Pregnancy Update-- Third Trimester already!

Cravings: Sweet Tea, Fruit and Maple Oatmeal at McDonalds, S'mores, Ginger Ale, Sour Cream, Taco Bell,  MILK SHAKES/ICE CREAM!, Muffins.-- It's safe to say my healthy eating plan hasn't been going as well as I had hoped. :/

Complaints: I pee every. Single. Time. That I stand! Hearburn, owww! Exhaustion. Crampy/painful contractions when I walk too much, haven't had enough water, etc. and sometimes just because my uterus wants to annoy me! ;) Tons of pressure thanks to baby M being head down already, measuring big and super low!

Solutions: Just got a maternity support belt (by Medela) today, hoping it'll help with the frequent urination and pressure(midwife suggested it)! TUMS. Lots of them. For heartburn obviously.

I start seeing the midwife every 2 weeks now. YIKES! I can't believe how close I am to being a mom of 3! Insane. I love my doctor office and my midwife and her nurse practitioner, We're planning a water birth, and that is so exciting for me! I meet with my Doula this Saturday- YAY! I hope we hit it off, I'm a bit nervous! I want to talk to her about my anxiety over the transition and pushing phases of labor and also breastfeeding.

I've been adding wheat germ to nearly everything I eat-- for fiber and CHOLINE! :D It's so good in vanilla yogurt, mmm! Choline is supposed to help with brain function and memory! It's a nutrient that is required for normal cell function, healthy nerve and brain function, transporting nutrients throughout the body, and liver metabolism.  You can get choline from eggs, soybeans (although I don't recommend over-doing soy, especially while pregnant, there is some controversy over that), beef, lentils, salmon and more! I like to use the wheat germ, as I don't always include choline foods into my everyday diet. I've also been trying to eat more avocado for some good fatty-acids! 

We have the baby name that we LOVE picked out. And while multiple (okay quite a few) have been told the "most likely" name we haven't OFFICIALLY announced it. I changed my daughter's name last minute and was so sick of hearing "What happened to Lydia?!" as if they preferred it to the name we gave her. Annoying! But I really think this IS the name. So I might as well mention it here, since I love it so much! His name is going to be (most likely!) Elias Antonio Martinez. We will (and already do) call him Eli for short! We love it/ it's perfect. I twas the perfect compromise when we just couldn't agree on a name. And now it doesn't even feel like a compromise! It just feels "right"- it feels like it's HIS name. Elias is just a name we like, and it is also biblical which is a HUGE bonus! Antonio is my husband's middle name, which was very important to us that we used it. Elias means "the Lord is my God" and Antonio means "Priceless". Love it. :)

We are moving out of our rental home (landlord is selling) and that is just beyond stressful this late in pregnancy! Ahhh! I'm hoping we get our "dream house" we applied for, but we're up against a few other applicants so it could go either way. :/ We have 2 other places we like as well-- so if we don't get this place it'll be time to apply to the other's. We find out Monday... I'M SO NERVOUS!

I went shopping! I was at Kohl's last night and bought the baby two outfits to add to the rest of the collection I have been trying to build and I think that they are just TOO cute!

Third Trimester-- the home stretch! Goodness! :)

Thoughts; 21.5 weeks pregnant

It's funny how I thought I had an intervention free birth with my 2nd child. I tested GBS + and had to have a hep lock for antibiotics. I pushed flat on my back in a hospital bed. The cord was cut almost immediately. My daughter underwent all the typical hospital routines, antibiotics in her eyes, the vitamin K shot, weighing and measuring on the table away from me (as if these things couldn't have waited). The doctors were so fixated on her weight during that 2 day hospital stay that they EVEN sent me home with formula saying I *had* to supplement. *eye roll*


So this time will be different. I'm going to take another approach to the GBS. I will be doing a hibiclens and taking probiotics and using garlic BEFORE the GBS testing. I will also continue my use of probiotics (from kefir and other fermented foods) until i deliver. The day I go into labor I will be doing another hibiclens.

I am also refusing the gel they put into baby's eyes and the vitamin K shot (any other shot as well for that matter). I won't allow for his cord to be cut until it's done pulsating, I want him to KEEP all of his blood supply (since a 3rd of his supply is still in the cord!). I want to take my placenta home this time. I'll either encapsule it or plant a tree with it. :) Any other placenta ideas? I am hoping the hospital doesn't rush the baby over for vitals either, the initial bonding period is essential. I want us to develop a good breastfeeding relationship- and I'm not going to let those so called "authorities" tell me that I *have* to supplement.. or else.


This is going to be a different birth experience. I'm not going to let fear rule my birth. I am letting go of that anxiety, and welcoming in excitement and joy. Goodbye negativity! I am ready to full-on embrace my birth. Contractions aren't my enemy, they are helping me to open up, each one brings me one  step closer to meeting my baby.  Pushing isn't something I'm going to be afraid of this time, and it's something that's going to happen when I'm *ready*- I will NOT be forcing my body to push this time! This birth will be different.


My last birth was beautiful, and at the time it was perfect. I never knew how much I would learn since then, and I'm so grateful that my knowledge continues to grow. I'll never stop learning, I'll always be open to new things and better ways. Everyone has room to grow and blossom.

(beautiful placenta print artwork)