Pregnant & Scared (To Exercise)? Don't Be.
As I sit here typing this post, I am currently 8.5 months pregnant (due July 14th but 2 cm dilated so maybe a bit sooner). I'm also currently in the process of planning to run my 6th half marathon in Savannah, GA. on November 8, 2014, which will be 4 months after giving birth to my second baby boy. I cannot wait to lace up my running shoes and hit the pavement with my other running girlfriends as soon as possible, although the thought of running with a double jogging stroller is a tad less thrilling - downright hellacious - now that I think about it. All of this may sound a bit ambitious post-baby, but I assure you, it's not if you've taken care of your pregnant body - meaning that you eat relatively healthy (considering the weird pregnancy cravings) and exercise (despite the nausea, weight gain, and bouts of fatigue).
As you proceed, remember that I'm not a doctor. I can only share my personal pregnancy experiences with you in hopes that you might get a good laugh with a bit of practical, straightforward advice and encouragement thrown in.
With that said, I did ask my doctor before continuing to exercise whether or not it was "safe." My doctor along with other reputable pregnancy and fitness experts on the Internet all said the same thing: Barring health-related issues that can arise from pregnancy, a pregnant woman can continue whatever physical activities (within reason) in which she was previously engaged. This means you can't decide to become an "active" person after confirming that you're pregnant. You'll do more harm than good at that point. Fitness has to already be an integral part of your current lifestyle. So, if you plan on being a physically fit pregnant woman and would label your current level of activity as "sedentary," then you need to get off your butt while you still can (before it expands to unimaginable proportions with each month of growing an additional human life).
Before I found out I was pregnant with baby Hornbuckle number two, I had committed to running and training for the Rock n' Roll New Orleans half marathon with some girlfriends, two of which were first-time half marathoners and one of which was brand new to the sport of running itself. The latter (Kristin) made me swear that I'd still cross the finish line with her on race day...pregnant or not. I told her that I had no intention of getting pregnant any time soon. I mean, come on, Charlie was only 8 months old when I made said commitment. Me, pregnant? Not for another year or so at least (I promised).
It was a good thing Kristin had the foresight to make me swear a finish line oath, because 8 weeks into our training schedule, I discovered that I was pregnant once again. And while I firmly believe that pregnancy is not a handicap (and should never be treated as such), part of me wanted to back out and use my baby news as an excuse. Lucky for me, my sweet friend reminded me of my promise: pregnant or not, I was crossing the finish line with her. So, I completed the Rock n' Roll New Orleans half marathon at exactly 3 months pregnant to the day. It will forever be one of my most memorable accomplishments. Although I've been surrounded by strong women my entire life, I proved to my (pregnant) self that I was one of them, that I too had earned that monicker, and that maybe I could be an example of strength and perseverance for others.
In hindsight, keeping my commitment was one of the best decisions I made because it paved the way for a healthy, active pregnancy by having a well-conditioned body used to exercise and hard work (which makes for a much easier...and believe it or not...more pleasant...labor and delivery, as well as a more speedy post-baby recovery).
Even after the half marathon, I continued to run but was advised by my doctor to taper off on my weekly mileage. I was able to keep jogging comfortably up to month seven with a distance of 1-2 miles at a time. Around 7.5 months pregnant, however, I became a walker due to some slight discomfort and a lot of lower back pain. Even with a decrease in mileage and a switch to a less strenuous version of my previous physical activities, it was (and still is) important to me to do something every day, to keep putting one foot in front of the other whether walking for exercise, pushing Charlie in his stroller, or walking our dog Moose up until baby James' due date.
In addition to maintaining cardio health (which some studies show to have a direct impact on the baby's heart health as well), it was and is important to me to maintain my physical strength. For this part of my fitness regimen, I swear by Pure Barre, a fusion workout based on combining the disciplines of yoga, pilates, ballet, and light weight training. It's a total body workout that keeps my muscles lean but strong, and it's something that I have been able to do throughout my pregnancy. I completed my last session of Pure Barre classes this week and will resume as soon as possible after James' arrival as part of the local PB studio's "Bounce Back After Baby" package (Click here for testimonials from moms who "bounced back" using Pure Barre). I credit Pure Barre with giving me the core strength and focus I needed for pushing during labor and delivering quickly (only 15 minutes with Charlie).
I'd finally like to wrap up this blog post with some (hopefully helpful and insightful) nuggets of pregnancy wisdom...that mostly have to do with eating...and I like eating...A LOT:
I really feel that at this point I'm forgetting some important information I had planned on imparting to pregnant women everywhere, but I'm blaming my memory wipe on "pregnancy brain" and concluding with this: Please don't count the number of times the pronoun "I" was used in this blog post because it's a large sum in addition to being incredibly self-indulgent and ridiculous (Oh well, at least I didn't include any pictures of myself. That has to count for something.).
Is it time to go to the hospital yet?
As you proceed, remember that I'm not a doctor. I can only share my personal pregnancy experiences with you in hopes that you might get a good laugh with a bit of practical, straightforward advice and encouragement thrown in.
With that said, I did ask my doctor before continuing to exercise whether or not it was "safe." My doctor along with other reputable pregnancy and fitness experts on the Internet all said the same thing: Barring health-related issues that can arise from pregnancy, a pregnant woman can continue whatever physical activities (within reason) in which she was previously engaged. This means you can't decide to become an "active" person after confirming that you're pregnant. You'll do more harm than good at that point. Fitness has to already be an integral part of your current lifestyle. So, if you plan on being a physically fit pregnant woman and would label your current level of activity as "sedentary," then you need to get off your butt while you still can (before it expands to unimaginable proportions with each month of growing an additional human life).
Before I found out I was pregnant with baby Hornbuckle number two, I had committed to running and training for the Rock n' Roll New Orleans half marathon with some girlfriends, two of which were first-time half marathoners and one of which was brand new to the sport of running itself. The latter (Kristin) made me swear that I'd still cross the finish line with her on race day...pregnant or not. I told her that I had no intention of getting pregnant any time soon. I mean, come on, Charlie was only 8 months old when I made said commitment. Me, pregnant? Not for another year or so at least (I promised).
It was a good thing Kristin had the foresight to make me swear a finish line oath, because 8 weeks into our training schedule, I discovered that I was pregnant once again. And while I firmly believe that pregnancy is not a handicap (and should never be treated as such), part of me wanted to back out and use my baby news as an excuse. Lucky for me, my sweet friend reminded me of my promise: pregnant or not, I was crossing the finish line with her. So, I completed the Rock n' Roll New Orleans half marathon at exactly 3 months pregnant to the day. It will forever be one of my most memorable accomplishments. Although I've been surrounded by strong women my entire life, I proved to my (pregnant) self that I was one of them, that I too had earned that monicker, and that maybe I could be an example of strength and perseverance for others.
In hindsight, keeping my commitment was one of the best decisions I made because it paved the way for a healthy, active pregnancy by having a well-conditioned body used to exercise and hard work (which makes for a much easier...and believe it or not...more pleasant...labor and delivery, as well as a more speedy post-baby recovery).
Even after the half marathon, I continued to run but was advised by my doctor to taper off on my weekly mileage. I was able to keep jogging comfortably up to month seven with a distance of 1-2 miles at a time. Around 7.5 months pregnant, however, I became a walker due to some slight discomfort and a lot of lower back pain. Even with a decrease in mileage and a switch to a less strenuous version of my previous physical activities, it was (and still is) important to me to do something every day, to keep putting one foot in front of the other whether walking for exercise, pushing Charlie in his stroller, or walking our dog Moose up until baby James' due date.
In addition to maintaining cardio health (which some studies show to have a direct impact on the baby's heart health as well), it was and is important to me to maintain my physical strength. For this part of my fitness regimen, I swear by Pure Barre, a fusion workout based on combining the disciplines of yoga, pilates, ballet, and light weight training. It's a total body workout that keeps my muscles lean but strong, and it's something that I have been able to do throughout my pregnancy. I completed my last session of Pure Barre classes this week and will resume as soon as possible after James' arrival as part of the local PB studio's "Bounce Back After Baby" package (Click here for testimonials from moms who "bounced back" using Pure Barre). I credit Pure Barre with giving me the core strength and focus I needed for pushing during labor and delivering quickly (only 15 minutes with Charlie).
I'd finally like to wrap up this blog post with some (hopefully helpful and insightful) nuggets of pregnancy wisdom...that mostly have to do with eating...and I like eating...A LOT:
- Upon learning that you're pregnant, DON'T throw all caution to the wind and eat like you've paid for the privilege of 24/7 buffet dining on the cruise ship of your choice. YOU WILL REGRET IT.
- I've never dabbled in plastic surgery or essential oils, but in my experience, the ONLY way to avoid getting stretch marks while pregnant and to avoid fretting over them later is for your body to gain weight GRADUALLY (Remember what I said about eating like the prodigal son from a pig trough?).
- If you already have children, DON'T eat like them, especially while pregnant. What started off as a handful of tasty Goldfish snacks for them can quickly turn into the indulgence of an entire bag of cheesy, baked goodness for you. And that's not a good thing...if you were wondering (although it sounds deliciously divine at the moment).
- When it comes to exercising while pregnant, DON'T make excuses. Sure, I've vomited in my fair share of stranger's yards while out jogging, in Pure Barre studio bathrooms mid-workout, and out of my car window (or door) at a red light or parking lot, but I refused to let "morning" sickness get the best of me or force me into pregnancy hibernation. Which brings me to napping. Naps are good! But...don't nap instead of exercise. Do both. Plus, exercising really does rejuvenate and energize - even the pregnant woman who would prefer to nap 20 out of the 24 hours in a day.
I really feel that at this point I'm forgetting some important information I had planned on imparting to pregnant women everywhere, but I'm blaming my memory wipe on "pregnancy brain" and concluding with this: Please don't count the number of times the pronoun "I" was used in this blog post because it's a large sum in addition to being incredibly self-indulgent and ridiculous (Oh well, at least I didn't include any pictures of myself. That has to count for something.).
Is it time to go to the hospital yet?
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