Pregnancy Update

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27 weeks bumpie

Unsurprisingly, I haven’t been the best at giving updates on this pregnancy. In general, I have found it better overall than the last. I have felt like myself, which is a huge relief. That was my least favorite part of the last round. That being said, the last time, I was very focused on all things pregnancy: I read everything, tracked every little detail, plotted all aspects of the nursery. This time, I haven’t had the capacity to embrace it the same way. I found myself wanting to rush through the pregnancy part of things and get to the end. It’s a mix of feeling out of my body (again...), when I kinda feel like I just went through it. The first time I was enamored with all of the changes. The second time, focusing on my baby who is earthbound already, has distracted me from the one growing inside. That being said, I recognized that was happening a few months ago, and felt called to get more in touch with my own divine feminine and cherish this time more. I’ve been focusing on my meditation, which helps me slow down and be more present. Who knows if I will have the privilege to do this again (whether we can, or want to?)? This is one of the most challenging, magnificent things I will ever do in my lifetime. I’m trying to slow down and appreciate the time with baby girl while she’s still stuck with me! Based on her daily kick activity, I think she’s going to have a personality like her dad– very into ALL of the activities!!!

The practicalities

Glucose update:

I realize I never really gave an update on my glucose results. Well, that’s because I didn’t get them back for like 3 weeks! The lab had some type of trouble. I kept following up, but it just took a while! Thank goodness, I passed with flying colors (kinda would’ve been a problem if I had gestational diabetes… but won’t dwell on that scenario!). I found out right before my phone was dropped in the ocean, thankfully. Otherwise, it would’ve been a month before I found out!

Symptoms:

Migraines - this is new for me. Headaches that turn into sensitivity to light and sound. I don’t get them every day but have definitely been a part of the pregnancy. Doc advised having a bit of caffeine with my water and tylenol, but they mostly happened at night, so never really tried it. I would just go to bed early with a mask over my eyes and hydrate. They were most common in the second tri, but have had them in all 3 trimesters!

Acne - Or is it maskne? I’m just getting random pimples on my face, not into it. This is not something usual for me, so gotta be the hormones or the masks, or both.

Red dots - I have these red dots on my chest, which my doc thinks are from all the extra estrogen flowing through my bod. She’s ran a blood test to be sure it’s wasn’t something with my platelets, just to be sure. Just a weird nuisance.

Sweets craving - very strong this time. I have wanted all of the sugar. Chocolate. Ice cream. I’m a walking stereotype. Last time, my cravings were more acid-focused. I still have serious lemonade cravings though (yes, I know, more sugar!).

Acid reflux - woof. It’s back, and I think worse than last time. Maybe baby girl has more hair? My papaya enzyme chewables do help though, and I don’t stress about having too many Tums, which can apparently be an issue.

Lower back pain - As the belly grows, so does the lower back pain. It’s not like a shooting pain (don’t worry it’s not early labor or anything!), just a general ache. I started using this amazing Lavender sleepy lotion on my back before bed, and it actually really helps! (Full disclosure: they sent it to me to try! But if I run out, I will def buy for myself!)

Cramping - The cramps around the belly are getting real! They started sometime around the 30-week mark, and have progressively gotten worse. Maybe Braxton Hicks? Hard to say, but I definitely feel like we are approaching go-time!

31 Weeks in AZ on my “weaning trip” with my mama

Other random thoughts:

• Exercise difference - With my pregnancy with James, working out seemed impossible. I felt like a sloth. My energy levels were just not up to it. I forced myself occasionally, but was NOT into it. This time in the first and second trimesters I was actually craving cardio, which I found very surprising! We finally got our “Feloton” set up in Feb and that helped a lot. It really helped me feel good. In the third tri, I have been struggling with the motivation to get on it.

• Recently, everything seems hard again. Hard to put on shoes. Hard to get up. Back pain coming back. An occasional round of lightning crotch (IYKYK). It’s just the struggle that comes with a massive ball sitting in your middle. I just didn’t remember it happening this soon with the last pregnancy, but it probably did.

• Baby girl is incredibly active. Kicking all of the time in the weirdest positions, so I don’t think she is head down yet. But grateful that I don’t have to worry about counting kicks because it would literally take my entire day.

• I’ve started thinking about labor again. Wah. I watched Laura Clery’s whole birth series and I’m shook remembering giving birth without medication! So still torn on the whole epidural thing. You can read all about the birth of sweet baby James here, which in general, I feel good about BUT, in retrospect, was actually quite scary towards the end! Recently, I just learned about hypnobirthing (3 mentions, 3 days in a row, by different places and sources– I’m taking it as a sign!). I think I’m going to take an online class in it–will share when I have an update on it.

• And along the lines of labor, my thoughts are turning to pack the hospital bag, and gifts for L&D nursing staff. We dropped things off last time on our way out the door last time, and I always felt bad that I hadn’t known if the nurses (who were incredible during my delivery) even received them. This time I would like to have them ready to go in advance.

The GEAR

Prepping for baby girl has been more of shopping for cute little girl outfits, and thinking through what I would like to do differently. With James he slept in our Design Dua bassinet next to the bed for the first three months, then we co-slept with him in the bed, then in a sidecar. Then he moved to his own bed for falling asleep and he would come to our bed in the middle of the night, and now he just sleeps straight through! I loved co-sleeping with him, but I’m worried about doing it all over again. So many X factors (what if we can’t breastfeed? what if she prefers sleeping solo? what if James gets jealous?), so I want to be prepared.

• I am thinking about getting the Owlet to track her vitals, so I’ll feel more comfortable putting her in another room sooner. Last time, I was convinced it would make me an obsessive crazy person, but this time, I honestly don’t think I have the capacity to turn that way, so could just be good peace of mind. But also, if we end up co-sleeping, seems like a waste. So still up in the air on it.

• I’ve been considering renting the SNOO bassinet. People who love it, swear by it. But I’ve heard a few stories of people who regretted getting it because they didn’t want to use it the full way it was intended. I’m not quite sold yet. Holler at me with your reviews.

• I need a new monitor that works well for two, and preferably one that remembers wifi networks for when we are bopping around visiting grandparents (seems like such a small thing, but has been the bane of my existence). I haven’t decided on one yet, but will share when I have an update.

• We have the Uppababy Cruz stroller (which doesn’t convert to a two-seater, unlike the Vista) because I thought the spacing was probably going to be further apart for the kiddos, so I wanted something more lightweight. Instead of upgrading to the Vista– I think we are going to go with the Veer Wagon. I’m obsessed with its all-terrain ability and that we will be able to use it for years to come. I think James is going to go nuts for it, and it has car seat attachments for baby girl early on.

• I have the Spectra S1 breast pump, which worked great for me with James. I went with that one vs the S2 (There was an upgrade fee- S2 was free with insurance) because of it’s rechargeable battery– and I’m so glad I did. Game changer. This time around, I am getting the Baby Buddha, since the parts are compatible with the Spectra, and apparently it transitions beautifully to be handsfree/in bra. Oh, and it also has a very powerful suction! I also just read THIS amazing breast pump review post that I found very helpful. Note: you can get breast pumps for FREE through your insurance. And you can upgrade to certain ones for less than retail cost. So if you have insurance, you def should go that route.

• “People” say to re-up on bottles and pacifiers. I probably will buy some, but honestly, James so rarely used them, I’m not fussed. I really don’t think it’s necessary. That being said, I AM considering buying one of those sterilizer machines, so that I can really feel good about reusing some of it.

The urgency I feel to get all of this sorted is finally creeping up on me, but because we have everything we needed for James, I am much less stressed about the situation. I have a feeling I may wait until she is here to decide if we need some of the bigger items, like the Owlet.

The countdown is on! About 6 weeks to go! YAY! Thanks for reading about the journey. :) - AHS

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Product Links in this post

• Papaya enzyme chewables

• Lavender sleepy lotion

• Design Dua bassinet

• Owlet

• SNOO bassinet

• Uppababy Cruz

• Veer Wagon

• Spectra S1 breast pump

• Baby Buddha breast pump

Light Therapy and Other Winter Wellness Tips

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I recently shared on my IG that I have been using light therapy over the past few weeks as a part of my winter wellness routine. I had been intrigued with light therapy, and I won’t lie, I purchased the lamp without doing too much research on it beforehand. A friend had recommended it and said it was “life-changing!”–I was sold. I knew that lots of people had used it in Chicago (and the rest of the midwest) to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka SAD). You have probably heard of it, it is a form of depression that kicks off during the Fall and goes away with the sunnier days of Spring and Summer (although not always! Some have the reverse!).

According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD, sometimes called winter depression, may include:

• Oversleeping (lol. Not a problem living with a toddler)

• Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates (um hi! But also this is totally normal to crave grounding, high carb foods in winter.)

• Weight gain (plenty of that, but because I’m growing a baby)

• Tiredness or low energy (Yes, yes, yes. Having a toddler and being pregnant add to this, BUT I always get this way during winter.)

While I would not self-diagnose myself with SAD, I am prone to get the winter blues, especially with spending so much time inside and (these days) away from loved ones. I particularly deal with lots of fatigue during the winter months. I figured adding light therapy into my routine was a good way to amp up my winter wellness.

How it works

According to a Harvard Health blog on light therapy:

“If lack of sunlight causes or contributes to seasonal affective disorder, then getting more light may reverse it. Bright light works by stimulating cells in the retina that connect to the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that helps control circadian rhythms. Activating the hypothalamus at a certain time every day can restore a normal circadian rhythm and thus banish seasonal symptoms.

Light therapy entails sitting close to a special “light box” for 30 minutes a day, usually as soon after waking up as possible. These boxes provide 10,000 lux (“lux” is a measure of light intensity). That’s about 100 times brighter than usual indoor lighting; a bright sunny day is 50,000 lux or more. You need to have your eyes open, but don’t look at the light. Many people use the time to read a newspaper, book, or magazine, or catch up on work.”

My experience

I started using it when I have my morning coffee and feeding James his breakfast (I just tilt away from his face). I used the lowest setting for the first couple of weeks and then upped to the medium setting a couple of days ago. I put on the timer for 10 minutes. Some days I have had it on for a little longer, but haven’t felt like I have really needed to. They say to work up to 30 minutes a day for SAD.

From what I notice- shortly after I finish my session (maybe 15-30 minutes after) I feel a big boost in initiative and productivity. You may say that’s the coffee, but I’ll be honest, coffee just gets me to my bare minimum state of a human for the day. Initially, I saw a boost for the rest of the day. More recently, I’ve noticed my alertness is there through lunchtime. In general, my energy levels have been higher than they have been in months and months (pre-dating pregnancy even!).

In general, I have been in really good spirits, despite the fact that I’ve barely left the house for a month. Typically, around this time of they year, I would definitely be getting a bit of the winter blues, ready for some sunshine and outside time! I mean, I’m still ready for those things, but I’m not overly sad that I don’t have them.

I also noticed initially when the sun went down I was DEAD. Like ready to go to sleep with the sun. Could be the toddler, or the pregnancy, but I think it’s because the light therapy is syncing me strongly with the circadian rhythms of the sun. This result hasn’t persisted.

It could be placebo, or the second trimester high, but I definitely feel like it has made a big difference in my energy levels— I will definitely be continuing this as a part of my winter wellness routine.

What to look for in a lightbox

This is the lightbox I used. You want 10,000 Lux. It also shouldn’t emit any UV light. Gotta watch that skin!

Who shouldn’t use light therapy?

According to the Harvard Health post:

Although light therapy is at least as effective as antidepressant medications for treating seasonal affective disorder, it doesn’t work or isn’t appropriate for everyone. Some people need more light, or brighter light. Others can’t tolerate bright light—in people with bipolar disorder, for example, it can trigger hypomania or mania. And even though the risk of eye damage from bright light is low, anyone with diabetes (which can damage the retina) or pre-existing eye disease should check with a doctor before trying light therapy.

So if you are worried you are at risk for any of those issues- please consult with a healthcare provider before starting light therapy. I am not a healthcare professional, this is just my research and account of my own experience with light therapy!

Other ways to maximize your winter wellness

If light therapy isn’t for you, there are still so many ways to improve your wellness during the winter. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Take vitamin D daily. It is so critical for our health!

2. Try to get outside every day. I know it’s cold, but if it’s not subzero temps, a quick walk outside can do wonders. If it’s more moderate, winter activities are so fun! Skiing (the Wisconsin and Michigan slopes are a quick drive away! Or cross country wherever!), sledding, ice skating! So much fun to be had in the snow!

3. Listen to your bodily cues. Enjoy carbs and grounding root veggies during these cold-weather months.

4. Try to get your heart rate up every day. A little bit of exercise can really give you an endorphin boost that will make you feel so good!

5. Enjoy hot baths, steams, and saunas when you can. Take a hint from the nordic countries. It will serve you well! I love steaming up my shower and adding a few drops of lavender essential oils. Insta-spa!

6. Embrace the inside life. Cozy up by a fire (or Netflix fire! :)) with a good book and a cup of tea!

This season may seem to go on forever, but soon enough we will be enjoying the sunshine! What are you doing to for your winter wellness routine? Stay warm and cozy, friends! -AHS

Announcement! Baby Shea 2.0 is coming in June!

Surprise! We are having another baby!

Where to begin… I have been feeling very quiet about this pregnancy. Once I told my people directly, I didn’t feel the need to be vocal about it. We are so excited! But I know so many who have suffered losses over the past year, and I just wanted to keep it closer to home for a while. But since I decided to spend more time sharing on SHED, I’ve found it increasingly difficult NOT to share this massive thing going on in my life. What better time than Valentine’s Day to share the love?

Baby James has no idea what is happening!

How did you find out?

We found out in October, right after we got back from our trip from Colorado. I was definitely not expecting it, so probably were more liberal with our actions than I would’ve been–had I known. Whoops! I thought my cycle was going to start the day we left. And then it didn’t come and didn’t come. Conor thought I was being overly obsessive, but on late day 6 I took 3 tests, and it was a resounding positive! COVID life meant Conor was home, so I didn’t have to keep the news to myself all day. We were both so shocked and happy. Still are, really!

Do you know Baby’s Sex?

We found out in December that baby is a GIRL! I was thinking I was going to boy mom city, so I am very pumped that girl clothes are in our future.

What is the baby’s Due Date?

Baby girl will be joining us sometime in early June! Most likely looking like she will be a gemini! This also means we will have 2 under 2 for more than a month! WAHHHHH

How many weeks are you?

I am 23 weeks. I will be 24 weeks in a few days. More than 1/2 way!

How Has Pregnancy been?

Pregnancy has been different from last time. The first trimester was still exhausting and nauseating, but I haven’t had the baby blues that I did last time. I’ve heard that boys can wreak more havoc on your hormones, which could be the case. In general, I’ve felt in better spirits and ready to take more on. Well, in some ways. In other ways, I’m even more exhausted from chasing after a toddler all day. I’m mostly just happy that I feel more like myself than I did the last time around.

I have also started to show sooner, unsurprisingly! This week, I definitely have been feeling belly! I’ve also had a much stronger sweet tooth this time around!

Do you have a name picked out?

We have several names in the running, but nothing decided yet. We are waiting to share the name (whenever we decide) until baby girl is here!

How has James handled the news?

I don’t think he has any idea what we are talking about! We keep telling him he’s going to have a little sister. He likes to push his stroller around, and we tell him he can push the new baby in the stroller, and he points to pictures of babies when we say that. But overall, I don’t think he really gets it. He’s in for a shock come June!

Is this why you moved?

Yes! We needed more space, ASAP!

Is this why you are only posting pics of carbs?

YUP. When I’m prego all I want are CARBSSSSSS.

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So that’s our big news! Thanks for reading! Let me know if you have any other personal or general pregnancy/baby questions. <3 <3 -AHS

Shed for the Preg: Mid-Pregnancy Update (with some fun prenatal yoga tips!)

I think after my realness posting on the first trimester, I think I gave a lot of people a scare. I wanted to check in and let everyone know that this trimester has been amazing! I’ve felt so good the past couple months! Mentally and physically.

The bump is definitely there! I’ve officially transitioned out of my normal pants and have been living in leggings. It is weird though, because it is still an in-between time and under clothes I think it looks like I’ve just gained a bit of weight. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m looking forward to it looking more official!

We had our mid-pregnancy ultrasound this week. It went very well! Baby is tracking on average. We are measuring a bit ahead of schedule, but not by much. I had to go back to get another one because lil’ man wouldn’t give us the proper view of his heart. And that’s right we learned it’s a BOY! We were absolutely shocked but our hearts are bursting! We really, truly believed it was a girl! But now fully readjusted and excited about all things little boy! We should’ve known that it was a boy because last weekend the baby was kicking me like crazy with Conor screaming in the last minute of the IU v Michigan State basketball game. A lil Hoosier fan in the making!

I finally started the process of registering for baby things. I spent 12 hours last weekend researching strollers. YEP. My mind is exploding about the strollers. I also realized that the cribs I like are almost impossible to find in the US. Classic me. I think I’m finally beginning to understand baby gear, which is huge up-leveling for me– and maybe overcoming a huge fear too?! Just another reason for me to get back to my Marie Kondo-ing of our condo! Lastly, beginning to understand this whole Mom tribe thing–I don’t know where I would be without all of my wonderful friends giving me advice!

I’ve been able to get back to my normal eating habits. Lots of eggs, sweet potatoes, greens, avocados, and all of the cucumbers (etc. etc. etc.). So my body is nourished, and has been full of energy! I’ve gotten back to yoga and even have worked in some cardio (more exercise thoughts below).

Cravings:

Still eating a lot of citrus–I’m blood orange and clementine obsessed. I am loving cucumbers (see photos!). I’ve continued to eat cereal and toaster waffles. I am definitely eating more sugar and carbs than my normal diet, but not too much. The actual cravings have not been extreme.

Aversions:

Not much, but still very weird around chicken. I still eat it occasionally as long as its overly seasoned.

Symptoms:

The biggest is nasal congestion. I wake up almost unable to breathe every day. Which is wild because thankfully, I haven’t been sick since the first week in January. This happened when I was in Florida too! Apparently it’s common but I hadn’t heard of it before this.

Acid reflux has kicked in a bit, unfortunately. I need to keep my meals small and more frequent rather than larger and less often.

I also have some low back pain. Nothing too troubling yet. Looking into pregnancy pillows to help solve this.

Every night is a new vivid dream. Every night. Some terrifying, some fun. But every night I’m on a new journey. 😂

Prenatal was my favorite part of yoga teacher training. Maybe it was a bit of foreshadowing?

Exercise:

I’ve been trying to work in movement 4x/week but it’s been slow getting back to my normal routine. I have gotten back to spin class, cardio has felt great! The one downside is that sitting on a bike, I feel like I have to pee the whole time. Yoga continues to be awesome. I’ve added in a couple different prenatal classes into my routine and feel incredible afterwards. That being said, I still need a bit of a push to keep my strength up so I also still go to my favorite regular level 2 yoga class, but have to make some modifications.

In case you are also pregnant and want to go to a regular (meaning not prenatal) yoga class here are some tips of what to avoid and to modify for:

• Avoid hot yoga. Moderately heated (like 80-85 degrees) is fine, but skip the Bikram (105!).

• Avoid intense twists. You can do some gentle twisting if it feels okay to you.

• Avoid poses on your belly like shalabhasana (locust pose) and dhanurasana (bow pose). My guru (aka my favorite instructor) had me do a variation of table pose during this part of class where you extend opposite arms and legs while balancing, and alternate grabbing your foot from above your head. (Does that make sense? If you want more details on this pose send me a DM! 😂)

• Avoid over stretching. Because of the relaxin flowing through our bods “relaxing” our muscles and ligaments, it can be easy to overstretch our ligaments which won’t ever go back to their original shape! So whenever stretching, be sure to engage your muscles to prevent over stretching of your ligaments. (This is also why it can be detrimental wearing flip-flops during the summer months when your pregnant- don’t overstretch those feet ligaments!)

• Some people are fine with extreme back-bending like urdva dhanurasana (wheel pose). I attempted it a couple times because it has always been apart of my practice, but it never felt right. So I finally adjusted to a supported bridge position. It also can cause diastasis recti (where your abs separate)- and no one wants that!

• No need to keep your feet together when bending at the waist, make room for belly! (uttanasana [standing forward bend] or utkatasana [chair] come to mind)

• When going from a position where your head is below your heart, take your time coming back up to standing. Pregnancy can cause haywire on your blood pressure, so you want to give your body time to adjust.

• Your center of gravity has shifted, know that balance poses will feel different. And be careful not to fall!

• Lastly, you are carrying extra weight that wasn’t there before. Your practice won’t look the same, and that’s a good thing! Don’t try to keep up or overdo it. Listen to your body, and rock child’s pose if that’s what you need!

Soooo that ended up being more than a few tips, so I think this is a good place to call it. Thank you all for all of your well wishes for baby BOY Shea and joining me on this journey! xx - AHS