The Littlest Yogi; A Birth Story

On Friday, February 1st at 11:02 am, our daughter was born.

As an aside, throughout this pregnancy, I had a very intuitive connection to my daughter. I didn't feel like I had this kind of intuition when I was pregnant with my son, so having gut feelings about things that I couldn't let go of throughout this pregnancy was very surreal for me. She told me that she was a girl. She told me her name. I had a gut feeling that she would come a few days before her due date, and that she would be a big girl. I can't tell you how, and I doubted these feelings' legitimacy until I had evidence to prove them, but I felt these things to be true... and then they were.

My final prenatal checkup was Wednesday, January 30th - I was 39 weeks and 2 days. The midwife asked if I would like to be checked and if I would like my membranes stripped. I declined the membrane strip because of what happened last time, but agreed to the cervical check because I was curious. 1 cm dilated and not really effaced. She didn't even tell me a percentage. She just said maybe I was effaced a little, but not really. She remarked that I was the picture of a perfect, healthy pregnant woman, said to set up an appointment for next week, and that she hoped I didn't make it to that appointment.

Yoga Baby 2; 36 Weeks

So... I sorta stopped taking bump photos. I didn't mean to, but it got cold outside, and those little black tank tops were getting too tight (they're mostly size small and I have not felt like going to buy a bigger one). Today baby and I are 36 weeks. It's less than a month to her estimated due date and quite a few things have changed in the last 8 weeks.

Cravings: Yes! Though I don't have a lot of room in my stomach, I have had the same type of "cravings" I had with my first - mostly for sweets, and always after the thought has been planted by some external source - like the Great British Baking Show. I texted my husband and asked if he could stop at the grocery store and pick out a Danish for me... because it was Danish week. Then last night we watched some youtube video of a guy on Tasty trying to hide pickled vegetables inside brownies. Even though I maintain that does not sound good - I immediately made a batch of brownies.

Aversions: Getting better. I'm still not really interested in red meat, but I have been drinking lattes some mornings, which makes me happy.

Nausea: No nausea. Dizziness is back with a vengeance though - always when changing levels (sit to stand, lay down, etc) It started when I had a cold about a week and a half ago and just hasn't let up. Trying to move slowly, and I always brace myself because I'm pretty used to it by now.

Gender: Girl.

Yoga Baby 2; 28 Weeks

Not much has changed pregnancy wise since my last post, but plenty has been going on...

Cravings: I actually don't have much of an appetite most of the time. I'll eat, but I think I've reached the point where I get full very quickly and don't find myself getting very hungry.

Aversions: Just the coffee thing. I've been able to have them out and about - I especially like having coffee at my parents' house, but its a major no-go at home.

Nausea: No nausea. Had another instance of lightheadedness the other day. I was worried I might pass out, so I skipped class that day - didn't want to be so far from home again if I did end up passing out.

Gender: Girl.

Yoga Baby 2: 26 Weeks

14 weeks to go! That seems far too long. Not much has changed since my last update

Cravings: Haven't really had them lately.

Aversions: Can someone explain this to me? I don't want coffee at my house. I can have lattes elsewhere, made at coffee shops, even at my mom's house, but not at home. Just no. Weirdest aversion ever.

Nausea: No nausea. I have a really strong gag reflex lately though. I think that's allergy related, not pregnancy related though.

Gender: Baby girl.

Yoga Baby 2; 24 Weeks

I need to figure out a better camera set up for my weekly photos. This quality is shoddy.

I am officially 6 months pregnant, and this is how things are going...

Cravings: Haven't really had them lately.

Aversions: Been feeling better about chicken and steak. I still don't get excited about coffee in the mornings, but I'm not really missing it, so no complaints there.

Nausea: Still free from nausea

Gender: Still a girl.

Yoga Baby 2; 22 Weeks

We appear to have had a bit of a growth spurt this week. 

Cravings: Still really into burritos. They are definitely my go to for most lunches lately.

Aversions: I've had a couple lattes here and there, but in general the thought of coffee makes me cringe. I still can't really eat chicken and steak unless their mixed into and hidden in something else.

Nausea: No nausea. Just short of breath all the time and lightheaded at least once a day (see last baby bump update re: fainting)

Just For Fun; Gender Prediction Wivestales

I found about a bajillion new wivestales to test out to predict this baby's sex. I just found out the sex of the baby this morning, but I thought it would be fun to test some of these wives tales:

• Carrying high or low? High means girl, low means boy. I'm carrying a tad higher than last time, but still pretty low. So, BOY

• Mayan Numbers - The Mayan tale adds the mothers age at conception and the year of conception.  If the result is a even number then baby is a girl, if its odd, you're having a boy. 33 + 2018 = 2051 = BOY

• Acne - If you have pregnancy acne, it means its a girl. I had some kinda gnarly acne in the first trimester, but it's since cleared up. I don't know if that's because I'm taking better care of my skin, or because of hormones, but let's say it's the former: GIRL

• Cravings - Salty cravings means boy, sweet means girl. The only thing I've "craved" so far have been tacos and peanut butter toast, so I guess BOY

• History of Parents Kids -  This one makes me laugh. It basically predicts there is no way we're having a boy. Haha. If you're the first child, you'll have the same sex babies that your mother had, starting with the second child. If you're the second child, you'll have the same sex babies your mother had, starting with the third child, and if you're a third child, you'll have the same sex babies in the same order. SO, my mom had three girls. Girl. Girl. Girl. GIRL. 

• Cold Feet - If your feet are cold, you're having a boy. If not, girl. It's the dead of summer in Los Angeles. GIRL. 

• Chinese gender prediction chart – age 33 in the month of May = GIRL

• Ramzi method – baby/placenta formed on right side = BOY

• Baby's heartrate – over 140 means girl, under 140 means boy. 164 at my 8 wk appt, 150 at my 19 week appt = GIRL

• Sickness – morning sickness means girl, not a lot of sickness means boy. I had none with my son, but got pretty sick this time around = GIRL

• Partner weight gain – Partner weight gain means girl. Mine is actually trying to lose weight at the moment and has done so successfully. BOY

• Headaches – headaches mean boy. No headaches means girl. I actually got a migraine and regular headaches with my son, and basically had a 2 month long headache this time – BOY

• Clumsiness – extra clumsiness means boy, no additional clumsiness means girl. I’m generally kind of clumsy, so I haven’t noticed any extra = GIRL

• Previous child’s hair swirl – if their hair swirls to the right (clockwise), it means girl, counterclockwise means boy. My son’s hair swirls clockwise – GIRL

• Nail growth – Nails growing longer, stronger and faster means boy. So, boy, but don’t prenatal vitamins do this??? BOY

BOY: 7 

GIRL: 8

Split pretty evenly down the middle, with a slight favor that this kiddo is a girl. What do you think???

Check the gram for a post soon to announce the sex of the baby!