First Trimester Must Haves

Now that I'm almost 15 weeks pregnant and can say peace out to the first trimester, I thought I'd share some first trimester must haves.

I had no idea going into pregnancy what to expect, especially because no pregnancy is alike.  So while some of these things didn't make me feel 100% like my old, non-pregnant self, they helped make me feel a little less like death warmed over.

1. body pillow
I always assumed uncomfortable sleep was a result of having a big baby belly.  Nope.  I started having issues with uncomfortable sleep around 8-9 weeks.  I'd toss and turn all night, waking up 6-7 times.  But then Brad surprised me with this body pillow for my birthday in January.  I slept like a baby the first few weeks after using the pillow.  Now I'm starting to get hip and shoulder pain at night, but I blame that on our crappy mattress.  Note: the pillow I have is ginormous and takes up at least half of our queen size bed.  I told Brad he'll just have to deal, and that he was the one who purchased the pillow so…

2.  BPA free water bottle
You basically turn into a camel when you're pregnant, well, at least I have.  Pregnant folk are supposed to drink 64 ounces of water a day.  I've used these water bottles for years and love them.  They're 32 oz. bottles so I down two a day.  Sometimes more than two.

3.  prenatal vitamins and prenatal DHA
Gotta start poppin' those pills.  By pills, I mean prenatal vitamins and prenatal DHA.  Personally, I'm taking these prenatal vitamins and prenatal DHA.  But do your own research, talk to your doctor, do what's best for you.  Yada yada yada.  Just make sure you're taking some form of prenatal vitamin.

4.  peppermint tea
Around weeks 6-10 I had some crazy bloat and digestive issues going on.  I'll spare you all the details, but I'd be straight up miserable after dinner.  It got to point where I'd have to eat tiny meals for dinner because if I ate my normal amount of food I'd be in pain for hours after eating.  To help soothe my stomach, I'd drink peppermint tea (naturally caffeine free) like KoolAid.

5. crackers
Thankfully, I didn't have too much nausea and no vomiting.  I'm pretty sure the nugget knows my extreme hatred for vomiting, and I thank it for that.  So I hear regular ole saltine crackers are nauseous mama-to-be's weapon of choice when it comes to combatting nausea.  Keep them next to your bed, in your purse, and hidden throughout your house.  At least that's what I'm told.

6.  peppermints
I used peppermints to combat the little nausea I experienced.  Sucking on a peppermint or two seemed to do the trick for me if I couldn't eat something immediately.

7.  body moisturizer
My motto is always "prevention is key" when it comes to all things skin related.  So invest in a good body moisturizer early on.  There are like 500 different belly butters, belly oils, and belly lotions out there to help prevent stretch marks.  (Although I don't think it's been scientifically proven that they 100% work.)  I've been using this one and I like it so far.  I lather it on at night after I shower.  Since it's an oil, I wouldn't recommend putting on nice clothes after slathering it on because you don't want to stain anything.

8.  antacids
If I eat anything spicy for dinner, I typically have to pop a couple Tums before going to bed because the second I lay down, heartburn starts.  The Tums always work.  At least for now.

9.  stretchy pants
Invest in a few good pairs of stretchy pants.  If you're anything like me, you won't need to buy more because you already have 10+ pairs.  These are my current favorite stretchy pants.  When I'm at home, you better believe I'm in stretchy pants.

10.  toilet paper
Make sure you have plenty of toilet paper on hand because you're going to be using the bathroom more often than you ever thought you would.  I read something about bladder tone decreasing during pregnancy so when you do go to the bathroom you may not be fully emptying your bladder.  Which will explain why you feel like you're going to pee your pants and you barely pee at all.  You're welcome for that short anatomy/physiology lesson.

Disclaimer:  These are products that worked for me.  Every pregnancy is different, so some of these products may not work for you or may not apply to you.  Also, I'm not a medical professional.  So there's that.

What must haves did you need to survive the first trimester of your pregnancy/pregnancies?

Stalk away!

Source: http://www.twotwentyone.net/2014/02/first-trimester-must-haves/

Ultimate Guide to Sleeping During Pregnancy

Ultimate Guide to Sleeping During Pregnancy , Learn about why sleep is important and cause of bad sleep.


Infographic by: pregnancypillows

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source: http://www.visualistan.com/2014/09/ultimate-guide-to-sleeping-during-pregnancy.html

21 Healthy Snack Ideas for Pregnant Mamas

I've always enjoyed eating, but my appetite became positively hobbit-like just weeks after becoming pregnant. I read that pregnant women don't typically gain a lot of weight in early pregnancy, but my body certainly needed the energy from calories to start building a human from scratch!

Now into my third trimester, I'm not eating ginormous meals like I did during the first five months or so. My doctor explained that my stomach doesn't have much room to expand right now. I still need plenty of calories, but I eat smaller portions more frequently, rather than packing it away in one meal.

These have been my go-to healthy snacks during pregnancy. I've gotten tired of almost all of them at some point, but there is enough variety that I can rotate through it a bit.

I hope you can find something from this list that satisfies your cravings and keeps your (and baby's!) belly full! And of course, if you're not pregnant, you can still enjoy this list of snack ideas(:

No Prep Pregnancy Snacks:

1. Almonds

Almonds are a great choice because just a handful will help take the edge off your hunger (one serving has about 6 grams of protein). They're also high in minerals.

2. Annie's Cheddar Bunnies

When I was in the mood for a more traditional snack food, Eric bought me these! We prefer the ingredient list on these snack crackers over Goldfish.

3. Apple slices

Apples fill the need for something sweet, juicy, and crisp! I also found that gala apples were a great remedy for heartburn when it kept me up one night.

4. Avocados

When I have more than just the munchies and need a truly filling snack, half of an avocado–sprinkled with Real Salt–is the perfect fix.

5. Bell peppers

In the same vein as apples, bell peppers provide a little sweetness and crunch. They have a lot of Vitamin C, so it's a good snack to have on hand if colds and flu are going around!

6. Carrot sticks

I'll admit this isn't a very filling snack, but they will help to tide you over until the next meal!

7. Cheese

I've probably eaten cheese more than any other snack. I read that in the third trimester, babies get about 250 milligrams of calcium added to their skeletons each day! Cheese is a great source of calcium! Eric found some aged raw milk cheddar for me at The Fresh Market grocery store, and that's my favorite kind to snack on (although I've also been eating plenty of Brie and cheddar from Aldi!)

8. Crackers

Crackers aren't part of our normal pantry staples, but they've been a lifesaver for me during pregnancy! During the first trimester, I ate them first thing in the morning to keep nausea at bay, and now I eat them regularly with cheese, hummus, or peanut butter. Aldi carries several brands that are free of high fructose corn syrup.

9. Peanuts

When I'm heading out the door in a hurry, or just need an energy burst fast, a handful of salted peanuts saves the day!

10. Peanut Butter

We buy a natural brand of peanut butter from Aldi. I smear it on crackers or just enjoy it with a spoon.

Make-Ahead/Minimal Prep Pregnancy Snacks:

11. Eggs

For a good protein-rich, fat-rich snack, I love eggs in any form. Except boiled. I haven't been able to do boiled eggs since getting pregnant! Fried eggs or scrambled eggs with cheese are super quick to prepare and more filling than other snacks.

12. Granola bars

I use a recipe from a family friend, but you can also find good granola bar recipes in Healthy Snacks to Go by Katie of Kitchen Stewardship–or just search online for a recipe! Homemade granola bars are great because you can load them up with healthy mix-ins like nuts, seeds, peanut butter, dark chocolate, coconut, etc.

13. Hummus

This recipe makes a nice big batch! Use hummus for dipping veggies or spread it on bread or crackers.

14. Popcorn

When I have the munchies but I'm not super hungry, I make a batch of stove top popcorn. I like to pop it in coconut oil, peanut oil, or leftover bacon grease and sprinkle it with Real Salt.

15. Pudding or custard

Custard is a perfect pregnancy snack because it's full of filling, calcium-rich milk, cream, and eggs! I developed this recipe for naturally-sweetened Maple Custard Cups a few months ago, and I think I could eat this every day! This Banana Coconut Pudding is a tasty dairy-free option.

16. Quesadillas

For a mini-meal, I love a crispy quesadilla topped with salsa!

17. Yogurt

The probiotics in yogurt will keep your immune system strong! We make our own yogurt to save money and avoid additives. Sweeten to taste with raw honey, maple syrup, or mineral-rich molasses.

Drinks for Pregnancy:

I've been trying to drink water almost constantly throughout the day, but sometimes I want a little something extra! These are the drinks I usually turn to:

18. Almost-raw milk

Sadly, we haven't been able to find raw milk in Alabama as we did in Michigan. We found the next best thing at The Fresh Market: organic whole milk from grassfed cows that is non-homogenized and minimally pasteurized. Even though it's not raw, it is as close as possible to what we were able to get in Michigan!

19. Apple cider vinegar water

I add a few teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar to my water glass to give me some extra minerals and a change of flavour.

20. Red raspberry leaf tea

I began making and drinking this unsweetened herbal tea after my third trimester began. It will help to strengthen my uterus, balance hormones, and speed postpartum recovery.

21. Smoothies

We use kefir or yogurt as the base of our smoothies, then load up the blender with frozen strawberries, bananas, spinach, peanut butter, flax seed, a teaspoon or two of kelp powder, or anything else we want to add! For a sweet smoothie recipe, try this Strawberry Cantaloupe Smoothie.

Source: http://richlyrooted.com/2015/02/healthy-pregnancy-snacks.html#_a5y_p=3391347

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

source: http://www.skinnymom.com/2013/11/16/foods-to-avoid-during-pregnancy/

 

 

This Viral Video Of A Baby Clapping In The Womb During An Ultrasound Can’t Be Real

YouTuber Jen Cardinal posted this mind-boggling video today, writing: "at our 14 week ultrasound our baby was clapping, so I sang a song with our doctor, while my husband filmed."

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

But it has to be a hoax, right?

BuzzFeed spoke to Dr. Jen Gunter, an OB-GYN, blogger, and author, to find out whether or not this was possible. According to Gunter, "A 14-week fetus isn't capable of purposeful gross motor movement," but that doesn't mean that it's fake.

Via youtube.com

"The hands hit each other, but it is not what we consider clapping," Jen continued. "What you see is just fetal movement, that with some very careful editing gives the appearance of a clap. It's the ultrasound version of a parlor trick."

Via youtube.com

"If you ultrasound enough fetuses you will see all kinds of movement and assign purpose to them (beyond reflex activity). It is a bit like looking at clouds and seeing shapes."

So it's not necessarily fake, but it's not necessarily real either.

Via giphy.com

It's an illusion, Michael.

It Is Super Creepy To Rub A Pregnant Woman’s Belly Without Asking

Maybe it's a knee-jerk reaction. You're confronted with a woman many months pregnant, and before you know it, your hands are all over her body trying to discern if that lump is the baby's knee or its butt.

matteocestra

But let's step back for a moment, and take the pregnancy out of the equation. It kind of looks something like this, doesn't it?

NBC

…Or maybe this?

ETonline.com

Definitely at least this…

giphy.com

Some pregnant women like having their bellies rubbed. Some do not. There's a super easy way to find out though…

giphy.com

ASK!

NBC

I know, so crazy right?

On the next edition of "ways people become borderline insane around pregnants:" "OH MY GOD, ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT HAVING TWINS?!"

Disney

"Yes. Are you sure you haven't eaten 376 lasagnas?"

source: http://www.buzzfeed.com/morganshanahan/psa-it-is-super-creepy-to-rub-a-pregnant-womans-belly-withou

This Guy Had The Most Awkward Reaction Ever To His Wife’s Unexpected Pregnancy

A Nashville woman named Kelsey Cocklin got a big surprise recently when she found out she was pregnant.

qavenuephoto.com

She decided to tell her husband, Jordan, the big news in a creative way. Since he is a craft beer lover, she decided to surprise him through beer bottles.

Jordan Cocklin

However, the big reveal didn't go exactly as planned. Her husband is first caught off guard, then gives a hilariously awkward reaction that probably wasn't what she was going for.

youtube.com

 

Don't worry though, Cocklin assured BuzzFeed News he is VERY excited about being a dad.

He said his awkward reaction was one of total shock, not disappointment.
"(It was) pure shock at first but as soon as she turned that off we were just ecstatic," he said.
Cocklin said his wife thought his initial reaction was "absolutely hysterical."
"Any new dad is going to have a original feeling of shock mine just happened to be caught on camera," he said.
Cocklin said he will probably even show his son or daughter the video once they are older.

Watch the whole video here.

 

source: http://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/awkward-pregnancy-reaction

Man’s Wife Didn’t Want To Take Maternity Photos, So He Hilariously Took Matters Into His Own Hands

Taking maternity photos is often considered a tradition for women, symbolizing the birth of entering into motherhood. However, one Reddit user's wife did not have any interest in taking maternity photos.

So instead of just forgetting the whole idea in general, DruishPrincess69 decided to take matters into his own hands, hiring a professional photographer to take maternity photos of him pretending to be a pregnant woman.

"My wife didn't want to take maternity pictures, so I hired a photographer and took her place…"

These hilarious photos would be a little creepy if they weren't so spot on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While most children will eventually see embarrassing photos of their parents, I suspect this child will be in for a particularly rude awakening.

source:http://www.ijreview.com/2014/07/162800-wife-didnt-want-take-maternity-photos-decided-take-actions-hands/

Adorable Ideas For Your Maternity Photo Shoot