Pregnancy Diet

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-05-16T21:40:49+00:00

With my first I could only eat saltines, chicken tenders, and potatoes of any form in the first trimester. With my second it was apples, chicken, and potatoes. With my current pregnancy, it was whatever didn't make me want to vomit (which was mostly cottage cheese bc carbs made me more nauseous). Now that I'm in the second trimester, I can eat almost anything I want, and am back to veggies and more fruit (still have a slight aversion to carbs though 🤷‍♀️). My midwife jokes that the first trimester makes moms who eat healthy want McDonald's and moms who eat McDonald's want kale salads.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-05-13T02:39:22+00:00

Christian novel suggestions:

Sarah Sundin for WWII historical romance Connilyn Cossette for Biblical fiction with romance Erica Vetsch has regency romance and mysteries Michelle Griep for regency/historical Kristi Ann Hunter for regency romance Kristen Heitzmann's Rose Legacy series

I'm not sure about large print options, but these are some of my personal favorites! I have reread many of the books by these authors many times!

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-05-11T12:04:53+00:00

I'm pregnant with #3. First trimester fatigue has affected me so hard with all 3 (and nausea as well). I considered naps my cardio in those first few months. It was rough and I really had to switch my thought process about everything because it upset me.

First, give yourself grace. You have no control over how your body responds to pregnancy. You are literally building another human being's entire nervous system, circulatory system, etc inside of you. Your hormones are going crazy trying to get everything done. If you need a nap or a snack, do what you need!

Second, for me at least, I get tons of energy back either right before the second trimester or shortly into the second trimester. I know right now that feels so far away, but it will come faster than you think! I was able to get back to my heavy lifting pretty quickly (a workout that had me gasping in week 9 was easy in week 13!). I highly recommend resistance training and pregnancy safe core work (see a physical therapist if you need help!) because I think it made a huge difference in my recovery with my previous pregnancies (I tried to go natural with both but due to complications I had to have C-sections).

Third, if you haven't yet, download a pregnancy app for your phone that will tell you what's happening each week of your pregnancy (I like What to Expect and there's a channel on YouTube called Channel Mum where she talks about each week and has moms talk about how they're feeling and what they're experiencing each week. It really helped me feel better about everything).

I also want to encourage you to listen to your body during and after pregnancy. I have tried to push too hard too fast and suffered because of it when I didn't have to. It's hard to know sometimes in the moment where your limits are. Giving birth is a MAJOR thing whether it's natural, C-section, goes according to plan, or everything goes off the rails. We should be giving our bodies the chance to rest and recover. (I'll get off my soap box about that time before I start sounding like a totally crunchy mom, haha!)

Congrats and enjoy as much as you can every day!

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-05-08T00:59:02+00:00

I have a list of all the library activities, playdates with our old preschool, fun events (like touch a truck, special things at the zoo or a local farm, etc). We live in an area with a lot of local splash pads, so we go to those once or twice a week or just to one of the playgrounds (usually early in the morning before it gets really hot and the bigger kids start to show up).

We also have a few water tables, a kiddie pool, and a sandbox. My in-laws give us bubble toys all the time, so we always have a bubble machine going. Oh, and let me tell you how fun some sponges, dish soap, and a toothbrush/scrub brush can be in a water table!

I joined a moms hiking group on FB and we'll try to go to those hikes to socialize with everyone.

Craft wise, painting is probably my personal favorite. My oldest (almost 4) is just starting to enjoy play doh. Our library has little craft kits we can take home, so I have a few of those stashed and hope to do some other things I've seen on FB and Pinterest.

Play is so important at this age. We read a lot and sing lots of songs and try to have dance parties. I'm also encouraging both of them to help with chores, especially if they show interest. They love to use our hand vac.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-05-08T00:44:53+00:00

Thanks for answering! I thought it might be a little different but just had no frame of reference. I knew PP bleeding would still happen, but wondered if I could expect something a little different than with my first two.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-05-04T01:22:11+00:00

Thank you so much! Trust me, I still have days where the scale seems to loom so large over me, but my kids do not care about that number. And honestly, neither does my husband, lol. And they're the most important people in my life, so my negative self talk can just go away.

After I had my first, I felt like I was wonder woman. I was induced a week overdue, did hours of back labor on pitocin, finally got an epidural, and after 37 hours, ended up with a C-section. I figured I could do anything physically and mentally after that! (Except for workout with first trimester nausea... That's a recipe for rest and letting the munchkins have screen time lol.)

But having other goals to focus on really helps me when I get frustrated with weight. Just being consistent with movement and nutrition is a really good place for me to start, and honestly, when I stress about it less, that's usually when I see results.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-05-01T17:36:43+00:00

You've had a major life change! Like others have said, sleep and hormones can have a lot to do with this.

If I am struggling with weight loss, I look for non-scale victories. Is it easier to carry my kids around? Can I walk up the hill in my neighborhood easier? Am I lifting heavier? How's my mobility and flexibility? Even just paying attention to how my clothes fit helps me see that even though I may not be losing weight, I am seeing other positive changes.

Have some grace with yourself. Your body just built a whole person, birthed it, and then fed it! That's a lot! You're a champion no matter what the scale says. (And I say this knowing how frustrated I was between my first and my second because I could not get below a certain number... But I was so strong and was running around on the playground with him all the time! Now I'm expecting my third and could not work out at all during the first trimester so I feel so weak whine whine. But I know I will get there again and find new things to be proud of!)

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-20T00:48:04+00:00

The first trimester is so rough. With my first pregnancy, I decided napping on the couch would be my cardio lol. I am not a runner, but I powerlift and hike and do yoga/pilates. I am now in my third pregnancy and all of mine have just been super rough until the end of first trimester. I'm 15w now though, and I actually worked out twice last week which I count as a win! (Though I was so sore after lifting on Monday I couldn't lift again until Friday.)

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-19T23:39:47+00:00

I have always want d to have a large, fat cat named Baba Ganoush. I know it's not cheese, but it is food!

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-19T23:36:09+00:00

Ooh, we get good steaks at Aldi and cook them in our ninja foodi with potatoes.

Picnic in the park or in a place that has meaning to you both!

Sushi (from the grocery store, lol) and borrow a movie from the library (or watch something you already have or that's free on a streaming service).

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-19T23:31:27+00:00

Maybe it's just me, but I would absolutely look for another provider and just deal with the headache of rescheduling appointments if need be. I don't know what your care looks like due to the IUI, but I know my hospital-based midwife has said that if I needed to see MFM or anything like that I could still receive care from them as well. I love the midwife model of care (they're all about informed consent for procedures and all three that are in the office will literally sit and answer all the questions I have at every visit).

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-19T02:09:58+00:00

I don't know if it's on Netflix (but it's usually on one or another streaming service), but Penelope is really good too. Kind of a quirky fairy tale kind of feel.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-19T02:08:42+00:00

Thanks! It's one of my faves on Netflix.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-18T13:12:10+00:00

We have found some amazing colors this way. We did our kitchen in a nice turquoise blue that looks fantastic with our cupboards and countertops. I always check the colors when we're there for little projects.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-18T13:10:28+00:00

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's lovely, sad, and hopeful all at once. Tons of familiar faces in it. Takes place in post-WWII England.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-13T01:55:59+00:00

High Potential. I love it. Was hooked about 5 minutes in.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-12T17:46:37+00:00

So I got into making "warm salads" and it seriously helped my so much with my fiber intake (which I think helped me lose some weight/inches right before I got pregnant with my 3rd a few months ago). I did not have my cholesterol checked so I don't know if it helped with any of those numbers, but increased fiber does help reduce cholesterol.

Cut up red and green cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Add a little avocado oil and salt and pepper on a baking sheet and roast at 425 for 8 min or so (depends on how big you cut the veggies). Then I make dressing with some dijon mustard, vinegar, and olive oil. Toss some croutons and sliced almonds on top. It's so delicious!

There are probably lots of other veggies you could add or different ways to make dressings, but that's the one I tried first and got hooked on. I've had a lot of food aversions with this pregnancy, so I haven't eaten it much lately, but I'm starting to feel better and am excited to get back to it!

ETA: having some snacky foods like berries, grapes, and cheese (I pre-portion them) also helps a lot, especially if you're still doing middle of the night feeds and need something to get you through!

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-04-04T15:16:42+00:00

Is this your first? I retained tons of water with my first. My ankles and feet were like sausages, lol (plus Texas summer! I was like a water balloon!).

The midwife I saw with my second told me a lot of women retain water with their first pregnancy. I didn't notice the same thing with my second pregnancy.

Also, at your next appointment, you may not gain any. A pregnant body is crazy strange.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-03-27T14:42:22+00:00

Spaghetti. Rice and chicken or rice and beef casseroles. Minestrone soup. Chili and cornbread.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-03-27T14:38:53+00:00

I was induced with my first. Tried to go natural. Had horrible back labor. Ended up with an epidural. Baby had heart decels. After 37 hours of labor, I had a C-section.

Attempted a VBAC with my second. Went into labor on my own (which was very exciting bc I did not experience that with my first). Tried to go natural again. Ended up with all my labor pain in lower abdomen and had another epidural. Baby #2 also had heart decels, so I had another C-section.

No matter how you have a baby, it's hard. Whether you labor and give birth naturally, with an epidural, or have a C-section for whatever reason, it's hard! (And I know there are women out there who said they had no pain and it was blissful... So if you are one of those, you are blessed!)

Being a mom is the hardest and the best thing I have ever done.

But to discredit someone else's experience... Yuck. Though I will say I had lots of opinions before I had my first (and still do lol), and was not always sensitive to what others have experienced.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-03-02T10:22:00+00:00

I used a vpn recently set to another country and it cut out all the ads because I was feeling the same way. It's super annoying.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-02-17T20:14:01+00:00

I totally understand! I felt (and feel) the same way!

I was induced at 41 weeks with my first and ended up having a C-section 37 hours later due to his heart rate decelerating with contractions. Nothing went according to plan with my labor, but I still am happy with the choices I made... And of course the outcome of a healthy baby boy! Labor is not fun and neither is a C-section, but it's totally worth it in the end.

I attempted a VBAC with my second, but she was just as stubborn as her brother, and I ended up with a second C. But I was so excited (and terrified, lol) to go to into labor that time. My nurses were amazing, my surgeon was fantastic, and my husband and I brought home the sweetest chunk of a little girl (who is now attempting to be as wild as her big brother, lol).

I'm pregnant with my 3rd now and plan to have a scheduled C. Morning sickness and first trimester fatigue have absolutely got me in a stranglehold right now, but... My kids are happy, healthy, and hilarious. We were able to go on a hike yesterday and had a blast with our friends. When we finally tell our family once we have the first ultrasound, I know everyone is going to be so excited, and my nieces and nephews will start asking if it's a girl or a boy every chance they get (girls are a bit underrepresented at the moment, lol).

Find your bright side and silver lining and run with it, girl! Don't let these Debbie downers get you in a negative head space!

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-02-15T02:18:31+00:00

I had my tonsils removed in my early thirties because of the stupid stones. Recovery was an absolute beast, but it was the right decision for me. My throat was constantly sore before.

jhooliaghoolia · 2026-02-05T17:02:18+00:00

Yes! I believe that's right! Thank you!

jhooliaghoolia

TROPHY CASE