23 Weeks Pregnancy Chalkboard Update

How far along? 23 weeks! Baby is a little over a pound, bout the size of a large grapefruit. My uterus is the size of a small soccer ball.

Gender: ITS A BOY!

Total Weight Gain: 7-7.5lbs total. Doctor said from here on out I should average almost a one pound weight gain per week. She also said I am in the 50 percentile for my weight and everything looks SUPER :)

Stretch Marks: Starting to notice a few on my hips. No linea negra or stretch marks on my belly

Belly Button: In.

Wedding Rings On/Off:  On. 

Movement: All the time! He hears very well :) I also notice his sleep cycles now.

Feeling: Feeling great!

Cravings: CHEESE and some sweets now. 

Symptom: MY BLADDER IS SQUISHED! 

Missing: Sleeping comfortably

Looking Forward to: Our Tennessee trip this week! The glucose test in a few weeks (joking haha)

Sleep: Sleeping isnt very comfortable anymore. Its harder to fall asleep so I end up staying up late.

Exercise:  Mainly focusing on cardio and toning since the weight gain is starting. Still doing weighted squats with the bar here and there. As for cardio, I am running on the track outside and elliptical inside.

Eating: Still healthy, no cheat meals. Missing my chips & queso splurge but I will thank myself later (haha)!

23 Weeks Pregnant Silhouette

Taken by my love.

My Birth Plan

With my sixth month of pregnancy approaching next week, I figured it is time to start thinking of a birth plan! 

Why have a birth plan?

WHY NOT?

Birth is such a beautiful experience and it should be the way YOU want it to be-down to the very last second. Also, there will be very important decisions you must make at the time labor begins so it is great to be prepared. In the event that an emergency happens, your birth plan is to likely go out the window, but hopeful that will never be the case. It's also very important to be aware of your choices available.

Here is mine! Eeeeek soooo excited!

1. I am going to wait until labor happens naturally-no induction or rushing the baby. Unless medically necessary.
2. No drugs. No pain meds. No epidural. Instead I would like to try natural alternatives such as meditation, stretching, and breathing techniques.
3. No elective C-section unless its an emergency. I would like to deliver my baby vaginally. 
4. I will be taking part in delayed cord clamping-aka-cutting the cord after it stops pulsating blood to the fetus. This helps prevent the possibility of anemia after birth.
5. I would like to reach down and assist with the delivery if possible.
6. I want skin to skin contact and to feed my baby immediately.
7. I am considering waiting until I bring baby home for its first bath. I want to give him his first one.
8. I will labor in positions I feel most comfortable. Laying down has proved to be the worst possible way to deliver a baby.
9. I may refuse the vitamin K shot-still doing my research, luckily I still have 4 months to decide.
10. Definitely doing the Hepatitis B vaccine.
11. Have not decided on the eye drops yet either. Still researching.
12. I am planning on breastfeeding my baby.
13. He will be circumcised at the hospital.
14. I do not want an IV.
15. I would like to have a photographer available to capture photos.
16. My husband will cut the cord 

Easy Meal Prep

I have been asked several times what my FAVORITE meal is to prep or what's the easiest thing to prep for the week.

I would certainly say: 1 meat, two veggies.

I like to prep chicken breasts, asparagus, and broccoli for half the week and then choose a starch such as rice or sweet potato for the rest of the week to go along with my lean protein. I love to switch it up because lets face it-eating the same thing daily can be a bore. However, when I lost my weight and transformed my body, I found that meal prepping and having the same thing daily actually was key to my 45lb success!

Invest in some tupperware and let the prepping begin!