It’s….A…Boy!!
In the past we’ve never done any type of gender reveal. Upon finding out the gender of the other boys, we’ve pretty much told friends and family, “It’s a Boy!” This time with the two older boys being bigger, we wanted to do something to include them in finding out the gender of the baby and make it special for them. I browsed through some ideas online wanting something simple. In the end we settled on the idea of putting blue balloons inside gift bags for them to open together.
For the first few seconds they all just stared at their balloons, followed by smiles! The news has definitely grown on us all. 4 boys is going to be a lot of fun! Arthur was the one hoping for a little sister this time around. I later told him one day God may bless him with some little girls of his own. He followed this by saying, “Mommy, how about we have another baby. And I bet that baby will be a girl.” Smart kid. One step at a time, Arthur!!
Thomas and Arthur have both enjoyed reading the weekly pregnancy updates online with me to see what’s happening with the baby. They especially love the part that compares how big the baby is to various fruits and vegetables!
A few second trimester updates:
Chiropractor-I can’t say enough how much weekly visits to the chiropractor have benefited me this pregnancy. With the third pregnancy, I had SPD(symphysis pubic dysfunction), which can range from mild to severe pain in the pelvic region. While there’s no clear cause, the pain is associated with a misalignment of the pelvis at any of the joints, and may also be related to hormone levels. Gotta love those pregnancy hormones!
I started seeing her for visits at the beginning of the second trimester when I noticed the aching in my lower back and legs start to creep up. While these are also normal things to experience, I wanted to be proactive in case I had SPD again this time around.
I had read many articles about the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and after childbirth, and I’m so glad I decided to give it a try! She’s helped my body and nervous system so much through the adjustments, and I credit it to helping me feel my best this pregnancy out of all the others.
Workouts-Most workouts have been of the at-home variety with the exception of going to yoga on Friday mornings. That has stayed a staple, and I hope it will continue until the end. Otherwise, it’s a mix of walks in the neighborhood, some low-impact HIIT, or a combination of a short cardio routine followed with some weights. The main thing is that is feels so much better mentally and physically to move. While the majority of what I’ve been doing can be done in our living room, there are many mornings the little boys are playing in the driveway and I get in a short workout outside while they play. This is a win for everyone!
I currently love to use the MUTU app or follow some of the videos from the 12-week program I have used previously postpartum. The boys love to watch/participate when I’m doing a HIIT video on the app. They get so tickled at her British accent. And they like to watch her and me to make sure I’m doing it right!!
Eating-The joy of loving all the foods again! It’s amazing how quickly the days of food aversions seem like such a long time ago. Eating small, frequent meals is still the best way to go to keep my energy up through the day. I almost always start the day with two eggs and berries, which is the same as before pregnancy.
Allergies-From the time I hit the second trimester, there haven’t been many days where I haven’t woken up with a stuffy nose and lots of sneezing. I’m not one that normally suffers from seasonal allergies, so it’s safe to say I can thank the high levels of Estrogen for this pregnancy symptom.
Movement-Of all the babies, this guy has taken the longest for me to feel consistent movement in the womb. It was sometime in the early 20 weeks before I started feeling consistent patterns of movement. This concerned me initially. At one sonogram I had mentioned it and the technician said it was possibly because his spine was to my belly so I may not have felt the movements as forcefully as I would have had he been turned the opposite way. Time will tell but maybe his laid back personality in the move will translate to a go-with-the-flow fourth child!
Supplements-I’ve stuck with the same prenatal vitamin for this pregnancy as the previous two. I always add fish oil and a probiotic to the mix. I’ve also loved using magnesium spray, especially at night. It helps me sleep better and helps if my legs seems extra achy. I’ve also continued with collagen powder either mixed in decaf coffee or orange juice in the mornings.
Appointments-One of the joys of being considered advanced maternal age is more doctor visits to keep a close monitor on things, especially coming up in the end of the third trimester. I’ve had to see a maternal specialist for a more in depth ultrasound during this trimester, which is standard for my 36 year old mom status! Thankfully, all went well and I didn’t have to return for more visits.
