Moments of Musing

Hello Third Trimester!

Filed Under: baby #3, motherhood, pregnancy //

It’s the final countdown!!! We’re in the last trimester. I have not updated you all since the first trimester so here’s a recap, including my 3-hour glucose test results.
Physical vs. Emotional Feelings
I have to admit – while this pregnancy has been my physically toughest (and I already weigh about as much as I did at the end of my second pregnancy!), I have felt the most emotionally prepared. We are so excited and looking forward to his arrival but first we have a bit to do (celebrate his little sprinkle (on Mother’s Day with very little family); build his bassinet and crib; redo the boys’ room; and figure out what the heck I’m doing regarding birth… lol!
Low Placenta

At my 17/18 Week preliminary anatomy scan (because the baby was too big when I went for the nuchal scan), I was told my placenta was low. Of course, I started to freak out because I did not want it to attach to my C-section scar. Thankfully, at my 20-week scan, my placenta was no longer low. 

Glucose Test
Unfortunately, I failed my 1-hour glucose test. I also failed during my first pregnancy and then passed. This time around, I felt so sick after my 3-hour glucose test. I was therefore worried I had gestational diabetes but I received my results… and I passed!!! SO grateful. 

Birth Plan
This being my third pregnancy, “birth plan” just sounds silly to me because not much in my previous two births went as planned. I went into this pregnancy with an open mind regarding a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) but finding a provider supportive of that after 2 c-sections, during neither of which I dilated fully, has proven to be nearly impossible. I even had one doctor tell me my best bet would be my placenta remaining low so the birth decision would be automatic (C-section) and I wouldn’t really have to wonder … As she said that, I thought “Uhh excuse me? Who would want their placenta to remain low?”

All in all, though, I am feeling great and looking forward to enjoying this next trimester. I know the very end gets uncomfortable so I am trying to soak in the time now! 

A Pandemic Pregnancy

Filed Under: baby #3, motherhood, pregnancy //

pregnancy, pandemic pregnancy, pregnant mom, boy mom, latina mom, blogger mom, working mom,

Being pregnant is a blessing and brings me much joy, overall, each and every time despite life’s circumstances. Of course, there is stress and sometimes sadness, too, because life around us is still happening. 

Close to the birth of our firstborn, my husband lost his cousin who was his closest cousin growing up. Close to the birth of our second baby, I lost my younger cousin, Abby (the first person I have ever witnessed dying).

My whole second pregnancy was filled with sadness and at times, I was worried my baby was absorbing so much of my negative emotions. During my last month, I was worried I would develop postpartum depression. 

But then something happened when Rafael was born (his name, which we picked months prior, meaning “God has healed” … talk about a sign).  It felt like he healed the hurt I was feeling and many of us were feeling. No, he didn’t replace Abby — no one could ever do that — but I noticed moods and spirits lifted. I know she’d be happy about that.

This time around, I am pregnant during another tumultuous time–a global once-in-a-100-years pandemic. Constant anxiety and concern. A period of not seeing many family and friends. No hugging many people. No commuting. No time in the office. No school for the kids. No hands-on activities for them, either. No traveling by plane… and the list goes on.

There is so much I’d like to do and so many people we’d like to see but either can’t or don’t due to fear of exposure. And while I am not pregnant during what was the most uncertain and scariest part here in New York (spring 2020- shout out to all the strong mamas who were!), much is still uncertain and at a standstill. Do I get the vaccine? Is there really enough research on the affects to fetuses/ newborns when breastfeeding? 

And once again, the new baby growing inside me is helping me in ways he doesn’t yet know. He is keeping my mind off what we can’t do as I look forward to his birth and a life together in which we will do so many things together. He, along with his big brothers, provide much optimism and hope. 

Because I know this time shall pass and it’s all a part of our story. 

Mamas, we will be stronger for it.

pregnancy, pandemic pregnancy, pregnant mom, boy mom, latina mom, blogger mom, working mom,

Find Your Village with Be Her Village

Filed Under: motherhood, postpartum, pregnancy //

 This post is sponsored by Be Her Village but all opinions are my own. 

It’s my third pregnancy and I’m really only now just focusing on myself.  During each of my previous pregnancies, my main concern was the baby. 

Not my body. 

Not preparing mentally and physically for labor. 

Not the birthing process. 

Not recovery. 

Not my mental health.

I should have prioritized all of those, so I want to remind you that you should, too.

One way to do so is by creating a Be Her Village Registry. Be Her Village is an online registry that enables you to get the gifts YOU really need. The registry helps you build your birth team, as well as to seek services for the Fourth Trimester, to Restore Your Body, and for your Heart + Mind. 



During labor, I remember feeling defeated and confused. Despite having a supportive husband and family, no one really knew what birth would be like and how to provide the support I needed during my childbirth. Looking back, I could have greatly benefitted from doula support during my previous pregnancies. I just did not know that then. I know it now.

I also remember needing all of the lactation support I could get with my firstborn but feeling at a loss with where to go, who to ask and I was unsure we could afford a lactation consultant. One of the best parts about Be Her Village registry is the registry guide that lists available services, making it easier for moms and parents-to-be to choose the support they need. If you do not see a particular service or service provider you have in mind in the guide, you can add a custom service to your registry.


Sure, baby clothes and items are cute and helpful but maternal and parental support is of equal – if not greater – importance. No one knows that better than moms. 


While I can’t go back and change my past pregnancy, birth and postpartum experiences, I can change how I approach them in the present. I can begin prioritizing myself now. And I’m determined to tell other mamas to prioritize yourselves, too. The baby’s health and well-being is important — AND so is yours.

So, get support.

Advocate for your best interest.

Ask for help.

Find a village.

Let Be Her Village help you do so.

Simply create your Be Her Village Registry, share it with your friends and family, and feel the love. You will get money to make your experience of becoming a parent and bringing baby home as sweet as it can be.

Virtual Fun for Baby #3’s Sprinkle

Filed Under: baby #3, motherhood, pregnancy //

This post is sponsored by Bar None Trivia. All opinions are my own.

 

When I was pregnant with my firstborn, we had a beautiful baby shower celebration at a garden restaurant. I went all out with decor and favors. For our second baby, also a boy, we decided to keep things simple. We had just moved into our home, after all. So, we had a baby sprinkle with family at our new home. 

 

For our third baby, another boy!, I have decided to celebrate, as well but I think I am combining it with an intimate and very small family-only Mother’s Day luncheon at our home to minimize my exposure to others, given the state of the world, and see my broader group of friends and family virtually. Despite being a little sad that I can’t celebrate with all of my loved ones as I would traditionally, I am still so excited. 

 

I can’t wait to share the theme and the decor with you all. But I am keeping those details under wraps until then. For now, I can share about an aspect I am planning on doing that I think would be fun for others hosting virtual baby showers or other virtual celebrations.


 

Bar None Games is the #1 virtual live trivia company that brings fun and joy to people with 60-75 minute team trivia games. It’s an exciting way to connect with friends from all over the country to celebrate your new baby! They’ve already hosted over 600 games, connecting 10,000 people from around the nation and the globe. It’s exactly what we need during these strange times. 

 

The Bar None Baby Shower trivia game, made especially for baby showers, features a baby celebrity picture round, specialty music round, and tons of general knowledge and pop culture trivia inspired by newborns. You can also add custom questions of your own or include specific rounds that focus on certain interests to personalize the experience for the expecting parents.

 

I recently attended a virtual baby shower and the trivia portion was my favorite part of the celebration. It was a fun and unique way to keep all of us guests engaged and interacting with the expectant parents. I highly recommend incorporating trivia into your next virtual celebration and I can’t wait for my sprinkle with Bar None Games!

 

Baby #3: Boy or Girl? Old Wives Tales Answered

Filed Under: baby #3, motherhood, pregnancy //

baby, ultrasound, baby announcement, gender reveal, pregnancy, second trimester, old wives tales, latina, latina mom, latina blogger, mom blogger

The time has come to find out Baby #3’s sex! 

I’ll start off by saying that my pregnancies with my two boys felt pretty different, and this pregnancy feels more similar to my second pregnancy. 

I had a strong feeling that S was a boy (I had a very vivid dream with my baby boy in it at the very beginning of my pregnancy) so I wasn’t really surprised when we found out that he, indeed, was a boy at his reveal. I didn’t have as strong a feeling with R’s pregnancy and many people thought it might be a girl. 

The same goes again for this pregnancy with me not having a super strong feeling one way or the other. One one hand, I have felt it could be a girl because of how much more sick and tired I’ve felt (though working from home while caring two little energetic boys could have something to do with the more tired part lol). 

On the other hand, this pregnancy has felt similar to R’s and my appetite increased toward the end of the first trimester, which made me think it could be another boy. (With my previous pregnancies my appetite was increased (S) or normal (R)).

Before we spill the beans, here is how this pregnancy has compared to my other pregnancies, old wives tales-wise:

Cravings?

This pregnancy: Sleep lol jk Sweet (fruits + candy) earlier in pregnancy; more salty later

R’s pregnancy: Sweet (fruits please!)
S’s pregnancy: Salty (pickles + pizzeria chicken rolls lol)

Morning sickness?

This pregnancy: Bad nausea for 10/11 weeks followed by intermittent nausea (still occurring as of 17 weeks)

R’s pregnancy: Nausea for ~16 weeks

S’s pregnancy: Nausea for 14 weeks

Glow?

This pregnancy: No – bad acne in the earlier weeks & felt uncomfortable in my skin and body for most of the first trimester

R’s pregnancy: Some people say yes and my body confidence was highest of all pregnancies, but I had bad acne in the earlier weeks

S’s pregnancy: Yes!

Moody or Mellow?

This pregnancy: Pretty moody at times.. increasingly so as the pregnancy has progressed

R’s pregnancy: Moody/ Moodier than my first… according to my trust Hubs haha!

S’s pregnancy: Mellow-ish

Shape of belly?

This pregnancy: Wide

R’s pregnancy: Round 

S’s pregnancy: Round 

Carrying high or low?

This pregnancy: Low
This pregnancy: High 
Last pregnancy: High


Heart rate?

This pregnancy: Above 140

R’s pregnancy: Above 140

S’s pregnancy: Above 140 sometimes, below sometimes

Clearly, the Old Wives Tales have been all over the place for all three of my pregnancies haha! 

Sooooo, what do you think – boy or girl? 

Check back for the reveal soon! 

baby, ultrasound, baby announcement, gender reveal, pregnancy, second trimester, old wives tales, latina, latina mom, latina blogger, mom blogger