Thursday, April 11, 2013

6 Months Pregnant!

It really is the strangest thing - most times, it feels like this pregnancy is flying by way too fast, but when we think about, we've been pregnant since October, which feels like a pretty long time! :) It's probably mostly due to the fact that this pregnancy has been blessedly easy, and it was easy for me to forget I was pregnant up until most recently (i.e., the belly popped and the little guy is very, very active!!).

A little update about what's been going on in the last couple of months:

  • We found out "Nugget" is a BOY!!We had the Anatomy Scan at 20/21 weeks, and he was such an ornery cuss!! He had his back to us, would occasionally look over his shoulder and show his face, but wasn't showing us the goods! After some coaxing and prodding, the tech was able to get a view looking up between his legs and IT'S A BOY!! We are so excited!!! Part of me occasionally frets about what if the tech was wrong and it was really a foot or something (even though the logical part of me is pretty darn certain that's clearly boy parts! lol



  • We moved - 3 minutes up the road, but a move nonetheless! While we enjoyed the tiny, old farm cottage we were renting, it was tiny and old, and generally not a safe environment for a baby to be crawling around in. The current house we are renting is much more baby-friendly and we are settling in nicely!
  • Around 22 weeks or so, the belly POPPED in a big way! This is when I could look at myself and be like "Yep, that doesn't look like I just ate too much anymore, that's clearly a baby in there!!"
Little bump at 20 weeks


POW! 4 weeks later, hello pregnant belly!



  • Still not having any truly negative symptoms of pregnancy!! I pulled an ab muscle around 19 weeks and that was uncomfortable/slightly painful, but after taking it easy (i.e., no workouts) for a week, I was back to normal! Still no sickness.....I can feel my body adjusting and changing, but none of it is uncomfortable. I'm okay with my big belly, but these big ol' boobs are a whole other animal!! They are huge, which makes me self-conscious at times, but I tell myself that it is hopefully a sign that I'll be able to breastfeed and that's an amazing positive! :)
  • Nutrition is pretty normal. I was an eater pre-pregnancy and I'm still an eater now!! :) My food choices haven't really changed much at all. I was fretting over the scale in the early 2nd trimester, but I've stopped weighing myself at home (only gets done at my OB appointments now) and I feel MUCH better.
  • Working out has been fun!! I have been regularly working out 6 days a week and it makes me feel strong and like I'm prepping my body for labor!! Crossfit, jogging, TurboFire, etc. - doing all the things I did pre-pregnancy, just modifying as needed (most of the modifying is just working around the belly now!)
  •  Our birth class began last week! We are taking a 12-week course on the Bradley Method, which is a birthing class focused on natural birth that is very partner-centered. I knew I wanted to attempt a natural birth, and the Bradley class fit best because Timothy and I do everything together, so to have him be such an intricate part of this birthing process was a no-brainer!! When people find out I'm attempting a natural birth, there is sometimes some flack, but I like to remind folks that I know and trust my body, and if plans change and I get an epidural or have to have a c-section, that I am prepared for that as well. I'm not naive, I know enough to know that stuff happens and it's best to be prepared for it all :)
Okay, that covers most of it!! Hope you enjoyed this update. We honestly couldn't be happier and soak up every precious experience with this baby - we are so blessed to finally have this experience we've wanted for so long and we just can't help ourselves in sharing the excitement :)

In Health,

Lindsay (and Timothy in spirit)
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5 comments:

  1. Love this! You have the cutest baby bump!

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  2. The boobs get even bigger postpartum when your milk comes in! My nursing boobs are out of control! We just did family pics back over Easter weekend & I ended up adding a scarf as an accessory b/c I couldn't get past my boobs in the dress I was wearing. Hoping they will go down when I am done nursing b/c I am too short & petite for boobs like these! lol!

    Good for you with the Bradley classes. Why anyone would give you flack for that is beyond me. You'll enjoy them, especially since your diet is already very similar to what they encourage for a healthy pregnancy :-) I think a natural birth is a great & wonderful goal. It was our goal the first time around. We did Birthing from Within classes. It's a great way to learn about the birthing process & to be prepared.

    Have you read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth?

    http://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365701599&sr=8-1&keywords=ina+may+gaskins

    I have the book if you'd like to borrow it. Have you watched Ricki Lake's 'Business of being born?" It's more about home birthing but clearly centered around natural birthing. It's a really cool documentary. Also I'd recommend checking out Birth Without Fear. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birthwithoutfear Website: http://www.birthwithoutfearblog.com/

    She encourages all women to be informed & have the birth they so desire - whether it's hospital, home, medicated or not, csection or vaginal,etc. It's a great place with lots of great stories & information.

    Cute bump ya got there :-)

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    1. Thank you so much for all of the info!! We have heard a lot about the Business of Being Born, so that's likely the first thing on our radar! And based on your experience with nursing, I guess I'm gonna have porn star boobs by the time baby E arrives! LOL

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    2. Yep - they basically turn into porn star boobies when you milk comes in! It's crazy! They settle some as your milk supply adjusts but still out of control over here!

      I'll send Ina May's book with mom. Both the book & the Business of Being Born left me feeling very informed, powerful & capable. It was disappointing that I encountered the pre-e complication with both pregnancies - which clearly changed things up. In the end, I am very thankful for my babies. I am still a big supporter & encourage natural birthing. Brian's cousin's have all done home birthing for all 6 (soon to be 7) of their combined kids, using a midwife, a doula (which one of his cousin's wives is one & another cousin was an L/D nurse) and many methods studied, including the Bradley Method. I have a good friend who successfully delivered all 3 of her girls, using the Bradley method & a doula with 2 of the deliveries, in the hospital. They've all had amazing experiences. Tough but empowering. :-) Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery & Motherhood has all taught me that we are MUCH stronger than we ever knew :-)

      PS - the Birth Without Fear website is amazing too. I love to find a moment to sit & read the birth stories. Lots of information & experiences, plus amazing pictures!

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  3. You look fantastic!! Enjoy your journey--it will fly! :)

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