Good morning from the Charlotte airport. I am on my way to NYC for the 2018 BlogHer Health Conference and we are delayed a bit due to snow in New York. Would you believe that this is my first time in my nine years of blogging that I’ve attended a blogging conference!? I figured it was a good time to change that with a baby on the way. I’ve been trying to squeeze in a few work projects/trips in before he comes.
I always think I’m not going to have anything to share doing my pregnancy recaps weekly and so close together but then there are so many things that come up over the course of the week. It’s been fun for me to document this journey and I can’t thank y’all enough for following along.
26 WEEKS PREGNANCY UPDATE
Love this week’s food comparison – KALE! Baby boy is in the 13.6-14.8 inch range and anywhere from 1.5-2.5 pounds! He’s growing! 🙂
Baby milestones:
- Eyes are forming and will soon start to open although the irises of the eyes have yet to develop color
- Eyelashes are grown too!
- Immune system is developing by soaking up my antibodies
- Taking breaths of amniotic fluid to practice breathing
- Brain waves are developing and one of the ways that baby is starting to respond is through movement or an increased heart rate when stimulated by noises
HOW I’M FEELING AT 26 WEEKS PREGNANT
Weight Gain/Body Changes: I’m such a broken record but still hovering right around 15 pounds. Crazy that I’ve been stuck here for a while because I gained it so quickly. Although my weight is staying the same for now, my belly is growing for sure!
Workouts/Workout Modifications: Workouts were SO good last week. I felt super strong and focused. Here’s what I’ve done since my last update…
- Three, 1-hour walks
- Three, 3-mile runs (one outside, 2 on the treadmill with speed intervals thrown in)
- Taught one cardio strength class
- Two solo gym strength sessions
- Two hot yoga classes
I made it to Metro twice in the last week to lift on my own, which has been such a treat and a great way to mix it up! Head over to Instagram to see the details on the workout above.
Symptoms: just the same Braxton-Hicks contractions that I’ve been having for the last month or so but they’re very random and not regular.
Sleep: is good once I get to sleep but it takes me a while to get there. Luckily, baby boy has moved up far enough off my bladder that I don’t have to get up to pee as long as I go right before bed. Fingers crossed that sticks around for a few more weeks!
Food Aversions/Cravings: guys, food! Ahhh. I feel like I’m moving in reverse when it comes to food. In the first trimester I ate pretty much normally but now I want ALL the simple food and carbs.
By the time dinner rolls around I have ZERO interest in cooking and just want simple comfort food. Sunday night was sourdough toast with mayo, an egg and cheese.
And last night was grilled cheese and avocado.
I have managed to eat salads for lunch the last couple of days so at least I’m getting greens in there. FYI – I got tons of requests on my IG story for what was in this mix. It was a Whole Foods Asian chopped salad kit minus the dressing that came with it, add avocado, kalamata olives, a can of chickpeas, pistachios and Tessemae’s Zesty and Creamy Ranch.
Maternity Clothes: still wearing a ton of my normal clothes but packed a bunch of maternity stuff for this trip to NYC!
Movement: it is the most amazing feeling ever to have him moving regularly. I’ve definitely noticed patterns in his activity. Around 11 p.m. -midnight is party time and then he’s always up and active when I wake up in the mornings and stays that way until about 10-11 a.m. He seems to sleep most of the afternoon/evening. I love to stay in bed in the mornings and feel him move for a little while. He also tends to get the hiccups in the mornings! 🙂
Fun Shares: the coolest thing that has happened over the last week is that people I encounter out in the real world are commenting on my belly and pregnancy. Just in the last week I’ve had the following experiences…
- Walking out of the bathroom at Home Depot and having the woman who was walking in say to me, “hey little mama!”
- My nail technician asking me about the baby and my pregnancy.
- The TSA agent making a joke with me today as I was going through security that I had “twins in there” when I walked through the body scanner. Haha. NOPE.
- A male flight attendant saying the nicest things to me as I boarded the plane today about my bump and letting them know if I need anything at all during the flight.
It’s pretty awesome to reach the point of pregnancy where others can tell. And it totally doesn’t weird me out or bother me at all. 🙂
Accomplishments: I finally have progress to report!
Over the weekend I completely cleared out the disaster of a room that will be his nursery. It took many hours, lots of boxes and lots of trips up and down the stairs but it’s done! Also, all of my clothes were in the closet in this room so I went through them and separated them out into donate and keep and then reorganized the two master bedroom closets to fit everything. YAY!
I spent several hours online researching cribs and nursery furniture and I think I have it narrowed down to a couple of favorites. I also worked on my baby Pinterest board to nail down my ideas for the nursery and decor.
Finally, I went to Home Depot and Sherwin Williams to pick up paint samples because that yellow is NOT going to stay! (it was painted this color when we moved in) If you have any favorite warm whites/creams to share with me, please comment below! I’m going to keep the nursery really neutral when it comes to paint colors because the room is so small. I want to keep it light and bright to help bring in light and open it up. I will add color with wall decor/bedding/rugs/etc.
The fire to get all this done was in large part due to hitting DOUBLE DIGITS on Saturday! My Glow Nurture app told me there were just 99 days to go. Gosh, it seems like it was just telling me 200+ days.
I am super eager to make progress on the nursery and to clear space in my home to welcome baby boy.
Next up: a few things on my radar…
- register for hospital tours and any other classes I decide to take
- create a Target registry (my Amazon registry is done)
- make an appointment to meet with a pediatrician (I have a few recommendations)
- hire a painter for the nursery and a big den overhaul I’m working on
- order nursery furniture
- figure out a closet organization system for nursery closet
- clean out side attic and a few other closets in the house
QUESTIONS
Was your nursery gender-specific or pretty neutral? Did you theme your nursery?
Any favorite soft white/warm white paint colors? (no gray tones)
Talk to me about breast pumps. Another slightly overwhelming thing to figure out!
Breast pumps…ah…depends on how much you think you will be using it. I worked and pumped three times a day with limited time, so a dual electric pump was the way to go for me. But I started with a single manual pump that was much more comfortable and I really liked using much more than the dual electric. Perhaps if I hadn’t produced as much milk as a Holstein I could have kept using that… 🙂 I won’t make any brand recommendations since that was 13 years ago and my, how things have changed (she says in her old granny voice.)
Hi Heather! Thanks for this insight. There is SO MUCH to consider and learn…it’s overwhelming!
Get the Spectra 2. It’s amazing. I have two other medela pumps and although plug free may be enticing, go for the Spectra. It makes you feel so much better because the suction isn’t as jarring and it’s SO.QUIET. I think Spectra makes a battery option.
Paint – Go talk to Frank at Eastway Paints. He’s amazing and will guide you on the paint color so you aren’t spending a fortune on samples! He’s a paint guru and hidden institution in CLT!
It’s so easy to go with a theme for nurseries. Just remember you’re little guy is really only little for a year or so. I just buy cute sheets that match timeless art. You’ll be out of the baby phase and in a big boy bed in 3-4 years and we choose to save vs spend on the early days.
Hey Erica – thanks so much for the pump and paint recommendation! So super helpful. I am going to bypass a theme and just keep it super bright and white and then add pops of personality/color through bedding, rugs, wall art, etc. >)
I wish we had stayed more neutral in paint. We did very pale yellow walls with a very pale lavender accent wall. Not bad, but he is 16 now and we have huge bunk beds in the room that we can’t move to paint (this covers the accent wall, so there is that). didn’t think that thru very well!
Oh wow! Yes, that is a long time to commit to a paint color scheme!
I got a Spectra S2 pump. I haven’t used it yet (35 weeks pregnant), but it was highly recommended to me. I’ve seen it recommended as a second pump to try for people who were having trouble getting enough milk out from medelas/other pumps. My insurance covered the whole cost. The Spectra S1 was like $95 after insurance, and it has a battery pack, which was the only difference I believe between the two models. (S2 plugs in the wall) I ordered mine off of Aeroflow, and it came in like 2 days- they handle contacting your insurance and doctor’s office.
Thank you. I am going to have to look into what my insurance covers.
Nursery: we did neutral because we did not know the sex (and I also didn’t want to get tired of the decor and have to do a major overhaul)
Pumps: Spectra came highly, highly recommended, and I hated it! It was much quieter than my Medela, but not as easily portable. Has more settings to customize that is supposed to help with flow. My body also didn’t respond as well to it (barely got anything when I pumped) and the parts were more aggravating to clean. Also, the tubing seemed to hold condensation worse than Medela. I used the Medela pump in style (I had the one that came in the backpack) 6x/day average for 11 months. I got the car adapter and battery pack accessories to go with it (did a lot of pumping during commute). Replacement/extra parts could be found at my local Target. Make sure a lactation specialist “fits” you for the pump flanges; most pumps come with size 24, but most women are not size 24! Incorrect flange size can inhibit milk production, cause maternal discomfort (and even blisters!). Breastfeeding, although extremely rewarding and something I love and encourage in all my patients, is hard enough as is without rubbing yourself raw!
I am also going to keep it super neutral and just add personality/pops of color through wall art, rugs, bedding, etc.
Thank you for the pump input. There is so much to learn and consider. It’s crazy!
Love reading these updates Jen!
For paint, check out Sherwin Williams “West Highland White.” It’s a great soft white. For pumps – it’s changed a lot since I first pumped 6 years ago. As others have mentioned, insurance generally covers breast pumps now (thank you Obamacare!) — but, depending on your insurance, you can’t actually get the pump until after you give birth. And you may need some sort of notice from your ob-gyn in order to get one. I’ve also heard that some of the free pumps covered by insurance aren’t as effective as others. For what it’s worth, I used the Medela Pump in Style (i think that was the name) double electric pump, and it held up great for two kids! Invest in a pumping bra – so helpful. And buy some of the Medela “steamclean” bags for pump parts – you can sterilize everything in the microwave and it makes cleaning all the 10,000 parts a breeze!
Thank you so much for this great insight. I have so much to learn!
Your insurance will cover a breast pump. You’ll have to look on your insurance website to see which ones they cover. Unfortunately I did not produce enough milk to pump longer than a few weeks so be prepared with formula options if that happens to you.
I just wanted to put in a plug for the Elfa system for closet organization from the Container Store. We had a lovely woman come to our home and redesign the guest room and nursery closets. The cost was reasonable and it made a mega-difference in our usable space in both rooms!
Awesome, I think I’ll do this!
It sounds like you’ve been doing a lot on your own to get ready for your babe, I’d love to hear more about Tanner’s role in everything as finance and first time dad to be!
Hey Melissa – unfortunately, I’ve been doing most of it myself. I’ll have an update on his involvement soon. Thank you for the concern. xx <3
Do you really have a whole can of chickpeas in that salad??? I feel like that fiber content would definitely bother my stomach!!
Haha, yes! But I only ate a little less than half the salad when I made that full recipe so did not eat a whole can of chickpeas in one sitting!
My son would not take a bottle BUT I have to say we had the free Madela one but I also ordered a small handheld one from amazon and that is all I used! Granted I was not pumping often but it is great to stash in your bag or car for when you are just feeling uncomfortable and need a few quick ounces out
I don’t think I’ll pump often either but I just thought it would be good to have one in the event that he needs to be fed while I’m away working or something like that.
I love reading your updates and especially loved the “hey little mama!” comment! So cute!
My favorite warm white is Behr Innocence. It’s super warm and looks nice next to white baseboard. I actually have it in four rooms in my house! I’m very picky about the undertones of white paints and love this one!
Awesome! Thank you!!!
im so bummed! I was scheduled to attend the conference tomorrow but now I’m not going to be able to make it! UGH!!
For a soft white, make sure to test Alabaster by Sherwin Williams! 🙂
I picked up a sample of that! Thank you!
We didn’t necessarily pick a theme for either of our nursery’s. We wanted it to grow with our children. Restoration Hardware Kids has great shelving, frames, & baskets that aren’t too expensive. Or you can always look at their styles and find similar styles for less $ too. We also picked lighting/chandelier which wasn’t too babyish. There are so many cool fixtures out there and i didn’t want to feel like in 5 years my kid would outgrow the room. I feel like Lighting/chandeliers really makes a difference. We opted for dimmer switches too. Helps to keep the mood mellow.
Pretty sure the hospital will give you a breast pump to borrow nowadays.
If not, I loved the hand free Medela. Just make sure you get a hands free bra for pumping if you opt for a hands free version.
I don’t think I’m going to do a theme either, just keep it bright and white and add pops of color and accents with wall art/rugs/bedding/etc.
I also need to figure out a new lighting fixture as the one in the room is awful. And dimmers YES! They are the best.
Behr Antique White will always be a favorite of mine! My basement bathroom is painted that color and with no windows it just warms it up and makes in feel like sunlight while still keeping it neutral. Good luck!!
I think I grabbed that sample so I’ll check it out! 🙂
When I was pregnant with my first we painted the nursery a neutral gray color (or so I thought). We didn’t know the gender and we didn’t plan on finding out. In my gut I thought it was a boy. I picked out the color and my husband painted in and asked why I picked blue – I was adamant that it was gray. I also picked out what I thought was neutral bedding and curtains. We ended up having a boy and after he was born I could see that the paint was blue and the bedding definitely leaned way more towards boy. Guess I just knew!
Pump In Style® Advanced Breastpump Medela is the one I used for both kids (4.75 years apart and it worked great). I think a lot of insurance companies cover it so check into that.
I absolutely love this story Erika! 🙂
I would pay to upgrade to the Spectra S1 instead of the S2. It has a rechargeable battery built in which is so much nicer than having to sit near an outlet. plus you can use it in the car. avent bottles work with the Spectra pumps.
Thanks so much for your input! These are things I had no clue about!
Hey Jen! You are looking great! I’m feeling ok this week, just a little congested. As I told you I’m right at 26 weeks too, weight still around 15 pounds gain total. Same as you not much change. Some days I weight 14.5 pounds heavier some other days 15 and so on. For the Pump, I chose Medela pump de basic electric one, there is a more high end version but my friends told me I don’t need it. Also, my friend that has a 3 month old, gave me this advise – Get pads for your breast either Medela brand or any other. She says you go trough those quickly so I added a 120 count box to my registry.
Also- she said get “depends” lol. For when you leave the hospital, she said any big panties and regular pads are just not helpful! Haha. TMI maybe but that’s what she recommended.
Lastly, I am still struggling with the Crib, which two are you down to? Any advise, I will appreciate it.
For the nursery theme, I’m going with a sort of gender neutral, I love shades of Gray and whites so that’s what I’m going for, then I will add blue and pattern fabrics as accents. We do want to have a second baby so i want to be able to have flexibility if the second one is a girl.
Enjoy NYC! Xoxo.
We did a superhero nursery for both of our boys! One was marvel specific and one was DC comic specific. It was all my husband.
Aw! That is so sweet.
unless you only see yourself pumping occasionally for the odd date here and there (like, once a month or less), i would go for an electric double pump from medela. it looks (and feels) overwhelming at first, but it will save you so much time. a double pump comes in handy if you ever have to pump at work and don’t want to be stuck doing it one boob at a time (calculate 15 minutes per breast, cleaning the pump parts, etc.). medela is an extremely commonly used (including in hospitals) high quality brand with good customer support. it pays to go with a pump that a wide number of people are familiar with.
that said, i didn’t start thinking about pumps until after baby. i even went out relatively for walks for up to two hours at a time during that period without pumping, and never had any problems. i think this is one you can safely back-burner! but others might have different insights/experiences.
Oh, this comment was so helpful Rachel. Thank you so much for your insight.
I am going to my first blog conference this year as well! It’s only one hour from my house but I’m excited. It’s in the fall and it’s called Bloggy Conference.
I think the midnight parties are a way for the babies to help mom prepare for sleepless nights after the birth!
I would start by calling your insurance company to find out if they cover a pump and if so what models. Then you can research the models on Amazon to see reviews. Medela is hugely popular and that’s what I had (pump in style). It was OK but I wasn’t in love with it ha. The one pro with Medela is the parts are sold at Target so you can easily get extra tubing or bottles or whatever you need. Also, Medela is popular at hospitals. I was given a starter kit to pump at the hospital and was able to take the supplies home with me and they were interchangeable with the Medela I had at home.
Hopefully with your flexible schedule you won’t have to pump a lot. I really hated the pump and only did it when I had to. It’s definitely important to have one though!
Haha to your comment on the midnight parties.
Great point on the insurance company and I will do that soon.
I am also hoping that I can avoid a lot of pumping but I want to have one for sure.