Pregnancy and Pills

    If you're like me then you're weary of popping anything into your mouth without knowing exactly what it is, what the possible side effects could be, and having a very good reason to take it. Modern medicine is a wondrous thing that saves lives, no doubt, but I don't think I'm taking a big leap when I say all good things in moderation . . . especially medicine.

Duh, that's why they have a thing called dosage. Dosage sounds reaaaaally weird if you say it about 10 times in a row. Sounds creepy and strange.

   I think going through three pregnancies now and breastfeeding two babies so far has led me to be far more aware of the effects many drugs may have on you. I think a lot of us get used to the idea of using meds from the time we were little tiny generous things spreading our germs to every other living being, wiping our noses on our sleeves, and smearing hand sanitizer all over.

     Now, it should be noted that I'd be in a hellish pit if it weren't for drugs. Zofran for my terrible morning sickness and gallbladder problems with N, morphine post-surgery, vicodin for a raging tooth infection, claritin for my raging allergies, and zoloft for PPD after little E.

  But sometimes I think we can get so wound up in our trusty prescriptions and over-the-counter wonders that we forget there are alternatives. We forget there is risk. We forget that sometimes they really just don't know what something is going to do to our bodies as it hasn't been on the market long enough yet to make more than a very (hopefully) well-studied, educated guess.

  I'm sitting up at almost 5 am now. Unable to sleep (this has been getting worse for several weeks anyway). I most certainly have a sinus infection (ugh) and a toothache that may or may not be related to the sinus pressure trying to make my face explode. I have my handy-dandy list of approved medications from the OBGYN but I like to double up with my own research. Before my first, it never would've occurred to me that some OTC drugs (like ibuprofen) aren't recommended during pregnancy. Since I've had time to burn tonight between pinterest, candy crush, and messing around with the blog template I figured I'd collect all the helpful things I've found or read before right here on this post for anyone that wants a quick reference:

Taking Medicine During Pregnancy - WebMD

Pregnancy and Medicines Fact Sheet - Women'sHealth.gov

Safe Pregnancy Remedies - Fit Pregnancy

Medication and Pregnancy - CDC

Herbs and Pregnancy - American Pregnancy Association

Breastfeeding and Medications: What's Safe?- Mayo Clinic

Selected List of Medications: AAP Approval, PRC, and LRC - Kellymom.com
     *PRC(Pregnancy Risk Category)
      *LRC(Lactation Risk Category)

LactMed: A Database on Drugs and Lactation

      Disclaimer: Your midwife and/or OB is always your best initial resource for this information. God and Jesus know that I have no clue what kind of mutations, diseases, or health history you might have. Don't doubt that. If you're not sure about what they are telling you then your second best resource is going to be the second opinion of another medical professional (yes, that means midwife and/or OB) and that's probably still your best bet before the generalities of the interwebz for a good while. 

     I just saved you a whole 10 minutes of googling.

     I'm off to see if a nice warm bath, a dose of tylenol, a smidgen of saline solution, and some lavender smells might finally do it for me before the sun (and the little humans) get up for the day.


Goodnight??

Because I'm awake . . .

Oh my word. It's 5:30 am (ok 5:27 but who doesn't round up?) and of COURSE I am still awake. I have company in my little N for once. She's half asleep on my lap and Ice Age is on. I feel so wide awake. THIS is how I wouldn't mind feeling during the day. Not that I feel exhausted during the day either. I've been managing one long nap and lots of short cat naps or just 10 minute lay-down-breathe-deep-don't-die-time-out times.

I decide to aim for a slightly different route and be a little more personal here. I don't want to make a job out of blogging because that's boring and silly when it's not . . . me? Oh gawsh that's vanity at it's best. I get a pass though because I'm . . . well, I guess not. I'm vain as all heck and so is everyone so suck it (your lollipop that is . . . nom nom nom).

Here's me attempting not to be as snarky as I just was:
((BREATHES))

Nope I think I meant to breathe out. Breathe in good, breathe out bad right? That honestly doesn't make sense. Sounds like looney psycho crap to me . . . but I guess that means it suits me so I'll stick with it.

AnyWAY . . . I'm so out of it and it should be apparent by now. But by golly I am almost caught up on laundry and this blog now looks spectacular compared to it's dreary-blahness-layout before. I did something BESIDES browse pinterest, babycenter, and stumble for once.

I think I'm gonna get N cuddled up with me and try to sleep. TRY.

I'm looking forward to a happy blog tomorrow (err . . . later today). We're going to the pumpkin patch and PAINTING (seeing as how my toddler is much safer throwing paint than throwing knives) pumpkins. It's gonna be fun. We finally settled on going to Farmland Adventures so I'll also be SURE to be critical and nosy and share my effervescent thoughts on the experience here.

GOOD MORNING!

Insomnia

Sweet sleep
You're way too deep
At least for me
I kind of think
We're no longer in sync

I'm not sure about this relationship
I'm not sure I have the patience
Anymore
To wait for you
Anymore

But you're so sweet, sweet sleep
Give me a ring, leave a message at the beep
Just let me know
When you'll show
And we'll make romance
On clouds of dreamy, glory we'll dance
Take my hand
Sprinkle the sand
In my eyes so I can cry sweet tears of relief
No more grief

Oh sleep
Come back to me
Just a nap
Just a zap
Of energy
Let's create some synergy
I can't wait
Anymore
I can't wait

Sweet sleep
You're way too deep
At least for me
I kind of think
We're no longer in sync

Let's not wait until I die
To spend some time together
I may cry
If I don't see you soon
I feel kind of like a loon
Dreaming as I wake
I'm thinking for the sake
Of sanity
We need to meet
And make amends
Don't retreat
No obstinate demands
Just an open invitation
To make sane a . . .

Splendid, solemn, sadly strange, secretly sweeping, sweet addiction
To staying up late
To finding all the ways
I can relate
To all those other crazies . . .

Sweet sleep
You forsake me
Don't keep
. . . taunting
. . . teasing
. . . tweaking
My existence
Let's reconcile
I'll close my eyes
Take my hand
And as I dream all the while
Heed my cries
And sprinkle some sand . . .


I shared this little blib I wrote on facebook and I may as well share it here too because plenty of moms can relate I'm sure.