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24 Week Pregnancy Update + First Trimester Recap

July 23, 2018 in Pregnancy

I recently hit 24 weeks of pregnancy, and these first few months have been a complete whirlwind of emotions and everything else! I haven’t written a ton about my pregnancy because I have still been trying to navigate sickness and everything else.

First Trimester recap

My first three months were absolutely awful. I’m not going to sugar coat anything at all. While I was blessed not to be diagnosed with hyperemesis this pregnancy like I did in three of my previous pregnancies, it was still pretty rough.

Traveling during that time was also difficult. While I had a blast at Mom 2.0 in California, the plane ride there and back, as well as some of my time at the conference was hard. Baby A was determined to make things as difficult for me as possible! It was great being able to get away from the kids for a week and to have some me time in the process, even if it meant I was hugging the porcelain throne.

Working in the first trimester

This was another unexpectedly difficult thing for me to do. In all honesty, I still haven’t quite gotten back into the groove of things. Being tired and sick all of the time was expected, but it felt as if there was literally no reprieve from any of it. This meant I was working a lot less, thus causing my income to suffer. Which when you are pregnant, is not the best time for that to happen.

Eating

There were a few foods that I found comforting to eat while in the first trimester. Chicken Salad Croissant sandwiches were one. I know that chicken salad is supposedly a big no-no while pregnant, but I couldn’t resist it. During this time I couldn’t drink anything other than water, which was miserable, as I suffered major caffeine withdrawals early on, and was definitely craving either a coke or a sweet tea.

Exercising

Yeah, I tried. And failed.

What did I buy

Nothing during this time. I really wanted to wait until we found out the gender of the baby before I started purchasing items, however, I did make a list of things that I wanted to purchase and items that I was curious about.

2nd Trimester…how’s it going?

How I am feeling

I am still doing a lot of traveling, and it’s still pretty miserable! Now that my back is hurting more frequently as well as sciatica, It’s getting harder and harder to ride in the car for long periods of time. Although for the most part, I don’t really have a choice. Around 21 weeks, I started having contractions and had to go to L&D where they stopped them, and I was subsequently placed on bedrest. So needless to say it’s still been a bit tough.

Also, I lost my grandmother two weeks ago, so emotionally it’s been just as rough as it has physically. I just started getting somewhat back into a work rhythm (while it’s not great, it’s there), and now there has been a bit of a setback. Since it’s the summertime, this also means I am at home with all four kids all day long; and well you know kids!

While we have had an exciting summer thus far,  I can’t wait for school to start!

What I am eating

Finally a little bit of everything! I am so thrilled that my appetite has come back. I am still vomiting on a daily basis (boo), so I haven’t gained much weight-I have lost about 10lbs total since I have been pregnant. The good news is that baby is growing just fine! This trimester thus far, my favorite foods have been crab legs! Something about melted butter has been driving me crazy and I absolutely have to have it.

How I am sleeping

Barely. So there’s that.

Excercise

Nothing there really this time either. Unless you count the leg lifts I do in bed. But that’s just so I can practice holding my legs up while in labor.

What have I bought

I nearly have everything I need with the exception of a crib! I have purchased or have been gifted so many things that I am much more prepared early on, unlike in previous pregnancies. (I’ll admit that’s pretty sad).

I have had a blast learning about lots of new gadgets (such as the Willow Breast Pump) and rediscovering brands that I loved in my previous pregnancies, but may have forgotten about.

I am looking forward to the next few weeks and what it has to bring! I’ll be back with an update at 30 weeks!

Natasha Brown

Love of impromptu dance parties, 80’s cartoons, and horizontal life pauses (aka naps); Natasha Brown is a stay at home mom of 4 kids, and wife to one lucky guy! In her spare time, she is co-editor of Grits & Grace, as well as editor for The Mother Hustler Blog and Creative Director for the Mother Hustler podcast.

www.themotherhustlerblog.com

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Natasha Brown is a mom of four and head sock finder in her home. Grits & Grace was started as a way to meet other southern moms who love everything from their smock dresses and Lily Pulitzer to sweet tea. Let's connect!

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Are you team snow or heck no?
#AD - 2021 is the year of me. One way I am doing t #AD - 2021 is the year of me. One way I am doing this is by making sure that I am more intentional about my time. As I seek to reclaim my time, one way I am doing so is by spending more time with myself for self-care, comfort, and wellness. One thing that I love to do is to sit with a nice hot cup of @BigelowTea from @Target, which is perfect for this January since it's Hot Tea Month!

My morning tea time consists of the Bigelow® Constant Comment Black Tea flavored with orange rind and sweet spice, and my nightly tea is Bigelow® Lavender Chamomile Herbal Tea. Both taste amazing and leave me feeling refreshed and balanced and ready to conquer whatever comes next! Bigelow® Tea is my #1 choice of tea.

Do you have a favorite hot tea? Tell me about it below! Every cup counts! #TeaProudly #BigelowHugInAMug

Check out my stories to see more about my favorite Bigelow® Tea flavors!
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Aly and I have been listening together to the audiobook of Memory Lane by @saracshepard, and if you or your teen were fans of Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars or of Black Mirror like we are, then this is perfect for you! You can check out this mother/daughter mystery on @serialboxpub starting today! This contemporary sci-fi follows Alex who receives her mother’s implanted memories during a scientific study, and finds out her mom witnessed a drowning years before. Now it’s up to her to evade a killer!⠀
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Sound interesting? Use my code SBNATASHA to get 50% off this or any other @serialboxpub title.⠀
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Serial Box publishes exciting fiction in audiobook and e-book and lets you toggle between formats without losing your place. You can check out their catalog of over 150 titles including sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, historical, and horror genres, plus you get to read and listen to the first episode of every Serial for free. Aly and I can’t wait to to check out some of our favorite characters including Marvel’s Black Widow and Black Panther, and Doctor Who with David Tennant narrating the audiobook as the Doctor!!⠀
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#SerialBox #MemoryLane #SaraShepard #prettylittleliars
Joy is you at the deepest level, and your joy is o Joy is you at the deepest level, and your joy is one with the infinite timeless joy of this unbound universe.-Robert Ellwood⠀
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By being intentional, this means that everything I do has to serve a purpose. Just as I want to keep only things and people in my life who serve a greater good, I want to ensure that I everything I am doing serves a greater good as well.⠀
⠀
Being present means exactly what it says. Live in the moment and stop worrying about “next”. This is a major fault of mine, but I am realizing more and more how important this is in order to maintain a higher quality of life. ⠀
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‘Do I post? Do I take a break from social media? Should I take a day off?’
All these thoughts have been running through my head, but through tragedy, we must keep going, that’s what our lost loved ones would want. They would want us to thrive and be mentally and emotionally strong, so that’s what I’m going to do. We may be going through hell, but we will keep going. 

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Over the last two weeks I have been stretched in s Over the last two weeks I have been stretched in so many different directions.  But the one thing that has brought joy to my heart was seeing my children enjoy being kids and forgetting the grief that was in their hearts for a few moments.⠀
⠀
The kids and I got to experience a true Chicago winter. We hated it. 🥴 As a southerner, my mind and body are not equipped to handle 16 degree weather. ⠀
⠀
Are you team snow or heck no?
#AD - 2021 is the year of me. One way I am doing t #AD - 2021 is the year of me. One way I am doing this is by making sure that I am more intentional about my time. As I seek to reclaim my time, one way I am doing so is by spending more time with myself for self-care, comfort, and wellness. One thing that I love to do is to sit with a nice hot cup of @BigelowTea from @Target, which is perfect for this January since it's Hot Tea Month!

My morning tea time consists of the Bigelow® Constant Comment Black Tea flavored with orange rind and sweet spice, and my nightly tea is Bigelow® Lavender Chamomile Herbal Tea. Both taste amazing and leave me feeling refreshed and balanced and ready to conquer whatever comes next! Bigelow® Tea is my #1 choice of tea.

Do you have a favorite hot tea? Tell me about it below! Every cup counts! #TeaProudly #BigelowHugInAMug

Check out my stories to see more about my favorite Bigelow® Tea flavors!
This is our ✨Sunday Funday✨ We’re all taking This is our ✨Sunday Funday✨
We’re all taking today to relax and just be together. Sunday’s are the day of rest, after all. 
What do you and your family do for fun on Sunday? Kick back and relax like us? Or maybe brunch? How do y’all make the most of your Sunday💕
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#family #sundayfunday #kickbackandrelax #familytime #familyblogger #bloggermom #mommyblogger #bloggermommy #atlantablogger #georgiablogger #selfcare #selfcaretips
⠀ (Ad) I’m always excited to get quality time ⠀
(Ad) I’m always excited to get quality time in with my teen, especially since she will be off to college in a year. Luckily, she and I have similar interests so it’s always easy to find something to do.⠀
⠀
Aly and I have been listening together to the audiobook of Memory Lane by @saracshepard, and if you or your teen were fans of Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars or of Black Mirror like we are, then this is perfect for you! You can check out this mother/daughter mystery on @serialboxpub starting today! This contemporary sci-fi follows Alex who receives her mother’s implanted memories during a scientific study, and finds out her mom witnessed a drowning years before. Now it’s up to her to evade a killer!⠀
⠀
Sound interesting? Use my code SBNATASHA to get 50% off this or any other @serialboxpub title.⠀
⠀
Serial Box publishes exciting fiction in audiobook and e-book and lets you toggle between formats without losing your place. You can check out their catalog of over 150 titles including sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, historical, and horror genres, plus you get to read and listen to the first episode of every Serial for free. Aly and I can’t wait to to check out some of our favorite characters including Marvel’s Black Widow and Black Panther, and Doctor Who with David Tennant narrating the audiobook as the Doctor!!⠀
⠀
#SerialBox #MemoryLane #SaraShepard #prettylittleliars
Joy is you at the deepest level, and your joy is o Joy is you at the deepest level, and your joy is one with the infinite timeless joy of this unbound universe.-Robert Ellwood⠀
⠀
I have taken a long hard look at what will bring me joy in this season of my life. With everything that has come to pass two things have stood out to me as being most important; being intentional and being present.⠀
⠀
By being intentional, this means that everything I do has to serve a purpose. Just as I want to keep only things and people in my life who serve a greater good, I want to ensure that I everything I am doing serves a greater good as well.⠀
⠀
Being present means exactly what it says. Live in the moment and stop worrying about “next”. This is a major fault of mine, but I am realizing more and more how important this is in order to maintain a higher quality of life. ⠀
⠀
How are you working to be present and intentional in your daily living. #graceupongrace #blackchristianinfluencers #soulsreconnected #familyiseverything #realmomsofinstagram #honestmoms
“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
-Winston Churchill

This is my mantra for the day and probably the next several days. My husband and I received some devastating news yesterday, and I truly don’t know how to react. 

‘Do I post? Do I take a break from social media? Should I take a day off?’
All these thoughts have been running through my head, but through tragedy, we must keep going, that’s what our lost loved ones would want. They would want us to thrive and be mentally and emotionally strong, so that’s what I’m going to do. We may be going through hell, but we will keep going. 

#mentalstrength #emotionalstrength #family #familylove #loss #lossofalovedone #mindovermatter #realmomsofinstagram #itsokaynottobeokay #prayers #prayersforhealing #ifyouregoingthroughhellkeepgoing #pushthrough #focus #takeabreak
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Try not to fall prey to the belief that you have to feel a certain way or do certain things in order to feel normal. Meaning, if you feel sad, please allow the tears to come. If you are angry and you need to vent, allow yourself to safely do so as well.⠀
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Even in a family, it’s important to remember that we all grieve differently and that in itself can create strain and confusion between family members and friends.⠀
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I’ve spent most of the day calling funeral homes, figuring out clothes needed to dress a deceased loved one, and finding a suit for my son and husband. Now that I have a moment, I’m just watching Chris as he sleeps. Figuring out how to be there for him and my children who are hurting. There are so many things that have occurred in the last 24 hours, and maybe one day I will talk about it.⠀
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But in the meantime hold your loved ones tight. ❤️❤️ #familyisforever
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