Baby Prep: Things I've Learned So Far | Part 2

Remember a few months ago I shared my list of things I've learned so far during pregnancy? Now that I'm well into my 3rd trimester {home stretch!}, I thought I'd share some more tidbits that have been useful for me.

{Couldn't care any less about bump talk? Scroll down to the bottom for the recipe!}

1. There are some things you'll think you want and some you'll find you need. I held off on buying maternity clothes for quite some time. Mostly because I think it's a ripoff, but also because I can't bring myself to spend money on items so ugly.

Want to know what was my saving grace? A belly band. You know, one of those stretchy pieces of fabric you can wear over the top of unbuttoned shorts or pants so you can extend the life of your pre-pregnancy wardrobe. I bought mine for $16.99 on Target.com. I didn't see the big deal about it at first, but at 6 and 7 months pregnant was still able to wear the majority of my shorts and jeans with this miraculous contraption. I now understand why it's an investment worth making.

The BeBand.

On another note: Pregnancy underwear. Undergarments never really crossed my mind before I got pregnant. And then I wandered into Destination Maternity one day and saw these maternity undies on sale, so I picked up a pack just 'cause. Oh.My.Word. I love them. I may never go back to regular undies again. {They have cute ones, girls. Thongs, even. Don't think I've gone all granny panty just because I'm growing a bump.} They are so comfy and have an added band around the top for extra belly support, which you will need one day. Just trust me on this. Get them. You'll never look back.

Maternity underwear. So comfy.

Aside from these two life-changing purchases, I vowed to keep the maternity shopping to a minimum & did stick to my guns. I broke down and bought a pair of maternity shorts, because summer. And when I started stressing about exposing my unzipped jeans crotch to strangers, I finally gave in a bought a pair of maternity jeans. {I think I thanked God for Jessica Simpson that night. My, are they comfy.}

Jessica Simpson maternity jeans.

My dear friend passed on a bag of clothes for me to borrow. Stretchy Old Navy tanks have been a staple. {I love the tamis, I'm just buying them one size up from my normal to accommodate the belly.} Maxi dresses and casual, loose sundresses are everywhere and work perfectly for slipping on over the growing bump. I will not wear a circus tent and you shouldn't either. The end.

2. Exercise helps. Had anyone told me that I would enjoy getting up and going to the gym at 6:30 a.m. -- during pregnancy -- I would have heartily cackled in their face.

I'm going to be frank: I have never been a fan of exercise. I do not like to sweat. I do not like to pant. If I'm doing either of those things, whatever is causing them to happen better be good. {i.e. Running after an ice cream truck. What did you think I was talking about??}

Because I know better, I realize the importance of regular exercise...it doesn't mean I have to like it. But you know what happened around the end of my first trimester? I started hurting. My poor belly muscles felt like they were being stretched to their limit. I was sore and uncomfortable. {And freaking out a little bit because the baby was only the size of a chicken nugget at this point. Eek.}

Yes, there are feet under there.

So I decided to walk it out. On the treadmill, in the gym downstairs from where I live. {Convenience. No cost. Air conditioning. I'm there.} Within the week, my stretching pains magically disappeared. Since then, I've consistently been doing 30-40 minutes of cardio every morning. I roll out of bed and slip on my workout clothes before my eyes are even open and get it done. I hope to be able to continue this as long as possible! I don't love it per se, but I love starting off the day doing something healthy for me and the baby. Which brings me to my next point...

3. Weight gain -- it's a hurdle. Sigh. There are certain things that go hand-in-hand with pregnancy. Weight gain is {obviously} one of them. I'll be sharing a post soon that goes in depth on this topic, but just know that you're not alone, girlfriend. Just keep doing your best and remember that your body knows what it's doing.

4. The peeing never stops. I hope, for others' sake, that there are some people who don't have to experience this, but the incessant urge to pee is not a myth. I wish it were. I can go to the bathroom and then have to go again by the time I wash my hands and walk out. It has nothing to with the baby being on my bladder or any of the things that matter when the baby is bigger -- it is simply nature's cruel joke because we aren't already going through enough.

I have no solutions for this {except go, and then go again before you leave the house}, I just wanted to complain about it for a second because I haven't had a whole lot of other stuff to complain about.

5. People can be mean. For some reason, seeing you in a vulnerable position makes some people feel the need to tell you all kinds of horror stories about pregnancy, childbirth, parenting and beyond. They like to remind you that your life as you know it is over, as if perhaps that wasn't something you've stopped to consider. They like to tell you about terrible things like how many hours a person can go without sleep before losing their mind and brushing their teeth with a tube of caulking or laundering a small pet. They like to regale you with stories of how many degrees they tore or how miserable they were before, during and after giving birth.

I am fully aware that my body will be doing some things that I don't even want to admit could happen to a human being. I am beyond cognizant of the fact that I will no longer be clubbing every night {because I haven't been since Nineteen-Ninety Never} or be able to hop on a plane on a whim and fly to the Greek Isles {because I'm still waiting for the day when this is possible}. I am painfully realistic and nothing that I've been told during these "friendly chats" has been a shocking revelation to me... but if you're easily frightened or have made it habit of wearing your rose colored glasses, then here's my advice: Tune out the noise. Focus on whatever gets you through. Think about the dingbats that have survived this crazy thing called parenthood. You'll be just fine.

{I say this with no actual proof that it will be the case. I just have confidence in you. And in me. Let's go with it.}

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I imagined that pregnancy would bring major changes to my eating habits. That I would be averse to many foods or hungrier or constantly craving weird things... something. But honestly, my eating habits haven't changed that much. 

I mean, I'm a little more careful about what I ingest because I've got a little nugget in there who is depending on me to feed him the right kinds of things. I can also eat less in one sitting -- less room, I suppose. 

A few weeks ago I went through a little scare because my doctor suggested I could potentially have gestational diabetes. Once it was confirmed that I didn't and that everything was fine I wanted to eat my way out of a tub of marshmallow fluff, I was relieved. Aside from that, I feel that I've maintained a healthy relationship with food; eating {mostly} right, splurging on occasion.

Quick but nutritious meals like these Black Bean Burgers with Roasted Poblano Salsa are my favorite types of things to eat to keep energized, full and satisfied. The baby hasn't had any issues with spicy foods and I haven't had any trouble with heartburn, so the nice kick of spice and flavor in these is welcome.

The best part about black bean burgers is that you can add or omit things easily to suit your tastes! I kept these pretty simple with some sauteed onions, spices and a dash of cornmeal for some texture and binding. They're even great without a bun!

Give these a try next time you need a tasty bite.

Black Bean Burgers with Roasted Poblano Salsa
Makes 3-4 burgers

1 can black beans, drained {I don't rinse them, just drain the excess liquid}
1/2 an onion, sauteed until soft
1 teaspoon your favorite spice mix {I use McCormick Salt Free Fiesta Citrus}
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons cornmeal
Dash of salt
Optional: Chipotle Mayo

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a sheet of foil on a baking pan and lightly oil.

2. In a large bowl, combine the ingredients. Mash the beans lightly -- my favorite method is using a potato masher. I like some bean pieces to remain, but you can make it as mashed as you'd like. Note: You may have to add extra cornmeal if you mash too much.

3. Form burgers into patties - I usually make 4. Sliders are always fun, too.

4. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until set. {They'll set up some more as they cool off.}

Optional: For Chipotle Mayo - Combine your favorite mayonnaise with a few drops of adobo sauce from a can of chipotles, and a squeeze of lime. Stir well.

Serve on buns {or not!} with your favorite toppings - cheese, lettuce, salsa, chipotle mayo, etc. See below for Roasted Poblano Salsa recipe.


Roasted Poblano Salsa

1 poblano pepper, seeded, roasted & skin removed*, roughly chopped
1/2 an onion
1-2 small plum tomatoes
Squeeze of lime
Pinch of salt

1. In a food processor or blender, lightly pulse onion & tomato until just chunky.
2. Mix in poblano pepper. Add a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt and stir together.

Serve over Black Bean Burgers or with tortilla chips.

* To roast poblanos, set them on a foil lined pan and broil {500 degrees} for about 7-10 minutes or until skins are blistered. Cool slightly, then peel off charred skin and discard.

Baby Prep: Things I've Learned So Far | Part 1

{Not interested in baby talk? Scroll to the bottom for the recipe!}

Well, I've officially reached the half way point of pregnancy: 20 weeks! Now that I'm closer to meeting our little guy {!!!}, I feel like I have gained some perspective about this whole thing. I'm far enough in to have minimal some hindsight, and have enough time left ahead of me to still know that feeling of uncertainty.

But as you'll find out soon {if you haven't already}, pregnancy is one of those things that people like to talk about like they have it all figured out... whether they have gone through it once, 12 times, or just have a friend who did. Everyone is an expert.

I can't claim to be anywhere near a guru, but I CAN tell you what I've learned so far in my own pregnancy:

1. Pregnancy may exacerbate hypochondria.
Are you a person who often blows little symptoms out of proportion? Do you find yourself WebMDing the heck out of every freckle, ache, sniffle, etc. you experience? Well, guess what? Now there are TWO of you to Google diagnose. That's right. And there are a multitude of NEW websites that will allow you to indulge your irrational {and sometimes rational} fears. 

Pregnancy comes with lots of fun new feelings and physical changes, some that you'd expect and some that you'll swear were caused by exposure to some sort of alien disease. I'm learning not to freak out over every little thing. Until the baby arrives. And then I'm sure we'll be back at square one again.

2. Cravings are for real.
In the very beginning, I didn't have very many symptoms {which is probably a good thing since, you know, hypochondria}. But one of the first things I experienced was that hankering for something. For me, the cravings have been savory, vinegary, sour and bitter. For example, it was not uncommon to find me standing over the sink eating my way through an entire jar of pepperoncini. Or sauerkraut. Or sauteing up entire bunches of broccoli rabe to eat in one sitting. 

Before I shared the news with my family, I had lunch with my mom and sister and proceeded to eat the pickles off everyone's plates. I'm apparently that pregnant girl. It could be worse. I could crave really bad for you things. Or things that are inedible altogether. So, I'll take my cravings without complaint!

However... I also feel like people use pregnancy "cravings" as an excuse to eat poorly. There's nothing wrong with indulging every once in a while, but giving yourself the go-ahead too often can definitely start some bad habits early on and create an avalanche of undesirable things. {i.e. Excessive weight gain, poor nutrition, extra symptoms, etc.}

I've found that I can stave off cravings by thinking about what I'm craving and figuring out why I want it so badly. Got an itch to eat ice cream? Fruit smoothies and slushies are cold and sweet, just like ice cream but minus the extra calories and fat. Dying for some potato chips? Get your crunch from veggies and healthy dip like hummus, or get a salty fix from a handful of olives. Can't stop thinking about french fries? There are lots of baked, healthier versions of those greasy goodies!

Eat smart -- you're eating for two! And that doesn't mean double the amount. ;)

3. The labor of love of motherhood begins with giving up coffee. {And wine.}
So, back before I was even pregnant, but knew I could potentially be soon, I decided to go ahead and wean myself from caffeine. And what I discovered was this: I can take or leave caffeine. But don't mess with my coffee.

That routine of fragrant, sweet, creamy {yes, I add half & half and sugar, sue me} coffee in a nice hot mug is precious to me. And though I stocked up with lots of delicious decaf teas, they weren't the same. So I've not given up my morning cup completely -- just switched to decaf. {Which, by the way, is not completely free of caffeine. I just keep it to one cup.} 

I'm not gonna lie, there were some drowsy mornings for the first few weeks. I think I was more tired from lack of caffeine than from early pregnancy symptoms. It wasn't fun, but it was worth doing before actually having to.

Some moms-to-be don't stress too much about the caffeine thing, and it's really a personal choice. In fact lots of doctors will tell you that you can enjoy a regular cup of coffee a day if you'd like and that it will most likely have no effect on the baby. I felt most comfortable keeping it very minimal or non-existent, especially in the first trimester. Do what works for you & stay strong if you decide to decaffeinate... it DOES get better!

4. Pregnancy tests do, indeed, have an expiration date. 

This may be TMI, but it is a tale that needs to be told. Years and years ago, I purchased a home pregnancy test kit as a precaution. It was one of those cheap 3 packs. I used one and had two more that sat untouched... for about 5 years.

Come February of 2014, I really did need to use them. Except, at this point, they were several years past their expiration date. But, of course, that didn't stop me. Because if I was going to toss them, shouldn't I just go ahead and pee on them anyway? {Like I said, TMI.}

Anyway, if you ever wondered what happens when you are, indeed, pregnant and you do decide to use an expired test, I am here to solve that mystery for you. This particular test had a window that would show "+" for a positive result and "-" for a negative result. To be 100% honest, I didn't even think I was pregnant, so I was expecting to see a clear "-". What I got was neither of the above. What I got was this: "|". 

A solid vertical line. Talk about confusion. 

Clearly, I made the time to stop by the store and buy a current pregnancy test with a very easy-to-read digital screen that simply states either "pregnant" or "not pregnant"... just in case there was any more doubt thrown into the mix. The new one worked {shocking, I know.}. It worked better than I even anticipated. With a big fat, "PREGNANT" splashed across the screen. I almost passed out. 

Which brings me to my next point...

5. Do not believe what people tell you about pregnancy.
"It's not going to happen on the first try," they said. "It'll probably take a while," they said. Well, maybe it does for some people. But sometimes it doesn't. {Like, "first try" doesn't.} So don't start trying unless you're really, really ready to get that + sign. {Or a vertical line, as the case may be...}

This is also true for any unsolicited advice you receive about: weight gain, morning sickness, eating habits, bodily changes, mood swings, stretch marks, etc. etc. etc. I would say that the majority of the things that I've been told would most definitely happen have not. I still have 20 more weeks to go, so I'm not completely doubting all those gems, but I'm also not proclaiming them Gospel truths.

Don't listen to people. Not because they don't know, but because every person is so very, very different that no pregnancy is "textbook." And people will try to be so sweet and helpful and brimming with information. Smile and nod and take it with a grain of salt. What they said may be true. But then again, it may not. And that's the only surefire piece of advice I will be offering you about the whole thing. 

{As a side note, everything else I've mentioned above has been my personal experience, not a guideline for you. Because you're not me. And clearly you wouldn't want to be now that you know how neurotic I am.}

6. Like weddings, babies are a business. 
First and foremost, babies are a blessing. But don't be fooled -- they are also a huge opportunity for companies to prey on doe-eyed first time parents and milk you {no pun intended} for all you're worth.

From the moment you find out you're expecting, you can also expect to be bombarded with things you NEED for baby. Things that parents CAN'T do without. Because, let's remember that cavemen totally had Boppies. {I'm not hatin' on Boppies. I'll probably get one. But I'm just saying...} I have been trying to remind myself that the most important thing I can give my baby is my attention, care and love. Because those are the things that really matter the most. And are conveniently portable, convertible, ever-available and longest lasting. 

I'm not gonna lie, some days I feel like these are a necessity. But then I ask myself, "Is this going to make my baby healthier, happier or more prepared for life in the long run?" And again, sometimes I want to answer with "Maybe." and immediately put them in the shopping cart. Nobody's perfect. My goal is not to be perfect, but to maintain some sense of perspective... which I hear can be lost very easily once that sweet little bundle of joy arrives in your life. 

Then again, you shouldn't believe everything you hear. ;)

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I'm pretty lucky that most of my cravings have been pretty healthy. Currently, I can't get enough fruit -- even fruit that I'm not usually fond of! But when those salty cravings hit, I want something full of flavor, but not full of bad stuff.

You know what packs a one-two punch? Sweet AND salty things. Like these sweet potatoes with spicy jerk seasoning and pineapple dipping sauce.  These are pretty addictive, especially if you like some spice in your snacks.

I slice my sweet potatoes into about 1/4 inch pieces and roast them after sprinkling them with homemade Jerk seasoning. Jerk seasoning is full of all kinds of spices that taste amazing together -- cinnamon, cloves, cumin, allspice and red pepper flakes. The brown sugar helps create a caramelized outside on these zippy bites.

Warning: If you're experiencing heartburn during your pregnancy, you may want to skip the copious amounts of red pepper flakes. They've definitely got some heat. I haven't had any issues, but I'd hate for you to feel like a fire-breather after eating these!

Pregnant friends: What kind of cravings have you had? Do you indulge them or find suitable substitutes?

Jerk-Seasoned Sweet Potatoes with Pineapple Dipping Sauce

1 medium to large sweet potato, scrubbed, sliced in half & then cut into 1/4 inch slices {or however you prefer}
Olive oil

For Seasoning:
Slightly adapted from Aaron McCargo on Food Network

1/4 cup light brown sugar
Scant tablespoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 to 1 teaspoons red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you'd like the seasoning

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare a large baking pan by lining with foil and drizzling with olive oil.
2. Place sweet potato slices on baking sheet, rubbing both sides with olive oil.
3. Sprinkle with desired amount of seasoning, then flip slices and sprinkle other sides.
4. Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the slices are tender and browned. {Keep an eye on them as sugar has a tendency to scorch.}
5. Remove from oven and cool slightly {they'll be sort of floppy when they first come out, but will firm up a bit as they cool.} Transfer to a serving platter. Serve with Pineapple Dipping Sauce.

For Pineapple Dipping Sauce

About 1/2 cup fresh pineapple
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon vinegar {I used coconut white balsamic, but you can use your preferred vinegar}
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons ketchup
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch

1. Blend ingredients together in a blender or food processor. Transfer to a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a bubble over medium-high heat, whisking until slightly thickened.

Pour into a serving dish and set aside to cool.