26 weeks pregnant update

(See my first pregnancy post here)
 
I am almost in my third trimester- where has time gone?
My goal is to update weekly from here on out, I want to document this special time and I hope that my reflections are helpful to you as well!

One issue I wanted to touch upon is weight gain in pregnancy. Most pregnancy reflections include weight gained however mine will not. Why? First of all, I’m a health and wellness coach that helps women get healthy without focusing on weight. So- I find discussions of numbers when it comes to nutritional intake and weight to be unhelpful and even damaging.
 
Weight gain is a natural part of a healthy pregnancy however most women feel sensitive about this time in their lives. Personally I have experienced disordered feelings and actions when it comes to my body. My goal during pregnancy is to ease that anxiety as much as possible so I won’t be talking weight in my pre-natal blogs!
 
However I will be talking about my mood, workouts and feelings during this special time. Read on for an almost third trimester update!
 
Weeks Along: 
​26 weeks pregnant as of August 10, 2019

Total Weight Gain: 
I am being weighed at my midwife appointments but I’m avoiding the scale at home. I am noticing that my hips and lower stomach are aching more and my tailbone has been slightly painful for the past 10 weeks or so. This can happen when you’re pregnant due to round ligament pain. I’ve been doing cat cow stretches and a few other options from this list. I am noticing that I’m more out of breath and that my cardio capacity has decreased in the past two months. Weight gain is a normal and natural part of pregnancy so I’m taking it easy on my body and resting a lot as my body transitions!

Mood: 
I have been feeling very optimistic lately as I get ready to begin my third trimester. I am planning baby’s nursery, our baby shower and getting ready to host our families once baby arrives this fall! There is lots to look forward to.

Maternity clothes? 
Still rocking my StitchFix maternity jeans! I also ordered a few items from Amazon. So far I’ve found that I need longer tank tops and I’ve sized up in my leggings. I am eyeing some new workout tanks that I hope will last me for the next 10 weeks- I want something comfortable that breaths when I exercise.

Sleep: 
Sleep is my jam right now and I don’t see that stopping any time soon. I am grateful I can take afternoon naps multiple times a week after I train clients in the morning. Most nights I’m in bed by 10pm and up at 8:30am. I know once baby is here that will change so I’m enjoying the extra hours while I can.

Workouts: 
I am weightlifting 4 times a week now and I feel amazing. I am taking walks daily and will add in some incline treadmill or stair climber work on my lifting days. Pre-pregnancy I was lifting weights 5 times a week with little to no gym cardio. Instead I went for hikes, went swimming and spent time outdoors instead of traditional cardio activities. For my weights at the gym I've lowered my compound lifts (back squats, deadlifts, barbell rows) by about 50% or more. Being pregnant means I have a higher blood volume so my breathing is impacted during exercise. To help this I take my time when I'm exercising and listen if my body is saying to slow down. My midwife is 100% on board with me exercising and the only thing I'm avoiding is any jumping activities (trying to protect my pelvic floor as much as possible!), hip thrusts and the leg press. I'll also be joining a pre-natal fitness class this weekend and I'm pumped to connect with other moms! 

Diet & Nutrition: 
My appetite is BACK thank goodness. I am doing my best to eat every 3 hours, otherwise my energy tanks and I get exhausted with a headache.

Best moment this week: 
Feeling baby kick more during the day, it’s so wonderful to feel them move around. I also sent out invites to my baby shower and I am excited to see my loved ones next month to celebrate.

Miss anything? 
Lying down on my stomach- baby kicks every time I lie on stomach even a little bit.

Food cravings: 
Watermelon, grapes, raspberries, mangoes, pineapple…if it’s fruity I’m going to want it. I just hit Costco and purchased a HUGE container of organic grapes that I can’t wait to snack on this week. Fruit is great because it’s delicious, packed with nutrients and helps me stay hydrated in the warmer summer months.

Anything making you queasy or sick?  
My food aversions have lifted- hallelujah! I am now enjoying more vegetables and protein, luckily hardly any foods make me queasy.
 
Favorite meals include: 

• Rotisserie chicken, brown rice, broccoli or green beans with garlic
• Macaroni & cheese (boxed Annie’s is a favorite!)
• Caesar salad with grilled chicken
• Pizza (emphasis on bread and sauce, not too cheesy)
• Protein shakes with spinach, fruit, almond milk & Greek yogurt
• Greek yogurt with berries
• Eggs on toast

• Avocado toast

Gender: 
My husband and I are not finding out- looking forward to our surprise in November! I am designing the nursery right now and it’s fun to envision baby bird there, I can’t wait to meet them.

Labor signs: 
I started feeling Braxton Hicks contractions- this is where your uterus contracts involuntarily. They are perfectly normal and not harmful to me or baby! My stomach often feels tight and my bump gets harder when this happens. It’s interesting how the size and shape of my stomach changes during the day- the human body is incredibly amazing!

Symptoms: 
By the end of the day my feet are sore and sometimes feel hot. I’ve been icing them with a gel pack and that definitely feels great at the end of the day! Amniotic fluid is 99.5 degrees, which is warmer than your bodily temperature. Due to this and hormonal fluctuations you can experience hot flashes and excessive sweating. I’m doing my best to stay out of the sun, wear protective sun clothing and SPF 50 with a PA+++ rating. This will also help me avoid melasma, which is hyper-pigmentation that can occur when you’re pregnant.
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​Lily Fontas, Ed.M holds a master’s degree from Boston University and is a certified personal trainer and health coach. Her goal is to help others reach their health and wellness goals without blame, shame or dieting. She works with clients globally as a virtual coach and trains clients in-person in Oakland, CA. 

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