31 Week Pregnancy Blog

31 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on July 9, 2016

How far along? 31 weeks 6 days -- almost 8 months!

                 Happy 4th of July! 

Baby: Oreo measures over 16 inches long and weighs about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a coconut!). She's definitely growing! The baby is heading into a growth spurt (which is crazy because the baby has already been in a growth spurt). The baby can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath the skin. The baby is moving a lot too!

Total Weight Gain: I have now gained 14-15 lbs (120-121). While I don't love it, I am happy to see my weight increasing since the baby is having some growth issues and is only in the 24th percentile for weight. This week I majorly amped up my protein intake (my doctors suggestion to help with growth), so my diet has been much different. I don't naturally eat a lot of protein, but I'm finding protein packed things that I do like after some searching. Hopefully the protein is helping the baby grow and allowing me to put on some healthy weight. I've also been walking some each day which I am loving. It feels so good to be active again, even if it's just a mile walk around the neighborhood.

Maternity Clothes: Maternity clothes are my friend right now! My belly is getting bigger and bigger, so options are becoming increasingly limited. Still wearing almost all maternity shirts and dresses and then some maternity shorts and regular shorts with my belly band. I'm filling out the bigger maternity shirts better, so at least they look like they fit me properly now. I've settled into my favorites as far as maternity wear goes and am kinda rotating those items. That's how I know the end is (kinda) near!

Stretch Marks: I'm still being consistent with the stretch mark cream and moisturization. I am applying lotion to my belly each morning and evening. I have been trying to be very consistent with this because I know now is the time I am growing quickly. 

              31 Week Bump! 

Sleep: I am still sleeping very lightly and wake up 2-3 times each night like clock work. I wasn't able to nap this week and I struggle to get comfortable more now. I just can't seem to chill out long enough to take a nap (even when everyone else is), but some days it catches up with me. I'm still waking up between 7-8am with Grayson each morning and he completely wears me out by the end of each day. Yesterday I did end up taking a 1 hour nap because I just didn't feel well. Sometimes the lack of sleep hits me and I start to feel almost sick. That's when I will take a nap and wake up feeling much better. Pregnancy insomnia is legit for me! 

Miss Anything? For most of the day, I feel great! But the aches and pains do kick in especially on active days and by each evening. Carrying around and chasing after a toddler at 8 months pregnant (add constantly having to go up and down the stairs in there) is exhausting. Back pain and round ligament pain have been prominent this week. I just miss my body being able to do whatever I want it to do without being in pain. Besides that, I still love pregnancy! Very few complaints here. 

Best Moment of the Week: We made a bunch of progress with baby things this week! I ordered and received my new diaper bag and baby girl's dresser. I was given a bunch of little girl clothes sizes newborn - 12 months from a friend at church along with baby gear. We got rid of some older baby things and were given used but newer baby gear items. We also bought decorations (pictures and a rug) for her nursery. So overall, it was a great week as far as baby preparation goes!

Movement: I can tell she's getting bigger -- her movements are big and powerful! I can really feel her different body parts and little booty constantly moving. She is still very active most days. She does have days where she's less active (which scare me), but usually she moves very often. I make a big effort to make sure she's moving every 1-2 hours, but usually it doesn't take long to feel her. I love all the movements and being able to tell there's a fully formed baby in there! I can also feel her at night and during my sleep. She tends to be very active at night before bed. 

Food Cravings: I did well with food this week. I was instructed to eat more protein to help with the baby's growth and that's exactly what I've been doing. I'm really making to effort to have every calorie count by eating nutritious and protein filled foods. My favorites have been apples and peanut butter, Boost Chocolate nutritional drink (kind of like a protein shake), peanut butter and dark chocolate protein bars, Greek yogurt, cheese sticks, and scrambled eggs with cheese and tomatoes topped with salsa. Yummy! This week we had a few days filled with eating delicious food -- 4th of July, birthday party, lunch with friends, family dinner, and church staff dinner. I ate a lot of protein (meats) at all of those meals and just ate some good hearty food. I was told to increase my caloric intake, so that's what I'm trying to do -- within reason. I'm sure that helped with the weight gain this week, but no complaints from me! I've been really limiting the sweets lately just because I know that they do nothing for the baby as far as nutrition, BUT I did have a brownie and ice cream twice this week, 2 pieces of cake at a birthday party, and delicious homemade blueberry pie that a church member gave us -- and it hit the spot!! I'll always have a sweet tooth...just trying to control it until she's born and not dependent on me for all her nutrition. :)

Anything making you queasy or sick?Just not getting enough rest.

Gender: GIRL!

Symptoms: More Braxton Hicks contractions (a few each day), back pain, round ligament pain, tired, difficulty sleeping, and just feeling more pregnant as the baby grows. Acne and constipation have been great this pregnancy which is a change from my last pregnancy. Funny how each pregnancy has its specific challenges!

Happy or moody: Moody

Looking forward to: My 3 doctor's appointments this week (specialist, thyroid, and regular OBGYN) and continujng to work on getting ready for the baby to come! Also, a busy week with play dates and meeting new people here in Macon, so I'm excited about that. 

31 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on Monday November 10, 2014

How far along? 31 weeks 4 days -- almost 8 months!

Baby: Peanut measures over 16 inches long and weighs about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a coconut!). We may have to rename the baby because Peanut doesn't seem appropriate anymore! The baby is heading into a growth spurt (which is crazy because the baby has already been in a growth spurt). The baby can turn his/her head from side to side, and the arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath the skin. Peanut is probably moving a lot too!

Total Weight Gain: I finally reached the 130 lb. weight mark...I couldn't help but not be thrilled about this. I was between a 14-15 lb. weight gain all week (129-130). I know it means the baby is growing and I can definitely tell because I am much bigger! I am still working out 3 times a week on the elliptical and doing the arm machines for some toning. I am hoping to keep up the healthy eating and activity this week, so I can contain the rapid growth to my belly and not my whole body ;) I get my thyroid tested this week, so we will see how accurate this weight gain is!

Maternity Clothes: I am wearing more and more maternity clothes and have my favorite few pairs of maternity pants that I am reusing quite often. The weather is colder, so that limits my wardrobe. Maternity sweaters and scarves are my new best friends! Overall, I still haven't purchased any maternity clothes and am thankful the ones I have been given are doing the job!

Stretch Marks: I'm still being consistent with the stretch mark cream and moisturization. I am applying lotion to my belly and boobs each morning and evening and am still stretch mark free. I have been trying to be very consistent with this because I know now is the time I am growing quickly.

Sleep: I am still sleeping very lightly and wake up way before I need to. I did sleep in on Saturday which was wonderful! I napped this week which also helped. I'm trying to relax and get my rest, but once I wake up I want to start my day (even if it's 5am). Josh seems to think it's because of anxiety but honestly I'm not really sure of the reason. I have also been waking up and eating at like 4am which is very weird for me. I'm awake long enough that I start to get hungry, but I eventually go back to sleep.

Miss Anything? Pregnancy acne is still horrible! I miss being able to take a pill for my acne which I'm guessing I won't be able to resume until after I stop breastfeeding. Besides that, all is well!

Best Moment of the Week: We cleaned out the baby room this week and it feels so good to have all of the baby's things organized!

Movement: SO much movement this week! The baby goes crazy sometimes and my whole stomach shakes...it's the craziest/coolest thing. I'm still obsessed with the movement and watch for it/have my hands on my belly all day long. I feel it almost every hour which is more than ever. I also feel it all over my tummy, sometimes super low and sometimes above my belly button. This baby is growing and super active!

Food Cravings: I did well with the food this week. I am trying to stick to the everything in moderation rules especially as we go into Josh's birthday week and will be eating out a lot. We got these apples on Friday at the apple orchard in Blue Ride and they are DELICIOUS. I'm obsessed. They are called Pink Lady apples and actually make eating an apple feel like a treat. Besides that, I'm still loving sweets, especially Josh's chocolate peanut butter birthday cake. Are they trying to kill me? It's delicious and my self-control is really being put to the test.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Gender: Surprise -- I am getting more and more excited to find out and put a name to this child! We are still up in the air on the boy name -- which drives me crazy!

Symptoms: Lots of Braxton Hicks this week especially when standing up after sitting for a while, constipation was a lot better!, acne is still awful but thankfully make-up does a decent job at covering it all, difficulty sleeping and the hip pain was much better this week but still strikes randomly. Overall, I feel great and am so thankful for that!

Happy or moody: Moody

Looking forward to: My next baby shower this weekend! Also I have a thyroid blood test and an appointment with the OBGYN this week. I am excited to see how much the baby grew!

My Favorite Products During Pregnancy

As the third trimester is in full swing (only 2 months to go!), I wanted to share with you all what my favorite products have been so far in my pregnancy. These products have made my pregnancy easier and have helped to make my experience with pregnancy much more enjoyable. If you are currently pregnant, I highly recommend each of these products!


1. Half Caff K-Cups

These things have been a life saver for me this pregnancy. For some reason, the moment I learned I needed to limit my caffeine during pregnancy; I wanted it more than ever. The funny thing is I normally only have 1 cup of coffee each morning and that's it, but like I said, this pregnancy I have craved coffee like there is no tomorrow. You always want what you can't have, right? The first trimester, I cut out caffeine entirely which was extremely difficult. By the second trimester, I started easing myself into my morning coffee again. These Half-Caff K-Cups are the perfect compromise for my caffeine-loving self. One cup contains half the amount of caffeine as a regular cup, but it still does the trick and tastes much better than decaf. I have really loved my morning cups of coffee during pregnancy once I discovered these!

 

 

 

2. Be Maternity BeBand - Natural

 

This belly band has been another life saver for my pregnancy and probably my most recommended product purchase for pregnant women. For only $16.99 at Target, I have more than gotten my use out of this thing. If you aren't sure exactly what it does, it is a stretchy material that goes over your belly and top of your pants and allows you to keep your pants unbuttoned without having to worry about flashing everyone around you. It's basically the new version of the rubber band trick and believe me, it does the trick! I bought the BeBand around my 16th week of pregnancy and have worn it ever since. It allows me to be able to wear my regular pants which I have been really thankful for. There is just something about my regular clothes that makes me much more comfortable than the maternity clothes. I still use the belly band regularly and I am in my 31st week of pregnancy. It easily fits under your clothes and isn't bulky or uncomfortable. It provides support for your growing belly and the natural color makes the BeBand unnoticeable to the outside eye. I have also heard you can use the BeBand post-partum as a way to get your regular jeans on when you can't quite zip them yet. I would highly recommend this product!

 

 

3. Flavored Drink Packets

Most pregnant women know the importance of drinking water during your pregnancy. If you are like me, then you don't need to be reminded because you are constantly thirsty. The Crystal Light Lemonade packets have made drinking water during my pregnancy much more enjoyable. I allow myself 1 packet each day (2 if I'm really not wanting to drink regular water) and I actually look forward to my daily bottle of lemonade. Each packet is only 10 calories and it so much more satisfying than a regular bottle of water, but you are still getting the fluids you need. I drink a lot of water, so by adding a flavor to my water I get the variety I need. You can use any flavor or any brand. I usually buy my flavored drink packets from the Dollar Tree and think they still taste great. This is a great way to make healthy habits during pregnancy a little more enjoyable!

4. Dermasil Lotion

As any pregnant lady knows, rapid growth is a huge part of pregnancy. Your skin is constantly being stretched and pulled. You think it can't possibly stretch anymore and then it does! I started using stretch mark cream in the beginning of my second trimester and found that I ran out of it very quickly. Stretch mark cream is pricy and soon it began to add up. I then discovered the Dermasil brand of lotion at the Dollar Tree. Yes, I am an avid Dollar Tree shopper if you can't tell. I believe that if you can find quality products for a cheaper price, why not take advantage of it? This brand of lotion has been great and has helped keep my skin moisturized during pregnancy. There are lighter lotions and more thick lotions to choose from. They do a great job and have allowed my skin to grow without tearing and creating stretch marks (at least none to speak of yet!). I still have one bottle of brand name stretch mark cream (Palmer's Stretch Mark Lotion) and I believe it also works very well. For me, this has been a cost effective alternative of taking care of my skin during pregnancy and this brand couples wonderfully with a brand name stretch mark cream to keep your skin healthy during your pregnancy.

5. Healthy Snacks

Throughout my pregnancy, hunger will randomly strike and out of nowhere I am starving. I have found that it's useful to have a snack on hand, so that when hunger strikes, I have something to munch on instead of turning into a starving (and irritated) pregnant lady. These are some of my favorite healthy snacks that not only satisfy my hunger and tide me over until the next meal, but also give me and my baby the nutrition we both need. When I'm starving, I'll eat whatever is in front of me, so because of that I try to keep healthy options on hand. Then I have no choice but to go for the apple and not the candy....most days :)

 

I have always loved apples, but I have especially enjoyed them during my pregnancy. They satisfy that sweet craving for me with some added nutrition. Apples are full of vitamin C, boost your blood sugar quickly, and are refreshing. My new favorites are Pink Lady apples (we got some from an apple orchard this weekend) because they are so delicious that they taste more like a treat to me. They are easy to keep in your purse or your car without spoiling. I also LOVE snacking on apples and peanut butter for some extra protein.

 

 

My next favorite snack is string cheese. This one might seem random and to be honest I haven't had string cheese since I was a kid. It's one of the foods recommended for pregnancy, so I thought I would try it and turns out, I am still a big fan! One stick of string cheese has 7 grams of protein which is very important during pregnancy. String cheese also has the additional calcium that my body needs right now (apparently the baby is taking most of my supply). 

 

The last snack is any type of granola bar, but my favorite is the Nature Valley Trail Mix Fruit & Nut bar. Granola bars have always been my go-to snack and that hasn't changed during my pregnancy. They are perfect for storing in your bag, lunch box, or car and they have saved me many times when hungry struck and I didn't have much food on hand. The fruit and nut combination provides you with a little fruit, nut and whole grain -- all good for you and your baby!

6. Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream

I mentioned this product before in my summer favorites and it is still a favorite of mine months later! I have also mentioned multiple times that one of my pregnancy symptoms has been pregnancy/hormonal acne. Before I was pregnant, I was on birth control and that seemed to help keep my face clear and the acne at bay. Once I got off birth control and became pregnant, my skin went crazy! I assumed it would slow down or my body would adjust to the new hormones, but that hasn't been the case. Where is the "pregnancy glow" I hear about?? I am very grateful this has been one of my only complaints during pregnancy because obviously it could be so much worse. But if you have ever had acne then you probably know that it can really affect your confidence and it can be uncomfortable and even painful for your skin. The Dream Pure BB Cream by Maybelline has been a lifesaver for my breakouts. This product is very light on your skin like a moisturizer, but it provides excellent coverage like a liquid foundation. It doesn't leave your skin looking orange, but instead gives you a nice, healthy glow. It also does a good job of evening out your skin tone which can get extremely red and patchy when your face is constantly broken out. I love this product and think it's a wonderful BB cream for anyone, but if you are pregnant and dealing with acne, I especially recommend it.

7. Good Pair of Maternity Jeans

The last item on my list is a good pair of maternity jeans. I don't have a specific brand to recommend to you, but I can't tell you how nice it is to have at least one pair of maternity jeans that you feel comfortable and confident in. I know that no matter how I am feeling, I can put on that pair of maternity jeans and feel good about myself. A good pair of maternity jeans provides you with the comfort and fit you need. I prefer the maternity jeans with the longer belly panel, but that's just a personal preference. My best advice is whether you get some hand-me-downs from a friend like I was lucky enough to or if you have to go out and buy some, make sure you have something you feel good in. Pregnancy is tough on the body and the mind. We deserve a little pick me up and at least one item of clothing we feel good in!