Tag Archives: Cooking for Pregnancy and Infertility

Thirty-Three Weeks – The 411

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Two pineapples in wicker basket on table

How my baby’s growing

This week your baby weighs about 5 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark (about the size of a pineapple). She’s rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look, and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren’t fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a cone-head–like appearance.) These bones don’t entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How mommy’s life’s changing

As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in – let alone sleep – is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist.

Nerves that run through this “tunnel” may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping up your arm with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks – which should be frequently.

Many women still feel sexy at this stage – and their partners often agree. You may need to make some adjustments, but for most women, sex during pregnancy is fine right up until their water breaks or their labor starts.

Learn about: Monitoring your baby’s movements

How often should I feel movements?

Your baby should be moving as frequently as she has for the last month or so. Every baby has her own pattern of activity and there’s no correct one. As long as you don’t notice any major changes in your baby’s activity level, chances are she’s doing just fine.

Do I need to keep track of my baby’s kicks?

For an added sense of security, many healthcare providers recommend that after 28 weeks, you formally monitor your baby’s movements at least once or twice a day. There are lots of different ways to do these “kick counts,” so check with your doctor or midwife about how she wants you to track your baby’s movements. Here’s one common approach: Choose a time of day when your baby tends to be active. (Ideally, you’ll want to do the counts at roughly the same time each day.) Sit quietly or lie on your side so you won’t get distracted. Time how long it takes for you to feel 10 distinct movements – kicks, twitches, and whole body movements all count. You should feel at least 10 movements within two hours. (Don’t worry; it probably won’t take that long. Sometimes you’ll feel 10 kicks within the first 10 minutes.) If you don’t feel 10 movements in two hours, stop counting and call your healthcare provider.

What should I do if I think my baby’s movements have slowed or changed?

Let your doctor or midwife know right away if you notice a slowdown of your baby’s movements. A decrease in fetal movement may signal a problem, and you’ll need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby.

BABY STATS:

How Far Along?

33 weeks !

How Big Is The Little One?

My little angel is the size of a pineapple

Total Weight Gain / Loss?

I did not weigh this week, but as of last weigh in, I was up 8 pounds.  I lost 27 pounds first trimester, so I think I am doing pretty good !

Maternity Clothes?

Still rocking running pants, maternity leggings, oversized tees, body con dresses and mostly pjs since I have barely left the house this week.  The baby shower wore me OUT !

Sleep?

I sleep pretty well.  I do wake up a few times to urinate, but otherwise, I have no problem falling asleep.

Best Moment of the Week?

My week has pretty much revolved around resting, cooking and baking.  I was craving fried flounder and chips so I made that yesterday and today I wanted Baby Lima Bean and Country Ham Bone Soup, homemade buttermilk biscuits and grilled center cut pork chops.  I made egg custard pies for my mom using my great Grandmom’s recipe with a few tweaks of my own.  I wanted swiss n cheddar burgers for breakfast and homemade fresh cut fries so I made that at 8 am lol.  I only eat a few bites of anything before I am full, so I do not worry about weight gain.  Now that I am not as repulsed by the smell of food and sight of food, I really enjoyed the few bites of food I indulged in this week.

Symptoms?

My baby has been extremely active the past few days.  She was almost radio silent for the past few weeks with the exception of certain times.  Now, she is moving a lot again… Especially when I am trying to sleep or when I put belly buds on and play Mozart or Beethoven.

Constipation is plaguing me so I am back to taking 3 Colace in the am and drinking coffee with Miralax in it periodically.  That does the trick.

I had blood work last week and my TSH is extremely low (.066), my protein, fluid levels iron levels, Vitamin D, calcium, platelet counts, rbc… everything is LOW !  The baby is taking all my nutrients.  My sister instructed me to up my fluid intake and protein.  I went to get protein shakes but the kind I like was out of stock.  I will make a point of getting some this weekend and start drinking two per day that are 35g each.

Food Cravings?

Burgers, fresh cut fries, cheese, fried fish

Food Aversions?

None

Gender?

Female

Labor Signs?

None

What I Miss?

Wine and Sangria

What I Am Looking Forward To?

Meeting this little angel and seeing who she looks like… what she sounds like… what she smells like.

Bump?

My bump is growing a little… becoming more round.


Navel In/Out?

In

Baby / Mommy Purchases?

I didn’t buy anything this week.

What’s New?

My mom is going to be doing her reconstructive surgery in a week.  I am hoping the have a cancellation and can get her in next week so that she has time to properly heal before I have my cesarean.  Since they are doing a tummy tuck for a flap and her breasts, I am hoping she will be able to sit up straight and be functional by the time baby girl is here, since I will not be able to lift her.

Grilled Salmon, Lemon & Lime Skewers – Recipe

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Grilled Salmon, Lemon & Lime Skewers
Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 lb. salmon fillet, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces;
  • 2 limes, thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 4 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Wood or metal skewers
Directions:
  1. Preheat grill to medium heat.
  2. Thread the salmon, lime, and lemon onto a skewer, alternating.
  3. Brush the skewers with oil generously.
  4. Season the skewers with oregano, cumin, sea salt and black pepper.
  5. Cook the skewers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning every 2 minutes.
All Rights Reserved by Valerie Renèe

OMG ! Twenty Seven Weeks ! – The 411

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How my baby’s growing

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (about the size of a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She’s sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby’s brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning – with a lot of medical help –if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don’t bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

 

How mommy’s life’s changing

The second trimester is drawing to a close, and as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp now and then. They’re carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs.

Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief.

Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.

It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it’s not too soon to think about postpartum birth control. You’ll want to make some decisions about it before your baby arrives. If you’re considering a tubal ligation, be aware that some insurers, including Medicaid and other federal programs, require you to sign a consent form at least 30 days beforehand if your procedure is to be covered by insurance. So if you’d like the option of having the surgery during your postpartum hospital stay, don’t wait too much longer to discuss it with your doctor or midwife. (You can still change your mind later.)

BABY STATS:

How Far Along?

27 weeks  🙂

How Big Is The Little One?

The baby is the size of a head of cauliflower

Total Weight Gain / Loss?

4 pound gain total.  (I lost 27 pounds the 1st trimester)

Maternity Clothes?

I now wear either exercise leggings with baggy tees or maternity clothes.

Sleep?

Sleep is still a bit sketchy but only because of disturbances by other people in the house. If my mother doesn’t wake me with her insomnia by rattling bags of junk food she is eating at midnight or beyond while sitting on the couch in my bedroom watching tv, then my sister or her family are making some noise (baby crying, tv in the den on the loudest volume like they are deaf, walking across the floor upstairs, waking up early and making noise in the kitchen which is just upstairs).  I am sooooo ready to go back to NY for peace and quiet !  A few more weeks and I can move into my sublet, which will be at a hotel.

Best Moment of the Week?

This week has been pretty quiet.  Tomorrow, I am leaving for Kentucky to take my mom to Paducah for the weekend.  It is the Quilt Capital of the world.  Because of her compromised immune system, my sister and her doctor were not in agreement with us sending her to Costa Rica due to Zika risk :-(.  My friend suggested taking her to KY, which I had no idea about and after researching the town, I decided to just take her there.  We will take a family trip next year to Europe.  My sister, who is a Pediatric RN is against me taking the baby out of the country due to germs, etc and her being not fully immunized, but I will discuss it with the Pediatrician when we have our first appointment.

Symptoms?

Other than the inability to get comfortable at night, pelvic heaviness, and round ligament pain, I have no other symptoms.

Food Cravings?

Still no appetite.  The only think I crave occasionally is watermelon and sometimes a homemade burger with onion and tomato.

Medical Issues/ Developments?

My TSH is elevated a bit and my doctor called in a prescription for a higher dose of Synthroid.  I now have to take 200mg instead of 175mg.  My iron levels have dropped too so I have to take an iron supplement.  Since they never called in one, I will start taking the organic liquid one I bought at a health food store.

Food Aversions?

Salty foods.  I am starting to be able to tolerate a little bit of sweets.

Gender?

Baby Girl !!

Labor Signs?

None

What I Miss?

Having a flatter belly and not having to try to figure out where to rest my arms/hands

What I Am Looking Forward To?

My baby shower in a few weeks !

Bump?

Yes, I have a little basketball


Navel In/Out?

In

Baby Purchases?

I have not bought anything this week.  Well, I did purchase a gray elephant pillow for the baby’s room 🙂

Poppy Seed Chicken Pasta Salad – Recipe

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Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fusilli (spiral) pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups cubed cooked free range, organic chicken
  • 6 tablespoons chopped sweet Mayan onion
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup chopped celery
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/2 cup poppy seed salad dressing

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, 12 minutes; drain, rinse in cold water, and drain again.
  2. Toss pasta, chicken, onion, cranberries, celery, and almonds together in a salad bowl; drizzle with poppy seed dressing and stir to coat.

 

 

 

Twenty Weeks – The 411

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How your baby’s growing

My baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She’s also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — about the size of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby’s legs are curled up against her torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of her head to her bottom — the “crown to rump” measurement. After 20 weeks,she’s measured from head to toe.)

 

She’s swallowing more these days, which is good practice for her digestive system. She’s also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in her bowels, and you’ll see it in her first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

How Mommy’s life’s changing

Congratulations! You’ve hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you’ve likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you’re getting enough iron, a mineral that’s used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen).

During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) also contains iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

BABY STATS:

How Far Along?

20 weeks !

How Big Is The Little One?

My little angel is the size of a banana.

Total Weight Gain / Loss?

I have gained 2 pounds this week

Maternity Clothes?

I am still in my same ole clothing !   Maybe one day before the end of this pregnancy, I will be able to fit in my maternity pants (insert sarcasm)

Sleep?

What sleep?  The sleep I have to now get during day time catnaps because I can not get comfy at night?   Yeah….  THAT sleep !  Even pillows are not helping 😦

Best Moment of the Week?

This week has been pretty low key since I returned from the beach.  My mom and I met my sister, niece and nephew at Virginia Beach/ Hampton.  It was an amazing time. 
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I even took my little niece to the pool at the hotel one night.  My mom and I spent two days out on the beach and it was really relaxing.  This morning, I had ExamOne come out to administer a physical exam for a new life insurance policy I am getting for 1 million dollars for my baby.  I am gonna go broke paying all these premiums lol.   Well, this policy is actually a lot cheaper than my whole life policy per month.  I feel that it is so worth it.

Symptoms?

Constipation has decided to pay me a visit !  I started taking 3 Colace per day and also eating bite sized prunes.  I also feel this heaviness in the bottom of my abdomen.  Before I got the constipation under control, I could not tell which was which…  Other than insomnia, that is about it for symptoms.

Food Cravings?

I still do not have much of an appetite but I am able to stomach meat now so I have been making a lot of dishes with organic grass fed beef.
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Cubed Steak with onion gravy
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Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Onion Gravy

Food Aversions?

Salty food and sweets.  Everything tastes salty to me since pregnancy, especially my favorite Chick Fil A.   😦

Gender?

It’s A ….  Girl !  (but you already knew that)

Labor Signs?

None

What I Miss?

Sleep

What I Am Looking Forward To?

Holding my baby and seeing her little face and hearing what she sounds like !

Bump?

Still nothing.  Just bloat from the constipation that is finally going down.

Navel In/Out?

In

Baby / Mommy Purchases?

I bought another baby hat for the hospital with a huge satin bow.
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Country Fried Cauliflower – Recipe

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Ingredients:
1 large head of cauliflower
2 large organic eggs, beaten with 1 Tbsp water
3/4 – 1 c King Arthur all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, finely grated and divided
1/8 tsp sweet spanish paprika
Peanut or Canola oil for frying
Directions:
1. Wash and cut cauliflower into thick (1/2″) slices* from top to bottom of head (the slice will look like a fan); remove all green leaves and excess root. Leave just enough “root” at bottom to hold the sliced clusters together.
2. Mix together flour, spices, and 1 tbsp parmesan cheese. Dip cauliflower in beaten egg mixture; then coat with flour mixture. Add enough peanut oil to cover bottom of skillet and heat to medium high temperature for frying. Cook cauliflower on both sides until golden brown; do not overcook (2 – 3 minutes each side). Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle on fried cauliflower the remaining 1 tbsp parmesan cheese.
3. Serve as side dish or with remoulade sauce for dipping. Delicious!
4. *Note: If some of the clusters break off into smaller pieces that is fine. Just dip them and fry!

 

Peanut Butter Pound Cake – Recipe

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Ingredients:

CAKE:
3 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup Jiff creamy peanut butter (don’t use natural)
1/2 cup organic sweet cream butter, at room temperature
3 cups granulated white sugar
6 large organic eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

GLAZE:
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup organic whole milk
1/4 cup Jiff creamy peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray 10-cup tube pan generously with nonstick spray (I like the Baker’s Joy).

2. Prepare cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together peanut butter and butter. Add sugar and beat an additional 5 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until well combined. Add dry ingredients a little at a time, beating just until incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips. Scrape batter into prepared tube pan. Tap it a couple of times on the counter to shake out any hidden air pockets.

2. Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes, checking on the cake at 1 hour to make sure it’s not browning too quickly on top. If browning too quickly, just place a piece of foil loosely over the top of the pan. When a toothpick is inserted into the center of the cake and comes out clean, your cake is done. Let cool for 20 minutes, then flip it onto a rack or platter and let it cool completely.

3. Prepare glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, peanut butter and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the top of the cooled cake, letting it drizzle down the sides. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. The glaze will set eventually- if you’d like to quicken the setting process, just place it into the refrigerator for a bit.

 

Shrimp & Crab Macaroni and Cheese – Recipe

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INGREDIENTS:
2 cups Barilla elbow noodles
3 tablespoons organic sweet cream butter ( plus some for greasing)
2 tablespoons King Arthur all purpose flour
2 cups organic half-n-half
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 pinch cayenne pepper
4 cups Sharp cheddar cheese, grated & 2 cups Provolone/Mozzarella cheese , shredded
2 pinches kosher salt, to taste
2 pinches freshly ground black pepper, to taste
cooked shrimp, patted dry (tails removed)
1/2 cup crabmeat ( fresh, frozen or 12 g can, well drained)
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

DIRECTIONS:
In a pot of salted water, cook macaroni until tender, about 8 – 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly butter an 8 x 8 baking dish and set aside.
In a large sauce pot, add the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Using a whisk, slowly add the milk and cook until it thickens.
Remove the sauce from heat and mix in the half-n-half, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. Add 3/4 of the Cheddar cheese and the Provolone/ Mozzarella cheese. When the macaroni is cooked, drain it well. Add to it, the shrimp, crab and basil and gently add the white sauce. Spoon macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Top with the remaining Cheddar and Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until the top is lightly golden.

Southern Flaky Biscuits with Chocolate Gravy – Recipe

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Ingredients:

  • 1/2 teaspoon lard
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons butter, frozen
  • 1 teaspoon bacon drippings
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with 1/2 teaspoon of lard.
  2. Mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl. Grate the frozen butter and 2 tablespoons frozen lard into the flour mixture with a cheese grater; stir lightly 1 or 2 times to mix. With your fingers, make a well in the middle of the flour mixture, and pour the bacon drippings and buttermilk into the well. With just the tips of your fingers, stir lightly and quickly to just bring the dough together before the butter and lard melt. Dough will be sticky.
  3. Scrape dough out onto a floured surface, and gently pat the dough flat. Sprinkle the top of the dough with flour, and fold it in half; pat down, fold again, and repeat until you have folded the dough 4 or 5 times. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a square about 1 inch thick. Cut the biscuit dough into rounds with a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter or the floured edge of a drinking glass by pushing straight down (twisting the cutter will seal the edge and keep the biscuits from rising). Lay the biscuits onto the prepared baking sheet so the edges just touch.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until risen and lightly golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

 

Southern Style Chocolate Gravy

 

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup cocoa
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

  1. Whisk the cocoa, flour, and sugar together in a bowl until there are no lumps. Pour the milk into the mixture and whisk until well incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until its consistency is similar to gravy, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir the butter and vanilla into the mixture until the butter is melted. Serve immediately.