Pregnancy Update: Almost 36 Weeks and Preparing for Baby

   On Sunday, I will be 36 weeks. This pregnancy has completely flown by for me! I am so excited to meet this little sweetie in about a month. I found out at my last ultrasound (at 31 weeks) that baby is head down, in the anterior position,which is the ideal birthing position. He/she stayed in that position for a couple of weeks. Yesterday, at my prenatal appointment, I found out that baby is posterior,  (head down, sunny side up) which can be an uncomfortable position to birth in. I have been researching that the best way to encourage baby to get in the anterior position, is to walk on all fours. (which isn't exactly the easiest task for a mama who is about due!) If you could please pray that baby will move to the anterior position, before labor starts, that would be a huge blessing.

     My iron levels had been a bit low, but I had them re-checked, yesterday. They are much better. I try to get my iron levels up by drinking/eating greens and red meat, but that didn't seem to do the trick. The only thing that really gets my levels up is taking an herbal iron supplement. Brands like Floradix, Herbal Iron, and Natrol Liquid Iron work really well. Many women tend to have low iron stores in their third trimester, since baby is storing up a lot of iron for after the birth, and the woman's blood volume has increased up to 50% more than before pregnancy. I think I will stay on Herbal Iron even after pregnancy, as it gives me more energy. Before using it, I would take an afternoon nap and still feel exhausted.

My Pregnancy Supplements:

Now Double Strength Cod Liver Oil (not the cream of the crop, like the Green Pasture variety, but this is one recommended on the Weston Price Foundation's  cod liver oil recommendation page and fits our budget better), Alfalfa tincture (for helping to build up Vitamin K stores for helping baby's blood in clotting after birth), Rainbow Light Prenatal (which I have stayed on for about five years), Liquid Iron,and a probiotic.

    I have been having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions for the past couple of weeks. They are most intense at night. I can certainly see why the more children one has, the more challenging it is to tell when you are in "real labor". I try to put my feet up when the contractions get too intense, so my body will relax some. I have had a few strong contractions that awaken me at night, which is the same thing that happened with my fourth pregnancy. With baby #4, I had very frequent Braxton Hicks contractions from 35 weeks until 42 weeks.

     My sweet daughter, Lily, has been such a blessing in helping me.We recently got a 5 cubic foot chest freezer, and we have been working hard to stock it for after the baby comes. I cannot wait to have a couple weeks of snuggle time with this little sweetie, once he/she arrives. So far, Lily and I have made at least 14 meals including:

Dinners:
Chicken Enchiladas

2 Baked Ziti

2 Chicken Broccoli Casseroles

Pizza Pockets

2 Lasagnas

2 Shepherd's Pies

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers

2 Potatoes Romanoff (to go with eggs/quiche and grits for breakfast nights, )

Chicken Meatballs

Spinach Lasagna Rolls (This is a delicious, meatless meal!)

4 Honey Pizza Dough

8 meal servings of cooked beef

4 bags cooked shredded chicken


Snacks:
2 (12 count) Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Peanut Butter Jelly Time Bars

   
    Here are most of our freezer meals we have prepared, so far.

Pinterest has been a great way for me to glean and to organize recipes, for stocking the freezer. Having a chest freezer has been a Godsend. Now, I don't have to run to the store as often, and I can freeze several pounds of shredded cheese, a gallon or two of milk (always drinking about a cup from each gallon, so that the containers have plenty of room to expand), and other essentials. I love shopping for two weeks, rather than having to go once a week.I find that it saves me money and time to shop bi-monthly.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer! I am so excited about hopefully holding my baby in the next few weeks!