The BumpCast

This is our second week in the resolutions series. Last week we talked all about finances so if you didn't get a chance to, you'll definitely want to go back one episode to get all the tips for your financial future.

This week we talk to mama and lawyer Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter all about setting up you family estate to give you peace of mind for the future.

Listen, mama, I get that thinking about death and wills and who's going to get your kids, should you meet an untimely death, but it's really Important to start thinking of this stuff now instead of when it's too late.

Make sure to check the show notes at www.thebumcast.com/podcast-notes to check out the resources we discuss in the episode.

Congratulations mama you've made it to week 21 you're officially passed the halfway point in your pregnancy. This week your baby is about 10 1/2 inches long from head to toe and weighs about 11 to 12 1/2 ounces, about the size of a banana! Inside your little ones body more blood cells are starting to develop. It's the liver and spleen's job to make them before this point and now the bone marrow is mature enough to help as well. Baby is also starting to practice swallowing by consuming small amounts of the amniotic fluid surrounding him. Your baby's arms and legs are finally in proportion now to the rest of his body. Baby also has a lot more control over his limb movements which explains all the kicking and stretching you're feeling on the inside. As for you, mama, at 21 weeks pregnant you might be starting to see some stretch marks. What happens with stretch marks is that the tissue under your skin gets torn as your skin stretches to accommodate your growing baby. Only about 50% of women get them during pregnancy and darker skinned women are less likely to get them, plus they're probably not going to be as visible as on fair skin women. Unfortunately, there's no proven way to prevent stretch marks from appearing but there are some amazing lotions and creams out there that will help keep your epidermis moisturized. Staying hydrated may help minimize stretch marks as well. If you haven't started your registry yet, now is a good time to get that going. Even if you don't plan to have a shower, you will have a list of items you can refer friends and family to, should they want to gift you something. We talk a lot more about the registry in this week's interview, but before we get into that, I want to announce our Resolutions series. For the next few episodes, we will be taking you through finances, healthy habits, estate planning and wardrobe advice. Make sure soupy attention because a few guests even have special deals for the BumpCast Listeners. Without further adieu, I'd like to introduce this week's guest: Jen Paterson. Jen Paterson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Dollar Divas. https://www.facebook.com/DollarDivas/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688957871320466/ Instagram: @dollardivas Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/dpzykL Check out our Small Biz Money Mastermind http://www.dollardivas.org/mommastermind

Congratulations, Mama, you've made it halfway through your pregnancy! This week is typically when you will have your anatomy check, including when you get to find out the gender of your sweet little one. Of course, gender is important, but not the most important thing to all parents.

Some other things the ultrasound tech is looking at and measuring at this screening include head circumference, height, stomach, brain, spike, bladder, kidneys, girth, and the chambers of the heart.

Because this is an in depth screening, it will include the development of the sex organs, so if you are wanting to be surprised, or throwing a gender reveal party, make sure to mention it to your practitioner before the screening starts.

You'll likely be asked to drink a certain amount of water prior to the screening. Something like 20 ounces of water an hour before your appointment time is pretty typical. This helps the tech take better pictures and have the ability to view your sweet baby in better detail. The screening can last anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much baby is moving and what angles the tech can get. It's not unheard of to be asked to come back for a second screening in order for all the pictures to be taken, so don't get discouraged if that happens.

Whatever you choose to do, whether you find out during the ultrasound or do a reveal party later, or even wait until baby is born to be surprised, make sure you document it all with photos and video if you can. I look back at our video all the time, and the joy on everyone's face makes me so happy!

Our interview this week is with the amazing Ashley Brown

Ashley is the owner of Incourage Foods, whose mission is to help moms create time and space in their lives through cooking. She wants to help moms take advantage of the many benefits cooking offers, so they can invest their time in ways that matter most. Ashley helps make cooking work for moms through her blog where she shares simple, quick, and delicious meals. She also offers Meals For Moms, a meal planning service that will take you from scrambling to pull dinner together last minute to consistently saving your time, your money, and your sanity.

Ashley shares her tips for meal planning as well as her birth experience with her amazing Doula. She also discusses her meal planning services that will make your life so much easier!

Connect with Ashley at Incourage Foods:

FB, IG, Youtube Handles: @incouragefoods

Meal Planning Service Link: www.incouragefoods.com/mealsformoms

Welcome to week 19 of your pregnancy, mama! You're so close to halfway in this journey, and I'm so excited to tell you all of the things going on this week. Weighing in at 8 ounces and 6 inches long, your little prince or princess has gone through a growth spurt. Now covered in a cheesy like substance called Vernix Caseosa, your baby's skin is now protected from becoming a wrinkled mess from the surrounding amniotic fluid. As you get closer to your due date, your baby will start to shed this coating, but may still have remnants of it on their skin at birth. Alysa Martinez is the founder of The Mighty Mama Box. She is a mama to a beautiful redhead boy who is every bit as sassy and independent as she is, and a wife to her amazingly supportive husband! Alysa takes us through her mama journey and the birth of her new company - They Mighty Mama, a postpartum subscription box service to support mamas in the months after baby is born. The Mighty Mama is a great gift idea to add to your registry! Instagram: @themightymamabox Facebook: The Mighty Mama

Congratulations mama you have made it to week 18! Almost to the halfway point, you're now likely getting ready to go to baby's anatomy scan, if you haven't already.

Baby is now 5 1/2 inches long and can weigh anywhere from 5 to 6 1/2 ounces.

You may feel baby kick, twist and turn now. He's big enough that you may feel those little movements inside, though your partner won't be able to feel anything from the outside for quite a while longer.

This week's Interview is with Erin Kendall of www.fitmomgo.com Erin Kendall is an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer with 2 little toddlers at home. While juggling a household, two kids, three pets and maintaining a little sense of self she hopes to bring a ray of hope and sunshine to other busy moms through Fit Mom Go! Fitness for Moms is more than a few minutes of "me time." It's a lifestyle that we pass onto our children and radiate in everything we do. Erin has been a personal trainer since 2009 and works with clients in person, online and leads a community of other Fit Moms! Erin has been featured on other podcast such as The Boss Mom Podcast and the Mom Inspired Show Podcast and runs a YouTube Channel with free workout videos and fitness inspiration. Definitely check out Erin's Youtube channel and make sure you subscribe for tons of great content. Also, check out Erin's website fitmomgo.com for more freebies, including a "Fit Mom Cheat Sheet". Erin was kind enough to film a video for YOU, The BumpCast podcast listeners. For the link to this video on the Do's and Don'ts of prenatal exercise, visit www.thebumpcast.com/resources. Erin's tip for pregnant mama who want to stay fit is to keep the routine of working out., but lessen the intensity. Erin's tip for postpartum mamas is to increase the intensity of your workouts by 10% each week. Tune into the episode for all of Erin's great tips and advice on fitness, motherhood and getting advice from others. Be sure to connect with Erin on YouTube and Instagram

Congratulations you've made it to week 17!

Your baby is practicing sucking and swallowing and her skeleton is beginning to change the cartridge to hard bone. Around the size of a turnip or the size of the palm of your hand baby is 5 ounces in about 5 inches long.

Connect with our guest, Mama, Author and Coach Alegra Loewenstein on:

Instagram: @alegrahealthy

www.alegraloewenstein.com

Congratulations, Mama! You're in Week 16 of your pregnancy. This week we discuss your baby's developments and also a great interview with Mommy Blogger Marissa Pablo. You can connect with Marissa at the following links: Blog : notsoglamourriss.com IG @glamourriss Beauty IG / Lash Inquires @makemeglamourriss

Congratulations mama you've made it to week 15 of your pregnancy.

This week we talk about the importance of hydration throughout pregnancy. I also had the chance to interview Doula and mama of 4, Amber Fruhling. Amber discusses her 4 very different birth experiences and Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Group B Strep Infection (GBS), emergency cesarean section, hypnotic-birthing and VBACs.

This episode is seriously full of tons of information!

Don't forget to check the show notes at www.thebumpcast.com

Congratulations mama you've made it to your second trimester!

From week 14 to week 27, you find yourself in the middle trimester somewhere between nauseous and gigantically uncomfortable.

The second trimester is typically every pregnant woman's favorite trimester because many of the elements of the first trimester have subsided now. Hopefully this trimester you'll see a relief from nausea, severe exhaustion and the constant need to pee, and perhaps even a lift in your libido.

Now that you're starting to show, it's time to go shopping for your new maternity wardrobe. You may still be able to get some use out of your non maternity clothes for a little longer - think flow shirts and elastic waist bottoms, maxi dresses and kimonos - but as your body grows and changes with your baby, you'll want to invest in some good quality, capsule maternity wardrobe pieces.

As for your little one, she's growing hair on her head, eyebrows and body. The downy coat of hair on your baby's body is called Lanugo and is there to keep her warm, but it will start to shed as baby accumulates fat, taking over this function. She can use her facial muscles to smile and frown, and is moving constantly. Her digestive system continues to develop and her intestines are creating meconium which is a super sticky, black tar like substance that makes up her first few bowel movements.

Baby is about the size of a lemon, 3.5-4 inches and weighs around 2 ounces.

Bridget Richard is an independently licensed social worker who has been working in mental health for over 20 years. She has a private family therapy practice in Cleveland, OH where she helps individuals and families with a variety of emotional and mental health concerns. As a wife and mother of two grade school aged boys she recognized a need to support mothers of all kinds in finding the self-confidence to embrace their unique gifts and translate those gifts into positive parenting strategies. The Influential Parent blog is where she strives to empower mothers through sharing stories, as well as giving tips and advice on modern motherhood. Her goal is to encourage mothers to be confident leaders in their family and around the world.

Connect with Bridget at:

www.influentialparent.com

www.facebook.com/theinfluentialparent

Weekly update information found at www.whattoexpect.com and www.babycenter.com

During this special episode of the podcast, we discuss the importance of preparing holistically for pregnancy to give your body and your pregnancy the best chance for success, pregnancy loss, as well as postpartum care and the importance of surrounding yourself with a support system in all stages of motherhood, loss, and life. In honor of our lost little loves, The BumpCast has teamed up with The Pregnancy Concierge to bring you an interview with Kaci McGuire from Queen Bee Fertility. If you're going through a loss and would like the list of resources Kaci mentions in the interview, please email her at: [email protected]