Magnesium and Pregnancy

I started taking a magnesium supplement a few days ago at the suggestions of some local mommas as a way to help with my Braxton Hicks. I had been taking Natural Calm before I even got pregnant to help with leg cramps. These cramps had started when I was pregnant with Jude and never really went away. There is nothing more annoying than waking up in the middle of the night with leg discomfort. I am guessing I was most likely deficient in magnesium this entire time. For some silly reason I stopped taking it when I got pregnant. Most likely because the thought of ingesting anything for about the first 15 weeks made me feel gross.  I drink the Natural Calm three times a day to spread out the dosage.

Since taking the Natural Calm I have had a lot less Braxton Hicks. Additionally, I haven't had middle of the night leg cramps or really woken up in the middle of the night at all. I had been waking up almost every night unable to sleep for about two hours. Since taking the supplement my night wakings are nonexistent.

Here is an article from Wellness Mama on magnesium supplementation. Here is some more information on Magnesium and Pregnancy.

I also plan on taking some Salt baths. I was adding Epsom salt to the bath for the kids but ran out. I need to add it to the shopping list. I also give Jude and Eliza Natural Calm though I do want to get them Kid Calm but they don't sell it locally.

Have you had any positive experiences taking a magnesium supplement?

Pregnancy Update- 19 weeks

Row, row, row your belly 

Gently down the stream

if your daughter's shoe falls in

She will surely scream!

Here is the pregnancy scoop at 19 weeks...

The nausea has mostly passed though I've had occasional spells here and there. I was sick much longer this time than I was with Jude. I looked back on old posts and it seems I was sicker with Jude than I was with Eliza.  Apparently for me it gets worse with each pregnancy. I am making a mental note for the future. 

I have been experiencing a lot of dizziness. I had this earlier in the pregnancy with Jude but it seems to be getting worse for me right now. I am so busy with the kids that I don't think I eat often enough and really need to make a point of eating enough and drinking enough water. It has cooled down substantially here in Charleston, but most days it is still pretty warm. Also, all of the bending I have been doing to pack up this house has not been helping at all...especially when I already have low blood pressure.

I guess practice makes perfect because my body has decided to have Braxton Hicks contraction quite often. I think they started at 20 weeks with Jude. This time around they hit at 15 weeks. 

Jude is still nursing occasionally though I am hoping he weans by February. I am not ruling out Tandem nursing,  but I have already experience nursing agitation while pregnant and I am not looking forward to that feeling while nursing two. I struggled to nurse both Eliza and Jude in the beginning. While my fingers are crossed that it comes easier this time, I know that may not be realistic.

I had my level 2 ultrasound on Tuesday morning. In the past we did not find out the gender. However, we decided to find out this time for several different reasons. It is a .....baby!

Hoping to snap a cute gender reveal photo this weekend. If I haven't already told you, you are going to have to wait a little bit longer. Sorry!

Happy Birthday to You!

Jude Miller
August 18, 2009
5:49 a.m.
7 lbs 1oz
19 1/2 inches

Proud Mommy!

Birth story to come...

Ready as I'll Ever Be!

I am now 10 days away from my due date. Eliza was born 13 days early and it seems baby #2 is not in so much of a rush to meet his/her family! I have to say this baby seems awfully snug at the moment.

Eliza came down with Croup this past week and I am very happy that I wasn't in the hospital when it happened. I am anxious enough about being away from her for a few days. If she was sick and I had to leave her I would probably be a wreck. Luckily, we were able to catch the croup early and get her meds before it became serious. I can't even imagine trying to give Eliza breathing treatments. Her cough is doing better and hopefully she will be 100% in a few days.

So...are we ready for baby?

Cute Newborn Dipes- Check

Does it get any cuter? Kissaluvs Cloth Diaper Size 0

Bassinet Downstairs- Check!

Suitcase packed /w/ adorable picture of Eliza- Check!


Co sleeper Upstairs- Check!
However, we do need to alter sheet. Instead of buying co-sleeper sheets I am using organic cotton king sized pillow cases. We still need to sew them and add some Velcro.



To Do

• Put clean car seat cover on and snap into base
• Fix co sleeper sheet
• Install infant car seat adaptor to BOB stroller
• GIVE BIRTH!

Pregnancy Belly Ring

I have been meaning to write up a quick post about my pregnancy piercing for weeks. I have kept my piercing open through both pregnancies. I did not want to remove my belly ring while pregnant with Eliza so I did some research and found Pregnancy Piercings to be a great alternative. I was able to keep my piercing open and clean and replace it with a traditional ring after giving birth. Pregnancy piercings are flexible rings made from medical grade plastic.

I have NOT received anything free from this company. I purchased piercings from Pregnancy Piercing for both of my pregnancies and have been pleased both times. I even brought flyers to my OB and they now advertise the piercings as well. I am just passing the info along in case anyone is interested or knows a momma-to-be who doesn't want to give up her belly ring.

You can also check Pregnancy Piercings out on Facebook.

Baby Name Blunder

Pete and I made a lil oops during the maternity photo shoot. In the last post I unveiled the possible name choices for the baby. It wasn't until last night that I realized that we had made an error! I was at a good friend's house where Pete was taking some cute maternity photos. We started talking about names and all of a sudden it dawned on me.

During the shoot I was laying down with my eyes closed while Pete was getting the blocks set up. We agreed on the names months and months ago but never spoke about the SPELLING! I just assumed we were in agreement over the spelling as well.

It hit me last night that Pete had spelled our girl choice ZOEY and not ZOE! I am very set on the ZOE spelling. UGH! If this baby comes before we can reshoot the pic, which is likely, the picture will always have the wrong spelling. So I either change the spelling of the name or don't get to use the photo.

Or we can just say oh well and hang it up wrong kinda like we do with this wedding photo that boasts the wrong wedding date! Yup! That's just the way we roll around here. Our read wedding date is the July 30th, 2005!

Only time will tell...

or

Pregnancy Update 36+ Weeks

I am nearing the finish line at 36+ weeks. I had my labor talk this past week at the OB. It wasn't much of a talk really because I have been asking questions here and there at each visit.

We did speak about the option of a Hep-Lock instead of an IV. This way the staff would have access to the vein, but the IV will be capped for later use instead of adding continuous fluid. She said that as long as everything is going smoothly it shouldn't be a problem. She did warn that they can become blocked more easily than an IV but I am not really all that concerned because I feel the freedom the Hep-Lock will provide outweighs the fact that it could get blocked.

I had an internal exam to check my progress. However, I know that none of the signs they check for really mean much as far as when labor will begin. My stats were exactly the same with this baby as with Eliza at 36 weeks. I am about 1-1/2cm dilated, 70%effaced and engaged -1. I am opting to NOT get an internal exam next week. I find it to be unnecessarily invasive. I also had some spotting this past week and I would rather avoid that if at all possible.

I have been very crampy and having lots of BH. I hope this baby stays put for a bit longer. As you can see it is a bit difficult to relax and take care of a toddler.

I am starting to get a wee bit nervous about everything- the labor and delivery, the breastfeeding, the being a mom of two kids! I know it will all fall into place in time but I am a worrier and although I am trying to relax and stay clam the nerves keep creeping up on me.

A Surprise and Our Checking-in Visit at Hospital

My husband surprised me with this beautiful canvas on Saturday. It puts a smile on my face every time I see it hanging on the wall. Thanks babe.

On Sunday we had our checking-in visit at the hospital. We filled out a bunch of boring paperwork and spoke with one of the nurses. Just sitting in the waiting area in front of the nursery was giving me an anxiety attack. I was fine getting to the hospital and walking to the mother/infant care unit- but once I got there my heart started racing. My husband thinks I am nuts but I just can't seem to help my fight or flight response. I think part of it was the memories of being in the hospital with Eliza and the other part was the anticipation of the birth of this baby. I don't usually handle new situations/places/people all that well. It takes me a little while to situate myself.

I think I asked just about every question I planned on asking. However, I did forget to ask if it is a teaching hospital. I have no intention of being the guinea pig for teaching about checking the cervix. I'll pass.

Here are some of the other issues we discussed.

Wearing My own Clothes

The simple answer is yes. However, I would obviously need to wear something that is easily accessible and that could be ruined. I am sure I can find something on clearance at Target that both the staff and I would be comfortable with. The nurse was a little concerned that I might want to wear say a turtleneck and pants or a bedazzled gown?? I reassured her that this was NOT was I had in mind. I looked into purchasing a hospital gown but they are very pricey. My main concern with a standard hospital gown is that it is one size fits all-or most. If I plan on being up, walking around, using a birthing ball, etc it is going to be like a wedding gown on me. Someone is going to have to hold my train or bustle me up. The nurse said she didn't think the gowns were that big. I am estimating she was probably at least 5'8 and so of course things don't seem as big to her.

Vaccinations

The baby will not receive the Hep B vaccination while in the hospital. This is something Peter and I have discussed and we believe this particular vaccine can wait. The other issue was the Vitamin K injection. I was hoping they offered the oral alternative-but they do not. So, I think (not yet 100%) Peter and I will opt for baby to receive the standard injection.

Routine IV
I asked if IV's are routinely given to all birthing mothers and of course I knew the answer before I heard it from the nurse. Not every mother who is giving birth needs an IV but they give you one anyway. I asked if a Hep-Lock is an option and it is, but I need to speak with my doctor about this on Friday. Hopefully, if there are no issues I can hydrate using clear liquids and will NOT get the IV unless necessary.


Fetal Monitoring
The nurses response to this was it all depends on the baby. Of course this means the hospital has a CYA policy. I hope to have intermittent monitoring if all is well with baby.


Cloth Diapers
I hadn't given much thought to cloth diapering in the hospital. However, when the nurse heard we did cloth diaper she said they would use our cloth diapers in the nursery if that was our wish. However, there is always a chance that something could get mixed up with hospital laundry. Since I am renting the diapers I am not sure this is a risk I want to take. I might use them while baby is in the room with me and use sposies when the baby is in the nursery. We haven't made our final decision yet. I would love input from someone who DID cloth diaper in the hospital!


Other than that we had a pretty uneventful weekend of getting ready for baby. Pete has a busy month with photo shoots in August so we are trying to get as ready as possible before baby arrives.

Pregnancy Update

Here is my big belly at 35+ weeks. Had my OB appointment this morning and all was well. My Strep B came back negative which is good. The doctor said the baby has dropped. I hadn't really thought about it until she said something. The I realized that a few days ago I started to have some painful twinges and pressure down lower. I also have been more energetic-probably because I can breathe a little easier.

It is hard to believe that I had Eliza at 38 weeks. That is just about 2 1/2 weeks from now. I don't feel as ready as I did with E. I had A LOT of time on my hands before E was born. I spent an entire summer puttering around and being pregnant. I think my hospital bag was packed 8 weeks in advance. We are getting there this time around-but don't think my house will ever be ready-not when I have a toddler to chase and clean up after!

I know a lot of women get to a point when they feel ready to have a baby. I actually love being pregnant and never reached that point with E. In my opinion pregnancy is the easy part. It was the fourth trimester that was tough. Aside from starting to feel uncomfortable at night I really can't complain. However, I do a great impression of a cockroach on its back trying to get out of bed at night.

I am working on getting mentally prepared for the birth. I have been trying to deal with the negative feelings I still harbor from Eliza's birth. I know I need to get control of my anxiety and fear if I am going to experience natural childbirth. Pete and I have a prebirth hospital visit on Sunday and I hope to get some questions answered. I want birth in my own clothes. I was just not comfortable giving birth in a hospital gown that was huge on me.I know they have a jacuzzi tub at the hospital. I asked my OB today if women actually use the tub or if it was just something they advertise. She said that women do use it which was reassuring. She also mentioned I let them know in Triage that I want to go natural so that they can try to assign me a nurse leans towards natural childbirth.

and that's all for now because it is nap time and this pregnant momma needs to enjoy her rest while it is still an option!

George says it's a boy!

There has been lots of speculation about the gender of the baby.

My mom's friend George says it's a boy.

This is George eating a hot dog.

He did that test with a needle and thread over my wrist. It ended up going in circles which he said means I am having a boy. However, when I checked online that it said that means girl- which is MY prediction. My niece repeated the test with the same results- CIRCLES!

So what do you think? Will it be a boy or a girl? Do you know of any other fun gender prediction tests I could try?

Pregnancy Update 33 Weeks

Can you believe I am 33 weeks pregnant?

I have been pretty absent from the blogging world lately. I do stop by lots of blogs but just when I am about to comment I am usually pulled away for some reason or another. I have been busy doing summery things, taking care of E, hanging with my niece and getting ready for baby. I am hoping to get back into the groove very soon. I have a lot to say, I just can't seem to make myself sit down in front of the computer when the sun is beaming outside.

I had my 33 week check up today. Surprise Strep B test! Nothing like an unexpected swab in the hoo ha. I thought I was getting it at at 35 weeks. At least it is over and done now. I have gained about 28lbs so far- not too bad. I go back in two weeks and then after that I am headed to the doc. every week. I told them I don't want to know if I am dilated or not- since it doesn't really mean anything anyway.

I am actually hoping to bake until 40 weeks this time around. I did go at 38 weeks with Eliza (just 5 weeks from now!) but I know babies do better the longer they bake. Babies born at 38 weeks are twice as likely to have a problem with breathing, blood sugar, or bacterial infection than babies born one week later. Babies born at 39 or 40 weeks also tend to eat and sleep a little better. So let's keep our fingers crossed that baby #2 is cozy enough to hang out until at least 39 weeks.

and now time for pics!

Here I am at around 33 weeks with Eliza!

Here I am at 33 weeks NOW! Holy belly bigness.

Maternity Shoot- Sneak peek!

We took a trip to the beach yesterday. It was a blast and E had an amazing time. She is my lil beach bum. Pete also took some pictures of me on the beach. Here is a sneak peek from the shoot.



I am going to the doctor every two weeks now. I am almost 32 weeks pregnant. I haven't been feeling great lately- mainly due to feeling dizzy and having lots of BH! I really need to up my water intake to help with the contractions. Otherwise, everything looked good at the doctor. My blood pressure is fine and I don't have any swelling. My weight gain is appropriate and I am measuring right on target. Baby is doing lots of gymnastics in the belly which makes me happy.

I had Eliza at 38 weeks. That is only 7 weeks away. You can pretty much assume I am starting to nest big time. However, with Eliza running around I don't think I will ever feel ready!

Pregnancy Update- 29 weeks

I had my Ob appointment this morning. I can't believe I am 29 weeks. I delivered E at 38 weeks and that seems so close. Everything is going well. I think I have gained about 22lbs so far. I have been having lots of Braxton Hicks. They said if I have more than 4 in a hour to let them know. I think I have def. had more than four in an hour but it is usually when I am I busy with E. If I take time to lay down and relax they stop. I had my RhoGam shot and passed my glucose test. My platelets are a little low and will need to be checked again when I go into the hospital for delivery. My one major complaint has been that this baby is laying on my lungs sometimes and I feel like I can't breathe. It is a very uncomfortable feeling. Otherwise, I have had some indigestion and leg cramps but nothing I can really moan about.

and now the belly pics...

Here I am at about 27 weeks with Eliza

Here I am at 29 weeks with #2.

Here I am at about 30 weeks with E.

I think I look about the same. People say I am carrying different this time around but it looks the same to me.

So what do you think? Boy? Girl? Don't forget to stop by Expectnet to participate in my online baby pool!

Last Sunday I attended my friend Erika's shower. She used to live in my development and everyone in the pic. was neighbors. The three of us in white are due within about a week of each other. Crazy right? Stacie (in green) has a little man about 5 months. Why am I such a Hobbit? Seriously, I think Froto would tower over me.

The Home Stretch

I can't believe that I am almost in my third trimester. I am 27 weeks and one day pregnant. Holy Moly! This morning I went and did my glucose test. The orange drink wasn't too bad. It is the waiting that stinks. It makes me all jittery and I could barely read my book. I REALLY hope I don't have to go back for the three hour.

Overall I love being pregnant. I feel great. I have had quite a bit of Braxton Hicks but nothing terrible at this point. I never really experiences this with Eliza- or at least I didn't realize what is was at the time. My sleep has been decent enough. I am not really uncomfortable at all yet. BONUS! I have only had like three leg cramps in the middle of the night.

I have had two dreams about the sex of the baby. In the first dream I had a little girl. Then I was like, WAIT! it can't be a girl-I am supposed to have a boy. And of course I had a boy too. VERY STRANGE! Apparently the fact that I was pregnant with twins had gone unnoticed. I am pretty sure this was an anxiety dream. My husband said that if we have another girl we are done. However, if we have a boy then we can probably have a third. So, although I could care less about the sex of the baby- my husband's words must have penetrated deep into my subconscious to torture me in my sleep.

In the second dream my water broke and I went to the hospital. However, I didn't go into labor soon enough so they decided I needed to have a C-section. When the baby was born it was... A GIRL! AND the baby looked exactly like Eliza.

I am pretty sure I ma having a girl. If they tell me it is a boy-I might need them to double check.

I have been majorly slacking with taking belly pics. I was so diligent when I was pregnant with Eliza. I used the timer on my little snap and shoot to take pics every week. This time we take them with my husband's camera and well we actually don't take them with the camera. I am hoping to snap a picture very soon for another comparison.

I am doing a baby poll again at Expectnet- so head on over and have a guess!

OB Recap, Potty Training and Bye Bye Binky

I had my 24/25 week appointment at the OB today. I can't believe I have one more four week appointment and then start going every two weeks. WOW! This appointment was much better than the last. I met with a different doctor and she is very sweet. She assured me that if I wanted to try for a natural birth the nurses would be more than happy to help me along. She even said words like shower and Jacuzzi which made me feel a LOT better.

The baby is measuring at 24 weeks. I have currently gained about 19lbs. I now weigh around what I did when I became pregnant with Eliza. It seems I will probably gain about 35lbs this time around-same as last.Overall, I am feeling great. I have been having some Braxton Hicks here and there but nothing constant.

and now onto The Joys of Potty Training

Eliza is now wearing Gerber cotton trainers during the day. During naps and outings she is wearing cloth diapers. I put her on the potty every two hours. Or I should say I encourage her to sit on the potty every two hours. I am trying to track how often she pees but it is a tricky business. Sometimes she doesn't pee for two hours and then she pees every half hour for an hour and a half. What is with this wacky pee behavior? She just wants to test me. We have had more luck with the poop because it is VERY obvious when she needs to go. She gets a very serious look on her face and I know it is time. However, she HATES to go sitting down. She is much more comfortable doing it in a standing position- well because that is how she has been doing it for quite a while. I need to remind her to sit because she tries to run away mid poo. She also seems to have an obsession with toilet paper and flushing the toilet. Flush, Flush, Flush!


Bye Bye Binky (at least during the day)

I have decided to crack down on Eliza's binky use during the day. I know she loves her B-but she really doesn't need it during the day. I have decided to take it away when she wakes up in the morning and only give it back for naps and bed time. So far she is doing great with the transition. However, I think the BINK will stay part of our bed time and nap routine for a little longer. It is really her only comfort item and I am not going to take that from her until she is ready or a little older.

Not the update I planned

I am back after a tv free/computer free week. I had planned to update on how my week went. However, I guess that was too boring because I found out today that E and I were exposed to Coxsackie yesterday. We had direct contact with a lil boy who was diagnosed this morning. His mommy called me right away to let me know so that I could call the Ped. and the Obgyn.

I am not sure if E has it yet because there is a dormancy period of 3-6 days and last time she showed symptoms after about 5 days. If this is a different strain she can become infected again. I need to look out for fever, irritability, rash, and sores in the throat.

I also have to give blood tomorrow and again in three weeks for the Ob to monitor. Additionally, I need to limit my contact with Eliza until I know if she is infected. This is not going to be easy since I am her primary caregiver. She also has allergies and I have to wipe her nose about a zillion times a day which exposes to me to the virus if she is infected. So I am using gloves for diapers and washing my hands a zillion times.

I am trying to stay positive. This is no easy task for me. I made the mistake of googling and of course read some stuff that sent me into a tizzy. I am much calmer now.

That is what is new with me. Sooooo what's new with you?

On why I have snaggle toes...

I am still not here but my snaggle toes are alive and well.

I am in desperate need of a pedicure.

I have read some pretty negative stuff about nail polish lately and since I try to err on the side of caution and haven't purchased and safe polish yet-my toe nails are bare.

Add to that the fact that at E's last doctor appointment they were playing one of those horrific documentaries in the waiting room that showed the dangers of pedicures from a salons. It was enough to turn my stomach. So I am pretty sure I will be avoiding salon manis and pedis during pregnancy and nursing.

I will just have to settle for Pete massaging my legs and painting my toenails. ;0

I am looking into some safe nail polish options. One that I have found is a water based nail polish called Polished Momma that you can get at the Cotton Babies site. This is where I purchase my cloth diapers and my cloth diaper detergent etc. I might as well throw a little treat for momma into the shopping cart. Mother's Day is right around the corner after all.

According to Safe Mama Nicole by OPI is a safe option. It doesn't contain DBP, Toluene or Formaldehyde ad is available at Target. I'll have to check this one out too.

I am also looking into nail polish by Zoya and someone also mentioned one by Chi?

Here is an article- pro and con- on whether traditional nail polish is safe during pregnancy. Babble!

What is your take on the topic?

Belly Pics! 20 weeks

I have been a little MIA this week spending lots of time with my niece and E. My niece used a loom to make a bunch of pot holders, we made more recycled crayons, and she taught herself to knit. Tomorrow we are off to the Crayola Factory. Pete is off and it is great having him home.

Here are my belly comparison pics for 20 weeks. It is hard to believe I am halfway baked. It sure is going fast. I have my level 2 ultrasound scheduled for next week. Overall, I am feeling great. However, I have been anxious about feeling the baby move. I was feeling the baby constantly for a few days and now practically nothing. It all makes me a bit nutty. I think we might be getting a Doppler tomorrow.

20 Weeks with Eliza

20 weeks with baby #2

Taking a Beating

I am quickly learning that this pregnancy will not be nearly as easy as E's. Having a bouncing toddler to keep track of is kicking my butt or more accurately my belly. I didn't realize my belly wold be getting bumped, kicked and pushed quite so much. As much as I try to avoid this it seems unavoidable. When the doctor asks me about domestic abuse I always want to ask if getting my arse kicked by a toddler counts. Frankly, it is totally freaking me out.

On Saturday I was playing with Eliza at the playground. She was being a daredevil and decided to walk down the slide. I was standing on the ground next to her and reminding her to sit. When I saw she wasn't going to sit, but was instead going to tumble down the slide head first, I thrust myself forward to grab her, catching her just in time and jamming my belly into the play set. It hurt and I was very upset. My husband and mom told me to just relax. It felt better shortly afterward and I was able to relax a bit.

On Sunday I started to get scared that something terrible had happened. I wasn't spotting or cramping or feeling out of sorts at all. However, my head was convincing me that I hurt the baby. My head is a powerful thing. It can make me VERY crazy. It can make my husband very, very crazy. When E's nap time rolled around at about 1 I had totally lost it and was a mess. I ended up calling the doctor to leave a message. I was then able to compose myself and move on with the day. Of course I missed the doctor's call today am they have not called me back again. FUN!

I have mentioned before that I rented a Doppler while pregnant with Eliza. I did not feel her move that much and I was constantly panicking. I would become a zombie just sitting in a daze trying to feel her move. It wasn't healthy. Finally, the doctor suggested I get a Doppler. I was far enough along that I could easily find the heartbeat. So, I rented one from BellyBeats and used it a few times. Having it made me feel better and after using it those few times, E was big enough that I felt her move often.

I was hoping to get though this pregnancy in a more relaxed state. I figured I would be too busy with Eliza to worry and I have been doing much better so far. But lately all this bumping and jostling is making me a nervous wreck. I didn't plan on renting a Doppler but my husband thinks I should for peace of mind.-his peace of mind maybe. :)