It sounds weird right? Placenta encapsulation. It seems fairly straightforward but people are either hesitant to ask or they flat out ask WTF is that?!
So most people know that when you have a baby there is also the placenta. The placenta is full of all kinds of goodness. It replaces a lot that your body loses... such as hormones. According to BellyBelly the practice of ingesting the placenta goes back 1500 years!
"I will bet those who joke about it don’t even realise that placentas have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as long ago as in the 1500s, which is longer than modern medicine has even existed. It’s been continued to be used due to an abundance of great properties believed to make a huge difference to a new mother’s mental health, recovery and well being. - See more at: http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/placenta-encapsulation/"
I know many women who chose to take them because it replaces the hormones you instantly lost when you had the baby. You think you're emotions are out of whack when preggo? Try re-balancing after Baby is born. I had them for my first and I knew that I wanted them this time around.
I lost a lot of blood. Enough that my blood count and behavior was watched but not enough to consider a transfusion. When I left the hospital I was 4 prescriptions. Ibuprofen, Tylenol with codeine (which I still haven't taken), stool softener, and iron pills. I also had my placenta pills. I take all but the Tylenol twice a day. Having the placenta pills has helped.
Keep in mind that every placenta is different. With my first I got 78 pills. With my second I got 176. It just depends on the baby.
Now Shelley, the woman who made mine after both pregnancies, has become a midwife!
I'm so proud to know that the supportive women in my life are choosing to take the next step in women's care and giving us so many beautiful options.
If you have more questions I suggest you find your local person and ask them questions. We only have 2 in RI so they fill up quick!
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Welcoming My Newest Family Member
Previously I had mentioned that I was late into my pregnancy and just waiting for my due date to arrive so that we could meet babe #2. We waited and we waited... and we waited. We waited for 12 days past the due date!
My story starts with me leaving the hospital 2.5 years ago knowing I wanted a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). My daughter was breach and growth restricted. Having a cesarean section is not an easy thing to do. It is a major surgery and is not used lightly (at least not anymore). I spent 6 weeks unable to sleep anywhere but the couch and in pain every time I laughed, coughed or sneezed. Not fun.
Fast forward 20 months and I'm pregnant with my second child. I immediately went back to the doctor who performed my c-section. Why? Well she is amazing. She is a family doc and her partner is an OB. The thing is, my doctors are very much about supporting the woman in her needs. They do not believe on forcing their own views on the mother they are working with. They give all options and recommendations based on each individual person. I found a team that would support my decisions, but would have no problem being upfront if they think my decisions will affect my health or my growing baby's health.
Lucky me! I have a fairly uneventful pregnancy. One little blip but that was it. I pass all my tests. I'm still working.
Yup I'm working right up until the week before I'm due. People think I'm crazy, but what am I supposed to do? I need to work and if I'm on light duty I would go crazy with boredom.Yes I was on my feet and yes I was picking up bags weighing 10-75 pounds but it kept me in shape and healthy. I don't go to the gym and work out... I go to work.
Fast forward to August 7th and it's my first day of maternity leave. I really didn't know what to do with myself. It's a Sunday and my 2.5 year old was surprised that I was home. The week passed uneventfully. I continued to do stuff with my daughter. We hung out with friends, saw family and finally My due date arrived.
Of course the messages started arriving in the afternoon. "No baby yet?", "When are you having the baby?", "How long will they let you go?", "Let us know when it's happening.". My answer was the same every time. Baby will come when it's ready. I continued to say this for days. I did tell my doctor that I thought the baby would be late and sure enough she was a stubborn one.
I went back at 41 weeks. We talked about a membrane sweep but I just wasn't ready. So we decided that we would go back in on Friday and do the sweep if Baby didn't make an appearance. Thursday I felt a few tiny contractions and it gave me hope, but we still ended up back at the hospital Friday.
This is the not so fun part...
My doc wanted to do a check and a membrane sweep to see if it would help. As my doc prepared, I had to as well. To me it is something that would either be super uncomfortable or would just plain hurt. The second she started probing with one finger I immediately flinched. The second that happened she knew immediately what was wrong. Apparently I have something called Vaginal Tenesmus. I won't bore you with the fancy details, but basically my muscles involuntarily clamp down during any type of "invasion". It' a smooth muscle thing and I can't control it. It's probably also the reason I hadn't gone into labor yet. My muscles were just too darn tight to let anything start happening (so all those kegals over the years were a total waste apparently...). She wiggled a bit further and was able to feel Baby's head. She couldn't really do the full sweep, but what little she was able to do... boy did it get things started.
On the way home I noticed the twinges starting. Throughout the night they got more noticeable. By 7pm they were every 40 minutes apart. That was fine. What did I do? Put my baby to bed and did my nails and my moms nails. Thank you Jamberry for an easy manicure! I chose Tartan. I am a warrior!
I attempted to get some sleep about 10 but every time I would start to fall asleep a contraction would happen strong enough to make me sit straight up! By 11pm my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart lasting 45-60 seconds. I was on my hands and knees in the bathroom. I couldn't get through them any other way. After the first hour I woke my mom up. The second hour I woke my husband up and told him to call his parents.
I spent the next half hour laboring outside on my porch staring at the pink crescent moon, with my mom and my doula while my husband made sure the van was ready to go. You would think I would have done that earlier. Yeah no.... good thing we had some time. We heard a weird noise and my mom ran upstairs to check it out thinking it was my toddler waking up. When she got upstairs it turned out that my chihuahua was sitting on the couch whining because she didn't know what was going on. My poor dog. Your mom grabbed it and brought it downstairs so she wouldn't be alone.
My in-laws pulled up and we barely said hello. I ran to the back of the van when my mom handed my mother-in-law the dog LOL. The drive to the hospital is a 30 minute drive and I wasn't sure how I was going to get through 30 minutes in the back of the van trying to get through contractions. I was on my hands and knees in the back of the van the entire time because I just couldn't do anything else. Every time I tried it was just too much. I would think that I would finally get a chance to sit just to be right back on my hands and knees yelling and trying to keep my voice in low tones to get through a contraction.
As it turns out I didn't need to worry about a 30 minute drive. My husband managed to make it in 12 minutes. Apparently my moans and screams were motivation for him to get me to the hospital! My poor doula was following us the whole way.
We got into the emergency room where was a complete Ghost Town. Not a single patient was in there. It was a very odd feeling but a couple of minutes later an employee came out with a wheelchair. At first they wanted to admit me to the ER but my husband demanded to know where our doctor was. Luckily a nurse from labor and delivery came down and told them to get me upstairs right away because they had been waiting for me. My mother and husband were smart enough to call ahead and let them know that we were coming. It isn't something I would have thought of.
I don't remember much of that part except the poor kid kept trying to ask me questions in the middle of a contraction. I doubt I was very nice to him at that time. We got up stairs and into a room where I was attended by a couple of nurses and midwives while we waited for the doctor yet to get there. Unfortunately the doctor I worked with my whole pregnancy just happened to be off. Luckily the on-call doctor is someone I really like as well. They might as well be the same person; though they do call him a midwife in a man's body LOL. He quietly stood by assessing how I was doing and gave encouragement when needed. He didn't need to step in to often as my mother, husband, doula and a nurse were all in the room.
The contraction were on top of each other. They came fast and hard. Luckily I had a great team. They kept me going through each one. In between I fell asleep. I could feel my eyes rolling back. My husband supporting my weight from behind so I can rest. At one point the nurse told me to stand up and hang on my husband. When they finally got me off the bed and hanging on him, I spent an hour using him physically to get through it each time they hit. My poor husband. It's a good thing he's a big guy because he bore my weight for a full hour. I have to admit that it was really comforting to just hold onto him. He was so amazing through the whole process.
I think husbands and fathers just don't get enough credit. Often they are portrayed as impatient, lazy, annoying and useless. Mine was not. He was phenomenal.
Then came time to push. It was the weirdest feeling. Ever have to go to the bathroom really bad but your sorta constipated? Yeah it was like that times 10. I got back on the bed and started to push. It was odd. That was when I noticed the waves came in threes. The first wave hurt more in my stomach and I felt like I couldn't get under it. I pushed with the second and third wave, and I was tired by the end of each contraction.
That's when the nurse stepped in and started telling me how to get through it. At one point she told me "Come on Claire, the doc is coming. Show him something impressive!", "Well that is a wussy push. Come on give it a good Irish push!". If I hadn't been in the middle of a contraction I would have laughed. In my head I kept thinking, why can't I get this kid out?! The nurse gave me a mask and I breathed it in, but every time I did I felt like I was falling asleep instantly. I kept wondering if they gave me nitrus. It was the new way to give pain medication without having to take conventional drugs.
Finally I had enough and I started to get into a good rhythm. I wasn't going to push for hour on end. I just wanted it done. I wanted to hold my baby. They kept telling me they could see the head and I just needed a couple of good pushes to get the baby out. I felt a burning that made me want to stop, but the doctor wouldn't let me. He stood next to me and helped me push past the pain.
FINALLY THE BABY WAS OUT!!
I had done it. They whipped the baby off the bed and straight onto my chest. We had chosen to not find out the sex and no one looked so I did. I lifted the little leg and got to announce to the room that we had another baby girl! My baby girl was here!
We welcomed Saoirse Ann with the dawn after about 6 hours of labor and pushing.
After a few minutes I handed her over to her Daddy while the doc assessed me. 3rd degree tears that required extensive stitching. I did my entire labor and birth without any type of drugs. The mask the nurse gave me earlier was actually oxygen.The doc gave me the option and without hesitating I said yes to pain meds and getting numbed. After that long night I was not willing to get my vagina stitched up without meds.
What I found out later was that Saoirse was born in her caul! My water never broke. It is something unique and amazing.
I am so grateful I had the team I had. They were all amazing. They each helped me in their own way. Even though Saoirse is my second daughter, she was my first vaginal birth. I got to experience creating a life, feeling her move inside of me, and then delivering her without meds, without interventions. It was amazing. Granted I had a hard time walking due to the tearing and stitching, but in the end it will actually help me in the future.
It has been 3 weeks today since my family expanded from 4 to 5 (including the dog!) and we are settling in just fine. The dog barely glanced at her, Fiona thinks the baby was created for her, and I'm healing well. My husband continues to be a great help (though of course there are times I want to throw something at him like any other mom with a new baby).
There was a lot of collaboration with various people throughout the year and the journey ended with my beautiful baby.
My story starts with me leaving the hospital 2.5 years ago knowing I wanted a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). My daughter was breach and growth restricted. Having a cesarean section is not an easy thing to do. It is a major surgery and is not used lightly (at least not anymore). I spent 6 weeks unable to sleep anywhere but the couch and in pain every time I laughed, coughed or sneezed. Not fun.
Fast forward 20 months and I'm pregnant with my second child. I immediately went back to the doctor who performed my c-section. Why? Well she is amazing. She is a family doc and her partner is an OB. The thing is, my doctors are very much about supporting the woman in her needs. They do not believe on forcing their own views on the mother they are working with. They give all options and recommendations based on each individual person. I found a team that would support my decisions, but would have no problem being upfront if they think my decisions will affect my health or my growing baby's health.
Lucky me! I have a fairly uneventful pregnancy. One little blip but that was it. I pass all my tests. I'm still working.
Yup I'm working right up until the week before I'm due. People think I'm crazy, but what am I supposed to do? I need to work and if I'm on light duty I would go crazy with boredom.Yes I was on my feet and yes I was picking up bags weighing 10-75 pounds but it kept me in shape and healthy. I don't go to the gym and work out... I go to work.
Fast forward to August 7th and it's my first day of maternity leave. I really didn't know what to do with myself. It's a Sunday and my 2.5 year old was surprised that I was home. The week passed uneventfully. I continued to do stuff with my daughter. We hung out with friends, saw family and finally My due date arrived.
Of course the messages started arriving in the afternoon. "No baby yet?", "When are you having the baby?", "How long will they let you go?", "Let us know when it's happening.". My answer was the same every time. Baby will come when it's ready. I continued to say this for days. I did tell my doctor that I thought the baby would be late and sure enough she was a stubborn one.
I went back at 41 weeks. We talked about a membrane sweep but I just wasn't ready. So we decided that we would go back in on Friday and do the sweep if Baby didn't make an appearance. Thursday I felt a few tiny contractions and it gave me hope, but we still ended up back at the hospital Friday.
This is the not so fun part...
My doc wanted to do a check and a membrane sweep to see if it would help. As my doc prepared, I had to as well. To me it is something that would either be super uncomfortable or would just plain hurt. The second she started probing with one finger I immediately flinched. The second that happened she knew immediately what was wrong. Apparently I have something called Vaginal Tenesmus. I won't bore you with the fancy details, but basically my muscles involuntarily clamp down during any type of "invasion". It' a smooth muscle thing and I can't control it. It's probably also the reason I hadn't gone into labor yet. My muscles were just too darn tight to let anything start happening (so all those kegals over the years were a total waste apparently...). She wiggled a bit further and was able to feel Baby's head. She couldn't really do the full sweep, but what little she was able to do... boy did it get things started.
On the way home I noticed the twinges starting. Throughout the night they got more noticeable. By 7pm they were every 40 minutes apart. That was fine. What did I do? Put my baby to bed and did my nails and my moms nails. Thank you Jamberry for an easy manicure! I chose Tartan. I am a warrior!
 |
| Tartan by Jamberry |
I spent the next half hour laboring outside on my porch staring at the pink crescent moon, with my mom and my doula while my husband made sure the van was ready to go. You would think I would have done that earlier. Yeah no.... good thing we had some time. We heard a weird noise and my mom ran upstairs to check it out thinking it was my toddler waking up. When she got upstairs it turned out that my chihuahua was sitting on the couch whining because she didn't know what was going on. My poor dog. Your mom grabbed it and brought it downstairs so she wouldn't be alone.
My in-laws pulled up and we barely said hello. I ran to the back of the van when my mom handed my mother-in-law the dog LOL. The drive to the hospital is a 30 minute drive and I wasn't sure how I was going to get through 30 minutes in the back of the van trying to get through contractions. I was on my hands and knees in the back of the van the entire time because I just couldn't do anything else. Every time I tried it was just too much. I would think that I would finally get a chance to sit just to be right back on my hands and knees yelling and trying to keep my voice in low tones to get through a contraction.
As it turns out I didn't need to worry about a 30 minute drive. My husband managed to make it in 12 minutes. Apparently my moans and screams were motivation for him to get me to the hospital! My poor doula was following us the whole way.
We got into the emergency room where was a complete Ghost Town. Not a single patient was in there. It was a very odd feeling but a couple of minutes later an employee came out with a wheelchair. At first they wanted to admit me to the ER but my husband demanded to know where our doctor was. Luckily a nurse from labor and delivery came down and told them to get me upstairs right away because they had been waiting for me. My mother and husband were smart enough to call ahead and let them know that we were coming. It isn't something I would have thought of.
I don't remember much of that part except the poor kid kept trying to ask me questions in the middle of a contraction. I doubt I was very nice to him at that time. We got up stairs and into a room where I was attended by a couple of nurses and midwives while we waited for the doctor yet to get there. Unfortunately the doctor I worked with my whole pregnancy just happened to be off. Luckily the on-call doctor is someone I really like as well. They might as well be the same person; though they do call him a midwife in a man's body LOL. He quietly stood by assessing how I was doing and gave encouragement when needed. He didn't need to step in to often as my mother, husband, doula and a nurse were all in the room.
The contraction were on top of each other. They came fast and hard. Luckily I had a great team. They kept me going through each one. In between I fell asleep. I could feel my eyes rolling back. My husband supporting my weight from behind so I can rest. At one point the nurse told me to stand up and hang on my husband. When they finally got me off the bed and hanging on him, I spent an hour using him physically to get through it each time they hit. My poor husband. It's a good thing he's a big guy because he bore my weight for a full hour. I have to admit that it was really comforting to just hold onto him. He was so amazing through the whole process.
I think husbands and fathers just don't get enough credit. Often they are portrayed as impatient, lazy, annoying and useless. Mine was not. He was phenomenal.
Then came time to push. It was the weirdest feeling. Ever have to go to the bathroom really bad but your sorta constipated? Yeah it was like that times 10. I got back on the bed and started to push. It was odd. That was when I noticed the waves came in threes. The first wave hurt more in my stomach and I felt like I couldn't get under it. I pushed with the second and third wave, and I was tired by the end of each contraction.
That's when the nurse stepped in and started telling me how to get through it. At one point she told me "Come on Claire, the doc is coming. Show him something impressive!", "Well that is a wussy push. Come on give it a good Irish push!". If I hadn't been in the middle of a contraction I would have laughed. In my head I kept thinking, why can't I get this kid out?! The nurse gave me a mask and I breathed it in, but every time I did I felt like I was falling asleep instantly. I kept wondering if they gave me nitrus. It was the new way to give pain medication without having to take conventional drugs.
Finally I had enough and I started to get into a good rhythm. I wasn't going to push for hour on end. I just wanted it done. I wanted to hold my baby. They kept telling me they could see the head and I just needed a couple of good pushes to get the baby out. I felt a burning that made me want to stop, but the doctor wouldn't let me. He stood next to me and helped me push past the pain.
FINALLY THE BABY WAS OUT!!
I had done it. They whipped the baby off the bed and straight onto my chest. We had chosen to not find out the sex and no one looked so I did. I lifted the little leg and got to announce to the room that we had another baby girl! My baby girl was here!
We welcomed Saoirse Ann with the dawn after about 6 hours of labor and pushing.
After a few minutes I handed her over to her Daddy while the doc assessed me. 3rd degree tears that required extensive stitching. I did my entire labor and birth without any type of drugs. The mask the nurse gave me earlier was actually oxygen.The doc gave me the option and without hesitating I said yes to pain meds and getting numbed. After that long night I was not willing to get my vagina stitched up without meds.
What I found out later was that Saoirse was born in her caul! My water never broke. It is something unique and amazing.
I am so grateful I had the team I had. They were all amazing. They each helped me in their own way. Even though Saoirse is my second daughter, she was my first vaginal birth. I got to experience creating a life, feeling her move inside of me, and then delivering her without meds, without interventions. It was amazing. Granted I had a hard time walking due to the tearing and stitching, but in the end it will actually help me in the future.
It has been 3 weeks today since my family expanded from 4 to 5 (including the dog!) and we are settling in just fine. The dog barely glanced at her, Fiona thinks the baby was created for her, and I'm healing well. My husband continues to be a great help (though of course there are times I want to throw something at him like any other mom with a new baby).
There was a lot of collaboration with various people throughout the year and the journey ended with my beautiful baby.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Getting Started!
So I do work full time, but I'm also working on a business. I have an advanced certification in aromatherapy.
I know, I know, most people think of smelly candles or the MLMs with reps that think they can cure all. I love my oils. I can use them for all kinds of things, but I also know that there is a limit on what we should do with them. There is a lot of science behind them and understanding how they work. So how does that relate to what I want to do?
Well, one more class and I'll have a clinical certification. Then I want to learn more about Aromatic Medicine. It's hard to find in this country, mostly concentrated in France and Australia, but there are renowned teachers travelling to the US so that makes me happy. I started my essential oil journey in massage school and fell in love with it. I joined Aromahead.com, a renowned American school approved by NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy). If you are interested in oils at all I suggest you check our their free class.
So what do I do? I make spa products. I make body butters, sugar and salt scrubs, hand cleansers, inhalers etc. Today I made 2 jars of Baby Butt Butter in anticipation of my new Little who will hopefully join us soon. I haven't made anything in awhile and it was fun! I love watching everything melt together and become a usable product and not just random ingredients.
I don't always use essential oils in my products. Many of the things I make are just butters and oils. I love Kpangnan butter, Kombo butter and Palm Kernel oil. They have great properties and smells all on their own. The essential oils are a bonus.
Just remember that essential oils are meant to add to your well being. It's meant to be complimentary not a replacement.
What are some of your favorite scents for lotions, creams and scrubs? What is your least favorite I have to admit that I prefer the earthy scents. The deepness of Vetiver and Sandalwood make me happy, but I just can't deal with lavender, lemon or lemongrass. My mother just took a jar of sugar scrub with lavender and peppermint. She was ecstatic!
I do love helping people though. My love is to sit with someone and get to know them and their favorite scents. This allows me to create a product all their own; customized to their specific needs and preferences. People love lotions and potions. It is an industry that allows people to have an array of scents. How many of those bottles accumulate in the cabinets because after awhile it just gets boring?
What if your lotions and potions were your own. Created for you and you alone. It's like the famous perfume creators. You spend some time with them and they create a masterpiece that matches you and your personality. I (and other certified consultants) find out what you need (something at night to help with sleep? Perhaps you need more energy? focus?) pick out the oils that support these and then narrow it down by the scents you prefer the most. It can be a long process, but in the end you have a product you love and a unique creation.
People ask why I love aromatherapy? This is why. It is so versatile in what it can do you can't get bored with it. So if you get a chance, check out my FaceBook page. I just joined Shopify so if you are interested in some trying something.... let me know..
https://www.facebook.com/EmeraldAromatics/
Sláinte,
Claire
I know, I know, most people think of smelly candles or the MLMs with reps that think they can cure all. I love my oils. I can use them for all kinds of things, but I also know that there is a limit on what we should do with them. There is a lot of science behind them and understanding how they work. So how does that relate to what I want to do?
Well, one more class and I'll have a clinical certification. Then I want to learn more about Aromatic Medicine. It's hard to find in this country, mostly concentrated in France and Australia, but there are renowned teachers travelling to the US so that makes me happy. I started my essential oil journey in massage school and fell in love with it. I joined Aromahead.com, a renowned American school approved by NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy). If you are interested in oils at all I suggest you check our their free class.
So what do I do? I make spa products. I make body butters, sugar and salt scrubs, hand cleansers, inhalers etc. Today I made 2 jars of Baby Butt Butter in anticipation of my new Little who will hopefully join us soon. I haven't made anything in awhile and it was fun! I love watching everything melt together and become a usable product and not just random ingredients.
I don't always use essential oils in my products. Many of the things I make are just butters and oils. I love Kpangnan butter, Kombo butter and Palm Kernel oil. They have great properties and smells all on their own. The essential oils are a bonus.
Just remember that essential oils are meant to add to your well being. It's meant to be complimentary not a replacement.
What are some of your favorite scents for lotions, creams and scrubs? What is your least favorite I have to admit that I prefer the earthy scents. The deepness of Vetiver and Sandalwood make me happy, but I just can't deal with lavender, lemon or lemongrass. My mother just took a jar of sugar scrub with lavender and peppermint. She was ecstatic!
I do love helping people though. My love is to sit with someone and get to know them and their favorite scents. This allows me to create a product all their own; customized to their specific needs and preferences. People love lotions and potions. It is an industry that allows people to have an array of scents. How many of those bottles accumulate in the cabinets because after awhile it just gets boring?
What if your lotions and potions were your own. Created for you and you alone. It's like the famous perfume creators. You spend some time with them and they create a masterpiece that matches you and your personality. I (and other certified consultants) find out what you need (something at night to help with sleep? Perhaps you need more energy? focus?) pick out the oils that support these and then narrow it down by the scents you prefer the most. It can be a long process, but in the end you have a product you love and a unique creation.
People ask why I love aromatherapy? This is why. It is so versatile in what it can do you can't get bored with it. So if you get a chance, check out my FaceBook page. I just joined Shopify so if you are interested in some trying something.... let me know..
https://www.facebook.com/EmeraldAromatics/
Sláinte,
Claire
Sunday, August 21, 2016
To Induce or Not to Induce
So here I am 40 weeks 6 days pregnant and everyone has a suggestion on how to get labor moving. For a couple of days I started to buy into it, but you know what? My baby isn't ready. S/he wants to stay in there for awhile longer.
This is OK. So many women go past their "due date" and even past the 42 week mark. Al it means is that your body and your baby just aren't ready. Now I know the summer heat can be miserable. Being in my last month of pregnancy in the 95 degree heat has NOT been fun. it is NOT something I'm enjoying. I'm even enjoying being with my 2.5 year old the last 2 weeks.
The one thing that I've had a hard time with is working. I enjoy working and I though I've been thoroughly enjoying the last 2 weeks I feel like I've wasted that time because I want to spend as much time with BOTH my children as possible. All I can think of is what can I do to make money while my baby is still incubating! Crazy me lol
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Almost There
Well... tomorrow is my due date and no signs of Baby.
So this means that I'll continue working on my aromatherapy business for awhile. So while I'm an insomniac I just may get something done. I'm actually busier this week staying home with my toddler than I was when I was at work. I've been researching tools, accessories, recipes and more.
We've had some serious nesting going on! I hand scrubbed my landing, and a long set of Victorian stairs. Yes hand scrubbed. On the bright side, after I finished my husband came home and hung up FOUR things from our wedding last year. This is a big deal because he hates hanging things on the wall. Hates the holes LOL
Today he let me go to my Dad's to go swimming to ease the pain in my swollen hobbit feet while he completely cleaned out our bedroom and organized it. Then he cooked dinner. I'm feeling super spoiled!
Have any thoughts on how to reduce swollen feet? Nothing health related. the doc is keeping an eye on it. I've tried ice packs, keeping them elevated, and compression socks. Though the pool does seem to help at least ease the pain of the kin stretching. *sigh*
Hopefully Baby N will be here within the week!
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Summer Heat
Oh the summer heat. Everyone kept telling me that being pregnant during the summer was torture. That I would be miserable (gee thanks). I always love hearing how miserable I"m going to be during my pregnancy.
Well it's now August and I've only been miserable this week. Of course it's the week before I'm due and the one week I've had off. Is it coincidence that I'm off for a week and super hot and annoyed? Oh who knows. Despite feeling gross and sticky I am enjoying the time with my daughter. We've had a lot of fun together this summer.
Tomorrow it's going to be 99 degrees out. I've already told my dad I'll be living in his pool for awhile. I don't know what will be worse; being pregnant in this weather or having the baby which means a little hot box attached to me at all times.
Wish me luck!
Well it's now August and I've only been miserable this week. Of course it's the week before I'm due and the one week I've had off. Is it coincidence that I'm off for a week and super hot and annoyed? Oh who knows. Despite feeling gross and sticky I am enjoying the time with my daughter. We've had a lot of fun together this summer.
Tomorrow it's going to be 99 degrees out. I've already told my dad I'll be living in his pool for awhile. I don't know what will be worse; being pregnant in this weather or having the baby which means a little hot box attached to me at all times.
Wish me luck!
Sleep Journey
So in the last post I mentioned my toddler sleep regression. I'll tell you about my journey from her being an infant to now. I'd like to share with you how we got here, because I am certainly NOT alone in this.
Fiona was not a "sleeper". She woke multiple times a night and I didn't know how to settle her. When she was 8 months old we came back from a visit to my husband's family in Ireland which was amazing. The problem is that her sleeping got worse. We are not a co-sleeping family, but she slept with us most of the time during this trip. We were both back to work but barely functioning on 2 hours of sleep because she was up most of the night.
I finally decided to talk to my best friend who lives across the world. So while it sucks that she is so far away, she was up and about her day while I was up in the middle of the night struggling. She has used the Ferber method with all of her kids. They are all champion sleepers. I was desperate so I decided to try it.
I modified the method because I just couldn't stand letting her cry even for a few minutes. It was hard. I finally figured out a combination of things that worked and at 14 months my daughter slept through the night on a regular basis.
When she turned 2, I wanted to switch her to a toddler bed, but everyone kept telling me not too. Apparently most have serious issues with sleep regression when switching out of the crib to a toddler bed. We made the decision to do it anyway. BEST. DECISION. EVER!! In 7 months we've only had 1 weeks of issues and it was when she wasn't feeling good and going through a growth spurt so I don't count that week.
There is hope if you are a sleep deprived mombie. Your baby can sleep through the night. Eventually they will. It just takes a bit of work and eventually you will get there. Now if I could just get her to stop waking up at 5 AM .....
Fiona was not a "sleeper". She woke multiple times a night and I didn't know how to settle her. When she was 8 months old we came back from a visit to my husband's family in Ireland which was amazing. The problem is that her sleeping got worse. We are not a co-sleeping family, but she slept with us most of the time during this trip. We were both back to work but barely functioning on 2 hours of sleep because she was up most of the night.
I finally decided to talk to my best friend who lives across the world. So while it sucks that she is so far away, she was up and about her day while I was up in the middle of the night struggling. She has used the Ferber method with all of her kids. They are all champion sleepers. I was desperate so I decided to try it.
I modified the method because I just couldn't stand letting her cry even for a few minutes. It was hard. I finally figured out a combination of things that worked and at 14 months my daughter slept through the night on a regular basis.
When she turned 2, I wanted to switch her to a toddler bed, but everyone kept telling me not too. Apparently most have serious issues with sleep regression when switching out of the crib to a toddler bed. We made the decision to do it anyway. BEST. DECISION. EVER!! In 7 months we've only had 1 weeks of issues and it was when she wasn't feeling good and going through a growth spurt so I don't count that week.
There is hope if you are a sleep deprived mombie. Your baby can sleep through the night. Eventually they will. It just takes a bit of work and eventually you will get there. Now if I could just get her to stop waking up at 5 AM .....
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