Bump & Beyond

Be prepared for little to no sleep for the next 5-6 months, even longer if you have a colicky baby or a teething one. They say to sleep when the baby sleeps, but if you do that when will things get done? What about the laundry and dinner? Who's going to let the pups out? The first three months of Blakely's life, I couldn't nap when she did to save my life, and now I nap when she's occupying herself. It's difficult at first, you want to spend all the time in the world soaking up every moment of love and cuddles from the small human in your arms, but don't neglect yourself. You HAVE to take care of yourself because if you don't, not only will you suffer, but everyone around you will suffer too.

Nutrition & Vitamins Prenatal vitamins are available almost anywhere, and they help even when you're trying to conceive. During the first month of pregnancy, the vitamins help send folic acid, calcium, and iron, to your baby's neural cord Exercise Staying active can help control your stress, weight gain, boost your mood, and improve circulation. Overall it's just in your best interest to stay at least moderately active throughout your pregnancy Educate Yourself Get caught up on your family medical history, meet the staff at the hospital you'll be having your little bundle of joy at, and read up on information about pregnancy and newborn babies (even if it's not your first, it's always nice to be up to date on new info) Change Up Your Daily Routine Even if you're used to strong odors and chemicals, they're still somewhat toxic and it's in your best interest to limit your exposure to them. Say YES to Cravings (At least some of the time) Everything is okay in moderation, so don't be afraid to break out the ice cream or chocolate chip cookies. Just be sure to track your weight gain to keep a healthy mindset and don't just indulge on all the fatty goodness. Keep yourself recharged with fruits and healthier options of snacks like granola bars or baked chips. Know When to Call Being pregnant is one of the most confusing times for a woman. Don't ever be afraid to ask any type of question and if you're having any concerning symptoms don't hesitate to call the nurse's line at your OBGYN. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your baby.

Honestly, getting the spark back in our marriage after Blakely was born was tough. Even still it's tough. Ever since I've had our daughter our sex life has been completely different. We still have the longing, loving looks at one another, we still have our sweet talks and love bug moments, but intimacy was difficult for me because I just couldn't get myself to that point. I think psychologically I was thinking that here's my husband who just watched me push a 7 pound child out of my body, yet he's still attracted to me, but I don't understand how. Then there was the point of my body transitioning from being pregnant to post-partum. I felt so unattractive. The stretch marks and the sagging skin, it just made me not want to look at myself. I mean, now I have a new wardrobe of clothes that fit me properly so I feel much better about myself, but before I couldn't stand to look in the mirror. Blake worked with getting me my confidence and our spark back every single day. He was the first man in my life (besides my granddad) to buy me flowers. He would come home and play uno with me for hours. And don't forget about the constant date nights. I think that's what really got our spark back was that Blake never stopped trying. I've never had someone try so hard to make me feel beautiful and unique every day of my life. Ladies, find you a whole man like my husband. JUST NOT MY HUSBAND!