Pregnancy Update: Eight Months! {and a giveaway!}
Eight months and counting…I’ll be honest and say I’m so ready to be done. It’s really hit me this past week, the days are starting to slow down, I’m not getting much sleep because I can’t get comfortable and I keep getting sick with a cold! It’s all worth it, this has just been a really rough pregnancy and I’m ready to hold my baby in my arms!
My midwife has other ideas though, and said no way am I having this baby anytime soon. 🙂 I know deep down I want to go full term, I’m just tired and emotional! My husband is being so sweet and patient with me, and trying to encourage me all he can.
I was thankful that we discovered last week why I’ve been so fatigued lately. My iron levels are low, they are actually below the safe levels my midwife requires to have a home birth. So I’m working hard on getting the levels up. I’ve tried taking Floradix before several times and never seen very positive results with it. So this time I’m trying Garden of Life Iron, Chlorophyll mixed in orange juice, and Ferrochel Iron Chelate.
I am doing something new this pregnancy and recently started wearing a maternity splint. It is the best thing ever! I wear it all day long, and it really helps me not feel as uncomfortable. I also feel like my back posture is better when I wear it. I found mine used on Ebay. I didn’t realize that I should have ordered the same size as pre-pregnancy, so I have to wrap mine around in the back. It works, but if anyone is going to look for one make sure you order the size shirt you wore before you got pregnant!
Another new thing I’m using this pregnancy is tummy oil and tummy butter. Mama Mio sent me this to try and it is such a treat! I don’t normally go for tummy creams in pregnancy, but I read that The Tummy Team recommended these creams and I trust their suggestions.
Before I started using these products I was having such trouble with dry, stretched out skin on my tummy. It even got to the point that it would start bleeding in spots. Ouch! I was using some other essential oils and lotions, but it just wasn’t working the best. Once I started using the Tummy Oil and the Tummy Butter, it’s like night and day. Yes, my skin is still tight and stretched because I’m 8 months pregnant, but it is no longer dry and itchy. I can’t recommend these products enough! You can use them for four months after giving birth, to help tone your skin. I will be using it for sure!
I’m super excited to be able to giveaway a bottle of the Tummy Oil and Tummy Butter to a reader! This is a giveaway for USA only, thanks to Mama Mio. Enter through the Rafflecopter post below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I had iron issues with my last pregnancy it was my 6th and mine we almost below the safe zone. I was tired and had picca issues with being addicted to chewing ice that was the main reason I knew something was wrong because I craved chewing on ice. I took hemaplex and my iron levels came up in 4 days. You can get it at almost any healthfood store or online.
Thanks for the suggestion! If these don’t work I’ll look into that!
I just ordered all 3 of the iron supplements you suggested. I have also been taking Floradix and have poor results with boosting my ferritin levels. Do you take all 3 of these in one day? I have read to take the Chlorophyll with iron. What is the Ferrochel for? Is that iron too? Thanks
I do take all 3 in a day. I take my thyroid medicine in the morning, and take my first batch of iron pills at noon. So I take one of the Garden of Life iron, 2 of the Ferrochel (that is a form of iron my midwife gave me), and I drink my chlorophyll in orange juice. My midwife said to take iron with orange juice. She also stresses eating red meat. At night I take my second batch of iron pills, which is just two more of the Ferrochel with my evening pills of Red Raspberry and my Progesterone medicine. I hope that helps! 🙂
Yes, that helps a lot. Hopefully these new iron pills work. 🙂
I’m 8 months too, due mid-March. I’m so ready to have this baby! With our three boys I was more like, hey little guy if you wanna hang out some more no complaints here! But not so with this baby; I’m ready to have her! I cry over nothing and I can’t get comfortable at night so I’m not sleeping well either. But, I know it’s best for baby to stay comfortable inside mamma for a few more weeks so she can continue developing and growing.
Hang in there! We’ll be holding our babies in no time! 🙂
I know you are tired and ready to be done being pregnant, but for what it’s worth, you are one of those women that pregnancy looks amazing on. You don’t let pregnancy be an excuse for not dressing cute and putting in an effort. I love the pics you’ve posted lately of maternity wardrobe combinations. So flattering and feminine. I have 3 littles myself (4 and under) so I know that doesn’t just happen. This mama is truly encouraged by you and am mildly looking forward to getting pregnant again and trying out some new wardrobe ideas. Just don’t tell my poor baby fever tortured husband I said that. Am I the only one whose husband gets baby fever instead of the wife? I’ve had it once, which resulted in our second child. Babies 1 & 3 were because my hubby is so cute and pitiful when he’s begging for more babies and I didn’t have to heart to deny him. 😉
Jamie,
You are not the only one! We have two kids(2 and 5) and my husband has been bugging me for a third while I was still pregnant with the second one! I do not get baby fever. But, my husband sure does. If only he could be the one to be pregnant, go through labor/delivery and nursing….
Haven’t had baby fever since before my first child was born…Our second and third were a result of “God’s timing”! My husband is always open to more. I agree with Sharon- if only he could be the one to go through labor & delivery! 😉
Caroline, you do look amazing. I hope you have good results with your iron supplements. How many babies have you had at home? I should dig through your old blog posts & see if I can figure that out. I had all 3 of mine at home.
Oh I am praying for you sister! I just passed my due date yesterday and I am feeling very done and emotional! This is my 5th pregnancy and I am thankful of course and grateful I’ve had no real issues arise but I am so tired, achy and sore and can’t get comfortable and I am looking forward to the end now.
where was this when I had my seven babies….. this will come in handy for future babies though…. you look great by the way, hang in
I know you are in that exhausted state but these really aren’t that much work once you get started and it would probably really help your iron levels. 🙂 I can’t stand liver so this is how I get all the benefits. http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2013/08/05/monday-health-wellness-how-to-make-liver-pills/
I use dessicated liver pills for iron during pregnancy – here’s a link just in case what you’re doing isn’t quite enough!
http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/radiant-life-desiccated-liver/superfoods-supplements
You look absolutely amazing!! Beautiful! Can’t wait to see pics of the new little one, but you are doing an amazing job of looking radiant at the end of pregnancy!!
Diana
I am almost 8 months pregnant with baby #7 so I can sympathize. I always seem to get a little impatient at this point. I’m so looking forward to cuddling a newborn, nursing, giving kisses to those sweet little rosebud baby lips….ahhh I can’t wait 🙂 P.S. I can get a little anemic during pregnancy if I’m not careful, but what I do that really helps is add a tablespoon or two of beet root powder to my smoothie in the morning ( I get mine from the bulk herb store), it’s a pretty gentle on your stomach way to boost iron levels. I’ll be praying that your last month of pregnancy goes well and passes quickly, and that when baby comes you will feel prepared and at peace. Blessings to you and your sweet family 🙂
Hello,
I have used spirulina powder to help get my iron levels up following a miscarriage in which I lost a lot of blood. It seems to really help with energy levels too. I take it mixed with some yogurt & kefir & with a little bit of honey to help it taste OK!
Praying that God will bless your last few weeks of this pregnancy & your baby’s birth.
Blessings,
Angela
I feel you. Nine months myself, and counting down, trying not to hope I have a baby before the due date! It’s not that I’m terribly uncomfortable – this has been my most comfortable third trimester so far, although not without it’s moments – but I have that longing to hold my baby, see what he looks like, smell his newborn head, etc…
As far as iron deficiency goes, I know that cooking in cast iron really helps to maintain good levels, although I’m not sure it would significantly help in a deficiency. Particularly if you cook tomato products such as spaghetti sauce, you get some great iron intake (with the vitamin C naturally included to help absorb it). Not that you need any advice 🙂 You and your midwife do a great job taking care of your body and baby! And I agree with the other commenters: you may not feel great, but you look amazing!