What's In My Hospital Bag

So,  I'm now 36 weeks -- NINE months. I delivered both Ada and Eloise at 38 weeks, and I figured I'd better pack just to be safe. And this means packing a bag for myself, a few things for baby, and then bags for both girls. Not that they're necessarily going anywhere, but I find it helpful to gather a few things to help whoever ends up caring for them while we're in the hospital.

(14 weeks, 24 weeks, 36 weeks)

I haven't yet had my GBS test (this week!), so I'm not sure of my status. If I'm positive, I know they'll keep me a bit longer in the hospital. Or if I for some reason have a c-section or other complication. Basically, I don't know how many days I'll be at the hospital.

With Ada, it was short and sweet.

With Eloise, we were there three nights.

My bag . . . 

I was surprised when Ada came before my due date and went to the hospital without a hospital bag as a first-time mom. I over-compensated when planning for Eloise and brought a lot of stuff I didn't need. Regardless, each time I've had a baby, I wear the hospital gown during labor and after birth. I use the mesh underwear they provide for me as long as possible. I use the gigantic pads gladly. I don't bring much from home because I don't want it getting bloody and gross.

I may not look cute, but it makes things very simple.

(PS: I am just using an old duffle bag I've had for over 10 years. I resisted buying a cuter one because we're trying to save money. And I have fallen in love with inexpensive packing cubes to keep things separated. They are so worth it.)


Here's what's in my bag:

• Nursing cami
• Nursing bra
• 2 pairs of black underwear
• Black yoga pants
• Loose shirt
• 2 crop tops (for during labor)
• Robe (in case it's cold)
• Muslin blanket (for nursing coverage if/when company is around)
• FitKicks Slippers (I wear the hospital socks during labor, though)
• Travel toiletries (our hospital doesn't provide any)
• Lavender EO mist (because it calms me)
• Wet brush (I forgot any kind of comb/brush last time!)
• Hair ties
• Phone charger
• Sleep eye mask (I have trouble sleeping with lights on)
• VERY basic makeup (mascara, eyebrow pencil, and light foundation)
• DSLR -- maybe
• Snacks (Mama Chia packs, organic Pop-Tarts, sparkling water, maybe a beer!)
• I may also bring my ancient Boppy Pillow

I'll admit it seems like a lot of clothing. I truly don't feel I need this many options unless we end up having to stay for several days. With Eloise, it was nice to have different tops as options. As far as pants go, though, I basically don't wear any until leaving the hospital.

Oh, and WHY CROP TOPS?! I saw them at Target . . . and they seem genius for wearing underneath the hospital gown during delivery. I tend to get totally undressed at some point, but would prefer to have something on top. The crop will allow them to monitor me easily. And I also plan to use the tops as nightshirts and under button-down shirts for nursing. It's a personal choice, but I like feeding below a shirt instead of above it. It's like a mini nursing cover -- LOL!

Things I'm leaving at home that I had brought in the past:

Jewelry, pads (you get plenty in the hospital), nursing pads (milk doesn't usually come in till I'm home), fancy going home outfit, any personal care or makeup more than the basics, any electronics beyond a camera and phone, books, candles, birth soundtrack, etc.

I also have never had a written birth plan. My plan is healthy mom, healthy baby. My two births were so different. So, I am open-minded. That said, I always try to avoid an epidural simply because I'm uncomfortable with needles.

For the baby . . . 

I always see people pack tons of stuff for baby. In our hospital -- for safety reasons -- we're required to dress baby in hospital-marked onesies and blankets at all times. So, the clothing I'm bringing is solely for the last day right before we go home. The hospital also supplies diapers, pacifiers, and pretty much anything else we need.


What's in my bag:

• Two going home outfits (one lighter, one heavier -- no idea on weather)
• Zutano booties (THE BEST!)
• Hat (again, for if it's cold)
• Muslin blanket 
• Wipes (the hospital ones were weird and we had to manually wet them last time)

That's it.

For the girls . . . 

I suppose for the girls it's not as much packing a bag . . . but just making the following things easy to find. I may have a small box in their room with these essentials so my parents or in-laws don't have to hunt around. I will have a bag at the ready if I go into labor early and they need to go with friends for a few hours until the grandparents can get here.

• A pair of pajamas
• Slippers or socks
• Favorite book
• Favorite stuffed animal
• Comfort blanket (both my girls love blankets)
• Easy foods (Mac and cheese, PB&J, grilled cheese, lots of fruit, granola bars)
• A written list of routines for each girl for wakeup, nap, and nighttime

Also:

I got a special present for Ada and Eloise. Ada is getting this gorgeous fairy magnetic dress-up doll set from Melissa and Doug. Eloise is getting this cute Play-Doh Sesame Street set. I kept these gifts inexpensive and activity oriented to help their caregivers occupy them.

I'm probably forgetting something, but this is the main gist.

Now if I could only find our carseat base!

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Pregnancy Update: Halfway There!

I'm nearing week 20 of my pregnancy, and if history repeats itself (which it very well may not), I am more than halfway done! I had both Ada and Eloise at just a couple days past the 38 week point. Last Friday we had our anatomy scan, and everything is looking good with baby girl. The only "issue" is that my placenta is sitting a bit low -- around 2 cm from my cervix. From what my doctor says and what many of you have told me, this should correct itself by birth in most cases. So, I have no restrictions or anything.

I was worried that being almost 35 and being on baby number 3 (pregnancy number 6!) would mean this pregnancy would kick my butt. Not so. I know I should be knocking on lots of wood . . . but this has been my easiest pregnancy by far. I don't have any complaints. I mean, the morning sickness was awful -- but that's been the case each time. I am so thankful that we don't have any weird medical stuff we're watching, like recurrent strep B UTIs or bleeding, etc.

I feel great. I'm still running, and I have no pelvic pain or bladder pressure. I haven't had Braxton Hicks or irritable uterus issues yet, which usually start very early (17 weeks or earlier) for me. I have energy. I can keep up with my crazy toddler during the day. I am sleeping well at night. I have my appetite back and have been eating a mix of foods. I'll admit that I had to feed myself mostly sugar when I was sick because it was the only thing keeping me from vomiting. It's been hard shifting back to healthier foods, but I am doing a good job at balance. At least I think!

While running does still feel great, I can tell that my SI joint is getting a bit finicky. It always does this around now. It's an old running injury from my marathoning days, and I think the hormones make the joint unstable. It doesn't hurt yet . . . but I have moved from tracking mileage to tracking steps each day. I still tend to get four or five 3-milers in each week. But as the weather heats up, etc. -- I am just aiming to get 10,000 steps a day, no matter how they come. I have been averaging around 12,000 -- awesome! (I use this activity tracker by Garmin -- it's great for runners.)

I mentioned on Instagram that I am frustrated because we've had our name picked out for a while . . . and now it's popped up as a character in a really popular television show. Sigh. I mostly don't care, but it's not a great association. I don't see us changing the name, though. And while I did mention a while back that we have the middle name set, I'm now wavering on that choice. We still have plenty of time. We're just the type that's always been pretty set on our decisions with names once we make them. And if you're curious, it starts with the letter E.

Ada is really excited for the baby. She keeps telling me she can feel the kicks, but I know they're still too faint. This first photo is from my pregnancy with Eloise. Ada wanted to recreate the shot last night. She's such a sweetheart.

Eloise still has no idea what's going on. When I say "kiss the baby!" she does bend down and kiss my belly. It's cute. We have been reading this book about breastfeeding for kids, and she gets a kick out of mama milk. So, sometimes when I say "where's the baby?" She points to my boobs. There's part of me that wants to take her to a big sister class, but then I realize that she is really young. It's not going to be the same type of transition that we had with Ada. There will be a day when the baby is still in my belly . . . and then a day when she's out. And Eloise's world will get rocked. Any tips on transitioning to a younger sibling with kids who don't totally get it yet? It's something I haven't dealt with before. And I don't expect it to be perfectly smooth.

(As an aside: We really love the Dr. Sears Baby on the Way and What Baby Needs books to prepare Ada for a new little one. She asks to read these books almost every night. They are written with alternative birthing/doctor/parenting options in mind, too. I highly recommend these books!)

I don't know how much weight I have gained with this pregnancy. My home scale and the doctor scale are totally different, and I didn't catch my initial weight at my doctor. They did say I lost 3 pounds from my 14 to 18 week appointment. I attribute that to eating better and being more active after ditching the morning sickness. I'd say I have gained 5-7 pounds total.

Other stuff: I do still have weird dry heaving and vomiting spells. And I do occasionally had wicked heartburn. The only other unpleasant thing is heart palpitations. They are normal, but I hate when my heart skips a beat and then races to catch up. It happens mostly when I am laying back in a reclined position.

In other news, I am starting to get excited for summer. Stephen will be home for 10 weeks, which is great. It does frustrate me that we cannot time our pregnancies perfectly. I feel like Eloise's birth -- while certainly not in our control -- fell at the perfect time. It was warm and sunny. I had tons of help and support in the summer. When this baby is born, the long cold and dark season will just be beginning. Stephen will be deep in cross country season and away most evenings and Saturdays. I worry I will feel overwhelmed and totally tapped out. I am trying to prepare and get a support system in place.

We'll see what happens, I guess!

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It’s a . . .

I’m having some technical problems with my computer today. Gah. Very frustrating.

So, I’ll get to the full 18-week update hopefully tomorrow.

For now, we’re thrilled to announce . . .

It’s a GIRL!


I’ll write more about the scan in my 18-week update. In short: Everything looked good. Baby girl was curled up in the fetal position the entire time, which made getting all the measurements quite tricky. Ada went with us, and when the tech told us the sex, she said “See, I TOLD you it was a girl!”

In other news, I’m pretty sure we have a name.

More soon!

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Big Sister

As you may have gathered from my latest Instagram post, we told Ada she’s going to be a big sister!

I’m 12 weeks and 4 days today, and I had my NT scan yesterday. But first I’ll back up to my 12 week appointment with my midwife. I had some concerns about being on antibiotics and a few questions about the group B strep, so we moved my appointment a bit earlier. We got to hear the heartbeat on the Doppler, and it was beating away at 168 beats per minute.

One big bit of TMI news is that my retroverted uterus has finally flipped into the “correct” position. So, as I had mentioned a few times, my cervix is now up and way out of reach when it had been extremely low. I’m sharing this because having a retroverted uterus -- while not entirely rare or concerning -- can lead to some complications if it doesn’t right itself. It’s just another thing women worry about, but in the vast majority of situations, everything will be just fine.

So, my NT scan. I didn’t get this screening with Ada. I was only 27 when I was pregnant with her, we had no problem getting pregnant, we don’t have a strong family history of genetic disorders (that we know about), etc. Still, this time around, we still don’t 100% know why I was miscarrying. It does seem like it was a progesterone issue, but the question mark is still there. And after Ada’s brain surgery, we just thought getting some additional testing might help us prepare for anything we’re up against.

We won’t get the final results for some time, but the scan portion of the test went very well. Everything measured in normal ranges and there weren’t markers for anything off the bat. I did have to give blood in the lab and will have another round of blood work before I get my results (at least I think that’s how it works). Has anyone had this test? What is your experience? I suppose if anything comes back abnormal, I can go on to have further testing.

Anyway, the baby was kicking up a storm in there. I couldn’t believe how big he/she has gotten. The heart rate was again 168 beats per minute (very consistent!) and everything measured right on for my due date on June 26th. The tech showed us the developing brain, the faint outline of the chambers of the heart, the fingers and toes, and all sorts of physical features.

When I was pregnant with Ada, I wasn’t terribly concerned with the sex of the baby. This time around, I really want to know what we’re having -- but not for the reason you might suspect. We absolutely, positively don’t have a preference either way. And I couldn’t mean that with any more truth in my heart. I so badly want a healthy baby. But, on the flip side, I would love to know what we’re having because I’ve had tremendous trouble bonding with the baby. It’s taken me a long time to really feel confident that the pregnancy will continue, that everything will be OK, and that’s kept me from connecting.

For example, I’ve shared very publicly that we’re pregnant online. But in “real life” I get uncomfortable talking about it!

The tech did offer a preliminary guess based on that whole “nub theory” you might have read about on birth boards. Our baby’s nub is pointing straight out, parallel with the spine, which may mean girl. It’s an early guess, but even having that discussion helped me feel like this is all really happening.

I may do more pregnancy updates from this point forward. In a way, I feel like writing little notes will help me with the whole bonding thing. I’ve had trouble celebrating because I keep feeling like something bad is going to happen. And we’re not ever going to be in the clear. So much can happen during pregnancy, birth, after birth, and beyond. That’s life -- but I also think I need to try to let go of that fear and enjoy the ride.

For now, I’ve taken a few baby steps. I’m looking up some gear since much of what we had with Ada is worn or expired. We actually did buy a crib already, which I felt really conflicted about at the time . . . but it was a good deal. I’ve also asked Santa for a Doppler so I can listen to the heart beat from home. I know it can also create some anxiety, but I’m the type of person who will probably stress either way!

Also: The story with telling Ada really isn’t as exciting as you’d think.

I wrapped up a few baby things in a box and at the bottom had a shirt that said “THE BEST BIG SISTER!” I also bought a couple books, including Baby on the Way by Martha + William Sears -- I highly recommend this one because it mentions midwives and nursing, etc. We told her the news, and she didn’t have much of a reaction. Like, at all. I think she’s a little confused because baby has been in the vocabulary for so long with nothing to show for it.


But as the day went on, she got more and more excited. She asked lots of questions and even wanted to “watch a movie with the baby in mommy’s belly.”

I could write a load more, but I think I’ll stop here. Thank you for all your love and support as we’ve gone through all the highs and lows in this journey. We still have a long way to go, but we’re ready to fully embrace the positives.

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Santa Run 2015

My alternate title for this post is “My First and Only Race During This Pregnancy.” And it has nothing to do with the event itself. It was a fun race. Lots of great volunteer support. Great activities for the kids. Tons of community out cheering.

It’s just . . . I haven’t run in an event since the Laurel Festival 10K back in June. In fact, I haven’t run in more than a handful of races over the past year and a half. I used to love spending my weekends lining up at the start. Progressively, my interests have changed -- but I’ve kept up with the running regardless.

So, back to Sunday. It’s December . . . and it’s over 60 degrees. I can’t even believe it. I had toyed with doing this 5K, but didn’t give it much thought. Stephen was the one who urged me to participate because the weather was just so amazing. Sunny and gorgeous. We all hopped in the car early so Ada could do the kids’ race.

She and I both wore fun + festive costumes.

Ada did great, by the way! She’s only ever “raced” a couple kid runs. I hate to say it, but she has fallen at most of them. We never make her do them. But we told her she could try, and she got all excited.

She didn’t just want to run. She wanted to win! (She didn’t. But all the kids got a special prize at the end, so she thinks she did!)


The 5K started about an hour after the kids’ run. I spent the bulk of the time going to and from the bathroom because I was drinking all the water. I mean, it was really warm. I didn’t want to take any chances getting dehydrated. I took my last bathroom break with 10 minutes till the gun would go off and headed down to the start.

During those 10 minutes my bladder somehow filled up again -- to capacity. Ugh. I started the race uncomfortable and just wanted to stop. But I decided I’d forge on. I didn’t wear a watch because I didn’t want to know my time. Instead, I tried chatting with people near me and even talking to myself. If I could speak full sentences, I was golden. And I felt completely comfortable and strong the entire way.

Still, somewhere in the middle of the race, I got to thinking. Yeah. It was fun being out there running in an event. But I had basically paid $25 to do a 5K jog I could have done out my front door . . . sans needing to pee the whole time. I decided right then that I’ll save my money for baby stuff. This would be my first and last race during this pregnancy. Then, as I rounded the corner for the final straight away, I had to fight the urge to speed up.

That’s the other thing. Though I haven’t been racing in the last year or more, I still had been running pretty fast (for me). The competitive stuff doesn’t really go away when you’re in the moment. I struggled to remember during the race that I am pregnant. After all, I’m not really showing and I don’t have many aches and pains yet. Then I’d remember and be like “ugh! what’s my heart rate? I feel great but I don’t want to push it” -- it was a constant battle in my head.

I’m not trying to knock doing events while pregnant. I did several 5Ks and a half marathon with Ada. I think in my first pregnancy running was much more about proving to myself that my whole life wouldn’t change if I had a baby. Now that I know there is balance after birth, I don’t need reminders. At least not yet. And I also think the circumstances and challenges that led to this pregnancy have put me in a different mindset.


I crossed the finish in just under 30 minutes. My official chip time was 29:32, so 9:30/mile. That’s obviously not fast (in fact, it’s my slowest timed 5K to date), but it’s about minute per mile faster than I’ve been running at home. I could feel proud, but I -- instead -- was more freaked out that I pushed too hard compared to my new normal.

I’ll keep up with my slow 5K runs around the neighborhood. I’ll probably even look up a few fun events to run several months after giving birth. For now, I’m hanging up my “racing” shoes. At the same time, I am glad I ran. It was run dressing up and Ada certainly enjoyed all the costumes and activities! We’ll probably spectate while Stephen does a Christmas Cookie race next week.

PS: Christmas! No joke: We just started really shopping and making presents! Ahh. 

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Pregnant Running: What I'll Change

So, it's not secret that I'm having second thoughts about my marathon training. Blame in on the move (which is insane right now -- our sellers was $500 to use their garage for one day before closing!), blame it on the weather (so hot and humid -- can't imagine 20-milers in mid-August), or blame on it (crazy) baby fever . . . but I go back and forth. As of this moment, I am still all signed up and embarking on the whole plan as if I'm going to lace up in October and attack the course with gusto.

Still, the whole impending second pregnancy has me thinking a lot about how I want to approach running and exercise in my next with-child phase. I feel like the first time when I was pregnant, I felt I had something to prove to myself. How I didn't want to lose my identity and ability as a runner. At the time, I didn't feel much external pressure, but over the years it seems like the world and women expect much from their pregnant selves -- especially when it comes to staying fit and active.

I've written somewhat extensively about the irritable uterus issue I experienced with Ada's pregnancy. About how it's actually delayed our own child spacing out of fear I might be bed-bound the next time around and -- regardless -- faced with near-constant contractions from week 17 onward. Anyway, a comment I often got online and from family/friends concern running + irritable uterus and the possible link. My midwife didn't see much correlation since even when I would spend a week on the couch, I'd get the same issue with as much frequency and intensity.

This is all a (too) long introduction to how I plan to approach fitness in my next pregnancy. I read blogs and see women everyday who are kicking major butt, lifting gigantic weights, running marathons, and doing all sorts of impressive feats. Some of these women are supervised and going about it in a smart way. Others, honestly, not so much. But I've decided all I can do is take care of my body and my baby -- so I try to filter out what others are doing and just do me.

If I am straight with myself, I also know I was worried about gaining too much weight during pregnancy and holding onto it after pregnancy. Here's the cruel joke: I never lost all my baby weight despite all the exercise and healthy eating I did. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but breastfeeding made me hold onto weight and with all my training, I am still up a good 7 pounds from where I started all those years ago.


With all this in mind, here's what I'll likely change the next time around:

#1: I won't race:

I didn't do lots of races while I was pregnant (a half marathon, a self-timed 15K, and a couple 5Ks), and I never actually pushed to get PRs. Still, in retrospect -- I don't see a point to participating in racing events if I can't go all out. I know some OBs and midwives say you can listen to your body and push to whatever feels comfortable, but "racing" is just that, and I don't see how it would benefit me the next go around. Also: All the crowds and adrenaline tend to trick my own body into going harder without realizing it. Even if my body is telling me something, it would likely be muffled by all that jazz.

#2: I won't wear a watch:

Yes. I still cared and fretted a bit about my pace in pregnancy. I didn't necessarily try to keep myself chugging along at a certain time . . . but if I could see myself slipping week by week, I would get frustrated. So, I refuse to wear a watch the next time around. Instead, I'll be sure to run naked. Well, at least with a naked wrist. Same goes for tracking distance, too. I'd rather keep a loose gauge on that and go with my energy levels on any given day. They can change so dramatically according to whatever is happening anyway!

#3: I won't just run:

I put way too much emphasis on running the last time I was pregnant. I was running at least 5 days a week for a long while and then slipped to 4, 3, 2, etc. I know I wanted to keep as much running up as long as possible so I could bounce back faster when Ada was born, but the next time around will be different for a number of factors. First of all, I don't run more than 4 days a week currently. I could see 3 days being a sweet spot punctuated with some at-home yoga, lots of walking, and maybe a day or two of my favorite prenatal workout DVD.

#4: I'll stop while I'm ahead:

Like I mention above, I ran a half marathon when I was around 13 weeks. I did the race slow and steady and felt fine afterward. But I was exhausted. I look back on that and think: WHY!?!? I know it was because I wanted to feel good about myself and my changing body, but I'd rather feel energized by exercise rather than have another bib to add to my collection. I don't think I'll run more than 6 miles at a time (probably around an hour) once a week. The other runs I'd like to keep between 2-4 miles in distance. If I have energy to spare -- awesome.

#5: I won't start again so soon:

After I gave birth to Ada I definitely started walk/running at like 3 weeks. I think I was slightly insane because -- though my midwife said to go with what felt good -- I certainly was exhausted and felt like the whole thing was draining me. I will likely wait until the 6 week mark to start jogging again and just walk a lot before that. I did bleed for a while after giving birth and I'm sure it's because I was doing too much. Looking back, I took SO much time off from running throughout pregnancy and postpartum . . . as well as at different times with injury, etc. -- and I'm still getting better race times each and every time I go out there.

+     +     +     +     +

I think a lot is at play here, and I'm sorry to seem somewhat rambling. Pregnancy or even the mere idea of it tends to dominate my brain because I'm a huge planner. After my first experience with pregnancy was less than ideal, I definitely have decided that I want to go easier on myself and my body. And -- just to be crystal clear -- I'm not passing judgement on the choices of other women. We all do what we feel is best for our individual cases. It's impossible to say that what one woman does is right or wrong. I am simply pointing out some things I feel I could benefit from changing.

I feel fortunate to have experienced pregnancy once already and to, as a result, feel more confident and secure in my abilities as both an athlete and mother. I look back on that whole first year. I read my words, my worries, etc., and I sometimes just roll my eyes and think: "Why on EARTH were you so up in arms about that stuff?" Life moves on, and it's really just a blip on the radar.


In closing (because this piece feels like it needs a proper conclusion!): I suppose this is a message to those of you out there thinking that pregnant women need to be these amazing beasts. Growing a fetus, eating perfectly, exercising to the max, etc. Thing is -- you could have an AWESOME pregnancy and feel incredibly fantastic. Go for it. But if you're like me . . . don't get caught up in the shame game. It's not worth it, and you will return to yourself and get back into your normal (or "new normal") activities before you know it.

What are your thoughts on pregnancy and exercise? Second (third, etc.)-time moms: What did YOU change from pregnancy to pregnancy? And if you want to read about exercise in my first pregnancy, scroll down a bit on this page to find those posts.

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My Pregnant Half Marathon Experience

Let's recap: I've already covered how to train for a half marathon (or other race) pregnant, as well as how I chose my particular half marathon race. Today I'll tell you all about my race day experience: How I felt, how I fueled, and -- overall -- how I fared.

It's a wordy post, so get ready to read! And for those of you who'd rather not -- here's the short of it:

1. Accept that despite being prepared, your body may not cooperate the day of the event.
2. Remember that you're pregnant. Your baby really does come first. And that doesn't make you any less of a runner.
3. That being said, if you're feeling OK -- running a half marathon is fine, if it's an activity you're used to and if your medical provider knows about it.
4. Think ahead. Bring food and other fuel you're used to consuming. And consider having a non-runner support person on the sidelines.
5. If at any time you don't feel well on the course, walk for a bit. Or get off the course completely. There's no shame in it.
6. Other runners will likely pass you. Runners you may feel aren't as fast or "good" as you. Deal with it!
7. Along these same lines: Forget pace. Live in the present. Enjoy yourself and your new addition.
8. Take a photo or two to remember your time -- good or bad.
9. Eat, eat, and eat some more when you're done. You need to replenish your calories/energy.
10. Celebrate. In a low-key way. Again: Don't do much after the race. I laid in my bed and watched movies/ate the rest of the day.

PRE-RACE:

The morning of the race was tough. I mean REALLY tough. I was just 12 weeks at that point. And I still had morning sickness every single morning. I rarely got fully sick, but I had this mean problem with dry heaving. (I'm sure that's just what you wanted to read.) So, when I woke up at 5AM -- a full hour earlier than usual -- I immediately ran downstairs to grab a Greek yogurt. My favorite sickness semi-cure.

Problem #1: That extra hour without sleep sent my body into ultra-sick mode. Honestly, it was one of my worst episodes yet. Just thinking about it now has me clutching my stomach. I couldn't get a single spoonful of yogurt down my throat. Thankfully, I knew what to do: I had to eat a popsicle. ASAP. I learned the trick through experimentation, but something about the cold always shocked my system back into cooperation after an acute attack. At least temporarily.

Problem #2: I couldn't get anything else down. That's when the BIG dilemma hit me. If I couldn't eat anything before the race, how would I be able to run it? Not only energy-wise. But SAFETY-wise? I continued getting ready because I felt better -- typically -- after getting up and about. Threw on my shorts, shirt, and race bib. Stretched a bit. Tried to down some granola bars and applesauce.

A few bites agreed. Phew.

And then I cried. I was completely prepared to run the race, but I began to feel there was a HUGE possibility I wouldn't be able to. I felt t.e.r.r.i.b.l.e. And my heightened pregnancy emotions didn't help.


START LINE:

We got in the car -- box of granola bars in my lap -- and drove to the start line. My plan at that point was to continually monitor my body and eat as much as possible. As I woke up more, I felt better. New problem: It was raining. Not sprinkling, but steadily raining. Would I get sick being outside in the weather for 2 hours? So much worry. I was beginning to think the whole thing just wasn't worth it.

Thankfully, my in-laws were up visiting for the weekend. My decision to run the race ultimately came to a YES because I knew if I couldn't do it, a couple miles in, I could stop and watch with them. My mother-in-law was nice enough to carry a mixture of half water/half lemonade (I'll get to fueling in a bit) that I'd be able to gulp at miles 3, 7, and 11. I had packed a set of fresh, dry clothes. Though I didn't want to experience yet another D(id) N(ot) F(inish), I knew if I didn't at least try, I'd always wonder -- because at that point, I really WAS starting to feel better -- if I could have completed the race.

NOTE: Unless you have systems in place to stop easily, if you aren't feeling well -- it's OK not to run. Your health and, more importantly, your baby's health trumps finishing a 13.1 mile course. Had my in-laws not been there that day, I likely would have stayed home.


MILES 1-10:

After a chilly 20-minute wait in the rain, the gun went off. During the wait, I downed another granola bar (2 total) and package of applesauce. It was the amount of food I was used to eating, but I had brought much more with me. When I found out I was pregnant, I switched fueling methods. Instead of gel backs and blocks, I used natural, unsweetened applesauce (below) for a boost. I brought Fig Newman's for some extra energy, as pregnant women often encounter low blood sugar while running.


The first three miles were surprisingly fantastic. As I had experienced before, my morning sickness pretty much went away after a mile of slow plodding. The course was flat, so I cruised along -- warming up and taking the chance to start feeling myself again. After 3 short miles, I already had to pee.

I ducked into a conveniently placed porta potty and continued on my way. The next 3 miles were sort of a blur. I felt fine. My pace was steady. The rain continued, but actually felt nice -- not too cold. I had to pee again. So, I stopped. That's another tip, though. Try to run a race that's set up with tons of bathroom and fuel stops.

You'll need them.
You'll love them.
You'll wish there were more of them.

Miles 6 through 10 ran right through my neighborhood. There were tons of spectators out cheering us all on. I recognized some people. That kept me going. And I laughed because the mile 9 rest stop was a block away from our house! Of course, I took full advantage, but this brings me to my biggest race frustration: Being passed by other runners.

It might be a bit of a tangent, but with all my stops, I fell back in the pack to a group of much slower runners than I'm used to being around. I, myself, was a much slower runner that day than my usual self -- so it's not really a pride thing. But maybe it was. Despite what anyone will tell you, there's a certain level of adjustment that goes along with running pregnant. A shift of goals from being PRs and other awesome feats -- to just maintaining and continuing the activity. Period.


MILES 10-13.1:

I ended up keeping my pace steady throughout the beginning of the run, but I'm pretty sure I sped up a bit from miles 10 to 12. I found some people to talk to along the way, which was both a good and bad thing. The course was flat at that point and the conversations were interesting. Good: It was a nice distraction. Bad: It made listening to my body difficult. So, around mile 12, I decided to shake off on my own.

I fueled when I saw my mother-in-law by chugging a nice amount of the lemonade mixture. That's another tip: Even if you don't feel hungry or thirsty along the way, drink and eat anyway. It can only help you and your baby. It may slow you down. It may require you to stop more frequently. But it's worth it.

That last mile was my favorite. Slight downhill. The rain had let up, but the clouds kept the heat away. I gathered from the people around me that we would finish in under 2 hours 10 minutes. Though I tried my best not to have expectations, I secretly wanted to finish in under this time.


POST-RACE:

And I did! My official time was 2:09:58. A far cry from my previous half times (which fall around 1:46) . . . but I had FINISHED and felt GREAT. The post-race party featured bagels, Chobani, fruit, cookies, sports drinks, and more. I indulged in everything. Stephen did a great job, too -- and his parents wanted to go out and celebrate. I did, as well. However, when we got home, the rush I felt upon finishing was gone.

I was TIRED.

So, I let them go out and have fun without me (as if that's possible!). They brought me back some food. But I spent the rest of the day in bed. By choice. Watching movies and thanking our little girl (though we didn't know she was a she at the time) for sticking with me all those miles.


WHAT NOW?!?!

In the weeks after the race, I had some trouble finding my place with running and pregnancy. I didn't schedule any races, but I maintained a long run of around 15K every other week. I kept this up until recently, when I ran my last-hoorah long run.

After 20 weeks, I am realizing I need to start slowing down my activity level. You can read more on (never home)maker, baby!

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Running and Pregnancy: Part I

I'm trying to keep most of the pregnancy-related posts over at (never home)maker, baby! -- but this one is too running/fitness-oriented to leave off the main site. Running while pregnant has meant learning to run all over again. It's been physically and mentally challenging and frustrating. It's been surprising and, at times, empowering. Most of all, it's been relaxing and fun.

Before I was pregnant, I was running about 30 miles a week. I was training to race the half marathon in around 1:42:00. So, I'd say, for me, I was in good shape. My long runs averaged between 10 and 12 miles. My pace was strong and steady -- between 7:30 and 8:30 most days.

When we saw the second line on the pregnancy test, one of the first things I did was head out on a run. I needed some time to think. To be alone. And running is perfect for that. But as I set my foot to the pavement, I noticed a HUGE difference almost immediately: I was running . . . yes . . . but my pace was ssslow. Even more strange, I didn't care about being slower. At all.

It seems I made an almost unconscious decision upon learning about our little one that I wanted to focus on my baby versus my running goals. This decision isn't for everyone, and I know many women continue to run at good clips during their pregnancies, but -- for me -- taking it easy felt like the natural thing to do.


Even more interesting were the weeks following, where I started to relax more about slow versus fast . . . but began to actually FEEL physically different, necessitating some changes.

1.) My heart rate rises . . . quickly. And to higher numbers than before-pregnancy. Even on an easy jog, I'd easily get up to 150 to 160 BPM. I felt out of breath and like I needed to slow down and take a quick walk break.

There are a number of recommendations for what is a safe level. I've seen as low as 120 BPM. I've read that perceived exertion is way more important, so as long as you can carry a conversation, you're OK. I've read that you can go as high as you want. And the more generally accepted number is between 140 and 150 BPM.

2.) My body (legs, muscles, etc.) feels unchallenged. Though I haven't been timing most of my training runs, I think I'm running paces in the 9-minute range. OK. I even think on long runs when it's warmer, I verge near 10. That's a minute to a minute and a half (or more) slower than usual for me. My body was used to a more demanding schedule.

What's difficult is that my leg muscles and my lungs/heart are at odds. I go for runs -- pretty much all at the same pace -- and feel held back. Yet, I'm out of breath. I continually feel like I want, no, NEED to go faster for sanity . . . but then I catch myself unable to say a full sentence and force a slower plodding.

3.) Recovery takes longer. Though my muscles don't feel the stress, my general energy level is lower. I started at 5 runs per week, then 4, then sometimes only 3. I mixed walking in to make sure I was still moving. I don't necessarily think the tiredness had much to do with the running, just the typical 1st trimester exhaustion (and more than occasional "morning" sickness).

Now I'm feeling much more awake. I'm planning to try and maintain a 4-run-per-week schedule. But I play it by ear. If I'm feeling tired, a brisk walk can be just as satisfying. Sometimes being outdoors in any way is more of what I need than a jog around the neighborhood.

4.) Racing is frustrating. I've run in two 5Ks and one half marathon since finding out the news. The 5Ks, strangely, have both been completed in around 26:30. My usual finish time is closer to 23:00. I completed the half marathon in 2:09, which included 5 stops a porta-johns because I drank so much water. Running pace for that was more like 9:35 miles.

Here's a picture from my first 5K at around 7 weeks.


The second 5K was at around 10 weeks. Much hillier.


Then came the half marathon at 12 weeks.


I don't care about my race times. It's the act of racing that feels so different to me. I'm calm, comfortable, and just happy to participate in the events. I don't find myself wanting to push harder. I even think about my little passenger along the way. I thank him/her from time to time for joining me. Silly, I know. But I'm very happy to have continued running as far as I've been able to manage.

There's a lot more to write about this topic. But I wanted to get the basics out there. In coming weeks, I'll talk more about specifics -- as well as the many opinions I've received from others on running while pregnant (it's been interesting, for sure!). Right now, the baby weighs but a few ounces. I imagine I'll experience more changes as I grow bigger and less comfortable. I am fully ready to switch to lower-impact exercise as my body dictates (walking, swimming, or aqua jogging, anyone?), but will be sad to leave the sport behind, even if only temporarily.

Psssst: If you're interested, today's baby-related post on (never home)maker, baby! is all about my struggles with morning sickness. Joy!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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