Postpartum "stuff"                                                                                                                     Jan 30 '13

             After giving birth to my precious one (her name is Zoe!) I decided that i need to

 really start working on my levels of patience. And speaking of patience... Healing was such

 a long and frustrating process that took a lot of patience out of impatient me lol. Due

 to having an emergency Cesarean section (after 40 minutes of pushing!) my body

 took a longer time to overcome all the trauma and stress that was put on it. Had

 I known that I would not be able to deliver naturally i would have asked for pain 

meds wayyyy earlier! Instead I suffered the longest 6 hours of hard labor with

 irregular contractions which were anywhere from 2-7 minutes apart. It was

 horrid  When they say "there's no pain like childbirth".........  THERE IS

 NO PAIN LIKE CHILDBIRTH!!! But while the all the pain and suffering

 was great the "reward" was greater! Hearing that first scream.... doctor confirming 

that it is a girl indeed..... nurse tell me that she looks so healthy and her APGAR

 score is 9 out of 10... And then finally that special moment of a mother holding

 her child for the first time ever! It was like i woke up in heaven! Oh I loved it all!

 I just wanted to stop the time, grasp the moment and never let it go. I mean, the

 amount of love a mother has in her heart when she meets her child for the fist

 time is beyond measurable and it only multiplies as time goes on!

(btw I'm very new to blogging world! so any comments/advice/grammar/suggestions are very welcomed!)

I breastfed for almost 5 months! It was definitely hard to adjust but I Loved it!!

 

Pregnancy sure felt like 9 years instead of 9 months. But soon enough The Day came! Don't get me wrong I absolutely loved being pregnant feeling your little peanut kick and swim inside you... There's nothing like it! Although I was extremely disappointed when the doctor told me I had to have an emergency C-section. All the worries, anxiety disappeared when I heard that "lovely" first scream of my little one! It was indescribable feeling of happiness!

 

The happiest day of my life!!!

 

 

 

 Meeting My Angel For The First Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Shower

~ Zoe's Baby Shower ~

July 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Stay hydrated!

Healthy baby=Happy mama

Good hydration is extremely important for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period. Water flushes waste products from the cells and aids in liver and kidney function for both mom and the baby. During pregnancy, water is also needed for the body's expansion as mom's blood volume increases significantly. Insufficient water intake can be a factor in constipation, preterm labor, and miscarriage, and even slight dehydration can cause or contribute to fatigue. Proper hydration is also important for adequate breast milk production and flow.

Most women know about the need for proper hydration during pregnancy, but many do not get adequate fluid intake. Some women do not like drinking water; others say they are not generally thirsty. Additionally, women are often unaware that some beverages are actually dehydrating.

Caffeinated and high-sugar beverages (my pepsi craving :( ahh)  are actually dehydrating and should not count in your daily total of fluids - and are best avoided.

       H2O instead  

 It's better to drink smaller amounts of healthy liquids

 frequently vs. large amounts only a couple times per day.

 Think of a house plant - if you don’t water it enough and

 then give it a lot of water, most of the water runs straight through,

 and certainly does not make up for the hours of time where hydration was lacking.

                                                                                * * *





             ~ I agree it is annoying having to pee (almost) every five minutes. And the more you drink the more trips to the bathroom you have to make. And sometimes that can be very frustrating. I guess just have to keep it in mind that you need water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to your organs and tissues. It also helps transport oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs. And not only for you but most importantly for your baby! ~



           

 Weird cravings? Yes

                             ICE CREAM!           

                        

                                                     I never was a big fan of ice cream before i got pregnant now its something I desire almost every day lol

RUSSIAN UNSALTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS

All of a sudden I start craving sunflower seeds... So I'm addicted to them for 2 weeks now lol.

PEPSI

And the weirdest craving is Pepsi.!! Never was a soda fan at all. In fact I'm a little bit of a healthy freak. Eating fruit and vegetables so yeah... this is new for me. A nice tall glass of pepsi & ice, honestly tastes like heaven! I try really hard to stay away from it but sometimes I give in.. bad me..





~ So this is me 8 months pregnant (36 weeks to be exact).
    And to be honest I am kind of proud of myself for keeping up with healthy eating habbits, and staying active. Hence the result-I only gained about 20 pounds. Yayyyy!
   I don't judge people that gain a lot of weight during thier pregnancies. Women have different bodies, different metabolism, and eating habbits. Or sometimes the weight comes from the fluid that stores up during pregnancy. Just had to throw it out there lol.~







So Far this (my first) pregnancy has been a blessing! Thank God! Minus the few rough months in the begining. Due to all the morning sickness and nausea (that I thought would never go away!! but it did...) And I have to admit pregnancy is a wonderful expirence overall. Minus the backache, tiredness, shortness of breath, and hormonal mood swings... these are the only "rough" things I am
dealing with right now. So I'm greatful! On the positive note you get to carry "LIFE" inside of you. Another human being! There is no other feeing that can compare to your little baby kicking/swimming/hiccuping inside you! It just is so incrediable! Feeling it, watching the belly move and form different angles, having your partner talk to the baby... Just puts a smile on your face.

Being just a month away from my baby girl's arival makes me SO EXCITED and yet so nervous at the same time! Another human's life is gonna be placed in MY (and Wesley's [my boyfriend]..) hands. Kids are such a big responsibility! And they are alot of work. I've learned that from babysitting my bestie's children. Max 5, and Eva 2. But its all worth it because kids are blessings from God.

wow 35 weeks already!!!

that belly is surely getting big

- Four exercises to ease aches and help with labor -

Kegels

Kegel exercises are small internal contractions of the pelvic floor muscles that support your urethra, bladder, uterus, and rectum. Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles improves circulation to your rectal and vaginal area, helping to keep hemorrhoids at bay and speeding healing after an episiotomy or tear, if you have one during childbirth. There's even some evidence suggesting that strong pelvic floor muscles may shorten the pushing stage of labor.

You can do Kegels anywhere — sitting at your computer, watching TV, even standing in line at the supermarket. Here's how:

• Tighten the muscles around your vagina as if trying to interrupt the flow of urine when going to the bathroom.
• Hold for a count of four, then release. Repeat ten times. Try to work up to three or four sets about three times a day.

Pelvic tilt or angry cat

This variation of the pelvic tilt, done on all fours, strengthens the abdominal muscles and eases back pain during pregnancy and labor.

• Get down on your hands and knees, arms shoulder-width apart and knees hip-width apart, keeping your arms straight but not locking the elbows.
• As you breathe in, tighten your abdominal muscles and tuck your buttocks under and round your back.
• Relax your back into a neutral position as you breathe out.
• Repeat at your own pace, following the rhythm of your breath.

Squat

It may not be the most elegant position, but squatting is a time-honored way of preparing for and giving birth. This exercise strengthens your thighs and helps open your pelvis.

• Stand facing the back of a chair with your feet slightly more than hip-width apart, toes pointed outward. Hold the back of the chair for support.
• Contract your abdominal muscles, lift your chest, and relax your shoulders. Then lower your tailbone toward the floor as though you were sitting down on a chair. Find your balance — most of your weight should be toward your heels.
• Take a deep breath in and then exhale, pushing into your legs to rise to a standing position.

Tailor or Cobbler Pose

This position can help open your pelvis and loosen your hip joints in preparation for birth. It can also improve your posture and ease tension in your lower back.

• Sit up straight against a wall with the soles of your feet touching each other (sit on a folded towel if that's more comfortable for you).
• Gently press your knees down and away from each other, but don't force them.
• Stay in this position for as long as you're comfortable.
  
  Remember to start slowly and work at your own level for each exercise.

                   
                     
                               ahhhh I'm a little nervous about this....