And I'm Back!

Wow! A lot has happened in the 6 months since my last post. I was able to stay pretty active throughout my pregnancy, doing spin 2-3 times a week and running 3 miles once a week. When I was about 6 months pregnant, I went for a 3 mile run and hurt for a few days after. I realized that my running adventures would have to stop until my little one came. I did continue doing spin up until the end. The thing that is great about doing spin while pregnant is that it is easy to modify as needed, doing only an intensity I could handle that day. Also, it really works the abs in a pregnant friendly way. I think this fact really helped my labor go fast.

So the big day came as a huge surprise! I was 35 weeks pregnant and not sleeping very well at night anymore. I remember kind of waking up around 4am with the feeling that my baby was turning around a lot and that it hurt . . . kind of like contractions . . . But I never woke up enough to consciously think about what was going on. When I finally woke up at 7:30, I went and made eggs and toast for me and my little man and starting checking my facebook and reading my blogs. I was still having contractions, and though they felt like real contractions, I wrote them off as "practice contractions." I was laughing at the Pioneer Woman when I suddenly realized that they were getting stronger . . . considerably . . . with each one. I called my midwife at 8am and was having a harder time talking during each cramping pain. But it's false, right? I have big, late babies and I'm 5 weeks early.

To make a long story short (and leaving out the part about having very strong contractions while driving and trying to sing songs with Sims . . . and avoiding speeding while a police officer was right behind me . . .) I was checked by a triage nurse at 9am and was 5 cm dilated and fully effaced. I was in transition 30 min later, pushed for maybe 7 contractions, and my beautiful Lillian was born! Oh, and I should mention that Cruz was working in Tubac that day and walked in literally before my last push, just in time to see his little girl come into this world.

Now, I believe the fast labor was mostly a huge blessing from the Lord, since Lily had the cord around her neck and it kept us from a c-section. But I really think the exercise, especially the spin ab work, played a huge part. It went so fast! And I had a successful VBAC, so now there's no worries about having another VBAC next time.

So, what does that all have to do with running? Not a whole lot, but it's awesome and exciting! But back to running - As I look at starting up again, I need to make some goals. My big goals are to run the Women's Half Marathon in Nashville, hopefully with my niece, sisters, and mom (some of them walking it). www.womenshalfmarathon.com/nashville/ Is it sad that part of the appeal of this particular race is the finisher's medal? It has a removable necklace charm. And I like that it's pretty much all women - it just gives it a different feel. Then, the plan is to continue with my training in and run my first full marathon in the spring of 2012. I'd love to do the Country Music Marathon in Nashville. nashville.competitor.com/

I ended up loving my Saucony Progrid Jazz 12 shoes (see my about shoes for the whole saga), so while I'd love to try some more minimal shoes this time around, I'm going to just stick with what I know for now and order another pair. And yes - shoes (minimal and not) make a huge difference, especially in avoiding injury.

I plan on jump starting my "going back to exercise" week with spin - it's hard and I love it! - then getting started with my running. Now just to come up with a plan . . .

New motivation . . .

I had my first midwife appointment yesterday, and its amazing how the pregnancy is much more real to me now! I feel great about the group of midwives I am using, but am still nervous about trying for a VBAC. And because if this, I've found more motivation to stay healthy during this pregnancy.

During my last pregnancy, I only gained about 30 pounds, which is a healthy amount to gain, with not a whole lot of extra. The thing is, I didn't exercise . . . at all. Well, until towards the end when my husband dragged me on walks at least every other day. I didn't eat very healthfully, either. I ate okay, but I ate mostly carbs in the form of breads, pastas, and fruit. They were what tasted good to me. I had a really hard time standing the taste of most vegetables for the majority of my pregnancy. And I ate a lot of carbs during my last trimester. So why am I mentioning this? Because I had a 9 pound 3 ounce baby who just plain ol' got stuck, hence the C-section. Now, maybe I just make big babies, which could be the case. But I honestly think that part of it was due to my diet and lack of movement. Oh, and I went a week late in my pregnancy, which I've read exercise can help prevent.

So, here's the deal. I have to deliver in the hospital, I have to have constant baby monitoring and an IV, and I have to go into labor on my own (and not a week late). SOOoooo . . . Beyond just general health for myself and our unborn baby, I really want to stay active and eat well to give us a better chance at a smaller baby size, going into labor on my own and on time, and overall a smoother birth. I know some of this will be out of my control, but there is so much evidence that exercise can help in all of these areas, so here's to new motivation! I'll do what I can, and I'll leave the rest up to the Lord.

Movin' on up . . .

I ran two miles today. I don't want to get to any huge numbers as far as mileage goes, but it was nice to go more than my one mile I've been doing lately. Oh, and the yoga video was great, but too slow moving. I want to just write down the poses and add it to the ones I like to do anyway. But it felt really good to do yoga again, and it did wonders for my back. :)

A great site . . .

Here's a great site on Runner's World where moms who ran during pregnancy and/or nursing share their experiences. It's motivating to hear about other women who kept active, how they did it, and how it helped.

http://thepackrules.runnersworld.com/2010/06/running-moms-share-your-tips.html

(Please note - running while pregnant should only be considered if the mom ran prior to pregnancy. But these are still motivating to keep exercising in any way during pregnancy.)

Getting back on the horse . . .

So far, I've been running or to spin 3 times in the past week. It's going better. I've only run a mile at a time, mostly because my new ridiculously slow pace means it takes me forever to warm up and then run a mile, but I feel like I could probably do another 1-2 miles with some walking breaks in between. And spin is going pretty well, too. I've learned to bring half water half vitamin water to keep some carbs going through my body. It keeps me going, and keeps me from feeling nauseous during or after it.

It's still a little weird to not push myself like before, but it is nice to just enjoy exercise, especially during spin. The teacher I tend to take classes from picks great music, so I find myself just getting in a groove and singing along. I also have found that my running posture is better, since too much up and down movement can be uncomfortable and makes me need to pee every 1/4 mile.

My next adventure is a prenatal yoga video I found on netflix instant streaming. Once I do it, I'll tell you how it is. I definitely need to get back into yoga. My body is yearning for some stretching. :)

A new leaf . . .

The past few weeks have found me feeling worse and worse everyday. I started getting headaches and couldn't eat much besides lunch . . .

Today, I woke up feeling not too bad. I ate a small breakfast and actually felt pretty good. I decided I had better capitalize on it, so I went to the gym for the first time a few weeks. It felt so good. I remember reading that blood sugar going down can make nausea worse, so I decided to bring a sports drink with me instead of water to keep some carbs going through me. I mean, I'm not trying to loose weight, so a few calories of drink won't make much of a dent. It felt really good! The drink started tasting too sweet, so I think next time I'll bring water with me as well.

I walked half a mile at a good pace, then ran a full mile without stopping, followed by another half mile. I was going to run one more, but I got called into the Kids Club to change Simeon's poopy diaper, and he didn't want to stay. While one mile of running usually isn't too exciting for me, having gone so long without running and being pregnant means it was awesome. I do have to run much slower than before, but it feels good to be moving again. And I still feel quite good. I hoping *knock on wood* that this is the beginning of the wonderful 2nd trimester, which will bring much more exercise and enjoyment than the first. :)

I should have knocked on wood . . .

So, the last few weeks have been really tough, for many reasons, but mostly because my nausea has gotten worse. I've exercised only once each week. I just don't have the energy or calories to do it. I really want to, but while I feel fine while I'm exercising, I feel worse afterward. I also have to make sure I eat a little before and right after as well, to keep my blood sugar from dipping too low, which makes nausea worse. This is supposed to be the worse part of the morning sickness stage, and I only have a few more weeks until my second trimester. I'm just hoping my second trimester is as great this time around as it was with Simeon. I want to get back to exercising as well as enjoying my food. *knock-on-wood*

I'll keep posting as to how things are going. I am just anxious to start feeling well again and to get back to enjoying my exercise.