YBC® Editorial Director LG is nearing the end of her second pregnancy and is back today with one of her last updates before baby boy #2 arrives! I hope you’re enjoying this new series - comment below and let me know! XO Candace
Two months (and two days) until our lives will forever change once again. I cannot believe how much I changed as a person with the birth of my first baby, and I don’t know how it’s possible to produce and share even move love and patience with another human being than I do right now. I also don’t know how it’s possible to care for another human being while tending to a rambunctious, wild, inquisitive, active 16 month old! But I guess in both cases - you just do! Right? People do it (and more) all the time. That doesn’t mean I’m not terrified if I can handle caring for two babies or not, and it doesn’t mean I’m not worried about giving birth again, and that I’m not scared of brining home a tiny, helpless, fragile newborn baby and going through those initial sleepless nights, days and weeks again. All of these worries have been cycling through my head as I get closer and closer to the due date and I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of, sort of, absolutely, really scared. On top of all these anxieties creeping up, we just had the biggest move of our lives and I’m overwhelmed trying to get the new place organized, unpacked and settled before the baby arrives. So, onto my nutrition and fitness!
Nutrition
Ok, to be honest, at this point, it is what it is! I was doing great at tracking my pregnancy macros last trimester and reigning things in after the holidays but with this move, all of that has gone out the window. But to be honest, I doubt I’ve even been eating enough calories throughout the day to compensate for the additional human being I’m growing and all the activity I do from going to the gym to chasing Teddy to packing boxes. Things caught up with me a few days ago and I had numerous contractions throughout the day and became very dizzy. I realized this was my body screaming for me to slow down, get some rest, and drink (a lot of) water. I handed Teddy to my husband and took a long bath and then laid down for the rest of the evening. I try to make healthy choices but sometimes life happens and you just have to do what you can and give yourself a break. I just don’t have the time, patience or brain capacity at the moment to plan a meal or track a macro. And I ain’t mad about it.
Mentality
I think I recall last time saying I felt so much better lately. Well, with my husband traveling more, Teddy being sick and this move, along with my increasing insomnia (pregnancy side effect) and anxieties over the arrival of baby 2, I’m so overwhelmed. I feel like there’s so much that still needs to be done to prepare both myself and the household for the new baby that I’m feeling more and more overwhelmed. I don’t know if any of you moms can relate, but I’m also sad at the thought of losing so much time with Teddy with the arrival of our new baby, and the dynamic changing (though in a good way).
So what am I doing to alleviate some of these feelings? For one, I made a to-do list. This seems simple but usually I just keep a mental checklist and this adds to the feelings of anxiousness because I’m constantly running through things in my mind and adding to or taking away. There’s something about writing it down and being able to cross things off as you go that frees up some mental space and adds some relaxation. Two, I’m reaching out for help. While we don’t have family here, we do have some good friends and while I always feel bad asking for help or taking people up on their offers, I did this time around and it was so amazing! And finally, I put things into perspective. It’s hard to look at all the things you need to get done and not feel overwhelmed but telling yourself that hanging drapes and going through my boxes can wait, and that it will all get done eventually, has been a huge help. It’s hard but I’m doing it and we’ll be fine. Moving to a larger home is a blessing and not something that I should be complaining about - and I only have myself to blame for accumulating so many things.
Workouts
You can probably guess that I haven’t been making it to the gym as often as I’d like these last few weeks. Actually, I missed all of last week, and this hasn’t happened in over a year. But I had to focus on taking care of a sick baby, booking movers, reserving the loading dock, packing items, moving boxes and unpacking everything, and there just wasn’t time in the day to get it done. I went back for the first time today and did a slow warm up, walking for 10 minutes on a small incline, followed by a back workout - which I’ve been trying to do at least twice a week.
One thing that happens to a woman’s body when carrying a baby is a weakening and rounding of the upper back (thoracic kyphosis) as a result of he added weight and strain of larger breasts and a larger belly. In addition, we tend to develop a slight curve inward along the lower spine (lumbar lordosis) from trying to balance the shifting center of gravity of a protruding belly. To help combat these issues, I really try to think about my posture during the day as well as work on my back and core muscles when working out. I also try to work on my glutes to help support the shifting alignment of my hip bones. Arms and legs have been on the back burner lately and that’s ok!
Photo courtesy of Pinterest
A typical back workout would be (and this is for both prenatal and regular workouts):
Warmup:
4 min row or 10 min walk on treadmill
10 banded lateral arm walks each way: Start in an extended plank position with a resistance band just below elbows. Moving right arm and right leg simultaneously to the right, followed by left arm and left leg, ‘walk’ to the right 10 times and then back to the left 10 times. Be sure to focus on holding a strong plank position throughout.
Alternatively, if you feel uncomfortable in a plank position while pregnant, you can stand with feet hip-width distance apart and with a resistance band over your forearms. Extend your arms straight and raise them shoulder heights and pulse your arms in and out, against the resistance of the band, 10-15 times (x3 sets)
10 inchworms (with or without pushup): Start in a standing position with feet hip-width distance apart, and hinge at the hips placing hands on the ground. Walk your hands forward into an extended plank position (option for pushup) and then walk hands back towards feet and return to standing.
Back workout:
4 sets of seated or bent over rear delt fly with dumbbells*
4 sets of machine pull downs*
4 sets of machine seated rows*
4 sets of one-arm dumbbell rows using bench*
*increase weight with each set, but lower reps. Start with 12 reps at your lightest weight, then gradually work down to 6 reps at your heaviest weight.
Cool down:
15-20 minute fully body stretch
So next time you’ll hear from me will be at the tail end of this trimester, just before baby 2 arrives. If you’re looking for more pregnancy or mom-fitness you can always check out my blog, www.thatgingerlatte.com.