Monday, July 29, 2013

24 Weeks Pregnant


Month 6

Week 24

Tyler told he was jealous because I am never alone, baby boy is always with me. Definitely of my favorite things about being pregnant.

24 weeks 2 days pregnant + construction work on the house.
Baby is the size of? Ear of corn

Baby’s development? Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at about 1 1/3 pounds. Since he's almost a foot long (about the size of an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon. (babycenter.com)

Gender? Still a boy!

Food cravings? Mexican, pizza, ice cream and pretzel m and m’s.

What I miss? Being able to work more.

What I love? Feeling baby move + thinking about the future.

Movement? Yes!! Love it. Now you can see the baby moving it’s a little creepy. It looks like there is an alien in my belly doing the Macarena.

Best moments of the week?

·         One night Tyler and I were lying in bed talking and he had his hand on my belly and was feeling the baby move and then we listened to one of my Hypnobabies meditation. I felt really really happy in that moment. It felt like we were hanging out as a family.

·         Tyler has also been doing lots of house work which makes me so happy. We have the longest to do list, and I can’t do much of it either because I am pregnant or unskilled. Tyler re did all our baseboards in our front rooms and painted the baseboards and the trim. He also got the swamp cooler going with the help of his AMAZING aunt and her boyfriend. It is very hot here in Utah and I have been hanging out in the basement with the fans trying to get some relief from the heat so it’s terrific to have cool air in the house.

·         We had an ultra sound to check my placenta and it is moving up which is very good news. It still needs to move up .8 cm’s in order for me to give birth at the birth center but I still have a good amount of time for that to happen. I trust that my body knows what to do to have this baby naturally without medical intervention.  
 



Symptoms? Back pain, heart burn, light headed, tired, baby movement, and insomnia.

Exercise? I have been either swimming, walking, practicing yoga or walking every day this week for at least 30 minutes.

Mediation? Yes. It has been helping me stay calm and connect with my body and my baby.

Appointments? We have a midwife appointment next week.

Upcoming events? August is a busy month for us. It’s our 4 year wedding anniversary, we have 3 weddings we are going to and we are throwing a baby shower/ open house.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Heart is Full of Gratitude + Sorrow


I have been teaching a Thursday night class at Avenues Yoga for a few months. I loved teaching night classes. I have taught morning classes at Aves for years at 8:30am which is terrific but the target audience for students is much smaller because of the time. Evening classes have the potential of really growing. However these past few months being pregnant I have had to get subs somewhat frequently from being sick or fatigued. I think its fair to the students to step a side so they can have a reliable teacher. I am hoping I can come back into this spot after the baby comes.

I had 10+ people in class it was great we rooted the thigh bones back and worked with good alignment into supta padangustasana B. After class I announced that I wouldn't be teaching the Thursday night class anymore and I got a lot of disappointed comments and faces. It makes me sad that my leaving is making them sad but it makes me happy and feel grateful that they appreciate what I have to offer.

This pregnancy has really taught me to listen to my body and not push myself to hard. Very similar to my yoga practice. I had a very intense passionate practice and I pushed myself right to my edge. I didn't take it easy on myself even when I started developing injuries. I would adjust my alignment but would keep up the intensity. Well I can no longer just power through and stick it out.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

23 weeks pregnant


Month 6

Week 23

23 belly shot
Baby is the size of? Mango

Baby’s development? Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about the size of a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. (babycenter.com)

Gender? BOY!!

Food cravings? Mexican, Italian food, ice cream and candy.

What I miss? Having more energy and being able to do more.

What I love? Feeling baby move.

Movement? Yes. I am feeling baby boy move every day!

Best moment of the week? Tyler and I went to his cousin’s wedding up big cottonwood canyon. It was so nice to be up the canyon surrounded by big trees to celebrate love. Hearing them exchange their vows reminded me of our wedding and the promises we made to each other. I love my husband. It was nice to go to a wedding with him. We have 4 more wedding to go to next month.

Symptoms? BACK PAIN, HEART BURN, dizzy, light headed, and tired.

Exercise? I have been swimming a lot lately. Almost every day I go to the rec center and do some laps, some days I also do the elliptical. I have been doing really gentle yoga which has been helping relieve my back pain.

Meditation? Yes, every day.

Hypnobabies? Just finished my second week of the birth class hypnobabies. It has been really nice to be able to deeply relax listening to the cd tracks every day.

Appointments? Next Monday I have an ultra sound, I can’t wait to see this little boy again. The following week I have a midwife appointment.  

Sunday, July 14, 2013

22 weeks


Month 6

Week 22

The cabnit my wonderful husband put together + gigantic leaf for our monkey/ jungle theme nursery.

22 weeks 3 days
Baby is the size of? Papaya

Baby’s development? This week, your baby weighs in at a whopping pound and measures nearly eight inches, about the size of a small doll. But your little doll (who now has eyebrows, eyelashes, and maybe even some hair on that little head) is a living one who can now perceive light and dark. She can also hear your voice, your heartbeat, your gurgling stomach, and the whoosh-whoosh of blood circulating through your body. And as her brain and nerve endings develop, she may reach for her face (or whatever she can reach) just to experiment with her newfound sense of touch. (whattoexpect.com)

Gender? Boy!

Sleep? Good. I am sleeping in a cocoon of pillows.

Food cravings? Still craving Mexican food.  I have been craving savory food which goes with the old wives tail of mommas of boys crave savory while the mommas of girls crave sweets. However this week I have started craving ice-cream and sour patch kids.

What I miss? Not being able to help out more around the house. I really really want to re grout our bath room but handling grout is a big no no while pregnant.

What I love? Feeling baby boy move!

Movement? Yes!! I feel him move every day. It is the most amazing thing every. I think feeling him move inside me might be what I miss the most after he enters the world.

Best movement of the week? My best moment of the week wasn’t necessarily a moment but just part of the week. I feel really on point teaching. I was worried that as I can’t do as many poses or continue the same practice I had pre pregnancy I wouldn’t be as good or effective as a teacher. However I have been inspired and coming up with great sequences, have been linking in the principles to the theme nicely. I feel like I have been deconstructing some principles of alignment with the students and they seem to be responding to it really well. I have also been thinking about starting the process to become an Anusara Certified teacher.

Tyler also put together a piece of baby furniture on Saturday which made me very happy.

Symptoms? Feeling movement, nausea, back ache, heart burn, and fatigue.

Meditation? Yes every day.

Yoga? I got the okay from my midwives that I can continue to practice yoga with low lying placenta. I probably practiced 4x this week for 30-60 minutes. I focused a lot on kidney loop and side bodies long to ease my back pain and also played with handstands, forearm balance, and headstands.

Hypnobabies? I just finished up my first week of hypnobabies my childbirth prep class that teaches deep relaxation. I alternate between 2 cd tracks a week. One of the tracks this week was creating a safe place to go and where I got to imagine holding and talking to my baby. It was such a treat. I have really been looking forward to these 40 minute sessions.

Appointments? I had my midwife this appointment week. In the birth center there are 4 midwifes that I work with and whatever one will be the one I have my birthing time (hypnobabies term) with. At this appointment I worked with the finale midwife I hadn’t met yet. I loved her. She was so knowledgeable and I was feeling nervous about a few things and she made me feel really good about gaining weight and about my placenta. It was a really great appointment. I have another ultra sound scheduled for the last Monday in July to keep an eye on the placenta.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Low Back Tightness or Sciatic Nerve Pain?

One of the joys of being pregnant is this pesky low back and sciatic nerve pain I have been experiencing when I am not on top of my alignment. This week I am going to be focusing on clearing up low back pain and sciatic pain. What is so cool about an alignment based practice is you can use your alignment on and off the mat to not only stop your low back from hurting but from preventing it in the future. Like I said above with my growing belly pulling my body out of alignment I experience this low back and sciatic nerve pain. It is so clear to me that this happens when I forget about my alignment. Then ill do some yoga poses and practice the alignment when I stand and sit and its gone.


There is a way of standing that I like to call "hurt back pose". This pose looks like feet turned out (think first position in ballet), tailbone way scoped under so the bum is flat, and hips leaning forward. Another version of "hurt back pose" is feet turned out, weight shifted to one leg that is very straight or hyper extended, the other knee bent and one hip sticking out more. This pose has often been established over a long period of time, like years and years. So it might take you more then one class to get this into your body. It helps to identify what version of the "hurt back pose" you do, and then when you find yourself doing it a little alarm should go off in your head and then you can implement your new alignment for a healthy + happy low back.

Tadasana- feet parallel second toe in line with ankles and knees
Tadasana put block between thighs. Squeeze block between thighs, this will establish muscle energy in your legs. Once the legs are engaged roll your inner thighs in back and wide, this should make your block move more toward the back plan of your body and cause your bum to stick out. This should also take the top of the thighs back. There is a little bony protuberance on your lateral upper thigh (the greater trochanter. We want this to be over the ankles and in line with the shoulders and ears. In the"hurt back pose" when the hips are leaning forward the greater trochanters are way forward, you might be surprised how much you have to move your thigh bones back to get this alignment. Practicing by a mirror or with a friend can be very helpful. Once you've got this scope your tail down to create tone in the low belly and stability in the low back. We want the top of the sacrum to move in and up creating a lordosis curve in the low back and the lower part of the sacrum to scope down to create this toning.
Tadasana put block between shins. With the arches lifted squeeze the block and your shins toward the midline to cultivate muscle energy in the legs, just like before move your thighs in back and wide, top of the thighs back so the greater trochanters are over the ankle and then root the tailbone down just enough to tone the low belly and hold that stability in your back you have so gracefully created.
High Runners Lunge hands on the floor draw feet toward each other to tone abductors then move the inner thighs in back and wide, top of the thigh lifts a ton and then little scope of the tailbone to tone low belly. We are all different. I have to scope my tail bone alot in this pose because I am extra flexible and can collapse in my back however some one stronger/stiffer and often male probably just needs to scope a tiny amount. Remember we really want that sacrum going in and up in the low back so if your low back is rounding like a cat don't even worry about scoping your tailbone instead just keep sticking your inner thighs back.
 High Runners Lunge- Lunge
Low Lunge back knee stays on the floor, hands on the floor. Engage muscles of legs, draw inner thighs back, press down on knee and isometrically drag back knee forward. The back knee shouldn't move instead the top of the thigh should move back creating space in the SI joint. Again scope your tailbone the appropriate amount for you.
Low Lunge manual shins in one hand on floor other hand on outer front shin, spread your toes and press shin toward the midline as you widen thighs and rotate them toward the back of the room. Keep the back thigh lifted by doing that isometric work.
Low Lunge hands on floor reaching out toward 11 o'clock shins in, thighs back and wide, appropriate scope of tailbone
Supta/ on your back
Laying on your back extend one leg up use strap and pull whole leg and ground head of femur bone into hip socket. As you pull in also extend your foot back into the strap. For this version don't have your leg perpendicular to the floor instead have it more forward ~ 45 degree angle.
Root femur bone laying on back both feet on floor. Lift one leg up towards the sky perpendicular or forward NOT CLOSER TO YOUR FACE THEN PERPENDICULAR. Interlace hands behind thigh that is lifted and press thigh forward into clasp hands. You can stay here or extend bottom leg out straight engage that leg toes point toward sky inner thigh rolling towards the floor more then the outer hip.
Supta Pigeon- supta matseyndrasana
Supta pada A- B strap
Wall
Parsvotonasana hands on wall
DD hands on wall same alignment in legs we have been working with. Tone legs, draw inner thighs back, move top of thigh back, scope your tail bone under an appropriate amount for you
L handstand at wall
Handstand at wall hands shin distance from wall, kick up bend knees to a 90 degree angle soles of feet on wall. I love this variation because its hard to banana and stick the hips forward. Engage muscles of legs, draw inner thighs toward wall butt stick out towards wall, scope tail bone up toward ceiling and appropriate amount to tone belly. oh and SMILE
Pasarita Padotonasana twist. there are 2 ways to do this pose. One is keeping hips squared and one is letting the hips turn as you twist. In this version let the hips turn as you twist. I don't teach this one very often but keeping the hips squared can aggravate a sensitive sciatic nerve.
Bridge 3x to hip the different muscles we will space feet differently. Make sure your feet are parallel no ballet turned out feet. For all three bridges draw feet isometrically toward each other, mover inner thighs toward floor creating a curve in the low back then scope tail bone extending knees toward front of room and rooting down through feet.
  1. Feet touching
  2. Feet hip distance apart
  3. Feet much wider then hips
Gallapers twist this is supta pada c with the bottom leg in a quad stretch. For this version we will have the top foot with the straight leg on the wall a few inches from the floor back leg bent holding onto the back food for a quad stretch. Press your foot into the wall as you kick your back foot into your hand.
Partner root thigh bone as described a few poses back. Same thing but the partner will manually adjust the bottom leg so the thigh moves in. Then the partner will hold the inner spiral on the bottom leg with one hand and put the other hand on the sole of the lifted leg and have the partner extend the foot into partners hand as the hand pushes down into the foot. Thank you partner.
Shavasana or Supported Baddha Konasana

Saturday, July 6, 2013

21 Weeks Pregnant


Month 6

Week 21
21 weeks 6 days. Date night.

21 weeks 3 days.

Set up waiting for fire works at fourth of July with my fur baby Dharma.

My man and our doggies getting ready for fireworks.

Nap time break at Uinta's.

Ty and I in Uinta's.
 

Baby is the size of? Carrot

Baby’s development? Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — about the size of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

Gender? Boy!

Sleep? Good.

Food Cravings? Mexican food.

What I miss? Yoga practices. I have found myself wanting to do lots of stuff I cannot do while pregnant: water parks, roller coasters, paintballing, cliff jumping. I am so very happy to be pregnant, totally worth not being able to indulge my dear devil ways.

What I love? Feeling baby move.

Movement? Yes! Baby boy is moving more and more. Ty and I went up to the Uinta’s and while lying on a blanket Ty got to feel the baby move for the first time! Since then he says that at night while I am sleeping her puts his hand on my belly and feels the baby moving around. Makes me so happy he gets to enjoy this little bundle of joy.

Best moment of the week? Ty and I going to the Uinta’s was really nice. A little mini vacation with the dogs. We got out of the heat. Went on a great hike with the dogs, and I got to read while Ty fished. To top it off Tyler felt baby move for the first time. I also enjoyed watching fireworks on the 4th of July with Tyler and his Sister and her Fiancé.

Symptoms? Nausea, fatigue, back ache, food cravings, heart burn, and anxiety.

Meditation? Yes. I have been meditating every day. I think it is really helping me worry less. I have also started my home study birth course hypnobabies. For this course I listen to “joyful pregnancy affirmations” for 30 minutes a day. As well as listening to a 30 minute hypnosis tract. I have 12 tracks that I will be taken through over the next 6 weeks. I alternate between 2 for a week and then move on to the next two the following week. I have really loved listening to these CD tracks. I feel so very relaxed and connected to my baby.

Yoga? Just a little. After finding out I have low lying placenta I read that doctors often recommend no squatting. So I am waiting to check with my midwife about yoga practices and what poses I should stay away from. I am doing inversions (legs up wall, forearm balance, handstand and headstand) have all been feeling good.

Exercise? I used to do lots of walking outside, but now it's just too darn hot here in Utah. So instead I have been using the elliptical machine (which I love because it’s so low impact) and swimming (which I also love because it’s so low impact and I get to take weight off my body). I have been swimming probably 4x this week and it has been amazing!

Preparing? Nesting is slowly starting. I have been cleaning the house more and have started making lists of all the things I want to accomplish before baby comes. We are also throwing a baby shower/ open house.

Appointments? We have a midwife appointment on Monday.

Monday, July 1, 2013

20 weeks pregnant


Month 6!

Week 20

Baby is the size of? Banana

Baby’s development? Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He'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 his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.) (babycenter.com)

Gender? BOY J

Sleep? Good. I have having crazy vivid dreams.

Food Cravings? Mexican food.

What I miss? Not being sore and enjoying the sun. Pre pregnancy I love the sun, can’t get enough of it. While pregnant however I over heat being outside for just a few minutes.

What I love? Feeling the baby move!

Movement? Yes! I have been feeling baby move more and more. At the end of the week Tyler even got to feel the baby move which was very exciting.

Symptoms? Nausea, nasal congestion, fatigue, back ache, food cravings, heart burn, and hormones.

Meditation? Yes. I have also started listening to so pregnancy affirmations.

Yoga? Yes some prenatal yoga a few times this week.

Exercise? I have been lifting weights and trying to walk at least 30 minutes every day.

Appointments? We had our 20 week ultrasound on Monday. The baby is looking healthy and is measuring well. I found out I have low lying placenta which will need to be monitored to determine if I can give birth at the birth center or if I will have to switch to a hospital. Thinking lots of positive thoughts that the placenta is going to move up and I can stay at the birth center. Our next appointment with the midwife is next Monday.

Intention and Testimonials

Testimonials & My Intention

My Intention It is my intention as a yoga teacher to help you bring more health and vibrancy to your body, ease and alertness to your mind...