Tuesday, 28 August 2012

August 28th - Our 2nd Anniversary!

Today, my husband & I celebrate our second wedding anniversary. We had the most beautiful wedding day two sweet years ago, surrounding by our closest family and friends.
 
 
 
 
And my how things have changed!
 
bumping bellies!
 
Today we are expecting our first little bundle in 10 short weeks. If you had of asked us the day we got married if this was in our 2 year plan...we likely would have said NO! We weren't in any rush. But plans change, for the better and now I can't imagine it any other way. We are so ready for this! I just know he is going to be the BEST dad in the whole entire world & I can't wait for it. Our 3rd year of marriage is going to be so exciting!!

I finally got around to framing/hanging some of our favorite wedding photos. 2 years later...better late than never!
 
 
 
 
We met ten years ago this fall, our first year at university. I totally take all the credit, as I scoped him out first. I made the first move, after we ended up in the same physics lab group. After about 6 months of being "friends" things seemed to fall into place, it was the right time in both our lives. The years have flown by, through all of the good times & bad, we find ourselves happier than ever.
 
 
We spent two years enjoying newlywed life to its fullest: living irresponsibly, spending lots of money we probably didn't have, going out with our friends and traveling the globe. Oh, and we got a ridiculous kitty named Jax. He lovesss Tim, way more than me!
 
 typical evening in our house!
  
I don't think that any marriage would ever work with me... had it been anyone else. I think we work, because of who we are...together. The perfectionist in me is quickly learning with schedules like ours and a baby on the way that for things to work, i need to pick my battles. As cliche as that sounds, it's true. And take time to enjoy each other everyday. There are some days I could kill hubs, and even though I might not like him some days, I love him everyday. And I know there is no one else out there who is more perfect for me. I don't know what I'd do without him.Thank you for making me so happy. I can't wait to see what the next few years bring us.
Happy Anniversary!!!
I love you! xoxo

out celebrating our anniversary!

Class act - all dressed up grabbing Cows for desert after dins!

hubs looking handsome!

Monday, 27 August 2012

30 Weeks - 10 more to go!

i was hoping to get Tim in this week's pic but we ran out of time to get someone to take it for us. So here I am blowing him a kiss instead!
 
 
How far along? 30 Weeks 2 days...really feels like the home stretch now!
Baby Size: Our little one is weighing in at 3+ pounds. Length of a large cucumber.
Total weight gain: Looks like I'm staying right around 26 lbs
Maternity clothes? Still the same dresses and shorts basically.
Stretch marks? No!
Sleep: I've been having bad sleeps and good sleeps, a few bouts of insomnia.
Best moment this week: Just feeling like everything is getting more real now that we've hit the 30's! 
Miss Anything? Being able to hold my bladder longer than 30 mins!
Movement: Movements are much more active lately. Jabs, punches, and flip/flops.
Food cravings: Still the occasional sweets like ice cream. Fresh cucs and corn on the cob!
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Gender: ???
Labor Signs: Nope!
Symptoms: Woke up with a charlie horse last week. No hip of knee pain lately. Few more cases of heartburn, nothing tums doesn't cure though.
Belly Button in or out? Still hanging in there!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood: Happy and excited to get closer to our due date! I was a bit nervous to fly this week (last work trip until baby OB arrives) but it went well, no swelling!
Looking forward to: the long weekend coming up for labour day = an extra day to sleep in for me!


 

Sunday, 26 August 2012

Love and Marriage

This week, my parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. Can you imagine, 35 years together. Especially in this day and age, they are a rare commodity. What's their secret, you ask? I'm still trying to figure it out :) Dad said it was all his business trips out of province...HA HA! My Dad is a real family man, and my mother is the kindest, most loving mother. And while their relationship isn't perfect (whose is?) at the end of the day they still love and respect each other and care more about the other person than themselves. They really are best friends.

They were married quite young, at just 22, after dating through university. Instead of having kids right away, they waited 7 years before guess who arrived...ME!

Tim and I celebrate our anniverary one week after them. 2 years seems so long to us, I can't imagine what 35 years together would feel like. Thanks for being such a great example to your kids. We are so blessed to have a strong, intact family. We love you and thank you for including us in your anniversary celebrations!

Thursday, 23 August 2012

My Find of the Week - Closet Organizers

So even though our due date is still 2 months off, Baby OB is accumulating quite a few clothes in his/her closet. I was wondering how I was ever going to keep it organized. As a new parent, we'll be getting a TON of clothes and it'll seem never ending so I was going to make my own dividers with odds and ends from Michaels (Letter 'O's, modge podge, scrapbook paper and stickers for numbers). Then I got thinking I must be able to BUY these somewhere else for much cheaper.

Enter...Etsy!

I found this great store Pipsqueak Kids and got these handy clothing dividers for the closet to make finding the right size/outfit easy as can be!!



Anyone else have any other interesting finds from Etsy they want to share! What about closet organization ideas? I am hoping to go with 2 rods to hang clothes, and then lots of baskets. Would love to hear other ideas/photos though!

 

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

29 1/2 Weeks!









How far along? 29 Weeks 4 days. 72 days to go!
Baby Size: A butternut squash...about 3.3 pounds!
Total weight gain: 26 lbs gained at my 29 week appointment. In regards to my last post, that's up only 2 pounds since my last appointment 3 weeks ago. YESSSS!!
Maternity clothes? mostly my regular clothes with a bella band or dresses with a few maternity shorts mixed in.
Stretch marks? no
Sleep: still sleeping good most nights!! Had the worst night's sleep last night, only managed to get a few hours. The other night I slept through the entire night - what a nice surprise.
Best moment this week:
another great doctor's appointment, hearing that everything is still going great & baby is healthy. Just getting so much more excited as each day passes! My bloodpressure was great, I passed my glucose test with flying colors. My iron levels are right where they should be so no supplements, and I am measuring about a week to a week and a half ahead of schedule!
Miss Anything? being able to lie on my back! 
Movement: movements are increasing and my belly is starting to get mis-shapen, its so neat to watch the baby move all around in there. Definitely more movements during the day, but still nothing that makes me go "holy crap" that was hard!
Food cravings: hot fresh sticky buns, oh and Iced Capps...ofcourse!
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope
Gender: Still feeling a girl, but lots of boy guesses lately.
Labor Signs: No. I dont think i've felt a BH contraction yet either. I'm so clueless I likely wouldn't know if I did anyway!
Symptoms: Heartburn a little more frequently, restless legs if I stay up too late (past my lame 10:00 bedtime) and the odd charlie horse.
Belly Button in or out? still in but it looks pretty strange/stretched.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! No breakdowns as of late!
Looking forward to: My last work trip before baby next week. Luckily the flight is only about 2 hours. Got the ok to travel today :) Also, the 30 week milestone next week. Time is FLYING!!

Monday, 20 August 2012

DOCTOR = FAIL

It's taken me a long time to be able to write about this experience without losing my cool in the process. Now, 8 weeks later I finally can tell the story! Here we go...


At the end of my 22 week appointment, my doctor gave me a stern warning that "I better watch my weight if I didn't want to end up gaining 60 pounds"....my mouth dropped to the floor.  I just sat there...Stunned. And feeling like I was incredibly obese doing something wrong and harming my baby.

I had gained 8 pounds since my last appointment, but at my last appointment at 18 weeks I had lost 4 pounds. This brought me to a total of a 18 lb. weight gain overall at 22 weeks. Turns out my doctor is a firm believer in gaining no more than a pound a week. I blew that all to Sh*t!

Now. Let me give you a little background on this particular appointment and weigh in. There were a few things contributing to my "weight gain". I knew going in the scale was going to be a little inaccurate. 1). I had been retaining water that week from the heat. 2). I got weighed in the afternoon - and BELIEVE me the time of when you're weighed makes a huge difference as I had been weighed previous days at 9am. 3). I had been having quite the intestinal issues and hadn't (ahem) gone to the bathroom in a couple of days.

So. I knew the scale wasn't totally accurate.

Regardless. She left the room after throwing "60 pounds" out and gave me no further instruction on what I may be doing wrong and how to correct it.

I basically left in tears.

Not only did I feel disgusting and fat, but I was baffled. I am probably one of the healthiest pregnant gals out there. Seriously. I work out EVERY DAY no question. I did bootcamp 4 days a week until I gave it up at 20 weeks for the sole reason that I was getting uncomfortable. Since then, i've kept up a run/walk 3 miles every day and have continued to go to spin class twice a week. The only time I haven't worked out is when i've been away for work and in Greece on my two week vacation.

We eat healthy, salads for lunch, fish or lean meat for supper. Lots of fiber at breakfast and fruits and veggies. Mind you it is summer and I indulge in the odd desert and ice cream. But who doesn't this time of year? I can count on one hand the amount of "cravings" i've had where i've binged on a hamburger, or a handful of cookies, and i've only eaten one bag of ketchup chips (my weakness) all SUMMER!

Tim tried to make me feel better, my Mom told me she gained weight faster in the early stages and that everyone gains weight at different speeds. Most people told me I didnt look like I put on weight anywhere but my belly. A few others asked how much I had gained, and when I said 18 pounds, they were like "wow, yeaaa that is alot" which made me want to starve myself for a whole week.

So what did I do...NOTHING. I didn't change a thing. At my last apt my doctor looked at my weight gain and said "well I am happy to see you've managed to get your weight a bit more under control this time". Gosh, thanks so much Doc! I gained 3 pounds last time in 4 weeks. Tomorrow, I get weighed again. So far the scale hasn't changed at home at all since my last appointment...we'll see how I fair out on the doctor's scale. Maybe she has it rigged!

And one more thing. My doctor isn't a bad person OR a bad doctor. I promise. In fact, she's known to be one of the top obstetrics doctors. She is truly just a stickler on weight. Actually, after talking to some others, she's actually KNOWN for it. Unfortunately for me, she failed in her delivery and instead of encouraging/talking to me about what may be the issue and getting to know my routine and lifestyle, she just decided to throw me a warning that just happened to involve the number "60" and the word "pounds". Doctor = FAIL.

Luckily I didn't let it get me down for long, and I am sure my baby is healthier because of all those extra walks i've been taking hubby on with me in the evenings ;)

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

I've been pregnant for...

200 days! I can't believe it, and how fast the time has gone. Only 80 short days to go. Looking back to that cold, gloomy Sunday at the end of February when we found out we were going to be parents, it seems like so long ago. I've been pregnant now for more than 1/2 a year - 55% of a year to be exact! haha. I feel so fortunate to have had such an easy pregnancy. I hope that doesn't mean I am cursed to have a fussy baby, like in the movie "what to expect when you are expecting". In that movie, the one that had the easy pregnancy ended up with colickly babies, and the lady who was sick and got all these stretch marks, etc, was the one with the perfect little angel.

To our darling little baby...
We can't wait to welcome you into this big world. Although we really aren't prepared just yet, we are certainly getting anxious to meet you very soon. We've gotten to know each other so well over the past 7 months, you are so quiet most days but every now and again i'll feel you pressing your bum up against me as you try to get comfy during the day. You love to move around around bedtime, and sometimes I feel like I must be lying right on top of you. Sometimes you feel the need to jab me a few times really hard, but I don't mind as that eases my fears and lets me know that you are doing just fine in there. When you kick for your Dad, his face lights up every time like its the first time he's felt you. You've been sweet enough to avoid the ribs so far, but I imagine as the space in there gets smaller you won't be so gentle.

 We wonder about you all the time...will you have your Dad's bright blue eyes that I love so much and his long blond eyelashes?  Will you have lots of thick curly hair like me? Will you have our terrible eyesight and need glasses like your Dad at age 4? One thing is for sure, you are bound to be blond as a child!

What kind of boy or girl will you be...if  you're anything like your dad, we are in for some fun! You will be outgoing, and keep us all on our toes with your adventures. We'll be telling crazy stories about you for years to come (if you are like your father). If you are like me, you'll be a little more reserved, a bit more of a bookworm. Or maybe you'll be the perfect combination of the two of us, a little wild with a soft side.


I wonder what sports you'll love to play and how you'll do in school.  I hope I can be the kind of mom who lets you play in the mud and catch worms with buckets on the driveway like I used to do. I hope I can be the one to teach you how to ride your bike and take off your training wheels and send you on your way for the first time.  The kind of mom that makes REAL good school lunches, lets you stay up late on special occasions, and reads to you every night before bed no matter how busy I may be.

I can't wait to share your first Christmas in December and your first birthday and create traditions over the years as our new little family of 3.  I can't wait to cheer for you in the stands as you make your first goal in soccer or hockey or homerun in baseball, or see you get your first gymnastics medal or perform in your first dance recital. I still can't believe that we made you...you are ours to enjoy for years and years to come.  
Because of you, I know what it feels like to love something more than life itself. I’ve heard it said time and again that once a mother holds her baby in her arms, the amount of love that swells in her heart is overwhelming. It’s something I’ve been told I can’t imagine until I experience it. For me, it’s not that hard to believe, actually. Though we haven’t met, I love you already. I know my love for you can only grow, and I’m excited for that. I’m excited to meet you—my first child. Mama will always be your biggest supporter, your number one fan, and your greatest admirer.

Love, Your Mom xoxo

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

28 Week Update



 
How far along? 28 Weeks + 3 days..I'm in the final stretch!
Baby Size: cabbage, approx. 2.9 lbs and 17 inches! Bump is getting rounder for sure, look at the difference in 6 weeks!

Week 22
week 28

Total weight gain: like 25 this week...
Maternity clothes? dresses mostly and maternity shorts.


Stretch marks? No...fingers crossed I can keep this answer the same over the next 12 weeks!
Sleep: Still sleeping well, despite the humidity.
Best moment this week: Let's see...SO excited to be in the final trimester and hubs surprised us/me with a car seat on the weekend :) Such a great surprise to come home and see it sitting there in the baby's room. Its the Snugride 35...the #1 rated car seat on the market. And the great thing about it, is that it holds more weight than normal car seats which are between 22-30 pounds. I'd done a ton of research as I figure this is a pretty important purchase and worth the extra few $$. It just happened to be on sale $40 off at Sears this week and hubs had seen it on my list of "things to purchase" and off he went to get it! We heart him!!
Miss Anything? Being able to cross my legs!! And a nice cool breeze. This is seriously the hottest summer EVER to be pregnant. What I wouldnt do for a few days of rain.
Movement: Yep, I think he/she has moved so that they are head down because the kicks are now up closer to my ribs.
Food cravings: Ice Cream, Iced Capps, anything cold really!
Anything making you queasy or sick: It's hard to eat big meals...I get really full really easily, which makes me queasy!
Gender: Who knows??!!
Labor Signs: Nope
Symptoms: Hip hasn't been bothering me this week. Still some slight shin splint pain when running due to the extra weight. Hoping some new sneaks will help that!
Belly Button in or out? Still in...but very funny looking.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood: Still happy...and emotional at times! Had one tear-fest a week or so ago.
Looking forward to: Knocking a few more purchases off my list this weekend. Next doctor appointment is next Monday!

Monday, 13 August 2012

Nursery Update!

 
It's time to share my progress on Baby OB's nursery!

I must say I am very happy with the progress...not only the way it is all turning out but the pace I am getting it all done! Nursery + progress = a very happy pregnant lady! :)

Well it was a rainy weekend, and one where we had relatively little planned. Luckily for us, our rocker came in Thursday so that was Friday evening's project. Then we got a message Saturday night that our crib and dresser had come in EARLY! So we had a big assembly weekend...well maybe I should say hubs had a BIG weekend. But I was a great helper...supplying Iced Capps, Lemonade and Beers! I must say it has calmed my nerves a bit now that we actually have ticked a few things off our list. It feels pretty darn good!



Here is our glider all assembled. This only took 15 mins at the most. It's super comfy (like don't want to move once you are in it comfy) and I can't wait to use it! Now to find an ottoman...



And here is hubs hard at work with the Storkcraft Venetian crib. Only a FEW curse words were spoken during this 2 hour process. It was also about 30 degrees and we were both sweating buckets. Need I mention that assembly included only an allen key. Why do companies insist on using these things??


And the finished product!! I am so so happy with it. Next on the list, to get a mattress for the crib.


Thank goodness the closing ceremonies for the Olympics were on Sunday to keep us from going crazy while assembling the thousands of pieces that the dresser came in. After about 3 hours on this unit, it finally came together :) I just had to place a few of my favorite items on the dresser for now:
  1. Plush Giraff-fe that we got at Toys R Us.
  2. Sophie the Giraffe teething toy.
  3. Baby's first photo - the ultrasound pic at 19 weeks.
  4. Baby's first booties - sheapskin purchased in Greece when we were there in May.
  5. Bath time duckies from auntie Sarah :)
  6. Soothies and Diaper Cream



Next on my list, to organize the closet a bit better to make it a bit more functional. We have 3 boxes of diapers purchased so far. We keep our eyes open for sales. Friday night we got a giant box of Pampers Swaddlers Size 1's (244) for $39! I think it must have been mis-priced, but we aren't complaining.

Wednesday, 8 August 2012

Week 27

This is the first week where I thought to myself on multiple occasions, I'm starting to get so big that it's not cute anymore. Um and I have 13 more weeks to go?! Nooooooo. So we are officially into the 3rd TRIMESTER! I can't believe it. The 2nd trimester has been so good to me. It didn't make me sick or tired, I felt like I had tons of energy...but it did make me FAT!

So random question, do must people work right up until their due date? I just assumed everyone did, unless you had some kind of complication. A few people have asked me lately if I am still working and were a bit surprised when I answered YES! I mean, I still have 3 months to go and have no issues to date, so I don't know why I'd be trying to get the doc to put me off work. Do people actually ask to go off like weeks early? I have a big/huge meeting October 23rd that I need to be at. That is 1 week before my due date, so that is my end goal to work towards! Maybe I am crazy!?

AWKWARD AS OF LATE:
-the pain that's starting to occur more frequently in my lower back. Its like my right buttock is going numb sometimes.
-The amount of times I have to pee while running/walking and while sleeping. Get off my bladder baby...pleaseee!
- the way that some of my sundresses fit. Some of them are so short now because of the big baby bump they have to fit over.
- Its getting harder and harder to bend down to lace up my sneaks and sandals.
- The heat/humidity is killing me lately! Naps are occuring more frequently....i hate napping!

I've been watching Kijiji like a hawk lately, but have been missing some great purchases! Just couldnt get my emails sent fast enough. Missed out on a brand new Medela Freestyle Breast Pump for $150. Normally they retail for like $350-400. Just a little sour about that one.
We also have so much to do to get ready for this baby it isn't funny. We just have one big empty room to date. No newborn diapers purchased, no newborn onesies, no baby blankets, or a bath, no car seat, or any other things that babies need. Time to get cracking, we only have 85 days left to go!



How far along? 27 Weeks...the start of the 3rd Trimester :)
Baby Size: He/she's the size of a turnip, roughly 2.2 pounds.
What is Baby doing? Baby Boy is breathing! Well, kind of; he is breathing amniotic fluid in and out to help develop his lungs and get them ready to breathe real air in 13 weeks! His baby brain is also now showing signs of activity!
Total weight gain: About 23 pounds
Maternity clothes? lots of dresses!
Stretch marks? No thank goodness!
Sleep: Sleeping really well this week after an awful week of sleep last week.
Best moment this week: Starting to feel alot more movement during the day which makes me worry less.
Miss Anything? A nice, long, run!
Movement: Yes this week quite a bit more during the day, but for some reason when I get someone to try and feel, baby stops! 
Food cravings: Ice cream...so hard to resist. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: No!
Gender: Feeling pretty certain its a girl.
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Not too much to report...my knee has been alot better since i've been sticking to running on te treadmill.Now getting the odd numbness in my behind.
belly button in or out? Still hanging in there!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood: Starting to get a little panicked over the amount of things we still have left to do/buy!
Looking forward to: The rocker should be arriving this week and the weekend is looking to be rainy, so I aim to make tons of progress this weekend! 

Monday, 6 August 2012

Crib Bumpers - To Use or Not to Use???

So I am curious, what do all you Momma's out there use in your cribs? All along I'd been looking at these sweet crib sets, all of which included these padded crib bumpers. I thought they were adorable. I had heard some reports that they were controversial, but I had no idea the extent. As it turns out, many health organizations, including Health Canada, have warnings. As seen here on Health Canada's website, they recommend the Canadian public discontinue the use of these products. I can't for the life of me understand why so many companies still sell them if they are so dangerous. And do people buy them??

I'm curious to hear what other people have chosen to do???

If we do go ahead with one, I think we'll pick this one from Toys R Us. Its one a bunch of awards, and reduces the risks of suffocation, entanglement and climbing. It's fabric promotes air-flow and helps maintain air access. Soft and padded, keeps little limbs safely inside the crib.

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Week 26...and a half!

So this has been a pretty busy week. Hubby has been busy, which means my sleeping patterns are WAY out of wack, which = one tired/cranky Momma. The kitty has also been staying out past his curfew (tisk tisk), and I feel bad going to bed without getting him inside so i've been waking up a few times a night to go call for him at the door. On top of that, Tim's sister is getting married this weekend so i'm expecting a busy weekend with a definite lack of sleep continuing.
We had our most recent 4 week doc apt on Monday, and I had to do my Diabetes/Glucose Test. The doctor had given me no info on this ahead of time, and I definitely would have eaten a big breakfast before going was it not for my friend Kyla who is a dietician and told me that is a no no. All went well at the appointment, we are measuring on schedule and baby had a nice strong heartbeat.
Side note about the Glucose Test for Gestational Diabetes - It was not that bad!! I heard sooo many horror stories about how awful the stuff tastes & how torturous it is to sit there with only that on an empty stomach. It tasted like McDonald's orange drink on steroids. I gulped it down as fast as I could, knowing that the quicker I got it into me, the sooner I could leave (you have to wait an hour after drinking it before you can have your blood taken). Hoping I pass with flying colors so I can safely indulge in sweets for the rest of my pregnancy!!


How far along? 26 Weeks {27 in 2 days!}
Baby Size: A head of lettuce or the length of a English hothouse cucumber {about 14 inches}
Total weight gain: 20 pounds
Maternity clothes? Bought a few new maxi dresses (non-maternity) to get me through the summer months. Wearing one of them in the pic above.
Stretch marks? Not yet, and luckily my belly has not been itching the way I hear it can at this stage.

Sleep: A few late nights this week (thanks hubby) but have been sleeping pretty well overall, just not getting quite enough of it.
Best moment this week: Hearing baby's strong heartbeat on Monday and hearing everything is measuring right on schedule.


Miss Anything? I wish I could waterski...sighhh!
Movement: Lots of movement...I just love sitting with my belly and watching it move. 
Food cravings: I've been eating alot of dessert lately...i blame my mother for this! Rasberry cream cheese pie, fresh peach cobblers, rasberry cheesecake, yummmm.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Hmmm nothing really.
Gender: I'm back to my girl prediction
Labor Signs: No, will be kind of crazy when I answer yes to this question...
Symptoms: Little bit of a sore left hip when sleeping. It's getting harder and harder to shave my legs, the belly is definitely getting in the way. No heartburn...yet!
Belly Button in or out? Still in...for now!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Mood: Still super happy and upbeat for the most part! 
Looking forward to: Ready to move into the third trimester. :)

Wednesday, 1 August 2012

How I spent my weekend!

 So a good friend from high school/university Matt married his super sweet girlfriend Shelley on the weekend. So I dressed up the baby bump for the first time and off we went to the wedding. Here I am feeling quite large on the way to the ceremony.


Hubs and I outside the church. I actually wore heels all day :)

The beautiful bride and groom!
This weekend we have Tims sister's wedding...I am still contemplating what to wear as they'll be lots of pics being taken and I don't want to look like a whale! Decisions decisions!

Pre-Natal Massage

So a few weeks ago someone recommended I try a pre-natal massage. Before I was pregnant I would book massages every few months, (a) because my insurance covers them, and (b) because they are heavenly. I hadn't really given much thought to going while pregnant, but I am so so glad I did.

I hadn't realized just how sore my body has been from carrying around this baby. I thought I was doing pretty darn good until I layed on the table and the masseuse got started. Was I ever stiff and sore! Carrying a baby changes your center of gravity and puts a lot of stress on your back, neck, abdominal muscles, and shoulders. Pregnancy also relaxes your ligaments, so that your pelvic joints are less stable, and changes your posture, pulling your pelvis forward. Add to that the extra weight you're carrying and you may find you have a sore lower back too. Plus, she tells me it helps with swelling of the joints aswell as it stimulates the soft tissue to reduce the collection of fluids in swollen joints (which I am trying to avoid at all costs!)

A trained prenatal massage therapist knows where a pregnant woman's sore spots are likely to be and may be able to provide some relief. (She'll also know which areas and techniques to avoid.) My masseuse was so great, she took the time to visit before we got started and asked questions about my pregnancy. She also explained what she would be doing upfront, and how to position myself into the special table with the belly insert. Pretty neat eh!

So I booked myself another appointment in 4 weeks time! I am keeping this up until I deliver, no question. I highly recommend all you other momma's give it a whirl too, you won't regret it!