 Today I want to talk about body changes. Your baby has been growing pretty rapidly and you are probably feeling the skin across your belly and sides stretching along with it. You may also be starting to notice stretch marks along with that feeling. This week, we'll delve into understanding stretch marks and explore gentle ways to manage them. What Are Stretch Marks Stretch marks, or striae gravidarum, are a form of scarring on the skin. They typically occur during rapid growth or stretching of the middle layer of the skin, and can happen on the abdomen, breasts, hips and thighs. Embracing your Growing Body Stretch marks are a testament to your body's incredible ability to grow and nurture your baby. They're a badge of honor so please don't feel embarrassed by them. You're growing a whole human in there. Talk about superpowers! There are some things you can do to help support your skin as it stretches:
Overall though, remember to celebrate the strength and resilience of your body as it moves through all of the changes towards parenthood. Stretch marks are merely an outward sign of this strength. Wear them with pride.
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 Are you counting your baby's kicks?
This is something that's important to do starting in the third trimester. Keeping track of baby's usual kicks and movements can help you to recognize if anything changes. Fetal movements that slow down over time can be an early indication that your baby is in distress and should be checked out by your doctor or midwife. The Kick Counts app is an excellent life saving app for doing this easily. Just download it to your phone, settle in with your baby at a time of day when your baby is usually pretty active and wait for them to kick. Every time they kick or do a big movement, tap the button in the app. (Hiccups don't count). When you get to 10 movements the app will ask you to evaluate the strength of the movements and record the time it took to get to ten. You'll repeat it each day and the app will let you know if it's seeing an increase in the time you're taking to get to ten and when to see your provider. It's really normal for babies to make more movements at certain times of day over others so picking a similar time each day can be really helpful. It's also really usual for babies to be more active at night when you're still and aren't walking around rocking them to sleep in utero.  In Seattle the weather is so changeable that people who live here have a saying, “if you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes”. In the course of an hour it could go from overcast and gray to pouring rain to blue skies and sunny.
A lot of pregnant people find a similar thing happening with their emotions. One minute they’re happy with not a care in the world, and the next they’re bawling into the couch cushions because of a cute dog in a Super Bowl commercial. This is completely to be expected during the first trimester, but some pregnant people find it continuing and escalating into prenatal anxiety or depression, even with a very much wanted pregnancy. Postpartum depression is talked about a lot, but prenatal depression really isn’t so people don't realize it’s a thing. It’s actually the biggest prenatal complication suffered in pregnancy. if you are feeling anxious or depressed and it lasts two weeks or more, please reach out for help. And if it’s extreme, please don't wait the two weeks. Your OBGYN or midwife should be able to refer you to a perinatal therapist and may also check your thyroid. You can also contact Perinatal Support International who can refer you to therapists and support groups in your area. Prenatal depression is not something to be ashamed of and is absolutely something you should seek help with, in the same way you would for any other pregnancy complication. In my birth classes, I encourage families to download this app and take the test every week throughout your pregnancy and the first few months of your baby’s life. Set a reminder on your phone for the same day every week and take the test. Suggest your partner takes it too. Partners get prenatal and postpartum depression too and are less likely than pregnant people to seek help.  Are you planning a babymoon? Now is a perfect time to take a short trip with your loved one(s) before baby arrives. Whether you're planning a local destination that you can drive to or one further afield, here's my top tips for traveling at this stage of pregnancy.
Check in with your provider Check in with your medical provider and let them know of your plans. They know your unique medical situation and may have advice for you. Plan walk around breaks If you're driving, make sure to plan stops every few hours so you can out of the car and walk around. As you're probably noticing these days, being in any position for "to long" makes your back and legs hurt. You know you'll need to pee anyway! On a plane If you're flying to your destination, make sure to get up and walk the plane aisle every hour or so. You'll also benefit from wearing compression socks to minimize swelling and help prevent blood clots. Make sure to check with your airline when booking to find out what their cutoff date for flying when pregnant is ass this can differ between airlines. What to take Make sure to take with you your medical insurance details in case of emergencies. If traveling abroad, remember to take out travel insurance. Pack your prenatal vitamins and a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. And know that while you're pregnant, you're more susceptible to sunburn, so make sure to pack a strong sunblock if appropriate. Have a great time!  For many new parents, breastfeeding can be a source of anxiety and uncertainty. Will it go smoothly? How will I know if my baby is getting enough milk? What if I need help? In this article, we'll explore practical steps to prepare for breastfeeding success and where to find support when needed. Breastfeeding Preparation: Why Taking a Class MattersTaking a class while pregnant can help you to learn what to expect, how to get a good latch, how to know that your baby is enough as well as to troubleshoot what you will do if things aren’t going well at any point. Birth Class Seattle’s 4 hour newborn care class covers all this and more, Click here for more info on that. Finding Lactation Support: Your Lifeline in the Early Daysf things aren’t going well in the first days and weeks after birth, you’ll need the help of a lactation consultant. Most Seattle hospitals have lactation consultants you can meet with and I encourage you to ask for one while still in the hospital even if things are going well. After going home, it can be most helpful to receive lactation support in your own home. I encourage you to find a lactation consultant while still pregnant and put their name and number in your phone and on the fridge. That way you already know who to call when you’re sleep deprived and don’t want to make any decisions. I recommend the following out of hospital lactation consultants: Catherine Fenner IBCLC Betsy Hoffmeister IBCLC Joy Mctavish IBCLC Jocelyn Pierce IBCLC Connecting with Community: Breastfeeding Support GroupsBreastfeeding support groups can be a wonderful way to get general breastfeeding help while also building community with other breastfeeding parents.
Nurturing Expressions holds weekly support groups in West Seattle and Kitsap County Melody Hansen runs a monthly support group in the Wallingford neighborhood on the first Wednesday of every month La Leche League holds support groups throughout the Seattle area and beyond Breastfeeding is a journey of learning for both you and your baby. For most people it isn't instantly successful and putting together the right support before you begin your breastfeeding journey will help you on the road to success.  How can you stop waking up in the middle of the night with hip or lower back pain during pregnancy?
Are you waking up in the middle of the night with sore hips or lower back? 🤰💤 This is because the ligaments that hold the uterus have to work harder as it grows, causing strain on the ligaments that run from the back of the uterus to the sacrum or lower back, and that support the front of the uterus in the pelvis. This can result in lower back pain and hip pain cursing you to wake up and need to turn over several times a night.. 🛌🤕 The good news is that using pregnancy pillows can help alleviate these symptoms and provide much-needed support to the body. Full-body pillows vs. smaller pillows: which one is right for you? There are two types of pregnancy pillows - full-body pillows and smaller pillows. Full-body pillows are designed to support the entire body and come in various shapes, including U-shaped and C-shaped pillows. Or you could choose to use several smaller pillows instead to support specific areas of the body, such as the hips, back, or belly. How to use smaller pillows to support specific areas of the body If you choose to use smaller pillows, you'll want one between your legs to support the upper hip, one to hug with your upper arm, and a smaller pillow or wedge for under your belly. This helps to keep the weight of the uterus evenly distributed and reduces the strain on your ligaments. 🛌💕 The benefits of hugging a pillow while pregnant Using a pillow to hug keeps the shoulder more open and reduces shoulder pain and swelling in the hands. My hips hurt when I sleep! A little wedge pillow for under the belly gives the uterus a little lift, which takes some of the strain away from your lower back. That in turn helps your upper hip from pulling forward. It's incredible how much difference such a tiny pillow can make! 😴👍 So, what pillows do you use? Share your pillow hacks with us in the comments below!👇 |
AuthorEmma is a childbirth educator, prenatal birth and postpartum massage therapist, doula and overall pregnancy and childbirth junkie living and working in Seattle WA. She's British too which is where the tea bit come from. In England, if you want to have a chat with your friend about anything really, someone puts the kettle on for a nice cup of tea. It doesn't matter what the topic is, a nice cup of tea relaxes everyone, makes the conversation flow easier and generally makes everyone feel good. So you're invited to brew a cup of your favorite herbal tea, pull up a chair around Emma's kitchen table and let's have a good chat, (or chinwag as we say in the UK), about birthy stuff. Archives
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