The Second Time Around + 28 Week Update

Each pregnancy is different.

I have heard that line countless times but now I really believe it. In the same way that our children will have totally unique personalities, each pregnancy has it's own unique characteristics, too. I have been amazed to see the differences and similarities between our two babies.

Here are a few pregnancy things I've noticed the second time around:

Belly Size: Showing Sooner, Measuring Bigger.


Though my weight gain is now close to identical to my first pregnancy, I have been measuring ahead with Baby #2. The growth is starting to even out as I'm measuring only 3 weeks ahead now versus the 6 weeks ahead at our 15 week appointment!

We only have 3 bump pictures from the first pregnancy so I have been much more intentional with pictures this time around. The nine months flies by way too fast and it's fun to look back at the bump pictures... though it is a little scary to see how much bigger my bump is this time at 7 months pregnant!


Activity Level: Go, Go, Go.


My day job has changed significantly since my first pregnancy. With Baby #1, I had a desk job - sometimes a standing-desk job - and headed to the gym after work.

With this pregnancy, just moving during the first trimester was a struggle for me. I'm not sure if my morning sickness was that much worse or if taking care of E just took that much more energy out of me! Being a toddler's full-time caretaker has me on my feet most of the day and the days are very active. At nap-time, I am being intentional to take some time off my feet, drink water and just rest.

Prenatal Appointments: Less Frequent, More Personal & Supportive.


We had two ultrasounds with the first pregnancy - 9 weeks & 20 weeks - and one with the second pregnancy at 20 weeks. With both pregnancies we have kept baby's gender a surprise!

Working with our midwife has been a wonderful experience! Compared to our prenatal appointments at the hospital, our visits have been less frequent in the first and second trimesters, more personal and leave me feeling much more confident in my body's ability to grow a baby. Though she is super busy, our midwife allows more time for appointments and she takes the time to get to know me, our baby and E, too.


Hydration: More Water, Water, Water! 


Hydration is a big deal in pregnancy! Being a little dehydrated as a runner isn't an alarming problem... unless you're pregnant. In my first pregnancy, dehydration in the third trimester led to a urinary tract infection with preterm contractions at 33 weeks and preterm labor at 35 weeks.

Water intake recommendations differ from varying sources but the rule I go by is to drink half of my body weight in ounces daily. That means a woman weighing in at 125 lbs. should drink about 63 oz. per day.

Now add pregnancy to that and the recommended water intake increases. Livestrong recommends that pregnant women drink an additional 8-ounces for every hour of light activity. As a very active pregnant woman, that means I'm drinking around 90 oz. of water per day or about 3 of my water bottles. That sounds like a lot but it goes down easy - my body I craves water right now!

30 + 30 + 30

Pregnancy Fitness: More Strength, Less Running, No Hip Pain.


I'm doing more strength training and less running with the second pregnancy. The combination of 2 days of strength training plus 4 days of running has kept me in better shape than my first pregnancy and my hips are pain-free! Stretching and rolling out my hamstrings has helped to keep my hips from tightening up this time.

During my first pregnancy, I ran about 5 days a week - including a 6-mile "long run" on the weekend and occasional runs with the local running group. For this pregnancy, the farthest I run is 4 miles and my outdoor runs now involve pushing our toddler in the jogging stroller.


Emotions: Thankful, More Confident, Still Anxious.


First pregnancies bring on a lot of advice -  some is helpful and some could be left unsaid. Countless times I was warned that I wouldn't be running when I'm __ weeks pregnant, how miserable they were while pregnant, their labor horror stories and how dog-tired I would be once the baby arrived. Basically enjoy your pregnant misery because it's only getting worse!

Thank God everyone's pregnancy and motherhood experiences are different! My first pregnancy was actually enjoyable (most days) and labor/delivery was far from a horror story. Life with a newborn was totally energy-draining but, after a couple weeks, it got better. And motherhood has only been getting better and better since then.

When I think of how much we prayed for this pregnancy, I can't help but thank God for another baby - no matter how sick or tired I am! Now I DO feel more confident in my mothering abilities and I love being a mom. I have grown to love staying at home with E and am excited to add another baby to our family.

Sometimes I feel anxious when I think about being a mom of two but the only way I'm going to learn is to just go for it. I trust that God will give Leo and I all the strength we need! 

Totally Overwhelmed Brand-New Mom to Much Calmer Toddler-Mom

Baby #2: 28 Weeks



Baby's Size: Eggplant, average fetus size: 13.6 to 14.8 in, 1.5 to 2.5 lbs.

Cravings: Erbert's & Gerbert's sub sandwiches with soup (the "Tappy", specifically!), frosted animal crackers

Aversions: Pizza (unless it's homemade), fried food and fast food in general. All of it equals heartburn.

I'm Feeling: My belly is really out there and Baby is very active all day and especially at night! He/she has nailed me in the bladder a few times and that sure is something. The shirts that fit at the end of my pregnancy with E aren't working so well at 7 months pregnant! The emotional rollercoaster has returned lately - I figured my hormones must be doing something crazy. When in doubt, blame it on the hormones.

Sleep: I'm really good at sleeping and could always use more of it. A middle-of-the-night bathroom trip is a requirement now.

Weight: Up 18 lbs from pre-pregnancy weight.

My Prayer: "Lord, thank You for Baby's and my health as we begin month 7 of this pregnancy. Thank You for caring about each and every details of our lives, starting at conception! I know that this Baby and my family is in Your hands - and that is the best place to be.

Continue to watch over our Baby as he/she is growing and developing so rapidly. Prepare him/her for the big 'birth day' and I pray that day comes in Your perfect timing. Be with E as he is growing and learning every day and give Leo and I wisdom in marriage and raising our children. Give our family the courage to resist conforming to this world. Transform us and renew our minds so that we will live boldly for You and in Your will! "
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will. ROMANS 12:2
Last Week's Workouts:
Monday: 3.4 miles w/ jogging stroller + dog, 10:11/mile.
Tuesday: Strength training. 
Wednesday: 3.31 miles w/ jogging stroller + dog, 10:28/mile.
Thursday: 3.25 miles w/ jogging stroller + dog. 10:27/mile.
Friday: Strength training.
Saturday: 4.02 miles with my husband pushing the stroller! 10:11/mile.
Total Mileage: 13.98 miles
What was your favorite or not-so-favorite part of pregnancy?
Parents of 2+ kids, what differences did you notice in your pregnancies?

Linking up with Jill at Fitness Friday and Faith at Mommy Moments.

Comments

  1. You're my hero! Great job in taking care of your body while pregnant! That was one of the toughest things for me to do. I'm super impressed!! And way to drink that water!! I think I chose high calories grape fruit juice :/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kristen! Staying active in the first trimester in this pregnancy was my biggest struggle. The second trimester has been pleasant and now onto the third :) I know things will be slowing down a lot but I better keep up with that water drinking!

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  2. Impatience was troubling point for Baby 2.

    As soon as we found out we were pregnant, I wanted to meet the baby. A microwave baby...conceive and grow...ding!

    Clearly it doesn't happen like that, so I accepted it. It's also one of the reasons we are having two children only.

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    Replies
    1. I totally understand, Wendy! I'm struggling with being patient this pregnancy - more so now that the 3rd trimester is here. As I'm getting bigger, I wouldn't mind if week 38 or so came a little faster! Then again I want time to slow down because these are my last couple months of spending time with E alone :) Mixed feelings!

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  3. You're a babe!!! Hot momma!!! Love all the water you're drinking - I'm officially challenged even with no baby to drink more. Thank you for that!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, sister :) Glad you are joining in the water drinking party! I really need to keep this up after baby is here, too. I'm usually horrible about drinking enough water ever day!

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