pregnancy

Prenatal Self-Care with Make-Ahead Scrambled Egg Muffins

July 12, 2018 by Rachel 25 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NatureMadePrenatalDHA #CollectiveBias

As a new mom, one of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was the following:

Plan, prepare, and adjust your expectations as you go.

Pregnancy and adding a family member are, at best, an adjustment. And, at their toughest, they are a battle. I consider myself in the lucky category regarding pregnancy. We never had any trouble trying to conceive. I began taking my prenatal vitamins the moment we decided to try for our most recent baby and, though convinced it surely could not be as easy to get pregnant as the previous times, we became pregnant almost immediately.

But all of my pregnancies were very different. The first time around I felt invincible — I ate what I wanted, failed to exercise, and still felt relatively great. But that was not a healthy pregnancy. I struggled to recover and get back my health postpartum. Eventually I did, but it was harder than it should have been. The second time around I was too sick with hyperemesis gravidarum to maintain any bit of health. But the third time around I made a vow to myself and my family to be a healthier, better version, of pregnant me.

Using a 5 month supply Nature Made® Prenatal Multi + DHA from Sam’s Club.

The easiest way for me to stay on top of my health during pregnancy was making sure to attend regular OB checks and purchasing a 5 month supply of Nature Made® Prenatal Multi + DHA from Sam’s Club. I knew that I was doing everything in my power to provide the essential vitamins and minerals needed to properly develop my baby’s nervous system.†

Having the 5 month supply means that I can focus less on running out and more on keeping myself healthy and at my best.

Remaining active.

I also maintained my exercise regimen — which is something I had failed to do previously. I continued teaching cycling classes and coaching gymnastics, all while also participating in group exercise classes such as Zumba and kickboxing. Sure, my stamina and level of physical exertion certainly changed, I stayed active and did my best to maintain a physical lifestyle.

And I have to say, it made a huge impact in how I felt. I was able to keep up with my kids and give my energy a boost when I was feeling sluggish. As a bonus, the exercise made my pregnant body sleep so well!

Stocking up on healthy foods.

As a busy mom of two already, I needed to fuel my body with foods that would help me keep up with chasing them around. One of my favorite ways to keep us all from starving is to buy the pre-washed and pre-cut fruits and veggies from Sam’s Club. This way when a tiny toddler comes screaming for “snaaaaacks!” I can just open the fridge and hand her a carrot! It also helps that I love raw veggies and that they are an excellent way to keep me from eating the unhealthy foods neither I, nor my baby, needed!

Make, bake, and freeze.

With previous pregnancies I gave in to every craving under the sun. I am honestly fairly certain I lived off of ice cream and Philly cheesesteaks my entire first pregnancy. But it turns out you shouldn’t feed your family ice cream and cheesesteaks every day, so something had to give with this third pregnancy.

Enter meal prep. My nemesis and my saving grace. See, I’m not a huge fan of cooking. I like to get it all done so that when I’m hungry I can just eat — no waiting. So the saving grace is that I can prep meals ahead, make them, bake them (or cook them), and freeze them in smaller amounts for later.

And what better way to freeze items than in cute, bite-sizes, so that my kids think it’s ‘fun‘ to eat! Did you realize you can put basically anything in a muffin tin and it suddenly changes the way that kids see meals!? All jokes aside, this really and truly works!

That’s why I’m sharing one of my favorite healthy meals that can be made ahead and put in the freezer to grab and go — Easy Scrambled Egg Muffins!

Easy Scrambled Egg Muffins

I grabbed all of the items from Sam’s Club so that I could make a big batch to freeze and have handy.

Ingredients:

18 eggs
1 C chopped spinach
2/3 C whole milk (or 2% milk)
2/3 C flour
2/3 C grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp basil
2 small tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. baking soda

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray muffin tin with cooking spray.
Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Slowly mix in milk.
Stir in black pepper, sea salt, and basil.
Fold in spinach, tomatoes, and cheese.
Add flour and baking soda until thoroughly mixed.
Use 1/4 measuring cup to scoop into muffin tin.
Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let stand to cool. Enjoy and freeze extras!

Good for you, delicious, and easy peasy!

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

What I Wish I Knew As a First Time Mom

June 13, 2018 by Rachel 25 Comments

This post is sponsored by Cord Blood Registry ® (CBR ®), but the opinions expressed here are my own.

Here we are… days away from meeting baby number 3. And being this close to her arrival, I just keep thinking about all of the things I wish I knew the first time around.

1. You may not feel an instant connection.

This was something I really struggled with just after our first was born. Sure, I felt protective; but I didn’t get that immediate, overwhelming feeling of pure joy. And the more I talked to others, the more I realized that this wasn’t that unusual. Thanks in part to social media, we would be made to believe that every mother feels an immediate and overwhelming connection with her newborn. But… that just isn’t the case.

And I want all moms to know that. The connection will come — and it may take some time — but it will happen.

2. The incredible benefits of cord blood banking, from birth and beyond.

Before I became a mom I had heard about cord blood banking, but I didn’t give it much thought beyond that. But being a mom changes a person. And a baby’s umbilical cord is made of tissue and contains blood, both of which are rich sources of stem cells that are unique and powerful. Preserving your newborn’s stem cells may give your child or an immediate family member the opportunity to use this resource for current cord blood therapies*!

How amazing is science?! So when we were pregnant with baby number two, I knew what we needed to do — preserve her cord blood with Cord Blood Registry (CBR). That’s because CBR is a resource for expecting parents in so many ways. When you choose to bank with CBR you have access to their team of Certified Genetic Counselors who can discuss your family’s medical history as it relates to newborn stem cells, and educate you on your options to preserve them for your family’s future. CBR believes every family should have the opportunity to preserve their newborn’s stem cells. That’s why they offer affordable payment options to fit almost every family budget and also offer a Gift Registry, where friends and family can contribute towards the cost of banking. Not only that, but their Newborn Possibilities Program® assists families with a qualifying medical need by covering all costs for preserving their child’s newborn stem cells and storing them for 5 years.

The process to get set up is really simple. We enrolled online at cordblood.com and received a collection kit. We’ll be bringing our CBR collection kit with us to the hospital for number 3, and once the cord blood is collected we’ll call the medical courier (phone number is on the kit) and CBR will take care of the rest.

If you’d like to learn more, CLICK HERE and fill out your information to receive a code for $200 OFF initial fees. We’ve already filled out our information and will certainly be taking advantage of the affordable payment plans. I’m so relieved to know that we have a trusted support system with CBR!

3. No phase lasts forever.

This is a really hard one for me. As someone who has struggled with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety with both of my other children, I know — firsthand — how difficult it can be to see past the fog of sleepless nights and colicky screams. And the last thing any new mother wants to hear is “This won’t last forever,” because, in that moment, you absolutely cannot see that. It just isn’t helpful.

But I’m repeating this phrase over and over again to myself in the coming days — no phase lasts forever — in hopes that I’ll remember and take solace in this during the endless nights and rough patches.

4. Do what you’ve gotta do.

You’ll get a lot of advice before becoming a mom. As a “seasoned” mom, I vow to not be one of those people who asks “Well have you tried ____?” Let’s just all assume that if someone is venting to you about their baby, they are not soliciting your advice, okay?

With that being said, I wish someone would have told me that all parents of a new baby are just surviving; we’re all just doing whatever we have to do to make it to the other side. There is no one ‘right’ way to parent and what works for your friend may not work for you.

Just do what you’ve gotta do and feel no shame about it!

5. You will find your way.

Between the mistakes, the late nights, the tears, the questioning of yourself, and the literal crying over spilled milk, you will find your way. One day you’ll have a toddler and you’ll realize you did it. When you realize that, thank your people — whether that be your family, your spouse, your friends, or your Mama Tribe — just thank them.

You’ll all find solace in the fact that, yeah, that was rough. But we made it.

What information

do you wish you knew

before becoming a mom?

What’s In My Hospital Bag

June 10, 2018 by Rachel 17 Comments

Nothing. No seriously. Up until a few days ago, I had zero packed. Not for me, not for the new baby, not for my other two kids (who will, undoubtedly, need a change of clothes and diapers when a friend watches them).

But I finally stopped slacking. I packed my bag with everything but the last minute items. I’ve learned a LOT from two previous hospital deliveries — on what’s totally unnecessary and the things that I truly wish I had the first time around. So here’s what I’m packing in my hospital bag for baby number 3 — and what I wish I would have had for my first labor and delivery!

Peppermint Essential Oil.

I do not handle nausea well. I know this will be my downfall if I can’t keep it under control. So the first thing I put in my hospital bag is doterra peppermint essential oils.

I put a few drops in my hand when I’m feeling nauseated and sniff the inside of my hands. It truly was a lifesaver last time.

Nursing Bras.

Essential, but honestly one of my least favorite purchases. I’m still looking for that ‘perfect’ nursing bra, but I found a few with decent reviews to bring with me in the meantime.

In the hospital, it’s all about comfort. I expect my milk to come in quickly, just like last time. And underwires are not my friend — at least not until the gals start to regulate themselves, milk-wise. So something comfortable is key!

Comfortable pajamas.

All of my pajamas from the last two kids are destroyed, so this time I purchased a few different sets of pajamas and loungewear from Cuddl Duds. I’d heard that they’re incredibly comfortable, so I ordered a few online and tried them on — big mistake because I don’t want to wait until labor and delivery to wear them!

I also got a nice long cardigan to cover up with. Those hospital rooms can be a tad bit chilly and it’s nice to be able to take off layers as needed.

Ollie World Swaddle.

I wish I had known about these Ollie World Swaddles for the first baby, but having them for number 2 was a LIFESAVER. If you’ve ever had an infant, you know that the startle reflex is real — and something that all babies struggle with. And on one wants a baby to struggle to sleep, am I right?!

The stretchy fabric is perfect for use for babies of all sizes — and it’s super soft! Bonus? It opens easily at the bottom for easy diaper changes!

Hospital Outfits for Baby.

I don’t allow many visitors at home those first couple of weeks, but I do allow for visitors at the hospital. So a couple of cute hospital outfits for the baby are a necessity. A couple is the bare minimum because it’s basically a guarantee that the baby will blow out of at least one outfit in the hospital.

I got several comfy outfits for this baby girl to lounge around in while we spend our 24-48 hours in the Mommy-Baby ward!

Portable Noise Machine.

Everyone in my family uses a noise machine to help us sleep, and what better way to emulate the noises in the womb for a newborn!? So I’ll be bringing along a portable, battery-powered, white noise machine for the hospital stay, that way I can ensure a semi-smooth transition to naps and nighttime sleep!

I grabbed this one from Target — it’s small enough that I can keep it in a diaper bag and even keep it next to her in the car.

Nursing Pillow.

If you plan on breastfeeding, set yourself up for as much immediate success as possible by bringing a nursing pillow with you to the hospital. Some of my best experiences, postpartum, have been with the help of the lactation consultants in the hospital.

The Milk Boss nursing pillow from Itzy Ritzy is amazing! It’s different from traditional nursing pillows because you don’t have to worry about it falling off of your lap — you loop your arm right through it! How cool is that!?

Other necessities.

Phone charger. Camera. Toiletries (Toothbrush, makeup, hair products, etc). Contacts/solution. Identification/insurance information.

As important as all of this is, here’s what is NOT important to bring in your hospital bag:

Lots of real underwear. You won’t wear it — just stick to the mesh stuff they give you. Just bring one pair to go home in.

Pads. They will have THE best pads in the hospital. In fact? Take some with you.

Diapers/wipes. Again, they will be provided for you.

A water bottle. One of my favorite ‘things’ to bring home from the hospital, aside from my baby of course, is the mega water bottle — oh and the hospital ice! So yes, leave your straw cups and water bottles at home. Take full advantage of the giant cups they give you instead!

Tell me:

What’s on your must-bring list for the hospital?

Disclosure: I received the Ollie World Swaddle and the Milk Boss infant feeding pillow in exchange for an honest review. As always, all thoughts herein are solely my own.

Getting Creative in Cleveland

June 4, 2018 by Rachel 16 Comments

Despite being very pregnant, I’ve set some fairly decent goals for myself over the last year. One of them is to put myself in front of the camera more frequently. It’s hard, I think, as a mom — without a lot of time for herself — to feel ‘put together’ enough to step in front of the camera. Well, I know it’s true for me. Especially since my mid-section has been rapidly growing for the last 9 months.

But in an effort to stay true to my goals, I’ve been putting myself out there. And when an opportunity came up to meet up with fellow blogger babes at Borrow Rentals in downtown Cleveland, I took it! Not only have I been craving some time with my fellow lady bloggers, but being around creatives tends to jumpstart my creative a bit and kick it into high gear!

I’d never been to this spot before, but the pieces were gorgeous! For someone who is hosting an event, I can see why it’s the go-to spot for items like tableware, vintage pieces, and large furniture!

For me, the best part of the day was chatting with ladies I either hadn’t seen in a while, or had never met in real life before. And the gorgeous Katie Logsdon was there to document the whole thing!

I was feeling very, very, uncomfortably pregnant that particular Saturday. And I tried not to let it show, but it was… difficult. It’s a good thing there were snacks and cookies to hold me over!

PS. Aren’t these pastries and cookies from Annie’s Signature Sweet’s the cutest!? Best part is — I found out she holds private baking classes for groups! Her lemon lavender cookies were to die for!

Since I wasn’t feeling particularly awesome, I decided to hop in front of the camera rather quickly. I am not going to lie — I am completely unnatural in that situation where there are loads of other people around and I have to smile for the camera. But Katie put me at ease!

I’m just sad that I jumped out to head home for a nap before getting this group shot!

It was such a fun afternoon, despite being uncomfortably pregnant. And I’m so grateful to the people who made this event happen — especially Katie Logsdon and Borrow Rentals for their services! And thanks to everyone for slowly but surely helping me to get more comfortable in front of the camera, rather than just behind it!

Tips For an Active + Healthy Pregnancy with Ajoyo

May 11, 2018 by Rachel 7 Comments

From the moments you find out you’re expecting a new baby, things change. There is so much to consider — keeping the baby healthy, eating right, exercising, maintaining some normalcy, and working through the stages that come with each trimester. It can all be a bit… overwhelming, to say the least.

And, I’ll admit — my previous pregnancies haven’t exactly been the healthiest. But there’s something about age and wisdom and whatnot that really offers some perspective. So I’ve learned a lot in the span of 6+ years (nearly 3 years of which I have spent pregnant).

Here are my tips for maintaining a healthy balance during your pregnancy:

1. Find ways to move comfortably.

For me, this has made a huge difference this time around. I was basically sedentary during my first two pregnancies. This time around I’m still go, go, going with my kids; but I’m also finding time to workout.

Sometimes this just means going for a walk, with or without the kids; with or without a fun place in mind.

Sometimes it means tackling the household chores instead of sitting down on the couch.

Sometimes that means getting in some stretches before bed.

Just make yourself move comfortably. Period.

Which brings me to my next point…

2. Make exercise fun, not a burden.

Working in a gym has been a huge blessing, that’s for sure. But for the first trimester of this pregnancy, I just couldn’t work out. I could barely hold food down, so workouts weren’t on the agenda. But when the second trimester hit, I knew I had to get back into the swing of things.

And I enrolled myself in a few classes to hold myself accountable.

Between circuit training classes, kickboxing, teaching cycling classes, and finding a passion for zumba, I’ve been keeping a pretty regular exercise routine ever since.

Here’s the thing — it’s definitely NOT pretty. Cycling has gotten a lot more difficult (bending forward at the waist with my belly is starting to hurt a bit), and I’m probably the least coordinated person in my zumba class; but it’s fun and it’s getting me to work out.

And continuing to workout has created a sense of normalcy in my life — when not everything can be controlled, my workouts make me feel… well, not pregnant. Ha!

3. Eat with balance.

My first pregnancy was all ice cream and carbs; my second was whatever I could keep down (mostly toaster strudels); but this third pregnancy is all about finding a healthy balance.

While it would be a complete fabrication to say that I’ve eaten completely healthy this pregnancy, I definitely have eaten intentionally this pregnancy.

What does that mean? Well it means that I’m making myself a smoothie in my Vitamix each morning — it consists of a mix of frozen fruit, frozen vegetables (think kale, spinach, etc), some protein powder, and Ajoyo Almondmilk.

Ajoyo Almondmilk has been a staple in my pregnancy for a few reasons. One of which is because I need to keep my diet as dairy-free as possible. Dairy caused some issues for Remy when I was breastfeeding and I’m trying to avoid that ever becoming an issue this time around by eliminating dairy now.

It also happens to be delicious and sustainable — it’s non-GMO and loaded with nutrients like B12, calcium, and the always needed (especially in pregnancy) protein.

But I haven’t denied myself access to my cravings either. I’ve eaten my fair share of burritos and donuts (#weakness); and I haven’t given up coffee (I. just. can’t.). So intentionally eating has been key.

Want to try Ajoyo? Head here to enter to win a year supply of Ajoyo Almondmilk AND enter my giveaway (using the rafflecopter widget below) to win a month’s worth of Ajoyo Almondmilk right now!

4. Sleep, sleep, sleep.

One of the most important things i’ve done this pregnancy is to listen to my body. There have been many days where I feel like I could fall asleep at 6pm. And, instead of fighting it, I just listen.

Sure, that means I’m missing out on some other stuff (like dinner, lol); but sleep is essential for remaining healthy during pregnancy. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve also given my 5 year old an iPad to watch Netflix in bed next to me so that I could take an occasional afternoon nap.

Ya know why? A healthy mother is a better mother. Fact.

5. Give yourself grace.

I say this a lot. I know. But if there’s one thing I’ve truly come to understand as a mother, it’s that grace is an essential part of my day.

I look at my to-do list and add to it daily. I also scratch a few things off here and there, but I’m always going with the flow. The other day I had two more errands to run after running to the DMV. And guess what? The DMV ran extra long — during naptime (Remy’s and mine).

Instead of forcing us all on extra errands, I gave myself (and my to-do list) a healthy dose of grace. The errands can wait.

This is all to say this — know when you’re doing too much and know when it’s time to let some of it go. And, as Elsa (and Remy) would say — Let. It. Go.

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At the end of the day, pregnancy and motherhood are all about this: SURVIVAL. We are all just doing our best to get by and make it out alive. So cheers, Mama! Now go get some sleep!

Disclosure: I received a supply of Ajoyo Almondmilk at no cost to try and review. As always, all opinions herein are my own.

6 Tips For An Unmedicated Childbirth

May 7, 2018 by Rachel 24 Comments

Just 5 and a half short weeks separate me from meeting Baby #3. And, though I’ve been in disbelief for most of this pregnancy, it’s all starting to get real. Really real.

See, I know that in order to meet this beautiful new baby, I first have to endure childbirth. Beautiful, terrifying, childbirth.

For those who are new around here, you may not know that I prepared myself for an unmedicated childbirth 6 years ago with our son. I took Bradley Method birthing classes (12 weeks of intensive classes) and readied myself accordingly; but after 24-hours of awful labor, I finally gave in to an epidural.

With our daughter, just 2 years ago, I felt much more prepared — having been through labor before, but also knowing things they just can’t teach in childbirth classes — and I labored without medication and delivered Remy just a few hours later.

But I’m still nervous about the prospect of childbirth. There’s always the fear of the unknown — of not knowing how this labor will progress; when this labor will begin; and what state I’ll be in.

So in an effort to remind myself of WHY and HOW to attempt an unmedicated labor and delivery, I’m sharing my tips below!

1. Educate yourself.

I’m going to be honest — I have a passion for self-education. But what fueled that fire even more? Taking a birthing class. As mentioned above, I chose the Bradley Method birthing course because of its focus on natural, unmedicated, birthing education. It was 12-weeks of classes. Twelve very intensive weeks. I learned so much and it opened up my eyes to so much.

So if you’re planning on an unmedicated delivery, I highly suggest taking a Bradley Method course (there are local teachers all over the US). If you can’t take one of these courses, still get the book Husband-Coached Childbirth and give it a read!

2. Have a plan.

… a birth plan, that is. Know exactly what you will and will not do when it’s go-time. My main points to be noted for my nurses and my doctors is that I would prefer (a) to only have a Hep-Lock (or a Saline Lock), which is basically an IV catheter, and (b) having intermittent monitoring versus constant monitoring.

Basically, to state this at the beginning of admittance is saying “Here, nurses + doctors: The IV is ready if needed and I will monitor as you see fit; but that also means that I can get up and labor out of bed, without restrictions.”

Know what you want your restrictions to be and write them down. Yes, write them down, type them out, or have a list on your phone of things you want done. Whatever you do, be prepared to communicate with your team!

3. Have a support system.

My husband sat through every second of those 12 weeks of childbirth classes. It not only helped us to be on the same page with what we wanted our labor and delivery experience to be; but it helped him to become more comfortable with the fact that he would be seeing me in a tremendous amount of pain.

We communicated that the one thing I would need in those moments was unwavering support. I needed him to be strong in the moments where I could not; and I needed him to have my back for my birth plan, in case someone offered to ‘intervene.’ He did both of those things both times. He never once suggested an epidural and never once wavered from seeing me in pain.

Sure, later, he admitted that it was incredibly difficult to watch me and be unable to make the pain stop; but he did exactly what I needed him to do in those moments.

4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

I cannot say this enough. I think the downfall of my first delivery was that I started laboring while dehydrated (turns out iced coffee doesn’t boast excellent hydration…). And, from there, the dehydration sort of snowballed. And the cramping was excruciating because my body just couldn’t keep up.

When I felt the beginning contractions with baby number 2, I immediately kicked up my water intake. I was already drinking lots and lots of water; but I just started drinking even more of it! And to NOT be battling dehydration while laboring was a HUGE benefit. I swear that this is what helped me make my way through contractions.

5. Be prepared.

Make sure your hospital bag is packed — and packed with the items that will help you. I feel immensely more weak when I am nauseous; knowing this, I packed several essential oils that helped ease my nausea. Between lavender and peppermint oil, I would stick a couple of drops in my hands and just sniff them when I got hit with a wave of nausea.

I also found music that was comforting to me. I didn’t know what that music would be before my contractions started; but once I found a few songs that helped me to focus, I played them on repeat. (Unrelated: To this day, those songs make me incredibly emotional, just bringing back thoughts of those final moments before I met her.)

If you have something — a physical object — that brings you comfort, bring it with you. For some, this could be a pillow. For others, this could be a stuffed animal. Really, it could be anything. But if it brings you any comfort, do not hesitate to bring it along.

6. Know that you are capable.

I still think back on both of my experiences and am so proud for what I accomplished — bringing a new life into this world is no easy feat! I know that if I hadn’t been so sick with my first labor, I could have done it without that epidural; but actually doing it the second time around? Was life-changing. I felt so strong and so powerful.

And, although I am nervous about this upcoming labor and delivery (because, pain), I know that I am capable of absolutely tremendous things.