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I've had a weird pregnancy. I found out that I was pregnant in April, only about a month after Covid shut down most of my normal, day-to-day life. I was already feeling stressed and worried about the pandemic and being isolated, and about finances since all of the studios and gyms I taught at had to close down. The part-time job that had just hired me in February had to lay me off along with all of their other hourly workers.
And then I found out that I was pregnant!
It hasn't been what I envisioned. I haven't been able to attend prenatal yoga classes with other pregnant mommas. I've barely met any other pregnant women because of course, we're all doing our best to stay home to protect our health and the health of our little bundles of joy. I haven't had a baby shower, or even seen most of my family and friends since I found out I was expecting.
On the bright side, I also haven't needed many maternity clothes, as I've not really been going anywhere.
I had always been nervous about my physical wellness during pregnancy (would I gain weight like crazy? Would the fact that I'm over 30 lead to unexpected complications? How bad would my morning sickness be?) But what ended up being the hardest part for me was my mental wellness. It's been hard to motivate myself to do much of anything, and hard to get truly excited about bringing a baby into a world that doesn't seem to have much to offer right now.
Here are the top three things that I credit for helping me stay healthy, fit, and sane into my third trimester of pregnancy:
1. I kept moving
It wasn't easy with all the gyms and yoga studios closed down. It DEFINITELY was not easy in the hot, humid, Tallahassee summer months, but I made a commitment to myself and to my baby that I would do what I could to stay active. Some days this wasn't much at all, especially in the few weeks that I had terrible morning (all-day, really) sickness, but other days I was able to walk a few miles or swim a few laps at a local pool. Bringing water with me helped a lot since it let me walk longer distances than I could have otherwise. And on days when I knew I wasn't going to leave the house, I used my favorite streaming workout programs.
My favorite movement practices for pregnancy:
Easygoing walks - I normally enjoy running, but that stopped feeling good pretty early on. Instead walking outside, especially during the cooler parts of the day, became my go-to movement strategy. I often will challenge myself to walk about a mile to my favorite coffee shop and then back home, knowing that even if I don't really feel like walking, there will be some sort of treat in it for me!.
Prenatal Barre Blend - I am so lucky that this program came out right as my 2nd trimester began! I was in search of a quick workout I could do that would help keep my muscles toned, and maybe build in some cardio, but that was also safe for pregnancy. This program has become a go-to for me and I'll do one of the videos 3-5 times a week.
Swimming - In the heat of the summer, and even the heat of the fall (hello, Florida!) it was wonderful that my local community pool had lap swimming available. On days when it felt too hot to go for walks, swimming allowed me to cool off, relax, and still get some movement in. Over the course of the summer, I went from being able to swim about 12 laps to over 20 laps! It was amazing to feel myself getting better and stronger even as my belly grew!
2. I ate intuitively
There is tons of advice out there for pregnant mommas looking for what and how much we should eat. It's not surprising, because there's tons of advice out there for people looking to improve their nutrition in general. But WOW is the pregnancy advice conflicting! "Eat for two" and "DO NOT eat for two" can be found in basically equal measures. Eating extra protein and extra calcium was recommended by basically everyone, but honestly, the stress of trying to follow eating rules always outweighs the benefits for me!
So I kept on eating basically the same way that I normally do. Intuitive eating with a focus on lots of veggies and fruits. I also added in a daily prenatal vitamin (I recommend this gummy vitamin that was super gentle on my stomach) and a little more red meat to my diet. I didn't indulge in tons of cravings, but I also didn't stop myself from eating things I really wanted, like a doughnut or piece of cake here and there.
I also didn't stop drinking coffee entirely (but I went down to 1-2 cups a day). Nor did I restrict myself from delicious soft cheeses or deli meats (sandwiches are just too easy!). I did cut out alcohol (I miss it though!) but kept everything else I normally ate the same, with maybe a little more moderation.
3. I asked for (and got) help
As I mentioned before, the toughest part of my whole pregnancy has been the mental health aspect. I already had some fears and trepidations about being a mom, and being semi-isolated at home throughout the whole process didn't make it easier. Neither did losing most of my income from teaching in gyms, yoga studios and working with private clients in their homes.
Towards the end of my second trimester, I noticed that my general feelings of anxiety were turning darker and more obscure. I didn't know exactly why, but I was crying all the time (like, sobbing uncontrollably) and losing interest in doing anything around the house at all. It felt like all I could do each day to move from the bed to the couch and keep myself showered and fed. Days like this were the hardest, and it made it more difficult to keep myself moving and nourished with good food.
Once I realized what was going on and how much of an impact it was having, I told my husband and a few close friends what I was experiencing, and set out to find a therapist.
It was hard to admit to myself that I needed therapy, and even harder to admit to those close to me, as I didn't want to worry them. But after even just a few sessions it's become clear how valuable it is to be able to talk through my feelings and worries with a qualified, helpful, stranger.
Even though I regularly practice mindfulness, meditation, and self-reflection, it's important to realize that, when I need help most it's often the hardest for me to help myself with the tools I regularly use. Having a regularly scheduled therapy session has been helping me to get back on track with the spiritual and physical practices that keep me feeling good.