Good Morning!
I’m currently typing up this post while enjoying a day off on Cyber Monday. I’m taking advantage of as many online sales that I can, and I’m trying to get a jump start on holiday gifts for once. Anybody else?
I also started diving fingers first into our baby registry must-haves which made me realize that I haven’t shared a pregnancy update here in quite some time. Originally, I wanted to do one big recap per trimester, but that’s just too long to wait and too much to write at once. (Sorry, not sorry.) Instead, I figured that I could at least break the trimesters up in halves, so here we are!
Below is what’s been going on in our world over the last few months. I’m currently 23 weeks along, but this recap goes back to cover Weeks 13-20.
Thanks so much for checking in, and I’d love to hear more about your second trimester experiences in the comments section, too!
Baby was the size of a…
(Referencing the comparisons in my Glow Nurture app)
Week 13
small peach
Week 13 marked my slow return to working out again!
While my doctor advised me that regular workouts that didn’t raise my heart rate too high were fine during the first trimester (when I wasn’t spotting), I decided to take a break from any exercise outside of my normal day-to-day walking/commuting/stair climbing for my own peace of mind. After I got past the first trimester, I took my first Orangetheory Fitness workout as a jogger and lifted minimal weights. I felt good!
This was that awkward stage of pregnancy where members didn’t want to straight out ask me if I was pregnant and some assumed that I was just really enjoying my bagels and burgers for funsies.
Week 14
lemon
Scott was traveling during Week 14, and I experienced a few scares, so this was my worst week of the second trimester so far. My doctor let me know that I might experience some pulling around this time, but I wasn’t prepared for what that included. Basically, I felt sharp pain in my lower sides for minutes at a time. I felt like it was all pretty normal until it got so bad during the night that I woke up every hour for about six hours with shooting pains. Sometimes I couldn’t even move for what felt like five to ten minutes!
(More on this in the How I Felt (Symptoms) section below …)
My doctor called me a few days after to let me know about the results of some blood work, and she confirmed that I probably was experiencing an extreme case of round ligament pain. It worried her that it happened every hour, and she told me to call if it happened in that pattern again. Fortunately, I haven’t experienced it for more than a few seconds at a time since.
Week 15
pear
I think it’s safe to say that I popped sometime between 15-16 weeks!
I finally started feeling like myself again, too. I generally woke up with energy and didn’t feel the need to take twelve naps a day. It was a big step!
I also started getting back into a regular workout routine again that included a mix of Orangetheory Fitness workouts and barre classes.
Week 16
avocado
I really started noticing my belly at my 16 Week doctor’s appointment. My doctor did, too. The first thing she said when she walked into the exam room was “whoa, you popped!”
(I was on a lunch break at work, so I was in the normal studio apparel.)
I didn’t get an ultrasound during this appointment, and instead, my doctor monitored the baby with a heartbeat doppler. This was actually the first time I was able to hear the heartbeat! We’d seen it before, but we hadn’t heard it. At first it just sounded like a bunch of swishing – which she said was movement. When I heard the heartbeat and confirmation that everything seemed to be progressing as normal, I felt like I could breathe again. The sound was so beautiful. <3
Week 17
onion
Baby H took his/her first plane ride at 17 Weeks! We traveled to San Diego, California to attend the annual Orangetheory Fitness Convention with the OTF Brooklyn Management Team! We had plenty of work to do during the day time, but it was fun to explore and get out at night.
Packing for this trip was the first time that I couldn’t find anything to wear comfortably. Most of my clothes started to fit a little too snug, and I picked up a few “I can still squeeze into these dresses” from Target (above) and Brooklyn Industries (below) that I can (hopefully) wear again next spring/summer.
It was so nice to see myself dressed up with a bump. I just love it so much.
Week 18
sweet potato
I felt great and loved being active. Barre classes were my jam!
I made a lot of modifications during classes, but still managed to break a sweat and get a good amount of lifting and toning in.
Week 19
mango
Scott and I didn’t dress up for Halloween this year, but we had a week of themed workouts and costumes at work. Friday’s theme was “zombies and werewolves” so I searched for an easy, pregnancy-friendly DIY costume that I could put together in a pinch and found a mummy-to-be idea in no time!
The costume took about five minutes to construct and held up okay throughout the day. The toilet paper started to fall off of my shoulders the more I moved around, but it actually became more authentic looking as the day went on.
If there were any guesses as to whether I was pregnant or not, this officially let the cat – er mummy – out of the bag!
Week 20
banana
Scott had to travel to Nashville for work on the weekend of his birthday, so we decided to book a last minute flight for me to join him during Week 20. How many weekend getaways are we going to have to ourselves once baby arrives, right? We had an absolute blast exploring the city, and we hope to go back again in the future.
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I mentioned this in my Nashville recap already, but I took a tour of Buy Buy Baby in person during that trip while Scott was working. I started a registry for us online and had a million questions, so I wanted to see some things in person to help me narrow down some selections online. (We still have quite a bit to sort through before the registry is finished, but I felt good after leaving the store that day!)
How I Changed & Weight Gain
I’ve gained about 15 pounds so far (as of 20 Weeks). Every pregnancy is different, but I can’t help but get a little frustrated when I log my weight gain in my apps and they consistently tell me that I’m “above normal” since 16 Weeks. I’ve been working out 2-3 times per week and really don’t eat much more than I normally would past an extra hearty snack here and there (now … haha. That wasn’t the case early on!), so I can’t figure out what I can do to slow the weight gain down a little.
I want to stress that this is not a vanity issue by any means. On the contrary, I don’t care what I have to do during this pregnancy to have the healthiest baby possible, but to me (and my doctor), that means staying on track with my weight gain to avoid things like diabetes, an overweight baby, or a more complicated labor down the road. I can’t figure out a perfect balance because I can confidently say that I eat when I’m hungry, and that’s it. I’m only a few pounds over what’s suggested, but my doctor keeps reminding me to watch how I’m gaining and eat nutritious-dense food.
I’m banking on the fact that the growing “girls” have to account for some of it, but you know.
Did any of you struggle with this as well?
How I Felt (Symptoms)
I’ve heard that the second trimester is the easiest, and I’d have to agree. I feel like I’m in the sweet spot of pregnancy. I haven’t felt very nauseous over the last few months, which is wonderful.
I have, however, experienced some concerning pains. After talking to my doctor, we think I experienced round ligament pain around 14 Weeks which was pretty scary. Basically, I felt extremely sharp pains on both sides of my lower belly for minutes at a time. I’d read that this can happen, and my doctor mentioned that I might feel some “pulling” around this time, but it hurt a lot more than I thought it would. I was expecting discomfort, but this was pain that reminded me of the contraction-like feeling I had during miscarriages. Clearly, I was terrified. There was one specific night where it actually woke me up every single hour while I was trying to sleep, and the only way to calm it was to get myself up and walk to the bathroom … if I could move at all. There were times where I couldn’t do anything but lie there and take deep breaths to get through it or it would get even worse. Of course this happened on a weekend when my doctor’s office was closed, but I was thankful that it went away once I woke up the next morning. It eventually went away after a few days, and I’ve only felt it here and there since then, so I feel better about it. But man, that was rough!
Fitness
I slowly got back to working out after I hit the 12 Week mark, and I will probably do what feels best like power walking or using the strider at Orangetheory, bodyweight workouts, and taking barre classes for the rest of the pregnancy. I aim to work out 3 times per week, and I try to keep up with my usual daily activities that includes walking a mile to work (and back), tackling the stairs at our walk-up apartment, taking Roadie for walks, and more.
What I Ate/Drank
I’ve actually been craving fruit again! This is a great thing, and even though it’s been getting colder, I’ve been loving smoothies as a small lunch (before a heavier one later) or snack. I’ll occasionally have soup for dinner and make a big smoothie bowl later on with cereal or granola sprinkled into it.
Like a lot of other pregnant women out there, I continue to crave pickles and have one (or a few) almost every day.
I also loooove bagels and bread in general.
More than anything this trimester, I’ve been wanting Chinese food and ramen. I’m guessing it’s the salty taste that I crave?
Every couple of days I feel like I have to have a bowl of ramen or sweet and sour chicken with rice and vegetables. I know – weird. But the heart (and baby) wants what it wants! I do my best to add a protein and vegetables as much as possible and pick a lower-sodium option when it’s available.
What I Didn’t Eat/Drink
What am I not eating?
Not much, haha. Probably just the standard things that I never liked pre-pregnancy. I wasn’t a fan of almond milk in the first trimester, but I’m starting to like it again.
Some highs …
- feeling a lot of bubbles/fluttering on the plane ride home from San Diego. (I’m pretty sure those were the baby’s first kicks!)
- seeing my belly grow and reading updates on my apps about how our baby is changing week by week
- starting a baby registry. (It’s already overwhelming, so I’m just taking it a step at a time.)
- Scott talking to the baby – it’s the best thing in the world
Some lows …
- experiencing some intense round ligament pain. (I’m so glad that hasn’t really happened again!)
- Scott traveling so much during this experience, which has caused him to miss a few big appointments and conversations with my doctor
Pregnancy/Baby-Related Purchases
The ! YES. It was the best investment ever. I loved this design, and it fits in great with our master bedroom.
My mom sent me my first pair of maternity leggings early October, and they came at the perfect time! After wearing the to work, I wanted a couple more pairs to take with me on my trip to San Diego. I ended up finding a few good, affordable pairs at Target including:
I discovered the at Motherhood right before our trip to Nashville, and I bought a handful of staples that I’m already wearing on repeat!
- Knot Back Maternity Top
- Rib Knit Maternity Dress
- Secret Fit Belly Skinny Leg Maternity Jean in Light Destructed and Dark Wash (they were buy one get one 50% 0ff!)
I also grabbed this 3/4 Sleeve Side Ruched Maternity Tee on the way out and it just might be my favorite shirt to wear right now.
3/4 Sleeve Side Ruched Maternity Tee // Brooklyn Industries Eyeball Jumper
Thank you so much for popping in and reading about our lil one. I’ll be back to share more stories from the rest of the second trimester soon after I enter the third. Time is certainly flying right by, that’s for sure!
Talk soon and have a great week!
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Previous LIL Baby Posts:
LIL Baby: First Trimester Updates
LIL Baby: First Trimester Favorites
Why We’re Not Finding Out Our Baby’s Gender
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups
You look beautiful, the bump is so cute! Don’t stress about how and when you gain weight, every pregnancy is different and those apps are mainly just giving estimates. I gained most of my weight in my last pregnancy in the second trimester, then it slowed down in the third trimester.
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups recently posted…2017 Holiday Gift Guide – A little something for everybody
Heather
Thanks Emily! It’s definitely gotten bigger the last few weeks after these photos – but you’re so right. My doctor keeps telling me that “every pregnancy is different” so I’m like okay … this is mine 😉
Lauren
I wound up gaining only 27 pounds when I was pregnant with my son after 18 weeks of horrific nausea where I lost a ton of weight. And would you believe that in my second trimester when I was finally able to eat something besides a cheerio my doctor commented that my weight gain was “a bit too fast” this month?! lol it’s hilarious to me now. My point is do not stress the weight issue! Your body knows at it’s doing! You’re doing everything right and look amazing! 🙂
Heather
Hi Lauren! That doesn’t sound fun at all. Clearly your body was just doing what it needed to in order to catch up! Oh man. Thanks for the tips, I’m trying to just take it day by day and not stress about it. The next step is the glucose test in a few weeks, so if all goes well I really won’t be concerned! 🙂
Amber
Your body is doing exactly what needs to be done to grow a healthy baby. The weight on the scale is just a number. If you are eating healthy, then obviously your body is just doing it’s job at this point!!! With both of my pregnancies I gained most of my weight in the first and second trimesters and slowed way down in the third. Every woman is different, you just do you!! Congratulations again!
Heather
Thanks Amber! That’s what my friends have been telling me, some who have experienced exactly what I have in regards to weight gain. In fact, one of my friends ended up changing her doctor during her second pregnancy because she was sick of hearing it and ended up gaining 35-40 pounds with both. Everyone is so different, you’re very right. So at least I’m not alone here 😉
Alyssa
My son is 8 months old and was born this past March, so I was right where you are 1 year ago! I had the same frustrations with the apps and weight gain. I gained about 7 lbs in the first trimester since I ate white carbs to stave off nausea (I started at 5 ft and 105 lbs so 7 seemed like a lot), and I kept gaining “quicker” and was up about 15 lbs at 20 weeks like you. But then – it kinda stopped and leveled off for awhile, then third trimester went to 1 lb/week, even as I ate less because my stomach was getting squished. In the end on delivery day I weighed 30 lbs more than when I started – within the recommendations, and also hitting 135 was the exact same weight my mom got to with both her babies even though she started out weighing under 100 lbs each time, so I think it must also be partly genetic. Because I walked a lot and did prenatal yoga, etc. in addition to eating lots of potatoes and ice cream. My mom just ate ice cream! I think every body is going to react differently to pregnancy and if you are being mindful of eating and exercise to a point, there’s not a whole lot under our control. I also lost a lot of weight quickly after he was born while nursing (20 lbs by the end of month 1, another 5 month 2) but the last 5 didn’t come off until he was about 6 months. Breastfeeding hunger is WAY higher than pregnancy hunger in my opinion 🙂
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Kimberly
Such a great post! I’m naturally tiny, workout a lot and eat really really well. I also dealt with miscarriage and went on to have two healthy children. I believe I put on 15 lbs right away the 20 week mark. Gaining at least 25 to 35 lbs is completely healthy and normal. You also might not gain every week and the last two weeks you sometimes even lose. The weight is really a lot of extra blood, fluid, boobage:) You look fantastic and I’m sure if you keep up with what you’re doing you will gain exactly what you need to for a healthy pregnancy!
Meika
You look and sound so happy! Don’t worry about the weight gain – I gained 50lbs with my first and 55lvs with my second and both times it was an insane amount of water weight (I lost 30lbs in one week!) I had no blood pressure our boy Lois sugar issues, either. Both of my boys were a healthy size and still are falling within normal parameters, and I’ve lost all but about 5-7lbs 7 months out from my second baby. Apparently my bodybuilding just likes to really cushion those boys!
Liz
I wouldn’t be too concerned with gaining too much. Weight gain specifically in the first trimester is linked to higher risk of GD- much less so afterwards. I also gained 42lbs total (was 98lbs to start- a healthy weight for me since I’m small) and was fine. Totally normal sized baby (6lbs 15oz). I gained the most BY FAR between weeks 23-28 and then slowed down considerably (like, 11lbs in one month- oops) again. Just eat when you’re hungry and eat as well as you can, but I wouldn’t stress the number that much… I also had HORRIBLE pain in my epigastric area from my gallbladder since everything slows down when pregnant and I was on vacation in Lake Tahoe when it started. I felt like I was dying and it was SO scary being so far away from my doctor when that happened. And we were supposed to be in France when that happened, but the terrorist attacks happened and we rerouted! Made me totally reconsider traveling during pregnancy. Love reading your pregnancy updates and can’t wait till that baby is born!!!! You look great!
liz
Sounds like minus the ligament pain its been a pretty good second tri so far! Yay! Your food preferences/dislikes were so similar to mine for this trimester. And I’ve been gaining slightly more weight than average, just eating when I am hungry and trying to eat as balanced meals as I can. I think as long as you focus on how you feel vs the number on the scale and trying to get a good mix of proteins and greens along with the carbs and sugar you’ll be good. Eating “normal” during pregnancy is so hard!
Teddi
Hi Mama You’re not alone in the weight gain area. I’m two weeks ahead of you and have also gained a little more than expected, even though I’m not going crazy with food and am working out consistently. I’m hoping it’ll even itself out in the next few weeks. You look fantastic and you’re doing great! Hang in there!
Rose
So fun to read! I adore all the Jessica Simpson pieces I got through pregnancy. Perfect, comfy, flattering. I loved my Gap maternity stuff too, for what it’s worth.
I’m sure you know this, but all I can say is seriously- like for real- don’t stress about weight gain. It is better to be just above average anyways, you won’t be worrying if your baby is big enough and thriving down the road which is something I struggled with at times in my pregnancy (now 39 weeks :D) , as I had severe nausea for quite some time and struggled keeping anything at all down for a while. Those averages are really off for most people, your weight gain may slow down later, or this may be exactly what your individual body needs to support this babe! You sound like you’re eating to your hunger cues, exercising intentionally and also being active day to day so if you think about it, it’s not surprising your body is saying hey lets hang on to some of this, we need fuel for this busy active life AND this precious baby 🙂 Focus on the other parts of pregnancy and feeling good while you still do hehe.
Nikki @ Flimsy LIon
A few people have already mentioned it, but don’t stress about the weight gain, every pregnancy is different! I’m just behind you 22.5 weeks and so far I’ve only gained 7lbs and my midwife is telling me that’s not enough and I need to gain more even though the baby and everything is measuring normal. I think they expect everyone to gain on this perfectly even trajectory when that’s not the reality for most of us. Also you were quite fit before you got pregnant and probably had low body fat so your body just needs to gain more, whereas my BMI was on the higher side of *normal*. As long as you feel good and know you’re eating healthy there’s nothing to worry about. I’m probably going to be one of those people that balloons a bunch in the third trimester. I’m a bit jealous of your baby bump, it’s so cute and round! My stomach sticks out a bit but to me it looks like bloating rather than a cute baby belly. Also what is it with bread? I could just eat bread all day. And pomegranates and oranges for some reason, though no pickle cravings for me.
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Jenna
Your bump is adorable! You started off so small I would think you have quite a bit of wiggle room! If you are gaining weight while eating healthy and walking miles around NYC…it’s probably fluid/blood. You and your body are doing exactly what is needed. I had one friend who would gain a lot of weigh up front in pregnancies and then pretty much stay the same for the remainder. I really feel like there is no rhyme or reason with pregnancy….hard to put a norm on an experience so unique to everyone. Cant wait for the next update! =)
Lindsay
So excited for you and Scott! I’d be willing to bet a good bit of your weight “gain” is just water weight. Pickles are very high in sodium, as is Chinese food of course, and I’m willing to bet you drink a lot of water as someone who is quite healthy. It may also be possible that you were a few pounds below your best “set weight” before getting pregnant, so your body held on to a little bit more in the beginning. I wouldn’t worry about it…our bodies are so dang smart!
Kim
Can you please do a post on what helped you get pregnant? I think it would help a lot of woman who are losing faith! Thank you!
Liz
I know people have already said it, but definitely try not to worry about the weight gain! You might gain a little more than “average” during your second tri and then go weeks without gaining anything later on. As long as it’s not extreme, you shouldn’t be concerned, and your doctor shouldn’t be making you feel bad either. I didn’t gain any weight until 20 weeks, and then I gained 8 lbs in two weeks towards the end. Both times I was panicked that this was abnormal, but my midwife assured me that weight gain patterns can be random. As long as you’re eating healthy and staying active, your body is just doing what it needs to do. You’re doing great!
Amanda
Heather…that kills me your DOCTOR said something about your weight?!?!? Someone who is healthy, exercises, and eats well should not be a concern at all. I can’t say that I ate as well as you are (all I wanted was carbs) and I gained almost 50 pounds. My dr was never concerned because I was still working out and for the most part eating healthy and the baby was completely healthy. Turn your app off! 😉 No pregnancy can be defined in a box or based on a chart!!
And yes…I had EXTREMELY bad round ligament pain around the same time and was just as concerned as you! Hopefully that’s all gone and completely over for you! You look so cute with your bump! Just keep feeding that baby! Don’t even think about the weight. YOU have nothing to worry about!
Heather
Hi Amanda! Thank you so much for sharing <3 And let's get it straight - I am really enjoying my carbs, too. (Bagels are life!) I guess every doctor is different. I heard that mine is super concerned about weight gain before I even got pregnant, but she's a great OB/GYN, so I'm sticking with her. I'll feel better after the glucose test in a few weeks. If all seems well, she can't really say that much! I couldn't agree more - every pregnancy is different ... charts and graphs need to take a hike. I truly believe my body is just doing what it needs to! Glad to hear your round ligament pain came and went, too. Hopefully that's over! Thanks for the love and support friend! xo
Karen
I just love seeing that sweet bump and growing baby!!! You look absolutely wonderful, don’t worry one bit about that weight gain. With both of my girls, I gained the majority of my weight in the second trimester. With both kids, I gained maybe 1-2 pounds total in all of the third trimester. Once that baby gets bigger, eating will be harder anyway, and you’ll be burning more calories in general. That baby will be pushing on all sorts of your innards, and you might even have heartburn after eating. Don’t stress. There’s only one time in your life where having a belly is 100% acceptable to everyone and anyone. Enjoy every moment!!
Heather
Hi Karen! Thank you so much. <3 I appreciate your support!