Smarty Mom: Katie Estridge

The serendipity of being pregnant the same time as a friend (and neighbor!) is the bomb.com. The experience is immeasurably better with a “wing woman” who you can lean on during the pregnancy and maternity leave. In 2009, Katie and I welcomed our baby boys (her first child and my second) one week apart. Our boys are both “juniors” named after their fathers and are in the same preschool class.

During our pregnancies, we talked almost daily and our conversations typically started like this:
Katie: How many times have you puked today?
Me: 3 times. You?
Katie: 33 times.

My morning sickness subsided 4 months into my pregnancy so I was no longer tossing my cookies daily. Katie, however, was not as fortunate. She was diagnosed with “Hyperemesis Gravidarum”, a severe form of morning sickness accompanied by unrelenting and excessive vomiting throughout the pregnancy and often requiring hospitalization. HG is a rare complication of pregnancy affecting about 2% of pregnant women. Katie was hospitalized twice and literally vomited everyday of her pregnancy and typically into the double digits. At one point, she was on “house arrest” hooked up to an IV line, complete with a metal pole and wheels. This HG business is no joke!

Katie feared getting pregnant again because apparently HG worsens with subsequent pregnancies and hearing this news from her doctor made expanding her family a scary and dangerous prospect. The great news is that Katie’s son is about to become a big brother as she is due later this month with her second child! Let’s get to know Katie!

Katie’s Smarty Mom Stats:
Married to: Bret, for 6 1/2 years
Years in Charlotte: 3 1/2 years
Mom to: Cameron, 2 years old
Occupation: Physical Therapist
Home town: Greensboro, NC

How have your first and second pregnancies differed?
I actually haven’t thrown up as much this pregnancy as the last one because I was better at managing it (see below) but I’ve been much more exhausted this time due to constantly taking care of a toddler! Plus this pregnancy I have this weird mixture of excitement and dread over the birth of this baby…knowing what to expect is a whole new ballgame!

What advice do you have for expecting mothers who suffer from HG?
Eat small protein rich meals every 2-3 hours and dont be afraid to medicate! I took Reglan and Zofran during the day and Phenergan at night. The first go-round I had to have a Reglan pump but this time I escaped that by being smarter. The first time I ate what I craved- white carbs like waffles and saltines. That stuff would go through my system so quickly that I would start throwing up and couldn’t stop. Protein stays with me longer and I avoided the blood sugar rollercoaster.

What do you like most and least about living life as a “Double Agent”, splitting your time between being a working and stay-at-home mom?
I LOVE working part time because I feel like I have the best of both worlds… although the down side is sometimes I feel like I am not doing a stellar job of either one- having one foot in the working world and the other in the stay-at-home mom world. But I wouldn’t have it any other way! Although, doing my job and being a mom at 9 months pregnant is quite the challenge! Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all go to an island and get waited on hand and foot for the last month of pregnancy? Ha!

What is your favorite piece of baby gear?
My Summer infant video baby monitor! I recently moved my son to a “big boy bed” and I am still using it. Now I can see him during naptime crawling in and out of his bed 17 billion times, jumping up and down, yelling, singing, being rotten… but at least I know he’s safe!

What is your favorite family time activity?
I love the simple things like going for a walk around the ‘hood or playing at the beach or the pool. I love sitting back and watching my boys smile and laugh.

What is your favorite girls’ night out spot?
Since having a child I’ve become kind of a loser and instead of dancing the night away at a club I’d rather go to a nice dinner and a wine bar…somewhere we can actually talk. Ahhh, wine, how I miss it!

What is your favorite date night spot?
I would have to say the Melting Pot! I am a sucker for cheese and chocolate!

What is the best book you’ve read lately?
I recently read Chelsea Handler’s books – hysterical! When I have time to read (which is rare) I like light girly reading!

What is your favorite movie?
The original Sex and the City. It never gets old!

What is the funniest thing Cameron has ever said to you?
On the way home from preschool he told me that “God the father” was at school. Also, every time we go to my parent’s beach house in Pawley’s Island he states “This is Cameron’s beach home.” Last time we were there he told me that my Dad bought the “beach home for Cameron at Harris Teeter.” Funny dude!

What is the best birthday party you’ve attended or hosted?
I actually really enjoyed Cameron’s second birthday party. We had it at the Harris Y gymnastics center. They did a great job and my friend from work made this amazing train cake for Cameron that he still talks about almost every day. I think my favorite part about it was seeing him so happy. We go to gymnastics there on Thursdays and he loves it!

Minivan or suv?
SUV… I know it’s a gas guzzler but my husband flat out refuses to have a van so what’s a girl to do? I love my Tahoe though.

What is your favorite CSP article?
I love anything written by Susan. I about peed my pants reading “11 Lessons on Preparing for Children”. HYSTERICAL! I also loved Janelle Nash’s recent blogs and enjoy anything Krista Wilson writes. I love Charlotte Smarty Pants!

Finish this sentence…“I could not live without my”…
Best friends – my hubby and my mom. My husband is my rock who I can always count on to calm me down, comfort me and love me. My mom is my hero, my idol and the best babysitter ever. She watches Cameron when I work. We recently lost my Dad to lung cancer- the same type of non-smoking lung cancer that Jen B. http://www.charlottesmartypants.com/about-us/ had. My mom is the strongest woman I know and inspires me every day with her courage and strength.