Last Update before Motherhood!!

Not that I haven't enjoyed this pregnancy, but it's time to evict this baby.  I've been trying just about everything to induce myself naturally.  So I guess this post will be about what I've been trying, that may help someone else out there.  Please don't try any of these natural self-induction techniques without your Dr or midwife's consent.  After all, our major concern is a healthy baby. :-)

REMEMBER, NEVER INGEST ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DR OR MIDWIFE FIRST!!!!!

First off, I have to let you know what one of my BIGGEST pet peeves are.  If I asked people what techniques they used or researched other techniques, I always got the comment from that one annoying person that has NO idea what your reasons for self-induction are.  They always say, "Just let the baby decide when he/she is ready and hold out."  That phrase or ones similar REALLY make me want to punch those people in the throats before they can finish their sentence.  LOL.  We, as in all pregnant women looking to self-induce, have our reasons.  If we ask, don't tell us to just "hold out" and "let the baby decide" because we're not going to listen anyways.

Ok, now that I've got that bit out of the way, lets get to the techniques I've tried and read about.  One of the main ones that I'm still doing is walking.  Your Dr's or midwives will tell you to do this one a lot. If it doesn't start up contractions, at least you're staying healthy.  Another one I'm still doing is sitting and bouncing on my exercise ball.  This is suppose to help move the baby down into a good birthing position. It's also good for back pain relief.  Another one I've tried a few times is eating spicy food.  I don't know exactly why it's suppose to work, but I tried it and it really didn't do anything but give me bad indigestion. lol!

Another technique that my Dr told me to do, which I've done a couple times since my appointment, is to have sex.  My DR, who I listen to because she's a DR lol, told me it's because semen contain a protein called prostaglandin that aide in dilating (opening) and effacing (thinning) the cervix.  I've had a few contractions since then and I can definitely feel something happening to my cervix.  I've been having some seriously sharp/stabbing pains in my cervix area.  I guess that one's working, but no active labor pains.  Dancing is another technique that I've used and have seen videos of others using.  A lot of women have had success with this one and it does bring on contractions, but only BH, not the painful "I'm going into labor" kind of contractions that I'm working for.  This next one may sound strange, but "galloping" is another technique that I and others have used.  It's performed just how it sounds.  You gallop like a horse.  It looks silly, but the slight jumping motion help the baby to drop further down and creates pressure on the cervix.  This one does hurt my cervix and general hip area.  I've had a few good pains follow this, but I live in high altitude and thanks to my heart, I tire easily so I can't do this one too long.  The stairs is another technique that I can't last too long on.  Plus, I can't do this one without someone at the house, just in case I pass out, but it does promote some strong BH contractions and I can definitely feel it in my cervix.

Here's some techniques I've been told about, but have NOT tried, or have been told not to try.  Remember, what YOU ingest, your BABY ingests.  I've been told by tons of people to try Castor Oil.  NO, and here's why.  Castor Oil, for one, is found in the LAXATIVE isle, so DUH it's going to make you have diarrhea. I think it's funny when people are so surprised by this side effect.  The reason it causes some women to go into labor is because the cramping from diarrhea causes the uterus to start cramping and contract.  These are NOT good contractions.  Plus, after ingesting this you can cause your baby to have a bowel movement in utero causing the possibility of inhalation of meconium (first baby poop) and infection in their lungs.  Another one is, Evening Primrose Oil.  You can ingest this or insert it vaginally close to the cervix.  It suppose to have the same effect as the semen, but according to a few Dr's, it can actually cause problems during labor and with the pregnancy.  So it is not recommended.

Since my awesome hubby is home I'm going to cut this short and provide a link to a few sites that give suggestions OR you can just google "self-induction techniques".  I hope y'all have luck and wish us luck. :)

Stay safe and God Bless,

Ashley


http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/pregnancy-64/birth-labour-256/39805-natural-self-induction-methods-37-weeks.html

Last Week of Second Trimester!! Wow!

Talk about no time to even breath! Who knew pregnancy would make you so busy all the time.  Well ladies, I'm almost to my THIRD trimester!!! It's so crazy to think about and my baby shower is on December 1st!!! YAY!  I'm 26 weeks and 2 days today and I am feeling huge already.  I have a lot more growing to do, which is scary. lol.  Luckily I don't have any stretch marks, yet.  Tristan is getting so strong! Sometimes when he kicks, my whole body shakes. lol.  He's starting to get into his head down position which means more kicks to the ribs and stomach.  I'm loving every bit of it, though.  Even when he decides to wake up at 2am and play for a few hours, I can't help but smile.  That's our son kicking in there.  OUR SON!! lol.  Only 3 months left and I'm just getting more and more excited to meet him.  COME ON FEBRUARY!! lol

Just thought this was funny.  I'm have a HARD time shaving my legs now.

DH is going to have to start helping me from now on.

I have made my birth plan already.  I want to be super prepared. Which is also why I have my list ready of what I'll pack in our hospital bags. lol.  I'll probably pack our bags when I'm around 34 weeks and have it ready to just grab and go.  As far as my birth plan,  I want to have a drug free birth.  I will be having our baby in the hospital.  I have some medical issues that would probably make it unsafe to try and have him at home.  I plan to play my massage music and have my husband preform accupressure and certain massage techniques, that I'll teach him, to help with labor pain.  Also, I plan on bringing a "birthing ball", which is just a normal exercise ball.  I would love to try having a water birth, but I don't think my hospital has that option.  I also plan to use breathing techniques all kinds of different positions that I've learned through research to help labor progress and move the baby down.  My ideal birthing experience would be to breath and relax and let the baby come out on it's own without nurses and doctors telling me when and how hard I HAVE to push.  I'm not giving myself the option of an epidural.  I also do NOT want an episiotomy.  Every midwife I've talked to said that it's better to tear naturally, if you tear at all, because it heals better and you do less damage to your pelvic floor.

When it comes to fashion, hospital gowns are anything but fashionable.  I have found some AMAZING birthing gowns online that are DISPOSABLE!!  That's right.  Look adorable while going through labor and giving birth, then just throw it away when you're finished!!  They are called Pretty Pushers delivery gowns.  You can buy them on their website at www.prettypushers.com and they have a great selection of colors!!

My personal favorite is the "I Dream of Sushi" gown.  

Back view

They are all One Size, except Black and Pink also offer plus sizes, and are $24-$28.  They are low cut in the front and it tie behind the neck like a halter top, so it's easy access for immediate skin-on-skin right after baby is born.  There is a slit in the front for easy access to belly monitors and it ties shut for privacy.  The back is pretty low cut, but for easy access for epidurals and it also has a tie in the back.  From all the reviews I've read, and a few words from some personal friends of mine that have used it, I will definitely be using one of these gowns.  I want to be comfortable and feel cute, which absolutely would not happen if I have to wear one of those over used and over sized hospital gowns. BLAH!  Why not just pay at most about $28 for one that's never been used and will fit your body better and make you look awesome! lol. One of my friends had two of them and after she gave birth, she changed into the other one because it was so easy to breastfeed and was so comfortable.  With this gown, it's sure to be an exciting and fashionable experience.  Like they say on their website, "This is YOUR labor ... OWN it!" Trademark of Pretty Pushers.  I do not own that phrase.  Just had to throw that out there, just in case. :-P

Alright ladies.  I'll post the most recent pictures of my belly, then I have to go cook dinner.  I just wanted to update y'all on my pregnancy and let y'all know what I was up to and interested in.  Hope y'all are staying safe and healthy!

 24 Weeks 3 Days Belly photo!

24 Weeks 6 Days  

Spur of the moment cell phone shot.  Turned out pretty cool!

 25 Weeks 3 Days Belly Photo!!!

I take my new photo tomorrow and I feel so much bigger.  I'll try to update with more photos soon.  I do have an appointment on the 29th and get to have another ultrasound!!  So maybe I'll just update after then and post pictures of Tristan.  I REALLY hope they'll give me a 4d ultrasound.  I want one so bad!  We'll see!

Be safe and God Bless,
Ashley

Gender Reveal Video and update!!

HELLO LADIES!!!  So I FINALLY had my anatomy scan on the 9th of October.  I have to go back November 2nd to have another scan because the baby moved around SO MUCH that she couldn't get a good picture of the spine.  We did, however, find out the gender.  I'll post the gender reveal video I made for my friends.  I had to wait to tell my husband, because he was at training when I had the scan.  We decided that I would paint my toes either pink or blue to surprise him with the gender.  I made a FAKE gender cake that I "accidentally" left out when he walked in. It was completely pink and I made him believe that it was a girl.  I made him think I forgot to put it away and felt horrible and asked him to still act surprised when we skyped with his mom and showed her my toes, which were covered with socks.  So in the video, you'll see the moment he pulls my sock of and was completely relieved and surprised.  LOL He REALLY wanted a boy.

Look at his smile! LOL He was so excited!!!

Today I am 21 weeks and 3 days pregnant with our extremely active and huge baby boy!  At the scan I was 20 weeks and he was only suppose to weight around 10 ounces and the tech said he was weighing just under 15 ounces.  HOLY FOOTBALL STAR BATMAN!!!  No wonder his kicks are SUPER visible.  He's going to be a freaking Hulk! LOL!!  I'm a little scared of how big he'll be at time of delivery, but I know God wont give me anything I can't handle.  I'm just nervous, that's all.  I hold the record as the heaviest birth weight in my family.  I really don't want to break that record with my son. I'd be perfectly happy having an average sized baby. lol.

Our little man! I can't help but stare at this picture.

So beautiful!

Wish us luck!  Husbandy got back Monday, but leaves again for a month for NTC tomorrow.  He had to make a run to his office and file some paperwork, so I'm going to go so I can clean up house a little and make sure he has nothing to do but relax when he gets back.  It sucks having to let him go all the time and never getting to spend time with him.  The military life is definitely not for the weak. lol.  Thank God my momma raised me to be a strong independent woman.  Now that God has blessed us with this strong baby boy, he keeps me pretty entertained while daddy's away.  I LOVE watching him kick.  He goes crazy when I play music or when I sing to him.  So much fun!

Stay Safe and God Bless!
Ashley

Quick Update and Me and Hubby Time!

Hello again, ladies and possible gents.  I'm a little over 18 weeks now and the baby is kicking like CRAZY!!  What an amazing feeling!!  It kicked me awake the other night.  It scared me at first until I realized what it was.  Baby just felt like I should be awake too, I guess.  SO, I did NOT have luck trying to get my midwife to change her orders for the ultrasound.  Booo!!  She absolutely refused, but in reality, she was just "too lazy to do it and is dumb", according to my friend who is a nurse at the hospital I go to.  I had an appointment with the midwife today and she measured me, listened to the baby's heart, and weighed me.  Nothing exciting.  Well, hearing the baby's heart is ALWAYS exciting to me, but no pictures.  The heart rate was 154bpm.  It kept moving away from her, so she had trouble chasing it around.  lol.  That's my baby!  My uterus is right at my belly button now.  It feels and looks HUGE, to me. lol

This was taken at 17 weeks and 3 days.

Sorry, I don't have an 18 week pic yet.

My husband and I recently went on a "couple's retreat" paid by the army in Denver.  In order to do it, we had to attend classes while we were there, but I FINALLY got to go swimming and I really enjoyed my alone time with my hubby.  Swimming was WONDERFUL!!  It took the weight off of everything, my chest, my back, my poor ligaments up front. LOL.  It felt wonderful. Then we had some AMAZING seafood at Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant , which was attached to the Bass Pro Shop.  Very fun store, btw.  After eating, then walking around the store, we went back to our hotel to nap and CJ had his hand on my belly while we cuddled and he felt the baby move for the first time!!!  He thought it was so cool!!  He said, "It feels like a grapefruit rolling over."  LOL  I don't know what that means, but I'll just believe him. lol

Well, my hubby is about to get home and he's pretty sick so I'm going to have a few things ready for him for when he gets here. I gotta take care of my man! lol

If y'all have any prayer requests or any questions for me, leave them in the comments below and I'll do my best to answer them for you, and pray for you.

Be safe and God Bless,

Ashley

4 months and Still Kicking. .... Literally! :-D

Well, hello ladies.  It's been awhile, again, since I last posted.  Again, it's been crazy busy.  Who would have thought life would get busy after getting pregnant. LOL.  I am now 16 weeks and 1 day pregnant as of today.  I'm waiting on my midwife to call me back.  I have to get her to change her orders put into Radiology to be able to get my ultrasound done earlier than 20 weeks.  My husband is leaving Oct 3rd and wont be back until Thanksgiving week and I turn 20 weeks Oct 7th.  SOOO, I'm trying to get it done earlier so he can be there with me to find out if we're going to have a Mr. Tristan James, or a Miss. Makayla Carolee.

I'm just gonna vent for a quick second.  I'm a little fed up with the Army's awful timing.  He didn't know he was going to be gone all next month until last week.  He is told that he may have to deploy in January.  His Chaplan know's we are expecting in February, so he did us a GREAT favor and talked the big boss into letting CJ stay until the baby is born.  He doesn't have his orders yet, and because of the lack of communication and lack of timely decision making in his unit, he probably wont get those orders until a month or so before.  Right now, we are trying to figure out how or if, we are going to be able to move me to NC to be with family while he's deployed.  Otherwise, I'm by myself.

Okay,  I'm done venting.  lol.  Just had to get that out.  Back to the pregnancy.  I'm feeling much better than I did in the first trimester, but I had a few bad days last week.  By bad days I mean I was throwing up a lot, again.  I thought I was suppose to be done with that part, but I guess this pregnancy has a few surprises for me.

In other news,  the boob fairy keeps coming to me in my sleep.  I swear, my boobs feel HUGE!! LOL! My husband loves it, needless to say really.  But he agrees and keeps commenting, "They're getting BIG!"  He cracks me up.  They feel super heavy, and if I slouch in the tub, they actually touch my abdomen!  I mean, I'm not complaining either.  I've always liked my boobs the way they were, but sometimes wished they were a tad bigger.  Well, they're more than a tad bigger now, and from the looks of it, they will continue to get bigger.  WHOA! 

Thanks boob fairy!  I may be cursing you later in life though. lol

Though I am only in my second trimester, I'm already having symptoms of sciatica.  It basically feels like sharp pains behind my right hip when I move certain ways.  My round ligament pain has been getting a little worse as well.  A warm bath seems to help a lot with both of those symptoms.  In other words, I'm been taking baths like crazy. lol.  Add some bubbles and some celtic music, and sometimes I just about fall asleep.  SO soothing!!

I've been told that I can't take hot bath.  Only warm baths.

Nothing that'll raise your temp above 102, or something like that.

I just like watching my belly peak above the water. lol ;-P

I'm STILL having a hard time sleeping on my side.  I want to lay on my belly SO bad.  Pre-pregnancy, I'd fall asleep on my stomach and roll to my bad and back to my stomach again.  My midwife told me, along with other moms, that I should sleep on my left side because that  offers the best blood flow to the baby.  If you lay on your back, your uterus cuts off an important artery, and if you lay on your right side, your minimizing the blood flow to your baby.  Needless to say I sleep in a nest of pillows to keep me in place, but I keep waking up because I want to roll everywhere.  

Oh my! I NEED this pillow like, yesterday! This looks WONDERFUL!!!

Aside for the aches and pains, this really is an amazing experience.  Watching my belly grow every day is a blessing. Every morning I wake up I can tell my belly is a little bigger.  Others may not notice a daily difference, but I can.  I can't keep my hands off my belly.  When I wake up, my uterus is the highes part, aside from my boobs, on my body.  I mean, when I touch it, my hand cups around it and it drops off right at my belly button.  Then it looks like I have a huge crater between my belly button and my ribs. LOL.  Plus, it feels so hard.  Not like rock hard, but harder than the abdomen I'm used to. lol.  Now, it feels like it's the size of a melon.  Like a small cantaloupe.  So cool!

My 15w belly after waking up, 

hence the sheet lines my my side. LOL

See, I could grab it.  So weird, but 

amazing at the same time.  That's my baby in there. :-D

On another note, I still haven't gained any weight back.  Well, one pound, because I got down to 145 and now, every morning, I'm 146 even though my belly is still growing.  I'm eating as much as I can, but I guess it's still not enough.  I'm working on it.

I'll let that be the end of my blog.  My hubby is home from work now, and I'd like to spend as much time with him as I can.  If y'all have any questions, or need any prayers, let me know in the comment box below.  Thank you for reading. :-)

Stay safe and God Bless,

Ashley

2nd Trimester, FINALLY!!!!

I have FINALLY made it to the 2nd Trimester!  So far so good.  My morning sickness has almost gone away, but rears it's ugly head every now and then, to keep me on my toes I guess.  I've had bad allergies lately, so it's a little worse than usual because of the drainage in the back of my throat.  I know, GROSS!  My gag reflex is SUPER sensitive since I got pregnant, so I can't just hack up what's sitting on the back of my throat because it makes me vomit, EVERY time.  I'm just going to have to ask my doctor for a Rx of zyrtec.  It's safe for pregnancy, but they prefer you don't take it until after your 12th week.  I'm am 13 weeks and 3 days today!!  WOOHOO!!  It feels great.  I know the websites and apps say that I would be able to feel the baby at around 16 weeks, but I SWEAR I could feel it the other night.  I mean, it's the lightest little feeling, and it wasn't gas bubbles.  I'm sure of it.  If you've ever held a butterfly and felt it's wings flap against your skin, it's like that, but from the inside.

12w 3d.  Since I missed posting that week.

My cravings have changed, slightly.  I still really like deviled eggs and corn muffins, but lately, I have been craving pizza like nobody's business!!  I just can't get enough of it.  Not a healthy craving, but I've trying to gain weight still, and I eat a lot of salads and fruit too.  So, I'm not eating bad food all the time.  Just every now and then.  I still haven't gained any weight even though my belly is getting bigger and bigger.  It seems like this baby is soaking up ALL my nutrients before my body can even get any.  My husband thinks that's the reason I've been SO sleepy and sick lately.  I'm not sick sick, but just icky feeling.  He believes that the baby is getting good nourishment and is healthy, but I'm malnourished and suffering a little.  I can't help but agree with him on that one.

How I feel every time I weight myself.  I never though

I'd actually WANT to gain so bad.

I haven't taken a picture of my belly yet today, so I'll have to put it in my next post.  It's slightly bigger than in my 12 week photo.  People are actually noticing and not assuming I'm just getting pudgy.  Which is funny, because the ONLY things getting bigger are my boobs and my belly.  My pants are REALLY loose and wrinkle around my legs, I still can't button them though.  I'll have to post picture of that too so y'all can see how much weight I've lost.  These jeans use to be pretty tight.  I'm just hoping that my weight problem will NOT affect my baby.  It hasn't so far, and I hope it stays that way.  My next post will be about the foods, medications, and activities that we can and can NOT partake in while pregnant.  My doctors gave me a little purple book that explains it all, and I'm actually surprised with some of the stuff I can eat and what not.  Until next time, ladies and gents!

"Healthy diet means healthy baby."

Yeah, easier said than done! lol

Stay safe, stay healthy, and God Bless,
Ashley

Rough Beginning on a Beautiful Journey

First off, let me apologize for starting this blog later than I promised.  I've been SO sick, but now I'm starting to feel better and have more energy to post again.  I can not be more excited about this pregnancy.  Right when I started to give up hope, God had another surprise around the corner.  If y'all have followed my other blogs, then you know a little about my history with infertility and what my husband and I went through to get to this point.  For those new to my blogs, here's the short and sweet version.

This is the MRI of the cyst on my right ovary.  

It's the big, white, egg shaped oval on the left.

It was pretty big and uncomfortable. Looks demonic. lol.

The "horns" are my pelvic bones. lol.

  No, I never had to do IVF or give myself shots every morning.  I thank God for that, and I'm so sorry for those who have to and I pray for all of you.  I did, however, have surgery to remove a monster cyst on my right ovary and some endometrium.  I was diagnosed with endometriosis late last year, but they said I probably had it for quite some time.  It explains a LOT of things I experienced growing up.  SEVERE cramping and bleeding, and after marriage, my inability to get pregnant.  After the surgery they put me on a shot treatment that put me through chemical menopause to kill off the rest of the endometriosis they couldn't get to.  I was estimated to be able to try again and succeed pregnancy a YEAR AFTER my last shot which was March 5, 2012.  I didn't start my new cycle until May 21st.  A month before my mom bought me an ovulation monitor to help our chances.  Once I started I tried the monitor to just test it out.  Of course I was hoping for success, but I didn't expect to ovulate, especially succeed the first try.  God is FULL of surprises, and let me tell you, we were SO surprised!  This wasn't suppose to be possible, but it happened.  A true miracle.  Don't give up, ladies, because your miracle could be just around the corner!

I'm 11 weeks and 6 days today.  I DO have a small baby bump, which is SO weird to me because I've never had a belly in my life!  We had an ultrasound yesterday and the baby looked GREAT.  We recorded it too, so I'll post the video of it.

Can you believe it?!?! How amazing! Our little peanut!

We wont know the gender until I'm 20 weeks, or something like that, but we already have names picked out for both genders, already have the nursery furniture set up, and have a theme and wall color picked out.  LOL!  I know it's still early, but we've wanted this for SO long that we just couldn't wait to start decorating and everything.  The names we have picked out is Tristan James for a boy, and Makayla Carolee for a girl.

My symptoms have subsided a bit this week, which is GREAT because now I can eat! I had such bad morning sickness that I couldn't even keep down water, so I had to go in and get IV fluids. They gave me some Zofran, which is for nausea, and it's done WONDERS! I'm still losing weight which worries the doctors a little because now I've lost 13 pounds since I got pregnant.  I'm on a no exercise and high calorie diet.  I'm trying.  I can eat popsicles,  Jiffy Corn Muffins, and Deviled Eggs all day long.  Anything else I have to lay down and fight the urge to throw it back up.  I'm almost done with the first trimester, and everyone has promised that the second trimester will be the best and I'll feel great.  I surely hope so.  I already feel a little better this week than I have been.  Hopefully that's a sign of relief in the next couple weeks.  I still have really sore boobs, but they are huge and AWESOME!! LOL!  I also have constipation, but it's not bad.  I take a lot of potty breaks, I'm gasey, and I have a backache all the time because I had to change my sleeping position already.  I sleep with 4 pillows now.  One in front, one in back, one between my legs and one for my head.  My sleeping nest.  I WAS a stomach sleeper, but it's too uncomfortable now.  PLUS, I have awful dreams, so I wake up a LOT at night, and not just for the potty breaks.  We'll see if any of this improves, and I'll be sure to let y'all know.  I have to go so I can try and feed this baby, but I'll put the progression photos, below, of my belly starting from week 4.  Stay safe and stay healthy, ladies!

4w3d little bloated

5w3d

5w6d Ultrasound.  I ended up in the ER due to bleeding and cramping, but everything was fine. Just random bleeding, I guess.

6w5d

7w3d. Little bloated. lol

8w3d

9w4d ultrasound.  This is when I had to get IV fluids, 

and they checked the baby just in case.  I was too sick to get a belly picture.

10w3d

11w3d BOOM! lol

I hope y'all enjoy!

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and God Bless,

Ashley