Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’ve been pregnant for about 100 years. It feels like an eternity since I’ve had a glass of wine or an absurdly large and delicious coffee.
However, a few days ago, I realized that my due date is just three months away. Ummm that means there’s just three months until I have two little boys on the “outside.” All of a sudden I feel like I need to get my butt in gear and DO ALL THE THINGS.
The problem is, when I try to do all the baby-related things, I’m not really sure what to do. We have a lot going on personally and professionally (as usual) and sometimes it’s easy to feel so overwhelmed that I can’t seem to start anything. I keep trying to remember the advice I always give clients. JUST START.
So while I’m over here trying to figure out what baby-related (and house-related, work-related, etc.) things to do before June, I figured I would do a quick recap of my second trimester since it’s coming to an end next week!
Second Trimester Pregnancy Recap
Nutrition
I’ve had the hungry horrors quite often during the second trimester. My workouts have been longer and harder (more on that in a minute) than they were in the first trimester and the baby is growing so it’s not really a surprise.
I am normally a huge water drinker, but there have been a lot of days during this pregnancy when I feel like I have to force water down the hatch. I think part of the reason I’m feeling so hungry is because I’m not drinking enough. Hmmm…another thing I always tell clients. Keep in mind, you sometimes feel hungry when you’re really just thirsty!
I haven’t had a ton of food aversions during this trimester, but I’m definitely still getting cravings for certain foods…mostly overnight oats, frozen fruit, nuts/nut butters, avocado, gluten free rice krispies (sometimes at 3am when I can’t sleep), tortilla chips and chocolate. I like to convince myself I must simply need the salt, carbs or fats depending on the day. 😉
My nutrition overall has been decent during the second trimester. Salad is delicious again and I’ve been eating a ton of spinach, cauliflower and roasted veggie combos. Now that we don’t have six feet of snow on the deck we’ve been grilling more chicken again. I was eating a ton of egg scrambles, but I overdid those for awhile so I haven’t been eating as many eggs.
Workouts
More details about my workouts can be found in my post about second trimester training, but overall workouts are going well. I’m definitely training harder and maintaining more strength during this pregnancy than I did with Connor so it will be interesting to see the difference in my recovery.
If I do any kettlebell front squats I’m going lighter {for me} and I’ve switched my “heavier” squats to barbell back squats which feels a lot more comfortable. I’m still deadlifting, but I’ve switched to lighter weights and higher reps. I’m still doing chinups and pullups several times a week in sets of 1-3. I’m loving Turkish Get Ups as a warm up and also loving military presses and incline chest press.
I was doing some metabolic conditioning at the end of a lot of my strength workouts for most of this trimester, but over the last week or two I find myself going back to doing a strength workout with a walk later in the day and conditioning workouts on separate days. It’s what feels good right now and I’m rolling with it. I guess the honeymoon trimester really might be coming to an end!
I’m still rocking swings, sled pushes, slide board, slams, ropes, bike and more for conditioning…just not all that often. My favorite thing to do to sweat and get some conditioning in is a “complete-all” workout like I did this morning. I just make a list of a whole bunch of exercises (including sets and reps) and get them done in whatever order and whatever time it takes!
I’m loving my walks. They keep me sane, happy and healthy. Now that the weather is getting nicer (sometimes) it’s easier to get in my 10,000 steps. 😉
Sleep
My sleep this trimester has been mostly good. Naps ended for the most part after the first trimester, but I still found myself going to bed pretty early during most of this trimester.
The last few weeks I have been sick with a cough/cold so between that, the time change and getting bigger in general, falling asleep has been more of an issue. I’m hoping now that the cough is almost gone I’ll get back to sleeping a little better. I know just how precious my sleep is with a newborn on the way!
In my first pregnancy I used a body pillow to help me get comfortable, but this time it just feels big and annoying. I’m sleeping with a throw pillow between my legs, which seems to do the trick most of the time.
Attitude/Anxiety
My attitude is mostly good. I have my hormonal days for sure and days where I just feel big, heavy and tired. For the most part though, I do feel great and I’m getting super excited to meet the little one. I really can’t wait to see how Connor and baby #2 interact and I can’t wait for baby snuggles.
My body image issues have been better and I’m feeling strong and confident most of the time. I’m anxious about the fact that so much change is coming my way, but I also know that change forces me out of my comfort zone and helps me grow as a person. Change is good.
The second trimester of pregnancy is definitely the easiest of the three trimesters for most people, myself included. This is the trimester when you’re not so big that you’re ridiculously uncomfortable, your hormones level out a bit, you have more energy, your appetite and food preferences more closely resemble pre-pregnancy and you’re able to train a bit harder for a few months. Again, I’m being very general here so keep in mind every pregnancy and every woman is DIFFERENT so these things may or may not be true for you.
Other Second Trimester Posts:
Second Trimester FAQ’s and Gender Announcement
Strength Training During Pregnancy
Second time moms, what do I need? Favorite items for second kiddos? Favorite baby carriers and wraps?
I go to baby stores feeling like I need to buy things to be productive and then I turn around feeling like I already have mostly everything. Help?!
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