BUT...
I know that sometime within the semi-distant, but could be kinda close, future, I would like to become pregnant again. Let's be honest, Jack is all but begging for a sister on a daily basis. (sorry, bros.)
With that in mind, I've been thinking a lot back on my pregnancy with Jack and what went right and what went wrong. Obviously you can't always control every aspect of your pregnancy. (Thanks, endless all-day nausea, ya jerk) but you can control your overall health.
That is why I am teaming up with the American Recall Center to talk about #9Tips9Months to discuss my top 9 tips for a healthy pregnancy based on what worked, what didn't and what I should have done when I was pregnant with Jack. So pregnant friends/family of mine or those hoping to become pregnant in the next few years, pay attention. (These are tips for me too - for future reference of course!)
Remember when I looked like this?? Call me crazy but I kinda miss that little bump! (not the 41-week bump though. ugh.)
Let's start at the beginning. For those of you who are already pregnant, this won't apply to you as much, but for those out there who want to become pregnant soon or in the future, be aware, fertility can be fickle. Sometimes it can be difficult and even impossible to become pregnant. So making sure you are at your peak healthy self before you even start trying to conceive is really important. Daniel and I tried for nearly a year before we got pregnant with Jack, and in terms of the TTC (trying to conceive) game, that can be a relatively short time. For many, it takes much longer with more medical assistance required to get pregnant. The healthier you are overall, the better chance you have of successfully getting pregnant sooner.
Here are my #9Tips9Months
1. Eat better.
2. Shake your groove thang.
One regret I have about my pregnancy with Jack is that I didn't work out. At all. Ever. I only gained the recommended 25 lbs during that 9 month time frame, but I also suffered massive all-day sickness for 4.5 months. That probably helped me not gain so much weight (more on that below.) Next pregnancy, I am going to make a serious effort to at least go walking, do yoga, maybe do some light dance cardio, etc. to help keep me moving more. The nice thing about next pregnancy is that now with a toddler in tow, I have a lot less time to sit on my rump all night after work and binge on Netflix. So stay active. You don't have to run a marathon (although I know pregnant people who have.) Just find a moderate, fun exercise that keeps you limber and strong. The stronger your abdominal muscles are, btw, the more success you have during the pushing part of delivery, Just sayin'. (I only pushed for 20 minutes!)
3. Battle morning sickness like a boss.
This is a throwback to our South/North Carolina trip. I was 15 weeks pregnant. On a boat. And sicker than a dog. Can you tell? ;)
Oh man. I sure would like to block the horrors of
- Crackers by the bed first thing in the morning? Tried it. Puked them up. = fail
- Ginger Ale? All day, every day, by the liter. = success
- Small meals throughout the day? Puked them up on the side of the road while driving. = fail
- Sucking on small candies or mints throughout the day? A good distraction and actually helped quell the puking part = success!!
So that's what worked for me and what didn't. I don't really have any better suggestions, but keep in mind what worked for me may not work for you. I just hope you all are luckier than me and don't have to worry about the seemingly endless nausea as part of your initial "gift" into pregnancy.
What I did NOT try was medication. I was prescribed phenergan, but never took it. I was too paranoid, I guess. Plus, I know how sleepy it can make you and I was still working 40+ hours a week as a newspaper reporter and commuting over an hour a day. I needed to be alert! I know while I was pregnant, the prescription drug Zofran became really popular for pregnant women to use. Granted, I know there are lots of women who took it without issue for them or their babies, but the American Recall Center is working to raise awareness about the possible side effects of Zofran use during pregnancy.
There have been some links between Zofran drug use that increases the risk for birth defects like cleft palate and serious heart issues. The anti-nausea drug is used as an "off-label" to treat morning sickness, despite the fact that the FDA doesn't approve of the drug for that application.
Taking medications of any kind can have a risk. It is important to be aware of them.
4. Take your mental health seriously. If you've ever been pregnant, or been around a pregnant woman for any good length of time, you'll likely know that sometimes they might have the tendency to become a little crazy pants. And I say that with the most compassion, empathy and understanding I can. I got a little Bat-shiz from time to time. Your hormones are cray!! You experience ups and downs and all arounds while gestating that perfect little creature. Be sure that you are keeping stress levels down, be aware of symptoms associated with issues like anxiety and depression especially if you've already experienced either of those before. Being in a healthy mental state is good for not just you and your pregnancy, but the overall health of the baby.
I've battled both depression and anxiety for years. I was really worried that those issues would crop up during pregnancy and would cause issues with postpartum depression, which can be really scary if untreated. Fortunately, the hormonal effects of pregnancy on my body and mind were a really good thing and I didn't/still haven't had many depression issues since getting pregnant.
To stay mentally healthy during your pregnancy be sure to:
5. Get adequate sleep. Exhaustion is no joke. Sleep can be really tough while you are as big as a bowling ball. Those pregnancy pillows are an awesome luxury tool to have if you can get your hands on one. If not, make sure you use extra pillows to support your sides, legs, hips and neck while you sleep for optimal sleep. If nighttime sleep isn't cutting it, don't be afraid to take a nap! If this is your first baby, this should be pretty easy to accomplish. If you have kids already, make the hubs, your mom, friend or trusted neighbor take your kiddos for an hour so you can catch up on some Zzzzs.
6. Take time for yourself - Sheesh, girl, You are making a human!!! Take some time to reward yourself for such an amazing, miraculous achievement. Have an at-home spa day (or go get a massage/facial/fancy treatment of some kind if you can afford it.) Or even just take a few extra minutes/dollars and go get yourself a delish smoothie or half-caff (or no-caff if you're worried about it) frappe at Starbucks. Little treats to yourself can help a lot.
7. Don't be afraid to get professional help if you need it. There is ZERO shame in getting professional help if you are feeling a little down in the dumps and can't seem to get your way out of that funk. Being pregnant is hard and life is hard. Sometimes it gets to be a little too much. Take care of your emotional health and get help if you need it.
On that note: Talk about your fears/stresses/concerns with your partner. That's why you married/partnered up with the big ole' lug - they are there to help emotionally support you during this time.
8. Pregnancy is scary - stay away from Google. I know, I am giving you an impossible challenge. I researched the hell out of everything pregnancy/child birth. I learned a lot, but I also scared the crap out of myself about certain things that could go wrong. Don't do that. If you are actually experiencing concerning symptoms, call your doc/midwife/care provider. They are used to hearing really "silly" worries us crazy preggos complain about, and if you have a healthcare provider that is worth seeing, they won't dismiss your fears. More importantly, if something really is wrong, you can get quickly get the medical attention you need. But don't stress over things that are out of your control. It's not good for you or the baby. Talk a hot (but not too hot!) bath and relax.
9. Be prepared. It doesn't matter if you plan to go for a natural delivery, or if you know from the second you see those double lines on your pee stick that you'll be getting you some nice pain relief during labor, it is still important to be prepared. One great way to do this is to take a childbirth class. There are so many offered now from the Bradley Method to Lamaze to Hypnobabies to How to Birth like a Rockstar.
(Seriously, that last one is a real thing! I am so doing it next pregnancy.)
Being prepared for labor is a huge part of staying healthy during pregnancy. Ultimately it will help you have the kind of birth you want. Obviously, emergency's happen in the delivery room and interventions occur, but knowing what to expect is a huge help in preparing you for those. I was a huge fan of the documentary "The Business of Being Born" and it's sequel mini-series. "More Business of Being Born." It was instrumental in helping me learn what is normal in child birth. Some books I'd really recommend are "Your Best Birth" and "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth." Granted, these are all oriented around having natural home-style births, but even though I delivered in a hospital and had an epidural, I still felt like they helped so much.
One last little bonus tip: listen to your gut. Now that you are creating a life, everyone from your mom to your sister and probably even your dog is going to want to tell you "how to do it." But trust your gut. Getting pregnant helps you tune into those instincts we get as new moms. I don't do 90 percent of my parenting the way that others would like me to do them, and you know what, I'm doing just fine. (usually). So go with your instincts. You have them for a reason.
It's obviously impossible to be full prepared for having a baby, but it's an amazing adventure and I hope some of these tips can help you all preparing for this next stages of your lives in motherhood. Good luck, mamas!!
I promise, it's all worth it in the end. <3
P.S. Been there, done that mamas: I'd love to hear your thoughts too! Feel free to chime in with your #9Tips9Months in the comments below!
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