Healthy Green Moms » Pregnancy

The Home Stretch. My 8 Month Bump

Monica — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:41:14 +0000

I realized I didn’t have any pictures of me and my baby bump (aside from wild hair in a housecoat!) so I had my hubs snap this the other night. I am feeling like my old self now after the short bout of exhaustion and we are now awaiting our 35 week ultrasound to get additional insight on how baby’s kidney is doing.

Baby is very responsive (a major snuggler from what I can tell!) and my pregnancy is otherwise going very smoothly so I am feeling optimistic. We also have a pro photoshoot scheduled because I still wish we had some pics of my “Liv belly” as well as some classic B&W newborn shots of her. It will be fun to have Liv in these pictures because she is always sticking her ear on my belly to see if baby will kick her. I’ll share those shots in a few weeks!

All the best, I hope you are doing well!

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The Home Stretch. My 8 Month Bump

Dealing With a Disappointing Ultrasound

Monica — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:26:54 +0000

No mother ever wants to hear that there is something odd with her routine 18 week ultrasound. Expectant mothers may sometimes worry or wonder if everything is OK, but I think no one expects to be the person receiving the unsettling news.

I received this unsettling news about a month ago and I now feel blessed to have gone through this experience. Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes, we have an update on our baby.

It is confirmed that one of the kidneys is sitting permanently in the pelvis. The other kidney is sitting in the normal spot in the lower back and it is functioning fine. The pelvic kidney is called an “ectopic kidney” and until my big tests at BC Women’s Hospital, I had never heard of such a thing. I’ve been told an ectopic kidney is statistically about 1 in 1000 which is more common that I thought.

At this point, all tests indicate that it should be an isolated cosmic “woops” that is not related to genetic factors in the family. It seems that there is no indication of Downs or any other chromosomal or additional organ abnormalities. It is also too soon in the pregnancy to be sure of anything, so I will be going back in at 35 weeks for another bout of testing which will be more conclusive. There is still a lot of development to take place. Until we reach 35 weeks, we are watching to see that my measurements stay on track, as any decrease in measurements could indicate a malfunctioning kidney which will affect the amniotic fluid and add complications prior to birth.

We want to make sure that baby’s kidney stays healthy. If it does stay healthy, baby will simply have a normally functioning kidney in a funky spot. I expect we would have to watch out for abdominal trauma in the future as the kidney is not protected by any bones. I imagine we will need to be especially cautious around certain sports. If this is the final diagnosis, I’ll take it because that’s pretty good!

We also have to see how the kidney drains and if baby is prone to infections. Another test once baby is 1 week old will determine the shape and function of the kidney.

So there we have it! Our results thus far are promising, and at the same time, there is still some uncertainty.

Here’s what I have learned about this experience so far:

It Is What It Is

When I was told about the problem, I cried and was deeply worried for about a week. I basically cried the week leading up to the next phase of tests. I cried because of the shock that my dream and expectation of having a “perfect” baby was not going to be a reality. I cried simply because I needed to cry. Although I thought many times in the first week to be thankful for our news because it seemed minor in comparison, I allowed myself to cry FIRST, without all the rational reasoning to “make it better.”

Crying first, without judging or reasoning allowed me to move very quickly into acceptance. We saw no reason to ask “why me” or deny the reality in any way. It is what it is and we will be fine.

Go With What You Know

This is one of the first times I have stayed away from massive research to investigate every corner around a topic that concerns me. I did not see any value this time in going beyond what I was told by our team of professionals at BC Women’s. We felt that it was best to stick with what we had been told, and to not chase a rabbit trail of “what if’s”. This has helped me a lot. Rather, my mind stays busy with home life instead of worrying about all the possible scenarios that could happen. If and when we receive other news, we will move forward from that point.

Redefining The Concept of Perfection (yet again!)

I was thankful to have an email from friend and reader Sherri, who emailed to say that our baby was already perfect regardless of what they find in the results. I knew this in my heart, but was important to remind myself not to try to live up to any ideals or concepts I had about what makes a “perfect” baby.

My doctor said to be “life is such an amazing thing, just thinking about all the things that have to go RIGHT to make a perfect baby, it’s such a wonder!”

Gratitude

My day at BC Womens was so incredibly rewarding. The reputation of this hospital leaves no doubt that there is enough expertise to handle nearly any situation. I felt comforted by the number of diverse professionals that were tending to us.

I was also fortunate enough to speak with a young mother who months earlier, gave birth suddenly at 25 weeks. After nearly 3 months in the ward, she and her beautiful baby girl finally went home. She told me about her time in the ward during the 3 months. How she was severely depressed in the beginning and asking “why me”. Over time, she saw many mothers and baby’s come and go with both happy and devastating results. She began to accept the gift of her little 1 pound baby girl and began to fight along with her. She never asked “why me” again.

My appreciation and respect for parents who endure heart wrenching sickness in their children had deepened immensely.

A Deeper Appreciation For The Mystery of Life

One of the first things I asked myself and the doctor was “Did I do anything to cause this?” What was I doing at 6-8 weeks? Even though I was reassured, I couldn’t help but wonder.

I follow my thoughts closely and we use the power of intention in our lives every day. I observe the power of attraction working in our lives, so when I asked if I had done anything to “cause” this, I was not only referring to physical causes but my emotional and mental states as well.

This has been a spiritual experience and I am more at peace because of it. I have realized that the best practice is to understand the power of attraction in our lives as it exists along side the deep chaotic mystery of life.

I don’t wonder why or how – it is the great Mystery and what matters now is how we play it out.

10 Tips For A Non-Toxic Pregnancy

Guest — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:00:38 +0000

The following article is from guest writer Donielle, a stay at home mom to a two year old boy with another baby on the way, due in April. Over the last couple years she has become passionate about nutrition and natural living in order to overcome her own health problems and infertility. The health of her entire family has improved so much because of it! You can also find her blogging at Raising Peanuts

As pregnant women, we normally start to look at the world around us a bit differently. We look at the food we eat quite differently and make sure we’re getting enough nutrients. We stop doing all the ‘dangerous’ stuff our doctors tell us to stay away from; alcohol, caffeine, smoking, etc. But do we ever look at how we live and what we use in our home?

A study was recently done by the Environmental Working Group on umbilical cord blood. In a study group of 10 infants, researchers from 2 laboratories found 287 different chemicals and toxins were found in the cord blood. This came to an average of 200 chemicals per baby. And they only tested for 413 toxins out of the thousands that are out there. Twenty-eight of these chemicals were waste by-products, 47 were from consumer products (teflon, stain repellents, etc.), 212 different industrial chemicals and pesticides that were banned over 30 years ago! Check out the video where Ken Cook from the EWG explains what all this means. (it’s about 20 minutes long)

With all that scary info, how do we protect the babies we carry, along with protecting our own bodies?

10 Easy Ways To Lower Toxic Consumption During Pregnancy

Use Natural cleaners in your home. Ever wonder why conventional products don’t list all the ingredients? We probably wouldn’t buy them if we saw them! Conventional cleaners can contain many different chemicals, scents, and even formaldehyde. While there are some great natural/organic cleaners on the market, vinegar and baking soda can work wonders too!
Dust and Vacuum your home often. Toxins from the air actually get trapped in the dust, which then lands on your furniture, etc. So try and vacuum and dust once a week and don’t forget to clean off the return air vents and baseboards!
Use a BPA free water bottle. BPA (Bisphenol-A) is an endocrine (hormone) disruptor and can effect not only your hormones, but those of your baby. With a developing reproductive system, this can be quite detrimental. Use real glasses at home and if you need a water bottle for when you’re out and about, try something like Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottles.
Don’t use teflon pans. Within just a few minutes of heating, it can get hot enough to emit toxic gases. And if you’re like me, you use them until they are so scratched there isn’t any Teflon left! But throw any scratched pans away! If the gases are toxic I can’t imagine how bad it is to actually eat it! Try to replace them with stainless steel or cast iron pans.
Be careful with all plastics. Especially for food storage. BPA, Phthalates, and PVC in plastics can degrade and enter into your food. Fatty foods quicken this process and absorb more. Try replacing your Tupperware with glass storage containers. If you must use plastic, make sure foods are cooled before placing them in the container and never reheat the food in the plastic.
Use natural skin care products. Your skin is actually your largest organ and absorbs much of what we place on it. Conventional products are loaded with phthalates, dyes, perfumes, and chemicals. Check out your local health food store for alternatives. Pharmacies are also offering more natural choices, and you can even check out sites like Etsy for homemade options to buy. Personally I use the oil cleansing method and love it!
Use plants to filter your air. Our indoor air quality seems to get worse as the years go by. Our homes are full of cabinets that have formaldehyde in them, we use glue that emits toxins for our flooring and now a days PVC seems to be everywhere from windows to shower curtains. While we all can’t afford to “green” our houses completely, we can “green” them up with some plants. Houseplants can actually help remove toxins like ammonia, formaldehyde, and even benzene. The top five listed by Treehugger.com include peace lily,(although this plant may be mildly toxic when ingested -so a no-no around pets and babies!) bamboo palm, English ivy (supposed to be the best at removing formeldahyde, though I don’t know how to plant ivy inside!), mums, and Gerbera daisies. Other plants I have heard work well are aloe vera, spider plants, and Chinese evergreen. So put some plants around your house – especially in the bedrooms where you spend so much of your time!
Buy organic food whenever possible. Especially fruits and vegetables that are regularly sprayed with pesticides. Pesticides work by either attacking a bugs nervous system or the reproductive system. Do you really want to subject your baby to even a small amount of these toxins? Organic foods are expensive, so when you need to make the choice between organic or conventional when you’re shopping, try to at least buy organic foods that have thin peels (apples, peaches, strawberries, etc.) and buy things like oranges and bananas (with thick skins) conventionally. Check out this HGM article on 10 produce items you’re better off buying organic.
Stay away from smokers and smoke-y businesses. What you breath, your baby breaths too! Do your best to stay away from cigarette smoke as it is filled with multiple toxins. These toxins can affect babies developing nervous system as well as set them up for a greater risk of allergies as they grow up.
Exercise. How does this help with the toxic load your body carries? Well, toxins are stored in fat cells. So the more fat cells you have, the more toxins you carry as well. Now exercise during pregnancy isn’t always an easy thing, but try going for a walk once in awhile and make sure you’re eating good, whole foods and not junk food, so as not to add on extra “fat weight” but good healthy baby weight.

Decreasing our toxic load may take just a bit more time and thought, but it’s so very worth it in the long run!

You can read more from Donielle by subscribing to her blog “Raising Peanuts” where she writes about being happy, healthy and a little bit eco-friendly.

13 Ideas For Morning Sickness Cures

Monica — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:01:41 +0000

If you are one of those women who received the gift of morning sickness for the first trimester of your pregnancy, welcome to the club! Over half of pregnant women do get some form of fatigue, nausea and vomiting believed to be associated with the surge of pregnancy hormones during the first trimester. Women who get morning sickness are generally willing to exhaust nearly every option to find morning sickness cures that work for them in order to find some form of relief.

“Morning sickness” can be misleading because for many women the symptoms can last all day long. However, by the time the 12-14th week rolls around (which can seem like a lifetime if you are couch ridden!) the symptoms do start to alleviate and you can look forward to some regained energy beginning in the second trimester. Unfortunately, about 20% of those who do get morning sickness will experience symptoms for a longer period of time.

There are no shortage of suggestions for morning sickness cures. A sick and expectant mother may be willing to exhaust all options as I have during the last 8 weeks. I twittered for suggestions and LaMama Naturale from Recycle Your Day suggested Organic Kefir (yum!) to keep the nausea at bay. Donielle over at Raising Peanuts suggested avoiding sugar, which I think is a great idea for any day of the year. Thanks for your suggestions gals!

Although time may be the best cure of all, here are a few additional ideas and morning sickness cures to help you combat the lousy symptoms associated with morning sickness:

Eat small amounts of food often. Try to keep your stomach from becoming empty as this is when the nausea seems to worsen. You may have to eat as often as every 1.5 – 2 hours to chase the nausea away.
Eat before bedtime and when you wake in the morning before getting out of bed. Try a banana or some cereal. Crackers or dry toast may also help. Rest for a few minutes before getting up.
You’ll likely be ultra sensitive to many normal household smells now. Ask your family to refrain from cooking with herbs, onions, garlic and spicy foods. Keep the kitchen and fridge clean to reduce odors that may be lurking. If possible, ask someone else to do the cooking during this time.
Fatigue can worsen nausea so try to nap during the day. Enlist the support of family and friends for childcare and household chores.
Avoid hot showers and baths as this can bring on nausea. Keep your windows open and if possible, try to take short walks or sit outside as fresh air often helps.
A bottle of pure essential oil kept close at hand can be helpful to sniff when you feel the wave of nausea coming on. Try lemon, tangerine, peppermint or grapefruit scents as these tend to work best for nausea.
Ginger has been reported to be helpful in settling the stomach. Up to 250mg, four times a day. Candied ginger or raw ginger lightly steeped into a tea may also help.
Definitely try acupressure with the “Motion Bands.” Also known as Sea Bands, these are the same bands worn on cruise ships and actually DO help with nausea! I found that they took the edge off the extreme sickness, allowing me to move about a little easier. Try wearing them during the day and remove them at night. Be sure to follow the directions to get the bands over your acupressure point.
Be sure to prevent dehydration. Try drinking after meals as liquids on an empty stomach can cause you to vomit. Signs of dehydration include dark colored urine or infrequent urination.
Eat whatever looks good to you. You may normally be a model of health but morning sickness can throw your taste buds way off course. Whatever tastes good to you now may turn your stomach a week from now. Know that when this passes you can get back on track again.
Homeopathic medicine may be helpful in treating nausea. Contact a qualified professional.
Keep snacks in your handbag and car so that you don’t get caught off guard while away from home.
Adjust your prenatal vitamin to a lower iron formula or try taking it before bedtime or after a larger meal.
Another idea that has been working for me lately is Liquid Chlorophyll. It is a refreshing way to rehydrate.

This too shall pass! Hopefully with these ideas and morning sickness cures, you’ll find one that works for you. Be assured that morning sickness is not harmful to you or your baby and you should start to feel better as the first trimester passes. If you are unable to keep any food down and find yourself repeatedly missing meals it is best to contact your health professional to be sure you and your baby are receiving all the nutrition you need.