Moments of Musing

First Trimester Recap

Filed Under: baby #3, first trimester, pregnancy //

As I mentioned in our pregnancy announcement, since this is likely my last pregnancy, I want to document it as much as I can. 

I figured a good place to start would be a first trimester recap.

Morning sickness/Nausea

I’ve had the worst nausea of my pregnancies this time, and it’s actually how I could tell I was pregnant before I’d taken a test. The mere mention or thought of things I didn’t find appealing would make me nauseous. The nausea was pretty bad for 10-11 weeks and would come and go after that. I still have it now but much less frequently. What has helped me most is raw ginger.  

Fatigue

This was another clue that I was pregnant — it had been my #1 clue for my other pregnancies too. When we had family visiting in October, I realized I was really sleepy and couldn’t stay awake as late as I normally would hanging out. The fatigue eventually got so bad I wondered if something was wrong because I felt like I couldn’t stay awake or get the energy to move off the couch. The mom guilt kicked in because of it but when we told the boys the baby news and they were excited, I felt much less guilty.

Food Aversions/ Cravings

I don’t really have any food aversions (aside from my increased dismay about touching raw chicken), and I never have when pregnant, but I always have cravings. This time around I wanted lots of fruit and sweets.

Body Changes

I started off this pregnancy 10-15 pounds heavier than my previous 2 pregnancies. I wasn’t very happy about this and I’ve been much more mindful of my weight to try to keep the weight gain at a healthy pace. Since I now have a scale (after 5+ years of not owning one), I weigh myself more, which is both good and not so good. I didn’t really gain any weight the first trimester (fluctuates 0-2 pounds depending on the day) but I felt so bloated, and got bad acne in the first 8 weeks, which has returned in the 2nd trimester. My hair is also much flatter and almost straight. I’m feeling much better body image-wise now and constantly amazed at how I change with each pregnancy.

Emotions

Being pregnant during a pandemic is certainly challenging. For one, I’m home so much more, especially now that it’s winter. During my previous two pregnancies, I commuted into Manhattan everyday and it was kind of nice to have both the distraction of commuting and working, and it felt nice getting to dress my bump up. 

The upside to working from home is getting to be with my babies, of course, and not having to stand on the subway (not everyone gets up for pregnant women..) While I do miss the interactions with people while pregnant, sharing news in person, and my husband at prenatal appointments, I know this time shall pass and it’s all a part of our story. 

All in all, I am just so grateful to be expecting again. It’s a gift to be able to grow a life inside of you, and nothing compares. 

New Year, New Baby!

Filed Under: baby #3, pregnancy, pregnancy announcment //

Happy New Year! We’re very excited to have turned the page to a new year, new beginning, new adventures… including a new baby! 

motherhood, mom life, latina mom, baby, pregnancy announcement, new baby, 2021 baby, new year pregnancy announcement, new years eve, new years day

Baby #3 is joining us this summer and we are all so excited. This was the most confident I was in being pregnant before actually having taken a pregnancy test – in fact, I was so confident that I was in no rush to actually take a test. I was late, and feeling unusually nauseous and exhausted, so I just knew. 

Due to my previous c-sections and my fear of having too many, this is very likely my last pregnancy, which is bittersweet. So, to honor that possibility I want to document as much of this pregnancy as I can. 

Stay tuned for a first trimester recap coming up!

Calcium Intake During Pregnancy + Breastfeeding

Filed Under: breastfeeding, calcium, pregnancy //

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews. All opinions are 100% mine.

I recently alluded to something in my stories that might seem TMI and then thought about deleting it even though it’s a normal part of women’s lives! As a woman our bodies go through many changes and there are many things we have to think about. 

When pregnant, we have to think about ourselves AND our little ones. Eating healthy and getting good sleep are pretty common knowledge …but did you know getting the daily recommended value of calcium is particularly important for pregnant women, too? 


Here are a few facts from Viactiv about calcium intake during pregnancy:

  • Many prenatal vitamins provide only 20-30% of the recommended daily amount of calcium for women who are pregnant. (Viactiv provides 100% of the recommended daily amount of calcium.)

  • 9 out of 10 OB/GYNs recommend Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews during pregnancy*.

  • Your baby needs the calcium to build healthy teeth, bones, muscles and heart. If you don’t get enough calcium in your diet when pregnant, your baby will actually draw it from your teeth and bones, putting your own bone health at risk.

  • Meeting your daily calcium requirements is important throughout all stages of life (including breastfeeding if you plan to).

With Viactiv, you can #BumpUpYourCalcium by having your calcium and eating it, too!  One Viactiv Calcium Soft Chew (650 mg of calcium in each soft chew) taken up to twice daily provides most women with 100% of the daily recommended value of calcium, plus vitamins D and K. In addition to the delicious milk chocolate and caramel flavors, Viactiv also has 30% more calcium with half the sugar and calories compared to leading gummy and prenatal supplements.

Viactiv is available at major retailers including Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, & Rite Aid: https://viactiv.com/where-to-buy/. 




*In a 2017 BrandPerx Survey of 1,000 OB/GYN practices, 8 out of 10 OB/GYNs recommend a calcium supplement during pregnancy and 9 out of 10 of these doctors recommend Viactiv.

FDA Disclaimer: ]Please talk with your doctor before taking any supplements. This post is not intended to address or diagnose any medical conditions. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.






It’s Baby Month!

Filed Under: baby #2, pregnancy //

This post contains affiliate links, purchases from which I may benefit.

 

It is so surreal to me that we will be adding another little family member to our tribe this month. My husband is excited and pretty cool as a cucumber… I, on the other hand, am torn between wanting to meet him already and not have this big bump versus loving his kicks and needing the next few weeks to prepare for his arrival.

Admittedly, grieving while in my last weeks of pregnancy has been tough but it has also pushed me to try to think more positively. I know that’s what Abby would want me to do. She loved kids, loved S and was excited for Baby #2. I was/am so sad that they won’t meet here on earth but people have reminded me that they will cross paths above and she’ll send him down with extra love.

As far as preparation goes, we have been so busy the last few weeks-months so it’s been a bit difficult to truly prepare for his arrival. I am hoping this weekend we will hopefully begin getting things in order. By that I mean washing a lot of newborn and 0-3 month clothes and organizing.

We are in desperate need of shelving for the boys’ closets and in the boys’ bedroom and playroom so hopefully we can around to that, too. I found a really nice website with an overview of Montessori shelves. I also plan to pack our hospital bags, or at least start so I know what else is needed. The baby is pretty set but his dad and I, on the other hand… not so much.

We also have to order S’s big brother present(s). He’ll be getting a new baby brother and some cool new toys (we’re thinking something like this). Lucky him!

What are some things you did the last weeks of pregnancy to prepare for your new addition?

A 35-Week Bumpdate

Filed Under: bumpdate, pregnancy //

This post is sponsored by Pink Blush but all opinions are my own.

Happy Bumpday! It’s hard to believe we’re in the final stretch of this pregnancy. I am so ready and excited to meet our baby boy and introduce him to his amazing big brother, S. What better day than bumpday to give a bumpdate?

Weeks: 35 — nearly 9 months down, just 1 to go!

Sex: Boy!

Name: We have a name picked (I love it!) but we won’t be announcing until birth 😉

Feeling: A bit tired, emotional, and a lot of pain and pressure at times

Wearing: Leggings and maternity clothes – This beautiful Pink Blush dress is one that fits comfortably while pregnant but I bought it for Mother’s Day to match my boys’ outfits (ah!!) so I will be wearing it postpartum… As I’ve said, a lot of Pink Blush’s clothes can be worn by pregnant and not pregnant women so ladies, check it out. 🙂