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Sunday, January 31, 2016

Week 21: What the hell is hypnobirth? (and other concerns.)

So I had my 21 week doctor's appointment this week. Here is an actual conversation between me and my doctor: 

Me: So what should I know about the Zika Virus, I heard there is one confirmed case in Los Angeles County.

Dr: Uh, we don't really know a lot about it yet. So I'm guessing it'll be fine....... (still charting, not really paying attention or looking in my direction)

Me: I was just asking because I'm a nurse and deal with sick people on a weekly basis and was a little concerned.

Dr: Well you'd better be careful then.


I have so many things that went through my mind, but I just laughed and realized all doctors are pretty much the same.

Needless to say, this conversation was worthless and I should do my own research. So I did. 

Here's what you need to know about the Zika Virus: It is a virus that is transmitted by a mosquito bite, most of these cases have been found in Central and South America.

Why should we worry about it?

Because it affects pregnant women and their offspring. Babies will be born with Microcephaly (a small head). The thought is if a baby has a smaller than normal head, their brain will be smaller and that is alarming because of the fact it will have some impact on brain development.

So my concern with this child that contracted the Zika virus, is California is significantly warmer than the rest of the US right now, so mosquitos are inevitable. If a mosquito bites this child and transmits it to someone else, we have a huge problem, but then again according to my doctor, I'm probably fine.  (source)

Stay educated, people. Stay educated.

So now that i'm in the blessed second trimester, I realize that I only have about 18 weeks until I am responsible for a human life.




Holy shit. I mean I think I do a good enough job keeping my cats alive and our newly adopted dog, but I should probably be preparing and learning what is coming. Now I am a nurse, but I am NOT an OB/BABY nurse. Those OB/PEDS semesters/classes are somewhat becoming a blur...

****Shout out time: Sorry to A. Phipps, I promise you did an amazing job nurturing my OB learning, but I can't for the life of me remember the breathing pattern for each stage of labor, but can remember fetal heart monitoring like a champ!! ****




And as far as I know there is no manual the hospital gives you after you leave the hospital and fetal heart monitoring will only take me as far as the L/D room...

I know how to be a nurse, but I don't know how to be a mom just yet, and I'm ok with that. So I went on a hunt for classes. I will absolutely hands down will go to these.

Let's talk for a minute about HypnoBirth. You pay $395 for prenatal classes, which is great, but then you are given  hypnotherapy or also known as the Bradley method for pain. They didn't give any success rates, (a couple guesses why..) but after doing research, it is supposed to do more for preparing your mind for the labor processes, which makes sense. So I read some reviews, and many, many women were super misled, thinking "oh this will cure my pain during labor", "I will better bond with my child".... and then they got an epidural and were super upset when they paid all this money for something that didn't benefit them.

I've never given birth before, but I know that an epidural is pretty effective. I'll be going with that, I'm already anxious enough.

***This is not to offend anyone this has worked for, and if it has worked for you, please share with me I want to know all about it!***

So if you have never signed up for these classes before, they actually fill up pretty dang quick. I looked at the hospital schedule for classes and they are already filled up in February 2016. Thank goodness I looked now! I signed up for a birthing class and breastfeeding class!

I really don't want to freak out Matt (which I think it's a little late for that). Babies are a lot of work and I doubt he's changed many diapers in his adult life, so I really do want to share this experience with him and help him feel a little less clueless.

And then there's the labor process. I actually don't have the strength to tell Matt about the process (and put up with his wisecracks), but I think that going to a birthing class together will help him realize what to say and how not to die through this process. Matt, may the odds be ever in your favor.

I am more interested in the breastfeeding classes. I will tell you now, breastfeeding scares me, but I know how good it is for the baby so I will try my hardest to make it happen. I'm sure it's like riding a bike once I get started, but I have never fed a human with those things.  **    It makes me feel super hopeful when I get a message from one of my best friends telling me how amazing it is to keep someone alive with your body (after birth), I get really excited about that and feel that much better about my decision to breastfeed, especially when I see a picture of her baby with sweet little baby rolls.**

So this week has been a little hectic, Matt is on a work trip and I am at home with 3 animals. Our little peapod is moving around more than ever, which is an understatement on how cool that feeling is. I feel more connected to that little baby than I ever have.

I went to the dentist today and good lawd I have a love/hate relationship with my gums right now, and because I was my chair was tipped a little further back for the cleaning, I felt a lot of moving around! She was probably wondering what the hell was going on.

BUMPIE!



Cravings: Kung Pao Chicken! LOVING SPICY RIGHT NOW. Chocolate ice cream and the BIGGEST CRAVING FOR FROZEN YOGURT.

Aversions: nothing at the moment. I ate a cherry tomato yesterday and didn't yak.

Preggo symptoms:

  • NOSE BLEEDS! GUM BLEEDS! Nothing else better start bleeding. 
  • I have been slightly more emotional this week, crying every now and again when I see something heartfelt or sad. 
  • Crazy dreams: I had a dream that Matt tried to get rid of my cats, and I was extremely upset. Clearly, once a cat lady, always a cat lady. 
  • Out of breath. Sometimes, I feel so out of breath after a small walk down the hall, or taking the dog out for a stroll. Ridiculous. 

Much love to everyone! Until next week!





Monday, January 25, 2016

Week 20: Woah! We are halfway there!

Hello 20 weeks!

I still can't believe we're having a sweet little girl. I am over the moon excited, and I know Matt's head is still exploding.

Well we did the registry thing this past weekend and just wow. There are so many things for babies. I had no clue what we were getting ourselves into. I am a planner and let me tell you planning for another human is hard. Cheers to all the moms that have gotten through this, because I'm still fumbling around like...


So let me delve into the registry thing for a minute.

There are certain things that Matt is so particular about, for instance, Strollers. He is all about it. I think this was the most frustrating for me. I don't know if it was because it was at the end of the day or I just was so overwhelmed I couldn't think, probably both, but he knew the exact kind of stroller he wanted to get... which was a BOB. I have no f***ing clue about strollers, I just figured any stroller would do, I mean as long as it carries/pushes our child, that's it right?! WRONG. 

Apparently there are strollers and then there are travel systems, which Matt informed me we needed both and looked at me crazy when I didn't agree. 

So he is definitely in charge of this area. Remember, in marriage you choose your battles. 

Then there is the good ol' breast pump part of shopping, which I was pumped (pun intended) for my insurance to pay for! Those pumps are so expensive. I don't know why but this is weird for me to shop for. Things have gone through my mind whilst looking for the perfect pump.... 


  • I'm responsible for the nutrition for my baby with my body. Scary. 
  • How will I ever have time to pump at work? I work dayshift. Yikes. 
  • Will my nipples ever be the same again? Ok, so this question has always been on my mind, even through nursing school. I would ask all the OB nurses or Mamas, if their nipples ever went back to the way they were before pregnant. I don't have glorious nipples or anything it's just something I've always wondered. You can't say this question didn't cross your mind too!
  • Will my nipples always be this dark?! OMG. 
Anyways, those are some randoms that we have encountered in registering for things. 

BUMP pic!



I feel my bump is getting much bigger this week! I can't believe I'm already at 20 weeks! I've really been lucky this pregnancy. Some mamas were sick through this point in their pregnancy and I have been spared. I talked to one lady this week that couldn't even use soap in the shower because she would get so sick.. a little extreme, but with the smell factor I completely believe it. I am blessed and counting my lucky stars. 

Random preggo symptoms this week: 



  • HOLY CANKLES BATMAN! Omg. I literally had been assessing patients with horrible edema (swelling) all day long and when I finally put my feet up at home my ankles were swollen, no pitting, but geez. #nurselife
  • Bloating. I need to step up my water game. I feel like I definitely don't drink enough water through out the day when I work. Nurses working a 12: How in the world do you get enough water?! Sometimes I feel like I should just give myself an IV and carry around a pole of IV fluids. 
  • Constipation has reared it's ugly head again. I'm not surprised with all the water i'm not drinking. UGH. 
  • Feeling like you have to pee, to go to the bathroom and find that you didn't really have to go that much. Then other times it's like Niagara falls you have so much pee. It doesn't happen too often, but I have noticed this weird symptom this week. I'm chalking it up to the baby growing and positioning for now. 
Cravings: BBQ. MUSTARD. OLIVES. Hello sodium, meet bloat. 

Aversions: Eggs. 

Sleep: It's been ok. I still feel like sometimes I sleep super hard and then sometimes not at all. Maybe our baby girl is trying to prepare me for something. 

A note for my darling girl: 

You are worth the cankles, constipation and bloat. You are loved more than you know, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.  


Until next week! 

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Week 19: It's official we are having a....

This week is the week i've been waiting for quite awhile. I can't believe it's finally here.





Yes, we are having a girl!!!! God has blessed us first and foremost with a healthy, growing baby. Really and truthfully after they told me all her measurements were perfect and they found no anomalies, they could have told me I was having a lawn gnome and I would have been happy. 

So many, many wonderful thoughts raced through my mind the moment they told us. I could picture dance recitals, Texas sized bows, tutus, playing dress up, a million cardigans and numerous tea parties.  

We have picked out a potential name that I have dreamed of since we found out she was coming, but we're indecisive crazies so we will let everyone know later on! 
***spoiler alert: it's still not Felicia***


Pregnancy confessions: 
  • I have consciously prayed more in the past five months than I have in my whole life. 
  • I'm still coming to terms with actually birthing this child. Scared. 
  • I often wonder what kind of Mom i'll be. 
  • I can't believe I'm almost halfway through this pregnancy.
  • Only one of my nipples hurts this week. Just one. Like a cramping pain. WEIRD. But I guess it's not that weird, because I only sweat out of one arm pit. More weird than you originally thought. 
  • My irrational patients are much nicer to me when they know i'm pregnant. I will use this preggo card for awhile. #winning #youhavetousewhatworks
  • I know 6 other people due the same week as me. Clearly September was a good month. 
  • I still don't know the difference between gas grumbles and if my baby is actually moving. 

Cravings: Lemon in my water, oranges, orange sherbet, pickles, mustard and BLACK OLIVES. I can't tell you how many black olives i've eaten this week. 

Aversions: Eggs. Oh eggs. I used to eat eggs religiously every day. Now I can't stand them. I hope this aversion goes away. 

Sleep:  I worked for two days straight --12 hour shifts-- and before all the other nurses that read this roll their eyes, I literally slept the whole day on my day off. I have never felt that drained after two shifts, maybe after 4, but geez. I slept pretty much in the same position for all 13 hours, I'm sure of it. My feet were actually a little too swollen for my Danskos.. that makes me nervous because I rely on them so much for back support, tennis shoes from now on!

A little bit about our newest addition:

Please meet Greta! She is about 3 years old and is the world's sweetest dog. She is super docile, and is so well behaved. She even puts up with our grumpy cats!! Animal control found her in the Bakersfield area just wondering around. We think she's had a lot of puppies. Well my only question for the people who owned her before would be, Why didn't you go looking for her? Some people.

Oh well she's ours forever now!


We found this wonderful baby at the Westside German Shepherd Rescue here in Los Angeles,CA. This rescue goes around to all the kill shelters in the area to rescue German Shepherds to foster or keep at their kennel. How amazing.

It's been an amazing week, y'all! I can't wait to for our girl to get here!


Monday, January 11, 2016

Week 18: We are not naming our child, Felicia.

Thank you guys so much for all your wonderful thoughts and comments. I really appreciate them all, and it contributes to my sanity, also letting me know i'm really not as crazy as I think I am.

So again, Thank you.

With the upcoming gender reveal, which we should know a gender by  January 14th pending our child cooperates.. We have been looking up names for both genders. We are somewhat traditional when it comes to names because I am one of the those people who thinks a name sets your child up for success.

You really get to know your significant other when coming up with names.. You also figure out which people you really hate. I used to just laugh at this, but it's totally and completely true.

We have laughed our asses off at some names. For example, Matt with a serious face, asked me,        "what about the name Felicia for a girl?".... UH.. NO. I don't want me child to look up any Urban dictionary and see what they have to say about her, #byefelicia


OR 



Needless to say, we're still trying to come up with something... wish us luck, we will not be one of those parents that already have the name picked by the time we know the gender. 

We're definitely better at coming up with pet names. What does that say about us? lol. 

Sorry little peapod, your parents are slackers, unorganized, and slightly neurotic, but at least we care, right?! (and your mother uses way too many commas.)

BUMP PIC! Little peapod decided to do a growth spurt this week for sure, he/she is the size of a mango!





Weird Pregnancy side effects this week: 
  • My nose is super stuffy, and I have random nose bleeds. Boogers. I have a lot of them. PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME.I can chalk that up to my blood supply increased quite a bit! Clearly, I need to be upping my drinking H2O game! I have a Neti pot but hate to put stuff up my nose. It's a losing battle, I guess i'll endure those boogers a little while longer.
  • Itching. I have been lathering myself with lotion and I still itch a lot. I will resort to Benadryl at night sometimes. I've really only started to notice it this week. Oh and in my earliest week of pregnancy, my legs itched something fierce, so weird. It was one of the very first symptoms I ever felt. 
  • OH THE FORGETFULNESS. This is quite unfortunate for a newer nurse. Thankfully everyone at work has been super nice to me about it. 
  • I'm COLD all the time. So weird. I've always been super hot natured and now I feel like I can never get warm enough. I slept with socks on the other night, who does that?!
  • I am probably going to carry higher rather than lower in the pregnancy because sometime I feel out of breath walking around, not to the extreme but its something I definitely notice.  
Cravings: Frozen yogurt, with lots of fruit. I craved this for two days, not even Jamba Juice could quell this craving. I also crave roasted garlic. Like the cloves. I went to Fogo de Chao (Brazillian steakhouse) and their salad bar had these roasted garlic cloves and I must have eaten two large spoonfuls. ** no worries, I will not be eating this much garlic everyday ** Why am I so strange? I'm making all things garlic this week.

*** side note: Garlic has so many health benefits. Typically when you have a craving, your body is trying to tell you something, you might be deficient or need more nutrients. Garlic cloves have lots of vitamin C, iron, potassium, fiber, and B vitamins. ***

It's safe to say i'll be having dragon breath this week, sorry Matt it's for the Peapod.

Aversions: Eggs. Tomatoes.

Sleep: is starting to get uncomfortable. I'm sure it's way to early for this.

I cannot wait to know what we are having, I'm ready to bond with names and buy all the fun stuff!





Saturday, January 2, 2016

Week 17: Are you sure you're pregnant?

Me: Yes.

A fellow employee: It just doesn't look like it.You claimed you're almost 5 months. Are you eating? Is the baby even growing?

Me: **in my head:  I've already beat you with a chair X 587495873497** Yes.



To this person, I can only claim that they really are as stupid as they look. When you want to ask a pregnant person these type of questions, let me give you some insight: DON'T.

I pretty much have taken everything in stride and honestly this doesn't offend me because some people just don't realize what they've said. I get it. I am however going to start documenting all the weird shit people have asked me. I'll compile it all to post at the end.

Pregnancy Thoughts: A show that I can't believe is still airing is: "I didn't know I was pregnant", and I have one thing to say:  I'm calling bullshit. I've always wondered how this show made it, but Fox threw out The Mindy Project? It still doesn't make sense.

How in the effing hell do you not know you were pregnant?! Did you think that you had to take a giant poop and a baby fell out? Did you think that being nauseous was normal for an extended period of time? How out of touch with your body do you have to be? One word people: Denial.

These are just some random thoughts i've been having, because if i had this much gas on a daily basis, I would think I had some serious GI issues!


Some of these get a little rant-y. Sorry in advance.
  • I bought my first pair of pregnancy leggings which I can't fill out worth anything, but I have them just in case our little peapod wants to have a growth spurt. Which I hope is going to happen soon! 
  • Still don't know what we're having! 16 days!!!! I have had several dreams of carrying around a boy, but who knows, God has a funny sense of humor sometimes. 
  • I LOVE all the preggo advice, typically I'll actually take into account the things family and friends will say, because it is very helpful and they have my best interest at heart. BUT I will tell you some of the things random people have told me just because. 
    • You really shouldn't do an epidural,  I didn't do one and did fine. Do you think you can take the pain? --Lady, I only have one response for you, SHUT THE HELL UP, pain is completely subjective and I will not let you bully me into thinking what I can take and what I can't. How bout I hit you in the face with a chair? Still don't think you need pain meds?
    • Oh you haven't gain a lot of weight, You are going to gain a shit ton of weight, you just wait until your third trimester. --I anticipated the weight gain and still wanted to get pregnant, but thank you for your thoughts asshole. The weight thing is a huge deal for people here in LA, maybe everywhere but I don't remember it being a huge deal with my friends in Charleston. My thoughts are this: IT'S TEMPORARY. I'm growing a human. If I have to gain a little weight to get one of the biggest blessings of my life, i'm going to do it. 
    • You do realize all your dreams are dead and you can't travel anywhere now. This one kind of hit me hard, because I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I have met many, many people that continue their education with children, not to mention travel to many different countries with children all the time. YOU ADJUST. I refuse to use my kids as an excuse of why I can't achieve/do something. Do I still want to be a Nurse Practitioner? Yes. Will it take me a little bit longer? Probably. That doesn't mean I can't do it. There is nothing that fires me up more than someone telling me I can't do something, because up until this point i've proved more than a few people wrong. 
    • One last one: Oh, you're husband is in the military? It's so sad your kids won't grow up with family. HOLD the M*****F****** PHONE. Every single person that has told me this (which is actually more than you'd think), I have politely told to STFU, pretty quick. What people on the outside don't understand, is that your community is very much your family where ever you go. Have you ever heard the phrase, sometimes it take a village to raise a child? This is so true in every sense of the word. I can't tell you the countless times I have been a child's emergency contact at school/daycare, and I have only known the child's parents for a short time. In the military lifestyle, you get very close to the people that you work with, you celebrate holidays together, you support each other during important events such as birthdays, graduations and promotions. This doesn't mean I'm not going home for my family and friends to know my child, this just means I have a different lifestyle and my child will have an extended family and countless people to love on him or her. 

Some stuff you just have to get off your chest, and this is my rant this week, but what I hope is, that some other preggo or mama reads this and knows that people will almost say anything to you, don't take stock into everything people say.

On to other non-ranty things:

Cravings: BLUEBELL ICECREAM. I may or may not have eaten my weight in ice cream while at home. I am only sad I had to leave a pint behind at my in-laws. What you also see below is Whataburger. Pretty much the only thing I get there is a Honey-BBQ Chicken Sandwich with JalapeƱos. I crave both of these items a lot, it's probably a blessing that I don't have these in town, because I know my child would be born with diabetes if I did!





Aversions: Tomatoes, not in salsa. I can eat salsa, I just can't eat tomatoes. I'm a weird bird.

Sleep: I still freak out when I find myself on my back at night. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, as soon as I realize it, I flip to one side. I have found that my Snoogle is an absolute necessity when sleeping. I don't know how I'll ever sleep without it again. I didn't have it in Texas and had the hardest time finding a good spot to sleep.

Ok super tired. Here is the bump photo!



Quick question:

Mamas/Preggos/Anyone: What are some of the crazy things people have said to you?