23 Weeks: Direction Babymoon!

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Since NYC has become an icebox in the past few days and because the 3rd trimester is looming on the horizon and promising to be quite a rollercoaster with discomfort making its big comeback and a long list of preparations in anticipation for the big baby # 2 day, it was time for one last sunny Hooray! Hello Babymoon!

My Babymoon Planning Checklist:

• Consult with OB prior to booking to make sure it is safe to travel and because some destinations require prior vaccination

• Timing: 2nd trimester (week 18 to 24) is the safest time for pregnant women to travel

• Destination:

– Would like South Africa but need relaxation more than adventure at the moment so –> any amazing beach

– Short travel time is ideal but will not compromise on the beach

– Somewhere with good medical facilities

• Result: Hawaii (I know I’m pushing it a bit with the 11hour flight time!)

On the plane:

• Wear compression socks, comfortable clothes and layers to account for the various temperatures during transit

• Keep feet elevated if possible and don’t cross legs to help prevent leg swelling

• Get up and walk around every hour or so to aid blood circulation

• Keep hydrated

My Beach Packing List (I’ll only share the essentials here…I’m not a light packer!):

• Don’t forget the prenatal vitamins

• Plenty of sunscreen to avoid dark pregnancy patches in the sun

• Hand gel sanitizer and sanitizing wipes

• Fill iPhone with the latest hit tunes and delete all pictures to make space for new ones

• Lots of bikinis

• Jelly sandals

• Light flowy clothes

• Sunnies

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Inside my travel bag

Mama’s Remedy

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Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

It’s flu season and the season for the debate about the effectiveness and safety of the annually changing flu vaccination, prescribed antiviral drugs and over-the-counter pain relievers. Unless you’re at a high risk of developing a flu complication (young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with chronic illness and weakened immune system), hominess is the best and safest way to let your flu fly away without subjecting yourself to any potential side effects.

So take your flu as an excuse to get cozy and snuggle in your blanket for a day or so in the cold weather and try to recharge body and mind generally! While fluid drinking is important to keep you well hydrated, there’s nothing that could replace mama’s go-to sick-day-food: the one and only magic chicken soup! It might not kill your virus right away but it surely comes with the best remedies that help your body fight the virus away: nourishment and love!

My mama’s chicken soup recipe

Ingredients (for 6 portions):

  • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • 4 medium carrots cut in thin rounds
  • ½ cup of sushi or Egyptian rice
  • Spices for flavoring the chicken: 2-4 bay leaves, 1-2 cinnamon stick, ginger root, whole peppercorns, whole cloves and whole cardamoms
  • Water
  • Salt (optional)

Preparation Steps:

  1. Place chicken in saucepan. Add water to cover chicken.
  2. Bring to boil on medium-high heat or cook for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink.
  3. Remove chicken form saucepan and wash it with cold water. Disregard boiling water.
  4. Add chicken, spices and cold water in saucepan and bring to boil again or cook for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Drain broth and keep it to be used as the soup fluid.
  6. Disregard spices and shred chicken into small pieces.
  7. Add broth and carrot to saucepan and bring to boil. Add shredded chicken and rice and let it cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy the warmth and the soothing flavors of this hearty soup…and get well soon!