Things I Didn't Know Before: Pregnancy

Welcome to our FIRST "Things I Didn't Know BEFORE" blog post.

Today's topic is pregnancy.

Please know before you continue reading that this was a joint effort - from myself & my readers// followers. It was not created for any other reason than comic relief, solidarity & a smidge of empowerment + awareness.

Due to the nature of this post, I'd like to say to all of my dear friends who are TTC, healing from loss or battling infertility - I'm PRAYING for you. Remember, God is faithful. He will complete your family in His perfect way & in His perfect timing.

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Ahhhhh pregnancy.

A surprise to some.

The emotional or physical sporting event of a lifetime for others.

The moment you pee on that stick & see those double lines, plus sign or that POWERFUL 8 letter word.. life, as you know it, changes forever.

And so begins the adventure that will change your mind, body & heart in ways you quite literally NEVER imagined possible.

I was one of those some might call obnoxious who absolutely LOVED being pregnant.

My husband & I tried very HARD for a baby, lost our first in miscarriage (read about that here) & then conceived again after with our now miracle baby who is 6 months old & prepping for college as I type this.

I savored it ALL.

I rubbed my belly CONSTANTLY.

I blogged WEEKLY after I made it through the first trimester.

I made the infamous weekly photos with the baby's fruit size equivalent.

Aside from some intense nausea + puking the first several weeks, I had a seemingly "easy" & uneventful pregnancy, physically.

Emotionally & mentally, there's a battle that lingers for EVERY mother who has ever lost a pregnancy. But that's another post for another time.

Today's post is to chat about ALL the things I didn't know before.

Isn't it funny - we do our research on HOW to get pregnant.

We prepare on HOW to give birth.

But what about those months in between?

Well, I've learned that NO amount of reading quite prepares you for pregnancy.

Because, it's the season of life in which ANYTHING goes.

Abnormal hair growth?

"oh that happened to me too.."

pregnancy.

Crying during a laundry detergent commercial?

Yep.

pregnancy.

Vomitting triggered by the stench of stuff you actually like?

ahhhhh..

sweet pregnancy.

No doubt - we all have our stories.

Each one unique to mommas & their babies.

Some utterly difficult & some "rainbows & butterflies."

At the end of the day, we were all so privileged to carry our children.

And they are ALL sweet miracles.

But here's the nitty gritty.. hilarious.. embarrassing.. TRUTH

The things we DIDN'T know before

PREGNANCY.

________________________________________

1. fatigue

Carrying a baby the size of an apple seed doesn't seem like it would require much effort, right?

WRONG.

It's AMAZING how something so small could have such a HUGE effect on your body & your mind in this way.

But when you think about it - your body is growing, nurturing & helping develop a tiny HUMAN. Girl, your body is WERKING.

So be prepared to be tired.

Initially it'll likely be 24/7 in the first trimester that you feel this inexplicable tiredness. I remember the first several weeks of my pregnancies, falling asleep ANYTIME I got in a horizontal position. Maybe even just reclined.. Whether that was at 6:30pm in bed or 10am on the floor next to the dogs - mama was OUT. Comfort, blanket & a bed were totally UNNECESSARY for sleep.

Later on in pregnancy, it'll get better.

You might even get a "surge" of energy!

Then, that all too familiar feeling comes back towards the end. But fortunately at that point you're either so large & uncomfortable or your baby is so big & won't stop moving that you can't sleep it off if you wanted to.. you're not missing out! 

People poke fun & say things like "Oh, you think you're tired now. Just wait until the baby is born." And while there's some truth in that annoying statement - the pregnancy fatigue is most definitely real. I think the fatigue we experience in pregnancy is God's way of easing us in & preparing us for the first couple of months with a newborn.

Hang in there, mama.

You'll sleep again one day!

2. heart burn

And you thought only dragons breathed fire.

Nope to the nope.

There's no other way to describe pregnancy heartburn than with that analogy.

What's weird-er.. pretend that's a word..is the fact that the triggers are totally RANDOM & change often.

Peanut butter?

Yogurt?

Eggs?

Water?

Air?

The stuff you probably ate all the time before without issue..

It's so odd, y'all.

I remember wanting so badly to avoid medication during pregnancy - I tried EVERY natural remedy in the book for heartburn. Unfortunately, none of them worked consistently. So I caved around month 8 when it got out of control & tried tums. Turns out that tums don't really work either. Should've never caved.

Fortunately, my heartburn came in waves for the majority of my pregnancy. Only the final 6 weeks seemed more constant or really intensified during sleep.

Found a natural remedy that worked for you though?

Better drop it in the comments!

3. not all rainbows and butterflies

So my pregnancy was WONDERFUL. Aside from a rough first trimester, the anxiety from experiencing a miscarriage previously & the normal difficulties throughout, my experience was without extreme issue. I loved my bump & can't wait to do it all over again one day.

That being SAID..

This is NOT everyone's experience.

I think it's important to have appropriate expectations - to remember what your body is going through & what it's accomplishing over the course of these 40 weeks. Mindset really matters. And embracing the process. It's not going to be easy or comfortable, but it can still be wonderful!!

But, for a "lucky few" - it doesn't matter what they do or believe. Pregnancy is simply brutal on their bodies. Nausea & vomitting from day 1 to delivery is the reality for some women, my poor older sister included.

So, if you're having the rainbows & butterflies experience - cherish it.

And if you know a friend who is.. NOT.. take her a meal, buy her a pedicure certificate & send some encouragement her way!

4. pee

HoMyGah.

Forget trying to snag a great view - you're picking seats now for BATHROOM proximity.

Oh & your favorite side of the bed? You better make sure it's closest to the toilet. Because you're going to have to pee ALL the time & with progressively less notice as that precious bean of yours decides to kick or POUND on your bladder.

Embrace the 10 bathroom breaks at night - find some reading to help you get back to sleep each time. Better yet, practice any birthing visualizations, relaxation techniques or breathing to get sleepy again.

And maybe - just maybe - grab a panty liner for back up.

If not for accidental pee leakage, then for the insane amounts of *I'm so sorry but I'm going THERE* discharge you might be noticing in your britches.

5. nipples

You thought I was going to talk about sensitivity, right?

While that is SO true & you might just swat your fella for even having the THOUGHT of touching your boobs - I'm talking about another boob topic here.

The millions of ways our bodies prepare for birth & the care of our baby (specifically feeding) is nothing shy of incredible. But MAN, some - errr many - of these changes are NOT sexy.

Obviously your boobs are going to change as they prepare to feed, right?

^^This is to be continued^^

But your NIPPLES?

And your areolas??

Oh yes.

Prepare for your world to be rocked.

And take comfort knowing it's NOT just happening to YOU.

Blogs are for over sharing, right?

I can't believe I'm getting this personal.

But here we go..

I remember at one point during pregnancy Nate started referring to my areola/nipple region as pepperonis. And not the little ones you put on pizza either. "You know, the deli sliced size."

I DIED the first time he made that joke.

Why?

Because it was SO true.

Think DARK & the size of saucers!

But you know what's AWESOME??

Your body does this so your newborn can easily find your breasts to latch!

#AMAZING

And.. they go back to "normal," believe it or not.

6. oozing

Let's continue with a variation of our last topic, shall we?

As you near the end of pregnancy, be prepared for some oozing or other forms of "leakage." Sexy, right? Haha

I promise you're not falling apart.

It's yet another sign of preparation for feeding that baby.

(kind of amazing though when you think about it..)

You guessed it,

You will PROBABLY leak colostrum.

And it MIGHT happen much much sooner than you'd expect.

So if you find wet spots on your shirt/bra or see little droplets when you're changing or getting out of the shower - don't be alarmed.

While you probably won't need any breast pads for protection, you might need to make sure you bra up as a barrier the last couple of months.

7. stranger danger

While this is an important topic of mental + physical preparation for ALL mamas-to-be, it is ESPECIALLY pertinent for the expecting introvert.

When you're pregnant, you will become a MAGNET for people's eyes, conversations & HANDS.

More on that last part later..

Be prepared to deal with & work through that stranger danger.

Because the rest of the world thinks that pregnant women know no strangers.

But this pregnant woman begged to differ.

Either put on your blinders & become a speed walking ninja everywhere you go (better yet, wear earbuds ALL the time) or prep a few short key responses.

Just know, it's coming.

#bringontheanxietymeds

8. advice

I'm pretty sure that people love talking about nothing more than their own experience with pregnant women.

I mean, heck.. I'm writing this friggin blog post, right!?

Not quite the same since you're choosing to read it.

BUT advice - you know, the unsolicited, don't care or did NOT need to know kind - is abundant, my dear.

Don't be afraid to tune people out or say "thanks, but no thanks" while you're mentally preparing for birth or parenthood.

It's A-OK to filter what you're taking in, as an effort to master + maintain a positive mindset.

9. plug

Plug? WHAT plug?

Oh yes.. you have a plug.

And you're going to lose said plug.

How many times can I type plug in a minute..

I'm going to have you google "mucous plug" in another internet window & proceed with caution.. especially if you're going to view images.

Then come back to this post & join in again.

Not everyone gets the "joy" of seeing their plug when it's lost, which is typically a couple of weeks to days before labor begins. But some of us, myself included, do.

So if you're using the bathroom, showering or changing your undies & see what looks to be some sort of mucous.. it is. Still confused? Like, your V just blew her nose in your pants.

*did she just type that?*

Gross, I know.

BUT - it's SUPPOSED to happen. And it's another sign that your body is gearing up for the big day!! Eww.. I mean, YAY! haha

10. hormones

I still haven't decided which are worse, pregnancy hormones or postpartum hormones. Let's just say they're BOTH super intense.

Hormones causing you to cry.. errr SOB.. during commercials or while folding baby laundry are the SAME hormones leaving you ready to murder your spouse for the smallest thing.. like, leaving the store without one of the TEN important must haves you've had a hankering for. Bless their hearts.

You're not a basket case, mama. You're just pregnant.

11. Dat nose

Prepare to be impressed with yourself.. again.

Girlfriend, your sniffer is going to develop SKILLZ - like, the equivalent to a team of cracked-out blood hounds tracking a scent.

I kid you not.

You'll be able to smell what your husband had for lunch five days ago - what the walmart staff brought for their lunch & put in the break room from the CHECKOUT line - & all of the "unscented" items in your home.

The overload of all these scents can be a lot though.

Beware of NEW things.

And beware of familiar things becoming repulsive.

One Saturday morning my husband was opening up some coffee beans to grind & brew, note that I LOVE coffee, but the literal INSTANT I smelled it, I threw up in the sink. 

It's the weirdest thing.

This combined with nesting - stay tuned - produces the cleanest house everrrrr.

#findallthedirt

12. time flies.. or it crawls

One day you're counting down the days, just imagining what it will be like to have your due date right around the corner.

Then, you'll hit the point where you count the number of weekends you have left before baby & you'll PANIC that there's not enough time to tackle your to do list.. or to have dates with your spouse.. or sleep in (well, try to).

THEN, you'll hit your final month of pregnancy.

And while most months of the year have between 28-31 days, your last month of pregnancy has approximately 453.

It's the my odd experience to feel like you've time warped & also that the moments stand as you anticipate baby.

13. that MOP though

If there was ONE thing I could physically bring back from pregnancy (besides the cute bump & feeling baby kicks, obvi), I would HANDS down want my hair back.

You should google it so you know the exact science behind it all, but basically you stop shedding like you normally do while you're pregnant.

What does that mean?

CUE THE VOLUME, GIRL!!!

..like, shampoo model status.

For reals.

So soak it up.

Becauseeeeee the portpartum hair LOSS sucks.

But those 9 months of leading up to it - they're GLORIOUS!

14. oh it's "NORMAL"

I kind of joked around this in the beginning of this post, but it couldn't be more true. When you have symptoms, feelings or experiences from conception until birth - do NOT be shocked when you google it & it's SOMEHOW a "normal" or potential side affect of pregnancy.

And I'm not just talking about normal stuff.. but off the wall things.

It's funny if you don't stress too much.

Laugh about it & write it down so you can remember it all later!

(seriously, it would be HILARIOUS to go back through my google history through pregnancy. Stuff you NEVER thought you'd type..)

15. sex

Yep, I'm going there.

**If you're related to me by marriage - consider yourself warned & I'd go ahead and just skip right over this one**

Back to sex.

It's what got you here, right?

Maybe it was whoops sex - or maybe it was scheduled, trying to conceive sex.

Sex during pregnancy is so interesting though.

You'll either WANT it.. often.

You'll forget it exists because you're EXHAUSTED - don't worry this is temporary.

Or want to be FAR from it.. not because of your spouse, but because "HELLO there's a human inside of me."

If you're the latter, let me encourage you.

Take the time to stay romantically connected to your spouse during pregnancy.

Gosh, it's such a special time together before the BIGGEST change in your relationship. Cherish those moments - know you are BEAUTIFUL - and connect with that person you created LIFE with.

*also note that you maybe want to attempt some new positions for comfort. okay, TMI train out!*

Because there's no sex for 6 weeks after baby.

Then after that, it's like a new world finding your sexual "rhythm" again.

So GO for it!

Bow-chicka-bow-wow

16. the wand

Wand.. a WAND?

Like fairy Godmother wand?

"oh Lord, where's she going with this?"

Maybe you're so far passed it that you've already forgotten.

#pregnancybrain

#mombrain

Or maybe you're so early on that you haven't experienced it yet.

Just picture it..

You're FIRST prenatal visit.

You're SO excited for that 8-10 week ultrasound.

You count down the days.

You have butterflies on your way to the office.

You step into the room, heart beating out of your chest & the nurse says "okay, you can go ahead & get undressed from the waist down. Just sit on the table & cover yourself with this sheet."

You think to yourself, "that's weird." But you roll with it.

The, you hop up on the table, prior feelings resume.

The nurse says, "okay, honey. put your put up on here & scoot your bottom down."

You act like everything's normal & you're not at all caught off guard, but on the inside you're thinking "UH, does she KNOW I'm not here for my pap!?!"

THEN, the wand comes out. She squirts some warm lube on the end. And you can imagine the rest.

Meet - the wand.

Fortunately, you don't give two RIPS about the wand because hopefully you're getting to see your precious little bean of a baby for the first time & see a flickering heartbeat.

You're do it over & over again for that magical moment.

Adios, wand!!

Ultrasounds from here on out are on that belly, momma!

(Mamas reading this who have experienced loss - my heart is with you. I'll never forget the moment my world shattered when I saw our first baby on an ultrasound with no heart beat. Your time is coming. Until then, keep believing, dear one)

17. you know I'm just pregnant, right?

Okay so how about this one..

You're out & about, doing your thing.

You're picking up some groceries & at the check out, the bagger asks if you need help carrying those three bags to the car.

Exsqueeze me?

Or, you're at the post office. Mailing back some maternity clothes that don't fit your preggo body. You're standing in line, chilling, & the woman in the front of the line offers you to go in front of her.

Oh thanks.. wait, what?

Come on, now.

What am I, y'all?

That first example was real life OTEN & used to annoy me so much.

I'd tell people - I workout daily so I promise I can carry my groceries..

Seriously, the day I walked out with a watermelon on my hip around 30ish weeks, you would've thought I had a third eye!

The second example is also a true story - it me feel so awkward because I didn't feel like I needed the special treatment. NOW, while it would have been awesome to skip those ten spots to the front of the line, I just couldn't justify it.

It doesn't come from a bad place when people make these offers.

But it DID somehow surprise me every time.

Maybe you'll love the perks & attention.

Or maybe you're like me & you'll need this response saved for constant use.

Because I might have a BELLY, so I'm super hella capable, y'all.

*okay, don't say that out loud*

And this bump doesn't impact my abilities (for the most part),

to stand in line or carry things.

*don't say that quite yet either UNLESS they're persistent*

But this works..

"You know I'm just pregnant, right?"

And go on with your bad self..

18. personal space

Okay this one is the last about PEOPLE.

Can you tell I'm an introvert yet!?? Ha..

You know that normal bubble people have?

The normal space around your body that people respect because, well, it's YOUR friggin BODY?

Yeah.

It disappears when your pregnant.

(& with a baby, but I'll save that for later because I'm still figuring it out)

This, perhaps, infuriated me most.

Mostly because people assume their rights to your body.

People will reach &, if they make contact, touch or rub your belly.

Are you cringing like I am just thinking about it?

Somehow it's forgotten that your belly is an extension of YOU & your personal space - which was TERRIFYING for me.

Nate & I had a long chat about this early on - he finally understood where I was coming from - and would run my "interference" when we were out & about.

#husbandoftheyearagain

So heads up, incase you're a PersonalSpace offender,

but hadn't thought about it before.

Ask first.

Do NOT be offended if you hear, "no thanks."

It's not your right.

It's my body.

Nuff. Said.

19. nesting

Nope - you're not on crack.

Yes, those closets NEED to be reorganized 3 times.

It's totally normal.

You're NESTING, mama.

I'll try to explain it.

The URGE you feel to prepare.

But you just have to experience it.

Suddenly your environment, the one that you've LIVED IN.. that you've possibly been prepping for months, is suddenly NOT clean anymore or ready enough for a baby.

One day you wake up & realize you need to PURGE, POLISH & TIDY..

ev.ry.thing.

Don't feel crazy.

And don't be surprised if your hubby goes through his own version of this.

Nate actually pressure washed our entire house & cleaned the garage before Raegan was born. I might have made the suggestion, but he TOTALLY thought it made sense & obliged. Ha

Nest away, mama bird!

20. mama bear instinct

Speaking of animals.

first a bird, now a bear.

Let's talk about some straight primal instinct.

Oofta!

It's intense.

The innate feeling of responsibility & the engrained need to PROTECT something.. rather someONE you haven't even held in your hands yet. 

If that WAVE of instinct & emotion hasn't quite taken hold yet,

it's just a matter of time.

I remember early on in my pregnancy with Raegan - we were painting her room one night. I was imagining her in it. I was imagining her growing up.

Suddenly..

I was imagining going to bat for her. In the most random scenarios.

Protecting her. Guarding her.

My body got HOT. I started to sweat.

And I was suddenly ready to put the SMACK DOWN on someone for my girl.

..who was nestled in my belly.

You may have thought this would start when the baby was born.

But it actually only intensifies that day.

Don't feel bad.. or weird.

..again.

That instinct.

That intuition.

That line you teeter on.

The readiness to defend & protect..

That GUT feeling.

It's ALWAYS right, as long as that little one is under your care!

Trust it.

It's there for a reason!

21. love

Everyone says this.

And it's completely true.

There's no love like the love for a child.

It's such a privilege.

It's a gift.

It's nearly miraculous.

Becoming a parent uncovers sides of you you NEVER knew existed.

It fills your life with something you didn't know was missing.

The day you get a positive test - the day you see that heartbeat for the first time - the first time you feel a squirm & kick - the moment you go into labor & know it's only a matter of time before you meet that child for the first time - your body & soul is washed over with a love words can't quite describe.

And just when you think it can't grow, your baby is born.

*cue the water works*

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Pregnancy.

It's such an incredible, interesting experience that you simple cannot compare to anything else you'll ever go through.

I hope you've enjoyed this post.

I hope you've laughed a little.

I hope you feel prepared.

I hope you feel some solidarity, mama!

 Because I had fun writing this - and reliving my own pregnancy!!

So what's next up in our "THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE.." blog series?

Stay tuned!!

Carrot Bread Muffins: 80 Day Obsession Approved Recipe

Some of you know that my husband & I recently started a new program that we're a little over 5 weeks into.

Details on our 80 Day Obsession progress (4 week photos/results!! woowoo)

& WHAT the program is coming to the blog SOON.

Well, a HUGE part of this program is the nutrition plan - not just the WHAT to eat, but the HOW MUCH & even the WHEN to eat it.

Our first meal of the day is a little after 5am & we've gotta have some sort of veggie, grain & protein combination.

That's EARLY for a full meal, right?! So I'm sure you can see the appeal of finding some winning recipes to try!

For the first few weeks, we were chowing down on egg + spinach muffins with toast & peanut butter OR turkey bacon with cut broccoli (yes, I'm serious) with oats & peanut butter. Some days it just felt like a LOT to eat so early. Other days, it was fine but we were still becoming eager for a little variety in our mornings.

Enter THIS recipe - which we saw many variations of online, but found our own little sweet spot combination that we INHALED this morning at 5:15 & decided was going to be part of our regular meal repertoire!!

Shout out to my hubby, Nate, for making them.

You da best, boo.

So whether you're on a regimented meal plan also, are simply trying to find another healthy breakfast or snack OR maybe you're desperately needing to sneak veggies into food for your picky kids or spouse - you're going to want to give this recipe a spin.

CARROT BREAD MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup carrots

(roughly 10 large baby carrots)

1/4 cup rolled oats - uncooked

2 eggs

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. vanilla

(you could also throw in some clove, dried ginger or pumpkin pie spice!!)

*optional sweetener: truvia, stevia, agave or honey to taste*

(we used baking truvia to sweeten ours & stay on track with our meal plan!)

DIRECTIONS:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease muffins tins or miniature loaf pans.

(I use coconut oil baking spray).

Combine ingredients in blender & let it run until SMOOTH.

Pour mixture into muffin tins or mini loaf pans.

(One serving of this mix will "fill" 4 muffin tins OR 1 mini loaf pan)

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out of the center clean.

Remove from pan or tin & allow to cool on baking rack, before storing in fridge.

Why hello, beauties..

Oh! I can't forget!

Here's a little serving suggestion that takes this RIGHT over the top.

We added 1 teaspoon of natural, crunchy peanut butter to the top of our warm muffins before serving with a dash or three of cinnamon! Holy smokes it decadent.

{this is me literally eating my breakfast in bed this morning}

Y'ALL.

This was seriously so good. 

Simple, naturally "sweet", light & YUMMY!

And if you're working through the same program as us, it will likely fit ONE of your meal plan options to a T. For us, it's our pre-workout combo!!

For my friends following the Beachbody fixate meal plan, here is the container breakdown for 80 Day Obsession and 21 Day Fix:

Each serving is 1 red 1 yellow 1 green 1 teaspoon.

FYI, we made 6 total servings of this at one time & refrigerated them in our portions so all we have to do is heat, drizzle with PB & eat - so that's 24 muffins at once!

BULK PREP APPROVED!

*be realistic & open minded when you taste these the first time, friends. remember that these are very healthy muffins & taste really yummy. BUT, don't be expecting carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting when you bite in. Ha!*

Give this recipe a try & let me know what you think

+ if you make any awesome substitutions, share!

ENJOY!

Crock Pot Freezer Meals: A Postpartum Mama's Best Friend

One of the things I did to prep for baby #NESTINGFEVER was to make several, like 11 to be exact, crock pot freezer meals to get us through the first few weeks of having a newborn.

I can honestly say that it was THE most helpful thing I did.

The first 30 days of parenthood are literally the equivalent of military survival training. You deserve a freaking patch for making it through AND keeping that little human alive. I'm not saying it's not a wonderful time & full of precious moments - it is. HOWEVER, the first 30 days are full of nothing but the unknown.. exhaustion.. nipple pain.. + unlimited trial/error.

Cooking was the absolute LAST thing I had time for & eating was the #1 thing I'd forget to do. But we all know, it's SO important to eat good foods regularly after baby comes for your milk supply to come in.

So first - you need food.

Secondly - you need healthy foods.

Anddddd we all know that when people BRING you meals, 9 out of 10 times, it's a really unhealthy plethora of casserole type dishes & comfort foods.

Trust me, you'll want to do this.

Make the time.

Prep at least 4 or 5 meals.

But go for 10 if you have the freezer room.

I promise you won't regret it!

I whipped up a couple of my own personal "recipes" during pre baby food prep, but I primarily used THIS post for my inspiration!

We loved the convenience of these crock pot freezer meals so much that about a month or so after Reagan was born, we made about 6 more to get us through the next month!

(our peanut had some ROUGH reflux when she was teeny so these were seriously a blessing to have on hand).

Keep in mind, these are not my original recipes.

The original link/source is a couple sentences up.

Sharing is caring, though!

So here ya go.

First up..

Mushroom Barley Stew

Prep/Bag:

1 pound Baby Bella mushrooms, sliced

2 carrots, sliced

1 rib celery, diced

1 onion, diced

1, 15-ounce can diced tomatoes

1 cup uncooked pearl barley

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon black pepper

Day of:

Add 1 1/2 cups of water to slow cooker before cooking
Cook Time: 8 to 10 hours on low
Serves 6 to 8

Second..

Hearty Lentil Stew

Prep/Bag:

1 onion, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

2 cups peeled and diced (1/4 inch cubes) sweet potatoes

1 cup red lentils

½ cup washed quinoa

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 teaspoon oregano

Day of:

Add 5 cups stock (I used veggie stock) to the slow cooker before cooking.

Cook Time: 6- 8 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high

Serves 6 to 8

Third..

Teriyaki Chicken

Prep/Bag:

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken, thighs or breast, cut into bite-size pieces

(I recommend thighs, they don’t dry out as much in the slow cooker)

½ cup soy sauce
(I used liquid aminos in place of soy sauce)

¼ cup rice wine vinegar

¼ cup maple syrup
(I used agave in place of maple syrup)

1, 20-ounce can pineapple chunks

2 cloves garlic, minced

Day of:

Cook Time: 8 hours on low

Serve with: cooked brown rice and green veggies

Serves 6 to 8

Fourth..

Vegetable Beef Stew

Prep/Bag:

2 pounds stew meat

1 onion, diced

2 carrots, sliced

2 cups green beans, broke into bite-sized pieces

1 cup sweet corn

2 tablespoons beef stock base (I like Organic Better than Bullion)

1 teaspoon salt

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ cup apple juice
(I left out the apple juice)

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Day of:
Add 1 1/2 cups of water to slow cooker before cooking

Cook Time: 8 to 10 hours on low

Serves 6 to 8

Fifth..

Beef Stroganoff

Prep/Bag:

1 pounds stew meat

1 pound sliced baby bella mushrooms

1 onion, diced

½ cup apple juice
(I left out the apple juice)

1 tablespoon beef stock base (I like Organic Better than Bullion)

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

Day of: Add 1 cup water to the slow cooker before cooking. Stir in 1 cup of sour cream just before serving.

Day Of:

Cook Time: 8 hours on low

Serve with: quinoa or brown rice and green beans

Serves 6 to 8

*I stirred in greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
Additionally, I used turkey in meatball form*

Sixth & final..

White Chicken Chili

Prep/Bag:

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed

(you can also cook this all together with the breastz whole & shred in the crock pot at the end if you prefer) 

2 cups of frozen corn

1, 15-ounce can black beans

1 can of diced tomatoes and green chilis

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 onion, diced

Juice from 2 limes

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

Day Of:

Add 2 cups of chicken stock to slow cooker before cooking

Cook Time: 6- 8 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high

Serve with: quinoa or tortilla chips.
Top with greek yogurt, cheese, olives and/or salsa!

Serves 6 to 8

 Want more crock pot freezer inspiration??
Pinterest is where it's AT, y'all!!

And don't forget that you can find loads of recipe inspiration that you can always tweak to be healthier or to appeal to your taste buds.

If you end up trying any of these out, be sure let me know what you think and/or what you switched up.

Happy PREPPING, mamas!

Hospital Bag 101: What this First Time Momma Packed

The 48 hour stay of a lifetime?

A trip you know you'll NEVER be the same after..

How the HECK are you supposed to know everything you need to pack in your hospital bag?!

Woosah, sweet mama.

I'll start by saying that I had a natural birth - at a hospital of my choice - with a midwife on call I had met previously (not my personal midwife from prenatal care) & without any serious complications.

These things certainly factored into how I packed & what I ended up using.

So first, I created a list for me, hubby, baby, our hospital staff & miscellaneous.

Because ladies - you KNOW we're taking care of everyone else too, right?

Let's start with the hubby {or your significant other}.

For HIM:

a sleeping bag + possibly a pillow.. he's going to be on a pull out chair or "love seat" next to you. And you know the saying if you man ain't happy - well, he won't be able to function properly. So get the man his sleeping necessities.

comfy clothes + some warmies because hospitals are FREEZING + clothes he can wear while you labor. I had my husband bring shorts he didn't mind wearing into the birthing tub with me.

phone charger

a bag of vending machine change/bills.. you know he's going to want coffee & snacks. Also, some hospitals charge the spouse for each meal had with momma, which is usually cash only (we paid $5 per meal).

pre-workout blend for a mental/energy boost. I knew we were going to be running primarily on adrenaline, but wanted to have some plant based reinforcement. So I stashed some single serving packets of a blend called energize in hubbies bag & he was MEGA grateful!

(message me for info on "energize" - lindseykollar@yahoo.com)

Snacks.. nothing refrigerated, of course, unless you're wanting to share fridge space with the entire L&D floor. Grab some protein bars, some trail mix & maybe some candy to keep him sweet.

A re-fillable water bottle.

Toiletries.

Now let's hash out a list for that sweet peanut.

BABY:

A "receiving" + take home outfit.

I personally only used two pairs of jammies during our hospital stay!

This was partially because our peanut came out newborn size, which was totally unexpected. We actually had to amazon prime NB diapers & order teeny clothing the morning she was born so we'd have stuff when we got home! You might find that you want lots of options with you at the hospital - jammies, outfits, hats & headbands. I personally just kept it minimal.

a nursing pillow - maybe you'll use it a ton & maybe you won't. BUT nursing that baby around the clock while being half asleep & trying different positions - you might really like the comfort & support it offers. Just throw it in the car.

memory book or something for them to put those teeny tiny foot prints on!

I found this gem on Amazon. It's PRECIOUS, y'all.

carseat.. only if you're planning to leave the hospital. ha

bring your diaper bag, loaded with items like diapers, wipes & more for the drive home. You might be thinking "girl, our drive home is only 25 minutes." Let me just tell you - our 25 minute drive home was the most STRESSFUL ride. We made it across the street from the hospital before we had to stop, soothe & nurse our girl again. Have Z E R O expectations. It might go great! Or it might take a little longer than you expect. So just be prepared!

Honestly, if you forget stuff - you'll be okay.

The hospital is going to technically have everything you NEED to survive your stay. Don't stress about making sure you "have it all" for baby! Ultimately what you & your baby need are diapers & boobs!

And last but not least.. YOU!

For MAMA:

Okay, girl. Your list is a little longer. But that's because you got LOTS going on.

Nursing bras.. go for comfort & get a set of those sleep nursing bras! Maybe bring a set of nursing pads too JUST incase you ooze a bit. My friend Meagan gifted me some sleep nursing bras from Target (THESE) that I ended up snagging more of after Reagan was born.

(I also bought these & use them to this day at 7.5 months PP)

NIPPLE CREAM or balm. Hands down. You need it. Those puppies are going through some SERIOUS changes & are in high demand. That cream is sweet relief!

And be aware that the creams that have a petroleum base will leave marks on your bras & tops so maybe take into consideration the colors you wear to avoid circles on your boobs in photos.

(I used this primarily, but would probably just try coconut oil next time!)

Bring some of your personal toiletries - when you do finally get to take a shower, even though it might be 5 minutes, it'll be so refreshing! So snag shampoo, soap & lotion you like.

This is a great mama spray for your lady bits! While I was at the hospital, I took advantage of the GINORMOUS crotch ice packs they had & used them around the clock - making multiple shameless trips to the desk to ask for more. But once I got HOME, I used these panty pops and they were LIFE. At Reagan's first pediatrician appointment, the doctor came in the room & said "wow it smells great in here - like a spa!" I smiled at Nate as we walked out & said "you know she was talking about my panty pops, right?" They WORK & keep you FRESH fresh fresh! HERE is the link to my panty pop recipe!

ALSO.. because there is literally no such thing as TMI in the world of pregnancy, childbirth & motherhood -- pack yoself some stool softener to start popping after baby. I didn't have any tearing during birth BUT I still didn't envy the idea of having to push ANYTHING out of my body after baby. Go to the store, grab a bottle & run through the self check out!

Comfy undies. You might be surprised how much you like those sexy mesh hospital grade panties after delivery. But once you're showered, you're going to want something a little more snug. I'd definitely recommend some black or navy colored boy shorts!

Water bottle & hydration blend. You'll need to be chugging water during labor & after delivery while you're trying to get your milk to come in. I personally drank an electrolyte blend called "hydrate" to help with this process while avoiding extra sugar from an alternative like Gatorade. Life saver!

(MAMAS: message me for info on "hydrate" lindseykollar@yahoo.com)

Glasses & contacts.

If you use prescription eye wear - I'd recommend bringing both!

Chapstick. You will want this ESPECIALLY if you're having a natural birth & are breathing through each contraction.

Tinted moisturizure.

Maybe you want to fully "glam" while you're at the hospital. Or maybe you're like me & you have the intention of throwing on some makeup, BUT in reality you end up just using your tinted moisturizuring to get a bit of a glow.

You'll be chilly & then you'll be HOT. So be sure to pack some sweats or lounge wear.. because the night sweats are intense while your hormones are on the rollercoaster of a lifetime & you're going to want all the comfy options while your body is recovering. I personally found that a zip-up jacket (old navy for the win!) was easy to take on/off + nurse in! I also wore light sweats because I wasn't ready to wear shorts & be so exposed during the day with visitors or staff in & out.

FLOPS.. because three words. Hospital floors & showers. Nuff said.

Snacks - you'll go from starving to completely forgetting to eat. Pack some snacks that are healthy & maybe even a treat for yourself. Hospital food is BLEH. So have a few options stashed in your bag! So what did I have? Cliff bars,  fig bars, trail mix, twizzlers & my ole faithful shakeology {a nutrient dense meal replacement that REALLY helps with digestion + natural energy, mamas}!!

Birth affirmations or inspiration - for me this was some scripture verses that Nate & I chose. Before I started pushing, he read them to me. It was the confidence from Jesus's promises in the bible that got me through that last phase of labor to hold my sweet girl in my arms! I also had some phrases that I ran through in my mind over & over again that I pulled from the Hypnobirthing book I read!

*I STILL have my pregnancy scriptures on cards next to my bed to this day*

What I forgot?

Essential oils! Would have DEFINITELY utilized these postpartum!

You can also use these during the labor process, but I didn't pack any because I labored at home until my contractions were 2 minutes apart.

Something I opted out of using?

Music. I wanted a quite, dim environment. BUT, you might LOVE having some of your favorite tunes playing! Make a playlist & put it on your phones.

And all of those other important, random items!

Miscellaneous:

Birth Plan. HELLO! So so important, I believe, to have a written list of your goals + preferences in the form of a birth plan.

(Here is the link to the PDF I used. SO easy to read, streamlined & focused)

your CAMERA!! For obvious reasons.

Also bring a back up battery.. you're welcome.

Ditch the purse, but bring your wallet with your IDs!

Goodies for your nursing staff!

Some of those ladies just go ABOVE & beyond. And you can't go wrong showing a little gratitude. PLUS, a few little gifts also can soften the staff up a bit to the list of personal preferences you may or may not have for birth/postpartum recovery/baby :) I personally brought some dark chocolates & healthy chocolate muffins for the break room + some starbucks gift cards for each shift nurse that took care of us!

(recipe to these DELICIOUS healthy muffins HERE)

 

I hope this helps you, mama to be!

Add or subtract to this list.

But at least it'll give you some bones to work with.. some ideas!

Now go get that bag packed.. which is actually more like 4 bags.. & put them in a GO spot with a LIST for whoever is grabbing everything before you head out the door to the hospital.

Good luck!!

As always, feel free to share this with a friend!