Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
My Belly Button is Disappearing
Pampering
Monday, November 30, 2009
Emotional
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
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Traveling
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
Monday, November 23, 2009
Buying Baby Stuff
Pregnancy Dreams
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
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.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Duggars
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
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Maternity Clothes
These are the Jeans I purchased or pretty similar to this pair.
Monday, November 16, 2009
BYU-Idaho Bulletin Board
http://web.byui.edu/BulletinBoard2/Default.aspx
Friday, November 13, 2009
Battle of the Bulge
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Eating Healthy
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. |
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 | |
| Rich in Beta Carotene | |
| Vegetables | Fruits |
| Broccoli | Apricot |
| Cabbage | Cantaloupe |
| Carrots | Nectarine |
| Chard | Papaya |
| Kale | Peach |
| Sweet Potatoes | Watermelon |
| Spinach | Pumpkin |
| | Winter Squash |
Information from babyzone.com
Monday, November 9, 2009
Working Out
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.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
No Sweat Pants Allowed
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
The First Flutter
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thank Goodness for Cable TV
Prenatals
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
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.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Pregnancy Movies
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
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
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.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Heartburn
Saturday, October 3, 2009
So Tired
Orange Juice
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
First Trimester
