For those who want an honest and realistic picture of pregnancy, birth and raising three kids, then take a look at my #pregnancydiary and feel free get in touch with any comments, questions or suggestions.
Back in the game
After four months of insane sickness and then a chest infection I’m now back in the fitness game. I try to go swimming twice a week and do around 30 minutes of fast walking three times a week. This is usually on the school run when my kids on on their scooters and I am trying to keep with them.
I used to jog alongside them and then go running after dropping them off but my mum and hubby have forbidden me from running now. I tried to argue that it’s perfectly fine for women to keep exercising as normal during their pregnancies but then the midwife told me that a lot of pregnant women come into hospital in a panic after tripping over and falling whilst out running. According to my hubby I am likely to trip over cracks in the pavement!
More flexible
I recently bought this pregnancy yoga DVD after failing to find a pregnancy yoga class that was at a convenient time and wasn’t hideously expensive. At £14.99 it’s totally worth it.
I’ve started doing yoga now after my 30 minute morning walks and it’s amazing. I felt more flexible after the first day. Tara Lee shows you the movements alongside a heavily pregnant woman who shows you how to support your body if you find the yoga poses difficult or uncomfortable. There’s a hypnobirthing section on there too which is supposed to help you get into some trance like state for labour so you can manage the pain naturally… hmmm we’ll see about that!
No justice
I’m not going mad with working out as all the literature about exercise during pregnancy says not to push yourself too much. However I think it’s important to build up some kind of endurance for the birth. Sitting on the sofa and eating junk doesn’t give you the kind of strength and stamina you need for a 36 hour labour!
If you’d signed up for a marathon you’d train for it and I think the same applies to childbirth. I feel great after working out and it also means I stay in some kind of shape. Although the sad fact is that out of all my friends and family who have had kids around the same time as me, I’m the only one who has worked out during pregnancy but still look pregnant for 6 months afterwards while they are back in their size 10 jeans two weeks after giving birth. Where is the justice I ask you?!
Third time around I’m over the unfairness of it all and have accepted this is just the way my body is. I still feel better for working out.
How’s baby?
Baby is now around 30 cm long and weights about 500g. She has the proportions of a newborn now but is much smaller. There is just enough room for baby to still do somersaults but not for long! Kicks can now be felt, it’s a wonderful feeling!