My Second Trimester

As I entered the second trimester I was looking forward to the end of morning sickness. Or so I thought it would end. Boy, was I mistaken! All the troubles from the first trimester carried over. For some silly reason I believed that once the day came when my pregnancy app on my phone said "Welcome to the Second Trimester" all the sickness, exhaustion, and troubles would disappear. News flash!! It doesn't work that way.

However, halfway through, I finally had some relief! The nausea wasn't so bad, I had energy again, and I felt human for the first time in weeks! I did however have to take Prilosec for my awful heartburn. Remember, ask your OB before taking any medications during pregnancy.

Above: Look at the difference!

Above: 26 Weeks!

My monthly appointments continued throughout the second trimester. At each visit they weighed me, took my vitals, listened to the baby's heartbeat, and measured my belly. They also answered any questions I had. They also scheduled my 20 week ultrasound, which was very exciting to my husband and me, because we were very anxious to find out the gender! Some ultrasound technicians can determine the gender earlier, but the standard time is around 18-22 weeks. There are also places that offer 3D and 4D ultrasounds for entertainment purposes, not medical purposes, that you can pay out of pocket for. Most of those places offer gender determination at 15 weeks.

Above: IT'S A BOY!

During the 20 week ultrasound the technician will measure the baby's body thoroughly to make sure he or she is growing properly. 

Most women say their libido increases during the second trimester, so if you feel comfortable, have sex! Have fun with it too, before your belly starts to get in the way! 

A few tips for the second trimester:

• Continue to eat healthy
• Exercise is possible, but talk to your OB about what you are allowed to do. I stuck to just walking.
• Drink plenty of fluids still, although your bladder might not be happy about it. You will be visiting the bathroom more often as the baby grows and puts pressure on your bladder. I found it helpful to not have anything to drink and hour to two hours before bedtime.
• Continue prenatal vitamins
• Start registering for your baby registry if you are having a baby shower. See the links below for some great registry options!
• Most people wait until the second trimester to announce the pregnancy, I couldn't wait past 8 weeks. Each person is different.
• Look into maternity photographers! This was one thing I really wish I did.

A few great websites to create a baby registry at: Babies R Us, Target, Amazon, Walmart

Here are a few shots we got from the 20 week ultrasound!

Thanks for reading!

~Sarah~

My First Trimester

When I first found out about my pregnancy I was only four weeks pregnant! Which is pretty early compared to most people. At first, I had NO symptoms, but that changed very quickly! I had it all. Nausea, vomiting, dehydration, sore breasts, headaches, exhaustion. You name it, I had it! I made a few trips to the maternity unit before the end of my first trimester for fluids because I couldn't eat or drink anything without getting sick! 

I had my first ultrasound at 6 weeks and 1 day, and baby was measuring exactly with my estimated due date. As you can see, the ultrasound just looked like a tiny peanut! I couldn't believe that was what my little baby looked like at 6 weeks! 

My first Ultrasound 6 weeks 1 day

At 8 weeks I had my first prenatal appointment with my obstetrician. They ran blood work, asked a million questions about my health, my husband's health and our family's health and history, and set up all the appointments for the entire pregnancy. 

My second appointment with the doctor was at 12 weeks where they did more blood work and answered any questions I had. They also listened to the baby's heartbeat, which was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard! The baby't heart rate was great, about 145 they told me. The normal range for a fetus is between 120 to 180, so I was very happy to hear that! 

At my 12 week appointment I had actually lost weight, due to all the morning sickness I had. Don't let the name fool you! Morning sickness can be morning, noon, and night sickness! I had it all day!

Andrew and me three months pregnant!

A few tips for getting through the morning sickness and first trimester:

• Eat small frequent meals or snacks throughout the day.
• Drink lots and lots of fluids! I had 8-12 ounces of water an hour. 
• Avoid strong scents. Anything too overwhelming made me sick!
• If you can't control the nausea talk to your OB. There are a lot of options with medication and herbal supplements that may help you. Zofran was my savior! 
• Sleep is very important, try getting 8 hours a night, and if you need to, NAP! I took an afternoon nap daily. 
• If you have heartburn, avoid foods that set it off, keep tums handy, and again talk to your OB. 
• Remember, "eating for two" isn't true. Most women only need an extra 300 calories a day, but consult your OB for what your body needs. 
• Continue to take prenatal vitamins.
• Sign up for weekly emails through different pregnancy websites. A few of my favorites are listed below.
• If you notice vaginal discharge, try using panty liners. They helped me from having to change my panties numerous times a day.

Websites: The Bump What to Expect Baby Center

Hope you all enjoyed!

~Sarah~

Our Journey Getting Pregnant and Tips from Me!

First, let me say, I am in by no means a professional, but I wanted to share tips on what worked for me with getting pregnant. Remember the average woman might take a year to conceive. I was very blessed to conceive on the first try. So if you have been TTC for a year with no success, consult your OBGYN.

When we decided to try I stopped my birth control immediately. After stopping my birth control we waited three months to actively try. In April of 2012 I researched information about ovulation and found a lot of helpful information!

Here are a few steps I took before we started:

1. Stop alcohol consumption.
2. Stop tobacco products.
3. Eat healthier.
4. Begin taking prenatal vitamins.
5. DO NOT STRESS!
6. Track ovulation. If you have a smart phone, install iPeriod! It was a great app for tracking everything! Cycles, moods, food, ovulation.

Once I tracked my ovulation I made a date with my husband! The first day of my cycle was May 10th, the app said I would ovulate between May 22nd and May 29th..

On May 26th we had sex. After sex, I propped my bottom up with two pillows and rested my feet on the headboard. I didn't move for 30 minutes! I just figured gravity must help, right?! I didn't get out of bed for the rest of the night, but I did lower my legs and slept in a normal position. The following days, I did not think too much about it.

On June 5th I woke up and decided to take a test. I didn't have any symptoms, I hadn't missed my period, I just had a gut feeling. Within three minutes two lines appeared! I used the First Response Pregnancy test and would recommend them 100%! I took it 6 days before my missed period and the ads are right! It sure told me!

Now remember, we were very very blessed! Not everyone will get pregnant on the first try, or even 6th try. It can be a long process, but remember to stay calm, don't stress, and HAVE FUN!

In addition to the iPeriod app, you can also purchase ovulation tests at your pharmacy! Others have also said charting you basal body temperature works too. Here is a link for more information on temperature charting: Basal Body Temperature 

Hope some of this information is helpful to you all!

~Sarah~

Who I am and what I will bring to you!

Good morning! Well today I decided to start my own blog. Just a page about mommy life, military life, and the life of a stay at home mom. My plans are to post helpful information about pregnancy, motherhood, household stuff, military life, and much more!

A little bit about me: I am 25 years old. I grew up in Massachusetts, in a small town in the western part of the state. During high school I was involved with sports a lot. Cheerleading, gymnastics, softball were my main focuses. After high school I attended a community college for a few semesters. College just wasn't for me at the time, but I plan to return soon!

Above: Me and my siblings! My sister Jen, my brothers Matt and Seth, and baby me!

Above: My daddy and classy me at my high school graduation! 

I met my husband in 2005 and we became best friends immediately! We married in 2008 and I made the move from MA to Jacksonville, North Carolina to be with Andrew. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune with the United States Marine Corps. We lived in an apartment for a year and decided to purchase our first home. In November of 2011 Andrew received orders for Recruiting Duty, so we rented out our house and moved to Brunswick, Maine!

Above: Me and Andrew on our wedding day

In May of 2012 we decided to try to get pregnant. We were so blessed to get pregnant on our first try! In February of 2013 we welcomed our sweet baby boy Jacob Andrew into the world!

Above: Me at 39 weeks pregnant!

Well, Jacob is now three weeks old and I couldn't be happier in my life! I have an amazing husband, a beautiful baby boy, and two silly boxers named Gunner and Tank to fill my life with love and happiness!

Above: Jacob a week old!

Above: Tank (fawn) and Gunner (reverse brindle)

I hope you all enjoy this blog and the posts I plan to share with you!

~Sarah~