Pregnancy

Uncategorized

Do What You Love…

Humble Mama

Let those around you know that you love them. If 2022 has taught me anything, it is that tomorrow is never promised. 

February 2022 was by far the scariest month. I experienced one of the darkest moments in my life. Since then, I had been struggling with being able to express myself. I felt shut down and unable to release my emotional, physical, and mental pain. I suffered an ectopic pregnancy (unknowingly) and was rushed to the hospital. I remember calling my husband from another room because I was in such agony. I couldn’t lay down, I couldn’t sit, I could walk, I just couldn’t move. Having had a high-risk pregnancy previously, we were both nervous already. I popped some Tylenol and some Pepcid (I thought what I was experiencing was epigastric pain).. little did I know one of my fallopian tubes ruptured, and I was bleeding internally. Upon admission at the hospital, they performed an ultrasound where we found out I needed emergency surgery to remove my fallopian tube and a transfusion for all the blood loss. 

I remembered my thoughts and prayers going into the surgery were to be given another chance. To be able to watch both of my children grow, to be able to grow old with my husband and celebrate his birthday, it was only 3 days away at the time. I’m so very grateful for everyone the doctors, the nurses, God, the universe, my guardian angels, and most of all, my husband, Kareem.

I don’t think Kareem knows just how much he means to me and how he’s carried me and uplifted me in ways I don’t think I can ever repay. I was in a really dark place, but through it all, I was calm.. calm because having him by my side gave me the strength to get through anything and hopefulness that everything would turn out okay… he and our children are the light of my life. Fast forward to just 3 weeks later, and we closed on our first home. Five months later, I graduated with my BA degree (something I’ve been working on for several years with many obstacles in the way. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without his encouragement).

A whirlwind of emotions and events, but through it, my husband has been by my side. I’m very grateful for him and for the constant love and support he pours into me, our relationship, our family, and our home. If you’re reading this (lol, I’m sure you are), Thank you from the depths of my heart. I love you to infinity!

Life is short; things can change in a blink of an eye. Do what you love & let those around you know you love them. 

Sending an abundance of love, light & positive vibes! 

Uncategorized

New Year- New Vibes?

Humble Mama

New Year- New You- Err?! Not so much- well, not yet at least …Happy New Year! I know I’m kind of late. Here we are, well into the second week of 2021, and it just feels like an extension of 2020!  While I didn’t expect things to miraculously change from day to night, I certainly felt a lack of motivation and a little defeated. I don’t know. I guess I was hoping to be more uplifted and inspired, but I know this happens, and we need to learn to trust the process.

Lately, I’ve felt stuck. You know that feeling like you can’t move forward, can’t move back, but you’re just going through the notions? That’s where I was. I couldn’t even get myself to write. Nonetheless, I made it. I’m here!

I know sometimes the universe has its way of making you slow down to experience life; otherwise, you might miss it. And that’s precisely what this was. Every day despite how I woke up feeling, I would try and express my gratitude by thinking of things I was grateful for (big and small), and ultimately that made the difference between the day I was about to have and the kind of day I wanted to have.

During the last month, I celebrated my son’s first birthday. Though it wasn’t a big traditional birthday party where all of our family and friends would have attended. We held a small gathering (following guidelines, of course) of our closest family to celebrate our boy & celebrate the journey that is parenthood and raising children. After all, It does take a village, and it’s important to celebrate those that are apart of that village.

I’m so overly grateful to have had the year we’ve had (appreciating the good and bad that came with it). Though it came with many ups and downs, I’m still very thankful to be here and to be able to experience this life with my family and loved ones.

I hope that despite the stressful start to 2021, we’re all able to move forward in a more progressive, powerful, & positive way.  My hopes are for each of us to overcome our fears and sorrows, to continue to heal, learn, and outgrow our past experiences for a happier, healthier tomorrow.

Sending you all some much-needed love, light & positive vibes always!

Humble-Mama!

Postpartum

Postpartum Weight Loss Journey

Humble Mama

Gaining weight during pregnancy is normal. Depending on your pre-baby weight and health, your doctor might ask you to keep a close eye on your weight gain. After giving birth, it feels like a race to get your weight back down. Talk about an emotional roller coaster. My weight loss journey has been anything but easy.

My lifelong relationship with food feels like the ultimate struggle! Lose 5lbs, gain 7lb, lose 19lb, plateau for a few months, then gain it all back! It has been this way all my life, but I have yet to give up.

Yes, it’s frustrating and annoying. Frustrating because I know I can do this, yet I beat myself up for making “not so great choices.” I know they say not to be so hard on yourself and that one bad choice doesn’t result in an abundant weight gain. But what will put you there is continuing to make those poor choices or giving up altogether.

It’s time to do better and keep it consistent!

It’s easy to fall off track and say that you’ll start up again tomorrow or the week after, but you can make a choice to start up again, right now. I know I am.

I’m tired of feeling guilty for not losing a certain amount of weight post-partum or achieving a certain body image right after. It feels like there is so much pressure to look a certain way after birth.

Some women are more fortunate than others (and honestly, that is absolutely great for them, you go, Mamas!) being able to “snap back” almost immediately. But I know for other mamas like myself, it takes a lot more time, and that’s okay. There are no rules in this journey.

It took 9 months to grow & bring your little one into this world. I’m sure it’s more than okay to take a little longer than to a3,6, or even 9 months to achieve your pre-pregnancy weight or post-pregnancy goals. 

Be patient with yourself. Love yourself. After all, you created a tiny little miracle whose smile makes it all worth it. We got this, Humble Mamas!

Sending you love light & positive vibes! 

Baby

How Do You Know Your Baby Is Getting Enough Milk?

Humble Mama

You just finished an intense few hours of labor. You’re looking down at your sweet little bundle of joy. You bond during skin to skin, and your little one attempts to latch on, and finally, the moment comes, and it’s feeding time! 

It didn’t quite work out this way with my first; we had a lot of trouble latching, and when she did latch on, I wasn’t producing enough. We opted to supplement with formula. Since she was born prematurely, her sugar was low, and was taken to the nursery, where they fed her formula to increase her blood sugar.

With my second, everything was different. He latched on and would spend about 10-15 minutes at each breast. I was concerned because there’s no telling how many ounces they’re taking in when you breastfeed, and I didn’t know if he was getting anything out. I mean, it seemed like it since his mouth was moist, I could feel him swallowing, but at his first doctor’s visit, I would surely find out he was not getting enough milk.

I felt like something was wrong, I tried to ignore it since the nurses, lactation consultant, and doctors all reassured me that my son was getting sufficient milk and to trust the process. There is no real way to know exactly how much they are drinking. The more my baby would latch on, the more milk I would be producing.

Day 3 comes around, and my baby is constantly crying. He would latch on every other hour for several minutes, 20-30 minutes at times on each breast every other hour (this is already not a good sign). I was exhausted, sleep-deprived, and on the verge of a mental breakdown. I didn’t know what to do. I was still waiting on a breast pump, provided by my insurance, but due to the Christmas holiday, doctors and other staff who help fulfill these orders faster were out of the office or on vacation.

Lucky for me, we had my son’s first doctor’s visit the very next day. Here is where I beat myself up for what they are about to tell me. “Your son was born at 8lb 6oz. He is now 7lb 4oz, he’s lost a significant amount of weight since delivery” (over a pound to be exact). His doctor explained that a newborn needing to feed every hour for that length of time is not getting enough milk. He was practically burning off more energy than anything else.

I felt guilty. Guilty for not going with my instinct. For not supplementing with formula from the beginning and for not doing the proper research. We started supplementing with formula shortly after. His doctor suggested that I meet with a lactation consultant that might be able to help provide me with more information and tips.

Back to the hospital, I go, and guess what? The whole time I could have borrowed a hospital grade breast pump to help pump out milk and increase my milk supply. Where was this information after delivery? The truth is, they do not tell you, but they provide you with a packet of information. It is up to you to go through this information and keep yourself informed even after having gone through hours of labor and recovery.

While I waited for my insurance to ship out my breast pump, I rented the hospital grade pump for about a month. Every 4 days, I would follow up with the pediatrician to make sure my son was on track with his weight gain, and before I knew it, he was 6 oz. over his birth weight. To ensure that his weight loss was not attributed to a health issue, his doctors monitored his weight for the first two months.

Eventually, I ended my breastfeeding journey at 4 months (my milk supply never reached more than 4-6-oz a day). I tried lactation cookies, teas, heating pads, pumping every 2-3 hours. It was exhausting, and by then, he was already drinking about 24 oz. a day; I supplemented with mostly formula.

Some general tips if you’re a new mama are if you don’t own or have access to a breast pump, you can always rent a hospital-grade breast pump for the hospital or a distributor. You can search them online, and you can rent them weekly if that works for you.

Another option is supplementing with formula. You can have them latch on for 10-15 minutes at each breast and then supplement with formula. No one is going to judge you for this so, don’t feel guilty. There are plenty of mamas out there who do this. In a perfect world, we would all be able to solely breastfeed our babies, but that’s not realistic. The journey is different for every mama.

If you are having or had a similar experience, do not be so hard on yourself. Trust your instincts and if you think something is wrong, call your doctor to seek some advice. You’ll be so glad you went with your instincts!

Sending you love, light, & positive vibes!

pregnancy

Thoughts While on Bedrest

Humble Mama

Being stuck in a bed for weeks without the freedom to move around really puts a damper on things. I remember feeling so much anxiety and at times so much sadness for not being able to spend my time with my family. For missing out on Halloween with my 5-year-old. For not being able to be by my husband’s side at night…

I thought maybe if I had done things differently. If I would have stayed off my feet more and did less, would I have gotten to this point of preterm labor anyway?

There was only so much I could do from the hospital bed at 30 weeks. I cried. I prayed. And I meditated. Every morning I would make it a point (and I still do) to express my gratitude for the blessings I’ve been given. I know that things could always be worse no matter what, and I was in the best place possible for my baby and me.

Whenever my anxieties would start to creep in, I would hold on to my amethyst and practice some breathing techniques that I had learned along the way through guided meditations.

Some days when I couldn’t quiet down my thoughts and concentrate on my breathing, I would listen to uplifting music. If that didn’t work, I would watch something funny, and when all else failed, I wrote. I wrote to myself. I wrote to my husband, or I would call my family.

They surrounded me with so much love, prayers, and strength that I honestly can’t ever repay them but spread that same love, prayer, and strength to those that might be needing it.

I know that it doesn’t always work out this way for every Mama, but regardless of the outcome, I am a firm believer that the universe has a plan for you. Often times, it’s so much better than what you had envisioned in your mind. It is important to keep an open mind and an open heart. Whatever you are going through today, know that it shall pass. There are even more beautiful things waiting for you out there! Stay strong, my Humble Mamas.

Sending you tons of love, light & positive vibes!

Postpartum

What to Expect Within the First Few Hours After Delivery

Humble Mama

Nothing can compare to the feeling of absolute bliss (given that all goes well) once your little bundle of joy is snuggled up in your arms. With both my babies I remember the quietness and peacefulness of just finally having them in my arms and caring for them. I remember staring, both times, in amazement.

Newborn Assessments

Immediately after giving birth they place the baby in your arms for a brief moment before cutting the umbilical cord, then they are taken to be cleaned up, assessed, and weighed. (In the meantime, don’t think you’re done. You still have to push out the placenta. The contractions are milder and can take anywhere from 15-20 minutes. Your doctor then will stitch you up, if you had any tears). The first assessment your newborn undergoes is known as the Apgar score. They are monitored for heart, respiratory rates, muscle tone, reflexes, and color at 1 minute, and 5 minutes after birth. With my first, baby, they whisked her away to the nursery for additional testing and put in an incubator since she was born at 35 weeks, making her a preemie. My second pregnancy was completely different, my son was born at 38.5 weeks. He wasn’t taken to the nursery till much later about 2-3 hours after bonding.

Bonding

Once your little one has been assessed, cleaned up, and weighed you get to bond by placing your baby on your body. The technique is called skin-to-skin. If you, like me, had a pregnancy tracker app, you probably read all about skin to skin and the benefits that are associated with it. There is just something magical about having this tiny being laying on your chest.

Breastfeeding

The bonding often leads to baby led initiation of breastfeeding. Here is where your baby might begin breastfeeding or trying to latch on. For me, the second time around happened more naturally. Because my daughter was whisked away for testing, I wasn’t able to bond with her for an hour. I don’t know if that played a role in her not latching but we still did skin-to-skin a few hours after her birth.

Refueling

Now after 2-3 hours, its time to refuel! This is when I was finally able to have a drink of water and have a snack. Because I delivered both my babies in the afternoon, my first meal of the day was dinner. I’m not sure if all the work (blood, sweat, and tears) of pushing out a baby makes your first meal or sip of water taste like the best thing ever, but seriously. It was heaven. Make sure you eat well. Get your daily servings of fruits veggies protein and healthy fats to help with your recovery and even with your breastfeeding journey, if that is what you decide.

Bathroom Break

Now at the 5-6 hour mark, If you had an epidural, it takes some time for you to get the feeling back in your legs and be able to get up and go to the bathroom. Your nurse will help get you to and back, from the bathroom. This is also when they whisk the baby to the nursery. Here is where you’ll get cleaned up, as best as possible. Your flow typically feels and looks like a very heavy period. I suggest having some items readily accessible for this process. I used Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle, to keep stitches dry and clean. The brand Frida Mom, also has a kit that came in pretty handy but the hospital can also provide you with a peri bottle, pads and Dermoplast which is a pain relieving spray that will work wonders for the soreness/pain post delivery.

Recovery

After you leave labor and delivery and are taken to the maternity ward with your new bundle of joy, your recovery begins! For me the first 24-48 hours were painful. Especially during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding helps your uterus contract and helps reduce post delivery blood loss. I took Motrin or Tylenol every 4-6 hours for the first 24 hours to help with the pain. Make sure you still take your prenatal vitamins, to help get some nutrients your body still needs. Eat well and take care of yourself. Remember, you can’t take care of another being without taking care of you first. I know once you leave the hospital, it can be hectic, but this is what family is for. This is what your spouse is for. If you find yourself overwhelmed and needing help, don’t be afraid to reach out to a trusted friend. This is all part of the journey. It is different for every mama, so don’t compare yourself. Just know that you can get through it. You got this humble mama!

Postpartum

5 Things I Wish I Knew In Advance About Postpartum

Humble Mama

Having a baby is really such a beautiful thing. Bringing life to this earth is just such an inexplicable feeling to describe. You are overjoyed, relieved, excited, yet happy, scared, and anxious all at the same time. So many things going through your mind. The truth is so many powerful emotions can even result and be a part of depression.

Post-Partum Depression

It’s real. You hear about it, and you think it won’t be you but the reality is many women often experience postpartum depression after delivering their baby. Though I did not experience a severe form of postpartum depression, I certainly have dealt and currently still dealing with anxiety. If you are experiencing this, or know someone who is, I encourage you to seek help. There is support out there. If you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to your partner, a family member, or a friend to express how you’ve been feeling. Reach out and seek help at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline. Before you can take care of anyone else, you need to ensure that you can take care of you. YOU matter Mama!

You will have an extremely heavy period

I have no idea if my first postpartum period was just 100 times heavier than after my first pregnancy however, I will tell you this, it was intense. I mean I expected it to be heavy but, I honestly felt like my body was angry for not having a period in over a year. Because I was caught off guard, I did not have adequate protection with me. I ended up picking up some of the post-partum disposable underwear, Frida MOM Disposable Postpartum Underwear – that I used postpartum. This was about 4 months post-partum around the time I stopped my breast feeding journey.

Pelvic pain

So, you finally gave birth to your sweet little bundle of joy, but… wait… why are you still feeling so much pain in your pelvis? If like me, you still experience some pelvic pain after labor and delivery I was told it is normal. If the problem persists then you might want to check with your doctor. According to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 20% of women experience PPGP/SI joint pain, 75% of the time, the pelvic pain is a result of having pelvic floor dysfunction, but this can only be diagnosed through a history of physical examination and tests.

Hair loss

SO MUCH HAIR LOSS! My goodness, if you are lucky, you will not experience it as bad as I did. However, all I remember is washing my hair and thinking I definitely have a bald spot. I kept asking my husband if I was bald because I was in disbelief of what had just occurred. When I say that I saw a ball of hair that could probably make up a wig; was about the amount of hair I would lose on a wash day, I am not kidding. As always, I went to my sister-in-law for help (she is a hair expert/Mama/ guru/ my go to for everything you name it! Love you! all 3 of you to be exact lol xo!) She suggested using a garlic shampoo and conditioning treatment. I could not believe I had forgotten all about this product, it is one of my favorites. I also used collagen hair vitamins to help with hair health and I have to say I have seen significant improvement (3 months in). If you are going through the same, don’t be hard on yourself! Postpartum hair loss is normal and temporary, our bodies are still going through changes. Eventually your hair growth cycle will go back to normal within 6-12 months postpartum. I am currently at 10 months postpartum and starting to see some normalcy.

Breastfeeding

Okay… I had a really hard time with this. As much as I wanted this to be a beautiful long journey, I intended it to be that way, it just did not work out for me in either pregnancy. With my first pregnancy, I delivered pre-term. I had my daughter at 35 weeks, I don’t know if this had anything to do with it, but my milk supply did not come in until day 3 when we were leaving the hospital and she would just not latch on. I didn’t have much support at the hospital to begin with (there wasn’t a lactation consultant in that weekend, and some of the nurses weren’t helpful at all, they made me feel like I was just doing everything wrong). My second experience was much better in the hospital, but despite the help I received from the lactation consultant, my milk supply just was not where it needed to be. My son was already at 3-4oz per bottle and I was pumping between 1-2oz every 4 hours. I tried so many different things; lactation cookies, teas, pumping more often, using a hospital grade pump (this really helped a lot) but it just wasn’t enough, and it was not working for me. Moral of the story is, breastfeeding is not for every mama.

I ended my journey at about the 4-month mark. Ultimately the lesson learned is, “fed is best!” Whether you can offer your baby breast milk or formula, if your baby is being fed and is healthy, that is all that matters! So, if you’re having a hard time, know that you’re not alone. This is all a part of being a mama, just know that you got this!  

pregnancy

Tips for Dealing with Gestational Diabetes While on Bed-rest

Humble Mama

All too often, people say that pregnancy should be a beautiful time in a woman’s life. While this is true for some (do not get me wrong, I was ecstatic knowing my baby boy would be making his debut in due time), for many others like me, it was anything but a walk in the park, especially during my second pregnancy. 

I did not experience any complications other than the normal achiness, fatigue, and nausea until my water broke at 35 weeks. Lucky for my daughter and me, there are fewer risks associated with preterm labor when delivering at 35 weeks, but we were still worried. We remained optimistic and it worked out. However, with my second pregnancy, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 28 weeks.

Gestational diabetes is a complication that occurs when hormones from the placenta block insulin and prevent the body from regulating the increased blood sugars during pregnancy. “About 7-10 women get diagnosed with gestational diabetes”, according to the March of Dimes.

Upon being diagnosed with GDM, I was devastated. It was hard not to blame myself and feel guilty over something I thought I could control. Despite making healthier choices, my blood sugar levels were too high. I was prescribed insulin medications to control my blood sugar. I had to monitor my blood sugar levels in the morning after fasting overnight (within the first few minutes of waking up) and then again a few more times after every meal. I suggest journaling everything from the dose of insulin administered to you’re your levels after each test. At the end of the week, I would meet with my perinatologist (high-risk doctor specializing in maternal-fetal medicine) to review my results and stay on track. 

As some of you may know, before learning how to give myself the insulin injections, I was admitted to the hospital at 30 weeks and put on bed rest for the risk of preterm labor (link to my story here). While at the hospital, I learned how to administer the insulin injections to myself since I was no longer at risk for delivering my baby before 34 weeks. I also met with a board-certified food and nutrition expert to help me figure out a plan once I transitioned from bed rest in the hospital to bed rest at home.

Here is my schedule and what worked for me: 

I was nervous about transitioning from the hospital to my being at home on bed rest. At the hospital I had around the clock monitoring of my blood sugar, insulin injections, blood sugar levels, and I would order my meals from a modified menu. I am not a professional or a doctor, but I experienced GDM. Here’s what worked for me.

Spreading Out Meals & Sticking to a Daily Schedule

Every day at or around the same time I would eat my meals. Eating at the same time every day helped keep my blood sugar numbers in range. The nurses who took care of me advised me to eat around the exact times daily to avoid a spike in my blood sugar levels. Here’s what I ate and my daily schedule.

6:30 am Monitor blood sugar after fasting overnight 
8:00 am Insulin & Breakfast Breakfast – -1 slice whole-wheat toast 1 15g starch  -1 scrambled egg with or w/o cheese, 2 turkey sausage or beef links (protein)  -small tea or coffee (optional)  You can opt for a sugar-free juice or skim milk.
10:00 amTrack blood sugar (2hrs. after breakfast) 
11:15 Snack Snack-1 cup of mixed fruit or Small apple Or tbs of nut butter with 6 saltine crackers  
12:45-1:15pm Insulin /Lunch12:50 pm – lunch; a turkey and cheese sandwich on whole wheat or turkey burger on whole wheat with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions (pickles on the side). Most of the time I would have a side of salad or mixed fruit
2:45 pm Track blood sugar (2hrs after lunch). 
4:00pm Snack (optional) I would skip this and have a snack after my nightly insulin of NPH-1 slice of whole-wheat bread Or 2oz. cheese Or Grapes or mixed fruit
6:00pm- 6:45pm Insulin/DinnerTurkey Breast with a side of mashed potatoes and veggies. Salad, or mixed fruit, or a sugar-free juice.
8:30 pmTrack blood sugar (2hrs. after dinner) 
9:45 pmLast dose of insulin for the day (NPH) 
10:00-10:15pmNighttime Snack (optional/ I swapped for the 4 pm snack)I would have 1 piece of fruit or cereal like cheerios or rice crispy with 1 cup of skim milk.
This is intended as an example only.

What carbs can I eat, is everything off-limits? (Complex Carbs)

So, cutting out all carbs during pregnancy is not recommended, but I did reduce them significantly. You do not have to eat what I ate; there are so many other options; you can swap out the meals with your preference; as long as you stay within the 30g -35g range for each meal and snack, you will get through this! Some of these whole grains are packed with fiber alongside some fruits and veggies. Some friendly GDM carbs that you can combine with proteins or fruits and veggies that you can have on the side are:

  • Brown Rice
  • Quinoa
  • Whole Wheat Bread
  • Whole Wheat Pasta
  • Veggies; Kale, Spinach, green beans, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms
  • Fruits; apples, plums, grapes, oranges

Lean Meats & Proteins

As you can tell, my options were a bit limited at the hospital, but once I transitioned to bed rest at home, I could change up my proteins. Below is a list of proteins you can incorporate into your GDM diet (pretty much your average protein options):

  • -Full fat cheese, yogurt
  • -Lean beef, chicken, turkey

Healthy Fats

Another thing I learned when I was diagnosed with GDM was that the consumption of proteins and fats helps slow down the absorption of carbs into your blood. Not only do they help manage gestational diabetes, but they improve heart health. Some healthy fats that I opted for are:

  • Avocados
  • Nut-butters with no added sugar
  • Salmon
  • Dark chocolate (there are sugar-free options out there like ChocZero)
  • Eggs

Again, these are just a few tips that really came in handy and helped keep my blood sugar at a normal range. If you think or know you’re at risk for developing gestational diabetes, check with your obstetrician. It could be life-saving, getting diagnosed early, and keeping mama and baby safe.

pregnancy

How I Survived My Second Pregnancy on Bed-rest & the Products That Came in Handy

Humble Mama

OMG! We did it again?! Is this really happening? were my immediate thoughts after finding out we were pregnant with our second little babe.

My husband and I were elated. Granted, we were nervous, having had a miscarriage the year prior, but (that is a story for a different time) nonetheless, we were optimistic and positive despite the series of events that were about to take place. The last thing on my mind was that I would end up on bed rest, let alone be in the hospital for 4 weeks!

Yea… My thoughts exactly.

The initial plan I envisioned was to stay healthy and active through the pregnancy. I would not say I was less active with my first, but I did go into preterm labor at around 35 weeks. This time around, I had a few extra pounds that I had been trying to lose for my wedding and had recently started a ketogenetic lifestyle. At 8 weeks, my doctor recommended that I seek a Perinatologist (a high-risk obstetrician specializing in maternal-fetal medicine) to start off on weekly progesterone injections that would help prevent preterm labor beginning at 18 weeks.

I ended up having to go to the emergency room at around 12 weeks since I experienced bleeding and the passing of a blot clot. Thankfully after some testing and an ultrasound, they found my baby and his heartbeat. I never felt more relieved. The doctor’s recommended that I refrain from my usual activities such as limit my walking, work duties, house chores, to protect both me and my baby.

What did this mean exactly? Absolutely NO heavy lifting and “light duties “assigned at work. “Let your husband take care of it” was the hardest piece of advice to follow since he was doing so much for our family already. But I followed the doc’s orders and at 18 weeks I started my weekly injections, along with bi-weekly ultrasounds and measurements.

Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next… fast forward to 30 weeks, and at my bi-weekly appointment, the ultrasound tech noticed my cervical length had shortened significantly. I spoke with my obstetrician and was instructed to go to the hospital, directly to labor and delivery to monitor my contractions (apparently, I was going into labor without any pain, and the only indicators being my cervical length and 2cm dilation). I was transported to another hospital more suited to handle preemie’s born before 34 weeks (also, my high-risk doctor worked at this hospital and requested my transfer).

I spent two days in labor and delivery before being moved to the maternity ward, where I met the wonderful nurses & doctors that took care of me for 4 weeks. So, here I am, 30 weeks pregnant on restricted bed rest in the hospital. It took some serious work and self-motivation every single day! I would not have found the strength to go on without the support of my husband, my family, and my best friend. Despite being scared to my core and hearing the doctors and nurses tell me the baby was coming, and I would not be leaving the hospital until I gave birth, I remained positive and optimistic. Optimistic that if I had our baby right then and there, things would be exactly how they were meant to be.

Being at the hospital on bed rest means no standing, showering, or walking. No walking meant, not even to the bathroom! What was I going to do? Having to use a bedpan, no showering or washing your hair or brushing your teeth at a sink, really played a number on me. This puts things into a different perspective. Luckily, I had my hospital bag semi packed, and I asked my dear husband to pick up a few things that made a living at the hospital for 5 weeks bearable.

Hygiene Products

First up, bath wipes! I did not even know these were a thing, but after asking at the hospital and some research, I came across Sage bath wipes. These came in clutch when I wanted to wash up in the morning. The nurses would bring me a basin with warm water and a towel. I would use the wipes to freshen up, rinse off with warm water, any brand shower gel (I used Dove moisturizing body wash), and a washcloth.

Next, travel size items like deodorant, toothpaste, and mouth wash. I would also use facial cleansing sheets to keep my face refreshed; I liked using Burt’s bees facial towelettes. The next item on the list would be an intensive body and face moisturizer; the brand I used was Cetaphil. Finally, to keep my lips moisturized, I used Vaseline lip therapy; it is my absolute fav! All these items helped minimize some of the discomforts I was experiencing.

For my hair, I used SheaMoisture coconut oil leave-in conditioner and a spray bottle with water, and a comb, to get my knots out. I kept my hair tidy by twisting it, or you can braid it, so it does not get too tangled since you are in bed all day. Because I had to use the bedpan and was on strict bed rest, I asked for a hand-sanitizer. It’s always good to have some antibacterial hand sanitizer, not that it beats washing your hands, but it got the job done in the meantime. 

Snacks

Pink Stork tea not only does tea have calming and relaxing effects, this one just so happens to help with bowel movements since I was significantly less active, so were my bowels (I know TMI, ha-ha.) Snacks to keep nearby like popcorn, trail mix, water, and fruit when hunger strikes and no one is home. Because I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I had a few sugar free treats like Choc-Zero (so good even when you’re not watching your sugar intake!).

Aromatherapy

Bed rest not only puts a strain on your body physically but mentally; being away from my family and friends only made it easier for some depression to creep in. I tried to find ways to keep myself calm and just take my mind off my current reality. Some feel-good products that helped ease some of my stress were diffusers with some essential oils to help calm any anxieties. Having a Himalayan salt lamp next to me also helped to keep me in my element. You will be surprised at its soothing effects; there are so many different kinds out there. You can check them out on Amazon.com

Before I knew it, I made it to 34 weeks! My high-risk doctor gave me the okay to transition to bed rest at home (this was one of the happiest moments for me in the 3rd trimester). By this point, any hospital would be okay for me to deliver our baby safely, so home I went!

Support

My family often visited, every other day, I would say. My husband would bring our daughter after school almost every day, and my best friend would pop in every now and then. I must admit that without my husband and family’s support, I wouldn’t have been able to keep myself as positive and calm as I did. It wasn’t always a happy day, I had tough moments, but I did a lot of reading, meditating, and getting to know the wonderful nurses that took such good care of me. I am forever grateful!

I hope this post helps another mama or mama-to-be, that may be experiencing the same or have been told they need to go on bed rest. I’m here to tell you to remain positive. You can get through this! Have hope, stay focused, and know that you got this humble mama!