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[HouseofPeace]

this was awesome ^^

thanks for your honesty and directness!

i've been walking- but have dropped down to 4x a week from 7-9x a week as i'm just more tired, husband has been working more, and i don't have good walking shoes for the winter.  my chacos are even getting a little narrow (my feet are more hooves than feet- 7 WIDE, and i can't ever find good shoes that are wide enough and wintery) but it's too chilly most days for chacos anymore....

and today i crossed over officially to waddling and all my padding felt so, well, squishy and padded.  it was hot and my hands swell when i walk in heat.  i did spend a good portion of yesterday and much of the week, dancing around like a maniac w/ my kids.  the belly is at such a fun stage right now.  awkward, distinct, but it hasn't taken over my body yet.  i finally am SHOWING beyond question, and that's been fun for conversations.  but i am feeling a little out of shape and tired, but i know this happens.

i did get to feed a 1 week old calf on my walk.  babies of all species are making me googly.....

[shazrael]

I'm doing water aerobics once a week and using an elliptical for 30 minutes and weight machines for another 30 once or twice a week. The class is called AquaFit at the local YMCA and it is seriously amazing. When I finished the first hour and got out of the pool I felt like I had had a full body massage. It's all women ages 70-90, another pregnant woman, and me. We use floaty weights, and I'm the only one in the class who uses the lightest/heaviest blue ones. It is the only point in my life right now where I feel at all strong or badass. The elliptical and weight machines have started getting more difficult, so in a couple weeks I'm going to start a second water class.

Overall I feel pretty healthy. I'm now at 22 weeks just hitting the weight at which I started my last pregnancy, and my BP is so different this time around. With DS1 it was almost always around 120/80, but now I am down to 110/60.

[Chloe'sMama]

This week was pretty spotty for me and exercise..... I ran 2 or maybe 3 days (I think....) and did my work out video 1 time....  I am used to doing something at least 5-6 days a week, so it feels like i didn't do enough this week.

I weighed myself today and am up 12 lbs from pre-pregnancy weight (17 lbs from bottom weight).  I have been gaining a pound a week for the last month, so nice and steady.  I am almost to my final weight when I was pregnant with DD2.... that is a bummer, but trying to not stress about the weight.  I started out 10 lbs lighter with DD2 and only gained 22 lbs with her.  I want to gain 30 this time to hopefully help my milk supply and help babe gain more weight when he is born.  

How is everyone else doing with the weight gain?

[HouseofPeace]

weigh-in....

i'm up 20lbs from prepregnancy weight.  up to 150 from 130.  i went up to 165 w/ my first, 168 w/ my 2nd, 172 w/ my 3rd and 4th.  i'm not nursing this pregnancy, which shifts things (my last 2 pregnancies i was nursing throughout) and it seems like a lot of weight, but i'm not eating a whole lot at all.  some days i write down everything just to make sure i'm getting enough!  and i got no morning sickness and have stayed active the entire pregnancy.  i seem to need about that, have lost the weight in about 5 months, and have a great milk supply (tandem nursing for the last 2 pregnancies w/ toddlers).  

i'm trying not to worry as i never gain a lb a week at the end, but usually stabilize from week 38-42 though the baby gets a lot bigger.  no amount of exercise seems to cut my weight back, and usually i'm doing a lot of weight-bearing activities so my muscles are also gaining while the rest of me gets heavier.  and usually even when tandem nursing, i pump extra and give it away to other mamas in need as i have a supply that is rather insane for the first 4 months and other mamas sometimes need a little help.  

[Teles]

I'm up to 17.5lbs total weight gain so far, but it's been a sketchy climb that started with losing 5lbs, gaining 2lbs, gaining 5.5lbs, then gaining 10lbs. I've never been this pregnant before so I'm not sure if this is a normal pattern for me, but I don't have any stretch marks yet and I'm still wearing my normal jeans with a belly band, so I'm trusting that my body isn't gaining too much too fast.

Admittedly, last month was not my proudest month in terms of junk food and included cake and chocolate a little more frequently than I'll be indulging in for the next few months. I've been eating really healthy, but with some cake thrown on top. This month I plan to focus a bit more on the healthy food and see what happens with my weight as a result.

Also, the doctor said that baby is measuring normal, but big-normal so she might just be a big baby in the end. I guess we'll see.
 

[loveandgarbage]

I checked my current weight gain against an online calculator (that told me to gain 28-40 lbs) and was surprised to learn that I'm on the top range of my parameters already for what week I'm in. I don't like paying attention to every pound (I don't even have a scale)... I'm more of the "if I feel good, I'm good" philosophy. But I was surprised because I'm only 13 over my pp weight (but had to make up for some 1st tri loss) and I feel like I should be heavier at this point. With DS1 I gained a lot of weight (65 lbs) but gained it steadily. With DS2 I gained a more "normal" amount of weight (between 40-45 lbs, can't remember exactly) but gained most of that the 3rd trimester. And I was VERY active that pregnancy. I think some people's bodies just put on more weight during pregnancy so I don't sweat it. Even though baby size and mama weight weight don't always correlate... I'm a worried I'm growing a tiny little thing in there! DS2 was just over 8 lbs at birth and I thought he was sooooo small and delicate.  

[LadyCatherine185]

I go in this week for a MW appointment, but I feel like I have gained a lot in the last month... I was only up about 5 lbs from PP weight at my last appointment, so I guess it is time to start gaining. ;) My belly has definitely gotten MUCH bigger, and I feel bigger all over really. :/ I have NOT been making good food choices, or exercising more than 2x a week, but I have been staying really active with the boys and cleaning the house and house projects etc etc... we will see how much I've gained on Wednesday!

[typebug]

Originally Posted by Teles 

I'm officially calling it at 6 months: I hate prenatal yoga. I really love regular yoga and have been doing it for years now, but I seriously hate the slow pace of the prenatal stuff and trying to manage my messy body (dripping nose, gas, poo balance) is stressful and distracting.

I'm also no longer running due to the iffiness of the whole thing with my definitely pregnant body in addition to the sciatic nerve pain that flairs up when I even power walk. I also seriously dislike indoor pools as a person who grew up next to the ocean.

All of this has led me to the following conclusion: I will walk and maybe do the occasional squat for the remainder of my pregnancy, but I'm not going to do any other kind of exercise and I refuse to feel bad about that. If I gain slightly more weight as a result, I can deal with that after Baby is born and I can get back to running and normal, enjoyable yoga. It's just not worth the misery otherwise.

I feel you! I had my first really frustrating week with my Pilates class where I was trying desperately to keep up even with my very modified versions of everything but all of a sudden my low back and lower abs were just not there and I'm in pain now! My osteopath said no more plank positions and nothing that does any bridging or downward dog kinda stuff...  I'm also not a huge fan of the prenatal yoga either. It's $40 a session, I do a few positions that stress my back and then we basically take a nap. I get no real muscle work out at all. I'm getting very bored of not being active but my body is hurting. Well cheers to putting our feet up. I think I'll really take it easy this week and also try not to feel bad about it. :)

[eminvc]

I am giving myself a break as well...if I do something 4 times a week, I will consider that a good accomplishment. I swim one day a week and do prenatal yoga one day a week--I actually love prenatal yoga but maybe it's because I just really love the teacher! Then 2 days a week I do either part of a video that's pilates-like or light weights.

I was taking prenatal pilates from an actual pregnant teacher, which was great. She really understood modifications and was great. Then she had her baby and the replacement teacher was someone in her early 20's who had never been pregnant and didn't seem to understand the prenatal part very well--not only could I not keep up, but I had to point out modifications to her (no lying on your back positions!). That really didn't work for me, so I quit going.

I am really not doing anything cardio-like except the once per week swim. Given that my heart thumps and I get out of breath just brushing my teeth and getting dressed, I think that's okay!
 

[kellybeth]

i don't have a space to do any of my workouts except daily stretching, pelvic floor exercise and kegels. living with family in limbo until the place is ours is making me batty. cannot wait to nest and not live out of a suitcase. blech

[Brambleberry]

I really cannot live without my prenatal yoga.  I just follow a dvd, and do as much or as little of it as I have time/energy for.  I do it at least once a week, but ought to do it more.  When I really get uncomfortable and can't make time to do much the positions that help the most are the hands and knees poses - especially flowy cat.  They help my poor squished intestines settle into a more comfortable arrangement with my expanding uterus.  And I try to squat several times throughout the day too.  

[BaMo]

Teles - If you were doing "regular" yoga before - you can always go back and do it now. I did hot yoga (although not recommended) up until the 3rd tri with both my kiddos. I'm can't do it this time because I haven't been done it in about 2 1/2 years (moved and couldn't find a studio that I liked). Go to a regular yoga class and just do the modifcations - if you need too.

[Dia]

Originally Posted by BaMo 

Teles - If you were doing "regular" yoga before - you can always go back and do it now. I did hot yoga (although not recommended) up until the 3rd tri with both my kiddos. I'm can't do it this time because I haven't been done it in about 2 1/2 years (moved and couldn't find a studio that I liked). Go to a regular yoga class and just do the modifcations - if you need too.

 Yep, this is what I have been doing too, and it works great! I gave up on prenatal yoga and have just continued with my regular yoga classes. I modify anything I need to, like poses where we're on our bellies, etc. I can't over emphasize how great it makes me feel, especially while pregnant.

(As a bonus, the baby seems to like it - feels like he's dancing in there while I practice. :) )

[clarkey]

i've been doing zumba 2-3 times per week.  if i can't make it to a class or it's cancelled because of weather, i do 'just dance' on the wii for an hour.  i get two classes in pretty consistently, though i have had to alter a lot of the jumping/hopping type of movement to walking steps and i always have to wear my support band.  it feels good to still be able to move like this in week 25.  not sure how long i can continue though; i'm getting pretty winded all the time.  weight-wise, i've gained close to ten lbs, but i was overweight before. i think all the exercise and my improved diet have made me lose fat while gaining baby weight, so what i've really gained is impossible to tell.

[typebug]

My back pain and pelvic instability seems to be getting better. I'm also feeling less daunted by the braxton hicks so I'm pushing myself this week to keep trying. ;) Off to to pilates again tonight to see if I can keep aware of my body enough that it feels good and is still doing something. Fingers crossed. :) 

[Chloe'sMama]

Well, now we are getting close and the holidays are (almost) over.  Lets get each other back on track.  

I have fallen off the wagon almost completely.  I have been walking every few days, if that and have not been running at all.  Last time I did (maybe early last week) it was comical how heavy I felt.  I am hoping to get a few days of work out videos and a few days of walking in each week.  Yoga would be nice to add in.  I need to find my birth ball and start hanging out on that when watching TV too.

I ran almost 10 miles a week up until DD2's birth.  I actually ran on the day before she was born and felt so good.  I need to kick my butt into gear.  I want to feel strong going into this birth.

How is everyone else?

[kellybeth]

Originally Posted by Chloe'sMama 

Well, now we are getting close and the holidays are (almost) over.  Lets get each other back on track.  

I have fallen off the wagon almost completely.  I have been walking every few days, if that and have not been running at all.  Last time I did (maybe early last week) it was comical how heavy I felt.  I am hoping to get a few days of work out videos and a few days of walking in each week.  Yoga would be nice to add in.  I need to find my birth ball and start hanging out on that when watching TV too.

I ran almost 10 miles a week up until DD2's birth.  I actually ran on the day before she was born and felt so good.  I need to kick my butt into gear.  I want to feel strong going into this birth.

How is everyone else?

ditto, i haven't done diddly the past couple weeks, though not because of the holidays. i just don't feel like doing anything. i do take a daily morning walk though, and the amount of stairs that i go up and down daily is ridiculous. daily squats against the wall with birthing ball, too.

i'm just waiting for the all kids to get back in school so i can go swimming again without getting kicked out of the deep end when they start using the diving board. boooo

[buko]

Not sure if I mentioned it here or in the March group, but my goal has been to exercise (mostly walking/jogging or yoga) 150 days this pregnancy-- ~38 weeks from ovulation to birth, so about 4x/week on average. That's so I am more concerned with consistency than hardcore goals.

June I did some, July and August were like 5-8 days each month bc of m/s and feeling rundown, but I got in gear after that. Slacking slightly in the past couple weeks, but I am up to 105 days? Due March 1, so I am hopeful I can do 45 days of the next 61, assuming I go exactly 40 weeks (LOL).

Definitely finding prenatal yoga helpful for pubic pain-- but then again, I never did yoga before pregnancy, so I have nothing to compare it to. So far I've been lucky that none of the exercise I've done has been too uncomfy-- plus DH happily does a lot of it with me. Company is nice.

[HouseofPeace]

walking a lot still over here. 

and the last 2 days (skipping today) we went sledding for hours.

i went down the hill on an inner tube.  not the whole hill.  but it was pretty crazy for, what, 8 1/2 months....

but carrying kids up and down a 300 ft hill in snow was quite a workout.  taking a break today since i'm ACHING.  not sure if it's RL pain, but laying down i feel fine, sitting (for short periods) but i also spent probably 8 hours on my feet yesterday making late christmas treats for all our friends (most were out of town) and then sledding.  

i got some glute exercises for post partem, but really want to try a few.  i'm scared about my balance a bit (but i'll hike up and down frozen hills of snow and ice?).  

actually feeling very strong and fit and just need more energy!

didn't have many treats over christmas, (husband made sure to comment on that) but had a nice restful christmas and feeling ready for the next adventure.  probably sledding again tomorrow.  my 21 month old is INSANE.  she wants to ride down solo and then expects us to run down and bring her back up.  husband tries to ride down with her and she gets mad at him b/c she wants to drive her own crazy car.  this is a 100 foot downhill at least (if you don't go all the way down).  and my 3 year old usually needs a carry back up and she's 40lbs easy.  i call my program 'baby-fit'.  you must be very very toned and balanced to even start at the level i'm at!!!

[typebug]

I'm slowly easing my transition from my bed rest to being up more and walking a little. I thought I'd share the process since it's not one I had any idea i'd get to do. I honestly thought once bed rest was begun, that was it for the pregnancy.

In December I was restless so I did a private yoga session and a private pilates session to figure out what I could do in bed or sitting up with minimal strain on the pelvis. That was a really positive boost for me. I felt a little more engaged with my body again. It's a pricy way to go but it gave me some tools I didn't have for coping with bed rest.

My osteopath has been working on releasing the ligaments and muscles that have been seized up and he was convinced that this was behind the constant braxton hicks too. It seems he was right. As my alignment shifted and muscles started to let go the patterns of contractions changed and I went back to having fewer in a row and feeling much more able to be on my feet again. The ligament pain decreased and overall I think there was a huge release just a couple of weeks ago. 

So little by little I've worked up my walking again. I am up to doing a 1km flat walk with my husband a few times a week and I'm doing a private session once a week with my pilates teacher. We mostly do arms and some gentle work with the legs - but no abs, squatting or lunging. My goal is just to gently move a little each day and take rests in between active times. I'm happy with at least being able to do 1km... that means I can get to the gelato place... ;) 

At  37 weeks I'm planning to book another session with the birth yoga lady for my husband and I to do a session with her together to learn a bunch of positions for preparing for birth and some things we can use in labour to move the baby along. Hubby is really into this idea as he used to do yoga too. I'm hoping he can help me remember positions when I'm in labour. 

So that's it! My slow re-emergence from bed. I'm feeling very grateful for everything right now.