26 and 27 Weeks 3rd Trimester

Hello 3rd Trimester!

Not long now, not long at all!

How am I feeling?

I'm feeling fine, good in fact. Sometimes I've felt nauseous, but I'm done with Diclectin and I think it might have something to do with not getting enough water during these hot days. Coffee doesn't help either, does it?

So and so. I'm off a "set rhythm" but I'm eating enough. It's so hot, I'm not that excited about cooking so, making rice wraps is great. I always seem to be feeling hungry, I don't know whether I lack of a certain vitamin?

I know it's hot, but I've made soup from cauliflower and home made chicken stock. It's pretty light and is nutritious! To make it a rawfood soup, omit the chicken, bacon and heating up your soup just below the 45 Celsius is ideal.

At the moment, I am taking a B vitamin Complex, Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D, probiotics, Milk Thistle and Greens+

I'm drinking home made bubble tea, which is really healthy!!! Basically it's any home made vitamin water, but tea infused (today it was red raspberry leaf tea) with crushed ice and Goji berries, which soak up the flavours and become a subsitute to pearls and jelly. Yummy and healthy!

How have I been working out?

I've cut down a lot. I'm doing plenty of cardio; crosstrainer, stairmaster, tredmill etc. I'm aiming to do 30minutes to a hour a day.  Once I get into the groove again, I'll be picking up light weights, but for now I'm just getting myself going again. The stairmaster is still my master at the gym. My pregnancy weight gain has affected the level I've been working on. I was at level 6 and 7, now I am on level (intensity) 1 and 2.

Rice Wrap Filling 1:

thinly sliced:
carrots
broccoli

sprouts
alfalfa sprouts

cooked chicken, beef, shrimp or fish

Rice Wrap Filling 2:
baked salmon, seasoned
sprouts
iceberg lettuce
carrots
soy, garlic and ginger dressing

Taco Rice Wraps:

Filling:

Fried taco mince meat
salsa
iceberg lettuce
sour cream
sliced avocado

 

Anyway, here is what I made the other day. Guess which one is the healthy one? 

 My daughter pitted the cherries with me... she worked hard, pitted 7. I pitted the thousand after that.

 I don't bake, but I did make this pastry. It wasn't anything like my mom's... but whatever.

 Yes, I am in bed. yes those are my feet, and yes the plate is resting on my tummy.

I'm so Finnish, I went to IKEA and bought vanilla sauce... The pie was so tart from the lemon juice and lack of sugar, it balanced the taste perfectly.

 I roasted the cauliflowers at the same time I made my pie crust.

 Home made chicken stock. That's pretty much the recipe. Chicken stock and roasted cauliflowers.

 Put them all in a blender with a tbsp of bacon bits.

 Pureed yummyness!

Blend in a few carrots from the chicken stock "left overs" and voila!

27+3

24 and 25 Weeks

I'm feeling great! I'm kind of counting the days until I get to hold this little one in my arms, but at the same time, days are just passing by so quick without me even realizing it. Crazy busy! I think this is my "fastest" pregnancy so far, and I think it has something to do with having a busy household. I can't really sit down and think about the pregnancy or birth too much. The times, I get to sit down, I'm usually horizontal and asleep. 

But the little I have been able to plan and prep for are...

• Ordering a BellyBandit. 

I've had this band before and I must say I've liked it, however, I think I've had the wrong size and never got the optimum support or results. Now I've ordered a smaller size, which I think will be perfect.

• Home Made Kale Powder. 

I have got a garden full of kale, a super dehydrator and great ideas for it.

• Christ Centered Childbirth book. 

This book is amazing. Not only  does it give you a great insight on the physical area; pregnancy, birth and anatomy -it covers the emotional and spiritual areas as well. Love it! Even though I've read it 3 + times, I still get so much out of it, and new things keep popping up each read.

• Talking to my Doula. 

Going over some of my hopes for the birth. She has been my doula before, so she knows me and is really well equipped for this one. She is so busy with being a doula, I am so thankful that she is going to be there for us.

• Nesting.

Need I say more? Yes, nesting organizing, de-itemizing, de-cluttering, cleaning, scrubbing.... 

• Homeschooling through the summer.  

We're focusing on the "harder" topics this summer, so that when the baby comes we can take it a little easier and do the more self directed and more fun subjects.

I've also been enjoying the different flavoured homemade vitamin waters. My favourite is Cherry-Lime-ade.

Cherry Lime-ade

6 thin slices of lemon
10 thin slices of key lime
6 pitted black cherries
1 sprig of fresh mint (optional)
500 ml of sparkling water/ plain water

Muddle lemon, lime and mint in the bottom of a pitcher. Add cherries, sparkling water, and fill remaining with cold water. Cover and chill in the fridge for a few hours. Serve over ice.

My diet has been good, it could always be better, and I'm working towards that. I try to eat as much vegg throughout the weeks so that when that special treat comes along, it won't break the scale, my health or my heart.

Speaking of my heart. I am so so excited to see this little one... not long now, not long at all! The last month will always feel like the slowest, but I'm hoping to keep busy so that it will just creep up on me, in a good way! 

P.S check out Plain Plantain! I have been using her balms on my belly and I love it! So easy to apply and doesn't leave a greasy after feeling.

The Everything Salad

• lettuce
• spinach
• olives
• grapes
• tomatoes
• corn
• chickpeas 
• bacon bits
• chicken
• cucumber
• feta
• homemade bluecheese dressing

See you guys next week!

Physio Update

A few weeks ago I wrote this 

..."I've been to see a physio, who specializes in women's pelvic floor (pre- and postnatal). I have homework I need to do daily to strengthen/maintain my pelvic floor during the rapid growth of the baby, help in birth and fast healing post birth. But mostly, I am doing them so I stop peeing myself every time a sneeze or have a coughing fit! I know, too much info, but I know -you know what I mean!

Daily Kegels workout:

30 x 5+sec squeezes with 10sec break in between. This takes about 8 minutes to do. 

30 x quick squeezes with 10sec break in between.

I've been trying to remember to do this everyday for two weeks, and so far I have already seen felt an improvement. I have got two more weeks to do these exercises until my next appointment.."...

Today I saw my physio for a quick follow up appointment, to see how things have progressed with my 'dilemma'.

Two weeks ago, I couldn't cough, sneeze or laugh (and at times with no reason) without "leakage". I was wearing a thin liner and had to change it 2-3 x a day. I know I was 22 weeks pregnant, but this was alarming and I needed to seek professional help. 

There was no way that I, age 31 (or ever) had to be in such a weak state, where there was no connection with my mind and body, in such a way. All I can say that I am happy that I went and paid that money to see the specialist physio.

Here is where I was

• leakage, pad change 2-3 x a day
• pregnancy week 22
• waking up at night to visit the wc
• couldn't laugh, sneeze, or cough without leakage
• couldn't hold a kegel for more than 4 seconds

2 weeks later with these exercises

Here I am today

• No leakage, haven't worn a pad for 1 1/2 weeks
• pregnancy week 24
• no night time bathroom visits
• laughing, sneezing and coughing without leakage
• I can hold a kegel for more than 10 seconds

I cannot believe how fast this change took place and that it's not rocket science, as my physio puts it! Simple, simple exercises that don't make you sweat, don't take up too much time, can be done anytime and anywhere -has done so much in such little time frame.

My exercises have moved on to new ones, which I will be doing throughout my pregnancy and also after birth. I have a follow up appointment 2 months after birth to see what needs doing regarding my pelvis alignment etc.

Ladies, I urge you! Get sorted before it's super hard or too late!

Mini testimonials welcome, leave a comment!

Vitamin Water -Homemade- Raspberry Mojito

Yuuuummy! Not only can I believe that this actually tastes like vitamin water, but it tastes even better!

I have a list of ideas for what kinds of waters I'll be drinking this summer!

Yesterday and today, I enjoyed 

Raspberry Mojito

• 10 thin slices of key lime/lime
• 1/2 pint of raspberries
• spring of mint
• 1T stevia (optional)
• 2L water
• a ton of ice

Place the mint and raspberries in the pitcher, mush them up good, add the lime, stevia, ice and water, give it a good mix! Let it sit in the fridge for a few hours. I drank mine immediately but enjoyed it the next day too!

Do you have any good vitamin water recipes to share?

Placenta Encapsulation

For a few months now, I've been actively thinking about 'Placenta Encapsulation'. When our 3rd child  was born, I happened to meet a woman who specializes in placenta encapsulation. By then, the most I'd ever heard or read about the subject, was that it was the "tree hugger" trend, and even some celebrities ate their placenta, which was cooked by a hired chef. My thoughts were exactly what yours are "ew". I wasn't into that... I'm still not into that. 

Anyway, the lady gave me her business card and I kept it in a safe place, since I was intrigued and wanted to follow up on the subject. Now, nearly two years later, I visited her site HERE and like the method she uses, so that the clients can consume the "product" without a steak knife. Ha ha!

What is Placenta Encapsulation?

Placenta Encapsulations is to make this natural, nutrient-rich organ into a simple pill to support your postpartum recovery. Placenta is high in iron, protein, vitamins, minerals and of course, your own natural hormones.

Ingesting the placenta is not a new practice. Chinese have been using their placenta for over 5000 years.

Testimonials, HERE

The method she uses:

By dehydrating, powdering and placing it into capsules, it is perfectly "made for you, by you".

These are the benefits:

• Increases energy
• Decreases risk of baby blues and postpartum depression
• Decreases bleeding
• Enhances milk supply
• Replenishes vitamins & minerals (specifically iron)
• Brings hormones back into balance
• Helps uterus return to pre-pregnancy size
• Continued assistance for later use (when fatigued, stressed, depressed, menopause)
• Choices to add ingredients (e.g. Chinese herbs) for extra nourishment

I think I will be testing this out once the baby arrives, I know -weird and exciting at the same time!

What are your thoughts on Placenta Encapsulation, and why?

22 and 23 Weeks

How I feel about pregnancy now?

Well, I am very thankful that I feel good. Usually, in the mornings I feel like I am out of breath, but it passes just before noon. I have experienced this with all of my pregnancies, maybe it has something to do with the baby pushing against my lungs, who knows? 

I still have breakfast in bed before I get up. This past week my breakfast choices have not been very admirable, however, I will pick up from where I dropped the ball.

 

 (22weeks)

I have not worked out for two weeks :( I admit it, I've been lazy. No worries, I'm still keen to, I just need a good kick in the butt to get moving! My diet has been -in all honesty- not so raw, lately. I know for a fact that one juice a day, keeps the crap away. At least for me! Now that my garden is blooming, I have no excuses not to juice or enjoy yummy salads.

I'm very excited to meet this little angel inside of me. I feel her/him move and even though this is my 4th pregnancy, it never gets old, the mystery never dies... it's hard to believe that there is someone inside of me, being knit together in my womb, with a purpose, personality, and above all, given to us to care for and to love on. I cannot wait to meet you! I love you so much already! At times (daily) I am so overwhelmed by the blessings we have, our children.

What have I been doing?

Gardening, homeschooling, camping, being lazy, writing, studying, being lazy again...

I've been to see a physio, who specializes in women's pelvic floor (pre and postnatal). I have homework I need to do daily to strengthen/maintain my pelvic floor during the rapid growth of the baby, help in birth and fast healing post birth. But mostly, I am doing them so I stop peeing myself every time a sneeze or have a coughing fit! I know, too much info, but I know -you know what I mean!

Daily kegels workout:

30 x 5+sec squeezes with 10sec break in between. This takes about 8 minutes to do. 

30 x quick squeezes with 10sec break in between.

I've been trying to remember to do this everyday for two weeks, and so far I have already seen felt an improvement. I have got two more weeks to do these exercises until my next appointment.

Moving on...

My vice: iced coffee... and flavoured too! Ugh, I will stop...soon.

 (23 weeks)

Strike a Pose!!!

Here is my garden so far! Looks a lot different to the dirt pile I posted not so long ago, hey?!

Loving Salads: Crisp, fresh, nourishing and energizing salads! YUMMM!!!

• lettuce
• grated carrots
• diced cucumber
• olives
• walnuts
• tomatoes
• seeds
• blueberries

 Excited about this book again, again and again!

This book changed my approach and feelings towards the birth experience in all ways! I read this book with my hubby at bed time for my 2nd, 3rd and now 4th pregnancy and birth. I've lent this book out many times and unfortunately I never got it back the last time, so i had to reorder it through bookdepository. Nevertheless, I am excited to read it again!

 

This is an eye opening book for me, again and again. It's motivating, reassuring, provides  knowledge and all in all, a great base.

I highly recommend it to every pregnant woman on this planet! Bookdepository has free shipping around the world!!! So worth it!

Raspberries from my garden, gone is seconds, devoured by my 2 year old!

More on my pregnancy HERE!

More on Life, Motherhood, Homeschooling, Nutrition etc. HERE!