These are all things I've said to myself or Adam just in the last week.

I beat myself up over something so natural yet at times, feels so foreign. Pregnancy weight is something not many woman want to talk about out loud, but it's a conversation we have with ourselves every day, every time we look in the mirror, or every time we look down.

Let's talk weight gain.



It affects us all differently. I'm currently walking through pregnancy with a bunch of friends around me (like 9!!) and we are ALL handling weight different! We are all processing the change in our bellies, the change in our boobs, hips, and every where else different. And the beauty in that? We are all celebrating our bodies in the best way we know how for our own bodies.

Even as I celebrate my pregnant body, it's hard not to feel the weight of my ever changing bodies.

The other night I found myself changing in my closet for fear that Adam would see me full pregnant. If he knew I did this, he would reassure me, and tell me how beautiful I am. And even with him saying those sweet things, which God bless the man, he does every day, I still hear my self-conscious voice in my head. I still see my wider hips, huge boobs, stretching sides. I still feel like a stranger in my own body.

It's this incredibly interesting balance between my understanding that I'm gaining weight for the benefit of our sweet baby, while learning to love my body as it grows (and grows, and grows).

Total transparency here, most of the time I am comfortable gaining pregnancy weight. It's something I started mentally preparing myself for when we were trying for Quinn, and trust me, even with trying to prepare, I wasn't fully prepared. But, I knew the weight would come and I knew my healthy gain correlated in part to a healthy weight for my baby. That being said, it's not easy when you start the comparison game, or when something doesn't fit, or when you're standing buck naked in front of the mirror, unrecognizable.

A lot of times when I find myself going down the rabbit hole of negative thoughts, I can instantly correlate those feelings to the amount of time I've been on the 'gram, scrolling. Mindlessly scrolling through bloggers I don't even know who have teeny baby bumps and are still wearing their pre-pregnancy jeans.

What I'm learning about myself in this time, is I'm not always as self-confident as I hoped I was. What I'm trying to teach myself is that those feelings will come and those feelings will go, just like the weight of this pregnancy.

My goal is a healthy baby. My goal is to be healthy myself. At the end of the day, if I am confident that I am doing just that, the weight feels a lot less heavy.

I'm literally sitting here, feeling this sweet baby kick as I type and it's in moments like this, the weight doesn't seem so extreme.

If I can do anything, I hope to encourage you. We all feel or have felt this way throughout our pregnancy. This is a huge change for all of us and it's okay to figure out your feelings about it on a daily basis. We're growing a baby for 10 months, and sometimes it takes 10 months to fully come to term with the changes our body goes through.

So today, instead of those negative thoughts about my body. I'm striving for these.

Being pregnant is a joy, but let's be real, not everything that comes with pregnancy feels like joy. Nausea being one of them. More than 50% of pregnant women will deal with nausea throughout their pregnancy.

With both of my pregnancies, I never threw up, god bless. But man alive, I was nauseas. Honestly, the smells made my nausea worse. So dang terrible. With Quinn, it started the second I peed on the pregnancy stick. With baby #2, it hit me hard around 6 weeks. My morning sickness actually presented itself around 5pm and lasted until I went to bed. I couldn't stomach anything, even food I was craving! My favorite pizza - sick. Chicken - even worse.

The bright light with morning sickness, it usually goes away when you hit your second trimester. For me. I really started noticing a difference around 13-16 weeks. For some, it will linger, and for the rare, it lasts your entire pregnancy. But have no fear, while you're dealing with it, there are some remedies!


1. Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Sometimes this sounds counterintuitive because eating/foods/smells sound terrible. But having an empty stomach actually makes it worse. Try small, meals throughout the day. Or have snacks - plain crackers, toast, cereal, or something bland. I literally had to eat the second I woke up or else I felt terrible. Don't be afraid to eat. It will help.

2. Try ginger. Ginger has been known to settle your stomach. Ginger tea, ginger chews, or ginger ale (my personal fav, extra, extra cold, with lots of ice). My best friend recommended these chews to me, and I loved them!

3. Try preggo pops! I never tried these, but my best friend said she used them. She said it helped a little, but it really helped get that nausea flavor out of her mouth! Another trick that we both used, sour candies!

4. Change up your prenatal vitamin (or the time you take them). A common thing you hear is that your prenatal vitamins can make you nauseas. There are so many options, feel free to switch it up! And, take it at night, on a full stomach. I take this prenatal, Whitney takes this one!

5. Take a walk. I know, walking when you are nauseas sounds kind of terrible, but fresh air and getting your body moving will really help. Exercise throughout your pregnancy will go in waves. Maybe during your first trimester, HIIT workouts won't be your friends, but nice walks will be.

6. Acupuncture. I never tried this, but I have heard that it works wonders!

7. Sleep. This is easier said than done, but sleep when your body tells you to sleep. Sleep extra a night, take naps if you can, sleep.

8. Stay hydrated! You're pregnant, you should already be drinking extra. But try drinking even more during the time your nausea hits. Add lemon. Warm it up. Add ice.

9. Talk to your doctor. If you can't keep food down, can't function, are throwing up all the time, have cramping, call your doctor. There are meds you can take to help you through this stage!

When I sat down to pack my hospital bag last time, I had no freaking clue what 2 days in the hospital would look like. I didn't know that my shower would be the size of a dime and my bathroom would be more of a war zone than a peaceful spa.

I didn't realize that pants, regardless of how "comfy" they are, would never be comfortable. Delivery is messy, and therefore cute fuzzy slippers are NOT ideal. And, taking a 3 minute shower will actually be the best shower of your life.

I lived through delivery and a hospital stay, as will all of you, so hopefully I can help provide some clarity to your hospital bag packing dilemma.



Below you'll find a printable checklist to help you prepare!If you're like me, or Monica from Friends, you love a good CHECK! 

FOR MOM // 

• Insurance Card: The non-fun part of going to a hospital. Make sure it's in your wallet, hospital bag or wherever you won't forget.
• Flip flops or sandals: I love the Arizona Birkenstocks because they are basically rubber so I can clean them, but SO comfortable. They are also adjustable and if you are like me, your feet were so swollen so being able to expand them and then tighten them was key.
• Pillow: I'm partial to my good pillow. This was key. 
• Iphone charger and Cell phone: Duh. My gf told me to buy an extra long charger so you make sure it reaches your hospital bed. This was amazing for both during labor (theres a lot of waiting around okay) and then after! You're taking a lot of pictures, returning texts and calls, don't want your phone to die! 
• Toiletries: These are the things you may not need but will make you feel better. I was very excited to take a shower once we got into our room. Quinn was asleep, I had just nursed her and I had like 15 minutes. It may seem a little vain, but I even threw on a little makeup. Those 15 minutes to myself made me feel so much better. I put on a new, clean PJ dress and robe, and it was magic. My toiletries were shampoo, conditioner, lotion, chapstick, hair ties(!), a little makeup, extra contacts, glasses, and my own towel.
• Robe: Have I told you how much I love robes yet? Sometimes, I would just have on those cute mesh panties and this robe. You're pulling your boob out a lot to nurse, okay. I just bought this super cute one from Milkmaid Goods and baby girl has a matching swaddle because CUTE! 
• Undies: Last time I brought undies, you don't need to do that. You're in pads. But, if you want some for recovery at home, I love these.  Cue, dark colored Hanes. 
• Nursing Bra: I still wear these nursing bras. Even though I am not currently nursing. The nice thing is they have an expander so as your boobs get huge (which they will), it can grow with you. These bras are magic okay?  
• Nursing cover: I have a bunch of 'cute' nursing covers but this one is the best. It's not the cutest, but it works so good.
• Going home outfit: Keep it comfy and loose (you'll be wearing a pad). Aka, a PJ dress and your sandals. 

If you're pregnant, congratulations, we are so excited to walk through this crazy journey with you.

Also, if you are currently working to get pregnant, struggling to get pregnant, or still deciding if having a baby is something you want, we are here for you. We've both been through fertility issues of some kind, both of us suffered miscarriages, and Whitney has been very vocal about her journey through fertility issues. We are here for you, to listen, to be a place of resource, and a place of love.

We're praying for you guys, regardless of what stage of this journey you are in and we hope you feel our love and support.

ONE || What are you naming your baby? At this point, neither of us have a name! Send name suggestions! We found this app called Baby Names and it is kind of like baby name tinder. You and your partner download the app and then you swipe on baby names, if you match, it tells you!

TWO || Do I really need a prenatal vitamin? Yes. But before we get into this, please know we are NOT doctors. NONE of this is medical advice and always ask your doctor first, but Whitney broke down some super interesting facts and reasons why a prenatal is so so important. Obviously a healthy diet is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need so starting there is always KEY! But being pregnant we really need to ramp up on our vitamins and a few in particular.

**Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. These defects are serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. The CDC states that up to 50 percent of spina bifida cases could be prevented simply by taking enough folic acid. It suggests that all women who could become pregnant should consume at least 0.4 milligrams, or 400 micrograms of folic acid per day which is the recommended daily allowance for both adult men and women.  Side-note: Do some research but Whitney always opted for 5MTHF, an active form of folate that shows superior bioavailability compared to folic acid. If you have MTHFR your body can’t just accept folic acid as it is—it has to go through a conversion process into a form called Methyltetrahydrofolate, or MTHF, in order for you to use it.

**Iron supports the baby's growth and development. Iron also helps prevent anemia, a condition in which blood has a low number of healthy red blood cells

• Whitney uses the Smarty Pants Prenatal.
• Kristen uses the Nature Made Prenatal. 

THREE || How many ultrasounds will I have? 4 ultrasounds is typical! The typical ultrasounds include one at 8 weeks (the pregnancy confirmation ultrasound), 12 weeks (post first trimester), between 18-22 weeks (the anatomy scan), and 35-37 weeks (the one pre-labor!). But keep in mind, every pregnancy is different. With both Whitney and Kristen's first pregnancies, they had extra ultrasounds due to Whitney having a high-risk pregnancy and Kristen having a subchorionic hematoma. You may have extra ultrasounds for a variety of reasons, placenta previa, previous pregnancy issues, or anything that comes up throughout the course of your pregnancy.

FOUR || When can I find out the gender of my baby? Most women find out the gender at their 18 -22 week ultrasound appointment (the anatomy scan!). You can opt for blood tests at earlier stages. Most doctor offices have blood test options you can do for genetic testing and they include gender results too!

• Kristen went to an ultrasound location around 13 weeks
• Whitney used and did DNA testing at 9 weeks with a company called Sneak Peek. 

FIVE || Can I still exercise during my pregnancy? Again, ask your doctor! But both Whitney and Kristen exercised and have exercised during their pregnancies. Keep in mind, your body is constantly changing. Your workouts will change as your pregnancy develops! Do whatever is comfortable for your body. Also, make sure you are drinking way more water than you are probably used to.

SIX || How much weight should I gain during pregnancy? Again, ask your doctor! (Do we sound like a broken record?!) Quick chat on weight. This time is a lot, our bodies are constantly changing and developing. We broke down weight based on your BMI. If you want to figure out your BMI, you can use this quick calculator to do so!

• Underweight: Meaning your BMI is under 18.5 -suggested weight gain is 28–40 lbs
• Normal: Meaning your BMI is between 18.5-24.9 - suggested weight gain is  25-35 lbs
• Overweight: Meaning your BMI is between 25–29.9 - suggested weight gain is 15 to 25 lbs
• Obese: Meaning your BMI is 30 and greater - suggested weight gain is 11 to 20 lbs.

SEVEN || What are your pregnancy cravings? And when is it okay to give into them? 

• Whitney: hardboiled eggs, salads, and I eat at night because of my pregnancy nausea
• Kristen: cold, cold fruit, and sweets. 

Again, back to question two, a healthy, well-balanced diet is the best way to eat during pregnancy. But keep in mind, your body is so smart and knows what it needs. Trust it, lean in to it and nourish your body. An ice cream treat here and there isn't bad, and neither are snacks at night! What you crave and what sounds good to you will change throughout your pregnancy. So if carbs is all you can stomach in your first trimester, then eat carbs! When you hit your second trimester, things may change and you'll be back to eating like you're used too.

EIGHT || What is the first piece of advice you give any expectant mum? We have similar advice here:

• Whitney: Listen to your own intuition. You know what is best for your baby. A lot of people may try to shame you, guilt you, or tell you 'something better.' But at the end of the day, you are this babys mom, and you know what is best. 
• Kristen: Listen to the people you trust the most. Throughout your pregnancy you get a LOT of advice from everyone. Listen to the people you trust, your best friend, your mom, your doctor, and leave the other advice to the wind. Kristen's blog post about pregnancy advice is linked here.

NINE || What is your birth plan? Our birth plans are simple, birth our babies in the best and healthiest way possible.

• Whitney had a c-section with her first pregnancy and will have a c-section with her second! You can read Whitney's c-section things to know here
• Kristen had a vaginal birth with her first and plans to have one with her second. You can read about Quinn's birth story here.  

• Whitney: Good question and very real and personal for me. Fake till you make it. So I may not enjoy the weight gain/ body changing part pregnancy but my daughter associates a big belly with a growing baby. So she is waiting and watching for my stomach to get BIG. So I never mention food in a way that I can’t have it cause I’ll get big. I constantly show her that I am trying to stay healthy through exercise, helping me making celery juice or AM green shakes.
• Kristen: Give yourself some grace. This is a big life transition and your body is growing at all times. Some days it's super hard and some days it's easier, but give yourself grace. 

ELEVEN || What's in your hospital bag? We both shared our three favorite items! 

• Whitney: My favorite blanket (Barefoot Dreams is my fav!), compression socks (I love these Hatch ones), and good undies (Hanes® Premium Women's Smoothing Seamless 3pk Briefs!) 
• Kristen: A pair of flip-flops (things get messy), toiletries (I took a hot shower!), and a cute outfit for your baby! 

TWELVE || Favorite pregnancy leggings and dresses? Kristen loves Lululemon Align, extra-high rise leggings and the Ingrid and Isabel pregnancy leggings from Target. Kristen's advice, buy a bigger size in regular clothes! If you're pregnant in the summer, my go-to are dresses! Target has great, cheap dresses and you can buy a little bit bigger. Then use them postpartum!

THIRTEEN || Sex and pregnancy! 

• Whitney: Truth is our hormone levels during the first trimester can cause mood swings and nausea all of that can really mess with our libido. Be super honest with your partner, where you are at and let them know... listen when I’m into it you just need to be into it because I can’t promise anything more than that. And GO slow— use lube if needed and worried about bleeding 🤷🏼‍♀️
• Kristen: Same advice, talk to your partner! Your hormones change throughout your pregnancy, different trimesters may make you feel differently. Be open about your feelings! 

FOURTEEN || What skincare? 
Whitney: Whitney wrote a blog post on how to avoid stretch marks here!

• Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend ( pregnant and postpartum skin moisturized and supple, helping to prevent and treat stretch marks) for stretch marks and HATCH body oil is soothing with calendula and sweet almond oil to help nourish skin and prevent stretch marks.
• Juice Beauty's Hydrating Mist it has in it rosehip, ylang ylang, grapeseed oil and antioxidant-rich organic juices for a fresh, radiant complexion
• Niu body facial serum -Super clean natural means 100% plant-derived, with nothing artificial and have banned over 1,300 ingredients from our products.
• Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum- fighting that hyperpigmentation this product is a brightening serum with natural ingredients like vitamin C and fruit enzymes

Holy crap people, time is flying and I am not ready (yet)! I'm obviously ready for her to be here, we just don't have a crib, changing table, or anything prepared! But that's what the next 12 weeks will be dedicated too. Our hearts are prepped, now its time to prep all the details.

Today on This Girl Life, Whitney and I are diving deep into the world of pregnancy. Since we are both pregnant, we thought it would be so fun to do a Q&A with questions from our IG followers, friends and TGL listeners. And boy did you guys show up! We got so many amazing questions!

I've broken down the questions here, some basic answers, and linked some correlating blog posts to help. If you're pregnant, congratulations, we are so excited to walk through this crazy journey with you.

Also, if you are currently working to get pregnant, struggling to get pregnant, or still deciding if having a baby is something you want, I hope you know both Whitney and I are here for you. We've both been through fertility issues of some kind, both of us suffered miscarriages, and Whitney has been very vocal about her journey through fertility issues. We are here for you, to listen, to be a place of resource, and a place of love.

We're praying for you guys, regardless of what stage of this journey you are in and we hope you feel our love and support.

Let's get to the questions!

ONE || What are you naming your baby? At this point, we have NO clue. Send name suggestions! As with Quinn, once we decide on a name, we won't make it public until she is here! It's the one little secret we get to keep to ourselves. We found this app called Baby Names and it is kind of like baby name tinder. You and your partner download the app and then you swipe on baby names, if you match, it tells you! So far we've matched on 2 names! We have two we currently love, and are hoping to narrow it down soon!

TWO || Do I really need a prenatal vitamin? Yes. But before we get into this, please know neither Whitney or I are doctors. NONE of this is medical advice and make sure to always ask your doctor first, but Whitney broke down some super interesting facts and reasons why a prenatal is so, so important. Obviously a healthy diet is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need so starting there is always KEY! But being pregnant we really need to ramp up on our vitamins and a few in particular.

**Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. These defects are serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. The CDC states that up to 50 percent of spina bifida cases could be prevented simply by taking enough folic acid. It suggests that all women who could become pregnant should consume at least 0.4 milligrams, or 400 micrograms of folic acid per day which is the recommended daily allowance for both adult men and women.  Side-note: Do some research but Whitney always opted for 5MTHF, an active form of folate that shows superior bioavailability compared to folic acid. If you have MTHFR your body can’t just accept folic acid as it is—it has to go through a conversion process into a form called Methyltetrahydrofolate, or MTHF, in order for you to use it.

**Iron supports the baby's growth and development. Iron also helps prevent anemia, a condition in which blood has a low number of healthy red blood cells

• Whitney uses the Smarty Pants Prenatal.
• Kristen uses the Nature Made Prenatal. 

THREE || How many ultrasounds will I have? 4 ultrasounds is typical! The typical ultrasounds include one at 8 weeks (the pregnancy confirmation ultrasound), 12 weeks (post first trimester), between 18-22 weeks (the anatomy scan), and 35-37 weeks (the one pre-labor!). But keep in mind, every pregnancy is different. With both Whitney and my first pregnancies, we had extra ultrasounds due to Whitney having a high-risk pregnancy and me having a subchorionic hematoma. You may have extra ultrasounds for a variety of reasons, placenta previa, previous pregnancy issues, or anything that comes up throughout the course of your pregnancy.

FOUR || When can I find out the gender of my baby? Most women find out the gender at their 18 -22 week ultrasound appointment (the anatomy scan!). You can opt for blood tests at earlier stages. Most doctor offices have blood test options you can do for genetic testing and they include gender results too!

• I went to an ultrasound location around 13 weeks. You can just google, early gender detection ultrasound and I'm sure you'll be able to find one in your area. 
• Whitney did DNA testing via Sneak Peek at 9 weeks. 

FIVE || Can I still exercise during my pregnancy? Again, ask your doctor! But both Whitney and I exercised and have exercised during their pregnancies. Keep in mind, your body is constantly changing. Your workouts will change as your pregnancy develops! Do whatever is comfortable for your body. Also, make sure you are drinking way more water than you are probably used to.

I really love Beachbody for all my workouts, pregnancy and non-pregnancy. They have some great pregnancy workouts on their app, including even breaking them down in to trimester specific workouts. My best advice, listen to your body. For instance, yesterday I went out for my usual 2 mile walk (I do it every day) and my body quicklyyyyy told me it was not up for it. I did about a mile and called it quits, and that's OKAY!

SIX || How much weight should I gain during pregnancy? Again, ask your doctor! (Do I sound like a broken record?!) Quick chat on weight. Pregnancy is a lot, our bodies are constantly changing and developing. How we conquered the weight question, was we broke down weight based on your BMI. If you want to figure out your BMI, you can use this quick calculator to do so!

• Underweight: Meaning your BMI is under 18.5 -suggested weight gain is 28–40 lbs
• Normal: Meaning your BMI is between 18.5-24.9 - suggested weight gain is  25-35 lbs
• Overweight: Meaning your BMI is between 25–29.9 - suggested weight gain is 15 to 25 lbs
• Obese: Meaning your BMI is 30 and greater - suggested weight gain is 11 to 20 lbs.

SEVEN || What are your pregnancy cravings? And when is it okay to give into them? 

• Whitney: hardboiled eggs, salads, and I eat at night because of my pregnancy nausea.
• Kristen: very cold fruit, and sweets. 

Again, back to question two, a healthy, well-balanced diet is always the best way to eat during pregnancy. But keep in mind, your body is so smart and knows what it needs. Trust it, lean in to it and nourish your body accordingly. An ice cream treat here and there isn't bad, and neither are snacks at night! What you crave and what sounds good to you will change throughout your pregnancy. So if carbs is all you can stomach in your first trimester, then eat carbs! When you hit your second trimester, things may change and you'll be back to eating like you're used too.

EIGHT || What is the first piece of advice you give any expectant mum? Whitney and I have similar advice here:

• Whitney: Listen to your own intuition. You know what is best for your baby. A lot of people may try to shame you, guilt you, or tell you 'something better.' But at the end of the day, you are this babys mom, and you know what is best. 
• Kristen: Listen to the people you trust the most. Throughout your pregnancy you get a LOT of advice from everyone. Listen to the people you trust, your best friend, your mom, your doctor, and leave the other advice to the wind. Kristen's blog post about pregnancy advice is linked here.

NINE || What is your birth plan? Whitney and my birth plan is simple, birth our babies in the healthiest way possible.

• Whitney had a c-section with her first pregnancy and will have a c-section with her second!
• I had a vaginal birth with my first and I plan to have one with me second. You can read about Quinn's birth story here.  

• Whitney: Good question and very real and personal for me. Fake till you make it. So I may not enjoy the weight gain/ body changing part pregnancy but my daughter associates a big belly with a growing baby. So she is waiting and watching for my stomach to get BIG. So I never mention food in a way that I can’t have it cause I’ll get big. I constantly show her that I am trying to stay healthy through exercise, helping me making celery juice or AM green shakes.
• Kristen: Give yourself some grace. This is a big life transition and your body is growing at all times. Some days it's super hard and some days it's easier, but give yourself grace. 

ELEVEN || What's in your hospital bag? Whitney and I are sharing our three favorite items! 

• Whitney: My favorite blanket (Barefoot Dreams is my fav!), compression socks , and good undies (Hanes® Premium Women's Smoothing Seamless 3pk Briefs!) 
• Kristen: A pair of flip-flops (things get messy), toiletries (I took a hot shower!), and a cute outfit for your baby! 

TWELVE || Favorite pregnancy leggings and dresses? I love Lululemon Align, extra-high rise leggings and the Ingrid and Isabel pregnancy leggings from Target. True story, the last thing I wanted to spend a lot of money on was pregnancy clothes. My advice, buy a bigger size in regular clothes! If you're pregnant in the summer, my go-to are dresses! Target has great, cheap dresses and you can buy a little bit bigger. Then use them postpartum!

THIRTEEN || Sex and pregnancy! 

• Whitney: Truth is our hormone levels during the first trimester can cause mood swings and nausea all of that can really mess with our libido. Be super honest with your partner, where you are at and let them know... listen when I’m into it you just need to be into it because I can’t promise anything more than that. And GO slow— use lube if needed and worried about bleeding 🤷🏼‍♀️
• Kristen: Same advice, talk to your partner! Your hormones change throughout your pregnancy, different trimesters may make you feel differently. Be open about your feelings! 

FOURTEEN || What skincare? 
Whitney: Whitney wrote a blog post on how to avoid stretch marks here!

• Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend ( pregnant and postpartum skin moisturized and supple, helping to prevent and treat stretch marks) for stretch marks and HATCH body oil is soothing with calendula and sweet almond oil to help nourish skin and prevent stretch marks.
• Juice Beauty's Hydrating Mist it has in it rosehip, ylang ylang, grapeseed oil and antioxidant-rich organic juices for a fresh, radiant complexion
• Niu body facial serum -Super clean natural means 100% plant-derived, with nothing artificial and have banned over 1,300 ingredients from our products.
• Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum- fighting that hyperpigmentation this product is a brightening serum with natural ingredients like vitamin C and fruit enzymes

Until about a month ago I thought I was totally ready to bring this little baby in to the world. I had her changing table, her crib, the rocker I plan on sitting in to feed her. I had all the clothes I could imagine and the nursery was decorated.

It wasn't until my gf's came in town and started looking through the stuff I had, that I quickly realized how much I didn't have to bring a human home. I had all the pretty stuff, but I didn't have the realistic stuff. Plus I didn't realize there are certain things I needed for myself. I thought I had that part all figured out. Welp, turns out, mama needed some things just as much as baby.

I cannot be the only mama out there who has no clue what she'd need. This is the list, most of which you can get on Amazon, that'll make your life and babys life easier as you both transition in to this new phase.

PS. I updated this blog post as of April 27, 2020, on the eve of my third trimester with baby #2!


For Baby: 

1. Nose Frida (or steal all the blue nose suckers from the hospital). I seriously stole like 10 and I love them more than the nose frieda. Adam prefers the nose frieda! 
2. Diapers in size newborn, one and two. We skipped right over newborn (Quinn was 8.8lbs) and I'm so thankful I had a variety of sizes! 
3. Wipes - I love the Costco ones, but if Amazon is easier, these are the best. You can also have them come in a subscription! 
4. Aquaphor. Quinn is 20 months old and I still use this for everything.
5. Rectal Thermometer (for under 6 mo) and forehead thermometer (for over 6 mo). True story - I have three different types of thermometers and they will at any given point give me a different reading. Having a bunch is nice but not totally necessary. Trust your gut. 
6. 5 ounce and 9 ounce bottles + different nipple sizes - I LOVE the comotomo bottles. 
7. Nose Frieda Saline nose spray.  This was originally on this list, and I have never used it ever. Maybe I should? 
8. Grooming Kit. This safety first grooming kit everyone will recommend to you. I love these simple tweezerman nail scissors. You can see what you're doing and they are very gentle. 
9. Boon Bottle Drying Rack. I still use this for Quinn's sippy cups! 
10. Munchkin Bottle brush. Literally have never used it. 
11. Butt Paste (small one for diaper bag and big one for changing table). This stuff is good for when they are little little. But as Quinn got legit diaper rash, I used and still use Desitin.
12. Infant Tylenol and Motrin. For Quinn, Tylenol works better than Motrin. But some people swear by the switch on and off method between the two. Better to be safe than sorry, have them both on hand for those late night fevers. 
13. Shampoo, conditioner, baby lotion. We love Honest brand wash, no fragrance. I've used it since she was born and haven't switched. We don't use lotion, because aquaphor has worked magic for us. 
14. A bunch of plain onesies: I love these little Gerber ones! My most favorite is a rec from my friend Summer. The Cloud Island onesies from Target. They come in a three-pack and are ah-mazing! They have full body onesies, bodysuits, separates, and beanies. 
15. Travel Bottle Cleaner. Literally never used this. But if you travel a ton, might be a good idea? 
16. Pacifiers. This is the fun part. We tried a bunch of different pacifiers and ultimately Quinn gave them up around 3 months. When she did like them, she liked the Wubby Nubs. Plus they are so cute. 

For Mama: 

1. Pumping storage bags. I started pumping around 3 weeks and I was fortunate and had a lot of milk, so I started storing right away! I used the Lansinoh storage bags. 
2. Breast Pump sterilizing bags. I never used these. I just sterilized in boiling water on the stove. I work from home so this was an easy option for me. But if you work out of the home, these would be great!
3. Baby carrier. My Solly baby is my fav. I used this one when she was teeny tiny. I also loved my Ergo Baby Omni carrier. I used this one in the airport and for long distance carrying because it felt a little more secure. Before 6 months, there is an infant insert. 
4. Nipple pads that freeze. Trust me on this one. Your nips will hurt and your boobs will leak. Nippe pads that can be frozen are so money. It's a little awkward at first, but man it will calm your boobs. I love these Lansinoh ones. 
5. Disposable and Non-disposable breast pads. When you nurse, your boobs leak. Glam, I know. These Medela ones are great. I bought a few non-disposable ones and honestly having to wash them kind of gagged me. I loved being able to throw them away when necessary. 
6. Lansinoh Nipple Cream. See #4 and #5. I'm just being honest here peeps. The perks of the specific nipple cream is its safer if your baby gets a little. I would have rather used Aquaphor but I didn't want Quinn to eat it obviously. 
7. Cozy undies, bras, jammies and robe. For the first few weeks, you are either in diapers (my preference, these are the best), or you are in undies and pads. Get comfy undies. I seriously thought I could wear boy shorts and I was quickly proven wrong. You want full panties, and I loved these, Hanes® Premium Women's Smoothing Seamless 3pk Briefs! I also preferred wearing "PJ dresses or robes." In those first few days, there is a lot of nursing, diapers/pads, etc. Being as comfy as possible is keyyy! I loved these dresses and robes from Milkmaid Goods.  
8. Hand sanitizer. Now that we are in Covid-19, you probably already have this. I love this Babyganics foam. 
9. Dishwasher cage (to wash all those small parts!). Never used this. 
10. Adult Diapers. Let's talk about adult diapers for a second. In the hospital, they give you mesh panties and these HUGE pads. They were fine for the first few days in the hospital, but once I got home (and more mobile) they were terrible. They rubbed/chaffed/etc. I bought these diapers and loved them. They are big enough that you can still put the tuck pads in them, etc. Not to get too gory, but they were better for me than the huge pads. 

Happy Tuesday friends! It's been so long since I've done a bumpdate - 5 weeks to be exact! Needless to say, so much has changed since then!  It's crazy to think this will be my last bumpdate! Then I get to update you on BABY!

We had our 38 week appointment today and baby girl looks and sounds good, but she's not ready to come out just yet. Keep your fingers crossed that we're getting closer! And as we get closer, if you don't mind throwing in some "quick and healthy" delivery prayers, I'd totally appreciate it! Let's get to the update!

How far along: 38 weeks! 

Size: Baby Girl is as big as a winter melon (what is a winter melon?), Pomeranian or ukulele, you pick! My app says she's measuring between 6.2 to 9.2 pounds (WHAT!) and between 18.9 and 20.9 inches! Girlfriend is a big girl! 

How I’m feeling: I've had some new pregnancy developments since 33 weeks. I have pregnancy carpal tunnel. which basically means my right hand always feels like it's asleep. Literally cannot hold things with that hand, pick up things, it's hard to take out my contacts with my right hand. And by the end of the day it's painful. Apparently this happens in the late third trimester. Oh and the heartburn and lack of sleep are still there. But I've been taking advantage of naps.  

Cravings: Sweets. Guys, this little girl is gonna come out full of popsicles.  

Nursery: Literally everything is done. Lights are hung, shelves are hung, all her furniture is in. It's decorated, the clothes are washed, the diapers are put away. We even have her Halo bassinet for our room set up and the little sleeper swing for the family room put together.  

Workouts: None, can I blame being too pregnant? We go for small family walks when Adam gets home from work, but they are pretty minimal. 

Movement: Yes! All the time, all day long, especially at night when I lay down. GF loves to dance I'm pretty sure. And maybe this is in my head, but when I poke her, she pokes back.  

Things to remember: These last few weeks of quiet moments with Adam. Even though we both are getting a little anxious, knowing that it's the last time its just us two is so special. Sleeping in, watching TV together, going to dinner, running errands. I'm really enjoying my time with just him and feeling kind of protective of our personal time. 

We are so close guys. This anticipation is unlike anything I've ever felt. I am almost so excited that it makes me want to cry when I think about her because I just cannot wait much longer to meet her. We are so darn close.

Any last minute advice? Send it my way!

Packing a hospital bag is stressful, especially if you've never packed one before! When I sat down to think of all the things I would need for two days in the hospital with a new baby, I was immediately overwhelmed. Some people tell ya you need nothing, others give you a list of 100 things.

So what did I do? What I've done 1000x. I reached out to my friends, who luckily wrote a whole list for me, read other blogs and checked with my hospital. I think I've gathered some of the necessities and some of those non-necessities (like a great face cream) that'll just make me feel a bit more at ease and like myself.

Since I have no idea what 2 days is going to be like in the hospital, I may have over-packed.



Below you'll find a printable checklist to help you prepare! What did you pack in your hospital bag?
FOR MOM // 
Insurance Card: The non-fun part of going to a hospital. Make sure it's in your wallet, hospital bag or wherever you won't forget. 

The best (insert eye-roll) thing about pregnancy is the advice you get.  From the old lady at the grocery store to your great-aunt, people LOVE telling pregnant women what they should and shouldn't do. I've been lucky to get away pretty unscathed, but you'd be surprised people.


Just the other day I was at the Lexus dealership waiting for my car and working on my laptop when a man asked me what I was doing. I said I was working and he said that couldn't be true because I was pregnant and I should be focused on my baby. Honestly, I don't even know how to react when people talk to me like this.

Why do people talk to pregnant people like this?

But, in spite of the bad comments, I've gotten some really great advice. Some I never thought about before but am glad I was told. So lets talk the good, the bad and the funny.  And hey, sorry if your comment was in the bad, maybe take it as a hint?

THE GOOD: 

Let your husband parent the way he chooses to parent. I heard this piece of advice at my gf Kate's baby shower and I love the sentiment. Sure, your hubs may not change the diaper the way you do, but does it stay on? Great. He doesn't sing the lullaby you sing? Who cares, he is SINGING to your baby, let him sing. I cannot wait to see how Adam loves and parents our little girl and my goal is to let him do it how he chooses. 

The days are long, the years are short. When you're crying in the middle of the night because your baby wont sleep, remember there will come a time when your child sleeps until noon and doesn't let you rock her to sleep anymore. This one makes me cry and I don't even have a baby yet. 

Shopping for your registry can be tough. Honestly, I put it off for months because I didn’t know where to start. It’s unlike any other type of registry, because if you’re like me, it's your first baby, aka your first registry. It was easy with my wedding registry because picking out things I personally wanted was easy. But picking out things I need for a baby, when I have no clue what I need for a baby, was so hard.

A few weeks ago, I shared my registry must haves. It was an extensive in-depth look at registry must haves. But even that can be overwhelming! So today, let’s break down my most favorite registry items. We're at 35 weeks guys! It's almost baby time! 


If I had to go back and pick just 10 things, these are my must haves.

• Cradle/Bassinet. The Halo Swivel Bassinet. I love this little bassinet because it's the thing our baby girl will sleep in for her first few months. I cannot wait to have her next to us in a few weeks!  

• Stroller. I'm obsessed with our stroller. It's the Uppa Baby Vista and I love how easy everything clicks in to it. Our car seat clicks in, plus it has an infant carrier and a toddler seat. And, it's gorgeous. I can already imagining her zipping around town in this beauty.

• Crib mobile. I just love this little rose mobile because it's part of her room. It makes her crib look so dang sweet. 

• Swing. We registered for this Snugababy Fisher Price Swing and it's currently set up in our dining room (to be moved to the family room) once she's here! I can already see this little babe swinging away. 

• Diapers. I was told to register for the brand I want, so if people want to buy to diapers they know the correct brand. I went with Pampers Swaddlers. We didn't get anyyyy diapers from showers, so I went out and bought some last weekend! 

• Hooded Towels. These Pottery Barn Baby Faux Fur Bath Wraps are almost too cute. I can't wait for her first little bath. 

• Baby Monitor. We did a lot of research on this one and ended up with the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor. 

• Activity Gym. I loved this one from Pottery Barn Kids. So darn cute.

• Receiving blankets. I think the blankets are my favorite accessory. I especially love these Aden and Anais muslin blankets. 

• Diaper Bags. I'm OBSESSED with my diaper bag! I got a Freshly Picked and Rosie Pope diaper bag backpack and they are so gorgeous. 

Guys, we're getting so close to baby! We're officially 5 weeks from our due date and it's crazy to think that we get to see her so soon. Stay tuned for another bump-date next week and a nursery reveal!

Happy Tuesday!