March 3, 2016

8 Month Pregnancy Update

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First off, I apologize for the crappy iPhone photo. I had an intimate baby shower this weekend and meant to take some regular photos of my outfit and the baby bump, but it didn’t happen! I wore the above outfit which consisted of an old H&M dress (non maternity), a Parker leather jacket, Manolo’s and a vintage Gucci clutch.Well, I’m now technically 34 weeks, but I’m happy and thankful to report that for the most part, I’m feeling pretty good. Sure, some things have slightly changed since my last update, but overall, I know it could be worse.Food Cravings:
Citrus! I can’t get enough of oranges, tangerines and orange juice. I crave it all day long, but especially when I wake up feeling parched. Other than citrus, give me anything juicy! I’ve always loved apples and pretty much eat one every single day, but with this pregnancy, I’ve been specifically craving green apples.Also, I’ll always be a carb-lover and being pregnant brings it out more than ever. As soon as I wake up, I usually eat an orange and then I like to follow it up with something bread-related. Normally, I wish I could eat something naughty like a croissant, a blueberry muffin or a bagel, but once the first trimester passed, I’ve been pretty good at keeping myself in check and only allowing myself to do that 1-2x a week. On the days where I’m trying to be good, I’ll eat a slice of toasted ezekiel bread with peanut butter, banana and honey if I’m in the mood for something sweet or sliced avocado with lemon, sea salt and red pepper flakes if I’m in a savory mood. This is breakfast #1 and then I’ll move on the breakfast #2 (sometimes even #3) about an hour later. I’m definitely the hungriest from the time I wake up to about 2-3PM and after that, I’m able to eat lighter and I tend to get full a lot quicker. In the mornings, I graze on something every 1.5-2 hours. Once dinner comes around, I will have a few bites of something and feel full.Grossed Out By: 
In the first trimester, it was eggs and chicken, but now, I can’t say that anything grosses me out. I’ve never been a picky eater so I’m happy that some things have stayed the same. That’s one habit I really hope our child picks up from us, being an open-minded eater.

Physical/Body Changes:
Since my last update and basically in the last few weeks, the biggest physical change has been these ugly brown spots that have appeared on my face. After some research, I’ve learned it’s called Chloasma, also known “the mask of pregnancy.”  I have a big one on my nose and a few on my cheeks and I’ve even found them scattered on my arms and chest. I’ve asked around and apparently it’s fairly common and seems to go away post pregnancy. If not, I will most definitely be visiting my derm.

The Linea Nigra: I thought because I’m so fair, I might not get it, but at around 30 weeks, it showed up. Although very light, it’s certainly there.

Also, shaving. It’s gotten so hard that it’s almost comical. At this point, I just feel it out and hope for the best.

Hair/Lashes: While my hair definitely feels thicker, my lashes have gotten so sparse! I’ve always had nice, full lashes but with this pregnancy, I feel like they’ve gotten so short and limp. Not happy!

Working Out: I’m still trying to be as active as possible and as I’ve said before, it makes such a huge difference in how I feel. I’m on a lot of message boards and at this stage of the game, a lot of women start feeing exhausted and experiencing major discomfort, but I really feel that by keeping active, all of those pregnancy symptoms will stay away longer. Yesterday, I did 30 minutes on the stair master (the rotating steps and remember, don’t lean your entire body on the machine or hold on, it’s almost pointless….) following it up by doing a series of some light arm exercises using 8-10lb dumbbell weights and always finishing off with stretching. My body has never felt so rickety, so daily stretching is a must. Whether it’s walking around, just try to move around and get some sort of physical activity.

Weight Gain:  22 lbs. I was hoping to gain 25 by the end, but I’ll probably be closer to 30.

Sleeping: That’s my one major complaint. Sleeping is getting increasingly harder. Between getting up about 3-4x a night to use the bathroom and trying to get comfortable on my side, it’s an endless night of tossing and turning.

What I’m Most Excited About: 
of course, # 1 is meeting this little human being, but other than the obvious…
*to sleep on my stomach.
*to have a feast of sushi and sashimi with some sake.
*to be able to comfortably shave and see what I’m doing.
*to have a cocktail
*to be able to aggressively workout.
*to wear all of my clothes and not be so limited with outfits!!! I’m sorry if they’ve gotten a bit boring!
*This sounds vain, but it is what it is, getting a chemical peel! I started getting them before I got pregnant and they make such a big difference in keeping my complexion glow-y. I’ve been good at doing regular face masks/exfoliating treatments at home, but the peels just help with that extra boost. It’s all about maintenance and preservation once you’re in your 30’s! And that’s the truth!

What I’m Most Nervous About:
To be quite honest, giving birth doesn’t really scare me. I don’t really have “a plan..” except, get me an epidural ASAP. Whatever happens, happens. However, what I’m most nervous for is the lack of sleep, and the hormonal, post pregnancy blues that I keep hearing about. Caring for another human being doesn’t freak me out as I have faith that our motherly/fatherly instincts will kick in.

Classes/Prep
I find it so fascinating how differently we all approach things in life, whether it’s everyday tasks or huge life changes that are about to take place, like having a baby. I have friends who are so incredibly organized and meticulous to where I sometimes think “wow, I wish I had half of those skills embedded in my DNA..” When they got pregnant, they read every book, took every class and made sure they were “prepared,” whatever that really means. On the other hand, there’s someone like me who has always been pretty go with flow. I’ve definitely read a ton of books and blogs, but compared to some of the women I’ve spoken to, I’ve been pretty relaxed. Is that a good thing? I really don’t know, but the one main thing I’ve taken away in all of my research, breast feeding will be one of the hardest things you go through as a new mom. Aside from the lack of sleep, I keep hearing/reading how new moms “wish they realized just how difficult it would be…” so while I’m not planning to take any lamaze classes or anything else of that sort, the one thing I’m planning on taking is a breast feeding class and along with that, finding a Lactation Consultant so I can easily reach out to her after the baby is born. It’s been one of the main pieces of advice I keep hearing about and one I plan to really listen to.

So, there you have it. If there’s anything that I left out, please feel free to comment and I’ll be sure to answer!

xoxo,
Helena

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40 comments

  • Marie a la Mode

    Great update! You're looking beautiful and you're glowing! I laughed when I read it's difficult for you to shave your legs, I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy and I get my husband to do it since I can't reach lol. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

    xo

  • Bri

    Cute outfit.

    http://adaywithoutyesterday.blogspot.com

  • Sasa Zoe

    Looking great! Thank you for sharing<3

    Shall We Sasa

  • anna

    loving your pregnancy updates. I like and agree with your take on the whole thing. also agree with the bf things. I was not expecting it to be as hard as it was and ended up stopping a few months in. Hope you find an awesome consultant!

  • Elizabeth Daisy

    Both you and your bump look beautiful Helena, I've just come back to the blogging world after a two year break and I absolutely loved reading your blog, it was a lovely surprise to see you're pregnant when I've come back to reading your blog! Big congratulations lovely – such an exciting time in your life – you'll make a fabulous Mum!

    Elizabeth Daisy xo | Elizabeth-Daisy.com

  • thecommonprincess

    Aww it's nice reading your updates, it reminds me of when I was pregnant with my son :-)(I actually miss pregnancy! lol) It is true that breastfeeding can be hard….I found it extremely hard! But it's important not to beat yourself up if things don't always go to plan 🙂

    Can't wait to see you baby 😀 X

    http://www.thecommonprincess.com

  • ravenlocks

    Wow…I never knew there was so much to learn when becoming a mother for the first time. I always just assumed things would "just click" or fall in place.

    But you look beautiful! You're glowing and your fashion sense is still amazing <3

    xo Azu

    http://www.raven-locks.blogspot.com

  • Liz | Shopping My Closet

    I, too, like you couldn't wait to have so fresh sushi and sashimi!

    Liz @ ShoppingMyCloset.com

  • Beth Norton

    Oh Helena I absolutely love reading your pregnancy updates!

    You look so gorgeous, even if at times, you don't feel it. It's been a pleasure to embark on this journey with you and I can't wait to see your little one in a few months time.

    Beth x

    http://www.bethnorton.co.uk

  • Liz Lauren

    you look amazing

    http://hashtagliz.com

  • Little G

    you look gorgeous! Pregnancy definitely becomes you 🙂 You're almost there – best of luck, all will be great! 🙂

  • Julie Hiller

    Thanks for sharing this update–it's nice to see what pregnancy is really like. You look lovely, by the way!

    Lifestyle by Joules

  • Shari Barnes

    The best advice I received when in the hospital giving birth is to breastfeed in private at the beginning (it can become frustrating when and if the baby does not latch), also if you have a bunch of family members visiting in the hospital it can become frustrating and overwhelming. Also you get your most milk between 12am-6am (sucks right lol). Last thing your milk is like supply and demand, the more you pump/feed it will increase your milk production. Usually when you get into a groove you may think I can sleep through the night, but you still need to pump to keep your supply up. When my supply went down I used Fenugreek vitamins and tea (it worked for me). Good luck on your delivery!!

    One last thing sleep when your baby sleeps!!

  • THE NEON FACTOR | Diana

    You look beautiful!

    || D I A N A ||
    http://www.TheNeonFactor.com

  • Nicole Layne

    You look beautiful here! Thanks for sharing!

    Nicole
    Nicole to the Nines

  • Vanessa Ciliberto

    you look so beautiful!!

    TheVogueWord
    TheVogueWord

  • Retromoderna

    Super 🙂

  • Monika Wlodarczyk

    Love this jacket! You look beautiful!
    Love,
    http://www.thestyleventure.com

  • Marta

    You look really nice! I love the dress!

    http://MARTASFASHIONDIARY.com/blue-suede-skirt/

  • Vicky Sullivan

    You look amazing! It's so great to finally read something on the Internet that doesn't make pregnancy look scary. Thanks for being honest and positive.

    xo,
    Vicky
    http://www.aspiringsocialite.com/

  • Anonymous

    I think your attitude is wonderful; reading books and attending endless classes is fine, but taking things as they come will probably save your sanity in the long run.

    Don't worry about the skin pigmentation; hCG binds to malanocortin receptors in the skin, causing it to appear darker in some parts. It absolutely should go away postpartum.

    As far as the post-baby blues, it's the rapidly declining progesterone levels that cause the depressive state. If you're prepared for these feelings you'll surely be better equipped to handle them.

    Your hair will also start falling out like crazy after you deliver – don't worry, that's completely normal! Right now your body is hanging onto hair that should have fallen out anyway, so you'll lose it all at once without having any increased net loss of hair.

    Lastly, very few women truly cannot breastfeed (and it's almost always pathological, like damage to the pituitary/tumor/problems with receptors), so keep that in mind if you're having any difficulties with it.

    Congratulations!!

  • Shadowy Lady

    Love reading your updates Helena.

    One thing I wish other moms had told me was the post birth period. Labour, no matter how long or difficult, passes quickly. Mine in fact was only 4 hours! But after birth, the bleeding, contraction when you breastfeed, body still looking off after baby is out… No one talk about these. I was the first of my friends to have a baby so I learned a lot from message boards.

  • Abbie E. // Abulous Life

    Great post! Love your jacket!
    Abbie E.
    abulouslife.blogspot.com

  • Vera

    You look stunning. Amazing post!

    Blonde in Cashmere

  • Angernia

    Wow you look great dear love the outfit
    http://www.okmi.it/

  • Carey King

    The post baby blues- I felt fine after my little boy, overwhelmed but ok, but I couldn't understand why suddenly the smallest things made me feel so angry like I could punch through a wall, anyway looked it up and this is a post partum depression thing.. Just a helpful tip cause I had no idea:)

  • Heather

    I'm due with my 3rd baby (2nd pregnancy… I have 2 year old boy/girl twins) on Wednesday, March 9th. The sleepless nights are rough! I remember crying so much in the middle of the night with my twins saying "Why won't you go to sleep? Why are you still hungry? You just ate an hour ago!" It's so stressful.
    In my opinion, getting your baby on a schedule is the most important thing you can do. It will keep you and your baby sane. Kids love routine. They know what to expect and it will help you be able to plan your life like running errands, meeting up with friends, and to make it easier when someone else is watching your baby. The most helpful book I found was "12 Hours Sleep by 12 Weeks Old". It had a great strategy to gradually get your baby on a schedule.
    Not all babies are the same. Find out what works for you and your family. Good luck!

  • Kristie Glenn

    You look amazing! I actually love the iPhone pic!

    http://www.bluelabelsboutique.com
    http:///www.fashionnotfear.wordpress.com

  • Yuliia Lysiuk

    You look soo amazing! I'm 28 weeks pregnant, and I'm so afraid of giving birth that don't even want to think about it 🙁 So you must be a very brave lady!

  • Katie

    You've done so well with your pregnancy – way to go for staying healthy! That's amazing!

    Katie

    http://www.lamiabellavita.com

  • Adela Acanski

    Nice post and pretty outfit!

    Have a lovely weekend
    kisses Adela Acanski

  • BELLE

    YOU LOOK LOVELY PREGNANT. I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO DOA CHEMICAL PEEL BUT AM AFRAID AS TO WHERE TO GO. WOULD YOU MIND SHARING PLACES YOU WOULD RECOMMEND. THANK YOU.

  • Daily Reup

    She looks awesome!! love this outfit!

    Daily Reup
    Bryan Barrera

  • alyssa amato

    You look amazing! Love reading your updates. xx

    http://www.fashionsensored.com

  • Tracey

    Congrats on the soon-to-be new addition to the family. You look great!

  • Fatma

    What a great update!! I’m in love with your design!
    Hope you are doing well.

    Love

  • Annie Abbey

    This is so exciting! You are totally glowing and you look amazing! I hope that all goes well for you in the next few weeks! Eee so exciting!
    xx Annie
    http://www.somethingswellblog.com/

  • Sandra

    You look possitively glowing! Good luck with the rest oF your pregnancy. Breast feeding isn’t Hard for everyone, but i think the most importsnt thing is to listen to Your body and ask for help if tou feEl you need iT. Sometimes it can take a little time -up to a few days -before the milk stars to flow, since it can be stressing to not have milk fOr the baby, You Can always combine formula with breast feeding. The goOd thing about that is that the father can help and get a close relationship with the baby. Oh, and just so yOu knoW, the milK iS usually thinner in the evenings so if you plan on combinE the two, it’s goOd to give formula in the evenings so the chances increase that the baby can sleep for a longer period during the night. All the best to you and i hope you make the choiCes that are best for you and don’t listen too much to Everyone else.

  • Susan

    I also had major citrus cravinGs when i was preGnanT- I Ate sooo many oranges and drank Lots and lots of lemon water! Best wisHes to you as you start this new exciting part of your life. PS- the new blog design looks great. PPs- Thank you for the skin care posts- i got into using BioLogique proDucts after reading your blOg and it has helped my (adult acne proNe) skin tremendously.

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