Home ยป My Super Weird Pregnancy: Second Trimester

My Super Weird Pregnancy: Second Trimester

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My first trimester was a breeze. I could’ve been one of those women who never knew they were pregnant if things had continued as they were during the first 13 weeks. No nausea, no queasiness, no fatigue that knocked me on my rear. I felt really, really good. The only thing I suffered from was the excitement of keeping the pregnancy a secret until we were closer to the second trimester.

I’m not sure if it was the vacation to Cabo or simply the transition from my first trimester to my second, but it seemed as if they day we returned from vacation, everything changed.

baby u-s 1 blog

My back – oh the pain. This is the kind of pain that nearly had me in tears. Laying flat or extended periods of time walking or standing are no bueno. My sciatica was acting up for some time, of course at the most inopportune of times, like on the days we have huge catering events or I am teaching cooking classes and running around all day. In heels. I’ve gotten very used to people telling me, “Oh, it’s only going to get worse!” THANKS! And for me, that has been untrue. My back pain was the worst around weeks 15, 16, and 17 and has improved since starting stretching with a trainer, receiving acupuncture, and much to my dismay, becoming less active. I have added chiropractic adjustments and prenatal massage to the mix, as well. Honestly, though, reducing my exercise has really been the biggest help. I was in the most pain after several long, fast walks (4.1-4.3 mph). My workout routine now consists of 1 day of tennis per week (1 hour) and that may go up to 2 days/week, as well as one 30-minute elliptical workout/week, and one walk (3 miles-ish) per week. I stretch with a trainer for 30 minutes/week and perform upper body weights with the trainer once per week and once on my own per week, and try to stretch daily on my own. It’s a huge change from 3 days/week of high-intensity hockey and 2-3 runs per week, but I am listening to my body and as a result, I’m feeling MUCH better.

I became a champion sleeper – day, night, it didn’t matter. It took me a few weekends to drop the guilt over holding down the couch or hammock for a few hours here or there. My body needs more sleep and so I take it when I can get it. Ironically, however, my body doesn’t sleep for over 8 hours per night, even when time allows. I am consistently up before my alarm clock…and yet I struggle to get into work as early as I’d like. Imagine that! Darn DVR and cute, cuddly dog in the morning…

My hand and fingers are tingling and going numb. Constantly. I was freaked out until Google assured me that carpal tunnel-like symptoms in pregnancy is very common. It must be common enough to be Google-able, but by golly, I’ve never heard of this. Of course my tingling and numbness are in my right hand, my dominant hand. I kept trying to figure out why my racquet grip would loosen or I’d have to pause from shampooing my hair to allow my hand to hang and my side and gain feeling again. I notice the hand all the time, but it’s problematic with writing, showering, doing my hair/make-up, and driving. I assure you I am safe to drive and do the above aforementioned tasks, but this pregnancy symptom is very cruel. Acupuncture is helping with this quirky side effect, as well.

Dare I embarrass myself and talk about my snoring? I kid you not, I own every OTC anti-snoring device and I’m blessed with the BIGGEST mouth guard you ever did see to sleep in to lessen my snoring. Yes, I sleep on my side. No, Mr. Prevention doesn’t wear ear plugs (reminder, self, to get him some…). Sometimes, I wake myself up with my snoring which is, well, embarrassing. I just hope this goes away. Separate beds and getting smacked with a pillow throughout the night is no way to live.

Outside of all these oddities, I’ve put on about 11 pounds and am few days shy of 5 months pregnant. My pants still fit, but why wear pants when you can wear maternity pants? 🙂 There’s some great non-alcoholic German beers and I treat myself to 1-2 each week. I have had no food cravings to speak of. My two trips to Dairy Queen and the week of bacon recipes was enjoyable but I wouldn’t call that anything close to a craving. I don’t have any weird dreams and my “baby bump” is just beginning to turn from a lump to a bump. I’m carrying really high. I take a prentatal vitamin daily, of course. But I also take 400 mg of magnesium and 300 mg CoQ10 (for headache prevention and it works GREAT for me). I also take 2000 IUs of vitamin D and 1200 mg fish oil.

I am busy becoming an Etsy and Pinterest FREAK while planning for the pink and gray nursery. If you follow me on Pinterest, I’m sorry for all the baby pins…but, aren’t they sooo cute?

That’s all for now. Thanks again for sharing in our excitement 😀

Be well,

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8 Comments

  1. Chrissy
    June 2, 2014 / 9:21 pm

    I felt similar with my pregnancy – I felt great in the first trimester. No nausea, no fatigue, nothing. I felt awesome! Then once I hit like 15 weeks I became a slug, and would spend my days off dozing on and off for the entire day. Luckily, it got better in the third tri, and felt relatively good to the end. The chiropractor definitely helped though. I hope the remainder of your pregnancy goes well! Can’t wait to “meet” BabyPrevention.

  2. Jacqueline
    June 2, 2014 / 11:48 pm

    I’m a few weeks behind you (currently 16 weeks) and with my 2nd baby. I snored like a trooper last time I was pregnant and my husband tells me it’s back! ๐Ÿ™‚ He’s got earplugs. Last time I was pregnant I spent 3 weeks in hospital due to Pre-eclampsia, I was in a hospital ward with 4 other heavily pregnant ladies and my gosh, the amount of snoring in that room was crazy!!!
    Enjoy it all, the good and bad, it goes so quickly! All the best with the rest of the pregnancy!

  3. Angela R
    June 3, 2014 / 8:38 am

    Congrats and welcome to the weird and wonderful world of pregnancy! All kinds of fun and not so fun stuff happening to your body! Nobody can tell you what it will be like for you because every pregnancy and associated symptoms are so different. I’ve had two kids and both pregnancies were vastly different. Glad you have found relief for your sciatic pain, that is the worst!

  4. Michelle
    June 3, 2014 / 9:10 am

    Congrats! I am 23 weeks right now ๐Ÿ™‚ With my last pregnancy I had the carpal tunnel symptoms. It would wake me up at night. I started wearing wrist braces and that helped alot.

  5. Biz
    June 3, 2014 / 1:07 pm

    So exciting – sorry about the back pain, but it sounds like you have a plan – and I applaud the no guilt naps! ๐Ÿ˜€

  6. Renee'sKitchenAdventures
    June 4, 2014 / 5:28 pm

    oh no. Sorry. Second trimester is supposed to be the best of the three! If you think pregnancy does weird crap to your body, wait until AFTER you deliver. No one prepares you for the weird stuff that happens postpartum. lol But enjoy every moment of it, the good and the bad, because before you know it, it will all be a memory. ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Samantha Angela
    June 5, 2014 / 3:56 pm

    Being in prenatal yoga teacher training, I have to ask if you considered trying prenatal yoga?
    It can be really helpful with pain during pregnancy as well as connecting to your body and baby and improving sleep. Just a thought.

  8. Stacey
    June 25, 2014 / 6:17 pm

    Have you tried a chiro for the numbness? Mine worked wonders for me (currently 9 weeks). And I am one of those who was smacked in the face with fatigue… isn’t this all so much fun!? ๐Ÿ™‚

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