Past updates:
- Weeks 8, 9 and 10
- Weeks 11, 12 and 13
- Weeks 14, 15 and 16
- Weeks 17 & 18
- 19 Weeks
- 20 Weeks
- 21 Weeks
- 22 Weeks
- 23 Weeks
- 24 Weeks
- 25 Weeks
- 26 Weeks
Baby Updates
Baby weighs about two pounds, or as much as a head of cauliflower, and is 14 1/2 inches long!
Weight Gained
I didn’t weigh myself at 27 weeks, but at my 28 week appointment, I was up about 19 pounds!
Workouts
Another great week on the workout front! Spinning, BodyPump and Pure Barre classes rounded out my workouts this week, along with some great walks outside with Sadie.
Symptoms
I’m really starting to notice the extra weight I’m carrying when I am doing simple activities like walking up a hill. I can definitely tell I have more weight in my belly and find myself getting much more easily winded when I walk uphill or take stairs too quickly. It’s kind of weird because I feel fine during spinning classes but inclines and stairs get me every time! Sometimes I feel like I have to place a hand underneath my belly as I walk uphill for a little extra support which surprisingly really does seem to help relieve pressure and make me feel a little more comfortable.
I am also beginning to feel like I am becoming way more sensitive to heat. Temperatures in the high 70s or low 80s used to feel “perfect” to me (especially when we lived in Florida and that would actually feel cool), but now 80+ degree temperatures make me break out in a sweat if I do anything other than sit! (Ryan said I finally understand what it feels like to be him all the time!) The weather here is gorgeous right now and I’m trying to spend as much time outside as possible before the summer heat kicks in and I will likely evaporate into a pool of sweat.
Any other Father of the Bride Part II fans out there remember the scene when Annie and Nina are sweating to death and George is all bundled up and freezing?
I feel your pain, ladies!
Sore gums also surfaced this week. I’ve read a lot about the importance of keeping up with oral hygiene during pregnancy and I’ve tried to stick with a good routine, but this week I noticed a definite increase in sensitivity in my gums which wasn’t so fun.
Food Aversions
Nothing too strong this week! There are still foods I definitely have no desire to eat that I loved pre-pregnancy (like tomato-based soups), but the simple thought of them no longer makes me gag.
Food Cravings
- WATERMELON
- WATERMELON
- WATERMELON
Um, watermelon?
Sleep
This was one of my worst weeks for sleep in a while. I am still waking up multiple times each night (usually because I have to pee… again), but I’m having more difficulty returning to sleep afterward. One night I was up for a solid 90 minutes at 2 a.m. because my mind just wouldn’t shut off! I am still able to get comfortable at night thanks to the Snoogle, but I do miss being able to sleep on my stomach.
Looking Forward To…
My 28-week prenatal appointment! Feeling a combination of nervous and excited about this one!
Also, if you read last week’s pregnancy recap, you may remember Alaska popping up under this category. Well, the following day, all of our Alaska travel plans fell through. We planned to go on a an Alaskan cruise babymoon through a press trip and unfortunately the PR agency I was working with didn’t realize how far along I am in my pregnancy. Apparently there’s an industry-wide restriction against women cruising after 24 weeks. This completely shocked me (I truly never thought it would be an issue as long as I had my doctor’s approval) and was so, so disappointed when the trip got canceled 1.5 weeks out from when we were supposed to leave. I’m trying not to dwell on it (I swear I will see whales in the wild one day! It’s still the top item on my travel bucket list!) and Ryan and I are hoping to pull together some sort of a fun vacation before our baby arrives.
Rather than the big week-long Alaska vacation, we’re now hoping to plan two mini weekend getaways. We already had one on the agenda for June that we’re trying to move up to next weekend and then the other idea we have is to make a quick trip to Charleston, South Carolina since we’ve never been and have heard great things! Charleston is drivable from here for us which makes it extra appealing. If you have any recommendations for fun things to do or places to stay in Charleston, please let me know!
Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases?
I owe you guys a BIG thank you for recommending ASOS maternity clothes to me. Their dresses are adorable and I spent a little too much money ordering some baby shower dress possibilities from their website.
My possibilities:
- Bardot Dress – Love the length of this one. I wanted it in blue, but they didn’t have my size in stock, so I opted for red.
- Double Layer Color Block Dress – My favorite!!! I think this one is ridiculously cute and pretty unique… But I have no idea how it will actually look on me.
- Shift Dress with Cut Out – I have a feeling this will be the one I feel most comfortable in and I love cut out in the back and the cobalt color.
- Shift Dress with Cutaway Neck – I ordered this one solely for the neckline. Love it! I just hope it doesn’t look too orange when it arrives…
- Off-The-Shoulder Bardot Dress – I love the off-the-shoulder look of this dress but I’m not sure I want to wear black to my baby shower. I would try to make it more fun by pairing funky/colorful shoes with this one.
I am planning on keeping two (assuming I actually like the look/fit of two – fingers crossed!) and returning the rest, so my credit card will feel a little happier soon enough. The last dress I had my eye on from Nordstrom Rack for my baby shower ended up selling out, so I didn’t want to take any chances this time around!
Belly Button In Or Out?
Flat!
Feeling…
I am finding myself feeling more and more caught up in the fact that our baby is almost here. Some days it feels like we have forever to go and other days it feels like he’ll be here any second.
My mom always said pregnancy typically lasts for nine months for a reason and I am feeling like this could not be more true right now. I felt like things were progressing slowly there for a few months and then right around 24 or 25 weeks, I looked down and saw a big ol’ bump and truly felt pregnant.
I started to feel a little stressed out when I began looking at the classes my OB/GYN highlighted for us to take. When I checked the hospital’s website almost all of the classes in the coming weeks were already full but fortunately we were able to claim spots in a breastfeeding class and childbirth prep class in the middle of June. Though I already have my CPR certification thanks to my personal training and group exercise certifications, I figured a refresher wouldn’t hurt and signed Ryan and myself up for an infant CPR class in the beginning of July as well. Oh! And we nabbed a spot in the oh-so-popular Preparing to Parent a Baby class at the end of July… two weeks before my due date. Eek! That was the only class we could get into and if baby comes early, I guess we’re out of luck on that one!
Quick question for the moms out there: Did you take any classes before you had your little one? Did you find them helpful?
Any Movement?
Yes! I feel him move a lot but not ALL the time like it seems like many pregnant women do. I still seem to feel him move most right before bed! Loving it!
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So sorry about your trip! My husband took a cruise to Alaska many years ago, and he’s been trying to get me to go for years! I’m more of a warm weather girl. We took a baby moon to the Dominican Republic when I was 26 weeks pregnant, and it was my favorite trip ever! Nothing beats lounging by the pool and reading books under a cabana! Such a special (and needed) time alone before the baby arrived. We did take a few classes before our daughter was born, but we always ended up leaving half way through the class- (if there was an important game on tv my husband would moan and groan throughout the class until I just gave up and said let’s go). I did a TON of reading/research while pregnant, and I also had experience with babies/kids (I helped raise my brother and sister and I’m a former teacher as well). I think the breastfeeding class is super beneficial and probably the newborn care class as well; especially if you’re not too comfortable with babies. BUT, if you can’t get into the class you want, don’t worry- you’re natural instincts will kick in and everything will be fine!!! Welcome to your third trimester!!
We took the horse and carriage ride that takes you thru Charleston and the driver points out places of interest and history of the city. It was really fun and we would never have known some of the interesting things about the city if we had just walked on our own. The market was also a great thing to do and so many artisans with their art and crafts.
i took a breastfeeding / newborn basics / labor & delivery class – it was the three most popular classes bundled into one. it was good information – not that i remembered or used everything, but at least i heard it once and felt more prepared and had many resources
Since you are planning on breast feeding-check out this article. Lots of Moms never even know about this.
http://www.seminaturalmama.com/painful-breastfeeding-colic-it-might-be-a-tongue-tie/
I love the Father of the Bride movies! Thanks for the recap you look great!
Cute dresses-I need to check that site out more, thanks!
We took hypnobirthing classes–4 weeks of 3 hours each time, so it was a lot, and one of the weeks ended up being the week I was due……but I was so late with my first that it didn’t matter & we made it to all of ’em. haha. They were super helpful and I was able to go without an epidural. So yep ya never know, it’s super common to go late with your first, so you just might be able to hit all the classes 🙂
Restaurant recs for Charleston- FIG, Husk (you’ll probably need a reservation ASAP), Hominy Grill… The rooftop bar at the Vendue is fun for drinks. Kaminsky’s has amazing dessert. Also, we have stayed in Folly Beach and Seabrook Island (gated beach community), because it’s super dog friendly (Wild Dunes is not). So if you decide to bring Sadie and want to stay near the beach, those are two good options, but Seabrook is a little further from downtown. It’s gorgeous though!
Love it! You look so cute! I can’t WAIT to start feeling our little babe move, I know it’s going to be so surreal! And bummer about your Alaska trip!!!! But, maybe that was divine intervention and you will be more comfortable doing those two closer, shorter trips 🙂
That stinks about the trip falling through, but I’m sure they’re just trying to look out for your health! I’m happy that you’re making the most of it and planning some mini trips. That’ll be a lot of fun, and then you can go on the Alaska trip with your baby as well!
My husband and I took the Bradley Method Childbirth Course together over the past few months (it’s a 12-week course) and we absolutely loved it. We both agreed it was worth every minute and penny and we can’t imagine going into childbirth not having learned all that we did! (I’m 29 weeks now)
I would have LOVED to take the Bradley method course but they don’t have anyone that teaches it or classes in Maine. Such a bummer! I am 35 weeks along and have prepared my hubby and myself through a few different Bradley books and I am feeling pretty dang prepared but would have loved the classes if they had been available to me!
One of my best friends lives in Charleston, SC and sent me some great recommendations! Hopefully they come in handy for you too!
There are two sections of downtown; here are some great places:
2 hotels that in the heart of downtown (this area is consider the Historic District). They are close to the market, parks and some amazing restaurants. You can walk to a lot staying here.
· The Double Tree
· The Mills House
The other area is the newer area (called Upper King). Lots of outdoor shopping, restaurants/bars and art museums. More of a nightlife area.
· Holiday Inn is really nice and priced well. It just opened this past year.
Sites to see downtown:
· Battery Park- lots of war history (Historic District)
· USS York Town- you can tour the air craft carrier and have lunch out there. (across the bay from the Historic District) you can take a boat shuttle.
· King Street- tons of shopping and fun bars.
Restaurants/Bars in Historic District:
· McCradys- Pricey but amazing!!
· SNOB (Slightly North of Broad)- less touristy and really good.
· Magnolias, High Cotton and Blossom- can’t go wrong with any of these!
· Blind Tiger- locals favorite and have a beautiful outdoor patio.
· Amen Bar- go here for drinks and oyster shooters J
Restaurants/Bars on Upper King:
· Prohibition
· Macintosh
· Stars- they have an awesome roof top bar!
I would recommend going to Sullivan’s Island when going to the beach. Less touristy than Folley Beach and better restaurants. For lunch would recommend:
· Obstinate Daughter
· Poe’s- all themed after Edgar Allen Poe (this place is amazing)!
· Red’s- outdoor bar on the water; it’s on the way to the beach. Food not the best but you go for the scenery, drinks and live music!
THANK YOU so much!!!! This is super helpful!!
I live in Mount Pleasant (right across the beautiful Ravenel Bridge from Charleston), and Jaala’s recommendations are absolutely correct!! OMG I might get to run into you while you’re here in town! Fun!
Hi Julie! I love reading your pregnancy recaps! I will definitely be referencing them when the time comes for me!
A random question…you had blogged awhile back about the blowdryer you use and love. Could you let me know what it was (I wasn’t able to find the post about it). Thanks so much and have a good day!
yes!! all the info is in this post: https://www.pbfingers.com/2015/04/03/things-im-loving-friday-79/ hope this helps!
OMG lovvvvve the Father of the Bride movies!! I just watched Part I last week- I guess this is a sign to watch Part II 😉
I went to Charleston for spring break and it is so beautiful there! We went to Kaminsky’s every single night because the drinks and desserts there are unbelievable. We stayed over in Isle of Palms away from the city and two restaurants we all loved were the Obstinate Daughter and Sea Biscuit Cafe!
I went to school in Charleston and my family has been going since we were kids! The DoubleTree by Hilton is in the downtown historic district a block away from the old slave market and where they do the carriage tours – a GREAT way to see the city. It is walkable to everything there is to see and is a really nice hotel inside! We always prefer staying near the market rather than off of King Street (the main road.) King Street is known for it’s shopping, but the market is only a few blocks away and there’s always a lot going on in the historic district. Plus, it’s only a short walk from the waterfront which is always enjoyable in the morning or before sunset. The Market Pavilion Hotel is a few blocks away and has a really nice rooftop bar. It’s worth going to see just for how pretty the pool looks at night and you are able to see all of downtown Charleston and the Ravenel Bridge. Around the corner there’s a store called Pepper Palace and it has the greatest grill seasonings – we order from them all summer long and have it shipped to NJ! 82 Queen is an amazing restaurant, they have an adorable courtyard and the food is seasonal and local – I always love their seafood! It is right next door to Husk and we always stop in there afterwards for drinks because of the awesome “rustic chic” atmosphere. They also make an original drink from the “founding fathers” called the The CBWS’s Punch that Ryan might enjoy : ) Hyman’s is extremely well-known for their seafood and has the best Hush Puppies I’ve ever had. There’s usually a long wait, but it’s worth putting your name on the list and walking around until your wait is up. Sermets is a little more upscale, but great food for lunch if you can’t get in for dinner. On Saturdays in Marion Square there is an AMAZING farmer’s market. We would go every week for breakfast or lunch food – great breakfast crepes! They always have live music and I’ve seen Darius Rucker there from time to time (he lives in Charleston) Fig and Magnolia’s are also very well-known and delicious restaurants. Enjoy, you’ll love it there!
If you take a drive to the beach, Folly and Isle of Palms are a short drive away. If you have a little more time, Kiawah Island is 45 minutes away and absolutely beautiful! They built a new hotel and clubhouse a few years ago and it’s worth seeing! We usually take an afternoon trip there for lunch if we can and hang on the beach afterwards.
SO SO TRUE –> “I feel fine during spinning classes but inclines and stairs get me every time! ” It’s bizarre, but I feel the exact.same.way!
You are just the cutest pregnant woman!!! I love your belly! My hubby and I have a 7 month old daugther…man that went by fast! We took a Childbirth Education Class a few months before I was due, and I thought it was really helpful! They basically went through everything from each trimester, to labor and relaxation methods, to once the baby is here (yes for swaddling tutorials!). I loved the class, and I think it is great that you are taking classes as well 🙂
I am sorry to hear about your Alaska plans falling through 🙁 Hopefully your other weekend mini vacas are fun! My hubby and I did a trip to Boston/Maine (we are from California) for a friend’s wedding when I was about 18/19 weeks pregnant. It definitely is nice to take a little vacation before baby arrives 🙂
My husband and I moved to Charleston two years ago and LOVE it! The food is amazing! We are unfortunately moving in less than two months so we are trying to fit in all our favorite places…..
The Ordinary (out of this world seafood, get a reservation asap)
Edmonds Oast (great beer list and charcuterie),
Husk (great dinner, but also awesome brunch, get the burger!!)
obstinate daughter – sullivans island
Poes – on sullivans island, great bugers and fish tacos
Hometeam bbq – some of the best wings
taco boy – casual, but great gauc and tacos
for drinks
– the belmont on kind street, best craft cocktails, we always go here for a drink before dinner
-the craftsman, great beer selection
Things to do
-Sullivans island beach, we prefer over folly and isle of palms(folly is touristy and a little dirty, isle palms is more vacations homes) sullivans is younger crowd and has fun bars and restaurants
-walk down east bay street, this will turn into battery, then walk down meeting street, this is our favorite street in charleston, it has the most beautiful houses, we took wedding photos off of tradd street, there are so many neat alleys
-tour old mansions downtown, or plantations (magnolia plantation, boone hall plantation (we got married here this past march)
-rent kayaks at shem creek, guaranteed to see dolphins by the shrimp boats
-talk a walking or carriage tour downtown, there is so much history, its awesome!
Where to stay
-king charles inn, we stayed here on our wedding night, it’s very quaint and within walking distance of everything
-look into a bed and breakfast, my parents have stayed at the ashley inn bed and breakfast many times and have loved it!
hope this helps, charleston is so much fun and is absolutely amazing! it’s a foodies paradise!!
That cruise rule is INSANE … you will be near shore the entire time (and there is an MD on board) .. it’s not like you are in the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific and 3billion miles from medical help.
Guess you and the OTHER Cptn. Adorable will have to stick to boating on your boat with Miss Sadie!
That stinks about your trip, but Charleston is AWESOME! I worked there one summer and it was so amazing. I actually lived right across from the Hominy Grill and didn’t go ONCE. I definitely regret that. It’s been years since I lived there, so I don’t have updated recs for you, but I have heard that FIG is really good and the carriage ride is great for learning the history of the city. Plus it’s such a pretty city, so that would be a good way to see it and all of the cute houses.
Oh PS. I live on the 5th floor of a walkup building. At 24 weeks I am handling it fine, but I have a feeling that will change soon. Yikes! At least it will help keep me fit?!
We’re in the process of moving after the summer (and baby’s due mid-October), so I’ll be on the same train as you, finding classes as we get kinda close. Hoping to find a few! I’d like to go to a breastfeeding class and a class on caring for newborns.
And this is unrelated…but I’m curious what your plans are with work? Are you taking time off? Will you be working part-time after maternity leave? (Just getting ideas!) 🙂
Hi Lisa!! I am definitely planning to take some time away from the gym… Definitely until I am approved for exercise again and then I hope to be able to teach some 6 a.m. classes and evening classes (when Ryan could be at home with the baby) until our little one is old enough for gym childcare (which, unfrotauntely at my gym doesn’t begin until the baby can sit up on their own) and then I’d love to be able to add some of my favorite daytime classes back into my teaching schedule if it works well with our baby/childcare, etc. I’m definitely looking into other options and considering various avenues, but that’s my thought for the moment! 🙂
That is a bummer about the cruise 🙁 I’m going on my first cruise this coming weekend and found the 24-week rule very surprising! I actually thought of you when I read it (haha!) but I figured you had arranged some kind of special set up.
Luckily…Alaska isn’t going anywhere. That’s what I tell my husband who really wants to do Europe 😉
I signed up for all kinds of classes but my baby girl surprised us and was born at 34 weeks! (She is fine!) So we missed every single class! But we figured everything out 🙂 In my opinion the classes can’t hurt and might make you feel a little more prepared, but since every baby is so different I really think you will just learn when he’s born. It feels scary at first (like, “what do I DO with this thing?!”) but you pick it up so quickly and it will become second nature. You’re going to be an amazing mommy! Oh and I LOVE the Father of the Bride movies!!
Sorry about Alaska which would have been awesome, but if you truly want to see whales before Baby … Head on up to Cape Cod. They have whale-watching trips all summer from P-town. Some of the species will be different than in the Pacific, but it’s always a fantastic experience. And Provincetown is a great place to be in the summer!
My brother lived down in Charleston for a few years and I LOVED going to the peaceful Isle of Palms! Gorgeous down there 🙂
I am 38.5 weeks and we just finished up our last class at the hospital. We went to the hospital tour which was was really helpful to know where you will be at each point during your stay. We also took the breastfeeding class which I’m hoping will pay off once the baby comes. And we took a basic childcare – HIGHLY recommend taking a class like this! Hopefully you don’t go too early so you can take advantage of the Preparing to be a Parent one – it sounds similar? They teach you things like taking care of the umbilical cord & circumcision, what to expect during your first week home, etc etc…as well as some helpful advice and tips to make your life easier. Good luck with your classes! I really enjoyed them 🙂
That class definitely sounds beneficial. I hope ours covers similar things!
My husband didn’t want to take a class and even though I had been reading books throughout pregnancy about birth, I knew he had done little research. I was worried that he had a lot of incorrect ideas about childbirth. So instead I got the dvd “Get Ready for Birth” and made a deal that at least he could drink beer while we watched it. I found it very informative and didn’t last 8 hours, like the class our hospital provides.
Also, if you plan to breastfeed kellymom.com is a great resource!
I live in Charleston! All the restaurants and hotels mentioned are great! Halls Chophouse and Indaco are personal favorites. Prohibition, Gin Joint and Social make the best mocktails! (I’m pregnant too, so I’ve tried most of the places in town ha!) the bestAlso, make reservations for dinner for wherever you choose to go. It’s already getting busy here and you won’t get a table without reservations. (Call the places too, Opentable is sometimes booked, but they will get you in!).
You will love Charleston. Don’t miss out on Glazed Gourmet doughnuts. Best doughnuts of my life! We also love Palmetto Carriage Tours.
count me in!!! doughnuts = <3
That Father of the Bride reference made me laugh!
I love the shift with cutaway neck!
I actually ended up ordering it on Amazon Prime after I found that YouTube video… I need to watch it ASAP! 🙂
maybe check out music farm on sunday
http://www.musicfarm.com/event/809521-freeway-music-showcase-columbia/
I’m from Mount Pleasant and after reading other comments, looks like you have lots of good places! you’re going to love Charleston, it is my favorite place in the entire world! I think if you want to really experience Charleston you should stay downtown and walk around everywhere. If you want more beach, Kiawah/Seabrook is amazing and they have the cutest little hotel and restaurant area (fresh fields)! Have fun!
Halls is my hands down favorite place but it is a “fancy” dinner and a real treat! Monza pizza is great- right beside Closed for Business (craft beer place Ryan may enjoy :))
Yes, Yes, Seabrook is also amazing. My sister-in-law used to live in Mount Pleasant, actually, she got married out there 🙂 Beautiful place 🙂
Love Freshfields! Andell Inn is super pretty and would be a great place to stay. I was actually having drinks there with my husband around this time last week. 🙂
PBFINGERS–As a dental hygienist, the hormones during pregnancy are the reason you are having issues with your gums. Also, you might notice more bleeding than usual when you brush and floss. We call this “pregnancy-induced gingivitis” in the world of dentistry. Stick to your great homecare-brushing twice daily, flossing (twice daily if you can) and keep your tongue clean. As far as Charleston goes, my boyfriend’s sister went to college there so we always used to visit. You must visit Shem Creek, the downtown strip with shops and restaurants—the food is AMAZING!! and Isle of Palms beach-Folley beach is OKAY, Isle of Palms is the way to go. Let me know if you have any other questions regarding your gums, I am a gums expert 🙂
Definitely more bleeding — not so fun!! I’ll try to up my flossing game a bit more to add it to my morning routine, too! Thanks for the insight!
I couldn’t agree more with you on the pregnancy hormones causing dental issues!!! My teeth even shifted a ton being pregnant & now my retainers don’t even fit from my “brace face” days! Also I did take a few pregnancy classes at our hospital…. I thought the breastfeeding one was wonderful however the others were just okay. I guess I’ve learned now that every baby/delivery is different, so you can plan/prepare all you want & in the end it’s really the babies decision 😉 I’ve also been craving watermelon like a crazy prego lady (I’m 37 weeks!)
Hey Julie! My husband and I only took a one day course prior to baby coming (I was 38 weeks pregnant at the time lol). We weren’t going to take one, but then my husband wanted to. I didn’t learn anything (I’m a nurse), but he found it helpful and the hospital tour was nice. Honestly, I don’t think it matters, in the end, whether you take one or not, so if you end up not making yours, you’ll still figure everything out! 🙂 Breastfeeding can be a tough journey, but one that is so worth it in my opinion. It hurts like hell in the beginning, even if you’re doing it right, so don’t get discouraged or give-up if people are telling you otherwise. I struggled with pain and some supply issues in the first few months, but now my son is 15 months and still nursing 2-3 times a day, so even with a rocky start, don’t give up! (If it’s ultimately what you want to do of course!) I found having friends available via text who had just recently had newborns themselves were the biggest help in terms of advice and support. Good luck, you got this! 🙂
Hi Julie,
Charleston is one of my favorite places ever! My husband and I were just there last week, in fact. I highly recommend staying at Charleston Place and booking a club room. (It’s a splurge, but worth it — especially if you’re celebrating something like a babymoon).
Regardless of whether you stay there, check out their restaurant Palmetto Cafe. Fantastic food, and the courtyard is beautiful.
Also, if you’re up for exploring any surrounding areas, I recommend heading to Johns Island and then doing some sightseeing around Kiawah Island or Seabrook Island. (I’m fairly sure you can get a day pass for both). They’re incredibly relaxing — Kiawah is *also* one of my favorite places ever. 🙂
Enjoy!
I live in Charleston and you have some great recommendations so far but here are a few more for you 🙂 :
I know that you love coconut desserts so you MUST go to Peninsula Grill and get the coconut cake. It’s won a million awards and is my favorite dessert in the world. The restaurant can be hard to get a reservation at but you can order dessert from the bar area so that’s what we’ve done in the past.
Best rooftop bar by far is Market Pavilion- it’s a little bit pricey but the best view of the harbor
For great seafood I would recommend The Ordinary, 167 Raw (more of a lunch place, its a small space but the lobster roll and guacamole are amazinggg), and Amen Street (awesome fried green tomatoes too)
For beaches Folly Beach and Sullivan’s are my favorite, I would recommend Sullivan’s as it’s less touristy and Obstinate Daughter is a restaurant out there that is great and adorable inside
If you go to Shem Creek definitely check out Tavern and Table. It’s new and the décor is beautiful. It’s also right on the water and you can see dolphins there on a lucky day.
There’s a farmer’s market at Marion Square downtown on Saturdays. Much more than just produce, they have all sorts of vendors from beignets and coffee to Rewined candles to artists selling paintings of Charleston.
Have a great time! Feel free to email me if you have any questions! 🙂
I polled all of my friends since I was the last in our group to have a baby and they all said the classes are a waste of time since the nurses walk you through everything. I also went into my labor and delivery without a birth plan and with the agreement that however the baby needs to come out I’ll be ok with as long as she is safe! My husband and I did take the hospital tour since we were both new to the hospital. My delivery was a breeze and the nurses really did tell me everything that was going on before it happened and walked me through everything so we saved $200 on the classes and went into labor with no expectations. The hospital could provide a lactation consultant so if you need help with breastfeeding they are there to help with latching etc.
When I was pregnant with my son, my husband and I took every class possible….childbirth, breastfeeding, childcare etc. I guess for me the only one that was semi-useful was the childcare one, but moreso for my husband who really wasn’t around kids that much like I was babysitting growing up. I actually felt like all the classes seemed very overwhelming and almost made me more nervous! After baby, I found the most help from a Lactation Consultant and this website: http://kellymom.com/ seriously my life saver, as nursing just wasn’t working so I turned to exclusively pumping. To each their own, I think it’s definitely worth trying out and seeing for a first time but I at least didn’t take much away from any of them.
Congrats by the way!
Thank you for sharing this!
Julie! I just went to Charleston for the first time in March and did tons of research on where to eat! Motobar has awesome healthy vegan food (try the brussel sprouts), Jeni’s Ice Cream is AHHHHMAZING and Taco Boy has really delicious Mexican food and cool ambience!
As for things to do walk along the Battery and venture down some of the cobblestone streets down there to look at the houses. I went to one of the Plantations, i think it was the Boone one, but honestly it wasn’t as cool as I thought it would be!
Have so much fun!
I’m one week behind you and definitely don’t “always” feel bub move. I get bouts of movement about every 4 or so hours. Some days it’s even longer and the movements are not as noticeable, other days I feel like baby is kickboxing all day. I think it’s all pretty normal 🙂
I love Charleston. One of my favorite places to visit. If you are looking for a really nice place to stay then stay at The French Quarter Inn. It is right downtown and they have a pillow menu- YES that’s right- a pillow menu where you can order any and all types of pillows to try out at night. They even have a full body pillow so you wouldn’t have to try to take the snoogle with you. They also have a wonderful breakfast and offer milk and warm cookies every night. Wonderful place to stay! For food: Husk and Magnolia’s are great, and SNOB. for a great steak and super classy meal go to Hall’s Steakhouse.
so we also took some classes before our daughter was born; breastfeeding and childbirth. While i don’t know if the breastfeeding class totally prepared me for what was about to happen it was AWESOME for my husband. He said he felt better prepared to help me and know things to do when I might not know. Very great class! While childbirth class was very overwhelming and scary it was nice because when we were in those situations I felt better about them!
Good luck everything will be great!!
I’m excited to see how you like the ASOS clothes! Have you tried Pink Blush?
Hi! I looooove reading all of your weekly updates. I live in fayetteville, nc and am 35 weeks pregnant and this heat is killing me. I take so many seated rest breaks when I have to go outside. It’s crazy! Anyways, I got married in Charleston and the little B&B we stayed at was my favorite place ever. We stayed at Jacob’s Bond House which is apart of the Inn at I’on. I’on is the cutest community ever. Think classic Charleston houses, Spanish moss, etc. And it’s only a short drive from downtown Charleston! I hope your babymoons are fabulous – treasure the moments with Ryan before baby gets here!
Hi Julie! My husband actually proposed to me on the pier at Folly Beach (right outside of Charleston) and we are actually headed back in August for my sister in laws wedding – love it there! Folly beach is great, low key – def recommend renting a house down the road for a family vacation – it’s a great home away from home situation right on the beach . We really enjoyed walking around downtown, and The Vickery was a great restaurant. Have fun!
The basic childbirth class that the hospital offers is so hugely helpful, I thought especially for my husband. Even if you do tons of reading beforehand (which of course I did), they show you the lay of the land and how everything works in that specific hospital, and show you all the “tools” that could be used so you know what to expect. We scheduled ours the weekend before my due date (apparently calling them 5 months in advance was way too late at my hospital 🙂 geesh!) But we made it! And I was glad we did 🙂
I’m going to Charleston for my bachelorette party in August! I’ve never been to South Carolina at all, so reading all the recommendations are super helpful! I’m sending this article to my MOH to help with the planning! Thanks!
This post was such perfect timing! My husband and I are heading to Savannah and Charleston tomorrow for our babymoon! ( I’m due Aug 2nd). We booked a beach house on the Isle of Palms from vrbo.com for our time in Charleston. There were so many great little cottages to choose from, I typically use this site when we travel and it is often less expensive than hotels. I hope plans work out for your trip! I also hope you get to Alaska one day, I spent 2 weeks there after I finished medical school, and it is absolutely breathtaking!