Hello Big Belly!
It seems like my stomach has grown faster and bigger over the past week than any other week! Which I hear happens... I'm going to be brutally honest on this post!! Which I assume is what you want. Once I hit 26 weeks, things started to get tough. Acid reflux kept me up at night, leg cramps started and back pain had increased. I had been so happy with my nearly pain free pregnancy and healthy approach that I thought I was in the clear! Well, baby got the best of me! I have to say though, learning how to deal with the situations and preventing them from happening again or getting worse REALLY helps (if it's possible). Here's what I did: Acid reflux was worst at night. I am now eating dinner SUPER early (don't think I'm crazy), but I try to eat around 5:30pm. This gives me time to digest. I also have cut my meals into smaller portions so that I can break it down better inside my body. It helps! When I sleep at night, I prop myself up slightly so that digestion flows better and it makes a difference! For the leg cramps, besides stretching my calves like CRAZY, I ended up icing them in the middle of the night! There was really nothing else I could think of and stretching wasn't working at that point. The ice actually did wonders! I have been trying to sit down more and get off my feet (not really possible though) but it seems to help. And lastly, my back pain. I've been having back pain in a spot you wouldn't think, the middle. My middle back has been hurting a lot lately. I tried foam rolling it and working out the muscles, but still no good. I read that the ribs actually condense a little to make room for the baby and the possibility of a pinched nerve is likely. However, I'm no doctor so I figured seeing a Chiropractor would help. I will be going tomorrow and will give an update! Workouts have been getting tougher and so has the creative process! Trying to do different exercises each week that can accommodate to a growing belly without causing discomfort is a challenge! Let's talk about weight gain. I have been getting a lot of comments here and there that I "look small." I honestly don't know how to react to this comment because I feel HUGE and because I don't really know how big I am supposed to be!! The good news is, everyone grows at different rates and everyone holds babies differently. I know a lot of women get offended when they're called small during pregnancy, but honestly, I feel good and feel like I am the right size I'm supposed to be, so I don't care what people say. So how much weight have I gained so far is the big question? Whelp, in the beginning I lost 5 pounds from food aversion and nausea and then gained it back in the second trimester. It took me a LONG time before I started showing, but I am happy to report I'm right on track at about 17-18 pounds. I have been conscious of my weight gain and have been trying very hard to gain the RIGHT amount of weight from the RIGHT food. It makes a huge difference, in my opinion. Stay tuned for week 28 as things continue to get interesting!!
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AuthorCristina Panagopoulos is the owner and founder of CW Physique, an in-home personal training and nutrition company. She has been in the fitness industry for over a decade and loves helping others transform their lives. She is certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a personal trainer and metabolic coach along with American Fitness Professionals & Associates certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Over the years, Cristina gained specialty certifications through the American Council of Exercise for Orthopedic Exercise and Pre and Post Natal Exercising. Cristina started this blog as a casual and personal journey through her experiences of pregnancy and later on motherhood. She wants to educate females on proper fitness and nutrition who are going through pregnancy and motherhood. For more information, please email Cristina directly at [email protected] Archives
October 2016
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