How I Got Healthier With My Second Pregnancy
For some reason, I guess multiple pregnancies are supposed to insenuate that it makes it harder for women to bounce back or to stay fit throughout the entire pregnancy or maybe that is just the common misconception that many women have these days. After all, being pregnancy a second time around while trying to chase and take care of another baby or toddler can be quite hard since you are so focused on the health of this other little one; we tend to forget ourselves right? However, with my second pregnancy, I found myself in better shape than I was with my first. Obviously, this wasn’t my first rodeo so I knew what to expect, things to do, and things not to do.
Comparing First and Second Pregnancy Approaches
With my first pregnancy back in 2013, I would call myself fit… somewhat. I mean, I was slender and active. I was more of a cardio bunny than a weightlifter though as I would only find myself in the weight room at the gym if nobody was in there. I used to feel so intimidated lifting in front of people- especially men. By contrast, with my current, second pregnancy, I would definitely call myself fit. I certainly worked hard to make sure I had some sort of muscle mass prior to getting pregnant again versus focusing on being skinny.
Below is a data comparison based on the two experiences:
| Feature | First Pregnancy | Second Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Focus | Cardio (Elliptical) and Weight Machines | Weightlifting, Free Weights, and Incline Walking |
| Workout Location | Local Gym (3-5 days per week) | Home Gym (5 days per week) |
| Nutrition Strategy | Counted calories religiously | Hunger cues and how I feel |
| Weight Gain | 30 lbs total | 23 lbs (at 36 weeks) |
| Body Composition | Soft and slender postpartum | Built lean muscle mass |
Developing a Solid Fitness Plan
During my first journey, I aimed to workout 3-5 days per week which meant driving to my local gym, getting on the elliptical for 15-20 minutes and then heading to the weight room to do some weight machines. To be honest I did not have much of a plan or routine as I was still a newbie when it came to lifting and working out in general during pregnancy. I kinda was one of those people who walked into the gym thankful that I even had the motivation to arrive and just walked around doing whatever with zero direction. But as soon as I gave birth, I was left with a soft and slender body due to not having a steady weightlifting routine the whole entire time.
For this pregnancy, I wanted a solid plan and no excuses so after giving birth to my son, I built my own home gym so that I could get strong and lean prior to conceiving baby #2. Now, I lift weights 5 days per week and walk on my incline trainer at a 5%-10% incline at 3mph for 30 minutes for 5 days per week in addition to my own home pregnancy program circuits 4 days per week. This time around, it was nice to use free weights (barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells) instead of those weight machines you see in the gym because I felt like I had more control over my workout.
Nutrition and Weight Management
Regarding my diet during the first pregnancy, I ate pretty well and counted my calories religiously so I stayed pretty slender for the most part. As far as my diet goes now, I do not count calories and haven’t this entire pregnancy. Instead, I go based off of how I feel and my own hunger cues. During this second pregnancy, I gained weight faster than with my son-I truly believe it was because I created lean muscle by keeping up my lifting routine. I am anxious to see what the end result will be, but I honestly prefer to go by looks and stress too much about the number on the scale.
Tips on Getting Healthier With Your Next Pregnancy
If you are looking for advice on staying fit, here are my core tips:
- LIFT WEIGHTS: Yes, if your doctor has given you the clear to do so, please lift. You need strength to make it through pregnancy and you will need that strength during labor and after pregnancy.
- Start Early: Ideally, you want to start a good weightlifting regimine PRIOR to pregnancy as pregnancy is usually not the time to start new activities if your body isn’s used to them.
- Safety First: The last thing we want you doing is hurting yourself or your baby so be careful, go slowly.
- Home Convenience: It was so nice not having to leave the house and to be able to workout whenever I want and have my son nearby to check on him-I highly recommend you purchasing a few pieces of gym equipment for your home.