Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
This is a long over due post. I've been meaning to share my pregnancy injury for some time. Especially since I know what happened to me also happens to other moms. It was one of those things where once the pain went away, I wanted to stay as far away from it as possible and that meant not discussing it. Now 14 months later, I can freely write about it since I've been pain free for a few months. But it is something that still has me puzzled today and is always in the back of my mind. I never want to experience pain like that again and I don't wish anything like what I experienced on anyone ever!
The pain I felt was off the charts. It was sharp. It was breathtaking. It would stop me in my tracks. It was like no other. I remember crying wondering if I would ever walk again. It awakened me in my sleep. The pain affected me mentally. I felt depressed and hopeless. On top of that I was seriously pregnant! All I wanted was to be able to physically do the simple things in life that many of us take for granite on a daily basis. I wanted to walk with my son at the park and pick him up if he needed me. I wanted to be able to shut the blinds once it got dark or get a glass of water without having to prepare myself mentally and physically for the move. I wanted to be able to get out of bed or roll over without being stabbed by pain. Simply I wanted to walk without assistance and pain.
It all started when I was around 37 weeks pregnant. I started to feel a little weaker in my right hip and was experiencing lower back pain. The pain in my lower back went across the lower portion of my back and I was constantly feeling the aching pain. By the end of the day I would find myself limping around. I would sit down and relax and still feel the throbbing pain in my back. It was hard to get comfortable sitting down. Luckily the pain was worse at the end of my day. I would tell myself, "only three weeks to go!, I can do this."
At 37 weeks, things begin to get harder. But I carried on. I just figured I should slow down a bit and take it easy. But as any pregnant mom with a toddler knows, slowing down is an understatement. We can try, but slowing down a toddler is close to impossible.
At around 38 weeks I remember walking along side of my son and I suddenly began to limp. My right hip felt weak and hurt. So I limped around the rest of the day. I thought that maybe I pulled a muscle and my hope was that after a little rest, I would feel better the next day. But I didn't. The next day was no better. It was actually worse!
I limped all day long and walking just got harder I was in pain. I was slowing down and I wasn't able to walk far. The pain was stopping me in my tracks and I knew I was in trouble. At work, people asked why I was there. I was unable to hide my struggle. I could barely walk.
I started to do my research. Thank God for Google. All kinds of things came up about sciatica but my pain description just didn't match. I didn't have pain shooting down my leg and in my heart I knew it was not that. So I continued my research until I found out about Pelvic Girdle Pain. I dug deeper into PGP and the description was on point. Sadly enough, my description appeared to be one of those severe cases. It was awful!
The following morning I could no longer walk on my own. I immediately asked my husband to look into finding me crutches. Within an hour, I had a pair of crutches to help me walk. Little did I know these were going to be my friend for the next 5 weeks.
Luckily I delivered my beautiful daughter a week later. My hope was that instantly after having her, I would be up and walking like normal. Instead, I was still in need of my crutches and before leaving the hospital, my husband picked up my new walker. Time. I was told by doctors that I would need time to heal. Well six weeks later, I was seeing a specialist and prescribed physical therapy. Luckily, I was able to completely drop the crutches and walker after 3 weeks of delivery.
Fast forward a year and I can honestly say I feel minimal pain. I have dedicated myself to working out regularly and that has helped a ton.
I know that I am not alone. I know that many other women experience similar pain and write it off as sciatica or a pinched nerve. Please research Pelvic Girdle Pain. Many gynecologist are not even familiar with this. For some reason, it is not receiving much attention.
If you had a similar experience I would love for you to comment and share below. Also feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Of course I could go on and on in details but you would stop reading.
I wish each mom a healthy pregnancy and if you happen to get Pelvic Girdle Pain, please know I understand your pain and I'm happy to give any help I can.
The pain I felt was off the charts. It was sharp. It was breathtaking. It would stop me in my tracks. It was like no other. I remember crying wondering if I would ever walk again. It awakened me in my sleep. The pain affected me mentally. I felt depressed and hopeless. On top of that I was seriously pregnant! All I wanted was to be able to physically do the simple things in life that many of us take for granite on a daily basis. I wanted to walk with my son at the park and pick him up if he needed me. I wanted to be able to shut the blinds once it got dark or get a glass of water without having to prepare myself mentally and physically for the move. I wanted to be able to get out of bed or roll over without being stabbed by pain. Simply I wanted to walk without assistance and pain.
It all started when I was around 37 weeks pregnant. I started to feel a little weaker in my right hip and was experiencing lower back pain. The pain in my lower back went across the lower portion of my back and I was constantly feeling the aching pain. By the end of the day I would find myself limping around. I would sit down and relax and still feel the throbbing pain in my back. It was hard to get comfortable sitting down. Luckily the pain was worse at the end of my day. I would tell myself, "only three weeks to go!, I can do this."
At 37 weeks, things begin to get harder. But I carried on. I just figured I should slow down a bit and take it easy. But as any pregnant mom with a toddler knows, slowing down is an understatement. We can try, but slowing down a toddler is close to impossible.
At around 38 weeks I remember walking along side of my son and I suddenly began to limp. My right hip felt weak and hurt. So I limped around the rest of the day. I thought that maybe I pulled a muscle and my hope was that after a little rest, I would feel better the next day. But I didn't. The next day was no better. It was actually worse!
I limped all day long and walking just got harder I was in pain. I was slowing down and I wasn't able to walk far. The pain was stopping me in my tracks and I knew I was in trouble. At work, people asked why I was there. I was unable to hide my struggle. I could barely walk.
I started to do my research. Thank God for Google. All kinds of things came up about sciatica but my pain description just didn't match. I didn't have pain shooting down my leg and in my heart I knew it was not that. So I continued my research until I found out about Pelvic Girdle Pain. I dug deeper into PGP and the description was on point. Sadly enough, my description appeared to be one of those severe cases. It was awful!
The following morning I could no longer walk on my own. I immediately asked my husband to look into finding me crutches. Within an hour, I had a pair of crutches to help me walk. Little did I know these were going to be my friend for the next 5 weeks.
Luckily I delivered my beautiful daughter a week later. My hope was that instantly after having her, I would be up and walking like normal. Instead, I was still in need of my crutches and before leaving the hospital, my husband picked up my new walker. Time. I was told by doctors that I would need time to heal. Well six weeks later, I was seeing a specialist and prescribed physical therapy. Luckily, I was able to completely drop the crutches and walker after 3 weeks of delivery.
Fast forward a year and I can honestly say I feel minimal pain. I have dedicated myself to working out regularly and that has helped a ton.
I know that I am not alone. I know that many other women experience similar pain and write it off as sciatica or a pinched nerve. Please research Pelvic Girdle Pain. Many gynecologist are not even familiar with this. For some reason, it is not receiving much attention.
If you had a similar experience I would love for you to comment and share below. Also feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Of course I could go on and on in details but you would stop reading.
I wish each mom a healthy pregnancy and if you happen to get Pelvic Girdle Pain, please know I understand your pain and I'm happy to give any help I can.
Dear First Pregnancy,
Oh how much I envy you! You sleep when you need it, have the freedom to complete your to do list at your own leisure, and can walk out the door to go to that prenatal yoga class. I was once you. I was once pregnant for the first time. What a happy journey that was for me. I remember that pregnancy. I had plenty of massages, had regular visits to the gym and did water aerobics up to the end. I had a summer baby so I floated in our pool in my bikini and had that sun kissed glow. I recall during delivery the nurse mentioned my nice color.
Wow did I have it made! I clearly remember getting out of the pool one hot summer afternoon and heading to get a pedicure after spending the day reading how to care for a newborn baby. Afterwards, I would came home and took it easy and before our leisurely evening walk.
Wow did I have it made! I clearly remember getting out of the pool one hot summer afternoon and heading to get a pedicure after spending the day reading how to care for a newborn baby. Afterwards, I would came home and took it easy and before our leisurely evening walk.
My diet was well thought out and I made time to cook yummy meals. I even took the time to record calories on My Fitness Pal. My baby's nursery was completely organized and of course my bags were packed and ready for my hospital visit. Oh how much I envy you first time pregnant mamas to be.
Now fast forward two years and I'm in the last few weeks of my second pregnancy. My hip aches from a nerve my baby is putting pressure on. I would love to do some water aerobics or yoga to help it, but instead I am chasing that first baby around. I am much over due for a massage and this late in my pregnancy I sure could use one!
Dinner is an afterthought, let alone recording calories. I need to feed the little guy and then clean up the aftermath. I eat so fast that most times I couldn't even tell you the portion size I had to eat. Eating is for survival not to journal.
Our pool sits out back and the rafts await for someone to lounge in them. But as a mother of a busy toddler, floating in a pool is nonexistent. They advise pregnant women to get their rest. Rest... what's that!
My bag for the hospital is not packed and I am a week from my due date. I don't have the nursery complete and my to do list is much too long to tackle. Oh how things have changed! I remember that first pregnancy. At this point in my pregnancy, I had everything ready and I was waiting anxiously for the arrival of Baby 1.
So when people ask me if my second pregnancy is different from my first. My answer is "OH YEAH" the first pregnancy was all about me and this pregnancy has nothing to do with me. So to those first time pregnant mamas, enjoy those 9 months and take it all in. It's the last time it's all about you.
It's the 28 week mark and I'm due for my glucose test today. I roll my eyes, even though I know that many women do form gestational diabetes and it can be a serious thing. I was lucky for my first pregnancy and I hope that I am as lucky this time.
As I am sitting here relaxing before my appointment I can't help but notice how tired I feel. When I reflect back on what I ate today, it was a lot foods with carbs. Let's see here...toast with peanut butter and jam for breakfast, handful of grapes, chicken sandwich with cheese on a french boule bread, cottege cheese and a snack bar. Basically I screwed myself by consuming a bunch of crap foods today. I most likely feel this sluggish way because of those carbs being processed into sugar. Ugh I know better too.
So I did my research real quick and from what I've read, exercise would be my best bet for absorbing glucose so I jumped off the couch, put on my workout clothes, got in my car and hit the gym. Now the only reason this was possible today was the fact that my son was at daycare. If he had been home there would be no way I could just pick up and head to the gym. I of course didn't feel like working out but I spent 30 minures on the elliptical and felt GREAT afterwards. My energy levels were back! I wish I would do this everyday! Hopefully this helped reset my sugar levels and give me a better chance at passing this glucose test.
I made sure I didn't eat anything more for the next few hours before my test at 3:45. At 2:45 I drank the substance and it actually wasn't bad. We will see how the test results come back. If I do fail the test, at least I know I tried to make up for my poor choices during the first half of the day.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of my last trimester. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can officially say "I feel and look pregnant". People can safely assume I am pregnant and ask me when I am expecting baby without risking offending me and bending over to pick up my 19 month old is not as easy as it was 4 weeks ago.
When it comes to energy I can put in a full days worth of work and feel fine but I know tougher days are nearer. My sleeping patterns are beginning to be interrupted by the need to use the restroom or the big move of switching from my left side to my right. Usually sometime during the night I will feel some baby movement and a good kick in my side. It's these sleepless nights that will eventually make my days a little less productive and eventually turn into weeks and months of restless nights as I care for our new baby. It is something that comes natural as we prepare ourselves for the world of baby.
When I think of my last trimester, I think of a long list of things that need to be done. My first thought is, I need to make a list and get things done. Unlike my first pregnancy, which consisted of getting the nursery ready, having a baby shower, baby prepping and organizing; this seasoned mommy is making a more relaxed "to do" list. Some of these things are....
1. Take a nap when Beckett is napping.- Sounds like a pretty unproductive list huh!?! But in the reality of things, it is very productive. If I am dragging and not taking care of myself, my entire day is shot. I'm short tempered with my son and that's just not fair to him.
2. Do something fun and toddler friendly with my son while we have this special time together. It won't be long and we will have to slow down a bit. Not completely but a little. So until then, we are going to the zoo, visiting a farm, having play dates, going to the library and finding fun things to do.
3. Lots of walking- The weather is breaking here in Michigan and we are finally getting outside again after a long winter. It's time for some fresh air. I plan to walk a lot this last trimester. I may even start up Map My Walk and make weekly goals for myself. This willl be good for my mind and my health.
4. Kick butt at work- I plan to take a long leave from work and I like when I end the school year with a bang. I will need to have everything organized and ready for someone to kick start my schools off in the fall. Having everything prepped and in order will make a huge difference in my ability to relax and enjoy baby when I am off.
5. Big Brother Gift- I plan to organize a special gift for Beckett. Before the baby is born we will go to Build a Bear and make a bear together. I will record my voice saying "I love you" and I will give it to him at the hospital. This way he will have it while I am in the hospital with the baby.
6. And of course some baby prepping. Find our newborn tub of clothes, get a dresser for baby, have diapers ready and get out the pumping tools. The usaul prep for a baby but this time I'm much more relaxed. I know that a baby needs very little.
The biggest challenge I face during my last trimester is making time slow down. I can't wait to meet and greet the new addition to our family but at the same time, I know how important it is to enjoy the "now" and that's how I am going to make my to do list as I prepare for our new baby. I will simply ask myself...What is important to do "now"? Maybe it will be to play toddler games with my little guy who is only 19 months for this month or take a nap because "now" is the time to do so. Or maybe it is something important like complete a big project at work. Either way I'm living my list by the "now".
Healthy Foods and natural products are somewhat a hobby for me. I literally love spending my evenings looking up different healthy eating tips and natural remedies for everyday use. After years of research and having tried many new products and remedies I consider myself a little bit of a "crunchy mom" or others may call me a "granola mom". My son is cloth diapered and organics are top of my list when it comes to eating healthy.
During my first pregnancy, I found a love for counting calories and eating as healthy as I could to gain only healthy weight during my pregnancy. I loved lentils and was on a lentil salad kick the entire time.
This pregnancy the focus is not on the amount of weight and calorie counting but instead on avoiding GMO Foods and eating "clean" or organic foods. Especially trying to eat organically the dirty 14 fruits and veggies announced this year such as strawberries and bell peppers. Please note the word "Try". Sometimes I eat conventional fruits and veggies that are listed on the dirty 14 list. For an example...potatoes are on the list. Many times I will have a potato starch at a resturant and its not organically grown. Or when I am a guest at someones home, I don't raid their fridge to see the food packaging to see if its organic. Even at home we will choose to buy conventional fruits and veggies. Sometimes it fits our budget better. For an example, last week Krogers had red, yellow and green peppers on sale for 1.00 each. I knew they were on the dirty 14 list but the organic ones were selling for 1.99 each and were not looking very good. So I purchased a couple. But this is a rare decision. I usually don't mind spending more on organiclly grown produce.
My new kick is BPA from canned goods. I was shocked by this and did my research and sure enough cans are lined with a BPA substance to prevent our food from tasting like metal from the can. Through my research, I found that canned tomatoes are the worse to eat because the acidity from the tomatoes strip the BPA on the can and is absorbed in the tomato. Gross! I panicked a bit when I read the effects BPA can have on little ones. Our sons main food for the last 9 months has been canned beans. I thought since they were organic they were great to eat. I never worried about BPA until now. I now buy my beans in a bag, soak them over night and cook and simmer the next day. Oh why didn't I think of this before. They are much better tasting than canned beans. Plus you get tons for the price.
Now this GMO awareness I've been researching is really bothersome to me. I can't say too much about this yet since this is new to me. I'm in the process of reading labels and figuring out what is GMO and what isn't. I am also in the process of eliminating this from my home. It's hard. Soy Lecithin is in so many things and this soy product is genetically modified. I've read that organcially grown is the only way to be sure it's not a GMO product. I've also read that zucchini and squash have been genetically modified and since there are no existing labeling laws at the time, its hard to know whether this produce you are buying is a GMO veggie. Ugh how discouraging. I love eating grilled zucchini and sqush. Maybe I can grow my own this summer using organic seeds.
I could go on and on when it comes to nutrition and health. I will save you reading time and break it up into different posts. Check out my new way of making black beans. No more canned beans for us!
Ok I know we all get sick at times and that's life but I truly HATE being sick. Ok that sounds stupid because I don't think there is a person in ths world that LIKES being sick. But it happens. So far this winter my family has been pretty lucky. It's nearing the end of winter and we are just now faced with the cold germ. My husband usually gets it a lot worse than I do. I had my tonsils taken out years ago and I truly think that has made a world of a difference for me. As far as my son...he's never had a bad cold yet and I dread the day.
When I feel a cold coming on, (like now) we do a lot of homeopathic things in my household to fight the germ. Basically, I turn into this hippy and even get a little mad at the thought of getting sick. I refuse to accept the fact that I am sick. Mind over matter. Today we did the following things before 9:00 AM and even my 18 month old had to participate in some.
1. We all had a tablespoon of honey and cinnamon. My llitte guy said "no" but once he tasted the sweet honey, he was all for it . This helps with a sore throat and chest symptoms of a cold.
2. We all had our Vitamin D3 dose (helps support immune system)
3. Lots of water and today we are using fresh lemon for our immune system and to help flush out toxins.
4. Multivitamin
5. Hot herbal tea. My husband had Ginger Tea and I had an herbal mixture. No tea for the little guy. He didn't seem to mind.
6. I plugged in my essential oil diffuser and used Thieves to disinfect the air we breathe. I will refresh this all day.
7. Vitamin C. We are eating a lot of oranges today. My son started the day off with one and I will give him another orange for an afternoon snack.
8. Lots of hand washing. I even disinfected door knobs and handles. We can't spread the germ.
9. Exercise: I went to the gym and did 30 minutes of cardio. My husband is the one with the full blown illness so he stayed home to respect others and not spread it to the community. I disinfected my machine when I was done, just in case I come down with this "germ".
10. Rest: Yes lots of it. My husband and son are napping and I'm taking time to sit and blog. I am not much of a day sleeper. We don't plan on doing any big projects today and will stay home to respect the community. Maybe even turn on the TV and watch a movie.
11. This afternooon I will make super soup for dinner. It's my favorite soup. Years ago, my husband and sister n law created a soup formula and called it Super Soup. It's so healthy for you. Lots of veggies and great flavor. Maybe I will share later on another post. I'm sure it will cure us from the "germ".
Being sick and pregnant does not sound fun. I hope to stay strong and carry on!
What do you do when you are feeling a cold coming on? Any tips help!
When I was preggnant for my little guy I had it made. I rested as needed and made sure I always had a healthy meal to eat. Yoga classes and exercising at the gym was consistant and I felt great! It was fun to show off the bump and I even had fun buying maternity clothes. I guess you could say I was floating on cloud 9!
Now my little guy is 18 months old and I am six months preggnant and I am spinning in circles and EXHAUSTED! My house is a constant battle to keep clean, preparing healthy meals is no longer an enjoyable hobby, it's a must, since I have a little one to feed. I try to continue to eat healthy but sometimes the stress gets the best of me, and I find myself eating a little too many sweets. I have a serious sweet tooth. Working out is always on my mind. Durring my fist pregnancy I had to push myself to go and now I wish I could go. Time goes fast when you are trying to keep up with a toddler. In reality its a workout in itself.
Some days I foget I am pregnant because I am so busy with my day. With my first, that's all I EVER thought about. It consumed my every thought. I thought about the nursery, my registry, baby names, my delivery, the week to week changes and now I'm due in three months and I am not sure about any of these things. I'm sure I will kick it in high gear when the "nesting" kicks in. The fact that I am sitting down to write this makes me think that I am in the beginning stages of "nesting". Thinking about things is a very good start.
Every pregnancy has its story. The first for me was a fairy tale and my second one so far has been a fast roller coaster. It's starting to happen. I''m getting bigger and feeling pregnant. I'm a few weeks from entering my third trimester and reality is striking. We're having another baby!
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