UM...

BARF!!  Warning, I almost vommited writing this blog.

Last Monday, David and I completed our Bradley Course.  During our last session we discussed postpartum care.  Did you know that 80% of all mothers experience "baby blues" in the first days and weeks after giving birth?  Because it is so common, nothing is typically done until it worsens into a diagnosis of postpartum depression, at which time anti-depressants may be prescribed. 

But did you know that the consumption of the placenta has been reported to help stop the baby blues and diminish postpartum fatigue?  I found a website that offers recipes for cooking the placenta into spaghetti, lasagna, stew, pizza, roast and even into a "placenta cocktail". 

Bon Appetit!

Placenta Spaghetti

 Cut meat of 3/4 placenta into bite size pieces, then brown quickly in 1 tbl. butter plus 1 tbl. oil. Then add 1 large can tomato puree, 2 cans crushed pear tomatoes, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tbl. molasses, 1 bay leaf, 1 tbl. rosemary, 1 tsp. ea. of salt, honey, oregano, basil, and fennel. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.

Placenta Roast

1 to 3 lb. placenta no more than 3 days old
1 large onion
1 large green or red pepper (green will add color to the presentation)
1 cup tomato sauce
1 sleeve of saltine crackers
1 tsp crab or shrimp seasoning
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp white pepper
1 clove garlic (roasted and minced)
 
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.) Chop onion and green or red pepper in small cubes. Place in large bowl. Crush saltines into crumbs and add to onion and pepper cubes.
3.) Combine in a large bowl: placenta, seafood seasoning, pepper, garlic, and tomato sauce. Place into aluminum loaf pan. Cover and bake for 1 and 1/2 hours, occasionally pouring off excess liquid. Retain liquid for gravy base if desired.

Just wait, it gets better.  For those women who want to reap the benefits of the placenta for more than just a day or two, there is another option: encapsulation.  Powdered placenta has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries.  In the postpartum period, placenta capsules can be used to

• balance your hormones
• enhance your mild supply
• increase your energy

Apparently the process is pretty easy...dry, grind and encapsulate!

1.) Rinse excess blood from placenta

2.) Cut the umbilical cord for keepsake dehydration

3.) Remove chorion and amnion

4.) Remove nearly all membranes and slice placenta into thin strips to be rinsed again

5.) Prepared and ready to be dehydrated

6.) Finished product (110 pills), ready for mom

...BARF!!!

Love Him

He paints my toes because I can't bend over.

He surprises me with random gifts...and uses ribbon!

He's the best.

Risotto!

Another successful dinner prepared by Chef Choi compliments of The Pregnancy Cookbook.  This flavorful risotto is rich in carbohydrates, fiber, and iron, the perfect combination for the third trimester!!

Risotto with White Beans, Spinach and Shiitake

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 4 main-course servings

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
• 12 ounces shiitake, stems discarded, caps slicked
• Sea salt
• 1 pound spinach, washed, spun dry, trimmed, and roughly chopped
• 6-8 cups chicken stock or broth
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 Spanish onion, peeled and diced
• 2 cups arborio rice
• 2 cup dry white wine
• 1 (16 ounce) can cannellini or navy beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• Black pepper

1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven (or pan) over medium heat.  Add the garlic and saute it, stirring often, until it is soft.  Add the shiitake and a dash of sea slat.  Saute until the mushrooms are soft and all of their liquid has evaporated.  Add the spinach and saute, stirring constantly, until it has wilted.  Transfer the mixture to a bowl and set aside.
2. Pour the broth into a large saucepan, bring it to a boil, and reduce the heat to a low simmer.
3. Heat the butter in the Dutch oven (or pan) over low heat.  Add the onion and saute it until it is soft.  Add the rice, combining it well with the onion and saute, stirring constantly, until the rice is lightly toasted, about 1-2 minutes.  Increase the heat, add the wine, and simmer the liquid until it has been absorbed by the rice. 
4. Add 1 cup of the hot broth and stir well.  Simmer until the liquid is almost completely absorbed, stirring often to prevent the rice from sticking.  Add another 1 cup of broth, and repeat the procedure.  Continue adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring the rice well and often.  Add broth only after the previous amount has been almost fully absorbed.  The rice is done when it is creamy and tender but slightly firm.  It will take approximately 20-25 minutes. 
5. Remove the rice from the heat and stir in the beans and mushroom-spinach mixture.  Add the Parmesan, season with sea salt and black pepper, and serve immediately. 

Furniture

Entering into my third trimester, there's so much to think about!  My main concern lately: the crib.  In 2009, the Consumer Safety Board recalled 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-down side cribs, the largest number in history because at least four infants died in them!  Although the cribs' movable side rails make it easier for parents to lift their children out, the drop-down sides also resulted in dozens of babies either becoming entrapped between the side and the crib frame, or falling out of the crib altogether. 

In December 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously voted to outlaw the cribs, after the death of more than 30 infants and toddlers in the past decade.  The ban is to take effect in June 2011 and will require all cribs to have fixed sides. 

Thankfully I did my research!  I just purchased the #1 consumer rated crib!  Booya. 


DaVinci Crib in Espresso

We only have 3 more months.  I hope everything gets done in time!  Stay tuned, I'll post pictures once we put the crib together. 

Other recent purchases include a ceiling fan and our new "rocking chair" a.k.a. jumbo recliner! 

Roanoke 48" Blade Ceiling Fan

David's Favorite: Jumbo Chocolate Recliner

PREGZILLA!

Last Saturday we visited David's friends who just had a baby.   Apparently Baby Julie was underweight (only 5 pounds) and an ECHO showed she might have had holes in her heart.  Doctors decided she needed to be delivered immediately.  She was born via c-section about 2 weeks early. Thankfully, mom and baby are doing fine. 

Such a precious little baby

Apparently the nurses glued a bow on her head...not sure why but it looked cute!  I was able to hold her for a while :)

My arms got tired

If you plan on having a baby any time soon, consider delivering at Parker Adventist Hospital.  It's brand new and it's incredible!  The rooms are huge and the view is awesome.  I wish Parker wasn't so far :( 

Side note, I debuted my "PREGZILLA" shirt on Saturday.  I got so many compliments!  Thanks Jamie Allen!

Roar

Why Burritos are DEADLY

February 3, 2011...

[2:49 PM] I received the following text from David: "Man. I like started to bleed profusely from inside my mouth. It was weird"


[8:15 PM] I arrive at home after a 2 hour shopping excursion for curtain rods.  David's bleeding has subsided.  He doesn't want to eat in fear of making his mouth bleed again.


[8:50 PM] David makes an over sized quesadilla from homemade carnitas and tortillas.  I eat and David decides to eat as well.  Ten minutes later, the roof of David's mouth begins to bleed again.


[9:45 PM] We argue about curtain rods.


[10:45 PM] David's mouth is bleeding like crazy...probably due to the rush of blood to his head during the argument.


[12:50 AM] I go to Wal-Mart to buy Colgate Orobase to help with the bleeding.  It doesn't work.


[1:30 AM] David shoves a bundle of paper towels in his mouth and we sleep.


[4:30 AM] David wakes up. Blood covering his entire shoulder, pillow and face. We go to the emergency room.

4:30 AM in the Emergency Room (David's true fobby nature is revealed)

So much blood!

[5:00 AM] Doc says David has punctured an artery in the roof of his mouth. He says he's never seen anything like this before!  He gives David a shot and cauterizes the roof of David's mouth with chemicals.

"I've never seen anything like this before..."



Black stuff is where the doc cauterized :(

[6:30 AM] We drive home and conclude that David's homemade burrito eaten at 2:00 PM on February 3rd almost killed him!!

25 Weeks!

I'm happy to announce that I finally felt the baby kicking at our 25 week appointment yesterday!  Turns out, what I've been feeling as "gas" for the past couple of weeks, is actually the baby.  Many women describe it as a light fluttering or flicking.  I, on the other hand, would equate it to the feeling of holding in a fart.

In other news, I had a great time at Sara's baby shower.  Sara, Amy and I are all about 2 months apart.  I'm blessed to have mommy friends that I can confide in :)

Sara is 8 months, Due March 8th
I'm 6 months, Due May 16th
Amy is 3 months, Due July 26th

Our Bumps!