Final Weeks Thoughts

Wow! I can’t believe I am sitting here writing about the final 3 weeks(ish) of pregnancy. This is going to be a little real & raw look into what week 37-40 looks like for me.

First off, let me just share that I have had a pretty easy pregnancy. I am not saying that to brag by any means, but the general issues that a lot of women encounter have not been an issue for me. My mom had 4 of us & had amazing pregnancies, so I always hoped that mine would be very similar to her — and thankfully it has been so far. No real morning sickness, no overwhelming nausea. Some minor food aversions and just exhausted, but that can be fixed easily. A breeze of a second trimester & a healthy, growing baby which was SO amazing after a loss. Headed into third tri waiting for the shoe to drop a little bit. Failed the one hour glucose test, but passed the three hour one. Worked out up to right now 3-4 days a week at a HIIT gym with some minor modifications. No heartburn. Minor acid reflux if I eat right before bed. Mostly growing right on target & negative for GBS. Seriously, if you have been paying much attention, I’ve had it easy right?

Well honestly, I’ve been struggling lately. This is all going to probably sound selfish, but why do babies have due dates if they dont actually mean a dang thing? Our “due date” is December 8th, but we know that he can come basically any day now up until two weeks after that (but please come sooner because that’s basically Christmas). All along, I have had such a nice pregnancy that I just assumed I would wait as long as it took for him to come earth-side. Now that I am 3 weeks out, I legit was looking into what it looks like to be induced. I’m starting to be very uncomfortable. Food doesn’t sound good basically ever (and I’m rarely hungry). I’m not sleeping super well. None of these are worth taking him from the safe environment where he is growing & thriving, but selfishly, I am just ready to move to what is next. 40 weeks is a long time. And if I was guaranteed a baby on Dec 8th, I could suck it up, but I just feel like this little guy is going to be totally content in there and not come until later and that is the thought that is killing me.

I know I have options, but I am just so ready to meet him, ya know? We were pregnant with our first babe August of 2020 and then lost him and found out we were pregnant with Ryder April of 2021. I just feel like I have been waiting for a baby for over a year now because of our loss. Im ready to hold him and know he’s okay.

Honestly, the main point of this post was to let you know that you are not alone. If you wanted a natural birth, but have had moments when you considered an induction — you aren’t alone. If you feel like all you’ve done the past 3 weeks is eat dates & drink red raspberry leaf tea — you aren’t alone. If the thought of drinking more water makes you want to throw your water bottle across the room — you aren’t alone. If you feel like you are wearing down at the end of pregnancy — you aren’t alone. IG can make pregnancy seem super glamorous, but there are definitely days when we all just want to lay on the couch and not do a dang thing — you aren’t alone.

Either way, you got this mama. Whatever you decide to do in the coming weeks when it comes to delivering your baby is totally up to you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t doing what is best for you and baby because only you truly know what that is.

XOXO,

Hil

Dates in Pregnancy

Okay so, again, I am obviously no medical or health expert so I am starting this article out by sharing what has been recommended to me & will link a few articles so you can do your own reading and research and make a decision about what is best for you and your baby. 

What are they dates? Dates are one of the most naturally sweet fruits in existence. They are high in fiber, loaded with potassium, magnesium and iron and B6. Dates are also good for your gut health because they can act as a prebiotic for healthy guy flora. The two main types you’ll see in a grocery store are Medjool (sweet, large, chewy & sticky) and Deglet Noor (smaller, firmer and lighter flavor).

Where can I find dates? In your local grocery store (typically in the produce section) and usually in plastic containers or plastic bags. They can also be found in the bulk food section at stores like Whole Foods and Fresh Market. You can also buy them pitted so there is one less step for you when eating them.

Why should I eat them in pregnancy?

  • they can stimulate uterine contractions
  • they can reduce postpartum hemorrhages
  • can help alleviate cramps in pregnancy due to high amounts of magnesium
  • can help your baby’s spinal cord maturity with the help of their folate

According to this study, women who ate six dates a day for the four weeks leading up to their due date were:

  • 74% more dilated than non-date eaters at admission to birthplace
  • 38% more likely to have intact membranes
  • 21% more likely to spontaneously go into labor
  • 28% less likely to use prostin/ocytocin to induce labor

Additionally, the date eaters had:

  • 77% shorter first stage of labor

When should I start eating them? In the study referenced above, pregnant women began eating 70-75g of dried dates per day three or four weeks before their estimated due date.

Okay, so how should I start eating them? It’s kind of intimidating. Recommendations?

Some of my favorite date recipes for the non date lover —

Let me know if you try any of these & your fav way to eat dates!

XOXO,

Hil

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea?

Okay so I am obviously no medical or health expert so I am starting this article out by sharing what has been recommended to me & will link a few articles so you can do your own reading and research and make a decision about what is best for you and your baby. 

What is red raspberry leaf tea? Red raspberry leaf tea comes from the leaves of the red raspberry plant. It is most known for its use in pregnancy to help tone the uterus to help prepare for childbirth. It can also ease menstrual discomfort, improve reproductive health, improve chances of implantation and balance hormones to increase fertility.  It is also rich in vitamins C, E, A and a variety of B vitamins as well as magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus.

What does it taste like? It is similar to a fruity black tea and very earthy. It is herbal in nature, but not very sweet.

How should I start drinking it? Some pregnant women drink it as early as 1 cup a day during second trimester. I added it in third trimester. 1 cup a day 28-36 weeks, then 2 cups a day 36+ weeks

Okay, so how do I start drinking it? Let’s check out some of my fav RRLT recipes:

Basic cup of hot or iced tea —

  • 1 Tbs of loose leaf red raspberry leaf tea (or 1 tea bag)
  • 1 cup of boiling water.
  • Steep for 10 minutes before drinking

*If you need a little sweetening, add a teaspoon of sugar while steeping. You can also turn this into iced tea by upping the ratio and storing it in the fridge once steeped & cooled

Warm Coconut RRLT —

  • 1 cup of rrlt (hot)
  • 1/4 cup of coconut milk
  • 1 Tbs raw honey
  • Make your basic hot cup of rrlt.
  • Add coconut milk and honey and stir well.

*recipe from Mama Natural

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Lemonade —

  • 2 cups of boiling water
  • 4-5 bags of rrlt
  • 1 cup of cold filtered water
  • 1-2 cups of lemonade (to desired sweetness)
  • Bring water to boil + pour water over tea bags.
  • Steep 5-10 minutes.
  • Pour tea into glass pitcher and cool.
  • Add water and lemonade, then store in fridge.

NingXia Mocktail

  • 1 cup of rrlt
  • 2 oz Ningxia
  • optional: 1 tsp sulfurzyme or 1 serving vitality drops
  • AMAZING served warm if you make your cup of hot rrlt then add your Ningxia in.
  • Also bomb served cold over ice or with a squirt of vitality drops
Tap the picture above for links to these popular red raspberry leaf teas

Let me know if you try it & your fav way to drink it!

XOXO,

Hil

If you want more in depth info on RRLT, check out the Mama Natural website

Holiday Comfies with PinkBlush Maternity — Black Friday Edition

It wasn’t until high school that I realized that there are two types of families when it comes to the holidays — the ones that get all dressed up to eat Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner together & the ones who are still in their pjs/comfies. We spent most of our holidays growing up at our cabin in Georgia, so we always tended towards the family in our comfy/warm clothes (& we are more of this family in the day to day as well). It wasn’t until I was watching a Hallmark Christmas movie and all of the women were in dresses/skirts and heels that I realized that we might be the minority & not the majority!

Well this year for Thanksgiving, I will be 38 weeks pregnant, so I don’t really know what the rest of my family is wearing, but I am most definitely going to be in something comfortable so I can eat all the good food. Thankfully, PinkBlush has me covered with all the maternity clothes so I can be a little stylish, while still staying super comfy with that elastic waste band, ya feel me?

I ordered two of the most comfortable matching sets & a mama sweater that I am totally obsessed with. What I love most about them is that they are totally bump friendly, but are also going to be amazing for postpartum nursing and wear (which is truly important because Christmas is in a few short weeks).

Want to know what I am most excited about though? PinkBlush is having their BIGGEST sale of the year with up to 50% off across the site! Yup! You heard that right! Here’s the details —

BLACK FRIDAY (11/21 – 11/28) – Code BLACKFRIDAY

40% Off Dresses
30% Off Bottoms + Jeans

30% Off Rompers + Jumpsuits

25% Off Tops + Outerwear + Jackets

25% Off Sleep + Robes
Extra 50% Off Clearance

Ready to shop? I’m doing a giveaway over on my Instagram & you could win a gift card to shop for your favorite maternity clothes & dresses. Not a mom to be or postpartum? That’s okay too, because PinkBlush has an amazing collection of clothes just for women! Seriously, they have the cutest & highest quality clothes for any occasion.

Want to be twins? Here’s what I recommend for that comfortable holiday attire —

Camel Jogger Maternity Lounge Set — sized up to a Medium for the final weeks of pregnancy
Rust Biker Short Sleep Set – sized up to a medium for the 38 week bump
Black Animal Print Mama Maternity Pullover Sweatshirt – size small (& will probably live in this post partum)

If you’re one of those mamas who likes to get all fancy, they have you covered too! You can tap here to check out all of the amazing maternity dresses that you can get to look your best around the holidays!

So happy shopping & make sure to head over to my IG to enter that giveaway so you can order even more goodies! Also, you’re welcome for introducing you to your newest shopping obsession!

XOXO,

Hilary

End of Third Trimester Checklist

Let’s chat all things third trimester with baby coming soon. This is going to be the most comprehensive list I can come up with. Obviously not everything is 10000% necessary, and if this isn’t your first baby, then some of these things might already be done.

Again, I have no experience with this. This is honestly just what has been shared with me by close friends & when I poll the moms of IG. My goal is to have all of this done by 37 weeks, but we will see if I can pull it off. I just hit 36 and can tell that I am slowly starting to be more out of breath, less hungry & have overall less energy. I want to enjoy these moments, not dread doing them because I waited until the last minute.

I started this checklist around 32 weeks and gave myself 1-2 things to work on each week. This was a simple way to break it down and make it manageable. I also work from home, so my time is my own. I know that is beneficial to me for getting things like this done, but mad respect to the mamas who work full time while growing a babe. Y’all are the real superheros.

If you don’t know where to start with some of these, I more than likely have a blog post up (or coming soon) about what I found worked best for me. As always, everyone is different, every baby is different & every situation is different so read through a few blog posts and chat with some friends and make sure that you listen to your mama instincts and do what you think is best!

Seasoned moms, anything you would add/take away from this list? Let me know in the comments!

XOXO,

Hil

What is in my hospital bag?

A few weeks ago, I polled the moms of IG for their advice & here is what they shared with me —

I quickly realized that I was a little out of my depth with some of the things when I started packing at 35 weeks, but I’ve been slowly adding to the bag each day. I started with the staples & things I DID NOT want to forget — our own towels, a dirty clothes bag, an extra bag for anything we bring from the hospital, a portable fan for labor, nipple butter & nursing cups, peri bottle, and an active labor supplement.

Then I did a little shopping for comfy pjs/robe because the only thing I wear to bed now is an oversized tee and nike pros and I know that won’t ride postpartum at first. A friend recommended that I pack as much as I can, and then leave a note on the top of things I need to add before we leave. So I will do that with most of our toiletries, headphones, phone chargers & iPad/book. The rest of the things I plan to have packed by the weekend.

For baby Ryder, we are laying wayyyy low on thing for him. I did lay out 3 outfits and we will probably bring them all because I can’t choose (a camo swaddle & hat, a Tennessee hat, booties and onesie, and a personalized swaddle with a matching knotted onesie & hat). If we are there for an extended amount of time, I might just change him up and take pics in each. If not, I’ll make a game time decision. Besides that, I only have his barefoot dreams blanket packed to snuggle him in for the cold hospital and an extra pair of socks and gloves. Oh, and of course his announcement circle things to write his name & weight & such on. I know the hospital will pretty much provide everything else, so that is all I am planning on. Just going to put it all in a little bag and add it to my hospital bag.

We can be honest, Josh will be throwing things into a bag on our way out the door, so I am not too worried about him. I packed a towel and bar of soap for him and I will grab him a pillow & blanket when I am grabbing mine. Besides that, he just needs a toothbrush and clothes and he will be just fine! Plus he can always leave and get something if he wants, unlike me & babe.

Alright, well I think that is it for the necessities & recommendations for ya! I have a highlight over on my IG called Third Tri with a detailed look into exactly what I’m bringing if you are interested in that. Any questions, drop them in the comments!

XOXO,

Hil

Freezer Meal Plan (Round 2)

First of all, if you don’t know why I’m doing this or where to start (hint: I didn’t either), I share about that more in my post Freezer Meal Plan (Round 1). There I chat about snacks, breakfasts & breads I am prepping for baby. This blog post will focus mainly on lunches & dinners that are easy to prep & throw together.

Freezer full of the good stuffs!

Here are the meals I am prepping

All the meals are linked above. Below I will share my checklists/shopping lists so you can start with those if you want to make similar/the same meals. I wanted things that would be filling. I know some are carb heavy, but we’re having baby in December so I really wanted warm meals that are super easy to cook. I am also relatively picky. My mom and grandma also live close by, so I didn’t pick a few of our favorite meals because I knew they would bring them over around baby time (pot roast, taco bowls, chicken noodle soup, chicken and wild rice soup).

Made sure to label everything so I would know how long it has been frozen & what to do with it when I pulled it out.

I knew I would need to purchase freezer storage containers, so here is what I got. Also note that I am only cooking for TWO adults so most of the meals, I am taking from a 9×13 and splitting into two smaller containers so we can have it fresh twice.

Tin Foil Containers (4 – 8″ or 9″ rounds & 4 loaf pans):

  • 2 – 8” square/round pans (baked spaghetti)
  • 2 – 9×9 foil tins (tuscan chicken pasta)
  • 2 – smaller dishes/loaf pans (chicken Alfredo bake)
  • 2 – loaf pans (baked ziti)

Large Ziplocks (14):

  • 5 for Chicken 4 ways
  • 2 for Beef & broccoli 
  • 1 for chicken fajitas
  • 2 for Beef & Bean Taco Soup
  • 4 for Chili

I edited the meals a tiny bit, but here was my grocery list (hint: I did a lot of it as a Walmart grocery order so I wouldn’t miss things)

Spelled Caesar wrong, but did the chicken quickly & easily because it was the least commitment.

Dinners: 

  • Chili Beans (5 cans)
  • Petite tomatoes 
    • 2-3 cans for chili 
    • 28 ounces diced tomatoes 
  • 16 oz flank steak sliced thin
  • Ground Beef
    • 1 pound chili 
    • 1 pound baked ziti
    • 1 pound for beef & bean taco soup
  • Chicken 
    • 8 breasts 
    • 1 pound sliced into thin strips (fajitas)
    • 1 cup cooked & cubed 
    • 2-3 breasts cooked & diced 
  • Italian dressing
  • Ceasar dressing 
  • Salsa
  • BBQ sauce
  • Pasta
    • Spaghetti/angel hair (1 16 oz box)
    • Bow tie pasta (1 box)
    • 16 oz penne pasta (x2)
  • Spaghetti sauce 
    • 1 26 oz jar 
    • 1 large jar
  • Eggs (3)
  • cream cheese
    • 8 ounces 
    • 2 ounces 
  • 8 ounces sun dried tomatoes 
  • grated parmesan cheese 
    • 1/3 cup 
    • 8 ounces 
    • 2 cups 
  • ricotta cheese
    • 2 cups 
    • 2 cups 
  • shredded mozzarella 
    • 4 cups 
    • 1.5 cups 
    • 2 cups
  • Green bell pepper
  • 1 onion 
  • 2 broccoli crowns (4-5 cups)
  • Soy sauce 
  • 1 cup beef stock 
  • 4 cups heavy whipping cream 
  • 1 ounce taco seasoning 
  • 15 ounces canned corn (1 can)
  • 15 oz black beans (1 can)
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
  • 4 ounces canned diced green chilies (1 can)

If you have any other questions, let me know. I can tell you right now that the best tip from a novice is to plan ahead and know what you need. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of making something or all geared up, only to realize you ran out. Also, shop the sales. I live in Florida so we have Publix. I stoked up on shredded cheese & pasta noodles & sauce when it was BOGO to save some money. Buy your meat in bulk if you can. Write on all your ziplock bags ahead of time. I included meal name, thawing & cooking directions, and if there was anything I needed to add/have when making the meal (aka buns or Hawaiian rolls for BBQ chicken OR a salad to go under the Caesar chicken).

Putting together some baked ziti

Lastly, these can be made even easier if you just double meals of whatever you are cooking for dinner now. Making baked ziti for dinner? Double the recipe and freeze one. Then all the dishes are already out & dirty and it doesn’t seem like you’re taking an entire day to cook food for later. You could get a pretty solid freezer stash just doing this your last few weeks of pregnancy.

Okay, I think that’s all I got for you.

XOXO,

Hil

Second Trimester Thoughts

Seems pretty adequate that I am finally sitting down to write this during week 35 of my pregnancy, yet here we are. Other things have just taken up slightly more of my brain power and this topic just never got the attention that it deserves.

So I’m here writing to my second trimester moms to encourage you to do a few things —

First, take a baby moon with your baby daddy. For some reason, I didn’t feel like this was super important, but looking back, its the last time the two of you will travel “just the two of you” for a while. Even if you take a trip later and have someone watch your babe, you’ll be thinking about them and it will just be different overall. Do a staycation on a weekend if you can’t take days off or go to a fun new place. Whatever you do, take the dang trip. We kept putting it off because of Josh’s work schedule and my market schedule, so ours basically ended up being a trip to watch a Michigan football game with his family. While it was fun to be with everyone, it wasn’t the same as just getting away the two of us.

Second, work in your dang nursery. I know it seems early, but the further you get into third trimester, the more likely you are to have some of those pesky pregnancy symptoms. Things like shortness of breath or Braxton hicks or varicose veins or round ligament pain tend to creep up the further you get into pregnancy. You don’t want to be trying to put together something or rearranging heavy furniture when you can’t even see your toes. Spend second trimester getting the nursery ready and having your baby shower if at all possible.

Lastly, enjoy every dang second of pregnancy. Usually women feel their absolute best during second trimester! Enjoy your sleep. Take lots of walks. Fuel your body with good foods (because bye nausea & not yet to the heartburn stage). Go on lots of dates with your baby daddy. Show off that bump as it grows in outfits that make you feel fiiiiiiine. Visit family and take tons of pictures of your growing baby bump. These are the days you want to remember, trust me!

Some of the habits you develop in second trimester will carry over into third trimester & that can be a really good thing. Remember to take your prenatals & move your body. These are things that become routine in those 13 weeks that will help in your final 12 weeks. But most importantly, enjoy that growing bump & embrace everything that comes with growing a tiny human!

You were made for this, mama!

XOXO,

Hil

Holiday Gift Guides – YL Holiday Launch

Back on the holiday gift guide train with Young Living’s Holiday Launch. Y’all some of these products are TO DIE FOR, but don’t take my word for it. Check out the pictures below for some of my favorite gifts for all the most important people in your life.

One thing I love about my YL products is that I know that they are clean and high quality. The gift that I’m giving to the loved one in my life is one that is going to help them in a small area (make their home smell good, hydrate their skin or lips, etc), but that will also not bring toxins into their life like a lot of the gift items that we reach for in our holiday gift giving.

I separated each guide into a category and gave 1-2 good ideas in various price points for each one! If you have any questions about what comes with each product, feel free to check the holiday catalog on the YL site or reach out to me on instagram DMs (@hrmarciano) or here in the comments.

Ready to snatch something up? Use my link to shop & I’ll send you some more holiday goodies in the mail to spoil yourself with!

Can’t wait to see what you get!

XOXO,

Hil

Holiday Gift Guides — Low Tox Kitchen

If you have been around here for any time at all, you know that I am big on the low tox lifestyle. While some switches are easy & inexpensive, others can be a big investment! That’s why I only switch a few things at a time instead of all at once. Also, some things are easier/more convenient to switch than others.

Glass straws & mason jars were an easy swap for me. I also made the switch to Weck jars & glass “Tupperware”, but because I work from home and rarely have to carry my leftovers/lunch with me, this was an easier swap for me as well.

A more expensive item (aka Christmas list item) are the Caraway pots & pans. I’m pretty sure I could ditch pretty much every other pot & pan we own and just cook with these 4. It’s a dream of mine & I’m hoping Josh splurges on me this year with this set.

If you tap on the picture above, it will take you to all the links in one place so you can also have some low tox kitchen swaps on your Christmas list.

What’s the easiest thing for you to ditch & switch?

XOXO,

Hil