Okay these weeks are seriously flying. HELP!!!!!

This week challenged me a little bit, thus far my sleeping has been pretty good – I wake up more then usual to go to the toilet but would just fall straight back to sleep but this week the little man was kicking/moving and hiccup-ing in the middle of the night and this kept me awake for hours. Once I was awake that was it I really struggled getting back to sleep.

This basically happened every second night. If it wasn’t the baby moving waking me up it was my bloody blocked nose waking me up because I can’t breathe.

I know right, I’m just getting prepped for when the babies here….

I feel tired but I just can’t sleep, this makes working until 8:30pm tough – I’m getting it done but then when I get home I just plonk myself on the couch and Matt organises dinner (thank goodness for him!)

Combined with the lack of sleep was the dreaded haemorrhoids, over the weekend I was constipated pretty badly – I know pregnancy can do this to you (to have normal bowels for once in my life would be amazing lol) and well I was obviously straining to go to the toilet (I don’t think I had been properly for 2-3 days) but the next day I had a painful sensation coming from my butt- having a bowel disease I’m pretty aware of what it was as it’s something I’ve had to deal with before – by the end of work on Monday night I couldn’t literally sit – I decided to take a mirror and have a look (yeh I recommend against this, I called out to Matt “OMG, It’s the size of a grape!” there are no limits any more my body is doing all sorts of weird things and I just have to sit back and laugh)

It got pretty bad, luckily I still had cream they gave me when I was in hospital that reduced the size and swelling pretty quick and eliminated a lot of the pain.

The whole week was like this – one day sleep deprived with a sore butt the next day I would come good then back to square one again the day after that.

My back has also started aching only when I sit but once it starts to ache it continues  – e.g. sitting on the couch, sitting at the dining table (like right now), driving… only on my right side and its about mid to lower back – nothing to crazy painful just annoying, the more I move the better I feel! I think it may have something to do with sleeping – you can’t lay flat on your back while this far along so I lay on my side and I think I favour one side hence why it is getting super tight and aching!

Still sticking to the usual training combo besides swimming haven’t gotten back there yet but I am upping my walking! So I’m lifting weights, pilates and walking atm… I do plan on swimming again tho!

On Friday we picked up the pram and few bits and pieces we had on layby – I’m LOVING shopping for this baby, although expensive it just gets me SO pumped!! After picking up everything I jumped online and bought a heap more – if you have any recommendations on what I should purchase little life savers that helped you please sent them through!

And that was another week done! OH I only ate chocolate 3 days this week 😉 See small improvements – I’m upping my fruit intake to try and stay regular with my bowels but it is a balancing act as if I have too much fruit it makes me need to go too much! Diet wise I’m a routine person – vegemite and avo toast for breakfast, fruit and a bar for snack, chicken wrap for lunch, yogurt and fruit for snack, potato/broc and steak for dinner then basically rinse and repeat all week!

Can’t wait for next week! We have our 27 week growth scan and will also be chatting about mode of delivery etc… Also have a facial booked for Friday and massage in hepburn springs on Saturday (just enjoying me time while it lasts lol)

Stay Strong & Stretch,
Tel X

I was tired this week, like real tired this week….

I put it down to Little Prince growing, he has been moving A LOT, I’m hungry and feel HUGE – it was a challenging week emotion wise.

The combo of the above and the baby just sucking everything from me I just felt flat and fat. I’m now 68kg – 9kg up from start weight – this is fine I know I’m growing a human but just seeing myself look very different when you’re not in a positive mindset can hit you pretty hard – I saw a photo of myself and just thought fucken hell. This combined with a couple comments here and there and it was enough to make me feel pretty shitty.

After a few good nights sleep, an influx of compliments about how good I am looking and a clean up of my diet I was feeling better by the end of the week – I’m back training properly (since baby moon I only really did pilates) I’m now back to pilates, walking and lifting weights – I haven’t gotten back to swimming, I will I just haven’t gotten around to it…

Training makes me feel good – I really don’t know how people stop training while pregnant – I know some people don’t have a choice but those that decided to stop everything it just amazes me – I guess because I know how good I feel when I move – I’ll be the first to admit that energy wise I don’t want to a lot of the time but once I get going I feel so damn good afterwards AND it has a HUGE impact on my mental health.

I’m also reducing the amount of shit I’m consuming – I love sweets, always have, always will but I was going over the top since babymoon – probably even before so in an enough to make myself feel less shit, I cut the shit – well tried – I went from eating chocolate everyday to only 4 times last week – this week I’m hoping to improve on that 😉 baby steps right!

Next week we have our growth scan, this will tell us where the placenta is, how big bubs and determine if I’ll have a c section or not – TBH I want to have a c section so even if the baby isn’t huge that’ll more then likely be the route we’ll take! WHY? Well I’m not one of these people that needs all natural, no drugs kinda births – I want whats best for me and our baby – if that mean c section it is what it is, due to my UC flaring post birth (this is something that will more then likely happen) and due to how common tearing is during birth the two just don’t mix well but we’ll see what the dr’s say next week!

Stay Strong & Stretch,
Tel X

Back into it straight away – We got home Friday night from the baby moon and that Saturday we were back into replying to work emails, got the nursery (and other rooms) carpet laid, I had a baby shower and Matt build Little Prince a wardrobe!

We opted to get carpet over the hardwood floors because it just feels so much more homely, and man we are so happy we did!! Looks great!!!

UNTIL – the toilet next to the nursery started leaking into the room causing half the room to become absolutely soak (insert mega sad emoji face) we originally thought the dog went to the toilet in there (not something either of them ever do but being new flooring thought maybe it was) it got progressively worse and worse so we decided to rip up the carpet and it looked like Little Prince had his own swimming pool in his room.

I just couldn’t deal – I’m sure I cried a lot this week.

The leak is fixed, the underlay is fucked and the carpet survived so all in all it could have been MUCH worse but try telling that to a pregnant lady…

Thursday came around and we had our hospital appointments, one with the ob and one with the physician.

They were actually running on time today compared to last time which was nice, the ob although lovely made me feel like cattle just trying to get the appointment over and done with so she could get to the next person, it felt very rushed and left me feeling over whelmed even upset because she didn’t even get the Doppler out to listen to little princes heart beat (something I love hearing!) – feel like I had questions then I didn’t even get a chance to say or remember before I knew it I was shipped off to the nurse for my whopping cough vax.

Next was the physician – again on time – a little more slower paced but because I’m feeling over it was a pretty stock standard in and out appointment – the Ob came back in during this appointment as she remember she hadn’t listened to the babys heart (I knew she was suppose to – I should really learn to speak up in situations like this – I’m working on it!) babies heart was 140 and man it was just so beautiful to heart that little beating noise.

You just always hope you’re giving your baby a good home but you just don’t know whats going on in there and at times it can be a little scary – have I felt the baby move today?? Little thoughts like that will pop into your head and worry you – I guess as a mum this feeling won’t stop until the little guy is…. Well I guess it wont stop lol.

I also asked about my placenta – she said it was a pretty common thing (yes I knew this thanks to google) and don’t to be to worried about it and continue on doing what I have been doing and they’ll be able to check it out in the next growth scan.

We celebrated the strong heart beat by buying the little man a cot!!!

It has been 2 weeks now since my iron infusion – the lady said it will take about 2-3 weeks for it to kick in and TBH I don’t feel any difference – I felt good while I was away but I was tanning, eating and sleeping so I just put it to being relaxed – since being back I admit I haven’t had to nap as much but no dramatic changes…..

Stay Strong & Stretch,
Tel X

I’ve been slack on here – but seriously where have the last 3 weeks gone??

Each one a little different to the last but each one a distant memory…

Lets rewind to week 23 – BABYMOON!!!!

Originally we planned to head OS to Hawaii for our Baby Moon but after being changed to risk pregnancy I wasn’t comfortable on a 10hr flight to a different country so we opted for sunny Gold Coast and Byron Bay.

I was fine on the 2hr flight and I think the sun did me good – we both needed the R&R and some solo time – the week went far to quick and we were back to reality before we knew it….

I didn’t train that week – although we went for a lot of walks I never went to the gym at all decided to let my body rest and I was a little nervous after the placenta issue and some googling (I know google can be our worst enemy but there is just so much info – again a good and a bad thing) which says not to lift weights and I wasn’t due to see my Dr until the week after we got back….

In Bryon Bay we did the light house walk and hit over 14km I believe so old preggers was still pretty active, I had round ligament pain but just rested when I needed to.

My belly did a lot of growing while we were away – it felt tight, large and by the end of the day I felt like I was going to pop, morning I’m just so much smaller!

We came home after a relaxing week away and the was the 23^rdweek done and dusted – I came home bigger, more tanned and much more relaxed – I highly recommend a baby moon to anyone who is pregnant – enjoy that alone time with your special person before 2 turns into 3…

Stay Strong & Stretch,
Tel X

I turned 29 this week, very low key birthday compared to normal, much more sober lol.

Not that I’m complaining about waking up fresh!

We leave for our baby moon at the end of this week and I’m just HANGING to get some time away, I’m feeling overworked, tired and slightly stressed over a combination of things so I think it’ll be good to get away and just relax, we are heading to GC and Byron Bay so you’ll hear all about that next week!

My body feels good, ligament pain still causing me to feel uncomfortable during work but other then that the body is feeling good!

Hardly trained this week due to being busy/my birthday/tiredness but I still moved so have to count that as a win hey!

I’ve popped, the belly feels like it’s out and about, it’s cute and Little Prince is as active as ever! During the middle of the night especially ATM – hoping this stops when he is here. I was wake from 1:30am-4:30am the other night – woken up from kicks then just couldn’t sleep! When you’re already tired this lack of sleep doesn’t help!!

Speaking of tired I had my iron infusion Thursday – the nurse wasn’t confident putting the needle in and I’m really bruised and sore! But if it works I don’t care! The nurse said I should start to feel the effect in 2-3 weeks and mannnnn I can’t wait!!!! Give me energy pleassssseeeeeee!

Last thing that happened this week was a call from the Dr.

She had my ultrasound results from my 20 week scan, the baby was growing beautifully! Something I love to hear! BUT (why is there always a but?!) I have a low lying posterior placenta 14mm from my cervix. This isn’t where it should be and not what you want – basically if it doesn’t move I’ll have a C section.

I already have x2 more scans booked in because of my UC (one at 27 and one at 32 or 34 I can’t remember) so they will monitor it then and see if it moves. The only other risk here is bleeding, which doesn’t always happen but if it does I need to get to a hospital ASAP as you can loose a lot of blood fast. I have only spoken to the Dr over the phone and will meet with the Ob once I’m back from my babymoon – just trying not to google to much stuff in the mean time lol which is hard!

For now it’s time for some well needed and well deserved R&R.

Stay Strong & Stretch,
Tel X

This week was an awesome one, I had an appointment at St Vincent’s hospital.

They run a clinic there for women whom are pregnant/wanting to fall pregnant and have Inflammatory Bowel Disease. They reached out to be at the beginning of my pregnancy after hearing about my miscarriage last year and being hospitalised they wanted to monitor me throughout this pregnancy to ensure I don’t become as sick as what I was.

They are currently doing a study and I’m apart of it – I thought it doesn’t hurt having another team of specialist looking over me over this pregnancy.

So what does this entail? Check up appointments, poop samples, questionnaires and ultrasounds! Not of the baby but of my stomach.

Any who first appointment was this week – I was nervous, I mean I feel good but I just don’t really know what to expect – in the past Dr’s haven’t been great (that’s dramatically changed now – I will never go to a bulk billing facility or turner st medical again)

The Gastroenterologist was amazing! She was super friendly and made me feel comfortable – not dumb and didn’t talk down to me like a lot of drs sometimes do. She was happy with the way my pregnancy had been going and took me down for an ultrasound of my intestines to see what sort of inflammation was present (I cant have a colonoscopy being pregnant)

This made me nervous – I mean I feel good and my bowels have been amazing!

But during the ultrasound she was very quite and didn’t give me much, the nerves grew and grew, she eventually spoke.

“There seems to be inflammation present”

What a relief. This was the confirmation that I was a step closer to remission. This was later confirmed days later when my stool samples came back.

I’m officially in remission (YAY!)

Does this mean I’m healed and fixed? Unfortunately no.

Ulcerative Colitis is something I’ll have forever with no cure, but you do go in bouts of remission where no symptoms happen.

I’ll more then likely have a flare after giving birth (they seem to think this happens because of the extra stress of your body?) so I’m just taking everything day by day and enjoy feeling good while I can!

A big step in the right direction this week!

Stay Strong & Stretch,
Tel X

One word – TIRED.

That’s basically how this week went, iron infusion is coming up on June 6^thso just over a week – I’m realllllly hanging for it and hoping it leave me feeling a little more normal.

It could be the iron but I’ve picked up extra hours at work to so could be that, maybe even hormones but I even cried this week.

BUT OFFICIALLY HALF WAY – when did this happen?? Time is just flying!!! I seriously can’t believe it!

Round ligament pain is still lingering, mostly during work whilst walking around, I didn’t go for any walks this week so just whilst working. I only trained three times this week one strength, one cardio and one pilates session – just listening to my body and resting a little more.

I can’t remember if I mentioned it in the last blog but I’ve sneezed three times now and nearly wet myself (nearly as in pee defs came out but not a lot) – hahahhahelphahaha – this was very new but Matt and I could see the funny side… We laughed A LOT! (not enough tho to cause me to wet myself again)

Because this has happened a couple times I decided to go to a pelvic floor and pregnancy physio.

Someone that specialises in this area and can help with both my pelvic floor and round ligament pain. I know i’m not a serve case or anything like that but I know my PF will only get worse and I knew I’d learn a lot which is handy given the fitness industry I’m in and the way my girls pop out babies!

She was great, gave me a band for my belly (like a tubigrip compression type thing) I have only worn it twice, just at work, when I find the pain is bad – the band works! It just feels pretty tight by the end of the night and I also don’t want to wear it too much. Why? Well the physio said its like a second support abs – and I feel like if I wear it too often my actual abs will relax and not support my  body with out it. Something that I don’t know if its actually true but that’s what I think anyways!

Next thing we discussed was my pelvic floor – she said the best way to ensure that I know how to activate to PF is an internal exam (insert shocked face emoji) I didn’t realise that what was coming lol.

Long awkward story short – I know how to activate but struggle holding the activation so she has given me exercises to do – I do recommend women seeing a specialist like this… It will really help long term. Don’t just book into a physio – see a women/pelvicfloor/pregnancy physio – someone who specialises in this field and be aware (I was not!) that they recommend an internal – might be weird but wetting yourself when sneezing, jumping, coughing etc is way worse!

I feel like my body went through a lot of changes this week…

Monday we had our halfway (OMG) scan – it was SO awesome to see little Prince again, we have been feeling him kick but to see his little face was the best!

Last scan was at 13 weeks – he was a lot bigger this time!! Everything is measuring ahead – especially his belly which measuring in the 98.4 percentile on the chart – I knew he was stealing all my food hence why I’m hungry what feels like all the time!

Everything else in the scan went great which is awesome!! My next scan is at 27 weeks can’t wait!!!

I’m finding my nose isn’t as blocked this week while I’m sleeping and although I’m still dreaming they don’t seem to be as weird dreams like the last two week – thank god!

Body wise is feeling the most difference this week – I had been feeling these pains while working and thought I might had strained a muscle, I told the Ob last week and she didn’t seem to concerned so neither was I… I found it to only be when I was working – once I got home and sat down the pain went away. When I went for a walk on Monday I had this extreme sharp pain through my left lower side (I guess under where my bump is) I continued walking and it kind of went away then came back on the right side… I was intense – by the end of the walk I felt like I was walking so slow and hunched over like a really bad stabbing cramps.

Round Ligament Pain – after a quick google search it seems to be what I’m experiencing – I only get it when walking and at work tho (assuming because I walk around a lot) I don’t get it while at pilates or lifting weights…. If you don’t know what RLP is it is a ligament that attaches from your womb to your groin and as the belly get bigger is can strain until I guess it stretches with you… I really hurts! But it doesn’t last too long and I find once I sit down it goes away pretty quick – I’ve only walked once this week because I’m scared it’ll happen again!

Training is the same as the other weeks with strength, pilates and swimming – (although I haven’t swum yet this week its Thursday which is a rest day so planning on it tomorrow)

Lying on my back also doesn’t feel that great this week either – I know from 20 weeks you should start laying on your side due to a main blood vessel that can get compressed so sleeping has been tough as a back sleeper, my shoulders are quite sore from sleeping on my sides I also notice it while demo-ing at work or just laying on my back for too long its uncomfortable….

Tired-ness has come back next level this week – I STILL haven’t has my iron infusion (its booked for next hospital visit in a couple weeks thank goodness) and I’ve only eaten steak once this week rather then nearly every second day like the weeks before so assuming Little Prince is sucking me dry….

My belly towards the end of this week is noticeably a lot bigger of a night time and a lot more people seem to be noticing – which is nice, it’s almost past the awkward in-between stage where I might be pregnant but I also may just be fat lol

Lastly I sneezed and nearly wet myself – like legit some wee defs came out – although me and Matt thought it was hilarious I’m focusing more on my pelvic floor and have also booking in with a pregnancy and pelvic floor physio so I’ll update you on how that goes next week…

With all these changes I’m convinced Little Prince is having a big grow week!

Can’t wait for week 20 and what it has to bring! (also can’t believe I’m already there!)

Oh the nursery has plaster – its not finished but it’s a step closer whoooo!!!

These two weeks have been super similar & have just gone so bloody quick so I’m combining them!!

The main stand out over these last two week have been my dreams – they have been SO bizarre, really strange sometimes scary and very vivid…  Matt said this week I’ve laughed in my sleep and gasped myself awake – both of which I don’t remember.

My nose is also SO blocked of a night-time – during the day it’s completely fine! I asked the Dr and she said its because of more blood circulating around the body and there being more blood vessels in the nose – I’ve woken up with my mouth completely dry from obviously breathing through my nose all night!!

Little Prince is also kicking – often, it wasn’t the ‘flutters’ like people described or I read about it was more tapping maybe you could call it bubbling but I would say it was distinct tapping – I felt it in week 16 but wasn’t sure if it was bubs or not – but over these last two weeks it’s been a lot more regular and distinct…

Training wise I’ve been consistent for the last three weeks:
x2 Strength
x1 Pilates (plus taking 2-3 sessions demo-ing most the session)
x1 Swimming laps
and walking!

Feeling good!!

I had three appointments in week 18 – just a general local GP check up to get my referral for my 20 week scan (yay!), the second two were at the hospital one with the Ob and one with the Physician – I didn’t really know who was for what but later was told (by Matt lol) that the Ob was all about bubs and the physician was all about me – going into high risk now because of my UC they are keeping a close eye on me to make sure I stay in remission and all so far is looking good!! (double yay!!)

The Dr and the Ob checked Little Princes heart rate with the Doppler – it was perfect and so nice to hear – both times Little Prince kicked the Doppler off my belly and both dr’s commented on how active he is – fingers crossed that settles once he is earth side lol

Thus far I’ve put on 4kg – my boobs have gotta be weighing in at 2kgs a pop – they feel and look huge!! The Dr said I’ll probably be gaining .500g per week, which is such a strange thing to think of – still getting my head around that fact!!!

My body although feeling different, it’s feeling good! My belly is defs getting bigger – again there is such a big difference from my morning stomach to my bed bed tummy! Can’t believe I’m so close to half way already and the babys rooms doesn’t even have walls hahhahaohshithahahah

I don’t know if it is because Matts home again or me but this week I’ve felt great!

I haven’t been training all that much because I just have zero energy and feel shit most the time – this week was different, finally back into training because it was what my body wanted and because it felt good to do so!

Sunday- Lower Strength
Monday- Walked
Tuesday- Swam (first time probably since my paul saddler days aka 20 years ago lol)
Wednesday – Pilates
Thursday – Rest day (helped Matts sister move house all day)
Friday – Upper Strength
Saturday – Walk

That’s how my week panned out, I must admit after Pilates on Wednesday I was knackered – I felt really tried – maybe I should be easing myself into it but I’m no good at the ‘easing’ process – all or nothing kinda gal…

I’m still napping most days for an hour or so and still haven’t heard about my iron infusion but I have a hospital appointment coming up so will check in with them..

Diet wise I’m eating a lot more regularly then I use to, pre-pregnancy fasting is something I would do most days and then not really snack where as I’m finding I need to eat every few hours to relieve any sickness that starts to come on. Is it heathly? I’d say yes mostly (I say this as I just finished a malteaser bunny) but I’m not being strict on my diet – again not that kinda gal…

We also bought a pram this week which was super exciting! We haven’t bought anything – going into the baby shops for the first time was overwhelming as hell and there are SO many different brand of everything it was ridic but we knew we were looking at prams so stuck to that section for now – we went with the easiest, lightest, new parent proof one we could find – SUCCESS!!

I also think I felt little prince kick, it’s happened a few times but I have NO idea if that’s what I’m feeling or not, it’s like tiny, TINY little thumps in my tummy – strange bloody feeling that’s for sure!

What an overly positive week – here is to hoping there is more like this!

DISCLAIMER: This is my first week like this – don’t think I’ve been training everyday and eating like a health freak the last 16 weeks because that’s refs not true – weeks 6-7 to week 14-15 were rough!

Stay Strong & Stretch,
Tel