If you did it before...

Since I'm not going to post my entire medical history or go into overly personal details about trauma and health, there are events during my pregnancy I won't be covering.   These are things for you and your doctor/midwife to go over and work through.  I do not have a medical degree, and beyond CPR and  First Aid certifications am not qualified in any sense to offer advice.

Instead, we can talk about options and decisions that need to be discussed during or even before pregnancy. 

To begin, EVERY  WOMAN IS DIFFERENT. 

Heeellloooooo Captain Obvious. 

We have different body types, blood types, habits, lifestyles, beliefs, allergies, health conditions, ect..the list goes on.  All the above plays into what happens during pregnancy PLUS MORE.
Not every pregnancy is going to follow the same template, what works for one woman may not be best for another.

It's best to be balanced and flexible, to listen to your body, ask questions, and slow down when needed. 

I could go on and on about what I did wrong and what helped me.  But please remember to consult your OB/midwife before making any drastic lifestyle/diet changes! (Heads up- this will start to sound like a broken record)

First off, if you are planning on getting pregnant go ahead and prep yourself.  By this I mean, do activities you want to be able to continue while pregnant.  The rule of thumb during healthy pregnancies is that you can continue the activities your body is already conditioned for.  This includes weight lifting and horseback-riding. 

Example:  

If you do Cross fit or HIIT, most likely you will be able to continue, modifying the exercises as your range adjusts. 

In fact, the more active you are before, during, and after your pregnancy the better.  For me, I hiked a lot, core work, and yoga.   I'm not a runner and competitive swimming is a thing of the past for me.   In my second trimester, I really cut down on the core exercises.  It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and at times painful. (listen to your body!!)  I was terrified of Diastis Recti, where you abdominal muscle become separated.  Once your muscle wall separates, "bouncing back" is less likely to happen without surgery.   Don't let this mislead you though!  Having a strong core made my delivery so much easier and shorter.  If you can, do pay attention to your core as well as your pelvic floor.  Both are key to a smoother delivery.

Camel pose never felt so good!
Photo taken by my instructor
Laura Messer! 

What helped both mentally and physically was yoga.  In fact, there were days I felt like skipping because I felt worn out or bleh and my husband would ask, "Don't you have yoga tonight?" He could tell the difference when I went.  It calmed and centered me.  I was challenged mentally and physically.  My instructor made sure the class had the right focus before we started our practice.  Your attention should not extend any further than your own mat.   There is no competition. No comparison.  You listened to your body, its needs.  You focus on your breathing and center.  Yoga helped me reel myself in and re-focus.  I had to stop and enjoy, to celebrate the new life growing inside me.  Pregnancy is no cake-walk. You need these moments of peace, because there are plenty of situations and new experiences that throw you off your game!

Yoga strengthened my pelvic floor, helped my breathing, and opened my hips.  All these things were boons throughout my pregnancy and during delivery.  Although I have no "proof" I believe (and it makes sense) that my yoga practice helped position my baby.  Head down and ready to rumble!


One activity I DO NOT recommend during any part of pregnancy is moving.  Whether its across town or to the other side of the country- bad idea.   If you do end up having to pack up and take off, get help (mentally or otherwise...ha!)

Granted, when we moved, I was working full time and taking classes that were kicking my butt.   I had less and less time for healthy habits.  Thankfully, I was in my second trimester and had a horde of family and friends who swooped in and took care of nearly everything. Still, the night before the move I was toting Rubbermaid tubs full of dishes and kitchen paraphernalia.  Pregnant women, see above rule of thumb listed at the beginning.  I was NOT in the practice of hauling around huge Rubbermaid tubs full kitchen equipment. And I paid for it. 

The next day I couldn't stand up.  I sat on the edge of my bed in tears.  It was excruciating pain to plant my feet on the floor and lean forward.  I lost count of the tries it took to finally stay  standing and take a step.  Don't ask me how I treated the pain or handled it.  I don't remember much other than staying in my leggings and turning the heated seat on in my car.

After moving, yoga classes were out of the question since my old studio was too far.  But I did continue to practice in my new home as much as possible.  I even incorporated a yoga ball. (yeah, ok it was more of a bouncy toy than anything else.) My activity decreased during my third trimester.  ALOT.  I won't go into the why and how. 

I got sick a few times.  My schoolwork took up most of my free-time outside of work. Moving was an ongoing process.  And the baby's room was chiefly taken care of by my husband and his mom.  (did I mention how much amazing help we had???) Exercise was continuously being pushed to the bottom of the list.  Please, don't be like me.  Prioritize your health.  When a pregnant woman prioritizes her health, what she is really doing is putting her child first.

What I didn't do but should have-

• Go to a Chiropractor for my pain

• Continue to go to yoga class weekly

• Re-evaluate getting a post-graduate degree (and the loans that came with it!)

• MORE CARDIO

• Join a pool

Hindsight is 20/20.  I had to slow down in my third trimester. Forced to even. As stated before, I won't be detailing anything.   Many pregnant women may face unavoidable trauma at point in their pregnancy.  You can't control everything.  As with most things in life- expectations are your enemy, flexibility is your friend.  

While I did take it easier, cardio was something I wish I'd increased.
It wasn't all bad though, I was able to hike 1.4 miles in my Birkenstocks at 39 weeks!
They were one of 2 pairs of shoes that fit my poor swollen feet.

I adjusted my activities during my final weeks.  And my foot wear!  Find out what is most comfortable FOR YOU.  Everyone is different. All of us come to this with varying backgrounds and from different walks of life.  Be open. Ask questions.  Expect for your world and you to change immensely. 

Please let me know if you have questions!  Is there a topic that you think I should write about?  Is there one you really are curious about?  I'd love to hear from you!  Feel free to comment!

So many questions!

Spanish Moss at Botany Bay Plantation

Sorry I've missed a couple weeks!  

Vacation and lack of motivation can be very strong. 

Once family knew about the pregnancy we still kept it pretty quiet other than telling bosses/co-workers.   It wasn't until the first trimester was over that we actually posted an announcement to social media.  

Just over 3 months pregnant!

I can't emphasize this enough.  WAIT to post on social media.  Losing an unborn child is devastating and sometimes having to answer questions repeatedly to acquaintances is painful.  I have not experienced this, but I know many families who still cherish the memory of a lost child. 

Ok transitioning to more cheerful and amusing topics...

First question everyone wanted the answer to when I was pregnant.  GO! 

Was it: 

A) How far along are you?

B) Boy or Girl???

C) What crazy food cravings have you had?

D) When are you due?

E) Can I feel the baby?

And 
the 
answer 
is
...
....
.....
......
.......
........
C


Everyone was insanely curious to know what bizarre food cravings I had.  Sadly, I was an extreme disappointment. 

First Trimester food cravings:

Not gonna lie, the first trimester was a blur.  I was nauseous and tired.  Everyday I got home and went straight to the couch for 30 min to 2 hours.  The smell and taste of coffee was just, well, UGH.  

What I did eat was mostly fruit.  I LOVED fruit. Specifically watermelon and berries.  For me, buying berries and pre-cut fruit is a splurge.  Considering that it was healthy and something I could handle with my endless nausea, it was worth small rise in my grocery budget. 

Second Trimester cravings: 

Past week 12 I no longer needed a prescription for my nausea.  I still couldn't really stand coffee, and there were some rough mornings, but I really turned a corner.  

Gone were the healthy cravings of my first trimester. (With the exception of strawberries, they were a constant in my mad world of food)   All I wanted from then on was the greasiest, creamy, sweet food a fast food diner could offer.  Burgers, fries, fired pickles, shakes...you name it- I ate it.  

It didn't help that I was very suggestible and we were watching ALOT of Bob's Burger's at the time!

Instagram become an endless supply of food porn.  I was hungry all the time and the greasier it was- the better.  Fried? gimme.  Salty? don't mind if I do! Sweet?  give it here! 

The berries I craved turned into Strawberry Cake and Chickfila shakes. 

Third Trimester cravings: 

Carbs.  I wanted all the carbs.  Not pregnant Ali doesn't really DO sweet.  I do not have a sweet tooth. Salt and Vinegar chips are my jam.  Pregnant Ali however...I wanted waffles all the time.  Granted, this craving started in my first trimester but it grew exponentially throughout.  By Christmas the 2 people who know me better than anyone else in the world BOTH gave me waffle irons. I don't know what wrong with America, but how come Waffle House is the only place that serves waffles??  I love the place but I needed TOPPINGS. Butter and syrup are a great start, but this preggers woman needed her waffle with cream, berries, and sometimes topped with fried chicken.  


Please note that none of the above cravings are unusual or odd.  They just went against everything I had started out wanting to do during my pregnancy.  It didn't help that everyone loves to tell you, "GO AHEAD!! You're eating for 2 after all!!"  

Ha.  Yeah, well, you're eating for you and a tiny human.  Small, and not needing all the fat and sugar people THINK they need.  I tried to be good.  Protein was a priority, as were vitamins and all the other good things you read up on.  However, the busier I was with classes, work, and eventually moving across town, the less time I had for stuff like meal prep or exercise.  (both of which I highly recommend for those wishing for fit/healthy pregnancy)

Don't get me wrong!  I had a great pregnancy.  The fat, grease, and sugar didn't harm me as much as one would think.  I attribute this the health and good shape I was in before my pregnancy.  The summer before I was pregnant, my husband and I tried a vegan diet for a month, hiked almost every weekend, and took a trip out west where we did several miles on foot or bike every single day for over a week.  

Note: In my last trimester I was fully back on the coffee bandwagon

During my pregnancy, I went from 125lbs my first month to 170lbs pre-labor/delivery.  That's quite normal for a pregnancy, but not ideal for everyone.  With my next pregnancy, I hope to gain significantly less, if only because I still have yet to fall underneath 150lbs.  

This blog is to share my journey and not to impose an expectations on anyone else regarding their pregnancy or health.  I learned a lot about myself on this journey, and hope that by sharing what I have found encourages others to pursue their best health in all endeavors.