nutrient dense, containing many other vitamins and minerals, including folate which aids in the absorption of iron. How awesome is that? Now, you may be wondering how you would go about consuming or incorporating the molasses into your diet. Some take it straight up - one well rounded tablespoon down the hatch. But, if you are like me, you may not find that to be very appetizing. Thankfully, one of my coworkers suggested a different way to get a daily dose. She recommended mixing one tablespoon in a cup of hot water and almond milk. Basically, it results in a hot, creamy, sugary drink that reminds me of hot chocolate. I HIGHLY recommend it. Especially if you have a sweet tooth like me. (And don't worry about the high sugar content in molasses - it's actually low on the glycemic index, meaning it won't spike insulin.) I like to make my iron rich drink with TWO tablespoons of molasses, which provides me with 38% of my iron intake for the day. You can use as little or as much as you like, and use whichever milk you wish. However, try to choose a milk option that contains minimal calcium content, because calcium actually interferes with the bodies ability to absorb iron. Your best bet is to stay away from dairy and rice milk, and opt for a soy or almond milk option when making this drink. Cheers!


 to be continued...

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