How to Have a Happy Pregnancy



Pregnancy can be the most joyous time of your life but it can also one of the most challenging. Heartburn, digestive issues, backaches, muscle pain, a growing belly and those are just the physical aspects. As a mom over 35, my "high risk" pregnancy could have caused much anxiety if I let my thoughts go anywhere they wanted. How can we find joy during a time of pain, waiting and uncertainty? The answer is to choose joy.

Lot's of joy right here!

Focus on the end result.

The good Lord is knitting a sweet blessing in your womb. What a privilege. I know it is hard and can be painful. I don't know if it was my age (I'm high risk y'all :D) or just the fact that it was my fourth child but this pregnancy was painful! My hips were killing me, some days I could barely walk.

 I would remind myself that these present sufferings are temporal but will produce an eternal reward as 2 Corinthians 4:17 says. I would think about that darling, blessed reward and picture myself kissing my sweet baby.

Love your belly.

I wish I had taken more photos of my baby bump during this last pregnancy. You may not think it is beautiful and you may not feel beautiful but I assure you, you are! The only thing more beautiful than a woman who has that pregnancy glow is the beautiful infant she will deliver. Love that belly! You may miss it someday. True story :D

1 day before baby 4 came.

 Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Thanksgiving produces joy. Thank the Lord for your precious blessing.

 We are called to rejoice, to pray and give thanks.

Life is what you make it. Happiness is a choice. Choosing joy is a discipline. You work at it just as you work at running a marathon. Ask any runner and she will tell you it get's easier as you train. The discipline of choosing joy is no different.

Exercise and eat right.

Understand this: I know you are tired. I would think, I can't use the only energy I have to exercise, who is going to unstack the dishwasher or give the kids a bath? I am here to testify that the energy you put into exercise you will get back. Exercise = endorphins. Endorphins = happy! It is important for you fuel your body with clean, nutrient dense food. Your baby will thank you and your body with thrive. Avoid energy zapping sugar and refined foods. Of course you want to discuss these things with our O.B. or midwife first ;)

Draw your strength from the one source of true joy and strength-Christ.

Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is our strength. You can turn that into an uplifting chorus to sing when you are weary. Ask the Lord to give you strength. Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Lamentations 3:22-25 says,

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I have hope in Him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

To the person who seeks Him.

 Memorize God's Word.

Times will get tough. As this was not my first go-round, I knew this. I decided to memorize verses for encouragement during those times. I would ask the Lord to get me through this brief moment and then recite some of these verses.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. James5:17

 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

offer your body as a living sacrifice. Deuteronomy 30:19

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1

 ¹⁶ Rejoice always; ¹⁷ pray without ceasing; ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:5

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

Each of my pregnancies presented their own challenges. I was put on be bed rest with my first two due to a blood clot inside the uterus. My third was easiest but I was teaching water aerobics and a barre class up until a month before I had her. Still, I was pretty exhausted after teaching and also caring for two little ones! My fourth was the most painful and exhausting but I praised God for every ache and pain. I was so thankful and happy to be unexpectedly pregnant! I didn't always choose joy, but I am thankful for the times I did.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 

 ^"Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass."

Grace and peace,

Adoring Family

10 Tips For a Healthy Pregnancy

38 weeks

1. Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple Cider Vinegar promotes regularity and aids digestion. Every day I drink one glass of water with 1 tsp. each of ACV and raw honey.

2. Psyllium Husks. Psyllium Husks are found in Metamucil. If you purchase them in their powdered form you will have no additives and pay quite a bit less. Psyllium husks aid in elimination. I would drink a Tbsp. mixed with almond milk or juice at least three times a week. Be sure to drink plenty of water!

3. Ballet Barre Exercises. High intensity and low impact strength training. Perfect for pregnancy. There are many YouTube vids to introduce you to this fun method of exercise. Talk to your O.B. or midwife before trying a new exercise program.

4. Water Aerobics. I am a firm believer that water aerobics are THE reason I was able to continue my level of fitness throughout my pregnancy.

5. Coconut Oil. Increase energy levels by ingesting this form of medium chain fatty acids to optimize the baby's development. I also used coconut oil topically to prevent stretch marks. Happy to report that it was a success on both accounts.

6. Chicken stock. The gelatin and minerals are highly beneficial to mama and baby.

7.Ezekial bread. This sprouted bread is the only kind of bread that didn't clog up my system during pregnancy. I enjoy a slice every day.

8. Say no sweets and white bread and white pastas. If you must indulge in bread or pasta, choose whole grains.

9. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea. Personally, I waited until the 35th week to start drinking this tea. The tea is said to tone the uterus and make contractions more productive.

10.Green smoothies. To insure I kept my iron levels up I drank spinach smoothies as often as I could. Recipe coming soon!



28 weeks

Grace and peace,

Adoring Family

 

 

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Thriving During the First Trimester

3rd Baby, 1st Trimester







The first trimester can be a bit of a challenge whether you are a first time mom or a fourth, like I. Because I have a family to serve, I decided I would make provisions ahead of time to insure a smoothly run home even when mommy was run-down. In a few simple steps I felt prepared to face my first trimester with grace.

1.Determine daily and weekly chores you are responsible for.

My daily responsibilities are meals, homeschooling, laundry and dishes. Weekly chores include, (but are definitely not limited to)  sweeping, mopping, dusting, cleaning out the fridge/pantry.

2.Assign each day a chore so you can get it all accomplished with out exhausting your energy levels. Here is an example:

Weekly

Monday: Meal plan and clean out fridge/pantry

Tuesday: Classical Conversations (our homeschool group, more on that later)

Wednesday: Dust entire home  

Thursday: Pay bills and clean bathrooms- toilets, floors, counters

Friday: Sweep, mop

Weekly meal planning

Sometimes we have the same thing every week and sometimes we mix it up. During the first trimester it was easier for me to stick to the same basic meals. Grocery shopping was simple and prep was almost automatic.

I like to prepare all of my meat for the week on Mondays. I am already dirtying up the kitchen so why not make it an ultra productive time? This way daily meal preparation is much easier and if my energy levels are low, I can easily throw something together using my precooked meat. I call my cooking style "slow and low". I simmer my food on a low heat for a long period of time. This allows me to fill up two pots with chicken or beef and let them cook on low with little effort on my part. I only have two pots to clean and I have meat for the rest of the week.

Monday: Stuffed Potatoes

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday with chips, salsa and guacamole plus a side of fresh pineapple 

Wednesday: Our version of hamburger helper using Annies Organic Whole Wheat Shells and Cheese, spinach salad and fresh fruit

Thursday: Baked spagetti with raw carrots and green beans

Friday: Salmon patties with mashed potatoes and asparagus 

Saturday: Stacked enchiladas with beans and fiesta salad

3.Seek help. If you have children, are there ways they can assist you in completing the daily items in your home? Responsibility is good for children and they will feel accomplished knowing they are serving their family.

Daily

Make beds

Dishes

Laundry (put a load on after breakfast, transfer to the dryer after lunch and put away after school)

Wipe down surfaces

Declutter home for 15 minutes. You can break this up into 5 minute segments and involve you family. This is essentially tidying up and putting things away. I am attempting to train my children and myself to put things away as we go but somehow there are always miscellaneous items floating around.

How the kids can help...

Make their own beds

Unstack  dishwasher

Fold towels and put away their own clothing

Clean their bathroom (my son sweeps and my daughter wipes down surfaces and my youngest likes to wipe the floor)

Take out trash

Feed chickens

My son will sweep and my daughter will wipe down the table while my youngest and I stack the dishwasher and put lunch away. We sing while work. The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength was one of my favorites when I felt like I was dragging.

 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

4. Commit your ways unto the Lord.

Proverbs 16:3 says "Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established." Pray over you list.

Remember that all of life is worship and seek to glorify God during this time of life. Also remember that "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Draw your strength from the Lord because,"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Ask the Lord for strength and wisdom to help you during this very short season. Remember the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17 "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,"



Blessings and joy to you and your little one. I hope you find this helpful and that it spurs you on towards the beautiful prize that awaits you!

Grace and peace,

Adoring Family

linked:

www.hiphomeschoolmoms.com