My Second Pregnancy: What I’m Doing Differently & Why It’s So Much Better
I am now 25 weeks pregnant, and almost every day someone asks me, “How are you feeling?” And I am happy to report: great! (All things considered.) Pregnancy is never easy, but so far this one is going much better than my first. There are definitely some aspects that are more difficult, partially due to the fact that my body has done this before, and partially due to the fact that I am constantly chasing around a 35-pound toddler. But for the aspects that are within my control, this pregnancy is certainly an improvement.
When I was 24 weeks along in my first pregnancy, I posted a photo on Instagram with a caption that said: “I’d like to have a conversation with whoever said the second trimester is the “honeymoon” of pregnancy.” Because I was already feeling the pain! And maybe it’s just that my expectations a lower this time around (lol), but I’d also like to think that this time I know a little more, and that I’m applying that knowledge in a way that helps me have a more pleasant (or at least, less miserable) pregnancy.
So today I am sharing the five big things I’m doing differently during my second pregnancy, in hopes that someone out there will find them helpful as well!
1. Doing Less, More Often
For Nausea & Acid Reflux
One of the first struggles of pregnancy is, of course, the nausea. To treat it, one of the biggest pieces of advice that I see and hear everywhere is to eat smaller meals more frequently. And I found this to be mostly true. Doing so is usually helpful (even if only to an extent). And it is also helpful for reducing acid reflux, which is a symptom that usually worsens later on in pregnancy. So eating less more often is a habit worth adopting and sticking with, in my opinion.
For Aches & Pains
I’ve discovered that I can apply the same concept in other ways—namely, exercise. (But also anything that puts demands on your body.) Instead of going for an hour-long walk or run, I’d prefer to take four 15-minute walks throughout the day. Rather than doing all of my laundry on one day of the week, I try to do one load per day. And so on… These may seem like little changes that wouldn’t make much of a difference, but they have helped me to not put too much strain on my body at any one time, and also have held me accountable to moving my body all throughout the day, so that I can still achieve my overall move goal.
For Mental Motivation
This principle has also been a game-changer for my mental health, because if I’m not feeling up to a certain task, I don’t feel as bad about skipping it. As I’ve described in my general approach for being more productive in life, breaking down tasks into smaller pieces helps you to focus on your successes rather than dwelling in the “undone”.
2. Embracing My Changing Body
One of the benefits of this being my second pregnancy is that I already had a lot of maternity clothes on hand. I brought them out very early on in this pregnancy, and it made me realize… Why did I insist on wearing my regular clothes for so long during my first pregnancy?! (Jeans especially.) Maternity clothes are SO much more comfortable!
Pregnancy & Body Image
I’m sure part of the reason that I clung to my regular clothes for so long is that it can be very scary to accept your growing body. That emotional battle is a different experience for everyone… But for me, it’s been much easier this second time around because I know what it’s like on the other side. I know that, although many things will change, I will feel like myself again. And, if I want, I can return to my starting weight.
But, more importantly, I am confident that my identity is not in the shape of my body. First and foremost, my identity is in Christ. And secondarily, it is so much more valuable and beautiful for me to reflect God’s love in the many ways that motherhood does—in love, patience, gentleness, joy, and so much sacrifice. And that’s why I’m so passionate that new moms should never be encouraged to get their “old body back.” A woman’s body that has been changed by pregnancy is a picture of God’s sacrificial love, and that is more beautiful than anything it ever was before.
Since I have spent much of postpartum dwelling in that truth, I am less afraid of what is to come. This time around I am embracing my changing body! (And with that, embracing the far superior comfort of maternity clothes…)
Maternity Clothes
Speaking of… My favorite affordable brands that carry maternity clothes are Senita Athletics and Old Navy. If you’re in the market for something more expensive, the Lululemon Align leggings are amazing. They are NOT maternity leggings, but they can be worn throughout most of pregnancy because they are so stretchy. And the benefit of the high price point is that you can then wear them after your pregnancy as well. (And let me tell you, they work wonders postpartum.) Also, it is important to know that they just came out with a version with POCKETS! My analysis is that the pocket-version is a *slightly* less comfortable, but ultimately worth it because of the helpful functionality.
3. Moving With Intention
Along with embracing a positive body image, it is still important to respect your body by being healthy. The two go hand-in-hand. Now, I am no expert in nutrition and diet, but I absolutely love to move my body—walk, run, bike, lift weights, stretch, all of it! Exercising makes me feel better, both physically and emotionally.
Better Exercise in Pregnancy
During my first pregnancy, I basically continued to do my existing exercise routine until it became too difficult. This included running, HIIT & strength classes, and some occasional yoga. This was not necessarily bad, and I definitely don’t regret how much I worked out. But I didn’t educate myself on which movements affected which muscles, and how my changing body needed to adapt certain types of exercises. Around 20 weeks, I started experiencing various aches and pains that are normal in later pregnancy (such as SPD, rib pain, and back pain), but I struggled to pin-point what made the symptoms better and what made them worse.
This pregnancy I found the Expecting & Empowered Complete Pregnancy Guide, and it has been SO. VERY. HELPFUL. The Expecting & Empowered Instagram page has helped me put a name to the exact problems I’m having, as well as providing exercises to prevent and stretches to treat them. The fitness guide has provided me with exercises that are guaranteed pregnancy-friendly, focusing on preventing pain and preparing for childbirth. My aches and pains have so far been so much more manageable thanks to this community!
The Expecting & Empowered Pregnancy Guide is meant to be paired with additional cardio exercise throughout the week. So if I could do my first pregnancy over again, I would continue to do what I was doing, but I would replace a few days a week with the E&E workouts. I then would have applied my E&E knowledge in my HIIT and strength classes to modify any specific exercises as needed. (For example, I thought my SPD was exclusively from running, but doing lunges can also worsen the issue, and I never knew that. I probably did thousands of lunges throughout my first pregnancy, and now I think I have some long-term SPD issues because of it.)
This time around, since I have a toddler at home, I don’t have as much time to get in the same type of cardio that I’d like to do. But I do my best to move my body as much as I can, and when I do, and I am far more INTENTIONAL about the movements I do and the movements I avoid. I credit my increased knowledge and intentionality to Expecting & Empowered, which is why I’m so happy to partner with them in offering you $10 off Expecting & Empowered resources with promo code “MAGGIE”.
4. Understanding What Actually Helps
In addition to getting educated about my exercise routine, I now know which products and interventions actually work to help reduce my pregnancy symptoms. This, of course, could be different for different people. But here is my short-list…
My Essential Products for a Better Pregnancy
- Vitamin B6 – I took this every day during my first trimester, and it really helped reduce my nausea. (The few days that I forgot to take it, I felt absolutely horrible!) My doctor recommended it, but, of course, be sure to check with yours.
- Pregnancy pillows – I can’t sleep without this body pillow or this wedge pillow.
- Heating pads & ice packs – My worst pregnancy pain has probably been my back/rib pain. And I have tried nearly every trick in the book to treat it! During my first pregnancy I spent a good amount of money on massages and chiropractic care, but nothing really helped. The only things that I have actually found helpful are just some basic heat and cold. So this pregnancy I am not going to waste my time or money on complicated solutions, but rather just focus on these easier at-home solutions.
5. Owning My Decisions
Lastly, this pregnancy I am GREATLY benefitting from the knowledge I gained from reading Expecting Better by Emily Oster. I highly, highly recommend this book to all pregnant women! (And her sequel, Cribsheet, for that matter!)
Emily is an economist and mother who uses her professional expertise to analyze the data around motherhood, presents it in a way that’s easy to understand, and empowers mothers to make educated decisions about the way they approach pregnancy and early parenthood.
Better Decisions within Pregnancy
Expecting Better explores all things pregnancy—ex. Can I drink coffee? Alcohol? Which foods are safe, and which aren’t? Which activities might be dangerous for my baby? She presents the data, but her non-judgmental tone encourages you to decide for yourself.
I absolutely LOVED this book, because it has enabled me to make more educated decisions about what is safe for my baby and me. For example, did you know that washing your fruits and vegetables is far more important than avoiding uncooked sushi or soft cheeses?
Instead of dwelling on the common “pregnancy rules” and stressing that I might forget about one of them, I have been able to relax during this pregnancy, being confident that all of my decisions support the lowest risk option. And in some cases I feel so much more free to be me, because the so-called “rules” that we hear so often in society actually aren’t backed up in the data. (Another example: I haven’t been as paranoid about counting my milligrams of caffeine this time around. Whether I have one cup or two cups likely won’t have any impact, and I certainly don’t need to cut it out completely like I did last time!)
Better Decisions within Postpartum & Early Parenthood
And, as I mentioned above, Emily’s sequel, Cribsheet, is just as wonderful (if not more). It focuses on early parenthood, especially the newborn phase, when everything is new and scary, and people are telling you a million different ways to care for your child! Once again, she presents the data but empowers you to make the decision. I’d highly recommend reading this book while pregnant, if you can, to equip yourself with accurate information that will empower you to make the best decisions for your baby in those critical first few months and years.
I hope this list has sparked some ideas for small changes that YOU can make to improve your pregnancy! It’s not always easy, but it’s such a blessing. You can do this, mama!
Do you have any pregnancy advice from your experience(s)? Please share in the comments below!
