Mom Life in the PNW

Update: Pregnancy at 32 Weeks!

I officially have 2 months left until I birth this little peanut. It’s coming up so fast that I am kind of getting more nervous. I am not nervous to have her here with us, just nervous of the whole birthing process. My sister keeps freaking me out about how she’s freaking out about dealing with the pain again and this is her 3rd. = If birth is such a painful process, why are people crazy enough to keep doing it? LOL Just goes to show that we’re selfless when it comes to the miracle of new life.

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I’ve already made the decision to get an epidural if I can’t handle the pain, but I am hoping I can deal with it without getting one. But after reading some birthing stories about the ring of fire, I don’t think I’ll be avoiding it. Jeez, I do not recommend Google searching birthing stories; it might just freak you out more like it did to me. Not all are horrendous or scary though and everyone’s situation is definitely not going to be the same, so take that into consideration if you decide to read up.

I’ve been so busy lately with house stuff, birthdays, baby showers that I haven’t had too much time to update this blog or do anything else really. We had to clean out the spare bedroom, get it painted, picked up a crib and dresser set that my husband’s cousin gave us and gave that a touch of white paint since it was chipped and marked up pretty good. It came out insanely cute. I also went with a mint greenish color for the walls, and a satin white finish to the running boards to make it pop and at first it looked scary, but once it was finished, it looked nice. I’m going to add some pink decor in there to hopefully girly it up a little bit more. Can’t wait to see the end result once everything is put together. I need to start working on washing and hanging the 3 garbage bag full of baby clothes my sister gave us. It seems never-ending. I have so much to do and so little time to do it in.

the walls are not that bright or green, don't worry.

the walls are not that bright or green, don’t worry.

Once the nursery is finished up, I’ll do a before and after photo.

 

I’ve been having cramps which I assume are just braxton hicks? I am not 100% sure but my doctor says it’s normal. And TMI, diarrhea. I guess it’s normal at the end stages of pregnancy since your body wants to clean itself out. I’ll have to ask my doc about that but from what I’ve read it’s normal. Other than that, I feel fine besides the random pains in my pelvic area and me running out of breath walking up the stairs in our house.

My husband says I’ve been snoring and keeping him awake. Another pregnancy related annoyance that he’s just going to have to deal with. LOL

I’ve gained about 18lbs now at 32 weeks, 2 days which is fine with me and sounds good with the doc. I imagine I’ll be gaining at least a lb every week from here on out. I am not worried about my weight at this point since it doesn’t seem like I am gaining at an alarming rate. I know people who’ve gained 50lbs+ with their pregnancies and I am just like how? I can’t eat at this end stage because my stomach is so smooshed that I feel constantly full. I am eating, don’t get me wrong, but not enough to warrant an abundant amount of weight gain. It’s kind of mind baffling, but I guess everyone’s bodies are different. As long as I have a healthy baby, that’s all that matters to me. Kind of curious how much she’ll weigh at birth since my sister has 6lb tiny babies, which will probably be my nephews weight too when he’s born in 4 days.

I guess that’s all for now. I’ll do an update on the DIY stuff I did for my sisters baby shower in another post.

Buttons Cloth Diaper Review

Buttons Cloth Diaper Review
What I like about Buttons Cloth Diapers is that they were created by a mom and dad team in the comfort of their own home. They know exactly what the ideal parents need and look for when it comes to their child’s derriere; comfort, stability, leak-free, efficient, etc.

 

buttons cloth diapers

 

The Buttons Cloth Diaper really doesn’t get too much easier than this. There is no messing around with prefolds; just snap the insert inside and you’re good to go. We had no problem with Aislin’s new “Sweet Pea” Buttons Cloth Diaper leaking anywhere, not even around the legs which feature double gussets. I must stress that double gussets is a must have when using cloth diapers if you want to not have to clean up any blow outs.

  

buttons cloth diaper review

  

We received 2 small day time inserts, 1 microfiber and 1 hemp/cotton, which are about 4 layers thick and have a soft fleece layering on top, which makes it ultra soft and non irritating against babies skin. I also ordered a 2 pack of small night time inserts that are about 6 layers thick, which means it’s absorbency is going to be out of this world. They do not contain the ultra soft fleece since its intended use is to be under the daytime insert. This will cause it to be super bulky on your little babe, but its better to be bulky than sorry at 3 am when you’re dead tired and have an ass-plosion to clean up everywhere.
 
The difference between microfiber and hemp is that the hemp is a real work-horse in the cloth diapering world. They’re super durable and absorbent. They soak up a lot of pee, which in turn makes the parents happy since you don’t have to do a diaper change every hour. Am I right? Microfiber is similar, but it doesn’t soak up the pee as well which may cause a rash if left on for too long.
  
buttons cloth diaper review

 

When I received this, my husband told me I could use the inserts as feminine pads for myself cause he thought they were huge. He apparently hasn’t seen many cloth diaper inserts.

buttons cloth diaper review

microfiber vs hemp/cloth

 

These covers sell for $11 and the inserts are $3.50 a piece which make these one of the most affordable cloth diapers for parents looking to save without sacrificing quality. Plus, you’re helping out fellow parents who own a small business.

5 Important facts about gestational diabetes that every aspiring mother must know

Pregnancy is blessing and most of the women aspire to be mother at some point of time in their lives. The pregnancy brings with it many changes in the woman’s body and some of these changes may be negative too. The change in hormones may be the main reason for these negative and positive transformations in the body and most of these changes are short-lived and would go away after the birth of the baby. The gestational diabetes is also one such condition observed by the pregnant ladies and is the form of diabetes.

About 4% of pregnant ladies experience this condition any time during their pregnancy tenure. This is the form of diabetes and quite common amongst the pregnant ladies worldwide. The testing for gestational diabetes can be done in the 28th week of pregnancy as this type of diabetes is usually detected during 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. Though this is the normal health issue experienced during pregnancy, the proper knowledge of the condition would protect you against many possible risks.

5 Important facts about gestational diabetes

 

Causes
The gestational diabetes can occur to anybody but there are certain factors that are more actively associated to this type of diabetes. The females conceiving after age of 25 and having weight above or below the normal weight range are at higher risk of developing this disease. Those having family history of diabetes may also be at higher risk. The gestational diabetes is usually found in mothers giving birth to the large babies.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
The excessive weight gain of the mother and the baby is the first symptom of the gestational diabetes. Other symptoms include recurring thirst and hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, vaginal infection, and other symptoms commonly associated with diabetes. The gestational diabetes is diagnosed through glucose tolerance test that is carried out during 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. The blood sugar is checked one hour after the glucose consumption and if the reports are not under prescribed limits then subsequent tests are carried out to confirm the condition.

Adverse Effects
The mothers having this condition may usually give birth to larger babies that may also weigh up to 10 pounds. These babies find difficulty in being delivered as they may get stuck in the birth canal due to their larger body structure. The blood glucose levels in such babies are low as higher insulin is produced by their pancreas. This will result in jaundice, low blood sugar, and other related problems. The obesity during the later life may also be found in such babies.

Treatment
The treatment part is not that difficult as the sugar levels can be controlled by keeping the eating habits steady. The foods that are low on sugar and carbs may help. The expecting mothers suffering from gestational diabetes may keep the record of the blood sugar levels all the time and also record what they eat. This will minimize the risks for the baby and mother both.

Lifetime issues
This type of diabetes is related to pregnancy and generally goes away with pregnancy. The chances of developing Type 2 diabetes in future and gestational diabetes in subsequent pregnancies may increase due to this condition. Hence, enhanced eating habits are strictly recommended.

Your pregnancy can be the blessing of lifetime and little care in your routine habits may make this experience unforgettable.

 

About the author:

Carol is a healthy lifestyle enthusiast and loves to contribute her writing on this topic. She occasionally contributes to health companies, such as Garcinia Cambogia US, an online store for pure garcinia cambogia extract that helps in reducing weight naturally.

Is It Okay to Have a Baby Shower for Each Baby?

baby showerI don’t know why I let this upset me so much, but one of my sisters and I got into it yesterday over potential gifts/baby showers. My sister asked me if mom was going to get her this $150 breast pump that she wanted so she could “try” and breast feed. I said, I am not sure she was thrilled with the price, maybe you should talk to her about it. She immediately flipped out cause she knew my mom was going to get me a crib and that it was more than likely going to be over $150. She wasn’t happy that my mom was going to purchase me something expensive and would not do the same for her. I immediately said that it’s my first kid and mom has gotten you stuff over the years for your other 2. This will be her third. Only difference is, this one’s a boy, so she needs all new things according to her. But what I don’t like is that she kind of expects people to cater to her or get her what she wants. I told her she was lucky she’s even getting a third baby shower, cause people shouldn’t get one after the first baby. That really pissed her off cause she assumes that all babies should be created equal whether its the first or third. I was never insinuating that a second or third baby is less special than the next, but to me, baby showers are to help out new parents who are just starting their journey of parenthood, not a buy me everything I need for every kid I pop out party. Yes, she’s family and I don’t mind helping her out since she’s helped me out with stuff from her girls. Hell, I am the one who has put together a shower for her so obviously I care enough to do it.

Her mindset is not right though. She had a shower thrown for her down in Newport where she lives and was disappointed in the amount of people that showed up and said she didn’t get that much stuff. She even mentioned to me how my husband’s family is big and that we’re going to get spoiled and how she won’t get as many things as us. Honestly, I’d rather not have them throw us a shower because we already have too much as it is but my husband insists since it may be his mothers last grand child since he’s the youngest and no one else is having anymore kids besides him. Who knows, there may just be 1 more.

The other thing that irritates me is that my family wanted me to have a combined baby shower with her. My friend didn’t like that idea so she said she would throw me one since I am deserving of my own as this is my first child. My husband didn’t like that idea either, I was almost fine with it but now I see their point. I shouldn’t have to share my day with someone else who’s already had their moment. BTW, if my  husband and I have anymore kids, I don’t plan on having anymore showers, regardless if its a boy or not. We’ve pretty much bought all that we need for this one anyways, wouldn’t be any different for a new child.

Another thing is, my sister, or anyone in my family really would  not go through the effort to throw me a shower like I do for them. It’s pretty sad really.

And what most people don’t realize is that when you have a kid, its your responsibility to buy what you need for your child, after all, you’re the one who decided to get pregnant. Don’t expect or have this entitlement behavior that people should get what you think you need. Whatever gifts you may receive are just an added bonus.

Thoughts? Do you agree or disagree?

28 Weeks Pregnant Update

I know in the beginning I complained a lot about being nauseous, I really really hate feeling nauseous. To me, I’d rather puke and just get it over with than feel like I’m going to puke all day long. But I have had a relatively easy pregnancy thus far and I am grateful for that because others aren’t as lucky.

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How far along? 28 weeks +1 day today! Baby girl is the size of a large eggplant.

Weight gain?  My weight has been fluctuating. I think she is sucking the calories out of me. But it’s anywhere from 10 -13lb gain so far.

Belly button? In still but I think I was wrong and it’s going to pop out.

Wedding rings on or off? On, haven’t experienced the swelling yet, but I imagine that will kick in as I get further along.

Movement? I feel like I am carrying a baby ninja. Maybe she’ll take after her father and do jiu jitsu.

Maternity clothes? I’m able to wear a pair of my normal jeans cause they’re stretchy, but the maternity ones I bought are much more comfortable since my belly is starting to bulge.

Symptoms? Feeling? I’m feeling dead tired again. I think I may be slightly anemic since my iron levels are just a tad below normal. I hate taking my prenatals though since they make me so constipated. Worst constipation EVER! yes, TMI I know.

Mood? I haven’t really been moody. Not sure what all of the pregnancy mood swing hormones are all about that people talk about but I haven’t experienced it. I did cry a couple times at weird things and random times, but other than that, normal.

Missing? Sleeping comfortably, having an alcoholic beverage, going out without feeling like a Debbie downer. lol I did put the memory foam mattress topper back on the bed so that helped with my body going numb. I can now sleep soundly without tossing and turning every half hour cause of pain.

Looking forward to? Meeting her, and hoping I have a comfortable yet easy labor and delivery. Haha who am I kidding…

Sleep?  Much better after putting the memory foam topper back on the bed.

Exercise? No, although I should probably get a walk in every day.

Any cravings? Spicy and sweet things, but that’s normal for me.

Food aversions? Still none. Never really had any food aversions so far at least. Smells haven’t bothered me and taste hasn’t really bothered me, but sometimes nothing sounds good but of course I eat anyways. Toothpaste, however, makes me gag and that’s the only times I’ve thrown up so far.