The Small Bump

me at 8.5 months

I say small bump because, it really was.  I didn't gain a whole lot of weight nor did i get stretch marks on my stomach.  Some would say "You are so Lucky.  Lucky? NO. I worked my rear off too look that good and to have a healthy baby and make my labor easier. It would kinda tick me off when family, friends, and even complete strangers tell me that I am so lucky that I didn't gain a ton of weight. I once had a woman call me a 'B' for looking so good.


Before I got pregnant I told myself that I wanted to eat healthy for my baby. You see, what you eat does affect your growing baby. My midwife, Alice, always said, "Do you want to give birth to a 10lb baby?" Of course I don't!  So you need to eat healthy and work out regularly so your baby doesn't just load up on sugar.

Let's back up. I hadn't originally planned to do a home birth. I started out with an OB/GYN. My amazing SIL gave me a certificate to Houston Birth Services for a  nutritional consult. (which btw you can read the birth story of my niece, Evie, on there too) I had met Alice (my midwife) before at family gatherings where my SIL had invited her to. I thought it was kinda strange that she would invite her midwife to an Astros game. But now I totally get it. Anyways i'm getting off topic here. So I met with Alice officially and was pretty sure I wanted her to treat me and deliver our baby. I learned so much about foods to avoid and what to eat while pregnant and SO much more. Alice can talk... A LOT. 


During my entire pregnancy I had to take a few supplements, some not so bad, others were just awful, like Floradix. After 3 bottles of that along with some B12 vitamin sprays, my levels were back up and I no longer needed it. I lived on cranberry pills and vit C to help combat against a bladder infection that I kept trying to get. Along with that, it meant absolutely no added sugars in my diet. For 6 long months I went without sweet delicious desserts and watched my sweet hubby devour them right in front of me.

My diet consisted of lots of protein and very limited sugar, along with vegetables. I also worked out. I will admit I did not workout as much as I should have. My husband always pushed me to do it and I would only half way do it.  Which in the end I only ended up hurting myself. I also avoided fried food with the exception of Chick-Fil-A waffle fries. But that was very very rare. In the end I only gained about 25-30 lbs and lost about 15 lbs of that pretty quickly after Madison was born.  

You should not 'eat for two' while pregnant.. You are growing another human being and by feeding yourself with fried food, junk food, and sugar, you are also feeding that to your baby. If you want to birth a 10 lb baby, go right ahead. If you choose healthier good fatty foods you stay full longer and aren't left wanting something else and your baby.  Not to mention your baby will be a lot healthier.

People always asked me if I had any cravings during my pregnancy, I did not. I believe my healthy balance of fruit, protein, greens, and veggies attributed to that. My body was getting what it needed and didn't crave the junk. You also feel a thousand times better when you cut out all the junk, fried, and processed foods.  I'm not 'lucky' that I didn't gain a ton of weight. I worked hard for me and my baby.  I might just be lucky about not getting stretch marks. I encourage you to eat healthy regardless, but especially if you are pregnant.Your baby will thank you later and you will thank yourself for all that hard work.

In the words of my midwife "You are preparing for a marathon."  I never understood that until after Madison was born.