#Water2Me As a Mom

 

World Water Day is fast approaching and I’m glad there is a day to pause and reflect on water and what water...clean safe water...means to us. The theme this year is ‘Valuing Water’; celebrating and sharing about the water in and around us and, in reflecting, answering the question ‘What does water mean to you?’ 

Naturally, I immediately and instinctively thought of what water means to me and us as moms and I’d like to share my reflections with you:

As an expecting mom water is...

The first home and protection for our growing babies. The human body is made up of up to 75% water and the amniotic fluid that the babies grow and thrive in comes from this water. It cushions, protects and allows them to move and grow healthy. It’s why healthcare providers and advocates always tell expecting moms to double down and drink more H2O even when we cannot stand it. 

As an expecting mom water is...

That safe place to protect our babies and our bodies while working out and gaining strength...through aqua aerobics. I remember in my first pregnancy being so concerned about labour and being strong enough to deliver vaginally. This caused me to research different forms of exercise safe to do while pregnant. Walking and aqua aerobics were always in the top two. So I walked my pregnant self to a women’s aqua aerobics class 2-3 times a week and it was so worth it; not just for the strength building but for the fun and the endorphins. 

As an expecting mom water is...

That place to soak away aching bones, swollen feet and over stretched ligaments from a pregnant body growing in new and unexpected ways. For me, there was nothing like an occasional soak in luke warm bath water, some lavender and epsom salts to ease some of the tension.

As an expecting mom water is...

That alternative to pain medication for the mama who wants to have a water assisted birth in a birthing center or the comfort of her own h8ome. While this has never been my experience - I’ve often day dreamed about what a water birth would be like for me. It seems so much more intimate and relaxing and i’m grateful it’s an option for so many expecting moms. 

As an expecting mom water is...

That IV fluid that really and truly helps to save our lives. Especially during hospital births where we need any pain or medical intervention. That sometimes annoying ‘drip’ is literally hydrating us along the way and safe guarding against complications like intra and post partum hemorrhage.

As a new mom water is...

That liquid gold that we feed to our new born via breast milk or that boiled or bottled water we use to mix baby formula. 

As a new mom water is...

That overall feeling of clean for us because childbirth is messy and that first shower after delivering - there is no other feeling of clean like it. Child rearing on a whole is messy and there is nothing like a shower after being puked, peed and shat on. 🤷🏽‍♀️😅

As a new mom water is...

That warm bath that soothes and calms a fussy baby when they are going through the Period  of PURPLE crying.

As a mom water is...

That safe drink to give to our children that is healthy, affordable and that is good for their body and teeth. 

As a mom water is...

That cleaning super agent. Where there is water there is a way to keep kids and their surroundings clean, sanitized and healthy. 

As a mom water is...

That splash pad outing, backyard hose down or beach/river/pool trip on a summer’s day when it’s too hot to be inside and too hot outside to be running around without some cool.

As a mom water is...

That home cooked meal that is delicious, nutritious, safe and healthy for the entire family. 

I could go on and on and on about what water means to me because as a mom water is literally LIFE. 💜

What does water mean to you?

Here's to STRONG Women

 

We recently celebrated International Women's Day under the theme 'Choose to Challenge' and it gave me the opportunity to pause and reflect on one of my favorite quotes:

"Here's to strong women:

May we know them;

May we be them and

May we raise them."

After reflecting and ruminating on what it means to be a STRONG woman, I've further defined it to make it even more real and relevant to all of our lives. I want to challenge us to start with ourselves. 

As it's still International Women's Month I'm sharing this definition right here and right now. 

S - Supported

Strong women not only give support; they need support. Even the most successful leaders, countries, and businesses rely on others for help and support because team work makes the dream work. Asking for help when you need it and collaborating to reach a goal is a sign of strength. As the saying goes 'If you want to go fast; go alone but if you want to go far; go together.'

T - Teacher

Everyone has something to teach and to learn, so make it a good lesson. Whatever you know or do well, share it with someone else; not only will it benefit and enrich another but it will also strengthen your knowledge and confidence in what you know and do well. 

R - Role Model

I've heard it said that those who can't do, teach; so the reverse must be true. Those who can't teach, do. Live your best life and in so doing be a good example to all the girls and young women who are looking for good role models. Be that best version of yourself, that someone to aspire to, even if it's just for you.

O - Organized

One of the bonuses of being an adult is having the freedom of choice. Most of us are at liberty to split our 24hrs however we choose and that is truly a gift. So the challenge is to not only organize our homes, children, spouses, employers lives but to organize our own lives according to our own personal goals.

N - Negotiator

I've once heard it said that everything in life is negotiable so remember that the next time you get a NO (or a not what you want or need). That no may not be final; it may be an opportunity to negotiate, to showcase your strong will, to truly ask for what you want and need with confidence and tenacity. 

G - Go Getter

Shelve the excuses and go get your goals. Not tomorrow, not next week, next month or next year. Start now. The power of NOW means you get to flex your motivation and determination muscles daily. With the power of now you get to keep moving step by step and leap by leap towards those goals until smashing goals becomes as natural as breathing. 

Takeaway 

As we demand what we need from others let's challenge ourselves to keep moving towards the ultimate goal and the daily work of becoming our best selves.

You've got this STRONG woman - I believe in you. I believe in us. Happy International Women's Month!💜

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) & The Expecting Mom - Part 1

What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

A couple of months ago I could not even spell this disorder but it’s quite a different scenario when someone close to you becomes so deeply affected by it. You quickly learn all you can about Hyperemesis Gravidarum aka excessive vomiting aka HG.

A quick google will tell you, at the very least, that HG is a rare pregnancy condition that affects 1 in 3 pregnant women and basically prevents women from keeping food or even liquid down. A quick social media scan will reveal what HG is not. The consensus on social media is that HG is NOT a form of Morning Sickness and that it’s actually quite different in the way it disables expecting moms. 

I want to lend my voice in sharing about some of the effects, survival tips and precautionary measures that I have learned about from doing my own non-scholarly HG research. I also want to share, in follow up posts, some ideas of how family members can support an Expecting Mom battling HG. My hope is that this can create more space for HG Expecting Moms; Survivors and Support Family Members to share their experiences, tips and ideas for dealing with HG.

I first heard about Hyperemesis not from the news and Kate Middleton or Amy Schumer but from a YouTube family called The McClures. It was a video where the mom, Ami, was pregnant with her third child and always seemed to be MIA, locked away in a dark room. Even though she explained what she had and some of her symptoms, my mind still registered it as some weird ‘extreme morning sickness’ that only other people get. I had absolutely no context. They say it’s rare but not until it enters your circle do you realize it’s rare but happens a lot and often goes undiagnosed. 

Why HG flies under the radar...

An HG pregnancy is traumatic and unless deliberately documented, a survivor may not be able to adequately paint a clear picture for non sufferers. As a result, it ends up mostly being a ‘who feels it knows it’ type of disorder. 

Also, many HG sufferers may get medicines/treatment but never get a diagnosis or a name to put to what they are experiencing. Family members who had to lend support may also eventually forget how traumatic HG can be and especially when there is no name or label for that experience. The birth of a bouncing new baby also helps to erase the memory of some of the trauma. 

I believe it’s so important for Expecting Moms suffering from HG to receive a proper diagnosis; not only to get the right treatment plan but also to have a way to properly communicate what they are going through to family and friends so they can receive all the support they need. 

What does HG look like?

1. Excessive vomiting for more than 5 times per day.
2. Inability to keep even water or ice down
3. Extreme nausea 
4. Constant spitting
5. Strong aversions to food and food smells
6. Extreme dehydration 
7. Extreme Thirst 
8. Fire Like Feeling In Belly 
9. Strong headaches 
10. Sensitivity to light and sound 
11. Physical pain from heaving to vomit 
12. Nose bleeds from agressive vomiting 
13. Vomiting Blood 
14. Dark urine 
15. Little to no urine 
16. Extreme fatigue 

And the list goes on...

So just how can family and friends support an HG mom experiencing these strong debilitating symptoms? 

Comment below and I will include your suggestions in Part 2 of our HG awareness series. 💜