5 Month Pregnancy Update!

Wow, did that fly by! I can't believe we are already over half way through this pregnancy - it seems like it was both yesterday and also forever ago that we found out this baby was on the way and went through those agonizing first 12 weeks trying to keep it a secret from everyone. 

Now that I am well into my second trimester, I thought it would be fun to share a little update of how things are going - both for my own memory and also for those that keep asking how I'm feeling/how things are going. 

I feel very, very lucky to have had an incredibly easy pregnancy so far. Aside from a couple of aches and pains (see below), I really do feel like myself, just with a bigger midsection! I think it's in part to taking really good care of myself prior to and during the pregnancy (read this post for more details on the preparation part) and also because we have so much other life stuff happening that I'm generally super distracted right now and don't have a lot of time to think about all things baby.

In case you missed the news, we are packing up our lives and moving to San Diego at the end of June! Not only do we have to deal with the logistics of an actual cross-country move (read: really, really not fun), but we're also in the process of purchasing another home in California, preparing our DC home to be rented since we plan on keeping it as an income property, and then also attempting to renovate and furnish our new CA house since we're leaving almost everything behind when we move! It's a good thing I work well under pressure and pride myself in being incredibly organized because otherwise I don't know how I'd be surviving right now ;) 

I guess I should also share that baby is a GIRL! We really weren't sure that we wanted to know the gender at all which is why it took us a while to find out, but now that we know we are SO excited that we did. I think that knowing that the baby is a "she" is helping us both prepare for the fact that there is a real human on the way - not just an alien in my belly - ha! It's also fun to finally be able to narrow down some favorite names and imagine our lives with a little girl! 

Here are some general pregnancy-specific updates! 

Cravings
Fresh fruit and dairy! I'm pretty sure I've never purchased an orange at the grocery store in my entire adult life, but a few weeks ago I had an intense craving for a super juicy orange and have been eating them non-stop ever since! I'm also craving pineapple, watermelon, grapes, and cold crunchy apples. I've also been wanting more dairy than normal (something I generally avoid), so I've been stocking up on high-quality, grass-fed, whole-milk yogurt and goat/sheeps' milk cheeses for when I need a fix. 

Fitness
Nothing has really changed in this department (yet!) which I'm grateful for. I'm still going on lots of long walks and practicing yoga 2-3 days/week either at the studio or at home. The one thing I've become totally obsessed with in the last couple of months, though, has been Barre3! I've never been a fan of barre before, but when I was craving a little more cardio and really not wanting to get on the treadmill, someone recommended I try Barre3 as a supplement and I was hooked after my first class. It feels very Jazzercise-y and dance-inspired and I totally love it for that - not to mention the fun music and great instructors! I'm trying to get in a little bit of extra strength training here and there, as well - I keep some 3, 5 and 8 lb. dumbbells near the TV at home so I try and do some bicep curls and weighted lunges while I'm watching a show or need a break from my desk. 

Body + Physical Changes
It wasn't up until week 19 or so that I felt like I really "popped" and I can still very much hide my baby bump with an oversized top or dress which has been kind of fun. I am definitely, though, in that awkward phase where if I wear something that isn't super loose or super tight, it looks like I've just put on a few pounds so dressing the bump has gotten a little more challenging lately. 

Physically, these are some of the things that have been happening and changing: 

baby is kicking and moving!
This has, by far, been the craziest experience yet. Right around 17 weeks, I felt some "fluttering" in my belly as I was sitting at my desk - it was sort of like I had butterflies in my abdomen and it totally caught my off guard. Since then, the sensation has definitely gotten a lot more noticeable and frequent - baby especially likes to move when I'm laying down and relaxing - usually at night or while I'm working away on my computer. In the last week or so, the kicks are much more noticeable and I can actually feel where her head is and where her feet are. 

my boobs are HUGE!
Sorry if it's TMI, but honestly, this has been the most uncomfortable part for me so far. I already have a large chest to begin with, so the growth has been pretty annoying. I know it's only going to get worse when the baby comes, but dang! time for new bras!

round ligament pain is real
In order to make room for the baby, my stomach and hips are expanding like crazy, and the stretching causes some intensely sharp pains up and down my abdomen. Some days I feel nothing and other days I'm terrified of sneezing or standing up too quickly because the pain can be pretty uncomfortable. Generally, though, it just feels like a growing pain so it's very manageable and I know it's not forever. 

weight gain
this one is a no-brainer, but I've gained weight! I'm currently 9 pounds heavier than my pre-pregnancy weight and, to be honest, I was a little worried that I wasn't gaining enough until my midwife reassured me everything was just fine at our last appointment. the baby is weighing in at 13 oz. (just under a pound) this week! 

Nutrition + Supplements
Nothing has really changed in this department - I'm still eating a primarily grain-free, dairy-free diet consisting of as many fruits, vegetables, organic proteins and healthy fats as possible. They say to eat about 300 extra calories a day once you're in your second trimester, so I've been trying to have that in the form of a healthy snack - right now I'm loving apple slices + almond butter and baby carrots + sprouted hummus! I also purchased some RXbars to carry with me at all times just in case I get super hungry when I'm out and about and desperately need an easy snack. 

Sleep
This is, hands down, my biggest struggle right now! I used to be the best sleeper - I would get about 9 hours every night and pass out the moment my head hit the pillow. Sadly, those days are behind me (and I know it's only going to get worse when baby comes) - I'm getting up to pee 2-3 times/night and really struggle to get more than 6 or 7 hours these days. Also, I'm a stomach sleeper which is a no-go right now, so I think that's a big part of the problem! The one saving grace to sleep troubles? MAGNESIUM! Most of you know by now that I'm a huge fan of this mineral (you can read more about it here), but I swear it really does make all the difference when it comes to having better, deeper sleep. I ran out for a few days and felt a major difference without it. 

Nursery + Baby Gear
So far, we have purchased ZERO things for the baby except for a onesie and a little doll - ha! This is mainly due to the fact that we are moving soon and don't want to lug everything to California, but also because I am trying very hard to only purchase the things we really want and need after my baby shower(s) are all said and done.

We had a "book" shower this past weekend while we were in Florida visiting some of Blair's family, so the baby has a very large library of books now which is so fun! We also have another baby shower in DC the weekend before we move and then will most likely have another one in San Diego later this summer - all of our friends and family are super spread out across the country so there is really no easy way for us to get everyone together! 

Things I Can't Live Without

Yoga Pants
I couldn't live without these before pregnancy, but now that I'm really growing, stretchy pants are a must-have. I'm a die-hard Lululemon Align fan and own an embarrassing amount of these. 

Pregnancy Pillow
It may take up the entire bed (sorry, Blair!), but I seriously can't live without this really ugly pillow. 

Magnesium
I'm taking nearly double my normal dose of to make up for all of the aches, pains and lack of sleep I'm experiencing (per my doctor's recommendation), and it's definitely helping! 

Prenatal Vitamins 
I've been taking these for almost a year now and swear they are the best out there. 

Probiotic
Baby's gut bacteria and immune system is being built right now, so I am making sure to take plenty of probiotics to help build up her system with good bacteria. I'm a big fan of this brand and am also making sure to eat a lot of fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut as well. 

Floradix Iron Supplement
One of the craziest parts of pregnancy is that my blood volume has increased by nearly 50%! For a lot of women (myself included) this can mean that it can be super common to get lightheaded and have a ton of fatigue (both major signs of iron deficiency). Most iron supplements cause stomach aches or constipation, but this liquid herbal formula has been amazing - I take a little shot of it every morning before I eat breakfast and have noticed that it helps with keeping my energy up and prevents feeling like I'm going to faint every time I stand up quickly. I've recommended this to a few of my clients who are also anemic (but not pregnant) and they have raved about it as well! 

Overall, I'm feeling super great and am excited to get this move behind us so that we can really focus on nesting (i.e. finally creating a nursery for baby) and some of the childbirth classes we've signed up for in San Diego. For now I'm trying to enjoy still being somewhat "small" in bump size before I know things will inevitably get more uncomfortable and challenging. Can't wait to meet her in just a few more months!