Wow, it’s amazing to see the bump growth month over month. I feel like in my month 5 update, I had a bump but it’s definitely becoming more pronounced week over week. What’s funny is that some days I feel huge and like I am about to pop and other days, I feel totally normal. I suppose there are various factors – sleep, hydration, bloating, etc. that factor into this but overall I am feeling great! They say the second trimester is the sweet spot and I totally agree with this. My energy levels are sky high (truly I have never worked harder or juggled more balls in the air than currently) and I am feeling great physically, mentally and emotionally. It is also a treat being pregnant during the holiday season because we get to have so many family gatherings and I can indulge in all of the festivities and treats that come along with the holidays. Month 6, you are looking good!
Due Date: February 24, 2021
Weeks: 24 weeks (6 months / 2nd trimester)
+ Bumpdate: So I will say that all of my clothes still fit; however, I live in mostly leggings these days so my normal jeans are another story. I am at that awkward point where it looks like I ate a big meal but not noticeably pregnant yet, depending on what I wear. Workout clothes? Yup, pretty obvious. Normal non-tight clothing? Meh, looks pretty normal. I’ve been using the rubberband trick on my jeans as they’re too uncomfortable when buttoned. What’s been most fun is that for the first time I had a non-relative ask if I am pregnant. Our sweet housekeeper, Polina, asked “are you pregnant…I see a bump?!” Kinda ballsy but she does see me once a month in workout clothes so she must have finally noticed a difference!
+ Sleep: After a full day of work, packing and working part time on our start up (more on that later), there is nothing that feels better than when my head hits the pillow at the end of the day. My body is so tired at the end of the day and we have been going to bed early which is nice. I have no issue falling asleep but I have been waking up between 3-5 every night. Sometimes it’s just for a quick trip to the bathroom or sip of water, but others it’s impossible to go back to sleep. On a positive note, I tend to be most creative in the morning so I have been working on my blog and non-day job stuff early in the morning with a cup of coffee.
+ Exercise: This one has been a bit mentally challenging on the exercise front. I want to (and try to) push myself like I normally would but I am realizing that as my body changes, my physical limitations are growing. The last super intense workout I did was a 45-minute Peloton treadmill bootcamp and though I felt like I could keep up during the workout, I was physically exhausted after. My legs and body ached for days. A few prenatal PTs I know told me that it’s probably time I omit the uphill runs and hard sprints as it can be tough on the pelvic floor. For now, I have scaled it back and will stick more with weight lifting, spin, walking and yoga. We’ll see what next month brings but I suspect I won’t be increasing intensity going forward.
+ Food Cravings: I had to make a concerted effort to tone down the sweet treats this month. We were getting into a bad habit of having a dessert every night so I nixed that. I’ll typically still have a Popsicle or cookie every few nights but I want to avoid the mindless eating. Fruit continues to be my favorite and I still eat my beloved eggs and toast at least once per day. Portions have to stay small for me to keep things down and I suspect this is just how my body reacts to pregnancy as this hasn’t changed yet. Drinking water has been key – it helps me stay full, remain hydrated and minimize swelling.
Side note: I miss turkey sandwiches. That is – without a doubt – the first thing I want to eat when I push this baby out!
+ Food Aversions: My odd food habits continue. Still no seafood (minimal meat in general so I’m having to focus hard on getting protein from other sources) and minimal dairy. Nothing major but just focusing on eating what my body craves, without going crazy.
+ Milestones: In the most exciting piece for us – during this entire journey – is that we felt the baby kick! It was around week 22 and I felt this little flutter in my belly. We have felt the kick multiple times now – mostly at night, while I’m laying down. The feeling is so surreal and everything I dreamed it would be. So much joy!
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