Pregnancy and Postpartum Archives - Page 6 of 9

5 Most Common Signs of Ovulation

March 5, 2015 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

*Disclosure: This is a guest post. Thoughts and opinions may not necessarily align with our own. We were compensated to feature this post.

5 Most Obvious Signs of Ovulation

If you are not keen on taking your temperature daily to figure out when you will be ovulating, do not worry as there are other options. In fact, some women just know when they are ovulating because of changes to their body. And if you would like to track ovulation with your basal body temperature, that is still a very valid method. Just take your temperature first thing in the morning for the entire month. When you are about to ovulate, you will notice a very obvious temperature spike after you ovulate. You may also notice these five obvious signs of ovulation.

1. Sexual desire –Just as many animals go on heat, most women experience increased sexual desire during ovulation. Evolutionary-speaking, it makes good sense because this is the time of your cycle when you are most fertile. Actually, it is the only time in your cycle when you can get pregnant.

2. Cramping – Some women experience light cramping during ovulation. It may feel similar to light period cramping but there is no blood to follow. It will also likely only be on one side as your body will release a mature egg from only one ovary each month. This phenomenon is called mittelshmerz, and it does not happen to everyone. So, if you do not experience cramping, do not worry as you may still be ovulating. If you do experience mittelshmerz though, ovulation will be obvious to you.

3. Breast tenderness- If your breasts begin feeling tender towards the middle of your cycle, you are probably ovulating. Many women who are not tracking their cycles confuse this with the onset of their menstrual period, especially if it comes along with mittelsmertz, but it can be a sure sign of ovulation when it happens about two weeks after your period. Also, during ovulation, breast tenderness will not be followed by bleeding as it would during your period.

4. Cervical mucus – Even if you are not paying attention to your cycle, you will probably notice an obvious increase in discharge when you ovulate. This discharge is your cervical mucus preparing for conception. When you are about to ovulate, your cervical mucus will increase and it will become the same consistency as egg whites. Before ovulation, you may notice some cervical mucus, but it will be thicker and possibly sticky. During ovulation, the cervical mucus is closer to the consistency of semen, which helps the sperm make their way to the egg.

5. Desire to “look pretty” – Although you clearly look pretty every day of the month, women are more likely to wear makeup, style their hair and wear nicer clothes when they are ovulating. Some women have also been known to be more flirtatious during ovulation. So, if you notice yourself wanting to make more of an effort on your appearance, you may be ovulating. Sit back and think about the other signs and whether you are experiencing those as well.

Author: Dr Zeenobiyah McGowan Ph.D., an expert on women’s health and helping couples conceive naturally. Dr McGowan is a mother of one beautiful girl. She is an editor for Ovulationcalendar.com, also founded Impact Humanity, a charity which helps under privileged children get the basic necessities like food and education in Kenya.

The Second Pregnancy – Beyond the Smile

March 3, 2015 by Larisha Campbell 4 Comments

I keep having to remind myself it’s the second pregnancy.

Everything is different.

Different babies. Different house. Different point in our lives.

But that doesn’t make it any easier.

I put a smile on my face and most of the time I genuinely am ecstatic. Feeling this little one inside me moving around gives me the same joy I had when pregnant with Skibbles.

But that doesn’t mean beyond the smile there aren’t so many mixed emotions.

I’m more tired than I ever imagined.
I’m literally exhausted. Chasing after a toddler. Keeping up with a house 3x the size of our old apartment. A growing business. It’s all pushed me to the point of just being run down.

But there’s that toddler….
Full of spunk and energy and creating her own way in life. Not meaning to annoy me or wear me down, but just being a two year old. I keep reminding myself that. She doesn’t realize the worry.

The worry.
How will I manage two. What in the hell was I thinking wanting to have another baby. How will I divide my attention? How will I love both of them equally? What do I do when they are both crying? …..What if all three of us are crying?….

I’m crying now.

It’s the second pregnancy. I’m well into my second trimester and I haven’t even gotten anything ready. There’s been no prepping, there’s no painted nursery or weekly pictures detailing every moment of this one’s journey. No thoughts of belly casting or henna tattoos…..

Feeling like I’m neglecting this emotionally charged joyous moment in my life when all the sudden Skibbles closes her eyes, puts her hand on my belly, and the baby growing inside me gives her sister’s hand a little kick.

A small moment in time where both my girls let me know that while we will have our ups and downs, life will be okay and we will get through this together.

We will get through this together.

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10 Things I Miss About Pregnancy

January 27, 2015 by Larisha Campbell 2 Comments

As women we know pregnancy is an amazing experience with a beautiful outcome. There are so many precious moments that we miss once our bundles of joy arrive; hearing their heartbeat from inside, the first kicks, and little baby hiccups. But along with the sweet loving moments of pregnancy, there are a few other things I miss that aren’t talked about quite as often.

1. Napping without judgment. Napping several times a day during pregnancy was completely acceptable. And people were more willing to watch the kids. I feel this was mostly because they didn’t want to deal with the wrath of my raging hormones if they shot down my request.

2. The crazy, huge meals at all times of the day. Eating ice cream, an entire package of sausage, and shrimp for breakfast was considered a well balanced meal. I also loved that I could eat down and eat an entire package of Oreos without blinking an eye.

3. The pregnancy “excuse”. Invitations can be declined without hurt feelings. If you don’t want to go somewhere you have an excuse no one will question. “Sorry I am just so tired” or “I have the worst morning sickness.” (Even if you aren’t squatting over a toilet at that exact moment, no one will question you).

4. Litter Boxes. I hate them. I love my cat, but I DESPISE the litter box. During pregnancy, this becomes hubby’s chore. Even if he gets home late from work he is in charge of that nasty box of cat excrement. This alone makes me want to get pregnant again.

5. The Pregnancy Truth serum. For 9 months of your life you can tell it how it is and no one will say anything back to you. If I did this now I would be called many things none of which are pleasant.

6. The free pass. If the house was a little less tidy when hubby came home from work, no mention of the toddler tornado would be discussed. And he would clean up even after working for 7 hours and his commute. This also worked with the wretched toddler poop diapers. With the enhanced sense of smell, this duty became his. And that is glorious.

7. Doing the deed. You are exhausted for 90% of the pregnancy. The hormones, the sickness, the weight; the last thing I thought about was getting it on. When you aren’t pregnant you suck it up for love, but when I am pregnant “I’m Tired” is an acceptable excuse. No questions asked, no sulking, no guilt.

8. You carry the weight, but lift none. No heavy lifting. Maybe this is just me. But I have moved twice while pregnant. So I personally adore this. I sit my pleasantly plump self down and direct traffic.

9. Spandex! Spandex clothes no matter the occasion are highly acceptable when you are pregnant. Especially in the later months, they are typically the only acceptable leaving the house clothes you can breath in. I hate jeans (those terribly uncomfortable garments), but leggings, oh…..they are so cozy. #teamspandex

10. Your craving is my command. Knowing that if you had a craving at 3am for Chick-fil-A french fries, bananas Popsicles, and YooHoo (no other chocolate milk will suffice) Hubby will run to three different places just to satisfy your pregnancy cravings. If I woke him for a craving now he would laugh in my face, roll over, and go back to sleep.

Can you relate to any of my missed pregnancy moments? Do you have any you would like to add? If I didn’t love the taste of wine so much and the fact that I can see my feet I might just get pregnant again.

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Everything Will Be Okay: Adjusting to Life With A New Baby {Guest Post}

November 30, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 2 Comments

First of all thank you so much We’re Parents!? for letting me come over and take over this space for a few minutes of time! It is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to share with you here. I blog over at You Brew My Tea and would love for you to stop by and check out my page!

I was so excited to have this opportunity because I remember all too well how hectic those first few days, weeks and even months were when I had my two sons. But I wanted everyone (especially Larisha) to know that you will survive adjusting to life with a new baby. Nine years down the road, I look back and I realize how many things I wish someone had told me ahead of time to prep me but mostly to reassure me. Even with my second child I still second guessed myself all the time. I wish I had more confidence and reassurance that if I didn’t “do” everything suggested he would still be just fine. So, I thought I would share a few thoughts with you all today that I think are important to remember when facing your first, second or even seventh child’s birth.

(1) No, your boobs will truly NEVER be the same. BUT – there are great plastic surgeons who can lift them and perk them up later in life. For now, relish the fact that your body was created to perfectly nourish that sweet baby in it’s early months of life. Oh, and of course – remember that [nipple cream] is your friend!

(2) Those women who pop babies out, go home the same day, bake muffins, have family over for an 8 course dinner and look like they just stepped out of a magazine shoot are liars! Be realistic with yourself. Understand that if you stay in your jammies and don’t cook AT ALL for the first month it’s not unreasonable nor does it make you less than a woman/mother. If you don’t slip back into your size 2 jeans in two weeks, it’s okay. It takes time and there are tons of adjustments to make. Concentrate on the important things – your own healing and your babies health and adjustments. You see that picture ^^ Yep. two days after giving birth, no makeup and yes, I was ticked off that my Dad insisted on taking my picture. This look is perfectly normal for the first several weeks and months of your child’s life.

(3) Although I am and always will be an advocate for cloth diapering, breastfeeding and baby wearing to name a few – it does not make you less of a mother if those things do not work out well for you. Do what is best for YOU and your overall family health. Sometimes, cloth diapers just aren’t going to be doable. Sometimes a baby just doesn’t latch well, a mommy doesn’t produce enough milk or work schedules make mastitis a miserable fact of life you choose not to experience. And that is okay.

As a mother of two beautiful healthy sons I know that I made a lot of mistakes in those early days. I have made even more in the last 9 years as they have grown into wonderful young men who make me proud. Breast feeding wasn’t even a thought when I had my first son – it never crossed my mind. By the time my second son rolled around I wanted desperately to breast feed but the relationship I was in prevented that from happening. I mourn the loss of those moments of nourishment my body could have provided, but I still have two sons who are healthy and happy and well adjusted. I don’t beat myself up over it. Although many people co-sleep and would never think of doing anything different, I was glad to have my own space back in my own bed. Both of my boys were in a bassinet by my bed for the first 3 months and then off to their crib in another room at that point. Baby monitors were my friend.

In the end, we can plan and pack and prepare ourselves to do everything as healthy and best for our child and our own bodies as possible and sometimes we find it just doesn’t work out that way. What is most important – more so than whether the child is breast fed or formula fed – is how much you love them and nurture their spirit. And to do that, you must take care of your own body and spirit. When your child is 5, 10, 15, or 50 years old – whether you used a cloth diaper, breast fed, co-slept or cleaned the house with only green products is unlikely to matter or make a mark in their memory. That you loved them, nurtured them and made sure their spirits were encouraged and that they felt worthy will be far more important.

Disclaimer: This is a guest post and not written by We’re Parents!? Thoughts and opinions do not necessarily reflect our own.

Do Doctors Know What’s Best?: A Pregnant Woman’s Rights {Guest Post}

November 29, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 7 Comments

Photo Credit: photo adapted from IdPinThat

Most pregnant women trust their doctors whole-heartedly and I would say that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s good to trust someone that you are entrusting with not only your life but also the life of your baby. However, many pregnant women are unaware of their rights as a patient. Many are unaware that they might not be getting all the options from their doctors (and don’t think this doesn’t include midwives, it definitely includes them too!)

I always assumed that when my doctor told me something that it was what needed to happen and it was the only option. Unfortunately that just has not been true in my case and not true for most women. For instance, when I was pregnant with my first child, I was told that I would have to be induced at 41.5 weeks if I didn’t go into labor on my own. Therefore at 41.5 weeks I went in to be induced. The problem is that even though my doctor told me that it was the practice’s and hospital’s policy, she didn’t tell me that I could go to 42 weeks if I really wanted to. She made it seem that it was the only way. Without going into all of my history, let me just sum things up by saying that I was mislead with my second child as well, in a different way this time but still it all had to do with hospital policy.

By the time I was pregnant with #3, I had learned my lesson. I had come to realize that I could have changed how my deliveries went; I could have easily not followed hospital policy. I now know my rights as a pregnant woman and I can confidently take charge of my pregnancy and delivery.

However, perhaps you are where I was so many years ago. Perhaps you are unaware of your rights and want to know just what can you do? Just what is allowed?

The Pregnant Woman’s Rights

Every woman has the right to health care before, during, and after pregnancy.
The right to receive care that is consistent with current scientific evidence about benefits and risks. If the practice is harmful or ineffective then it should be avoided.
The right to choose a midwife or doctor as her care provider.
The right to choose her birth setting from her safe options available.
The right to leave her maternity care giver if she becomes dissatisfied.
The right to know the qualifications of those involved in her care, as well as to know when those involved are trainees.
The right to receive care in privacy and to have all information treated according to the standards of confidentiality.
The right to full and clear information about risks, benefits, and costs of any and all procedures (drugs, tests, and treatments.)
The right to accept or refuse any treatment, drugs, or tests. She also has the right to change her mind at any time. (This one is usually only true as long as the mother or baby is not in a life or death situation.)
The right to be informed if she or her infant is enrolled in a research study and the right to accept or deny participating.
The right to access any and all of her pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and infant records.
The right to receive care that is appropriate for her culture and religious beliefs, as well as to receive information in a language she can understand.
The right to have any family members and friends she chooses to be present in any of her maternity care.
The right for information on risks and benefits of any and all available methods of pain relief. She ahs the right to refuse or accept any and change her mind at any time.
The right of freedom of movement during labor and the right to deliver in any position she desires.
The right to uninterrupted time with her newborn, so long as both she and the baby are healthy and do not need to be separated for care.
The right to have information on breastfeeding, to refuse any supplements or actions that could interfere with breastfeeding, as well as have access to lactation support.
The right to decide with the caregiver when she and the baby can go home.

*This is a guest post. Thoughts and opinions do not necessarily reflect our own.

About the author of this guest post: Brittany lives in Seattle with her husband and three children (a 6 year old, a 5 year old, and a 2 year old). She enjoys researching everything that involves living naturally and writes about her increasingly crunchy life at The Pistachio Project.

40 Week Pregnancy Update

November 16, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 10 Comments

40 Week Pregnancy Update!

Today is our due date!!!

Since our post and appointment last week I’ve gained 1.5lbs so we are at 35lbs total weight gain. At this point I’m also correct that she will be “late”. At my appointment yesterday, my blood pressure and urine were great. Baby’s heartbeat is great. Which means everything is perfect. I am really excited that my doctors truly trust my decision to not want to discuss induction until 42 weeks. I truly want a natural birth and feel like I’m still on my way to getting it.

That’s honestly been my pet peeve in the last few days is people asking me when I’m going to be induced. I’m not. At least not anytime soon–like I said above, I won’t discuss until 42 weeks. In a healthy pregnancy, there is no need for an induction (a completely different topic that I could write tons of posts on alone).

Andrew is getting pretty excited (and nervous) and I must admit I am too. He is driving me crazy every once in awhile because every time I make a noise he’s like “what’s wrong”, “what do you need”, “what can I do”. I love him and so glad I have him here, but man, sometimes I am just like “Babe, shut up! I’ll tell you when I need you.”

While writing this post this morning I have been having some pretty consistent contractions, which is the first time it’s happened this consistent my entire pregnancy. They aren’t strong at all though yet. I can feel her moving her head pretty low in my pelvis too! Here’s hoping that in the next few days I will be able to post some baby pics to show her off to all of you! Then again, maybe she’s waiting until after Thanksgiving!

Have a great weekend!!

39 Week Pregnancy Update!

November 9, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 5 Comments

39 Week Pregnancy Update

Today we are 39 weeks pregnant! And Yes, we are still pregnant (more on that in a minute)!

Our appointment this week was easy once again and still not too much to report as far as the doctor goes. I gained 1lb since my last post, which means we are at 33.5 pounds total weight gain.

The car seat and baby’s hospital bag is now in the car! I feel like I have been more hungry and sleepy than normal the last few days. I definitely feel that she dropped and I’m carrying a lot lower. Andrew noticed too and eloquently put it like this, “Wow, babe, I can tell. Your boobs don’t connect with your belly anymore.” Thanks sweetie. I can also really feel her moving (her head since she’s in position) very low in my pelvis.

My one HUGE pet peeve right now is everyone calling/texting/”Facebooking” me asking “how do you feel?”, “baby here yet?”, “are you having contractions?”. It’s annoying! Especially, being a blogger, I feel like people should know that I will post/update/text/call them when the time is here. Additionally, I’m not even at my due date yet! (vent over lol).

I know that I’m not the only person that feels like this, as a lot of my new mommy friends say that it constantly happened to them too. My mother is being the absolute WORST about this! I keep saying that if we are lucky enough to get pregnant again in the future that I only giving an due month or months. No more estimated due date! That way people don’t really know when to expect the little one’s arrival.

Hopefully my contractions become a lot closer together in the next few days, however, I’m predicting she will be late, so we’ll see!!

38 Week Pregnancy Update

November 2, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 3 Comments

38 Week Pregnancy Update!

Crazy to think that are due date is so close!

Our appointment yesterday was pretty easy. No real major news or updates to report since our last post. I gained 1.5lb since last week so I am sitting at 32.5lb total weight gain. I am happy to report that our bags are packed!!! Besides a few essentials like our phone charger and stuff, I actually finished up everything this week (nothing like procrastinating). How long did you wait before packing your bags?

Over the past week we had to deal with the hurricane. We live approximately 40 minutes from where the hurricane made landfall; however, we must thank God for knowing we are blessed to say that while our lights flickered, we never actually lost power to our home. I was nervous about not only looking power because I have been stocking up on food, but also a little nervous from hearing the weather labor myths that more babies come not only during hurricanes but also during full moons. We had both. Luckily though, baby girl decided not to drag mommy and daddy out during the storm and we are all safe and sound.

It’s pretty much just a waiting game at this point. I will say that I am not at the point that I’ve heard moms say they are “just done”. I feel great and I can’t complain that it’s hard right now. Yes, as it’s getting colder outside, actually having to put socks and shoes on instead of flip flops and flats has become interesting, it’s nothing to complain about. I am enjoying my pregnancy at the end, which I know is a blessing, so whenever our girl is ready, we are waiting for her arrival 🙂let’s just pray it’s around her due date 😉 Only time will tell!

What’s in a Birth Plan?

October 30, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 4 Comments

Photo Credit: Adapted from MorgueFile

If you have been following the blog or our Facebook page for any time at all, you will have noticed that as we prepare for the upcoming birth of our first baby, we are planning on having a natural birth. When planning a natural birth, unless you are also planning a home birth, it is important that you write a birth plan. This does not have to be an extravagantly long document, and in all honesty should be kept as simple as possible.

But…. What’s in a Birth Plan?

While many birth plans you find on-line are amazing about helping you with wording or giving you ideas of things you may forget to include, lets be honest…no doctor or nurse in the hospital wants to read a 5-6 page document detailing everything that may or may not happen. To help us prepare ours, we used the one found here for guidance.

My advice is to create a one page document that includes information about both procedures for you (during labor and delivery) and baby (immediately following). Ideally the Top 5 things for each you and baby will keep everyone happy.

For ours, we included:
1.Our names and a picture of us so if the birth plan is taken out of our room with our chart, doctors and nurses remember who we are.

2. A blanket comment that simply states “Please ask for our consent before any routine procedures”.

3. A bullet list for Labor & Delivery that includes our Top 5 wishes. For me this includes, minimal vaginal exams during labor, unlimited movement during labor, not asking about pain medications or inductions , delayed cord clamping, and a statement about what I would like should a c-section become necessary.

4. A bullet list for our baby that includes are wishes. For us this includes statements regarding, the hospital allowing myself or Andrew to go with the baby at all times if there are any complications, delaying routine procedures to allow for immediate skin-to-skin contact, our wishes towards vaccinations and eye drops, bathing the baby in our own products that we will bring, and a statement about the baby being exclusively breastfed.

Did you make a birth plan? What were some things you included?

37 week Pregnancy update

October 26, 2012 by Larisha Campbell 4 Comments

37 Week Pregnancy Update

We are 37 weeks today!! Only 3 more weeks until our due date.

We had an appointment yesterday and I haven’t gained ANY weight since the appointment last week!! I was honestly shocked because I have been a mess craving (and giving into) sweets lately. In addition to the apple pie cheesecake that I made over the weekend, I also made peanut butter chip brownies and picked up (and ate) some Ben & Jerry’s Pumpkin Cheesecake ice cream (whoops!).

I actually feel amazing still. My doctor came in and asked me how I feel and when I said great, he commented that I am making this look too easy for my first pregnancy. Honestly, it’s not a walk in the park, but I am enjoying my pregnancy, actually more at this point that I did my entire first trimester. If you remember from our post last week, we had our Group B Strep (GBS) test and the results came back negative!!!! (that’s what we wanted).

Since last week, we shampooed that carpets (and when I say we here, I mean Andrew), finished writing our birth plan, and packed up some special treats for our nurses (post on that soon).

I am still feeling tired a lot more than I was used too and I credit that really to my body preparing me for the lack of sleep that I am about to experience. My contractions are not consistent at all, but I know with every one that I have it’s my body preparing and moving along.

My one sad moment is that I do officially have stretch marks on my belly. It’s the one thing that I didn’t want and for them to come so late is so disappointing to me. It’s like my belly dropped a bit and I get them :/ I know most moms will just say it’s a blessing to remind me of my pregnancy and not a big deal; but, to me it is. I have had stretch marks on my legs since high school and even got them on my boobs really early in pregnancy, but my belly is one place I didn’t want them. But what can I do!

Until next week…….

5 Most Common Signs of Ovulation

*Disclosure: This is a guest post. Thoughts and opinions may not necessarily align with our own. We were compensated to feature this post.

5 Most Obvious Signs of Ovulation

The Second Pregnancy – Beyond the Smile

Welcome to Time for Mom!

10 Things I Miss About Pregnancy

Welcome to Time for Mom!

Everything Will Be Okay: Adjusting to Life With A New Baby {Guest Post}

Do Doctors Know What’s Best?: A Pregnant Woman’s Rights {Guest Post}

40 Week Pregnancy Update

40 Week Pregnancy Update!

39 Week Pregnancy Update!

39 Week Pregnancy Update

38 Week Pregnancy Update

38 Week Pregnancy Update!

What’s in a Birth Plan?

37 week Pregnancy update

37 Week Pregnancy Update

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