here comes the PUPPP

Ugh.  Another awesome and rare symptom of first time pregnancy:  I have developed a PUPPP rash.  I'm not posting pictures, you perv, google it if you want to see rashy pregnant bellies.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, a PUPPP (Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy) rash is an intensely itchy rash that develops inside the stretch marks that tend to appear around 35 weeks of pregnancy.  It then spreads to the thighs, buttocks, breasts, arms, and in my case calves, and does not go away until 1-2 weeks after the baby is born.  If you're wondering if you DO have it, one of the things that distinguishes a PUPPP from other, more sinister rashes, is that it starts in the stretch marks, and that it avoids the belly button area.  The good news is, its not harmful to the baby.  The bad news is, it's way annoying and itches like a healing sunburn that you contracted on top of a patch of poison ivy.
About 1 in 200 women get a PUPPP rash in their first pregnancy, and it usually does not happen in future pregnancies.  I probably shouldn't have been surprised to get it, as my skin absolutely LOVES breaking out in hives and over-reacting to allergens, perfumes, lotions, etc., plus research has shown that 70% of PUPPP sufferers are having boys (which I am) and have large belly measurements (which I do).  Awesome.
Well, I started researching online to see if I could figure out how to deal with this latest development of gestational discomfort, and I have found a number of homeopathic remedies. If you are suffering with a PUPPP, here is some good news for you:
1. Many sites that I have looked at have mentioned that the most intense itching lasts about a week, and alluded to the fact that that is the first week.  If you are in the first week and ready to claw your skin off, hang in there! 
2.  It does not usually occur in future pregnancies, so if you are planning to have more babies after this, since you earned most of your stretch marks this time, you are most likely not going to have to deal with it.
3.  Washing with Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap 4 times a day (I know, some of us work) can really help soothe the rash.  Even though I DO work, I have found that 3 showers a day is do-able, especially if you invest in a decent shower cap.  Once in the morning, once after work, then before bed.  It smells like camping, so bonus if your husband is the outdoorsy type and that is a turn-on for him.
4.  After each of your 600 showers, slather on this fabulous stuff: Derma-E itch relief lotion.  It is watery and smells very fresh, as the active ingredient is actually Tea Tree Oil.  It sounds like it would irritate, but it is very soothing, and it actually works (for me) better than any of the hydrocortisone creams that I have tried.
5.  To soften your skin, if the above combination is making your skin feel a little tight, try a plain Coconut Oil.  I think it's much better than other body oils, as it soaks in and feels less greasy than let's say a vitamin E oil or bio-oil (which also smells like perfume).  Coconut oil is also anti-microbial, so it can help doubly in the healing process.
6.  If you can't deal with it at night (i.e. the rash is waking you up multiple times in the night) you might want to try Benadryl.  You may not need it after that first atrocious week, and the more sleep you get, the better you will feel and heal.  Benadryl is generally considered to be safe (even my midwife says it's OK!) but every pregnancy and every woman is different, so check with your healthcare provider before you start taking anything.
7.  Aveeno products: this concentrated anti-itch lotion works better than any of the 1% hydrocortisone products I have tried, with the added benefit of being steroid-free.  The active ingredient is calamine, but it doesn't make your skin all sticky and cracky afterwards.  Plus the bottle is relatively small, so you can keep it in your purse if you are still working or going out, and apply as needed.  Every once in a while, the good ol fashioned Aveeno bath is also nice.  I have found that it's relatively torturous during, but very soothing after.  Whether it's after a shower or an Aveeno bath, try to resist the urge to use a rough towel to scratch the absolute shit out of yourself.  Lastly, there is this intensive healing ointment that is great for the bit of overdrying that all of the showering and anti-itch creams are contributing to.  I have found that I can tolerate it at night if I mix in a little of the aforementioned Derms-E and put layers of tight knit clothing on top of it and slip into a Benadryl-induced hibernation of sorts.  This has been the single most beneficial element of my healing process.  Even though it feels like Neosporin all over your itchy body, in the morning you will wake up feeling slightly less itchy and much softer.  It DID take a few nights before I started to see a difference, but my red marks are healing and flattening, and my stretch marks are even getting lighter.
8.  I don't know if this is actually helping, but a few people on message boards about PUPPP mentioned drinking 2 servings of V8 each day.  I have been doing this, but I have also been doing all of the other stuff listed above, so it's hard to say how much the V8 contributes to the healing.  My only recommendation, if you are going to try this, is to get the low sodium version of V8, because the regular stuff has about 480 mg of sodium per serving, compared to 140mg in the low-sodium version.  If you don't like the taste, try to think of it as taking your medicine, and think about all of the extra vitamins and minerals you are getting!  GO YOU! 

GD Diet #3: Apple Snacks

This is SO SIMPLE, and completely fabulous.

Walnuts are a fabulous place to load up on DHA while you are pregnant, especially in the last trimester when your baby's brain is developing the most.  However, as many of you may already know, walnuts all by themselves are totally lame and boring, and taste like licking a tin can.  Another great food for pregnancy (see the book 100 Best Foods for Pregnancy, it is divided by trimester with nice recipe tips!) is an apple, but a whole apple, without a complementary protein source, is a big no-no for girls with GD, as it is one of the sugariest of all fruits (25g of carbs).  I give you, quick and easy apple snacks:

you will need:
1/2 of an apple
1-2 oz of soft goat cheese (depending on your taste)
halved walnuts (as many as you have slices of apple)

Cut the apple into 1/4 inch thick slices, smear the desired amount of goat cheese on each one, and use the goat cheese as a sort of glue to hold one beautiful 1/2 of a walnut to each piece.  If you don't have GD, or if this snack doesn't seem to bother your readings at all, and you desire a little more sweetness, try a spot of honey on each slice.  This also makes a great treat for parties if you are hosting with GD, or attending a potluck where you are concerned there will be no dessert for you. ;) 
1/2 an apple all dressed up (without the honey) is about 16g of carbs

GD Diet #2: Bunless Burger with Quinoa

Tip #1: serve on a tiny plate, as this dinner is dense, and doesn't look very filling.

This has been one of my favorite (and Dan's favorite) recipes that I have come up with since the GD diagnosis.  It really feels indulgent.  If you are finding that carbs like quinoa are spiking your sugars, try a vegetable side instead.  I will post a great generic veggie roasting tip in a few days for your reference.  The nice thing about this one is that it takes maybe 25 minutes.

Ingredients (serves 4):
16 oz of grass-fed ground beef (or bison if you want something a little leaner and earthier)
1/2 bag of pre-washed spinach or baby spinach
1/3 cup of pine nuts
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup uncooked quinoa
4 oz goat cheese
2 tbsp. faux butter (I like the Earth Balance made with olive oil)

Begin by cutting your 16 oz of meat into 4 equal pieces, and then hand-smooshing them into patties.  place in a lightly-oiled pan together and let them start to cook on med/high.  Salt and pepper to your liking (you won't need too much- the topping is flavorful).  Flip them when they look like they have almost cooked to their centers (when viewing from the side)
put your cup of quinoa and a cup of water into a pot and bring to a rolling boil, then lower the heat so it is simmering while you work on the rest of your meal.  Once the water is completely evaporated, turn off the heat and mix in a little faux-butter.
In another pan, pour a little olive oil and then dump your spinach leaves.  Allow them to wilt and toss them around a little.  Once they are completely wilted, mix in your pine nuts and goat cheese.  Combine until the goat cheese is completely melty and the mixture looks a little like fancy creamed spinach. 
On a salad-sized plate, place your burger, top with the spinach mixture, and add a side of the quinoa.
It's really, really lovely, promise.