Resources for mommies! I just stumbled upon a Minneapolis-based community non-profit organization that provides pregnancy-related services and Doula support to expectant mothers with the goal of improving birth outcomes. Their mission is to improve birth outcomes by supporting and empowering mother’s during their pregnancy and birthing experience.
This place rocks! They offer classes on prenatal yoga, car seat training, massage, infant massage and birthing classes. They believe that every woman has a right to evidenced based prenatal care regardless of age, race or socioeconomic status. And that every woman deserves to be supported and celebrated during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Their organization is led by two women co-executive directors and 100% of our employees are women. Check them out at Everyday Miracles My very first "son" was my my Westie, Clyde. He passed back in 2008 but I will never forget him. He was there to lick my tears, walk around Lake Calhoun with me when I lived in Uptown and even though he was insanely independent, he was always there to cuddle and show me how loved I was.
A few years ago, I got Teddy Bear who now resides with my Dad but I thought I would write a blog on how therapeutic this pup has been during my pregnancy. I'll start of with Teddy's personality. Hands down he is the sweetest dog on the planet. He is always happy, always willing to show and give love and does not have an aggressive bone in his body. While I don't have Teddy that much, when I do have him, I feel a sense of peace, love and gentleness. Scientifically, it is known that merely petting a dog can decrease levels of stress hormones, regulate breathing, and lower blood pressure. Research also has also shown that petting releases oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and affection, in both the dog and the human. To show Ted Ted some props...I thought I would write a quick blog on him and share a photo of my belly and his cuteness. Enjoy! How far along: 17 weeks 3 days. Weight gain: 15lbs. Doctor said my weight gain is completely fine as along as I am not pounding burgers, fries and shakes which I am not. I do have a snack tooth but other than that, I don't feel I am over doing it. Here’s the breakdown of weight gain during pregnancy (source):
Clothes: Received some free maternity clothes from a friend (thankful) and bought a few pairs of pants which are already too small. Time to head to Bellies to Babies to check out some more cute outfits. Purchases: David and I went to a consignment shop called Just Between Friends and got our little guy some outfits. Super precious oneies mainly. Body: the incision wounds are healing still so I am pretty light with my workouts which has consisted of a walks on the treadmill with an incline. The left incision wound has some scar tissue and is sore so I have to still be very careful with lifting. Best moments this week: feeling him kick. I know for sure now they are kicks and it's so beautiful to feel him move. Food: Stayed clean for the most part with a few processed items. Sample day: Breakfast - 1 egg, 1/2 cup egg whites, 2 slices Ezekiel Flax bread, 1 tbsp cashew butter and 1/3 cup of raspberries. Lunch – brown rice, chicken, beef muffin (made with oats, beef and a little egg) carrots, spanich, green beans, and an apple. Snacks – Peach, tortilla chips and bean salsa Dinner - chicken, veggies and Chinese noodles. Still taking my multivitamin, folic acid, prenatal Omega 3's and probiotic. What I miss: running and lifting weights. Would love to get my sweat on with a workout. You just never know where the road will take you in life. In my case this is especially true with pregnancy, fitness and my health.
On Friday evening August 29th, David and I were at the Hillsong concert and around 9:30pm I started having really bad abdominal pain. We left the concert early and when I got home I got really really sick...I will save the details but the main side effect was the chills which I knew was VERY off, even for pregnancy. My first thought was that I had food poisoning from the chicken I made earlier that evening since I made it in a hurry before the concert. When I finally got checked in to ER, the pain started isolating towards the right quadrant of my abdomen. When the doctor pressed on my appendix area, it hurt, horribly. He was pretty sure it was my appendix but wanted to wait it out for several hours and give me antibiotics. During that time I was cold, my fever rose and the pain got worse which meant they had to give me some powerful pain medication, not something I was thrilled about with being pregnant. The surgeons were reluctant in going through with the appendectomy rashly since they only do these surgeries on pregnant women 1-2 times per year. Yet as time rolled on, my condition worsened so they decided once they put me under, they would do a two part surgery. First, they would put camera through my belly button and check the condition of my appendix to see if it's inflamed and infected, and if it was, the would proceed with removing my appendix. The end result was my appendix was inflamed and infected so it was removed. I should add, before they did the procedure, the surgeon told David and I "being that Melissa is only 15 weeks pregnant and not further along, she is at the 'perfect' stage for it to go successfully". We knew that was the hand of God right there! We praise the Lord for a successful, smooth and quick procedure. Even my wounds have heal at a rapid rate! That's our JESUS! I do suspect I won't be knocking out 4 miles like I did the day I was admitted to the hospital, but that's okay, fitness is lifelong, so when my body is able, I will be back at it. For now, I will be taking long walks and doing slow and controlled body weight movements since I can't life more than 10lbs in 6 weeks. How far along? 13 Weeks Total weight gain/loss: up 9lbs Maternity clothes? Bought a few flowing shirts and I'm sticking with my stretchy black pants and skirts for work. Stretch marks? Nope! Sleep: Restless. Seems like the smallest things wake me up and I toss and turn. Sorry David, honey. Best moment this week: Looking out at Lake Pepin and realizing the gift inside me...carrying a life is truly a miracle and blessing. Have you told family and friends: Yes! Miss Anything? I get overheated/overtaxed easy with my workouts. Mentally I want to push myself but I am very mindful that my body is fully NOT my own, my little guy is living in there right now!! Movement: Not yet. Food cravings: fruit (Praise GOD!) Anything making you queasy or sick: meat is still kinda hard to chalk down. Have you started to show yet: this is the confusing part. I think I am showing then it turns out to be bloat and weight gain...lol..so no. Labor Signs: No Belly Button in or out? In Wedding rings on or off? On Happy or Moody most of the time: up and down Weekly Wisdom: Don't over analyze your pregnancy with another woman's pregnancy. We are all different. We have different rates of weight gain, body types, food cravings/aversions, pain ect. Be gentle with yourself and enjoy the journey. Workouts: Running outside and HIIT training at home. Today's HIIT moves 1. step up to curl 2. back rows 3. pile squats 4. ball push ups 5. hamstring curls on ball 5. tricep dips 6. plank swims 7. plank into side plank Tuesday, August 12th, 2014 was the big day! The day we found out if we were having a girl or a boy. I did a poll through a Facebook to see what everyone's predictions were BOY OR GIRL? I must say PINK won by several votes. Gender Reveal Story : Since I will be 35 when I deliver, I was able to get a chromosome testing done along with a gender test. The results came in about a week which gave us all the information on our babies health. When we got the envelope back from the doctors office, I was shaking with excitement that it was in my possession. David and I decided to do a private "ceremony" together to find out the results. We headed down to the Mississippi River, lit two tea candles, prayed and read Psalm 139 out loud: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts oh God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-- when I awake, I am still with you. and then we opened the results!! We were like giddy kids anxious to open it! A BABY BOY!! My husband and I couldn't be happier about having a little boy on the way to join our little family and for Taj being a BIG brother! Seeing David's smile and excitement when we found out was probably the coolest, most heartwarming moment to date. Our little boy, without a doubt is already loved beyond his wildest dreams by us, our family, his super cool big brother Taj and the Lord. How far along? 11 Weeks....12 starting tomorrow! baby is the size of a plum! Total weight gain/loss: gained 6lbs. Maternity clothes? Nope not yet. Just when I think a bump is there, I find out the next day when my belly is deflated that it's bloat. ha! Stretch marks? Nope! PTL! Sleep: Sleeping is okay. I toss and turn a lot but that's normal for me even outside of pregnancy. Best moment this week: Watching David talk to the baby on my tummy. Have you told family and friends: Yes! Movement: I want to say yes, but I'm honestly not sure... hopefully I will feel something soon! Food cravings: Chinese and fruit. I know the latter is the best option! ha! Anything making you queasy or sick: Cigarette smoke and 409. Both or toxins so I figure that's a good thing I am repulsed by them. Gender prediction: We find out in a few week weeks! AHHH! See the Gender old wives tale chart below. Labor Signs: No. Belly Button in or out? In. Wedding rings on or off? On and shinning! Happy or Moody most of the time: Both. Workouts: Yoga, lifting, running and the spin bike - love it! I love being healthy enough to be able to workout during my pregnancy. Looking forward to: our call from the nurse with the health of the baby and the gender reveal. Gender Wives Tales:
GIRL: 6 out of 9 BOY: 3 out of 9 During the first trimestermy physical body didn't change much other than bloating which made me think I had a bump, but the doctor very directly told me "that's all you honey", so I just chalked it up to internal things going on with my body. Mentally, I did notice fatigue up until week 9 or so. I still don't have a belly bump but when that happens, I will be making modifications to workouts and specific exercises.
I think about my soon to be growing belly every time I’m shopping in the produce section! I’m in the 11th week of of pregnancy, which means we graduated from a blueberry to a raspberry to a lime! < that's the size of our baby! As far as prenatal fitness, I have been digging the spin bike, running and HIIT training. Below I will discuss more about my HIIT training workouts. This workout can be done at home with the use of dumbbells and a stability ball. The 8 moves are each done for 30 seconds before moving to the next move. There is a suggested 15 second break in between moves, so that is how I set my Gymboss Timer. I use the Gymboss on my iPhone but you can also order one. However, pace yourself as needed. The goal is to complete 4-5 rounds, but since I haven't workout much in 9 weeks, I am at 2 rounds (very humbling). Peripheral heart action moves (lower to upper to keep blood flowing and your heart pumping)
This one is not peripheral but rather has a move added in for cardio to jack my heart rate up. 1. gobble squat (15lbs) 2. mid back row (staggered stance) 3. bicep curls (12lbs) 4. tricep kick backs (12lbs) 5. stability ball roll outs 6. hamstring curls (stablity ball) 7. Skaters (cardio) 8. Push ups 1. DB swings 10# dumb bells
2. Modified push-up to side plank 3. Lawnmowers on stability ball 4. medicine ball overhead press 5. skaters The 15 seconds were just enough for me to recover for the next set. I will continue to adapt and listen to my body for the rest of the trimester. That’s all we can do, right Our week 9 ultrasound went really well and little peanut is coming along nicely. Now in week 10 I am continuing my daily workouts and sometimes even hit the gym twice a week. If I go twice I will only do no more than 30 minutes at a time. Otherwise I will not have the stamina to continue. Here is a look at some of the workouts from last week:
Random sets and Cardio Day : Spin bike 15 minutes, 15 minutes 2x12 bosu front lunges, bosu front lunges, chest press, tricep dips, chest flyes Running outside 20 minutes, at home workout: 2X 12 ball back rows, step up and curls, walking lunges, yoga Running outside 30 minutes and DVD Yoga. Food has not been an issue lately. I have even started to integrate chicken back in to my diet. The last few weeks the thought of chicken would make me nauseous. Slowly I am starting to like it again. I have developed cravings but find that they go away if I just keep moving. Admittedly, sometimes I give in though and have chocolate. Overall, I have been trying to eat healthy and get as much fruits and vegetables into my diet as I can. If you are pregnant are you having any cravings or did you when you were pregnant?? During this past week, the food cravings started. My husband and I were at a fish fry this past weekend and someone mentioned a Chinese restaurant over by Roosevelt High School called Bill's Garden Chinese. He went on about it being fabulous. Then a gal at work ordered General Tao's Chicken and cream cheese wontons. So there started my crazy cravings for Chinese. Since I figured it is not very often that I have a Chinese craving, I decided to just go for it. I dragged David there this Wednesday, he was cool with it but what was more precious is his love and support for my pregnancy cravings.Thank you sweetheart!
I am proud of myself though. I did NOT get the General Tao's chicken, I opted for a healthier version and got a beef, shrimp and vegetable dish with rice...oh and a side of cream cheese wontons, hey! I can't be perfect all the time. I crushed the craving though and I am happy to not be dreaming about Chinese anymore! Fashion wise I am still wearing my regular clothes. I am however on the prowl for a good maternity bra. Any suggestions are welcomed! Stay tuned for what this week has in store for me! Thank goodness week 9 is here! O my goodness these several weeks have been challenging on my body, mind and for my darling hubby. I was sleeping 10 hour nights and then sleeping when I get home in the evening after work. Definitely not Melissa's flow.
The worst thing about these past several weeks was the all day long hangover style nausea. I wake up nauseous and it lasts till the evening. I have learned that there are some things that really get me feeling yucky. I have learned not to think to hard about cooking dinner especially if it involves meat. Something about the smell and the juices. I have had to adapt my very meat based diet to include more carbs! Normally I try not to eat a lot of starchy carbs but my doctor said it's because of the nausea so I came to a place of acceptance that this is where I am at nutritionally. I am praising God for week 8.5-9 though! I am now finally able to feel like myself again. While the gym has been a distance memory for several weeks along with having to let go of my clients for personal training, I finally have been able to get up out of bed and get a 1 mile run in (knocked the wind out of me), a 2 mile walk, some yoga and a little bit of strength training. Fitness is a passion of mine. I also believe fitness is life long. Sometimes we can stay on point, set goals and not have many set backs. Sometimes though, like in pregnancy, we have to accept that our bodies, hormones and level of energy is not the same and that's OK. Two quotes come to mind: "I run because I can" - meaning...when you can run, run. When you can walk, walk. Listen to your body and do what you can. "Trust the process" - Our process or life situation can vary and change. Trust you are where you are suppose to be. All my love, M My first pregnancy workouts listed below. Hi everyone and welcome to my new blog. It has been a crazy couple of weeks. My husband David and I recently got married May 30th, had a surprising Thanksgiving Day public engagement which was live on Kare 11 and to top the cake we had a fairytale wedding celebration 6 months later. Then, directly after that, the Lord had a family in mind right from the start!
Things went well to say the least and we are now on our way to having a wee one! My main passion and focus for this blog is fitness, family, Jesus and fashion. I want to share with you how I will try to stay as fit as I can, eat healthy delicious meals and hopefully stay fashionable! There has to be stylish maternity clothes out there somewhere. I am now entering my 10th week and have already noticed a few changes. Mainly the feeling that I can sleep for hours on end. Fitness wise for about 8.5 weeks I could barely make it to work on time let alone do one bicep curl. It was humbling to say the least but I kept reminding myself that a miracle is taking place inside of me and my body is going through tremendous changes. Food has also been a challenge. In particular I had a hard time eating what my nutritionist laid out for me so I had to come to terms with the fact that I need to be gentle with myself in this area. I developed several food aversions in addition to my sense of smell being crazy strong. Fashion has not entered the equation as of yet. My clothes still fit well and I hope it stays that way for a while! Thanks for reading, I hope you join me and follow along on my blog here as take you with me on the journey through pregnancy! |