Healthy & Fit Pregnancy

Today I want to share what I do on a daily basis to have a healthy & fit pregnancy. 
I go above and beyond what the normal pregnant woman does... and I believe it has helped me in so many ways. So here goes!!! 

My favorite books about healthy & fit pregnancies are as follows: 
"The Mama-Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth", by Genevieve Howland  
"The Whole 9 Months", Jennifer Lang, MD 

When it comes to herbs and vitamins, I take a little bit more than the average momma. Prenatal's of course, but I also take a probiotic, citrus bioflavonoids, fish oil omega 3, magnesium, calcium, and spirulina. Each one of these have their benefits during pregnancy... and they are all super important. I take them every single day! 

Pregnancy tea is an amazing mixture of herbs, perfect for pregnancy! My mom makes me this loose leaf tea and I brew it every night for the following day. This tea has lots of benefits, but it's main one is it shortens your labor. Why would you not drink it?! This particular tea includes red raspberry leaf, alfalfa, nettles, oatstraw, and rose hips. 
 

I follow a pretty good diet. Plant based, lots of protein and clean eating. I use a lot of recipes from the books I mentioned above. This pregnancy has been easy because I haven't been as hungry as I was last time, and I don't have any cravings or morning sickness. So eating has been easy! But anyone can eat healthy during pregnancy...even those of you who struggle with the cravings or sickness. Make good choices and think about how everything you are eating is effecting that growing baby!!!

Now when it comes to fitness... that can be a little more tricky for some. It comes down to trust. You know your body, and you know what you can and can't handle. I was extremely into fitness before this pregnancy, so I continued with my regular routine for quite awhile. Now that I'm reaching my 3rd trimester, I have to be a little more careful. I still follow my yoga practice every single day, and I have a weight lifting routine I do. My favorite workout programs to follow for pregnancy are Yoga with Adriene & Blogilates on Youtube. There are also lots of great pregnancy weight lifting videos on there. Just get moving every single day! Whether it's a 20 minute walk, a stretching sequence, or an hour workout. Do what you can and keep yourself strong & flexible. You're going to need it for when this baby wants to come into the world! 

Eisley's Birth Story

August 13th, 2014 

It was a beautiful Thursday morning. We had just got our air conditioner fixed after a week of sweating my life away and sitting circled by fans... so I was enjoying being more comfortable than I'd been in what felt like forever. I was woken that morning around 8:00AM feeling some very strong braxton hicks contractions. I tried to just ignore them and sleep... but that was pretty much impossible. Every 10 minutes that same strong contraction woke me up. I finally got up and googled how women described contractions during the first stages of labor. Turns out, these were not braxton hicks. I was going to meet my baby today!!! 

I called my midwife, Amy, to let her know that I was in my first stage of labor. After desrcibing to her how I was feeling and how far apart the contractions were, she told me to relax and try to go about my day as normal. Baby would most likely come that evening! I let my husband and my mom know that today was the day (they were both working)... my mom had really short labors for all her babies, including the first; so we were expecting it to move along quickly. After making those phone calls, I tried to distract myself as much as possible. 

I made myself a good breakfast, oatmeal, and turned on some TV. It was definitely hard to focus on anything else though. I was restless and excited. The contractions continued every 10 minutes; and I remember thinking "this is going to get so much worse... Lord, help me." By 10AM my contractions were lasting longer and coming every 5-6 minutes. I was getting very restless, so I went ahead and asked Casey to come home. When he arrived, he started filling the birthing tub. It took about 4 hours to fill, pausing to let the water tank heat up again and again. 

During the early contractions, the easiest way to breathe through them was standing up... arms wrapped around Casey's neck. He was my rock, my support, and he helped me so much. Reminding me to breathe and just being there. I stayed distracted by playing Call of Duty for a little bit. We used the timer on the game to keep track of the contractions, and it was just an awesome way to keep things fun as long as we could. 

When my contractions got to be 60 seconds long every 5 minutes, we decided to have one of our midwives, Nina, come and check my cervix. She arrived at our house at 3:30PM... and I was 7 centimeters dilated! Good news! We called Amy and my mom to tell them to head on over. I went ahead and got into the birthing tub, hoping it would help with the pain that was growing stronger every minute. When I got in, it wasn't the automatic relief I had expected. It was nice and warm though, and definitely made the contractions less painful. It was nice to be able to move and float in the water. Made me feel lighter and more flexible. 

As time passed the contractions got stronger and came more often. It was definitely taking more concentration to breathe. Everyone who was there to support me were watching "That 70s Show"... and we were all just playing the waiting game. Casey sat near the tub, holding my hand and stroking my hair... reminding me to drink water and stay hydrated. It was at this time that my back pain started. Amy did some pressure points on my back during the contractions... which definitely helped. I tried to keep things light and easy in between contractions, making jokes and staying positive. Crazy how I could go from groaning in pain to laughing every minute. 

Everyone was very patient and encouraging... but at this point we were all starting to get a little antsy. I was in the tub for 2 hours and starting to get very uncomfortable, so I got out and Nina checked me again. I was 7.5 centimeters dilated. I almost cried. Feeling pruney and gross from the water, I stayed out and walked around the house a little. Nina went to get dinner for her and Amy and my mom went home for a short break. Casey stayed by my side and supported me through every contraction. I was getting impatient and tired. 

After a bit, I decided to get back into the tub. This time, Casey joined me. This was the most comfortable position during my entire labor. I sat in between his legs, resting my back agaisnt his chest. He helped me to relax between contractions and breathe through them. My mom brought me something to eat... I ended up drinking some broth and a vitamin C drink. After an hour Casey and I were both getting uncomfortable... so back out of the water we went. Nina checked my cervix again and nothing had changed. They suggested breaking my water to get things going. After learning there would be no bad side effects to doing this, I told them to go ahead. Nina put what looked like a long, skinny crochet hook into me, catching onto the sack and releasing it. I was surprised at how much water there was! Right after that... things got extremely intense. 

The next contraction was SO strong. Nina told me to try some different positions to try to make it easier... sitting on the toilet, laying on my side on the couch, getting into the shower (hoping the water would help my back pain). I kept saying I wasn't strong enough... that I couldn't do it. Amy got me to say I could do it. She was such an encouragement. 

When I was sitting on the toilet I had felt the urge to push, but the pain had been so strong I didn't tell anyone. Now... a few minutes later I remembered and told Nina. She told me to get on my hands and knees on the carpet. I needed some sort of support for my arms, so Casey sat in front of me and I wrapped my arms around his neck. Then it was time to push. It's crazy how my body knew what to do... it knew it was time. Pushing Eisley out was the weirdest, most painful thing I have ever experience. They told me to wait to push for a minute because my cervix was in the way, but I just pushed anyway. I didn't feel like I could control it... it was just coming. My mom told me to put my grunts and noises into the push... and that helped so much. I used every groan to push. I turned off every other noise. It was just me, and my body... doing what God created me to do. All I could feel was the overwhelming pain. They had me turn over onto my back. I remember Casey saying that his leg had fallen asleep from me laying on it. 

When I was on my back, it only took a couple of pushes before the baby's head was crowning. They asked me if I wanted to feel the babies head. At first I said no, but then I still reached down to feel it. So much hair!!! Casey said my expression was priceless. I didn't realize how close I was to meeting this baby until that moment. Just a couple more pushes and out it came! It happened so fast, and the way we were positioned there was no way Casey could have caught her. So Amy did, and she immediately laid her onto my chest. Eisley was born at 10:05PM. She looked so beautiful. Everyone always says that their babies look so ugly when they come out, and I swear mine was the exception. She did have a cone shaped head, but besides that I had never seen something so beautiful. Amy had my take off my sports bra so I could be skin to skin with Eisley. After a few minutes, we checked and found out it was a SHE. God had given us a beautiful baby girl. I head Amy and Nina talking about how beautiful the umbilical cord was. Amy took a picture of it and then they had me get up onto the bed. 

All of this was really hazy, and I was just so thankful to be out of pain. To be able to relax. Shock took over my body and I felt so extremely weak. Casey laid next to me on the bed and we just held our baby. I kept trying to push out the placenta... Nina helped me and we finally got it out. About 45 minutes later Amy helped my mom and she got to cut the cord! They then weighed Eisley and checked everything to make sure she was perfect. 8 pounds 1 ounce, 20 inches long... 10 fingers and 10 toes. She was absolutely perfect. 

After this, Amy helped me and I got a shower. Then I just laid in the bed with Casey and our new little one. We just sat and looked at Eisley. She was wide awake, alert and just stared back at us. My labor was almost 15 hours long... just 20 minutes of pushing. 

Amy took my placenta to a contact they had... a women who would encapsulate it for me immediately for a fee. This is something many people are wary about, but it was one of the best decisions I made. Those little pills helped me SO much. Anytime I was feeling blue or exhausted, they gave me a good kick. It was like a happy/energy pill... and I will never stop encouraging everyone I meet to try it!!!

Altogether I was happy with how my birth to Eisley went. I'm so thankful that I had my supportive husband, mom, and midwives there to help me every step of the way. My birthing team was perfect. There was a couple things that didn't go quite as planned, but that's life. That showed me that I wasn't in control... and I'm so thankful that things did go as smoothly as they did. The pain was definitely worse than I had expected, but that memory fades after awhile. If I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing. BUT there are some things I will do differently with my next labor... and I can't wait to share about that as well. 

Something that I believed before I had Eisley and I still believe today... giving birth naturally IS empowering. Our bodies were created for this. To let go of the pain, give God complete control, and really learn how to listen to your body... it's such a beautiful thing. It's not something someone can explain to you, you have to experience it. That day of labor was the beginning of a very long journey I've taken. It showed me what I can get through, even when I didn't think I could. It showed me that I'm stronger then I thought, and my God is such a miraculous creator... that way he created the birthing process... it definitely sends me into worship when I think about it. I'm thankful for the magic of birth. I'm thankful for what it has taught me. 

Why Home Birth?

When I was growing up... this is one of my favorite memories.
My older brother, little sister, and I would all wake up early and make my mom breakfast. Sometimes it was for a holiday or birthday, but a lot of the time it was 'just because'. We would take the breakfast to my moms room, and sit around her bed. It was time to hear our birth stories.
My mom had 4 of 6 kids at home. Each was a different story, because no birth is the same. Yard sale shopping while in labor, praying through dangerous situations, births where the baby didn't want to wait for the midwife... so many stories. And we LOVED listening. My mom would go into such detail, and she remembered everything. I remembered too... and I couldn't wait for the day I could tell my kids about their birth stories. 

Home births came so naturally to me. It was never even really a question if I would have my own babies that way. I grew up in a very natural home. We didn't go to the doctor unless we absolutely had too. My mom spent her time becoming knowledgeable about home remedies for things like the common cold and the flu... and she now has a degree as a Naturopathic Doctor and Master Herbalist. Hospitals and doctors scare me. Having my baby in the comfort of my own home, surrounded by my loved ones... that's what I've always wanted. 

My body was created to give child birth. It's natural. My midwife has been through hundreds of births and has seen everything. She knows what she's doing, and I trust her completely. I trust her more than I would a doctor or nurse, because she has the same mindset as I do. She believes in the women's body and in natural remedies. I know that she will do everything in her power to make my dream birth plan come true... and not just follow the norm. 

My first birth was beautiful. It was not what I expected, and there was parts of it that were really hard... but I wouldn't take it back. With this being my second one, I have more experience. I know more of what I want and don't want. And I can't wait to incorporate the things I've learned into this next birth!!!!

I just want to clarify that I don't believe that home birth is the "only right way" to give birth! I respect every mommas choice... and sometimes because of medical reasons, we don't even have a choice. This is just my story. What I believe, and how I make my choices. My passion is to show other women that they have so many more options that they use too. We DO have OPTIONS! And every mom should study and look into each and every one... making what they believe to be the best choice for their baby. Love and support. Helping each other become knowledgeable. That's what I'm all about. 

No Bake Shakeology Energy Bites

These are so amazing... best recipe ever for the perfect little treat to amp of your energy for the day! My 2 year old daughter even loves them!!!! 

Recipe: 

2 cups dry oatmeal

1 scoop of Shakeology (Vanilla is what I used!)

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup ground flaxseeds

2/3 cup honey

2 tsp. pure vanilla

Mix all together and roll into balls! This recipe makes 16 medium sized bites. If you don't have Shakeology, you can replace it with 1 cup of chocolate chips. Enjoy!!! :)

Serving Size: 4 balls

21 Day Fix Containers: 

1/2 yellow

1/4 red

2 tsp

2 orange

Chicken Fajitas!

This recipe is a big time family favorite. It's SO delicious, super simple, and healthy! 

Recipe: 
6-8 cups of cooked, shredded chicken 
2 large bell peppers
1 medium onion
3-4 cloves of garlic
1 1/2 cups of salsa
1 tbsp lemon juice
-Mix it all together in a bowl and let marinate before eating. 

I freeze mine in baggies and pull out to heat up on those days when I don't feel like cooking. ;p
When you're ready to eat, place 1/2 cup of the mixture onto a wheat tortilla and add some cheese. Hope you enjoy as much as we do!!!

23 Mistakes Became 23 Life Lessons

Today is my 23rd birthday. I want to share with everyone 23 things that it took me 23 years to learn... and I hope these impact your thoughts and lives as much as they have impacted mine. I look forward to the next 23 years of my life and all of the other things I will learn!

1. Want to live the best life you possibility can? Live for Jesus. Spend every day drawing close to Him, learning about Him and from Him, and do everything you can to be a walking Bible in this world for those that don't know Him. 

2. Being consistent in your goals with your work out, nutrition, business, and whatever else... is the key to being successful. 

3. You can't just THINK your goals and dreams; you have to write them down and start taking ACTION to make those goals and dreams come true. 

4. You have to FAIL to GROW and learn.

5. Getting out of your comfort zone and facing your fears is the best way to grow. If you don't, you'll stay in the same place and never change or better your life in any way. 

6. You have to work on learning new things and bettering yourself DAILY.

7. Being a mom teaches you the true meaning of servant-hood. It's always putting someone else before yourself. 

8. If you're having a bad day, do something for someone else. 

9. Remember to always be content for the things you have. Every day, start the day off with writing down 5 new things that you're thankful for.

10. Sometimes to get a new perspective, you have to stand on your head. 

11. Being healthy means more than a consistent workout routine or nutrition. It means being able to get fast food on your period and not hate yourself. Sometimes being healthy smells like popcorn, chocolate, and a good movie. The mental health is just as important, if not more, as the physical.

12. Forgive people for the apologies you'll never get and love them anyway. They are trying just as hard as you are. Show grace.

13. Pick what's important and cut out everything else. The rest is just noise. 

14. Not everything has to turn out exactly the way you planned in order for you to call it success. It's the process that matters.

15. Don't try to go life alone. Friendship, a second opinion, constant encouragement, and just that rock-hard support is SO important.

16. It's easy to love yourself when your skin is clear, the house is clean, and you're feeling great. But when you strip away all of that and you're just left with chapped lips and your sweaty self... is there love? Love yourself when you're not very loveable.

17. "Joy comes to us in the ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we're too busy chasing down the extraordinary." -Brene Brown. Remember to keep your priorities straight. Don't miss out on the here and now because your head is always in the clouds. Your kids will only be babies for a short time, you will only be this young today, don't miss out. 

18. Is your fear external or internal? Know the difference and act accordingly. If it's from the mind, FACE IT and OVERCOME. If it's from the heart, step back.  

19. Are you making decisions based on what will make others happy? Stop. Make decisions based on your own happiness and those that are closest too you. 

20. Find what you believe in, and stand firm. 

 

21. Love changes. When you've been with someone for years, that love will change. Embrace the new and don't waste time trying to bring back the old. Change is good, and inevitable. 

22. Yoga will teach you a new way to see yourself and the world. It will teach you how to let go, and be in the present. It will teach you how to love yourself completely. 

23. Life is short. Have dance parties with your toddler, color your hair purple, forgive immediately, enjoy every moment, love people, show grace, and CHOOSE happiness.

Buffalo Chicken Bowl 
(21 Day Fix approved!!!!)  

Serves 6-8 
If using containers: 2 Yellow, 1.5 Red, 1 Blue, 1/2 Green

Ingredients:

2 (15-oz.) cans organic corn
2 (15-oz.) cans organic black beans
3 avocados
2 tomatoes
6 chicken breasts
1 cup Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 packet Hidden Valley Greek Yogurt Dressing
1-1/3 cups plain Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons milk (I used almond milk)

Directions:

1. Throw the chicken, garlic, and hot sauce into the crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. Once chicken is cooked through, shred it with 2 forks and set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the Hidden Valley Greek Yogurt Dressing, Greek yogurt, and milk then stick it in the fridge.
3. Next, drain and rinse your corn and black beans and add them to a bowl. Dice up the tomatoes and avocado and add them to the bowl as well.
4. Assemble your bowl by adding in the veggie mixture, topping with chicken, and finishing them off with some healthy Greek yogurt ranch dressing.