3D Model of Your Fetus?

I just came across an interesting article which talks about a company that can print a 3D model of your fetus and womb using MRI imaging to create the model.  Is anyone else just a little creeped out by this?  I thought getting a 3D or 4D ultrasound was a bit much for myself but getting an actual model takes this to a whole other level.  In the video segment below, they can even make mini models for you to hang from your cellphone!  What do you even do with such a thing?  Do you show it off at family gatherings?

I think ultrasounds have been a wonderful advancement in modern technology.  It can help diagnose diseases before a baby is born and it can help practitioners monitor the health of a developing fetus.  I enjoyed seeing my twice weekly ultrasounds during my non-stress tests but they were to determine if my gestational diabetes was harming my baby.  However, is this taking things a little too far?  This is not a "medically necessary procedure."  What about the long term effects of MRI exposure on a developing fetus?  Has that even been studied?  Also, in the video, they mention CT scans.  Do they use CT scans as well to get the image?  What about the radiation exposure from CT scans?  How is that not harmful to both the mother and fetus?

Would you get a 3D model of your womb and fetus?  If so, what would you do with it?

One Week Later... An Update...

Well, we "survived" our first week of being a family of four.  This first week was not as dramatic as his entrance into the world, but I say "survive" because as any new parent will tell you, the first week after delivery can be quite an adventure.  We (including the dog) are all adjusting to the new baby.

The baby is doing well.  He was 7 pounds 1.6 ounces at birth and reached his lowest weight the following day at 6 pounds 9.6 ounces.  At his follow-up appointment on Wednesday, he was back up to 6 pounds 12.7 ounces.  He is nursing every 2 hours round the clock.  It is tiring but worth it seeing him grow.  This is quite the contrast to his older brother that had latch problems.  I am liberally using the lanolin but the pain and sores that accompanied nursing the first time did not happen this time around.  I just weaned my older baby in March and I think that I never stopped lactating.  My milk came in right away and the baby has been eating like a champ.

The baby also did not get any jaundice which may have been a possible concern since I did delay the clamping of the umbilical cord.   Part of it may also be due to my milk coming in so quickly.  It is nice knowing that my decision to delay the clamping did not result in any negative effects for the baby.  He had his first non-meconium bowel movement at the doctor's office on Wednesday and his umbilical stump fell off on Saturday.

Recovery for myself has been a little easier this time around.  I didn't have to push for 2.5 hours like the last time so I haven't had any swelling.  I only took 600mg of ibuprofen for pain relief and that was 14 hours after delivery!  I also managed to escape the entire hospital stay without an IV.  The biggest thing for myself has been trying to get enough rest and making sure I eat and drink enough.  Since I'm up every 2 hours to nurse, I have become somewhat of a night owl.  I try to sleep when baby sleeps which means I am sleeping a lot during the day.  I am also hungry all the time.  I made my first batch of lactation cookies yesterday and after the gestational diabetes, being able to eat cookies again is a welcome treat.  My blood sugar and blood pressure have both returned to normal after I had the baby.

I have also been religiously binding my belly hoping I can fit into my non-maternity clothes sooner rather than later. I did it the first time around and thought it yielded good results.  I started "binding" myself at the hospital.  I requested a support band that they typically give to mothers who have had a c-section.  I did not have a c-section so I was happy they gave me one after I asked for it.  I am also using the "belly bandit" that I bought with my first baby.

My older son is slowly coming around to the new baby.  At the hospital, he didn't want anything to do with me or the baby.  He even lost the toy that his new baby brother bought for him.  Thanks to my in-laws who replaced the toy, a crisis was averted.  In the last few days, he's become very helpful around the baby.  He's tried to tell the baby "it's OK" when he's crying in the car and even tonight tried to help give him a bath.  He's also tried to read him a book and show him pictures of family members.  He's a sweet kid and I hope this is a sign that he will be a good big brother.

The dog at first was really anxious about the new baby.  We have the baby's crib in our room since we think it would be cruel to have him share a room with his older brother at this age.  The dog has been sleeping in our room.  The first time she heard the baby crying in the crib, she freaked out and wouldn't stop barking.  We thought we might have to figure out alternate sleeping arrangements for the dog.  Luckily, she has also adjusted to this new addition and no longer barks or whines when she hears crying.

My husband has been wonderful.  He's doing the laundry and cleaning around the house.  He is off for another a week so the real test will be when he goes back to work.  In the meantime, he's been getting the toddler ready in the morning (making breakfast, changing his clothes, etc) and letting me sleep in which is nice since I'm up most of the night feeding or changing the baby.

We're slowly getting into a routine with our family.  Thank you to all who have passed on their well wishes.  I am very thankful to have a beautiful family and great friends.

Circle of Life

After recently having my second child, I find myself thinking about the "circle of life."  As the old saying goes, "nothing is certain in life except death and taxes."

My oldest child was born exactly 100 years to the day after his great grandfather (my grandfather).  I remember thinking the day before that this coincidence was not going to happen.  However, at 3AM, at 39 weeks and 1 day, my water bag spontaneously ruptured.  I waited in the hospital for several hours with no contractions until they started a pitocin drip (to get contractions going) and eventually an epidural.  As the day progressed, I kept thinking that this baby better come before the end of the day.  After two and a half hours of pushing, my little guy entered the world a little before 10PM on what would have been his great-grandfather's 100th birthday.

My second baby was born the day after his great grandfather (my husband's grandfather) unexpectedly passed away.  We got a phone call late in the evening on Thursday night saying that his grandfather was rushed to the hospital.  My husband reluctantly left me (heavily pregnant and contracting off and on) at home with our older child to see his grandfather before he passed away.  He was at his bedside along with other family members when he passed away early on Friday morning.  It was sad especially since he had appeared healthy and still had his sharp mind.  One of the last times that we saw him was at my older child's birthday a couple of months before.  I am fortunate to have taken many pictures that day of my toddler and his great-grandfather happily smiling for the camera.

Despite the sadness of losing a family member, there was still the excitement at the impending birth of the newest family member.  I had been contracting off and on for more than a week before the baby was born.  I did not have any consistent or overly painful contractions but they would be noticeable.  I had also been doing my non-stress tests twice a week which showed contractions but nothing major or consistent.  I was definitely uncomfortable and ready to "get the show on the road."  If I did not deliver naturally, I had a scheduled induction at 40 weeks, 1 day.

I lost my mucous plug at around 10:22 on Saturday morning.  I was 39 weeks and 4 days along.  I went about my day as usual.  I did notice more frequent urination as the day progressed but no consistent or overly painful contractions.  I made spaghetti for dinner and settled down for an evening of watching the olympics.  I watched the Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte 400m IM race at the olympics.  After the race, I went to the bathroom.  I sat down on my bed (which my husband wisely made me cover with a chux pad) and watched Michael Phelps' interview about his reaction to missing a medal with a fourth place finish.  As soon as that interview finished, I felt pressure and then a trickle of fluid ran down my left leg.  It was 9:45PM and I knew that my water had broken.  I rushed to the bathroom and sat on the toilet.  My husband asked me if he should call my parents.  I told him to call his parents because they had to drive 44 miles (which takes 45 minutes to an hour) to get to our house to get our older son.  I called labor and delivery at 9:48PM and was placed on hold for 8 minutes!  They were apparently busy and told me that it would be a while before a nurse could talk to me.  I had no contractions at that point and since it took 18 hours from when my water broke to when my first baby was born, we all thought we had plenty of time to get to the hospital.  They wanted to make sure it was amniotic fluid and not urine.  Since I had just urinated right before my water broke and the fluid resembled coconut water (the closest thing I could think of), I was pretty sure it was amniotic fluid.  I got off the phone with L&D at 9:59PM.

My husband brought me a bowl of spaghetti and water despite having had a small bowl of homemade strawberry ice cream (which I made the day before) about 30 minutes before.  I shouldn't have had ice cream with my gestational diabetes but this late in pregnancy, I figured, why not?  With my first child, they also told me to eat something before coming in since they would not let me eat once I got there.  I was famished during labor with my first that I wanted something substantial in my stomach.  I know its gross to eat while seated on the toilet but I sat on the toilet for a few minutes so as not to get amniotic fluid all over the house.  I then realized that I should be ready when his parents got to our house.  While I was getting ready, my husband loaded our bags into the car.  That was when the contractions started.  The contractions started around 10:15PM.  I had my husband start timing them since my phone was getting one last recharge.  They were initially 10 minutes apart.  By the time we left for the hospital at 10:44PM after my in-laws arrived, they were five minutes apart.  I sat in the car with no seatbelt (my pain was intensifying) and I told my husband to not get into an accident since I could not buckle my seatbelt.

My husband dropped me off at the emergency room entrance at 10:50PM (luckily we live very close to the hospital) while he went to park the car.  When I arrived at the security counter, I was having painful contractions and had difficulty walking.  They let me sit in a wheelchair and wheeled me right to the check-in counter.  They checked me in at 10:52PM.  My contractions were painful so they immediately took me to labor and delivery triage.  I arrived at labor and delivery triage at 10:55PM.  They made me stand while they checked me in.  At that point my pain was getting worse so they directed me to a bed to sit in.  My husband arrived at that moment.  Of course, he forgot the bags in the car but at that point, the pain was so bad, he could not leave me.  He had to help me change into a gown and help me get a urine sample.  They hooked me up to the monitors and my contractions were right on top of each other. They asked me what number baby this was for me and I told them that it was my second child.  They immediately called for a doctor.  The nurse told me that two other mothers had come in earlier that night who had delivered their second child very "precipitously."  As we were waiting for the doctor, the nurse tried to test the fluid to make sure it was amniotic fluid.  When the doctor arrived, she told me that I was already 8cm!!!!!!  I was shocked!  I was only 2 cm at my doctor's appointment only 5 days before and I did not have contractions until about a few minutes before.  I begged for an epidural and she said that I may not be able to make it in time for one.  They asked me if I felt the urge to push and at that moment, I did not.  The nurse told me that some people get stuck at 8cm and are able to get an epidural. I would just need to be able to sit very still.  If the pain prohibited me from sitting still, I would not be able to get one.  The nurse and doctor exchanged a few words and at that moment, they decided to rush me into a delivery room.  All of the rooms were occupied so I got stuck in a tiny "back-up" room that I remember seeing during our hospital tour with our first child.  It was something like out of a television drama.  They were literally running down the hall with me on a bed and all of these people scrambling to the room.

Once in the delivery room, they started yelling for a warmer for the baby and had me try to move to another bed.  I was in so much pain at that point I had difficulty moving to another bed.  After crawling to the bed, I began to try to process what was going on.  We had just gotten to the hospital and they were preparing me to deliver a baby!  I wanted my epidural or at least something for the pain!!  They told me that I had no time to wait for an epidural or an IV for pain medication.  The doctor told me that I would be able to say that I had a "natural birth."  I DID NOT want a natural birth but at that point, I guess I had no choice.  I was not mentally prepared to do it without medication and it was quite intimidating to me.

The pain at that point was intense.  I remember hugging the railing on the left side of the bed and saying that I was "going to puke."  The thought of that bowl of spaghetti was beginning to haunt me.  They scrambled to get me an emesis basin.  My husband held it in front of me.  At that moment, the doctor asked me if I had the urge to push.  I DID and they immediately told me to get on my back and scoot my bottom toward her at the edge of the bed and put my legs in the stirrups.  This of course was impossible since the pain was intense.  My husband then grabbed one leg and the nurse grabbed another and they told me to start pushing.  I gave one push.  I looked at the time and it was around 11:20PM.  I started getting a tingling sensation in my extremities.  Everyone told me that was because I was hyperventilating and screaming.  Things were so crazy that the nurse had to even hold the fetal monitor against my body because it would not stay in place with my writhing in agony.  It's crazy what the most intense pain that you've ever felt would do to you.  I seriously thought about yelling at them to just cut this kid out of me since that surely would be less painful then the waves of contractions that were happening.  I also thought that I was going to pass out from the pain.  Yes, it was that bad!  They told me that I need to redirect my energy away from hyperventilating and screaming to pushing.  It was like a lightbulb went off in my head.  I remember that from my first birth and decided to "take the bull by the horns" and use my energy to push.  I asked my husband if he could see the baby crowning.  I pushed for 2.5 hours with my first child and I wasn't about to start pushing for that long with that kind of pain (this is why I looked at the time when I started pushing).  My husband told me that the baby was coming out.  I pushed once more, then another three pushes in a row and then felt them pulling the baby out.  Since I had an epidural the first time, I did not get to experience that sensation.  It is amazing but once the baby was pulled out, the pain stopped!  Our little baby boy was born at 11:27PM.  1 hour and 42 minutes after my water broke and 35 minutes after we arrived at the emergency room.

They immediately placed the baby on my chest and delayed the clamping of the cord as I had requested.  My husband and I had discussed previously who would get the honor of cutting the cord.  I was going to cut our first child's cord but since he was born with thick meconium, I couldn't.  Since I missed that opportunity, he let me cut the cord this time.  It was an amazing feeling after the gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and precipitous pain-medication free delivery to finally be able to hold my baby in my arms.

Ways to Induce Labor Naturally????

Here I am, 39 weeks and almost 4 days pregnant.  I have gone further with this pregnancy than I have had with my previous pregnancy (my water broke at 39 weeks and 1 day).  While there are things that I will miss about being pregnant, I am excited to meet the baby.  I'm curious if the baby will look like me or dad, if there will be a lot of hair, if this will be a big baby, etc.  Many things to look forward to.  I feel like I am in a "holding pattern" since labor can literally happen at any moment.  Planning things in the short-term is very difficult since we have no idea when the little one will make their grand entrance. While I am not "desperate," I have been seeing things on the Internet regarding "natural" ways to induce labor.  I had to get pitocin the last time to induce labor because my water broke and I had no contractions.  I am hoping to go into labor naturally this time so I may just start exploring some of these "natural" ways to induce labor.

1. Walking
• Gravity and hip swaying may help the baby to naturally drop down into the pelvic area.  
• The pressure of the baby dropping can help labor progress by priming the cervix.
2. Sex
• Sperm contains prostaglandins which help to ripen the cervix by thinning and dilating it. 
• Oxytocin is released during sex which may help to trigger contractions.
3. Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
• This should probably only be done under a doctor's supervision.  
• This is an herb which can help to thin and dilate the cervix.
• The capsules can be taken orally, the oil may be rubbed directly on the cervix or the capsules can be inserted vaginally.
4. Castor Oil
• Another thing that should be taken only under a doctor's supervision.
• It is a vegetable oil that is typically used as a laxative. 
• It causes intestinal spasms by stimulating the bowels.  Bowel stimulation can then irritate the uterus to cause it to contract.
• Works only if you're already showing signs of labor.  Taking it without the signs of labor may just give you a bad case of diarrhea.
5. Spicy Food
• Another intestinal irritant which may cause your uterus to contract.
• May cause or worsen heartburn.
6. Acupuncture
• Inserting needles into specific pressure points may stimulate uterine activity.
7. Acupressure
• Applying pressure to specific points on the body may stimulate uterine activity.
• Applying pressure to the webbing between the thumb and index finger
• Applying pressure to the inside of your leg about four finger-widths above the ankle bone.
8. Nipple Stimulation
• Massaging and twisting for a few hours a day may release oxytocin which can bring on contractions.
• Should be done under a practitioner's care.
• May cause long, painful contractions that can lower the heart rate of the baby.
9. Massage
• Massage can raise oxytocin levels which may bring on contractions. 
• Meditation can also help to relax you and raise oxytocin levels.  This is why the majority of labor happen late at night when relaxed in bed. 
10. Pineapples
• Contains the enzyme bromelain which may help soften the cervix.
• It can also aid in digestion by stimulating the bowels which can stimulate contractions.
11. Teas
• Should only be done under the care of a practitioner.
• Teas containing black and blue cohosh, raspberry leaf, cumin, or evening primrose oil may help to stimulate labor.
12. Visualization
• Visualizing your cervix opening may actually cause your cervix to open.

Finally, for some comic relief, someone posted this video on one of the message boards that I frequent.  It pretty much sums up the things that have been said to me and how I am feeling about those things.  If only I had a crystal ball then I can tell you when "the baby is coming..."

Has anyone tried any of the "natural" methods mentioned above?  If so, what was the result? 

What NOT to eat while pregnant

OK, so I just wrote a post two days ago about what can you eat while pregnant and nursing  Unfortunately, in that post, I had neglected to mention what you should definitely NOT eat while pregnant due to the potential risk to the unborn child.  The following information was put forth by the March of Dimes.  You should definitely NOT eat:

• Unpasteurized milk or juice
• They can carry disease-causing bacteria (such as Salmonella and E. coli), making them unsafe choices for pregnant women.
• Pregnant women can sometimes become seriously ill from these infections. Occasionally, a pregnant woman can pass a Salmonella or E. coli infection on to her fetus, who can develop diarrhea, fever and, less frequently, meningitis after birth. 
• The FDA requires that packaged, unpasteurized juices carry a label stating that they are not pasteurized
• Soft cheeses, such as feta, brie, Camembert, Roquefort, blue-veined, queso blanco, queso fresco or Panela, unless the cheese is labeled as made with pasteurized milk. Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, and cream and cottage cheeses are safe.
• Certain soft cheeses can cause a form of food poisoning called listeriosis. Listeriosis is caused by a bacterium (Listeria monocytogenes) and is especially dangerous during pregnancy. 
• When a pregnant woman is infected with listeriosis, she may have a miscarriage, premature delivery or stillbirth, or her newborn baby may become seriously ill and may die.
• Unheated deli meats and hot dogs
• Ready-to-eat meats (including packaged luncheon meats and deli meats) poses the same listeriosis hazard as mentioned above.
• Refrigerated, smoked seafood
• Pregnant women should not eat fish that can be high in mercury, like shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish
• Pregnant women can eat up to 12 ounces a week of fish that are low in mercury, including shrimp, salmon, pollock, catfish and canned light tuna.
• Women should eat no more than 6 ounces of albacore (white) tuna, which has more mercury than canned light tuna, in one week
• Some omega-3 rich fish that are low in mercury include salmon, herring, anchovies, sardines and trout.
• According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should avoid eating game fish without first checking its safety with their local health department
• Some game fish also may be contaminated by other industrial pollutants, such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Some studies suggest that exposure to high levels of PCBs before birth may contribute to learning problems, decreased IQ and reduced birthweight
• A pregnant woman should avoid sushi and other raw fish, especially shellfish (oysters, clams). These can be polluted by raw sewage and can contain harmful microbes that can lead to severe gastrointestinal illness. 
• Undercooked poultry, meat or seafood
• Pregnant women should avoid eating raw or undercooked meats, poultry and eggs because they can increase their risk of a number of food-borne illnesses (including listeriosis, E. coli and Campylobacter infections, salmonellosis and toxoplasmosis). 
• If a pregnant woman contracts toxoplasmosis, there’s about a 50 percent chance she will pass it on to her unborn baby. Some affected babies develop vision and hearing loss, intellectual disabilities, seizures and other problems.  Toxoplasmosis can also be found in cat feces and pregnant women should not change a cat's litter box.
• Pregnant women should use a meat thermometer to make sure that meat and poultry are thoroughly cooked. 
• Eggs, which can be contaminated with Salmonella, should be cooked until both the yolk and white are firm. Pregnant women should avoid foods made with raw or partially cooked eggs, like egg nog and hollandaise sauce. 

What you should definitely take if you are of child bearing age (whether you're pregnant or not), is at least 400mcg of folic acid daily.  According to the March of Dimes, "An overwhelming body of evidence shows that daily consumption of folic acid is a safe and effective means of preventing neural tube defects, serious birth defects of the brain and spine."   

Eating Nuts While Pregnant May Cause Less Allergy in Kids

I ran across an interesting article today which was written after a study was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.  The study, titled, "Peanut and tree nut consumption during pregnancy and allergic disease in children—should mothers decrease their intake? Longitudinal evidence from the Danish National Birth Cohort" looked at the peanut and tree nut consumption by pregnant women and the development of allergies in their children.

The study involved 61,908 mothers who were a part of the Danish National Birth Cohort.  The mothers were questioned about the frequency of their peanut and tree nut consumption (i.e. almonds and walnuts) while pregnant.  Their babies were followed-up at 18 months and 7 years to determine if they had developed asthma and allergies.

The results of the study "do not suggest that women should decrease peanut and tree nut intake during pregnancy; instead, consumption of peanuts and tree nuts during pregnancy might even decrease the risk of allergic disease development in children."

This study further supports the policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding what to eat while pregnant and nursing that I wrote about yesterday.  I am glad that more studies are being done to show that there is no risk to my unborn child of consuming peanuts or tree nuts.  Due to my gestational diabetes, I have practically been living on nuts for snacks.  They are healthy, high in protein and contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids.  The March of Dimes even states that peanuts are a good source of protein and folate.  "Folate is the form of folic acid that is found naturally in foods. Taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy helps prevent certain serious birth defects of the brain and spine. The March of Dimes recommends that all women who could become pregnant take a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, and make healthy food choices that include foods rich in folic acid. "

Is there anything that you should not eat while pregnant or nursing?

This is an interesting question that I have seen pop up quite frequently on some of the pregnancy message boards that I frequent.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revised policies published in January 2008, "current evidence does not support a major role for maternal dietary restrictions during pregnancy or lactation" for mothers of children that are not at "high risk of developing allergy (ie, infants with at least 1 first-degree relative [parent or sibling] with allergic disease)."

When reading the policy, the AAP defines "atopic disease" as "clinical disease characterized by atopy; typically refers to atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy."

The AAP summarizes their findings based on available data below:

1. At the present time, there is lack of evidence that maternal dietary restrictions during pregnancy play a significant role in the prevention of atopic disease in infants. Similarly, antigen avoidance during lactation does not prevent atopic disease, with the possible exception of atopic eczema, although more data are needed to substantiate this conclusion.
2. For infants at high risk of developing atopic disease, there is evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months compared with feeding intact cow milk protein formula decreases the cumulative incidence of atopic dermatitis and cow milk allergy in the first 2 years of life.
3. There is evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for at least 3 months protects against wheezing in early life. However, in infants at risk of developing atopic disease, the current evidence that exclusive breastfeeding protects against allergic asthma occurring beyond 6 years of age is not convincing.  
4. In studies of infants at high risk of developing atopic disease who are not breastfed exclusively for 4 to 6 months or are formula fed, there is modest evidence that atopic dermatitis may be delayed or prevented by the use of extensively or partially hydrolyzed formulas, compared with cow milk formula, in early childhood. Comparative studies of the various hydrolyzed formulas have also indicated that not all formulas have the same protective benefit. Extensively hydrolyzed formulas may be more effective than partially hydrolyzed in the prevention of atopic disease. In addition, more research is needed to determine whether these benefits extend into late childhood and adolescence. The higher cost of the hydrolyzed formulas must be considered in any decision-making process for their use. To date, the use of amino acid–based formulas for atopy prevention has not been studied.
5. There is no convincing evidence for the use of soy-based infant formula for the purpose of allergy prevention.
6. Although solid foods should not be introduced before 4 to 6 months of age, there is no current convincing evidence that delaying their introduction beyond this period has a significant protective effect on the development of atopic disease regardless of whether infants are fed cow milk protein formula or human milk. This includes delaying the introduction of foods that are considered to be highly allergic, such as fish, eggs, and foods containing peanut protein.
7. For infants after 4 to 6 months of age, there are insufficient data to support a protective effect of any dietary intervention for the development of atopic disease.
8. Additional studies are needed to document the long-term effect of dietary interventions in infancy to prevent atopic disease, especially in children older than 4 years and in adults.
9. This document describes means to prevent or delay atopic diseases through dietary changes. For a child who has developed an atopic disease that may be precipitated or exacerbated by ingested proteins (via human milk, infant formula, or specific complementary foods), treatment may require specific identification and restriction of causal food proteins. This topic was not reviewed in this document.

With this revision, the AAP is stating that unless a child is at high risk for developing an allergy, there is no restriction as to what a mother can eat while pregnant or breastfeeding.  If a child is at high risk, exclusive breastfeeding (with no formula supplementation) for at least 4 months decreases the risk of developing atopic dermatitis (eczema) and an allergy to cow's milk.  For all children, breastfeeding for at least three months may protect against wheezing in early life.  If a child is at high risk for developing an allergy and is not exclusively breastfed, there is some evidence that eczema may be delayed or prevented by using extensively hydrolyzed formulas compared with cow milk formula in early childhood.  There is no evidence for the use of soy-based formula for the purpose of allergy prevention.  Solid foods should not be introduced before 4-6 months of age.  Furthermore, delaying introduction of solid foods after 6 months does not offer more protection against the development of allergies regardless if a baby has been fed formula or breastmilk.  Also, there is no evidence that delaying the introduction of foods such as fish, eggs or peanuts will protect against the development of allergies to those foods.

What I'm Going to Miss About Being Pregnant...

As I'm nearing the end of my second (and probably last) pregnancy, there are a few things that I will actually miss about the whole experience.  There have been more than a few bumps in the road on this journey like nausea and vomiting in the first trimester, bad reflux, "growing pains," gestational diabetes (having to be on a "diet" since 16 weeks SUCKS), and slowly rising blood pressure with daily monitoring in these last few weeks.  Despite these "bumps," pregnancy is such a fascinating experience that there will be more things that I will miss about it than not.

• Getting creative with my baby bump.

Yes, I am a Rockies fan (much to the chagrin of my husband).

• It's the only time in my life I can wear a bikini and not be embarrassed by my not-so-flat tummy.

I need a tan!

• Having a portable "table" with me at all times.

• Strangers offering me their seats on public transportation.
• Random conversations with people (especially the elderly) about my pregnancy.
• "Stork" or "Expectant Mother's" Parking

• My two-year old pointing at my belly saying "mommy's baby" and then pointing to his belly and his "baby."
• Sympathetic glances from other pregnant women.
• Watching with fascination the changes occurring in my body.
• The enhanced cleavage is a definite bonus.
• My complexion has never been this good.

My Bump Weeks 7-37

• Having a clean belly button
• Feeling the baby move and kick inside of me.
• Trying to figure out what body part is protruding from my belly.
• Having the baby safely with me at all times.
• Knowing that I am creating a whole new human being is a very powerful thing.

Is there anything that I've missed?  What are some of the things that you miss about being pregnant?

11 Big Fat Pregnancy Myths

I am actually "stealing" today's post.  I found this online and thought it was rather appropriate.  The post talks about 11 Big Fat Pregnancy Myths.

11. Pregnancy Lasts Nine Months

• Most doctors consider pregnancy to be 40 weeks long.  However, the beginning of the pregnancy is measured on the first day of a woman's last menstrual cycle.  The first two weeks of a woman's pregnancy actually takes place BEFORE conception.

10. When you have sex determines the gender of the baby.

• Wrong...  Anyone have any luck with the Chinese Gender Predictor Calendar?

9. You can predict the gender of your baby without technology.

• Has following an old wives tale (i.e. baking soda gender test, purple cabbage gender test, wedding ring gender prediction test, etc) actually foretold the gender of your baby?

8. Twins skip a generation

• Fraternal twins do run in families.  However, the genes responsible for that are passed down like any other gene and do not "skip" generations.  
• Identical twins happen randomly.

7. Breastfeeding makes your breasts sag.

• Multiple pregnancies, smoking and being older contribute to sagging breasts.

6. The mom-to-be is the only one going through hormonal changes.

• An expectant father's testosterone level may go down and his prolactin level may go up.

5. Your body shape will never be the same again.

• How do you explain someone like Olympian Dara Torres or Supermodel Heidi Klum (who had four children)?

4. Pregnancy makes your feet grow.
3. Drinking any alcohol during pregnancy will hurt the baby.

• Five Danish studies found that "low and moderate weekly alcohol consumption in early pregnancy is not associated with adverse neuropsychological effects in children."

2. "Morning" sickness only happens in the morning.
1. "Pregnancy brain" makes it impossible to concentrate.

Are You Getting Enough Calcium and Vitamin D?

Calcium and Vitamin D are vitamins that we have been told will prevent osteoporosis when we are older.  However, an "interesting draft recommendation statement" recently made headlines when the U.S. Preventative Task Force (USPSTF) recommended that "evidence is lacking regarding the benefit of daily supplementation with >400 IU of vitamin D3 and 1,000 mg of calcium for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fractures, and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined.  The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that daily supplementation with ≤400 IU of vitamin D3 and 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate has no net benefit for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fractures."  They based this recommendation due to the lack of studies showing the benefits of calcium supplementation in healthy post-menopausal women in preventing osteoporotic fractures.  There were, however, "adequate evidence that supplementation with ≤400 IU of vitamin D3 and 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate increases the incidence of renal stones. The USPSTF assessed the magnitude of this harm as small."

With this "draft recommendation statement," the USPSTF could not recommend 1,000mg calcium and ≤400 IU of vitamin D supplementation in healthy post-menopausal women due to the lack of evidence showing a benefit in preventing fractures in comparison to the "adequate evidence" that supplementation can increase the incidence of renal (kidney) stones.  This is a "draft recommendation statement" and not a final recommendation and is available for public comment until July 10, 2012.

I think many people are applying this recommendation to groups other than post-menopausal women.  As a pregnant and soon-to-be lactating woman, it is still recommended that I take 1,000mg of calcium and 600 IU of vitamin D daily.  All 1,000mg of calcium should not be taken at one time.  "The percentage of calcium absorbed depends on the total amount of elemental calcium consumed at one time; as the amount increases, the percentage absorption decreases. Absorption is highest in doses ≤500 mg [1]. So, for example, one who takes 1,000 mg/day of calcium from supplements might split the dose and take 500 mg at two separate times during the day."  Vitamin D supplementation is needed along with calcium because "Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and to prevent hypocalcemic tetany. It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts.  Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis."

Unless new information becomes available regarding pregnant and lactating women, I will continue to take my calcium supplements and/or eat my calcium rich foods (like broccoli).  I think maintaining an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D now will prevent the development of osteoporosis in the future.

Just Can't Sleep on my Left Side or Any Other Side...

I am officially suffering from the sleepless, tossing and turning insomnia filled nights of the third trimester.  Apparently, 8 out of 10 women experience insomnia while pregnant.  Don't get me wrong, I am extremely exhausted (especially since I'm still working 40 hours a week and taking care of a toddler at home) but I just can't seem to get any good sleep.  Some of the things that are keeping me awake at night are having to constantly go to the bathroom, the occasional low blood sugar episode where I have to eat (which then causes reflux) and how I am just plain uncomfortable in bed.

It has always been recommended that pregnant women sleep on their left side.  As a pregnant uterus grows, it can exert pressure on the internal vena cava (IVC) which may cause a decrease in blood flow to both the mother and baby.  Sleeping on the left side causes the uterus to rest "against the aorta instead of the IVC. The aorta, which brings oxygenated blood from the heart to the other organs, has thicker walls than the IVC and is better able to withstand the pressure from the uterus."  The American Pregnancy Association recommends against sleeping on your back because "this can cause problems with backaches, breathing, digestive system, hemorrhoids, low blood pressure and decrease in circulation to your heart and your baby. This is a result of your abdomen resting on your intestines and major blood vessels (the aorta and vena cava)."

Maybe its the anxiety of trying to stay on my left side or the pain that all my body weight is placing on my left hip that has made me toss and turn all night long.  I've tried sleeping with a body pillow and a pillow between my legs yet nothing helps me get a good night sleep.  This is getting old (but I am getting a lot of blogging done) and could use some suggestions for a good night sleep.  Anyone have any good ideas??  I've got 5 more weeks and lots of time at night to try them all.

Is it Safe to Drink Alcohol While Pregnant?

I have noticed over the last few days that the topic of "drinking while pregnant" has been a trending topic.  There have been several stories which were published over the last week regarding this topic.  Publications such as US News and World Report, the Huffington Post, and The Week are among many news organizations talking about five new Danish studies published in the BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The studies looked at the effects of low, moderate, high and binge drinking by mothers while pregnant.  Their children were evaluated at five years of age to determine if there were any effects caused by the mother consuming alcohol while pregnant.  The researchers found that "low and moderate weekly alcohol consumption in early pregnancy is not associated with adverse neuropsychological effects in children.  Low average weekly alcohol consumption was defined as 1-4 drinks per week, moderate as 5-8 drinks per week and high levels as 9 or more drinks per week. Binge drinking was defined as intake of 5 or more drinks on a single occasion. Participants who did not drink during pregnancy were included as the unexposed reference group."  It is interesting to note that an alcoholic drink in Denmark is defined as 0.4 ounces of pure alcohol while in the US it is 0.6 ounces.

"The papers found that low to moderate weekly drinking in early pregnancy had no significant effect on neurodevelopment of children aged five years, nor did binge drinking. Focusing on children’s IQ and executive functions, no differences in test performance were observed between children whose mothers reported 1-4 or 5-8 drinks/week per week in pregnancy compared to children of abstaining mothers. However one finding showed that high levels of alcohol, intake of 9 or more drinks per week, was associated with lower attention span amongst five year olds."

Despite studies like this, I'm still not sure if I would feel comfortable consuming any alcoholic beverages while pregnant.  I think the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome is real and I'm not sure the small amount of pleasure I'd derive from having an alcoholic beverage is worth the risk.  This also contradicts an earlier study that I first read about in January.  That study published in the journal Alcoholism:  Clinical and Experimental Research found "Higher prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in every pattern we examined was significantly associated with an increased risk for having an infant born with reduced birth length or weight or having a smooth philtrum or thin vermillion border or microcephaly.  The most significant associations were seen during the second half of the first trimester; for every one drink increase in the average number of drinks consumed daily, there was a 25 percent increased risk for smooth philtrum, a 22 percent increased risk for thin vermillion border, a 12 percent increased risk for microcephaly, a 16 percent increased risk for reduced birth weight, and an 18 percent increased risk for reduced birth length.  This paper clearly illustrates that drinking alcohol, especially binge drinking, during the first seven to 12 weeks of gestation is associated with four of the most important facial features characteristic of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) as well as reductions in birth length and weight that are also characteristic of infants and children with FAS.  This study also illustrates clearly that there is no threshold that triggers these features of FAS. Instead there is variability from woman to woman in the level of drinking that produces these features."

I know that many European women drink throughout pregnancy.  However, it appears more European countries are beginning to encourage pregnant women to abstain from alcohol due to the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.  I think with many conflicting studies that for the time being, I will abstain from alcohol while pregnant.  It will make that first drink post partum taste that much more wonderful!

Non-Stress Test

Today, I went in for my first non-stress test (NST) for this pregnancy.  I did it with my son the first time around and doing it again for this baby due to my gestational diabetes.  I will be going in once a week beginning at week 34 and will then go in twice a week beginning at week 36.  I basically sit hooked to a monitor which records the baby's heart rate.  My practitioner wants the baby to move at least twice during the 20 minutes I am hooked up to the monitor.  When the baby moves its heart rate should increase (this is much the same way your heart rate increases when you move).  If the heart rate does not increase or in fact decrease, it could indicate that there is a problem with the baby (like an umbilical cord or placenta issue).  If the baby is lazy or sleeping, then they try different things to get it to move.  Today I had to drink a little bit of cold water and a little prodding to get some movement.  This baby is not a morning person and is definitely more active at night than during the day.

A nice thing about getting the NST is that it is one of the most relaxing times of the day that I can just sit around and do nothing.  With a toddler at home and working full-time, it really is a nice break.  I also get an ultrasound each time to check my fluid levels (high fluid levels are a risk with gestational diabetes) which lets me take a peek at my baby.  It is also always comforting to hear that heart beat knowing the baby is doing well inside.  There is something hypnotic about hearing a fetal heart beat that makes you feel so relaxed.

Here are some video that I took of the ultrasound.  Today was the first time (after many ultrasounds with both of my children), that I could actually see the umbilical cord floating around.

The umbilical cord and baby's face

The baby's heart beat

Hooked up to the monitor.  You can see the baby moving!

Is it too Early to Save for College?

I recently read an article about a guy who is stuck with $142,000 in student loans.  This article was a frightening account of this guy's dream of pursuing a career in the culinary industry.  He took out a bunch of private, non-government subsidized loans to pay for his education.  My husband and I have watched a lot of Suze Ormand's show and one of her big take home messages is that in regards to student loans, "current federal law prohibits a bankruptcy court from discharging your debt. That is, your student loans—both federal and private-stay with you even after bankruptcy."  This is the scenario this poor guy is facing.

It is estimated that a baby born in 2012 will be paying up to $442,000 for a 4 year bachelors degree in a private college in 2034!  $442,000 is on the higher end but the average-priced private college would still cost $232,000 and $81,000 for the average priced public university.  That is "up 111 percent and 167 percent, respectively, from the average class of 2012 tuition."

Obviously, we all want the best for our children and want them to avoid having them encounter a scenario like the one mentioned above.  With a toddler and another baby on the way, I feel like it is almost necessary that I start saving for college NOW.  The options available today are quite confusing.  Suze does a good job of briefly summarizing the options available to parents like me.  There are basically 3 options available:
1. UGMA (Uniform Gift to Minors Act Account) or UTMA (Uniform Trust to Minors Act Account)
2. Coverdell Educational Savings Account
3. 529 Plan

Thinking about saving for college when your children are in diapers can be a bit daunting.  However, it appears that saving college is something I can start doing now.  The first option may "count as an asset for the child and will have a negative effect on financial aid qualifications."  Therefore, this doesn't sound like an attractive option.

The second option, the Coverdell account sounds reasonable if income restrictions are met.  A maximum of $2000 can be saved per year which is about $167 per month or $5 per day.  This seems doable even with multiple children.

The third option, the 529 plan, allows you to contribute an unlimited amount of money annually (but contributions greater than $12000 are subject to a "gift tax").  Apparently, people like myself have been overlooking the 529 plans.  "A 529 plan is a tax-free savings fund that can be set up for anyone heading to college. There are two main types: A prepaid tuition plan (the only kind higher education institutions can offer) and a savings fund."  Since this is considered an "asset of the parent," it may not negatively affect financial aid qualifications in the future.  Until I had children, I did not even know that such a program existed.  There is a great website called savingforcollege.com that explains what a 529 is and since it's a state-run program, lists the options available by state.

Unfortunately, even with extensive planning, my children may still have to take out loans to finance their education in the future.  finaid.org has great information about loans and paying off student loans.  I do not want my children to have to face the dilemma facing the poor guy mentioned in the story mentioned above but hopefully if I start planning now, they won't have to.

Making Post-Partum Recovery Bearable

Just before having my first child, I stumbled across an interesting blog post about "your post partum life." Until reading this, I never really thought much about what was going to happen to my body AFTER I had the baby.  In all honesty, I'm glad I read this post.  I recently found the link to the post and decided to re-read it after having my first baby but before having my second.  I still found the information to be helpful and a good "reminder" of what I need to do this time around.

The big take home message for me from this post was the peri bottle.  I had not even heard of this before reading about it.  What is a peri bottle?  "Peri" is the shortened name for "perineal" or "perineum."  The "perineum" is generally considered to be the area of the body which includes the genitals and anus.  It is a bottle with tiny holes on the top.  You can fill it with warm tap water and it can then be "sprayed" out of the bottle.  It is designed to help "irrigate" the areas that just went through the traumatic birthing experience.  It's a great way to cleanse yourself after going to the bathroom without having to use any toilet paper.  I would have never thought that good old toilet paper would be such a painful thing to use.  I used bidets in Japan and this reminded me of a "manual" bidet.  I was so happy to use this, I made sure to stockpile two bottles from the hospital before being discharged.

Another bit of advice I found helpful was using pads soaked with Witch Hazel (a.k.a. Tucks Pads).  Witch Hazel is an astringent which helps with irritation and burning in the anorectal area.  Dabbing the cooling pads on the sensitive areas of my bottom was such a nice feeling.  I also made sure to stock up on this before leaving the hospital.

Benzocaine spray (a.k.a. Dermoplast Spray) is another nice thing to have on hand.  Benzocaine is an anesthetic.  It basically acts like a topical anesthetic (pain reliever).  It can be sprayed onto the "sensitive" areas.  This was another thing that I made sure to get a lot of before being discharge.

Perineal cold pads were an absolute wonderful thing to have immediately after delivery.  They are absorbent and provide a nice cooling feeling.  I just wore this with a chux pad and those lovely hospital mesh panties (upon the suggestion of my nurse) and I was set.  Things as you can imagine get a little "messy" post-partum so not having to worry about ruining my own underwear was a good thing.

Since I am going to have baby #2 in a few weeks, I started searching online for any other tips to make things more comfortable.  I found this post with a few more interesting bits of information.  This post, from the Mayo Clinic, recommends chilling the Witch Hazel pads which I think is a brilliant idea.  They also mention sitting on a pillow or padded ring.  I had forgotten how tender my bottom was.  We have wooden chairs at home and I could not sit on them for a few weeks.

Am I missing anything else?  I'm open to any suggestions to make the post-partum recovery easier.

How Common is Your Birthday?

I stumbled upon this cool interactive chart while reading another blog.  I never thought to find out statistically speaking, how common my birthdate really is.  It is fun to see many friends on facebook with similar birthdays.  However, this chart makes a visual comparison over the entire year to babies born in the United States between 1973 and 1999.  The chart was based on an article published on nytimes.com.  It is interesting to note that the most common birthday is September 16th (actually September is the most popular month).  Kind of makes you wonder what people are doing during the cold holiday season...  I guess things are really "merry and bright" that time of year.   January 1, December 25 and February 29th were the least popular birthdays.  I guess that if I had to "choose" a birthday with an induction or planned c-section, I would avoid those days as well.  Growing up, I always felt sorry for those kids that were born close to Christmas or only got to celebrate their "real" birthday once every 4 years.  This chart is a lot of fun.  Where does your birthday rank?  I wonder what day baby #2 will finally arrive???

Is Squatting Better than Kegels for Childbirth?

In the wee hours of the morning, when I am suffering from a horrible case of pregnancy-induced insomnia after having to wake up for the umpteenth time to use the bathroom, I start looking at a running list of webpages that I have been intending to read when I have the chance.  The pack rat in me can't help but "keep" things even if it is in an electronic format.  Anyway, I stumbled upon an interesting blog post that I first read about shortly after my first baby was born.  It was entitled, "Pelvic Floor Party Kegels are NOT invited."  At the time this was posted, I had just had my first baby and didn't give it much thought but the premise intrigued me.  Now that I am expecting my second baby, it seems very interesting.  The premise of this post (written by a runner - which I used to do a lot of once upon a time), is that weak gluteal muscles (the buttocks) in conjunction with doing too many kegels are BAD and can lead to  "pelvic floor disorder" (PFD).

PFD can cause stress incontinence.  Stress incontinence is something many pregnant women (including myself) experience.  It is the inability to maintain bladder control under "stressful" situations like sneezing or coughing.  The theory behind this post was that by strengthening weak gluteal muscles through squatting exercises and by eliminating excessive crunches and doing more "plank" positions to strengthen the core, you can avoid PFD.  A weak pelvic floor can also cause uterine prolapse.   Uterine prolapse can be a result of childbirth.  A prolapse happens when the "ligaments supporting the uterus become so weak that the uterus cannot stay in place and slips down from its normal position."  In a follow-up post, they also explored how too many kegels (which all pregnant women are told will help labor and delivery) may actually make labor and delivery harder by tightening the pelvic floor.

These posts were very much "anti-kegel" and very "pro-squatting" as a way to prepare for labor.  I'm not sure what to think since I couldn't find any scientifically published peer-reviewed articles detailing these findings in a study.  However, as I began to think about it, throughout human history, people have been squatting to do things.  I remember going to Korea and Japan and seeing toilets that you had to squat over to use.  My western-raised self recoiled in horror at the thought of having to squat over an open hole to use the bathroom but maybe there is something to it.  In western society, we rarely squat when we do anything (including giving birth).

The post recommends squatting three times a day in preparation for childbirth to help strengthen the pelvic floor.  The following website gives detailed instructions on how to do a "proper" squat in the "hunting and gathering mama" way.  Having a nice round rear end is a good thing when it comes to having strong gluteal muscles and subsequently strong pelvic floor muscles.

At this stage of the game, I'm willing to try anything that will make the prospect of childbirth easier.  Squatting doesn't seem like it would hurt so I may start my squatting routine now.  I may also consider (depending on the pain and if I need an epidural) squatting during labor.  I can help strengthen my pelvic floor and allow gravity to help get this baby out.  I guess we'll just have to see how successful this theory really is.

What Shall I Name My Child?

One of the first and probably biggest things that we (my husband and I) are going to do for our child during their first few days of life is to give them a name.  It's such a huge and difficult decision since it is something they will literally have to live with for the rest of their life.  It is something that is not easy to change and is something they cannot control like hair color or eye color.  They're basically stuck with whatever decision that we make.  Generations to come will know my child by that name.  With all that being said, I have only a few basic requirements for a name.

1. It must be relatively easy to spell.  I have a name that can literally be spelled at least 5 different ways.  It is not an usual name but I have spent a lifetime spelling my name for people and correcting them when they get it wrong.  It's funny because when I talk to other people with my name, one of the first questions we ask is, "how do you spell YOUR name?"

2. I want to avoid "popular" or "trendy" names.  I don't want my child to be one of several people in their class while growing up to have the same name.  I grew up with two other people with my name and we always had to differentiate ourselves by adding the first initial of our last name or by using a nickname.  The social security administration recently released a list of the top baby names of 2011.  I, unfortunately, like many of the names on that list but will be avoiding them as well as the top names from the last five years or so.

3. I do not want an exotic name.  I LOVE Hawaiian names and other ethnic names.  However, in my opinion, I think they are best suited for middle names to avoid the problems listed in #1.  It can also get annoying when people mispronounce the name.

4. I don't want to name my child something that would be considered "strange" or "unusual."  There are some pretty crazy names that celebrities have given their children.  I don't want a person to automatically stereotype my child or have it become a part of their identity based on their name alone.  I don't want their name to be their defining characteristic or something that people can't get past.  Giving my child an "unusual" name will make it a topic of conversation throughout their life when meeting new people.  I can see some people wanting their child to be "unique."  However, in this day and age of identity theft and cyberstalking, having an "unusual" name is not cracked up to what it used to be.  Sometimes having a ubiquitous name gives you a better chance at anonymity.  I was horrified to discover how easy it is to find my name on a simple google search.

5. The name must "age" well.  I don't want people to look at the name and say, "that was so 2012!"  I also want it to be something that they won't be embarrassed by when they're older and have to apply for a job.  Can you imagine having to fill out a job application with a name like Apple or Coco?

I think if I had a "common" name like "Jennifer" which was #1 the DECADE I was born in, I may feel differently.  However, since I do not have a name like that, I've come up with these basic parameters.  I have been searching for popular names from the 40's, 50's, 60's, etc.  They were common back then but not common today.  Since they're somewhat "common," the spelling or pronunciation of the name is not much of an issue.  What do you think?  Am I over thinking this or do you have any good suggestions?  We've got to make a decision soon since that is one of the first things they ask you after  the baby is born.

What happens to the female body during pregnancy...

I write many of my blog posts late at night after my husband and baby are in bed.  I started this blog since I am increasingly experiencing these late nights.  It is giving me something to do without waking the entire house.  As I progress further along in my pregnancy (28+ weeks at the moment), going to sleep is becoming difficult.  I have gestational diabetes and must eat a snack before bed to prevent my blood sugar from becoming too low when I wake up.  It's a vicious cycle.  I have to take medication because my blood sugar gets too high in the morning without it.  My medication makes me prone to having low blood sugar in the middle of the night so I have to eat something to prevent that.  As the placenta gets bigger, the hormones released by the placenta causes my body to become more "insulin resistant."  This means that my body has to produce more insulin (or I have to get it through medication) to keep my blood sugar low.  If my blood sugar is too high then I run the risk of having a large baby.  Giving birth to a 10-pound baby doesn't sound too appealing to me at the moment so I am trying hard to keep my blood sugar low.  I check my blood sugar 4 times a day and strictly monitor the amount of carbohydrates that I eat.  I also keep myself reasonably active.  I am not overweight (I had a pre-pregnancy BMI of 22.5 [18.5-24.9 is considered normal]) and watch what I eat yet I still developed gestational diabetes.  The lifestyle modification is difficult but worth it considering at my 26 week appointment, I had only gained 9 pounds.

Sorry for straying a little bit off the topic at hand but since I eat that snack before bed, I have to remain upright or I get terrible heartburn.  I can't eat my snack too early in the evening or my blood sugar dips too low in the morning.  I stay up late to remain upright (I could never comfortably fall asleep sitting upright) and when I'm ready for bed, it's usually time for me to go to the bathroom.  If it isn't the heartburn, it's the urgency to go to the bathroom that keeps me awake at night.

I found some interesting websites which show how a growing baby may impact a mother's body.  The first is from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.  I've been to this museum back when I was in college and think it's cool that they're putting more interactive things online.  It is neat to watch your bladder get compressed by the weight of the growing uterus and the intestines and stomach get squished.  This explains the frequent trips to the bathroom and copious amount of TUMS (calcium carbonate) that I must take.  Sadly, my TUMS has become a welcome "treat" in my day since it is the closest to candy that I can get due to the diabetes...  Another link points out the hormone progesterone as being responsible for relaxing the esophageal sphincter which further exacerbates the heartburn.  UGH!  It is also cool to think that I am literally growing a new organ (the placenta) which is responsible for all of these crazy hormones.

Pregnancy is a fascinating experience.  It is amazing that I am growing another human being in my body.  In my previous pregnancy, I focused a lot of the stages of embryonic growth rather than learning about what is happening to my body.  This time around, I am more acutely aware of the changes my body is going through.  It makes you appreciate the fine balance mother nature has achieved in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

First Pregnancy vs. Second Pregnancy

http://www.whattoexpect.com/forums/july-2012-babies/topic/first-pregnancy-vs-subsequent-pregnancies

Now that I am 27+ weeks pregnant with baby #2, I find this topic absolutely hysterical!  I found this on a message board that I frequent.  The whattoexpect forums have been lifesavers for my first and now second pregnancy.  Great place to share ideas and advice for new parents...

10.  First Pregnancy:  You devour every single weekly pregnancy milestone update from WTE and know exactly what kind of fruit/vegetable your baby currently resembles.

Second Pregnancy:  “How far along am I?  Um, let me see…maybe somewhere in the first trimester?  Wait, no, third.  I think.”

9.  First Pregnancy:  You diligently avoid all caffeine, alcohol, sushi and other supposed pregnancy no-nos.

Second Pregnancy:  “Make it a DOUBLE ESPRESSO.  And bring it up to the bathroom where I’m going to be snorting aspirin in a steaming hot bath.  Thanks!”

8.  First Pregnancy:  “Yay!  I’m starting to show!”

Second Pregnancy:  “Oh, God.  I’m starting to show.  AND I’M ONLY ONE WEEK PREGNANT.”

7.  First Pregnancy: You play French folk music and Learn Japanese CDs before going to sleep in hopes of giving birth to a multilingual genius with an IQ of 150.

Second Pregnancy:  Screw the folk music.  Nothing wrong with having a child of mediocre intelligence!  Because, let’s face it, you want to go to sleep as soon as you can when you already have a child with another on the way.

6.  First Pregnancy:  You feel the baby kick around 20 weeks.

Second Pregnancy:  You feel the baby kick around 12 weeks.  And why is that?  “Your muscles aren’t as strong the second time around, so you feel it more,” Candy’s OB says.  *SIGH*  A simple “you’re more in-tune with your body” would have sufficed, doc.

5.  First Pregnancy:  YOU:  Guess what?  I’m pregnant!  FRIENDS & FAMILY:  Yaaaaayyyy!  This is the best news EVER!

Second Pregnancy:  YOU:  Guess what?  I’m pregnant!  FRIENDS & FAMILY:  Oh.  Neat.

4.  First Pregnancy:  You buy a ton of maternity clothes to show off that beautiful, blossoming bump.

Second Pregnancy:  It’s all about sweatpants.

3.  First Pregnancy:  You have outdone yourself with the nursery, which is beautiful enough to be displayed in the pages of House Beautiful.

Second Pregnancy:  You’re not even sure where you’re going to put the kid.  Put a blanket in a dresser drawer, perhaps?

2.  First Pregnancy:  You rub cocoa butter on your stomach every day to avoid stretch marks.

Second Pregnancy:  You quickly throw on your sweats to avoid looking at the stretch marks caused by your first pregnancy.

1.  First Pregnancy:  You and your baby are celebrated at a fun baby shower.

Second Pregnancy:  You are lucky if you have the time to take a hot shower.