Pregnancy

September 12, 2021

We’ve Got Some News… | Pregnancy Announcement

Hello everyone I have missed posting to the blog, but I am so happy to be back! These last 4 months have been filled with so many blessings and big changes in our lives. We…

Moved across the country
I struggled with some personal health issues
Andrew started a new job
We bought a new house

AND…

We are expecting!!

We are 6 weeks along, due date is May 10, 2022, and we just couldn’t be more excited to welcome another child into our family. I honestly am so excited to see Clara be a big sister. She is already so nurturing and such a great sharer. I just know she will love having a baby brother or sister.

I truly appreciate you all being so patient with me disappearing from this space during this time. I am so happy to be back with you all and to be able to share our exciting news. I won’t be promising any posting schedule as being a wife, mama, and homemaker are my top priorities, but I will post on here as I can. Having Clara during the pandemic and now being pregnant during the pandemic, in addition to all the political unrest that is happening across the world, I have been feeling my stress levels rise, so I will be limiting the amount of time I am on social media. All that to say, if I do not reply to a comment or message, please do not take it personally.

I know I am quite early in this pregnancy, 6 weeks, but after talking with Andrew we knew we wanted to share our news earlier than we did with Clara so we can all celebrate this blessing. Please pray for the baby and me during this time, and also pray for Clara as she has already had to adjust to me slowing down.

I didn’t take many bump picture until the last trimester with Clara and I regret it because it’s a moment you can’t recreate. So I wanted to share my first bump picture here. It is 100% more bloat than anything, but I already can’t do up my pants!

Just for fun… Heres how I knew I was pregnant before I took a test

I had the exact same symptoms I did with Clara. I was more tired, nauseous, had aches and pains, and my bra irritated me BUT the dead giveaway was being out of breath when talking. It is the strangest symptom. I don’t know why it happens, but I can’t seem to get through a sentence without running out of breath and needing to take a break.

Did you know you were pregnant before taking a test? Let me know in the comments below.

Have a lovely week,

Jamie

Learn how I survived the first trimester here:

5 Tips to Survive the First Trimester | 1st Trimester Recap

March 25, 2020

DIY Padsicle + Peri Spray for Postpartum Recovery | Postpartum Recovery

Before giving birth I made sure to prepare for my postpartum recovery, on that list to do was to make DIY padsicle and peri spray. All I can say is I am so happy I prepared these beforehand and had them in my hospital bag because once Clara Grace was born I was not moving very far or fast!

Pregnant women holding a bottle of DIY prei spray

Text: You will want to stock up on these two for your postpartum healing

Pregnancy and childbirth can be an exciting and joyful time, but it can also be physically challenging for many women. After giving birth, your body needs time to heal and recover. One of the most uncomfortable parts of postpartum recovery is dealing with soreness, swelling, and inflammation in the perineal area. Luckily, there are some simple and natural remedies that can help ease these symptoms and promote healing. In this blog post, I’ll show you how to make DIY padsicles and peri spray for postpartum recovery.

What Are Padsicles?

Padsicles are essentially frozen pads that you can wear after giving birth to help soothe and heal the perineal area. They are typically made with pads, witch hazel, aloe vera, and other soothing ingredients. When frozen, they provide cooling relief to sore and swollen tissues. Many women find padsicles to be a lifesaver during the first few days after giving birth.

What Is Peri Spray?

Peri spray is a natural spray that you can use to clean and soothe the perineal area after giving birth. It is typically made with witch hazel, aloe vera, and essential oils. Using peri spray can help reduce inflammation, prevent infection, and promote healing.

My Postpartum Experience and Why I love Padisicles and Peri Spray

Nothing could truly prepare me for what down there would feel like postpartum and let me just say it is definitely sore and swollen! After Clara, I had second-degree tearing and needed stitches. This simple 2-in-1 DIY provided much needed relief for this sore mama!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure Here

How To Make

You will need:

To make

Combine everything in a bowl and mix.
Divide the mixture in half. To make padsicles unwrap overnight pads and pour mixture over top.
For the peri spray fill a spray bottle with one half. Then use the other half for padsicles.
Place in the freezer and take out 10min before each use. I was able to make 10 padsicles.

NOTE:

*I can only speak for the quality of using doTERRA Essential Oils. Which is what this DIY uses.

How to use?

Every evening for the first week postpartum I used padsicles to reduce swelling. All I did was apply one padsicle to my depends before bed and threw out the next time I had to use the bathroom. Make sure you clean the area with a peri spray bottle before use to minimize the potential for infection.

I use the peri spray after each bathroom break for all-day cooling relief!

Essential Step: Store the peri spray in your bathroom within reaching distance from the toilet for easy access!

How to Make DIY Padsicles + Peri Spray

DIY Padsicles + Peri Spray

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Author: Jamie Wagner
Total Time: 5 minutes

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Description

Before giving birth I made sure to prepare for my postpartum recovery, on that list to do was to make DIY padsicle and peri spray. In this DIY tutorial, learn how to make padsicles and a homemade peri spray for postpartum recovery. These natural remedies can soothe soreness and promote healing after childbirth. Perfect for new moms looking for ways to care for their bodies during the postpartum period.

Ingredients

Scale

¼ Cup Witch Hazel
1 TBPS Aloe Vera Gel
20 Drops Yarrow | Pom Essential Oil
10 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil
10 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Combine everything in a bowl and mix.
Divide the mixture in half. To make padsicles unwrap overnight pads and pour mixture over top.
For the peri spray fill a spray bottle with one half. Then use the other half for padsicles.
Place in the freezer and take out 10min before each use. I was able to make 10 padsicles.

Notes

*I can only speak for the quality of using doTERRA Essential Oils.

The oils do not have to be doTERRA essential oils, but they are my personal choice and I would recommend them because they are so potent and effective!

What I Used To Make DIY Padsicles + Peri Spray:

Witch Hazel: I also use this for many other DIYs and for facial toner.

Aloe Vera Gel: Always in our families first aid kit.

Label Maker: I’ve been using this label maker for almost 2 years and love how simple it is to use and the classic look.

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March 13, 2020

Third Trimester Pregnancy Recap…Still Pregnant | Pregnancy

Welcome to my Third Trimester Pregnancy Recap and yes I am still pregnant! A week past our due date to be exact! In this post I will be sharing my favourite memories of my last trimester, what I am using, and a mini Q&A!

Third Trimester Update

It’s hard to believe that this month we will be meeting little lady. We thought we would be meeting her before her due date (March 8th), but here we are March 13th and she is happy as can be. This has definitely been a well-needed reminder to trust God’s timing and release mine. Other than being past due, this trimester has to be one of my favourite trimesters. Although I am still experiencing Braxton Hicks and backaches from growing, I wouldn’t trade this trimester for the others. There is zero nausea, I barely have heartburn, and because she has engaged I can now breathe easier.

The one thing that I am struggling with is the SI joint pain that began in week 39. It has been difficult to get around and get proper rest because it is quite painful, but epsom salt baths have been a giant relief.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure Here

Favourite Memory

My favourite memory from this trimester has to be getting our maternity photos taken. The photoshoot felt like a mini date and it was filled with so much love as we documented this special time in our marriage. If there is one thing I think every pregnant mom needs to invest in is a maternity photo session because you will never regret capturing memories. Sara our photographer was incredible to work with and the pictures we received are a beautiful keepsake. If you are in the Ottawa area you can check her out at www.saramcconnell.ca This is one of my favourite photos from the session:

What I’m Using This Trimester

This trimester has been all about preparing my body for labour. These are a few of the things I am doing:

Drinking 1-3 cups of red raspberry leaf tea a day. I like this brand because it is organic and affordable. Especially since I will be drinking a lot of it!
Monthly prenatal massage
Sitting on my birthing ball when sitting for long periods and doing hip circles
Bi-weekly chiropractic adjustments
Nightly essential oil perineum massage
Evening primrose oil as recommended by my midwife
Investing in absorbent nursing bra and maternity underwear

*All of these things I ran past my midwife before doing and I recommend you doing the same as I am not a medical expert. I’m just sharing my experience.

Q+A

Q. Have you finished the nursery?

A. It’s totally out of character for me, but we only just finished the nursery the other day. I will share the nursery in another blog post.

Q.How do you think Cooper will adjust to the new baby?

A. He will be so sweet and gentle. A girlfriend of mine and her two young children came over (2 and 10weeks) for a visit and he was extremely gentle with them.

Q.Do you have a birth plan?

A. No, I do not have a birth plan. To prepare I am surrendering my labour to the Lord vs. trying to control my labour story. This is why I did not create a birth plan because when labour begins I have no control over what happens, only God does.

Second Trimester Pregnancy Recap | Pregnancy Update

We’re over halfway to meeting our little baby and I can’t wait to share with you my second trimester pregnancy recap!!!

Now that I am feeling human again I am excited that I am able to take the time to write this post out as the first trimester was very rough with this pregnancy. BUT it is so worth it to feel all the little baby kicks and dances!

First Trimester Mini Recap

The first 4 months of this pregnancy have been by far the most challenging. They taught me right away that I was not in control whatsoever during pregnancy and that God is in total control.

The worst symptom I had was terrible morning sickness for the entire 4 months that lasted all day. I couldn’t stand the smell of food, had an extremely small appetite, and when I was not getting sick, I was nauseous all day. Without Andrew I would not have survived the first trimester. From holding the bag to the late night grocery store runs, I am extremely grateful to have had him by my side.

On top of the morning sickness, my emotions were all over the place and I was exhausted 24/7. To help feel a little more human I would apply peppermint essential oil to the back of my neck.

Essential Step Have bags you can grab for when you get sick placed everywhere. I had them in every room of the house, my purse, car, etc. because I never made it to the toilet in time.

Second Trimester Recap

This trimester has been bliss. I often forget that I’m pregnant then little baby gives a kick to remind me. I started to feel fluttering at the beginning of the trimester and they’ve been getting stronger each week. Last week they were strong enough that Andrew could feel them which is one of my favourite moments of pregnancy.

In this trimester we also had the big 20-week ultrasound. This is the appointment where the little one is checked head to toe and usually lasts about 1 hour. It is also the appointment where we found out the gender!

At the following midwife appointment, we were told the good news that our little one is happy and healthy.

The only negative of this trimester has been back pain that is worsened with traveling for long periods. I’ve learned I can only drive for a maximum of 2 hours before my back is in pain for 3-4 days.

Second Trimester Q&A

1) Are you finding out the gender?

Yes! We actually already know the gender, but are keeping it a secret until we tell our families so stay tuned.

2) Do you have any food aversions?

In the beginning, I couldn’t stand anything. Now the only thing I still cannot be in the same room as is bell peppers.

3) Are you planning a natural birth?

Yes! If everything goes as planned, I would like to avoid medical intervention. However, that is completely in the hands of God.

Andrew and I wanted to thank everyone for their kind messages and prayers during our pregnancy.