Strong and Pregnant

Being pregnant is awesome.  And painful.  And tiring.  And emotional.  And magical.  And miraculous.  In honor of the amazing finishers of the 122nd Boston Marathon today, I'd love to share a few links to some pregnant women who have run in marathons while pregnant.  Duh, this isn't for everyone!  So, please, always consult your healthcare provider before engaging in any activity while pregnant.  Nonetheless, if you can stay strong, healthy, mindful, and safe...DO IT!  There are women out there that can exercise and do some pretty spectacular things while being pregnant (hmm, I'm thinking like even getting out of bed in the first trimester is spectacular!).  And some that can but aren't sure if they should.  Well, here's a compilation of some empowering women. 

ALWAYS:

• CONSULT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
• STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF AND DO WHAT INSPIRES YOU
• PLAY IT SAFE FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY AND YOUR FAMILY

https://www.runnersworld.com/newswire/woman-finishes-boston-while-34-weeks-pregnant

http://www.thisisinsider.com/exercising-running-while-pregnant-2017-5

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/running-a-marathon-during-pregnancy_us_573e7241e4b09f28cf5994ed

Be Well,
MLC

While you are pregnant...

Read this book: Mindful Discipline.

I wish that I would have discovered this book while pregnant with my first child.  As parents, we have only the best intentions when raising our children and as human beings we are inherently GOOD.  However, life can steer us in many directions.  Life stressors, lack of sleep, and responsibilities drain our energy reserves. While we are grateful for the jobs, the homes, the lives we have, they do provide great 'ups' and sometimes 'downs'. We get influenced from friends, family members, co-workers, and media, on how to be a good parent and even how to balance being a parent and a professional.  It is easy to forget to stop and tune in to ourselves and listen to that inner voice that does have good intentions.  This book reminds us what being mindful is and helps us to stop and tune-in.  Ultimately, being mindful not only helps us be better parents and nurture our children to thrive in life but by being mindful we awaken to our full potential as human beings. 

After six times of telling your child to put their shoes on you probably want to scream by the seventh time after nothing happens after the first six.  Right?  Well, we can all do better than screaming.  Seriously.  It doesn't work.  What does work is being in the present moment.  It only takes a minute.  Walk over, hold your child's hand and perhaps gently but clearly tell them to put their shoes...then give a reason.  Connect with your child. 

I am NO parenting expert but I want to share how things have changed for me and my kiddos by just being a present and mindful parent.  The authors of the book are experts and they share their research and knowledge in such a concise, clear, and eloquent manner. 

It is worth a read!

Be well and be mindful,
MLC

Capture The Moments

I recently found a picture of myself when I was pregnant. ONE picture. As much as I prefer to be behind the camera, there is something to be said for having pictures of yourself. Before you are pregnant, while you are pregnant, after you have your baby, while your baby(ies) is growing up, when they have grown and you are in the later stages of life. Capturing the moment in pictures is undervalued, yet so important. What would I give to have pictures of my mother when she was younger? I understand that we don't feel we look as beautiful with a puffy face and swollen belly, but it is such a temporary condition and a beautiful time in a woman's life to capture in photographs. I wish I had taken more pictures of myself, during all stages, especially during pregnancy. Your children will cherish those images of YOU! I recently photographed my eight month pregnant sister-in-law. She looks stunning in those images. I hope you take the time to capture those important moments in motherhood and in your life.

BHW  

Selflessness and Motherhood

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."  -Mahatma Gandhi

"...From the time we’re born, what is the highest compliment our culture can bestow upon women? She’s so selfless. Let’s think about that for a minute. The ultimate compliment for a woman is that you do not even have a self! Then we get to this age where we can’t find ourselves anymore and we wonder why."  -Glennon Doyle

Becoming a mother is most certainly one of the most selfless acts a human being can commit to.  We take an oath, as spiritual beings, to care for, nurture, teach, and love our children before they are born.  And perhaps, this happens before we (mothers) are even born.  
Sleepless nights, tantrums, code browns, boogers, and loss of pre-baby life, friendships, routine, and body are realities we all face.  And it is ok!  We accept it.  It comes with the territory.  It is a total bummer at times but our love for our little ones outweighs any materialistic or temporary discomfort or inconvenience that comes our way.  
I want to write about this topic because the topic of selflessness and motherhood comes up fairly often...in the media, in my personal, and in the lives of some of my friends.  Mahatma Gandhi is an inspiration.  He embodied compassion and provided, still provides, humanity with a belief system that inspires people to become more peaceful and compassionate.  However, at first glance, when I read his quote above I feel confusion and disappointment.  As a little girl, I noticed the imbalance between males and females.  I didn't like it and wanted to be male.  I wasn't interested in limitations or the things that the females in my life did.  Long story short, I was haunted by this my whole life and it wasn't until recently that I embraced being female.  And being female has nothing to do with limitations or even being selfless or losing myself.  
Yes, we all need to lose our egos.  And the best way to do this is by being of service to others.  But this doesn't mean we can, need to, or should be WITHOUT SELF.  We become mothers because we have been given a SELF.  And we need NOT lose it!  Remember the oath?!  We are responsible for being our best selves so that we can be the best mother to our children. 
I lost myself.  I thought I had to be selfless.  But I was wrong.  It is ok to have a self.  And I can see that.  I want my children to look at me and see a strong independent woman that knows what and who she stands for.  A woman that teaches her children to be strong, loving, of service, open-minded, hardworking, creative, independent, confident, and straight-up HAPPY!  I indulge in my passions and work because I hope to teach humility, success, failure, hard-work, interest, creative, integrity, and the list goes on. 
Mothers:  It is OK to have a SELF.  Balance is for the birds.  STAY PRESENT and maintain best intentions.  Try not to lose yourself.  Who am I kidding?  It happens.  Nonetheless, let go of guilt, BE YOU, DO YOU and love your children whole-heartedly.  You are responsible for them!  But you are also responsible for yourself.  And they will learn from you and love you for it.
Be well.  Be love.  Be of service but not selfless. 
MLC

#birthmamalove

A dear friend of mine recently started a blog about the love of birth mothers. Selfless Mothers who have placed their precious babes for adoption . My beautiful friend gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl on 24 August 1996. She placed her for adoption many years ago. Last year she was reunited with her daughter and their experience is remarkable. Elizabeth is giving a voice to birth mothers everywhere. I'm so excited for Elizabeth and Collette to share their story. Hopefully, there will be many more stories from many more women shared. As an adoptive mother, my heart is FULL of love for MY daughter's birth mother. Though we do not have the same story as Elizabeth and Collette (there has not been contact between my daughter and her birth mother) there is SO much love. I'm grateful to a dear friend who can reassure my sweet girl that somewhere out there is a woman who loves her and thinks about her every day. It wasn't because she didn't want her, it was because she wanted the very best for her that she trusted us to raise her little girl. What a gift to our family. What selfless birth mother love. What an amazing opportunity to share our stories and hear the stories of others. Please check out her blog as it is coming soon!

www.birthmamalove.com 

Be inspired, be uplifted, be grateful for every moment... Mother love is the greatest love.

BHW  

Savor the moment, document the moment, remember the moment.

"  Don't be afraid of a little bit of pain

Pleasure is on the other side."

-John Legend, Save Room 

Five years ago, after laboring for 36 hours, my son, Bodhi, came into the physical world. 

For all those newly pregnant, expecting in other ways (surrogate, adoption), or seasoned moms, capture the moment of birth and shortly thereafter.  It is sacred.  It is life changing.  It is a reminder that life can be miraculous. 

Bodhi and I watched the video that was captured right after he was born today and it was as if I got to time travel and he witnessed how special life is.  It's not always easy.  And it can be damn painful...but pleasure can be on the other side. 

Expecting moms and dads...capture your birth moment.  Watch it often.  It is a reminder of what is important in this lifetime. 

Be love and light, 

MLC

Social Support

It can be isolating, scary, beautiful, exciting, enlightening, and empowering.  But if you spend your days alone or feeling lonely while pregnant, you may be robbed of all of these transforming experiences.  Many of us have been there, the lone pregnant lady of the friend group, the DD, the uninvited to gatherings just because they happen too late at night.  Boohoo. 

Its ok.  Get sad.  Get mad.  Get annoyed.  Then move on!  Tell your friends how you feel.  Ask for support!  That is the key word: ASK.  Awesome things can happen when we simply open ourselves to opportunity.  Get humble and be rewarded.

Keep your friends and make new ones.  Great places to meet other preggos:

• Prenatal yoga
• Your gym
• Your midwife or OB's office
• Blogs and community websites geared towards Moms
• Birth Class

Speaking of...that is something SpeedBump should explore!  Would it be helpful if worked on incorporating more local events geared towards uniting The Village?  We would love to hear from you!  And if you need to be connected with a pregnant friend, gives us a shout!

Be well and be social,

MLC

Baltic Amber

It seems to be all the rage for teething infants.  Does it work?  I have no clue.  

Baltic amber is fossil resin from pine trees that grew in Northern Europe, southern Scandinavia, and regions around the Baltic Sea.  Amber is said to have healing properties with cultures using amber to treat stress, arthritis, anxiety, inflammation, and headaches. 

No stranger to headaches and migraines, while pregnant and nursing, treatment for such pain is limited.  What the heck, I might as well give it a try!  My youngest son has been wearing a Baltic amber bead necklace during the day and I have been wearing one for two weeks without taking it off.  Does it work?  Well, I haven't noticed a change in my son but I can say without hesitation that I have not had much neck pain or stiffness and headaches are farther and few between.  Success. 

Snake oil?  Placebo effect?  Who knows.  For the most part, it is so light, I forget I'm wearing it.  And no side effects to note.  I'm down $58.  Totally worth it to be free or almost free of migraines!

Have y'all tried it?  Please let us know!

Be well,

MLC

For more information and wear to buy: lemonvines.com

Traditions

Tradition, as defined by Merriam-Webster:

1a :  an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom)b :  a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable

2 :  the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction

3 :  cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions

4 :  characteristic manner, method, or style <in the best liberal tradition>

The holidays seem to bring about the carrying out of traditions.  We all have fond and not-so-fond memories tied to this time of year.  Food and laughter are the fond memories but getting in a car to travel from relative to relative may include the not-so-fond.  Or maybe you were forced to wear ugly Christmas sweaters or my most dreaded as a little girl...having to wear tights and a dress and sometime bows in my hair...oh, and that it is always freezing cold and windy in Pennsylvania in December.

Traditions are meaningful no doubt.  They create a sense of community, fellowship, and legacy.  However, I dare you to think about your family's traditions and if they are meaningful or something you do on autopilot.  Even more difficult is meshing your tradition with a partner's tradition.  And if you are pregnant...now what?  How do you go about celebrating?  Will you create your own traditions, keep some of the old, or just go all-out old stuff and please all of your extended family members only to feel resentful and exhausted come January 2017?

If I may offer unsolicited advice...think about all this while pregnant!  Why?  Well, I suppose I have been expected to uphold certain traditions that are not meaningful to me nor to my husband.  In addition, we both work in healthcare and have worked on holidays.  We love and respect our family members.  But at the end of the day, we need to do what is "right" for our own family of five. 

So, be joyful and merry and avoid any confusions regarding holiday planning...decide before your little miracle appears!

Be well and be merry,

MLC

Am I really done?

Hopefully, I am not alone when I say, "Am I really done having babies?"  Many women know exactly when enough is enough.  Others leave their fate in the hands of a Higher Power.  Me...I'm not young, I thought three was enough, I love being independent, but I still wonder if our family is meant for a fourth child. 

Pregnancy is tough.  And it would hardly be fair to my three beautiful children (and my husband) to put them through days of vomiting, feeling tired, and the physical limitations I face as my pregnancy enters the third trimester.  Nonetheless, I can't say I'll never have another child.  I am content to wait a few years and then revisit this desire.  To nurture my family and to live out adventures just the five of us.

Anyone else out there feel this way?  I'd love to hear from you!

Be Well,

MLC

Holiday Pregnancy...

Be happy! You are already wearing elastic waist pants! 

Happy Holiday Season! 

Be well, 

MLC

Balance?

I've gone to great lengths to incorporate the concept of balance in my life.  It works in some areas but when I've been asked the question, "Can a mother really have it all?"  I can say with certainty: Hell NO!  What is meant by that anyway?  A successful and stable career, hands-on mothering, clean house, sanity, optimal health, desirable nights of sleep, happiness, contentment, healthy relationship with your partner, spiritual connection, and a social life?  At some point, something has got to give and we all need to come to terms with that.  No one is perfect nor should anyone strive to be.  Frankly, that is just nuts and boring.  Yup, boring.  Perfectionism delivers nothing but boredom, insanity, sickness, and zero contentment.  I know.  I've tried it.  LOL!

Balance Schmalance.  Life is messy.  And that is what makes it great.  It is what makes us grow. 

Why talk about this on Maternity Monday?  Because I feel as if I have failed you all if I don't say something.  And this is something you might want to think about while you are pregnant.  Will you go back to work?  Will you stay home?  Will you do both?  Whatever you do...you don't have to do it all all at once.  Truly.  What you can do is stay present at all times.  If you are working and mothering...give each part of your life your fullest attention when needed.  When you are being a mom...be a mom...when you are solving the world's problems at work...then focus and make it happen.  Forget about balance.  It is a persona many like to think they are managing.  Balance is what you define it.  At the end of the day if you are content...you are succeeding! 

And when you are tired and feel like a failure (you aren't)...just listen to this song:

Be Well and Believe You Can Run the World...but just by focusing on the things that matter most at any one moment in time,

MLC

#Emojimom

One of the emoji's you can find on this app! 

Pregnancy can be fun, enlightening, miraculous, beautiful, and brutal.  Maintaining a sense of humor will get you through even the toughest of times.  A friend of SpeedBump introduced us to a hilarious new app for moms and moms-to-be.  Sometimes words can't decide how we feel!  And sometimes we need other mothers to empathize with to get through the times only us women can understand.  Have some fun with the Emoji Mom app! 

You can get it here!  https://bit.ly/EmojiMom.

Be Well & Have Fun,
MLC

Jumping back in.

Back in June of this year a friend put a bug in my ear.  No, not literally.  But I guess what I heard stuck and I couldn't get rid of it...

On October 30th, Jan Kriska and Jeff Beckelhimer are hosting an endurance race at Hanging Rock State Park.  (Swimrunnc.com)  Both endurance athletes, they brought the concept of swim/run racing (popular in Europe) to North Carolina.  The race consists of 11 runs (total of 14.7 miles) and 9 swims (total of 2900 meters).  The race is set by water and land dictating the course.  So, running and swimming happens in an almost rogue fashion. 

Right up my alley...

Well, I signed up in early August, thinking for sure I'd deliver my little babe with around 8 weeks to train.  Nope.  I'll be exactly 6 weeks postpartum.  This race has another twist...you do the entire thing with a partner and you cannot be more than 10 meters apart.  And you do the entire race with every bit of gear you need attached to your body.  Yep, swimming in running shoes and running in a mandatory wetsuit.

Yikes.  Running did not happen during the last trimester and a half of the pregnancy.  But swimming happened daily...maybe my saving grace?

I realize this isn't the smartest move and I certainly wouldn't recommend it.  Fortunately, I had a wonderful water birth that enabled a quick recovery and a quick return to some running.  But perhaps, not a return of sanity?

Truth be told, these types of challenges are what ground me and bring me back to "sanity".  It's where I find joy.  I will show up for my race partner, do my best, and be in my element for about 4 hours +.  I'm grateful for my supportive husband and kiddos.  They know this is just who I am and what I need.  And hopefully, it is a reminder to them to always include leisure time in their lives.  To embrace challenge.  And to never feel guilty for feeling joy.

Be well and be smart with your choices...but also stay passionate,

MLC

Women of San Blas

Last week, I paid a visit to my local and favorite YMCA (William G. White) in Winston Salem, NC.  My daughter was missing her pals in the daycare room and I missed seeing my workout pals!  While my daughter played, I got a chance to chit-chat with some friends and was stopped by several members so that they could see our newest Carter member, River Oakley. 

One woman in particular asked me about the birth and how it went.  I went ahead and explained that it was a water birth and I felt incredibly blessed to now have had two of those experiences.  She went on to tell me a story of when she visited an island in the Panama Canal, San Blas.  (San Blas is a small island in the Panama Canal.  It is a vision of true beauty and simplicity.  It is one of over 300 other tiny island in the area.  The Kuna Indians, properly known as Guna, inhabit about 49 of those islands.)

"I was fortunate enough to witness several women have water births when I visited San Blas...in the ocean!", she said.  She explained it to be one of the most amazing events she has ever seen.  "The women calmly walk into the ocean by themselves and continue to labor and then give birth to their baby."

 Wow.  Women are certainly extraordinary.  Whatever way you decide to birth your baby, embrace it.  Know it to be sacred and not scary.  Even though, yes it is scary!  Stay in a positive space.  Stay in an open space.  Stay present.  The "scary" will go away and you will find a strength within yourself that you will never want to forget. 

Be well.  Be Brave.
MLC

Worth the Wait

There really is something to staying positive, having faith, aligning with affirmations, and embracing patience.  As I type I can hear my newly born son discovering his vocal cords making beautiful little sounds.  We had a blessed birthing experience.  Not that there isn't a blessed one out there...I suppose what I am trying to say is that I am grateful for what we were able to experience.

After all the whining, complaining, aching, worrying, waiting, and questioning, River Oakley Carter tucked his chin in his own proper time and readily entered this world on September 16, 2016 at exactly 1am. 

I am forever grateful to my husband, my children, my family, my friends, and Natural Beginnings Birth & Wellness Center.

 We wish you a safe and blessed pregnancy, labor, delivery, and recovery.

Be Well, 

MLC

Post Due Date?

It is just a guesstimate after all.  Give or take two weeks...it's all good.  However, staring at a pot of water and waiting for it to boil seems like an eternity.  Especially, when you have an audience.  Yes.  I am still pregnant.  And thank you to everyone for sending positive vibes, baby-purging vibes, prayers, and well-wishes.  I'm certain it all helps.  Nonetheless, babies come on their own terms, so I have learned.  They also come when they are in the best position to do so making sure baby and mother have a safe and desirable labor and delivery process.

This past Friday, I saw my little babe snuggled comfortably in my uterus on the ultrasound monitor.  But this babe's head was cocked to try and see where it needed to go.  Not the ideal birthing position.  This would be considered posterior with a forehead presentation, even though it's body was more in an anterior presentation.  Ok, on to spinningbabies.com. 

I have been a rotisserie chicken since Friday.  Rolling from side to side, crawling around my home with my butt in the air, and doing more pelvic tilts than I have done throughout my entire life.  I think it is helping.  I do not feel an uncomfortable pressure pushing down on my pubic symphysis anymore. And a back and body contour along my ever-growing belly is fully palpable.  Nonetheless, fear, stress, negativity, and distraction can reverse it all in a heart beat.  My midwife said something that I will never forget.  "Trust that your body and your baby know what to do.  Because they do."  Having a medical background, I am aware of the complications of labor and delivery and undesirable position of a fetus during the labor process.  But how many complications are willed into presence by fear and potential unnecessary intervention?  Who knows?  But always best to be safe.  And for my current situation, I feel it is safest to remain positive, listen to my body, trust my body and my baby, and ride out this week.  According to my official due date, which was September 10, I have plenty of time for labor to occur naturally and safely before going into panic mode and that is what I will do.  And I encourage others to do the same when safe and appropriate.  (I do know mothers who have lost their babies in the womb or had close calls with nuchal cords, including myself.  All unbearable.)

It has not been easy.  While I am grateful for everyone's kindness, help, and prayers, I feel very much under a microscope.  Phone calls, texts, questions, check-ins, and "if-I-knew-you'd-be-late"s are wearing me thin.  Yup.  I have been contracting since week 30 and everyone that knows me was expecting an early labor.  Including myself.  This baby has a sense of humor...and to quote my husband's cousin, "it is cozy in there and putting up curtains."  I feel good.  I feel heavy.  I pee myself still.  I am happy.  I am irritated.  I am stressed.  I am calm.  I am still pregnant.  This is out third baby.  And from the beginning, we were told that the third is a wild card!

Sorry honey, I couldn't tell you to take a much needed vacation instead of waiting for a paternity leave.  Sorry family for coming to help and now being away from your own lives for weeks.  I appreciate your understanding and compassion at times.  But I cannot be sorry for choosing to have a natural birth that I view to be a beautiful and sacred event.  I refuse to choose "convenience" to please anyone.  I do not expect your sacrifices but I am grateful for them.  Please know that I can do this and if and when you need to go back to your own status quo, I AM OK WITH THAT! XOXOXO

Much love to you all and especially to all those pregnant ;)
Be Well,
MLC

Labor Stalled

Ugh.  Frustrating is all I can say.  But it is what it is.  This past Friday, I thought I was in labor.  I had a queezy feeling all day, at one point I thought my membranes ruptured (but turns out it was only a few episodes of baby kicking bladder and bladder releasing WITHOUT ANY notice), and for two hours I had regular contractions with rest that came every 2 minutes and lasted 30-45 seconds.  They were certainly manageable but very distinctly different from the Braxton-Hicks contractions I had been having on a regular basis since about week 18 of this pregnancy.  We went to the birth center expecting to bring home a baby that day.  We were surprised to experience an absolute stall in contractions 3 hours after they started.  Nada since then.  Just pressure, more Braxton-Hicks, and a few sleepless nights.  

Interestingly, our midwife told us that just last week the birth center in Statesville, NC had 10 births and 7 of them started, stopped, started, stopped and then finally followed through, so to speak.  There have to be more of you out there!  And I feel for ya!  We were ready to meet our little miracle and have some family time.  And yes, I'll admit, I'm uncomfortable and tired of peeing on myself.  Truthfully, babies come on their own time and their Co-Creator's time.  It is an intense lesson in patience.  In addition, for those that work, it becomes an issue of convenience vs. inconvenience.  I work from home but my husband does not.  And he had to bail on work that day to help me.  The stress that emanated from him was palpable.  He did his best to hide it but unfortunately, a lot of people and patients depend on him. 

Perhaps, we all had a wake-up call this weekend.  Life takes patience and can be inconvenient.  Our fast-paced world creates a bubble of "get-it-done-now" that in the end can cause everything to stall or progress slower than we expected.  We aren't always in control.  But we can do our best at all times.  And at some point learn to accept that.  Accepting doesn't mean mediocrity.  Accepting means you can move past something and become better.  Widen the camera lens.  And find other solutions or silver linings.

I hope that you take a stab at enjoying those last few weeks of pregnancy, work, and freedom.  It all does change in a beautiful miraculous moment.

Be well and try patience,
MLC

Maternity Leave

When I was 39 weeks along with my first pregnancy, working full time nights at the hospital was getting to be too taxing on my body and I took maternity leave a week early. Of course I debated this decision, as I had no idea when I would go into labor. But after talking to my older sister who had two children, I decided it was the best thing to do. She told me this, “Take time off from work. This is the last time you will ever have physical and mental space again”. Nah, that couldn’t be true, could it? Well, turns out, she was right and it was the best advice I could have received.

I totally nested that week before Summer was born. I got a pedicure, spent time solo at the beach just listening to the hum of the waves, reading and contemplating how my life was about to change. Of course before you become a parent you really have no idea the amount of time and energy your children require. You think to yourself, it can’t be that hard. And then, they arrive and all at once you are consumed by their every need. And when you’re not with them you worry about them 24/7. So my sister Noelle was right to tell me to take the time. In America maternity leave is definitely not long enough. Some women are pressured to go back to work just four to six weeks after giving birth. In other countries like Sweden women get a full year of paid maternity leave. Imagine?! Even in Ireland you get six months full pay and can take another eight weeks of unpaid leave. I sometimes wonder why I didn’t just start our family over there with those perks. But the timing wasn’t right.  Still-- taking 12 weeks maternity leave was the best thing I ever did. Turns out I only had 11 weeks with my daughter but that week before she was born was amazing and knowing I could go into labor at any second, I made the most of every day.  So for those of you nearing the end of your first pregnancy, just take some time out for you. Believe me, you won’t regret it.

Be Well, 

LEW

It really does go by fast.

As I reflect back on this third and final pregnancy, I wonder why I didn't do a better job of journaling this experience.  Oh, that's why...I am chasing after two curious, creative, energetic, and beautiful children that also happen to love early mornings and late nights.  And I went back to school (thankfully, now over), and managed to keep our household inside and out in working and presentable order.  I am appreciative of what we have and what I am capable of but I'd lie if I said it didn't take a toll on me.  Many unforeseen circumstances that induced a good bit of stress were also present this Spring and Summer.  Moving slowly and succumbing to frequent bouts of bed rest were the only solutions to consistent and persistent Braxton Hicks contractions.  I'm 36 weeks and 2 days along.  Ready to meet this little baby but psychically trying to hold this baby in my uterus to cook for at least 5-6 more days. 

It isn't easy.  But it is beautiful and wonderful.  And the older I get the more I can relax into the flow of life and take each day as it comes.  Which brings me to feeling as though I should share some thoughts and things that I have come to realize having been pregnant three times now.  Here ya go Ladies:

1.  Get in water.  It is soothing, healing, and transformative.

2.  Listen to your body and your baby.  Take a few minutes each day to connect and check in.  If you do it, you'll know why this is important...

3.  It seems like an ultramarathon when you are in your first trimester.  Stay positive.  Don't anticipate.  Stay present.  In the end, you will feel some sadness for having wished days by.

4.  Keep a journal.

5.  Fatigue is a given.  But physical activity is the cure.  Sounds counter-intuitive.  But it works.  Get out and be active, if you can, every single day.

6.  Choose to eat healthy food.  No excuses.  This is the time to be diligent...not to let go and trash your palate.

7.  Do not care about what other people think.  You Do You.

8.  Know the mental and emotional stress can be debilitating.  Remove yourself from drama and do not apologize.

9.  Connect with your "village" of women and know that you have support when it is needed.

10.  Have fun doing something everyday!  Get those endorphins circulating!  They are our natural built-in pain relievers!

Be well, be calm, and enjoy your 9-months,

MLC