Pregnant in Rexburg

Getting Husbands Excited About Baby

2009-12-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

My Belly Button is Disappearing

2009-12-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

I am 25 weeks and yes my belly button is disappearing! It is very normal, I know but it still does not cease to amaze me! It seems like my belly gets larger everyday! Every morning when I get dressed I swear my clothes are a little snugger and I am bigger than the day before. My belly button is at the stage where it is not poking out but it is SO small there is barely even anything there. This freaks out my husband and he does not understand why it disappears. As the baby grows it pushes out on your stomach causing your belly button to stretch and well disappear. The wonders of Pregnancy.

Pampering

2009-12-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

Here in Rexburg there are a few beauty schools where they offer services for pretty cheap! I totally recommend to every pregnant women out there to go and get a manicure, pedicure, or facial. Evans school here in Rexburg offers manicures and facials for only $3.50! A pedicure is $17.00 so a little more expensive but if you are feeling down and need a pick me up, pampering yourself is a great way to feel better about yourself. Here is Evans Hairstyling school websitehttp://www.evanshairstylingcollege.com/service.htm

Emotional

2009-11-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

I have found myself getting more and more stressed and emotional lately. It is very stressful going to school, work, and being pregnant and not knowing what is going to happen in the next few months or where you will be can really start to take a toll on someone. Now I know it is completely normal to be emotional and more stressed out while being pregnant but that doesn't help me feel better about it. I start to feel so guilty and stupid. I found this article on healthmed that makes you feel a little better about being a crazy person right now!

What is commonly overlooked during pregnancy is the women’s emotional, physical and mental state. It is critical that these states are balanced during pregnancy in order to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Many people overlook the anxiety, physical endurance, and emotional turmoil that may occur during pregnancy. There is certainly anxiety caused firstly with your ability to conceive and then the anxiety endured from the pressures to ensure you carry a healthy fetus full-term, in addition to the continuous changes in hormonal and physical state of the body.

Ensuring that you keep well informed on the essentials of pregnancy will avoid any mental blocks. However, it is important to take information as it comes and then assess what is important to you and what is absolutely essential to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Many of us are guilty of information overload that can cause further distress.

On the emotional front, it is unrealistic and impossible no matter how much control you have; to just relax and let nature take its course during pregnancy. This is more so difficult, when you have endured years of pain & setbacks to fall pregnant in the first place. No matter how strong and positive you are in character, it is normal to have some level of anxiety as you progress through your pregnancy.

It is also important to remain level headed and connect with your inner self-beliefs prior and during being pregnant. This will ensure that you remain focused on the end-result to ultimately create a shield of protection from impeding views.

Your values in particular, the respect you have for yourself during this time is crucial to maintain a sense of well-being and trust in your own actions. Your actions do not need to be certified by a professional nor through public opinion.

People Touching Your Belly

2009-11-30T14:04:00.000-08:00

So many people come up to me and touch my belly! It is weird and very awkward. It is mainly people I do not know at all! I never had the guts to go up to some random pregnant women and touch her pregnant belly without asking! These are some brave people! What if I freaked out on them and said a bunch of rude things! I have touched one of their stomachs back and then they stopped but it is just so awkward! If you are not friends with the person that is expecting don't touch their belly! How would you like random people coming up and touching your gut saying how cute it was. Give the pregnant women her space!

Traveling

2009-11-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

Recently we just drove 14 hours to California from Rexburg and by the time we even got to Pocatello my feet and ankles were so swollen my socks were so tight! It was long car ride and had to stop quite a bit for bathroom breaks and food breaks but overall it wasnt to bad for being 6 months along. We will be traveling to Missouri a 20 hour car ride for Christmas not counting all the snow we will probably have to face. We will see how that one goes. But here are some traveling tips for the upcoming holidays for all of you out there that will be traveling.

Car travel is safe during pregnancy, although you may need to allow extra time for bathroom and stretch breaks on long trips. Always wear your seat belt low across your pelvic bone and never across your belly, and position the shoulder belt snugly between your breasts. Air bags are as safe during pregnancy as they are at any other time, so don’t disconnect them. There is a potential risk associated with airbags because they open with such force; however, the benefits of their use outweigh the risks. To minimize the risk of injury during airbag deployment, sit as far back as possible – at least ten inches from the dashboard or steering wheel, wherever the airbag is located.

If you are in a car accident of any sort, regardless of severity or how far along you are in your pregnancy, you should be checked out by a doctor immediately, even if you feel fine.

Buses and trains tend to have narrow aisles and cramped bathrooms; however, both modes of transportation are safe during your pregnancy. Be sure to hang on to the seat backs when walking up and down the aisles.

If you experience any of the following complications while traveling, you should seek immediate medical attention:

Bleeding, Contractions, Impaired vision, Ruptured membranes, Abdominal pain or cramping, Passing clots or tissue, Headaches, Excessive swelling of your legs

The bottom line for traveling while pregnant is to take extra precautions, listen to your body, and always discuss your travel plans with your doctor before you leave.

Buying Baby Stuff

2009-11-23T14:01:00.001-08:00

Buying baby stuff is expensive but fun! Its like Christmas all over again. During this thanksgiving we went up to Oregon where there is no sales tax and bought some bigger things on black Friday. We still have a LONG way to go but we are a lot further along then we were a few weeks ago! It is really fun going out and buying cute little dresses and bows for a girl. Girls are already fun to buy for! Yeah probably a little more expensive than a boy but they are so cute!

Pregnancy Dreams

2009-11-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been having crazy dreams! I keep dreaming that my Husband leaves me or some crazy monsters come and eat him. Also recently I have been having these really realistic dreams that our baby girl comes out a boy and we have pink everything and no more money to buy boy stuff. I guess since we were told that they think it is a girl that is one of my fears now. Last night I had the most realistic dream that we had twins and I woke up in the middle of the night freaking out because how would I handle two at once!

Babycenter.com says that dreams reflect your emotional state, so it's only natural that during pregnancy — a time of many mixed emotions — your dreams seem more intense and stranger than usual. Hormonal changes (specifically, a surge in progesterone) also make you dream more frequently and vividly. And you may be remembering more of your dreams if you're regularly waking up during the night, interrupting phases of dream-filled REM sleep.Experts have found that moms-to-be often dream about such things as water, talking animals, sex, and large buildings during their first, second, and third trimesters.

As you find out more about your pregnancy and your growing baby, your dreams will probably be affected. Try not to be disturbed by your dreams — they simply reveal your apprehension and excitement about the huge changes taking place in your life.

Not Everyone is a Fertile Myrtle

2009-11-23T12:20:00.000-08:00

About 10 percent of women -6.1 million, in the United States ages 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the CDC.

Infertility is very common and is also very stressful and emotional. Everyone should be mindful that not everyone is able to just talk about kids and then get pregnant. For some women it takes years to even just conceive let alone actually give birth to a baby.

Most cases of female infertility are caused by problems with ovulation. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods. Ovulation problems are often caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormone imbalance problem, which can interfere with normal ovulation. PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility. Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is another cause of ovulation problems. POI occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop working normally before she is 40. POI is not the same as early menopause.

Other less common causes of fertility problems in women include: Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. If a woman keeps having miscarriages, it is also called infertility. Lots of couples have infertility problems. About a third of the time, infertility can be traced to the woman. In another third of cases, it is because of the man. The rest of the time, it is because of both partners or no cause is found.

It is a good idea for any woman to talk to a doctor before trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you get your body ready for a healthy baby. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving. Most experts suggest at least one year of actively trying to conceive before they go to infertility treatments and tests. Women 35 or older should see their doctors after six months of trying. A woman's chances of having a baby decrease rapidly every year after the age of 30.

Couples dealing with infertility may experience a wide spectrum of feelings such as jealousy, despair, envy, isolation, and bitterness. They may feel singled out, and they might find it difficult to fit into social circles where everyone else has children. Infertility can cause stress on a couple's personal, social, and sex lives. The anger and disappointment that often accompanies infertility can rub off on the marital companionship, and cause couples to blame one another. Many couples suffer with depression which in turn can lead them withdraw themselves.

Men and women tend to react somewhat differently to infertility. Women often experience profound grief and sadness. They tend to cry a lot and to reduce their anxiety by talking about what they're experiencing. Men express fewer anguished feelings and seem to be less affected by being childless. They generally don't feel as free to talk about their feelings and tend to have less opportunity to discuss them with friends.

Going somewhere where children are present can cause the pain of infertility to surface. As a result couples dealing with infertility tend to avoid these types of situations. When couples place procreation as the focus of their intimacy for a period of time, sexual intercourse becomes solely a way to create children; it no longer has the element of love, affection, or spontaneity.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World says, "We declare that God's commandment for his children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force." Being in an LDS community this can be very hard to deal with when everyone around you is having kids and telling you that you should be having kids when you are trying.

This is why couples struggling with infertility need support from family members and friends. It is important not to be intrusive into this very private dimension of a marriage but to be understanding and supportive. Here are a few tips to help the ones you love from the LDS church website.

Show understanding and acceptance.

· Listen without giving advice.

· Let the couple know you are there for them.

· Don't ask a woman if she is pregnant.

· Give the couple respect and privacy.

· Don't offer false hope.

· Don't joke about infertility.

· Don't suggest solutions, such as infertility treatments, adoption, or foster parenting. These are options that should be privately discussed between couples.

· Don't offer the commonly repeated misinformation that a woman who adopts often gets pregnant soon after.

Learn about infertility so you can be an informed listener.

The Duggars

2009-11-19T12:22:00.000-08:00

One of the shows I have recently started watching is 18 Kids and Counting formerly 17 Kids and Counting. It is a reality television show produced in the United States by Figure 8 Films about the Duggar family, which consists of parents Jim Bob and Michelle and their 18 children. The eight girls and ten boys all have names starting with the letter "J".

It is a funny show to watch for me just because I think it is amazing how they deal with 18 kids. So it is interesting to see how they handle situations and the differentg things they do.

The children's names are (in birth order) as follows: Josh, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer and Jordyn-Grace.

The show airs on TLC. The show's second season premiered Sunday, January 25, 2009 and was followed by the hour-long special A Very Duggar Wedding, with two more new episodes aired back-to-back January 27. Starting February 24, 2009, the show's name was changed to 18 Kids and Counting.

The family (who live in Tontitown, Arkansas) previously appeared in several TLC and Discovery Health one-hour specials, most of which focused on three of Michelle's last four births.

Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar married July 21st, 1984. At that time, they chose to use the birth control pill. They thought, “We don’t want children right now. We can’t afford them. We want children in our timing, when we’re ready.” Four years later they decided to have their first child. Then, Michelle went back on the pill, but she conceived and had a miscarriage. At that point they talked with a Christian medical doctor and read the fine print in the contraceptives package. They found that while taking the pill you can get pregnant and then miscarry. They were grieved! They were Christians! They were pro-life! They realized that their selfish actions had taken the life of their child. They prayed and asked God to forgive them, and to teach them to love children like He loves children. They asked God to bless them with as many children as He saw fit in His timing. Right after that Michelle got pregnant with twins!

To date they have been blessed with 18 children, (10 boys and 8 girls) Joshua (& wife Anna), Jana & John-David (twins), Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah & Jeremiah (twins), Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, and Jordyn-Grace.

You can visit their website at www.duggarfamily.com

Maternity Clothes

2009-11-18T12:19:00.000-08:00

I went out and bought my first pair of Maternity Jeans and they are wonderful! So comfy! I purchased them from motherhood maternity and had my size ordered in from the warehouse. It has the secret belly fit elastic thing that is amazing. I love not having a button or zippers that dig into my stomach when I sit down. They are cute and weren't as expensive as I thought they would be. I totally recommend to all those women out there who refuse to get maternity jeans to buy at least one pair. I am wearing mine almost every day now.

These are the Jeans I purchased or pretty similar to this pair.

BYU-Idaho Bulletin Board

2009-11-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for some cheap baby items the Byu-Idaho bulletin board is great! People are always moving and getting rid of some things and a lot of the stuff is in pretty good shape! I found some blogs from there that show you how to make little bows for girls and bow ties for boys. People are always selling some sort of baby thing so check it out!
http://web.byui.edu/BulletinBoard2/Default.aspx

Battle of the Bulge

2009-11-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

I now have one pair of maternity jeans they are wonderful but when you cant wear sweat pants to school and you only have one pair of jeans that really fit good you get creative. Now there are those bands that go around your waist to help hold up your regular pants but I dont have them. I have been using rubber bands and hair ties to hold my pants up so I can wear my old jeans. It is getting to the point now where it is getting hard to do that. It is amazing how fast your stomach grows and clothes seem to fit one day and then not the next. I do now look actually pregnant though instead of looking like I got some pudge and a gut, so that is good.

Eating Healthy

2009-11-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

Growing a healthy baby requires about 300 extra calories per day assuming normal activity and more for women who exercise. In those extra calories, the pregnant woman needs up to 50 percent more of most vitamins and minerals and an additional 10 grams of protein a day for fetal and placental growth, expanded maternal extra cellular fluid, breasts, and uterus.

This additional caloric intake should be sufficient to attain a weight gain of approximately 22 to 28 pounds in women of normal weight. If you're underweight before you become pregnant, a 30 to 35 pound weight gain is appropriate.

Wonder where all that weight is going?  

Baby	7-8 lbs.
Placenta	1-2 lbs.
Uterus	2 lbs.
Amniotic Fluid	1.5 - 2 lbs.
Breasts	1 lb.
Blood Volume	2.5 - 3 lbs.
Fat	5 lbs.
Tissue, Fluid	4-7 lbs.
Total	24 - 30 lbs.

1. From the meat, fish, poultry, and egg group: Choose approximately three two- to three-ounce servings of fish, poultry, lean meat, eggs, beans, lentils, nut butters (i.e. peanut, almond, cashew, tahini, soy nut), seeds, and nuts.

2. From the dairy group: Choose approximately four one-cup servings of milk or the equivalent (i.e., one ounce of cheese, one cup plain yogurt, or 1½ cups of cottage cheese).

3. From the vegetable and fruit group: This group is divided into two main categories—those that contain large amounts of vitamin C and those that contain large amounts of beta carotene, which can be converted to vitamin A as the body needs it. You should get one to two half-cup servings of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C.

Rich in Vitamin C
Vegetables	Fruits
Broccoli	Cantaloupe
Brussels Sprout	Honeydew Melon
Cauliflower	Lemon
Collard Greens	Orange
Green Pepper	Papaya
Mustard Greens	Strawberry
Potato	Watermelon
Spinach

To meet your vitamin A requirement each day, have two half-cup servings from the beta carotene-rich fruits and vegetables. To this list add one more serving of a vegetable of your choice.

Rich in Beta Carotene
Vegetables	Fruits
Broccoli	Apricot
Cabbage	Cantaloupe
Carrots	Nectarine
Chard	Papaya
Kale	Peach
Sweet Potatoes	Watermelon
Spinach	Pumpkin
	Winter Squash

4. From the bread, cereal, dried beans, peas, and legumes group: Select six to 11 servings. A serving means one slice of bread, or ¼ cup cooked dried beans, peas, or legumes. A dry cereal serving should measure ¾ of a cup, and cooked cereal should measure ½ cup.

Information from babyzone.com

Working Out

2009-11-09T12:23:00.000-08:00

Abc news did this article on working out while pregnant and also gave some tips on how to safely stay in shape while expecting. So I thought I would post it here for everyone read about working out while being pregnant.

During pregnancy, the female goes through hormonal changes that increase the levels of the hormones relaxin, elastin, estrogen and progesterone in their bodies. These hormones soften the connective tissue surrounding the joints, which is necessary to allow the female pelvic joint to expand to accommodate the baby as it passes through the pelvic inlet during birth. Yet, the weight-bearing joints such as the knees, ankles and hips are affected, too.

Additionally, the blood volume in a woman's body increases by as much as 30 percent to 50 percent. Because of this, the heart rate and cardiac output are elevated at rest. The resting heart rate may be elevated as much as 15 beats per minute during pregnancy.

As pregnancy progresses, the uterus increases in size and weight and therefore pulls the pelvis into a forward tilt, causing stress on the lumbar sacral ligament and lower back muscles. The abdominal muscles tend to stretch and weaken, while the lower back muscles tend to shorten, resulting in a sway back -- or lordotic -- posture.

The weight of the growing breasts tends to pull the shoulders into a forward position, resulting in a slouched posture of the upper back. The chest muscles shorten, while the upper back muscles stretch and weaken.

As the uterus grows, it stretches the abdominal muscles. This lengthening process causes the body to add functional units called sarcomeres to muscles, making them progressively longer. When combined with the action of the aforementioned hormones, this process relaxes the muscles throughout the pelvic girdle, all of which are important units for your core. Keep in mind that a long muscle is a weak muscle and a short muscle is a strong muscle.

In the past, it was believed that exercise would harm a developing baby and that as much rest as possible was required for the fetus to grow. That might be still true depending on your age, health and physical condition; as women become pregnant in older age, pregnancies may be more difficult than for women who are younger.

It would be wise to start exercising even before your pregnancy in order to establish baseline levels with which you can work once you do get pregnant. It would be best to work with a heart rate monitor to find out your maximum heart rate, your resting heart rate and your heart rate recovery time for purposes of comparison and tracking your progress. Keep in mind that your resting heart rate increases during pregnancy. Also, women who exercise and then become pregnant are used to the feeling of intense workouts versus women who have never exercised. Already pregnant? Pay attention to your body when you work out; exercising just to the point of being a bit out of breath or having a flushed complexion will tell you that you are working at a good indication of intensity.

To prevent back pain from a slouching posture, you should strengthen the muscles in the upper back. This can be done fairly simply with an exercise rubber band. You can exercise from a sitting position, legs straight out in front of you, by placing the band around your feet and pulling it toward the body in a rowing motion.

As the abdominals relax and lengthen, simple strategies should be implemented to strengthen the abdominal groups, such as the transverse abdominals and rectus abdominis, as these are key muscle groups when it comes to pushing the child through the birth canal. These exercises can include activities as simple as pulling the navel button toward the spine.

To strengthen the pelvic floor, women should perform contractions of the pelvic floor known as Kegel exercises, or simply as "kegels." Because the rectus abdominis, transverses abdominals and pelvic girdle belong to the core, which is necessary to give stability in any movement, balance work should also be done moderately, within levels of comfort.

No Sweat Pants Allowed

2009-11-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

Whoever made the rule at BYU-Idaho that no sweat pants were allowed certainly wasn't pregnant. Having to find a pair of jeans that still fits and a shirt that is long enough to cover the unbutton button and un-zipped zipper can be challenging enough without having to worry about exposing yourself every time you sit down. It would be so much easier and more comfortable if we were allowed to wear sweat pants! Most colleges don't have a specific dress code saying you cant wear sweat pants. So I come home everyday from class and slip into my most comfy sweats. If only I could be as comfy in class. I guess I will need to get some maternity pants so I can be a bit more comfy while I am forced to sit there in those hard un-comfy desks for hours. Byu-Idaho you should consult with some pregnant women whom take up quite a bit of population at your school and adhere to some of their needs and wants.

Boy or Girl?

2009-11-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

The First Flutter

2009-11-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

The First Flutter is very excited and also very strange. I first felt the baby move at about 16 or 17 weeks. It was just a little flutter down low and happen so fast if I was just laying there doing nothing I would have missed it. The flutters have come more frequently and more prominent. It has sometimes even made me very nauseous. I can feel the baby turning and that is making my stomach turn. It is a weird feeling kind of like being on a boat and getting sea sick. But the baby has gotten stronger and the flutters have turned into a quick jab inside my gut. My husband can now feel quick movements and it is very exciting. We are excited for when the baby is stronger and bigger and we will be able to tell if it was a foot or a hand. It is the strangest feeling to actually feel something moving inside of you and knowing that something is ALIVE in there. It is very distracting. But a great feeling all at the same time.

Thank Goodness for Cable TV

2009-10-23T19:58:00.002-07:00

Ill I have to say is thank goodness for Cable TV. I come home from school and work so exhausted and not wanting to think or do anything and laying down on the couch and flipping through channels seems like the best medication for exhaustion. It doesn't take any brain power and no need to think whatsoever. Just sit there and let the media rot my brain. I have my reality shows I watch every night and even the news will work. Just something where I don't have to think or move. Yes, you could say I am lazy and this could be considered a couch potato. But really right now I don't care.

Prenatals

2009-10-23T19:58:00.001-07:00

Pregnant women need to take Pre-natal Vitamins. These are specially formulated multivitamins that make up for any nutritional deficiencies in the mother's diet. While the supplements contain numerous vitamins and minerals, their folic acid, iron, and calcium content are especially important.

Pregnant women need folic acid, iron and calcium, folic acid can reduce your risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord, called the ‘neural tube.’ A baby with spina bifida, the most common neural tube defect, is born with a spine that is not closed. The exposed nerves are damaged, leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis, incontinence, and sometimes mental retardation. Studies have shown that taking a larger dose (up to 4,000 micrograms) at least one month before and during the first trimester may be beneficial.

Calcium during pregnancy can prevent a new mother from losing her own bone density, as the foetus uses the mineral for bone growth. Iron can help with both the mother and baby's blood to carry oxygen.

There are natural sources of folic acid: such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, and citrus fruits. It is also found in many fortified breakfast cereals and some vitamin supplements.

Pre-natals are not a substitute for a healthy diet, but most women need pre-natals to make sure they get adequate levels of these minerals.

Information from webmd

H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccination for Pregnant Women

2009-10-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

There has been lots of controversy about the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccinations for pregnant women.

During pregnancy, any type of flu can get bad very quickly and be complicated by infections such as pneumonia or by fetal distress.

As pregnancy evolves, a woman's diaphragm is pushed upward and she has decreased lung capacity. This makes respiratory disease more dangerous.

A pregnant woman's immune system shifts away from the kinds of immune responses most effective in battling viral infections. This makes her more susceptible to some viral diseases such as flu. Your immune system is weaker when you're pregnant, so you're more vulnerable to illness in general.

Many moms-to-be who get the flu have no complications. But statistically, you're more likely to develop a severe case when you're pregnant.

Pregnant women who are otherwise healthy have already been severely affected by the 2009 swine flu virus. More pregnant women have been hospitalized with H1N1, and some have died compared to the general population.

The CDC has details on 266 of the 305 U.S. swine flu deaths reported as of July 29. Fifteen of these 266 deaths -- about 6% -- were among pregnant women. Most of the deaths were among women in their third trimester.

The H1N1 Swine Flu has been said to be very dangerous to pregnant women and most doctors are encouraging their patients to get the vaccination. But is it actually safe for women and their babies?

The package inserts for the swine flu vaccines actually say that the safety of these vaccines for pregnant women has not been established. And miscarriage reports from pregnant women who have taken the H1N1 swine flu vaccine are starting to pour in from all over the nation.

We do more research before buying a car or cell phone than we do before injecting ourselves with an experimental shot.

U.S. Health authorities have made pregnant women one of the highest priority groups for getting the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. But women are more reluctant to get this vaccination because it is so new and has not been tested to be sure that it is safe for pregnant women and their unborn children.

So what should pregnant women do? Take the chance of getting this rising deadly flu or take the chance and get an unknown shot that may or may not even protect against the virus.

Doctors say that the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccination shot is just like the seasonal flu shot they give out every year but with a different strand and say that it should not harm the women or the unborn child.

When mothers or expecting mothers here in Rexburg were asked whether they would get vaccinated 16 out of 25 people said no 7 of 25 people said yes get the vaccination and 2 out of that 25 were torn.

Pregnancy Movies

2009-10-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

Feel like doing nothing but lying down and watching a movie?

I highly recommend watching some movies that you can relate to and may make you feel better about your situation. Pregnancy movies. Here are a few of my favorites and some others that I have heard are good. Father of the Bride II, Baby Mama, Juno, Labor Pains, and 3 men and a baby. Some movies that I have not watched yet but I am sure I will; Nine Months, She’s having a baby, Junior, Fools Rush In, Baby Boom, and Saved.

Also if you are wanting a good book to read that has some pregnancy in it my favorite is Breaking Dawn of the twilight series!

Also here is another favorite-Bill Cosby talking about Child birth.

http://www.blisstree.com/articles/a-smile-for-you-bill-cosby-and-his-take-on-natural-childbirth-631/

Craving

2009-10-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

I woke up one morning with this incredible craving for a “chaz bagel” breakfast sandwich from Gandolfos deli. I used to work there. I would open the store and make all the breakfast sandwiches. I worked as a slicer there also, so I know this store and the sandwiches pretty well.

This bagel has chopped up turkey meat on the grill with Swiss cheese melted on to it. Then placed on a bagel with avocado slices. MMMmmm It is so good and I could not believe how bad I wanted one. I think I must have had a dream where I was working there again or something, but my wonderful hubby went out and got me the Chaz bagel

I was so excited to eat it I started scarfing it down. It was ALL-wrong! Apparently the girl who made it added cream cheese and didn’t chop up the turkey and put WAY to much avocado on there. I was so disappointed. I ate it anyway since I was starving but it was way disgusting. I still have a craving for that chaz bagel and maybe ill just have to go out and buy all the stuff and make it myself to finally get my bagel sandwich.

Motivation

2009-10-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

I have no motivation for anything. Going to classes is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Sitting there on hard chairs for an hour then moving to another class and doing it all over again just a few minutes later. It is hard to pay attention. I am so exhausted, and I have to keep getting up to go to the bathroom.

I started this semester out with 21 credits yeah crazy I know, but I needed to get done since my husband is graduating in December and with the baby being due in the middle of the semester next semester. I don’t know what I was thinking 21 credits and working and being sick does not mix.

I ended up dropping two classes so now I am at 15 credits with 12 credits left for next semester. Now that semester I can’t even think about. I am forgetting everything I read the minute I am done reading it and forgetting assignments and doing horrible on all my tests. I am just praying to pass and get a C!

I really have a hard time focusing and really caring what grades I get or even getting some assignments done. I have had so many pregnancy symptoms that are in the books one right after the other and I am just waiting to see what I get next. Lets just hope it is not the swine flu then my grades would really suffer.

Heartburn

2009-10-05T16:05:00.001-07:00

Everyday for the past week I have had killer heartburn that lasts all day and wont go away! It is very hard to focus on anything and get things done with that horrible burn.

Now I know most of you are thinking take a tums and get over it, well last time I took a tums I threw up. I didn't know if that was because I still had morning sickness pretty bad or just because of the tums, but a few days ago I figured it out. My heartburn was so bad I couldn't sleep or didn't even want to eat anything. I decide to try the tums again. Now I have the smoothie kind which if you are going to take tums the smoothie kind is the way to go.

They aren't as chalky or gross as the original cheap kind. I put it in my mouth and no joke as soon as I chewed it up my stomach starting going nuts! I ran to the bathroom and up comes my lovely dinner I had just made myself. This would make the 4th time out of the last 4 months that I have actually made it to the toilet.

I am almost 16 weeks along! I should not still be puking! So I now have to just deal with the sickness and the heartburn because apparently I have weak stomach that cant handle Medicine of all things!

I have been drinking glass after glass of milk to calm the heartburn a bit. It is the only thing that seems to help even though it just dulls the pain a little. I will now be experimenting in the next few days with different medicine for heartburn and see if I can keep it down. Wish me luck!

So Tired

2009-10-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

I have been SO tired!

I cant figure out if it is just because I am working and going to classes all day or if it is the pregnancy. Either way I am a lot more tired than I have been in past semesters.

I am getting so overwhelmed with all my homework assignments and tests and actually dragging myself to classes it is exhausting!

I am going to bed two or more hours earlier than I normally do. I am sleeping in until eight and I dropped my one class I had on Tuesday and Thursdays just so I can have a day to sleep in, and on those days I sleep in until around ten! SO tired! Its ridiculous!

Orange Juice

2009-10-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

I don't know if anyone else out there has this problem, I didn't even think I had a problem with it til just recently.

A month ago I had orange juice and ate a few oranges and no problem. But last week I decided to have a glass of orange juice and all the sudden my stomach is going nuts! I run to the bathroom and up comes everything. I thought my morning sickness was finally slowing down, it had been a while since I had puked.

But no that day was awful, everything else I ate that day came back up. At first I thought maybe I was just really sick today, but nope it was the orange juice that did it.

On the upside, orange juice is probably the best tasting thing I have thrown up. It definitely wasn't the worst puking experience. But needless to say I will not be drinking anymore orange juice in the near future.

First Trimester

2009-09-30T15:20:00.000-07:00

The first trimester in my experience is not very exciting. With morning sickness and exhaustion what else is there besides the fact of just knowing you are pregnant.

With us it took us a while to finally get pregnant. Buying books, trying different things, and going to doctors we were thrilled when we found out. But after a week or so of being elated and scared to death. The sickness started. I really dont like how it is called morning sickness so I am going to call it the Sickness.

It is so nerve racking to sit there and carry on with your normal day to day life when there is a fear of miscarrying or you feel like you will hurl any second.

The first trimester brings the first fears and tears. All those hormones raging inside and your mind going crazy with thoughts of becoming a parent or what if something happened.

How do women do it? With all this stuff going on you would think we will go insane from all the worry and stress.

Since I had a previous ectopic pregnancy before and this was the first time we were pregnant since then I was completely scared out of my mind that something would go wrong. We went to the doctor and had an ultrasound done to make sure everything was okay. What a relief it is to see or hear that little heartbeat for the first time. Here is a picture of our little one at 6 weeks.

We then had another ultrasound done at ten weeks.

We had traveled across the country and had to switch doctors so they did it to just make sure things were still going good.

How exciting and wonderful it is to actually see your baby moving around and that there is something actually alive and growing inside of you!

Morning Sickness

2009-09-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

Who ever came up with the term Morning sickness should have asked more pregnant women when they were sick.

Most women tend to be sick in the afternoon or are sick all day!

Morning sickness is normally associated with nausea and vomiting in the morning. The definition of Morning sickness says that despite its name the nausea can affect women at any time of day.

So why the name?

No one seems to know. But any sickness while pregnant will forever be known as Morning sickness no matter the time of day. It has been named and will probably never change.

Morning sickness can be summed up in one word -Miserable.

The last few months have been a blur. With the constant feeling of having to puke and not knowing when you will makes ones day just completely miserable. And to think that if you are sick it is a good thing and normally means everything is going fine.

What a twisted world we live in where puking your guts out means everything is perfectly fine.

Morning sickness is understood as an evolved trait that protects the fetus against toxins ingested by the mother.

Wikipedia also says that women who have no pregnancy nausea are more likely to miscarry or bear children with birth defects than those that don’t have nausea.

So to all of you women who are also suffering from “morning sickness” it is a good thing and somehow completely “normal” so hang in there and hopefully it will all be over soon!

Background Information

2009-09-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

I met my husband at BYU-Idaho in 2005 and we started dating a year later. We dated for six months, then we're engaged for four months and then got married in the St. Louis LDS Temple on June 14th 2007. In March of 2008, I was rushed to the emergency room here in Rexburg, and had to have emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. We had no idea that I was pregnant or what was going on, for a couple months I had been in a lot of pain and knew something was wrong but would have never thought of a tubal pregnancy. They were able to save my tube and had to take out my appendix. I was really scared to get pregnant after that but we wanted to get pregnant and I had, had some health issues in the past that made me believe that it would be hard to get pregnant. So that first year before the ectopic we weren't preventing it, and then the ectopic happened. A few months later we decided to try again. With no luck for almost a year again then we went to see a doctor. We both were tested. I then had an HSG procedure done. A few months later we were pregnant! Now I am trying to graduate and finish school before this baby is due, with my husband graduating in December and has a job lined up for next year. We are 13 weeks along as of right now and already have had two ultrasounds.

With this blog I hope to make it a place where fellow Rexburg pregnant woman or anyone else that is pregnant, can come to for information, updates on the latest in news about pregnancy and news in Rexburg that will apply to pregnant women. I will be posting links to great sites and doctors offices here in Rexburg and activities and events for pregnant women here in Rexburg. Feel free to leave comments and share your ideas and stories.