Today is also my last day at work and I figured as good a time as any to restart the blog.
Pregnancy has been a bit of a rollercoaster with regards to my body image. I won't lie, its been hard seeing things change and even harder knowing that I'm physically limited as to what I can do. I'm off balance and I'm clumsier than ever which has made doing things quite difficult. I've managed to keep up doing weights/circuit type exercises but cardio has been off the agenda for a while. I managed to fall over just walking around so the thought of falling over if theres any effort behind my movement is a bit scary.
Despite the lack of physical activity, things aren't too bad. As of 30+2 I looked like this. So far I
have gained 21lbs. I'm gaining between 3/4lb-1lb a week at the moment, which with the time I've got left puts me around 11st 2lbs, 2 stones higher than my starting weight. I also measured around my navel this week - a whopping 37" - some 12" bigger than pre-pregnancy!! But lets look at the facts. Average pregnancy weight gain is made up of the following:
Your baby: 6-8 pounds (by the end of the pregnancy)
The placenta: 1.5 pounds
Increased fluid volume: 2-3 pounds
Uterus: 2 pounds
Increased storage of maternal fats, proteins and other nutrients: 4-6 pounds
Breast enlargement: 1-2 pounds
Blood volume: 3-4 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
Based on this, you can do the math and figure out that immediately after giving birth, I'm going to be considerably lighter. It's hard to get my head around the number on the scales, but I am still wearing pre-pregnancy size 10 clothes (albeit the floatier tops and dresses), so I guess most of my gain must be baby and boob related.
However, I do feel rather unfit. I understand that alot of this is to do with the fact that all my internal organs have been squished around and my lungs are now fighting for space with the baby (and the baby is winning), but I know I've lost ALOT of muscle tone. I feel flabbier all over. Working on improving muscle tone will have to be something I work on properly after the baby is here. It's much harder doing heavy weights with a body thats now effectively held together by chewing gum. Everything is a lot looser and as a result if I over do things, I feel it the next day. Makes DOMS from pre-pregnancy look like a walk in the park when you can't stand up because your hips actually just refuse to get into line and let you.
But there is little point dwelling on this stuff, as you know what? I've grown a baby! And thats bloody amazing!!
Having a baby thats due in May does mean that living it up in a skimpy bikini in the summer time is probably off the agenda, but more importantly it provides me with good weather and lighter days to get out and do something about the changes that I've experienced.
This blog from here on in will hopefully document the things that happen in the run up to having the baby and also provide a point to report progress afterwards.
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