I’m 10 weeks pregnant with baby #5 and if I’m being honest, this pregnancy feels nothing like the others. I am more exhausted – but I am not sick. I am hungry and craving protein and fermented foods- not cookies, chips, crackers and pasta like I did before. I truly believe because I FINALLY prepared my body for this pregnancy everything finally is feeling different..in a good way. So instead of a typical “bump update,” I want to share what has actually helped me in hopes that it helps you!
When i shared that I was pregnant with baby #5 the messages started pouring in.
“How are you doing?”
“How are you juggling it all?”
“Was this planned?”
“How do you handle so many little ones?”
“I’m pregnant with my first and I’m terrified”
And honestly, I related to every single one of those questions. Because whether it’s your first baby or your fifth. Pregnancy has a way of humbling you really quick.
“How are you juggling pregnancy and four littles?”
This was the most asked question I got since I have announced I was pregnant and the real short answer… I’m not juggling it all and that’s the difference.
With my first pregnancy, I tried to keep life exactly the same. Clean house. Structured days. Homemade meals. Perfect routine.
With the second one, I tried to prove I could handle 2 under 2.
With my third and fourth? I added more structure. More discipline. More systems because I thought if I just organized my life well enough pregnancy would just feel easier…and it didn’t.
This time around, I really lowered the bar. Not in a lazy way. In a peaceful way.
My house isn’t spotless. Dinner is simpler. The kids watch a little more TV sometimes in the afternoon. I sit down more.
Growing a baby is a lot of work. Raising FOUR toddlers is a lot of work and you don’t win a medal for being the most exhausted mom in the room.
“What are you doing differently this pregnancy?”
Here is what changed this pregnancy:
1. I’m resting sooner
I used to go to bed at 10–11 and wake up at 5AM. Now I’m in bed by 10 and waking closer to 6:30–7.
That extra sleep has changed everything for my hormones and energy.
2. I’m actually nourshing my body.
For the first time, I’m consistently taking a prenatal.
I take Needed Prenatal + Collagen daily (designed specifically for women in their childbearing years), and I still take beef liver to support my iron and energy naturally.
I never prioritized this before — and I truly believe it’s made a difference.
3. I’m protecting my nervous system
When my nervous system is regulated, my hormones are happier.
I learned this postpartum with baby #4 after taking courses from Dr. Kayla Borchers. She helped me understand how movement, nourishment, and rest prepare your body not just for postpartum — but for future pregnancies.
Taking care of myself after baby #4 prepared my body for baby #5.
That matters.
- Dr. Kayla Borcher’s Podcast
- Dr. Kayla Borcher’s Courses– Use code WFR20 for 20% off!
4. I simplified our meals.
First trimester cooking is not it.
The smells. The exhaustion. The decision fatigue.
So years ago, I created a 6-week meal plan with 3 dinners per week, grocery lists, and simple recipes. It’s been my saving grace every pregnancy since.
Less thinking.
Less stress.
More margin.
6 weeks meal plan includes:
✔ 3 simple dinners per week (18 total meals)
✔ Kid-approved, familiar family meals
✔ Budget-friendly ingredients you can reuse
✔ Crockpot, sheet-pan, and one-pan dinners
✔ Prep-ahead and freezer-friendly recipes
✔ Designed for busy, real-life schedules
5. I protect my peace.
Less scrolling.
Less comparing.
Less outside noise.
Social media is loud when you’re pregnant. Opinions are loud.
I’ve learned to shut it down and just do what works for my family.
If This is your First Baby…
I remember being pregnant with my first and feeling like I had to prepare for EVERYTHING and honestly thinking back to that time it makes me giggle.
I wanted the PERFECT registry.
I wanted the PERFECT nursery.
I wanted the PERFECT birth plan.
I had to create the PERFECT routine right away.
Let me be the first to tell you..you don’t need to know everything. Here in the future, I’ll share with you all the baby must haves, but I wanted to let you know..every baby is SOOOO different. What works for the first one may not work for the second one.
You will probably do some late-night shopping because you cannot get your newborn to sleep.
Motherhood isn’t something you master before it begins. You learn your baby..slowly..naturally..instinctively.
Some babies will sleep through the night right at 6 weeks. Some don’t sleep until 2 years old. (Ask me how I know.)
Motherhood isn’t something you master before it begins. You grow into it.
And if I can give you one big piece of advice?
SIMPLIFY.
This generation has made motherhood incredibly complicated.
Babies actually need very little.
Ask your mom. Ask your grandma. They know how to simplify. They raised babies without 47 opinions in their ear.
The more complicated you make it, the more overwhelmed you’ll feel.
The Things That are Actually Helping me Right Now
Nothing Fancy.
- Nourishing my body
- Prioritizing Sleep
- Simple meals
- Protein first thing in the morning
- Electrolytes for hydration and minerals.
- Lowered expectations
- Writing things down instead of carrying it mentally
- Midday prayer and rest.
Sometimes I sit and pray out loud while the kids play round me. Sometimes I just read quietly.
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
If You’re Overwhelmed Right Now…
Maybe you are 6 weeks and nauseous.
Maybe you are 20 weeks and exhausted.
Maybe you’re holding a positive test and staring at the ceiling wondering how this is going to work out.
Let me remind you:
his is a gift.
This is sacred work.
You don’t have to do more.
You don’t have to keep up.
You don’t have to become superwoman.
Slow down.
Nourish your body.
Rest when you need to.
Simplify your life.
You won’t regret a messy kitchen.
You won’t regret resting.
You won’t regret more babies.
Whether this is your first or your fifth, you are more capable than you think!
Check out my amazon storefront for all things pregnancy!
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