32 weeks today! Which means I have 8 weeks left. Unless good karma kicks in – I totally let two people go ahead of me in line at the grocery store as they had way less items than I did; I know, someone saint me – and then I could possibly pop this kid out in 6! I wanted to write something really happy and positive about how continuing to exercise through my whole pregnancy has made this last part a breeze and how I’m still glad I’m Turbokicking butt this late in the game. But. I’m fighting off my third seriously nasty head cold in 6 weeks (and no I don’t think it’s related to the flu shot I got a week ago but rather I have no immune system when I’m pregnant). I’m tired all the time. I have chronic heartburn.
And I feel huge. Not just huge. Whale-esque. I’m so big and uncomfortable that rolling to my other side at night is such a production that I actually have to wake up to do it and use my arms. The best part of this end stage of pregnancy is what Heidi Klum cutely terms the “exploding” part of pregnancy. She says,
“The last month is unbelievable, how rapidly your stomach goes. It’s huge. The thighs, the butt—everything explodes in the end. But it’s bizarre. Just as it’s a miracle that you can grow a human being in your belly, it’s a miracle that your body goes back to normal again. I don’t think you ever get back to exactly the way you were, but you do get close. And I’m happy with that. Especially when you see your kid for the first time.”
She’s 100% correct. They say in the last month or so the baby gains 1/2 to 1 pound a week. You can imagine what that makes the mother gain. Of course she’s also right about the miracle of birth and the baby being worth all the trouble. And I’m sure I’ll remember that joy. In 6-8 weeks.
Oh right, I’m supposed to be telling you about exercise in the third trimester and not just whining? I’m going to be honest: it’s hard. All the trimesters (I say that like there are more than three – whatever, it feels like forever at this point) have their own challenges. The first tri you don’t need to make any physical modifications but the exhaustion and nausea certainly take a toll. The second tri you get some energy back but lose most ab work and cardio gets harder as the baby makes more of a demand on your cardiovascular system. The third tri, however, requires the most adjustments. You have to modify nearly every exercise you do.
Cardio
Walking up the stairs carrying a basket of laundry leaves me panting and so breathless I consider it my own version of the biathlon (you know, minus the rifles – although stranger things have happened in this house) so doing any actual aerobic exercise is quite the effort. I still do it but “low and slow” is my new mantra. While I do really enjoy the endorphin rush, it does hurt my pride to not be able to keep up as well in my favorite classes. If I push too hard I end up sacked out on the couch for the rest of the day – not really an option with other kids to care for and a job. Normally exercise gives me more energy but by the end of pregnancy I’m just so tired. The other thing – and I’m not sure at this point if it’s a bonus or a problem – is that cardio gives me mad Braxton-Hicks contractions. Not contractions as in “my water’s breaking, someone call an ambulance” but just uncomfortable tightenings that kinda take my breath away, not to mention my mind. (It was during one of these contractions that I forgot what I was doing and kicked Gym Buddy Dennis in Turbokick. Thankfully he was gracious enough to wave it off.)
Weights
Thanks to a little condition I like to call Hormone Hell, weight lifting has become its own challenge. The first issue is with the hormone aptly named relaxin. It’s responsible for loosening up your ligaments and joints so that the baby can squeeze its huge noggin (like an orange on a toothpick!) through your narrow pelvis. Unfortunately it does its job so well that all your joints get loosey goosey thereby making you less stable and more prone to injury. I’m clumsy enough these days without adding 20-lb dumbbells to the mix!
The other hormone involved is our favorite girl estrogen. In your last trimester of pregnancy your estrogen levels are about 400 times higher than they are at any other time in your life. This megadose of estrogen not only makes it nearly impossible to build muscle (similar to the effect you see when you go on the pill but on a much bigger scale) but also makes it very difficult to maintain the muscle you have. What is estrogen good for? Why storing fat of course! And yes I know the fat is good for the baby – especially if you carry it in your thighs – but it’s still frustrating to know that I’m losing muscle and gaining fat, pretty much the opposite of what every exercising woman is trying to do. The net result of all this hormone madness is that weight lifting feels a) really hard and b) futile. But I’m still doing that too – mostly in a last ditch effort to preserve some muscle mass. Plus I get to sit down a lot, something usually frowned upon in other forms of exercise.
Other Exercise
Even my beloved yoga is getting difficult. My gym doesn’t offer special prenatal classes and so I just do the regular ones and modify the poses but it seems like I’m spending an inordinate amount of time in down dog these days.
So have I convinced you all to never have children? Or made you glad your husband got that vasectomy five years ago? Or just made you really glad you’re a man? Then my work here is done.
I forwarded this to my prego friend. BTW Charlotte- you look nothing short of fantastic! Hang in there!
I second what Deb said: you look AMAZING! (I think I was about that size at 5 months during my last pregnancy.)
I walked a lot during my pregnancies. While I walked for the same amount of time, the distance I was able to cover got shorter and shorter, until it took me nearly 30 minutes to walk a square block.
Give yourself a break: as you said, you're growing another human being in there, and that takes a lot outta ya!
"I'm so big and uncomfortable that rolling to my other side at night is such a production that I actually have to wake up to do it and use my arms."
Ooooh, I remember that…I'm going to take this opportunity to say how grateful I am to NOT be pregnant. It's just horrible. Maybe I'm not supposed to say that and maybe for many people it's not, but dude. For me- there is no more miserable time than that last month. (ok, I'm not sure if I'm making you feel better or worse here) I just want to emphasize that I am really beginning to feel normal again. And although I've been through this four times, that didn't stop me from questioning whether or not I'd EVER not feel humungous, tired, and just plain crappy all. the. time.
You astound me with your ability to look cute, write well, and make me laugh even when you're supposed to be whining. ASTOUND, I say.
You're like those cute pregnant women I see walking around when I say " I hope I look that good when I'm pregnant"!
You kicked Dennis? Where was I??? LOL
You're amazing! In the last 8 weeks of my pregnancy, I was confined to bedrest, so the fact that you're able to move more than to and from the bathroom is absolutely incredible.
I love your fitness during pregnancy posts. I'm hoping to be able to use them in the next couple of years. 😉
you do look fantastic, Woman.
We
Need
More
Pics.
More frequent.
YOU make pregnancy and BEING FIT DURING look easy—which we all know it is not.
You look fantastic! I found that I loved the FitMama DVD's during the last trimester. That and walking the dog with DB was enough for me. Of course I did my last trimester in the middle of a Pennsylvania winter so I wouldn't be feel a huge urge to exercise anyway.
Good advice for the preggers though.
I agree–you look so awesome it makes pregnancy look like fun! Though from your vivid descriptions, I am SO glad to have missed out on the experience myself.
The fact that you are going to the gym at all and hanging in there for cardio, weights, and yoga totally amazes me. If I were hauling around a bowling ball strapped to my belly all day, I'd consider just staying out of bed to be exercise enough.
Granted this is easy to say after the fact, and also since our baby-growing factory has been shut down permanently (after the emergency hysterectomy from our second child my wife's been joking that she's been fired from that job), but even before she got pregnant with #2, I had said I wished there was a way I could do it. We had some problems with #1's entrance into the world, too, which is why I said it. At any rate, it's not happening. Even if it were medically possible, I don't think we can afford a third one. The reality is, I would be a slug of a gestating machine. Not slovenly, but stagnant. Sitting on the couch, eating whatever…and now you can really see what sleep deprivation does to the dad; no filter at all. And I'll leave it, too.
Joshua
The Technical Parent
Thought you would like to know that Sarah (Calorielab editor) delivered her baby! The baby was premature at 33-1/2 weeks, 4
pounds, 13 ounces and 18 inches long. As far as I know, they are both doing fine! That's why our site is taking a break for a bit.
I love your pregnancy posts 🙂 I can't believe you're so close to delivery! I'm only at like 22 weeks and already having some of the troubles you are. The worst has been peeing my pants while doing jumping jacks.
and what's up with the colds? After years without, I've had one cold after another for the past month. Of course it's the point of my life when I can't even take anything really good to knock it out…
Keep up the great work! You look fantastic!
Thanks Deb & Azusmom! You guys know just what to say to a preggo girl:)
KatieO – It's funny, I've been thinking back to your end-of-preg posts not so long ago and wishing you lived closer. If anyone gets the pain, you do:)
M – awww! Let me point out that this pic is posed and taken from a flattering angle; I don't know that you'd say that if you saw me in real life but I'll take it anyhow!
Cinderella – True story. Jennie's turbosport: that track with all the kicking in every direction? Got confused and kicked back when everyone else kicked front. Got Dennis' hand, poor guy! Although my kicks are so weak these days I'm pretty sure he wasn't hurt, lol.
Carla, Suburban Mom & Crabby – I. just. love. you ladies! Group bloggy hug:)
Joshua – I bet your wife wishes the same! Kind of you to offer;)
Dr. J – Yikes! As much as I want this kid out, 33.5 wks is too early!! Glad your editor and the baby are both okay. She doesn't know me I'm sure but send her my best wishes pls!
Fit Mama – Misery loves company, sister! I'm so glad I'm not the only one!! Although I'm sorry you're getting all these colds too – it's total misery isn't it?
Man, you look awesome!!!!!!!! WOW! And amazed that you keep on plugging! I have never been pregnant & obviously never will be & the hubby had the "fix" more years ago than I can count. I was lucky to have a man to this for me way back then!!!!
Anyway, you are making me think I am glad I never got pregnant but man, you carry it off great!
So this is what I get to look forward to when I start having kids, huh? Luckily it is only a temporary nuisance, and in the end, I'm sure it has its rewards! Plus you have the perfect excuse for everything … 'I'm pregnant' … priceless 😉 LOL!
You do look super-cute. And these posts will make me feel less insane in a few years, when I'm comparing my unborn child to a tumor, or a parasite.
Aww — you look adorable! And I give you a lot of credit for trying to stay as active as possible despite not feeling very well or being very mobile. I don't have any children and I've never been pregnant, but I think you're very inspirational and were I pregnant, I would definitely try to emulate you and stay fit throughout!
You look fantastic…
Altho you've scared me off it all for a bit yet. I'm gald to learn that fitness is doable while pregnant…I have enough trouble keeping up with it on my own. I applaud you for doing it sans belly 🙂
Thanks for your insights about exercise. I feel like weight training is futile right now too. I can't lift heavy enough weights, and I can't use my supplements.
I noticed that you also run. Have you had any straining/soreness in your hip flexer/low abdominal area afterwards?
I know running is safe during pregnancy, but I always have discomfort for over a day afterwards. (I'm only 17 weeks.) My MD said it was probably ligament straining. Not sure what I'll be able to do when I reach your stage…
Mandy- Probably round ligament stretching. They anchor the uterus and when it gets big enough to joggle around with activity, it can really hurt.
Charlotte- You look fabulous! I'm 2 days ahead of you and feel about the same, but thankfully without the colds. I get real frustrated when the only folks I pass on the Y track are using canes and/or 2x my age. Walked too much today and it feels as if this baby will fall right out. Got a babysitter for the kiddos and am taking the rest of the day horizontal to see it baby will stop head-butting my pelvis–and hey,I needed a break with a mostly guilt-free excuse.
Those of you totally whigged out by our complaints of pregnancy: The feeling of the baby moving within you just cannot be compared! Totally awesome! And while I've never done any major sports competitions like a marathon or anything, the endorphin rush of having had a completely drug-free natural birth, with your body and mind working together is so incredible. With my last baby, I looked at my hubby, not 5 minutes after pushing her out and said, "oh yeah, I can so totally do that again!"
Just like some forms of exercise, sometimes it's a mind over matter kind of a thing. Our bodies are working hard making these babies, but we feel weaker and weaker. We can do it!
And while I don't want to rush anything too fast, I'll join you in rooting for a duration of only 6 more weeks!
Mandy – I WAS running. Haven't run a step in about 2 months now. It was giving me terrible hip flexor pain right under my belly – made it hard to walk afterwards so I quit running. I still walk on the treadmill and I do a hip hop cardio class and turbokick but no more running until after my hips figure out which way they're supposed to move again. My advice is to quit running – you don't want to pull something and you need to be able to walk! Congrats on your pregnancy!
I have to echo what others have said, you look fabulous! What I've really found in my 2nd trimester (21 weeks now) is that if for some reason I'm not able to workout for a few days (I've been spending more time out of town then in town this summer which has made it challenging and I don't have the will power these days to take my workout on the road!) it's really hard to get back into it. The first time I try to do cardio again after a week or so off, it's really tough. After doing mostly 8 and 10 lb weights pre-pregnancy, I'm down to 5 and 8 lb's now 🙁
I'm still going to do it as much as I can, but it's hard to keep that will power going.
I guess you are just uncomfortable being bigger than you are when you are not pregnant, but the first rude thought that popped into my head after I saw your picture: "OHMYGOD YOU'RE SKINNY STOP COMPLAINING" (sorry)
You have a miniscule baby bump and don't look swollen everywhere like 30-weeks-along-pregnant-ladies often do.
Although like I said it's your comfort, not how you look. You feel like a whale, so that makes you a whale. If it's any consolation, you don't look like a whale. Or even extremely pregnant.
You are a rockstar. You totally DO NOT look like a whale. Thanks for the update! 🙂
You look great! A friend and I were just complaining of all the awful aspects of our past pregnancies, the whale-feeling, bloating, acid reflux/heartburn, and general uncomfortableness. The funny part is that we both were talking about having MORE babies. How do kids do that to you? They are just too darn cute and loveable!
Thought you might find this interesting:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8257087.stm
Funny little thing happened last night after Hustle. Nate & I had to go home because of feminine issues (Need to get gym bag!). As we walked away, Nate said "That lady exercises with a baby in her tummy?" I said "Yes, I used to rollerblade with you in my tummy!" His response, "You did?! I didn't know that." Then I went on to tell him that exercise was very good for both the mommy and the baby.
Just had to pass on a cute story!
I love this, we're doing it again! Prego at the same time trying to fit in those workouts! We need to start an email chain again. Love that sweet little belly, you look wonderful.
Glowing in fact. (I have a love/hate relationship with the glowing comment.)
You look wonderful, when i was pregnant of my third child i got so fat…After I had my kid I had to do more exercises, fortunately for me I found some god tips about how to loose weight. THis helped me a lot, many have this problem not because they don't take care, in my case I got so many amniotic fluid…it was a disaster. But you look great, luck 😉
I stopped exercising for a couple weeks in 5th/6th month because it just got too dang hard (was doing a circuit workout, started at 5 circuits, by the end if I could make it through 2x it was a miracle and wiped me out for the rest of the day). I then reorganized my routine and went for water aerobics, prenatal yoga, and a little weight-lifting – super non-challenging for my nonpregnant self. But you know what? During my hiatus I started to get back pain. I figured it was just the part of the pregnancy where that happens, after all that's what my books said. But after I started up my super lame exercise? Back pain bye-bye. So even if you feel like you ain't really doing nuttin', it's still doing great things for you.
Pingback:Gym Etiquette: Attack of the Space Invaders! | The Great Fitness Experiment