23 Week Pregnancy Blog

23 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on May 9, 2016

How far along? 23 weeks 1 days

Baby: The baby's sense of movement is now well-developed and she can dance and move.  "Oreo" is now more than 8 inches long and weighs just over a pound (the size of a mango). I may be able to see her squirm underneath my clothes. Blood vessels in the lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze Oreo when she hears them outside the womb.

 

                             23 Week Bump!

Total Weight Gain: I'm at a 9 lb. weight gain this week (115 lbs.) and I'm very happy with that! I've been continuing a slow weight gain, trying to eat healthy, and not over eat.

 

Maternity Clothes: I've been wearing more maternity shirts which I prefer a lot more than any type of maternity bottoms. I'm still wearing my belly band most days, so that I can wear my regular pants. One perk (there are few from what I've heard) of the second half of my pregnancy being in the warmer months is that I can wear comfy sundresses! I've been wearing them more often and love that I can wear my regular dresses and they still fit nicely. :)

 

 

Mother's Day 2015 vs. Mother's Day 2016! Grayson has grown SO much! It's crazy to think that next year I'll have 2 babies in my arms! :)

 

Stretch Marks: I've been doing a pretty good job at applying the stretch mark cream (1-2 times a day). I'm definitely growing, so hopefully the cream will continue to help prevent any stretch marks!

Sleep: I still wake-up somewhat frequently at night, but I have been sleeping better for the most part. I still don't get to nap very often, but I'm exhausted by the end of each day and seem to be sleeping hard! I am still having more intense and realistic dreams.

              Mother's Day Dinner

Miss Anything? I'm really missing going on walks now that the weather is so nice. Our family has always loved taking walks together, but right now, I can't go very far. I am also missing coffee! For some reason when I am pregnant, I want coffee more than ever. Well maybe equally as much as I did before Grayson started sleeping through the night ;) I've started drinking 1 cup of half-caff and if I want a second cup, then I'll have 1 cup of decaf. Some of it is wanting the caffeine, but I also just love the taste. Thankfully, I feel like I'm getting my coffee fix with the decaf!

 

Best Moment of the Week: I was able to celebrate my 2nd Mother's Day yesterday and it was wonderful! We didn't do anything too major, but it was a nice, relaxing day with family which was perfect. We went to church, then Grayson and I skipped the second service and played on the playground together (he loved the sandbox!), then we took a short family nap, we went out to Hibachi for dinner with my mom and her boyfriend and it was delicious!, and when we got home, we spent the rest of the evening outside enjoying the beautiful weather as a family. I got to see all my favorite people which was my favorite part! Normally Josh works on Sunday nights, so he took off, and he also got me roses earlier in the week which were beautiful. Quality time is one of my favorite gifts (and not having to cook!). :)

 

Movement: Still feeling a lot of movement! She wasn't as active this week (sometimes she scares me!), but she is still a fairly active little girl. She particularly loves sweets and music. Any time I eat something sweet or am listening to the radio, she tends to have a dance party in my belly! I do feel like she is especially low. I've carried both my babies very low, but her kicks are basically in my crotch sometimes (TMI, sorry!).

Food Cravings: I did fairly well with eating healthy this week. We've had a lot of events with food, but I'm doing well at eating small portions and not going crazy. I still LOVE sweets and have to make sure I actually get some real food in me! I had a Café Latte Shakeology shake this week that was delicious (anything coffee tasting is my friend) and I also love Hibachi! No real "cravings" except for coffee. Still trying really hard to drink lots of water! The lemonade flavor packets and gum have been back on my favorites list.

 

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

 

Gender: Girl! :) I was given my first bag of used girl's clothes from a friend this weekend...so exciting!

Thyroid: I thought I would have my thyroid more under control this pregnancy, but it still went crazy the moment I got pregnant. I waited to go to the endocrinologist until I was 8 weeks along and the pregnancy had been confirmed with an ultrasound. (Last time I didn't go until I was 14 weeks!) By the time I went in, my thyroid was already completely out of whack! It took until just a few weeks ago to get it to the right levels. (Almost half my pregnancy!) It's a tough battle because each time I increase my dosage, my body is also naturally needing more each week. It takes a while to get my medicine caught up and into my system...and by the time that happens, I have to increase my dosage because my body needs even more! I'm now on 224 mg of thyroid medicine which is the highest dosage I've ever been on and a very high dosage in general, but that's what my body is needing. Thankfully the baby is developing well despite the thyroid battle and I'm finally at the right place with my levels. I'm going in every 4 weeks to get my levels tested.
 

Symptoms: For the most part, I feel great! My pain level wasn't nearly as bad this week. I will have random moments when the round ligament pain is intense, but it always passes and is much less frequent. I'm still very dehydrated if I'm not constantly drinking water and my acne was worse this week. Overall, I'm feeling good!

Happy or moody: Still somewhat stressed because of everything we have going on right now -- our house goes on the market this week, so that's been my main focus!

Looking forward to: My specialist appointment in 1.5 weeks and getting to see our new home this week! We are visiting Lizella and actually staying in the parsonage...I'm exciting to get a glimpse into the very near future.

23 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on Monday September 15, 2014

How far along? 23 weeks 5 days

Baby: The baby's sense of movement is now well developed and the baby can you me dance and move.  Peanut is now more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (the size of a mango). I may be able to see her squirm underneath my clothes. Blood vessels in the lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze Peanut when she/he hears them outside the womb.

Total Weight Gain: I'm still teetering between a 10 -11 lb. weight gain (125-126). I can tell Peanut is growing, so that makes me happy! I am also happy that I am still gaining weight steadily.

Maternity Clothes: I'm still using my belly band almost every day and have found some of my regular clothes work well as maternity wear. I also have a few maternity shirts and shorts that I wear regularly. I'm still not huge, so regular maternity clothes are big. I am showing more and more though!

Stretch Marks: Still trying to be disciplined with the stretch mark cream and doing fairly well at it. My skin was slightly itchy this week which I assume means I need more moisture!

Sleep: I was super sleepy this week. I just don't have as much energy as I used to. I've been napping some still, but not as much. Life doesn't always allow for a nap :( I've been trying to go to bed earlier, so that I am more rested in the morning. I've also been using a small pillow to support my belly while sleeping. I don't need it as of right now, but it makes sleeping more comfortable and supports my belly so there isn't as much pressure.

Miss Anything? Still missing regular coffee! (And wanting it more and more). Missing having energy and going on runs. Now that the weather is cooling down, I am dying to go on a run! I guess walking will have to do for now :)

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling movement multiple times each day. I just LOVE it!

Movement: I felt Peanut SO much this past week. I feel the baby move multiple times every day and am now feeling the kicks while I'm standing or moving around. It's the best feeling and the coolest thing! Josh and I love laying there feeling kicks and movement. I also saw a little movement through my skin this weekend. It kind of looked like a muscle spasm!

Food Cravings: SWEETS! I am loving sugar these days. I want it so badly each day but try to limit myself to something small. I literally look at pictures of desserts and plan sweets I want to make or buy. I'm thinking Peanut is a momma's baby on this one! :)

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Gender: Surprise! Although not a single soul on earth thinks it's a girl! Haha. We did the string test this weekend with my in-laws and it predicted boy (not surprising). Either everyone will already know the gender when Peanut arrives or everyone will be completely shocked! It will be fun to see :) I still think boy, but believe it could easily be a girl too!

Symptoms: Feeling lots of pressure, thrush in my mouth, acne has improved, crazy fast growing nails!, constipation is still an issue, the worst symptom so far has been achy hips after exercise or sitting still for a long time (it's so painful!) and general lack of energy.

Happy or moody: All over the place!

Looking forward to: Registering and working on the nursery...there is still a lot to be done! Less than 17 weeks to go!

Fit Pregnancy Tips -- First & Second Trimester

While it would be really easy to just sit on the couch, veg, and indulge in all your favorite cravings your entire pregnancy (believe me this is a daily temptation for me), I believe that taking care of your body during pregnancy plays a huge part in having a healthy pregnancy, as well as, an easier post-partum recovery. I'm currently 6 months pregnant with my first child and have made a big effort to try to have a healthy pregnancy. I wanted to share some of my "fit pregnancy" experiences so far and the lessons I have learned along the way. I can only go off my experiences thus far and some of you may not find this to be a credible source since I have not actually gone through a full- term pregnancy, delivery and post-partum period yet. But like I said, this is my advice based on my experience of pregnancy so far and this is what is working well for me!

1. Exercise before pregnancy. The biggest thing my OBGYN told me concerning exercise during pregnancy is that I was allowed to continue doing the exercises I had already been doing, but I was not to start anything new that would be too strenuous on my body. Luckily, I had been working out before pregnancy, so I was able to keep up a pretty active exercise routine. Unfortunately, pregnancy isn't the time to start anything new which might limit you if you weren't very active prior to pregnancy. My best advice is if you plan on getting pregnant any time soon, try to develop an exercise routine now. It doesn't need to be anything too demanding, but something that you will be able to keep up during your pregnancy.

2. Continue exercising during your first trimester. I was very nervous about exercising once I found out I was pregnant. My biggest regret is that I stopped running immediately after finding out I was pregnant. Being a long-time runner, giving it up completely was a big deal for me. I was just too scared to mess with it and was terrified of hurting the baby. If I had to do it again, I would have continued running just with less intensity. That being said, I did continue to do the elliptical at the gym, lift light weights with more repetitions, and go on long walks and hikes. It was very nerve-racking exercising in the first trimester for me and it might be for you as well. It's important for you to keep up what you had already been doing knowing that your body is used to the intensity and can handle it. Also, if you stop exercising in the first trimester, it's going to make trying to get back out there in the second trimester a lot harder. Stay consistent with your routine and your body will naturally adjust to exercising during pregnancy.

3. Stay active in your second trimester. Exercising in the first trimester was a breeze for me once I got over the fear of hurting my baby. I didn't experience any morning sickness, wasn't overly exhausted, and didn't have a belly. It basically felt the same as it always had. The challenge came in the second trimester when my belly got bigger, I felt more pressure on my stomach, and I lacked energy. What I soon learned is that for me staying active is key to feeling good and having energy during the second trimester. Not only did it give me more energy, but staying active has also allowed me to feel good during my second trimester. It has helped me feel like the weight I am putting on is healthy weight because I know I'm taking care of my body and my baby by staying active. I quickly learned that staying active doesn't mean I need to always be at the gym. I have found alternate ways to get out there and move around that don't always include much intensity and are low-impact. I go on walks a lot. I even started walking some days during my lunch break just to move around and get away from sitting at my desk for 9 hours straight. Sitting still for a long time isn't great for pregnancy and just caused me to get sleepier and my muscles to tighten. I also go on hikes and walk trails often which allow me to get in a good workout with much less intensity and stress on my body. Some days I just focus on doing basic tasks like cleaning the house, folding the laundry, and going grocery shopping which may not seem like a big deal, but they still help me get up and moving around. All of these things combined keep me active and feeling good. My best advice for the second trimester is to stay active despite your lack of energy and be creative with how you stay active. I try to do something active at least 5 days a week, but I usually only go to the gym 2 days a week. The other 3-4 days a week I just try to make an effort not to come home and sit on the couch all night which after a 9 hour work day and commuting is very tempting!

4. Take the time to rest and listen to your body. With everything I said about being active in mind, also remember how important it is to take the time to rest during pregnancy. We are growing a human inside of us and that's hard work! Some days it might be a good idea to take a nap instead of hitting the gym, believe me your body will thank you! Just like with any workout regime, it's also important to remember to have rest days where you give your body a break. For me, that usually means having a couch day where I do sit and veg, take a nap, and don't worry about having to get up and do anything. While trying to have fit pregnancy, it's so important that we listen to our bodies. Some days while working out, I take it down a notch because I can tell my body is tired or I'm feeling more pressure than normal. If you know you would benefit more from sleeping in than going on a walk, it's important to get that rest. Don't push yourself past where you know is a healthy point for you and that comes with listening to your body and taking the time to rest and relax. Remember that having a fit pregnancy isn't about losing weight. It's about taking care of yourself and your baby which includes rest and not pushing yourself too hard.

5. Recruit your husband in your pregnancy fitness journey. Exercise and healthy eating is always much easier with a partner than doing it alone. Get out there and walk with your husband! This has become a favorite activity for me and my husband. We love going on walks together a few nights a week. It allows us time to talk about our days and get in some low-impact exercise. We also love to go hiking on local trails around our house. We bring our dog and make it a family affair. That way I'm not having to sacrifice limited time with my family, but instead it becomes a fun family activity. If you can recruit your husband to stay active with you, it will make exercise much more fun and enjoyable -- you might actually want to do it!

6. Eat everything in moderation. My last point has to do with the thing pregnancy ladies love most: FOOD! There are so many lists out there of things you should be eating and things you shouldn't. When you are tired or not feeling well, you just want to eat what you want and not have to worry about where the carrot sticks are. There's also the huge topic of pregnancy cravings. You may not want healthy foods and may be craving anything but. So far I have tried to stick with the concept of everything in moderation. I don't have some strict, perfect pregnancy diet, but I also don't give in every time I want ice cream (and good thing because that's like 3 times each day). This has worked really well for me! I'm on track with my weight gain, but I don't feel like I'm depriving myself at all. I do make an effort to eat healthy, but I usually eat something small each day that feels like a treat (usually something sweet :) ). Sometimes I have days where I just eat all the junk food I want, but not every day. The key is to try to stick with an overall healthy diet and then when an unhealthy craving hits, you don't feel guilty for giving in. It's also important to remember that although you are pregnant; gorging yourself with food isn't the best option. It's easy to justify it, but not good for you or your baby. Try to stick with everything in moderation and I feel like you will be very satisfied!

Those are some of my fit pregnancy tips! Every pregnancy is different and what works for one person may not work for another, so definitely keep that in mind. I have also been extremely blessed with a healthy pregnancy so far and am able to carry these tips out, but I do realize that based on different circumstances it's not always possible. Please let me know if you found these tips to be helpful and if you would like me to do another fit pregnancy post in the future (I'm thinking something along the lines of "My Favorite Fit Pregnancy Foods). Also, if you have any advice on having a healthy pregnancy and how to take care of your body during pregnancy, I would love to hear it! Hope you all have a wonderful week!