About pregnancy

[Sereia]

Hi everyone,
First of all let me introduce myself as I am new to the board: I am Inês, I am 26 and am from and live in Portugal! I have been working out for 8 years and the maximum time (1 month) I was away from the gym was last year when I had appendicitis (sp?) surgery, a part from that I always worked out regularly ans intend to do so until the very last days of life!

So, the reason why I am writing here is because next year I am getting married and we are planning to trying to conceive as sõon as we get married, being fit for so long that will be a real big change for me. I know I need to get ready for that moment, speacialy my mind, since I think my body is much well prepared concerning my fitness level.

I have been doing searches for some time now, I have been reading everything related to pregnancy, post-partum, everything and I think I am getting quite a "pro", lol in pregnancy issues! Now I would like to hear from you girlas that work out very intensively and were or are pregnat, I would like to hear from you how you deal with your body changes, how your body changed, how long it took to recover your pre pregnancy body, how do you think genetics playied a role in your pregnancy... well pretty much everything you can share with me.

A little more about myself: I workout 5 times (for a total of 1hour, sometimes a little bit more bu not much, including cardio) a week and lift very heavy, I am pretty muscular and have low body fat, I eat about 2000-2200 calories a day, I am 5'3 (161 cm), I am 129-130 pounds, I am about 15% bf...
I think that is all for now and really hope to hear from all of you moms! thank you!

Here are some pictures:
Inês

[Sereia]

one more

[Sereia]

last one

[18JMS]

I cant really help but wow...

You look awesome.

[Sereia]

Thank you anyways

Anyone else to help me?! I would be glado to hear your experiences!
Inês

[dianna]

Hey, you look great! I imagine as long as you still ovulate and have regular periods, conceiving shouldn't be a problem.

I am currently still trying to ovulate and menstruate because my body stopped producing estrogen when I lost too much body fat.

The only problems I have found for very fit women is the body fat issue, some doctors say you should be around 20%, but if you still ovulate at 15 then great!
Best of luck!

[MDC]

I'm surprised no moms have responded. As long as you're working out before your pregnancy, you should be able to continue as long as you feel comfortable. I know I've even read about moms that even did ab exercises during their pregnancy and were very successful with delivery and recovery.

I've never been female, or pregnant for that matter, but I hope this helps in some way.

Good luck, and you look absolutely terrific!

[psychojoe]

Yea I qould imagine that being in excellent shape now, after you give birth you will be able to get back to this kinda shape in no time at all.

--Joe

[Sereia]

Thank you all for your support and replies!

Dianna: Well, I still ovulate that is not a problem, in fact i am always on time if you now what I mean! On my part I don't think i won't have a problem with getting pregnant, at least I hope not!

MDC: Thank you so much, a man's opinion is great, I love to hear from you guys too. About the abs exercise during all pregnancy I have been reading that as long as I do it in the ball that is not a problem, so I think I will work them through all my pregnancy! My mother had a very dificult delivery but she didn't exercised, I think she was narrow (do you know what I mean?) and when they noticed that it was being really dificult it was too late for a c-section so she had to stay at the hospital for 15 days, I just hope genetics don't play a role here !

psychojoe: Are you a man too?!! I am sorry for the question but I am not american or english and some I get consfused with names, but I think you are a man, right?! Well, if you are then I am really flattered because I had 2 men aswering my questions, that is really nice!

What about the other women/mothers?! Any stories and experiences to share!

Inês

[psychojoe]

yea thats right im a guy, dunno if i can be much help

--Joe

[Sereia]

Sure you can help, everything people may say to me about this subject is a great help, mainly for my state of mind and believe me this bord and your ideas are helping me a lot!
Thank you!
Inês

[spn]

I had my son 15 months ago and I guess I was around 13-14 b/f percent when I conceived. I continued my workouts for the most part the same, except as you said abs only on the ball and nothing lying flat on my back ,I actually was in the gym the morning before I gave birth. It was great for me, helped with the nausea and the tiredness and I only gained 21 pounds while being very careful to provide all the nutrients for my son. I'm not a gym freak just enjoyed it like you do.

Although before pregnancy I loved seeing my abs, I truly loved even more seeing my belly growing and feeling my son kicking inside, it definetly over took any vanity issue.

Labor was very easy, I pushed two or three times and out he came! Recovery wasn't too bad, I was in the gym two weeks later with my docs okay and it made me feel so much better as I felt like milk machine.

All I can tell you is what you go through physically is so completely worth it, I love my son as you will love yours so incredibly much it makes you appreciate your body in a whole new way!

Best of luck and congratulations! I hope this helps some

[Sereia]

SPN:
Thank you... no really, you do not have an idea how great you help me, when I see I have a new reply I get all excited and believe although it has only been a week since I first posted this thread it seems that i am almost feeling much ready, believe me!

I want so bad to have a baby, the love I share with my bf (9 years) is so wonderful so true so natural... I want to have his baby, I want to have a baby made of our love, I want to be a mother... and you know what, I don't know if this happened to you or any of the people who replied (not the men of course) but lately I have seen so many women pregnant, people ask me out of nowhere when I think to get pregnant... I am trying to learn everything from everyone!

SPN, did you go back to your pre pregnancy figure? How did you organized your nutrition plan. I know that you only need to increase your calories un the 2nd trimestre and only 300 calories, how did you do it?

Thank you once again
Inês

[MDC]

Inês,
Boyfriend for 9 years? Why don't you get married and make it official, especially if you want to have his baby?

[psychojoe]

Originally posted by Sereia

So, the reason why I am writing here is because next year I am getting married and we are planning to trying to conceive as sõon as we get married,

she is getting married dude

--Joe

[MDC]

Originally posted by psychojoe
she is getting married dude

--Joe

I guess I missed that the second time(I didn't read the whole thread again). Normally you wouldn't call your fiance a boyfriend, but since she's from Portugal I understand.

[spn]

Hi Sereria,

I didn't really keep track of calories just ate a little more during pregnancy of the good stuff, maybe actually cheated a litttle more since I gain weight in my belly and then you couldn't tell..lol! It was actually freeing in a way.



I did b/feed so kept it up, pretty ,much went back to the same workouts. I lost the weight pretty quick however with me since I only gained weight in my belly my tummy took a little time to snap back due to the pelvic bones moving forward. I thought it was fat until I had my b/f tested and it was nback @ 12. If you do plan on b/feeding for a lot of women including me although you may lose most of the weight quicker your body tends to hang on to some fat for extra nutrtion until you completely stop. Again that part was so worth it, but that's up to everyone individually.

Go for it, not to sound so mushy again but for me the pregnancy, but most of all my son is the most amazing thing to me a true blessing. Also just wait until you see your hubby with your baby, I still melt! I did have initial worries I might have trouble conceiving due to workouts but no problem.....course my husband said it was all him, his aim is incredible, he actually called it the night I got knocked up!

Keep me posted!

[Sereia]

Joe and MDC you guys are great! MDC here in Portugal you still say boyfriend and girlfriend until the day you get married, although we are engaged for years we don't use the word of fiance, we tell people we are engaged but when we refer to one another we say my bf and gf! Ther you date people, we don't date people here, it is different, if you want to be with a girl it means you are her bf, do you understand what I mean? It is confusing because we live different realities!

And we waited 9 years because when we first got together I was finishing high school going into college and very young to get married, then when I graduated college my bf decided he wanted to go to college and besides that we still had to buy a house, make some money, you know think about life, so my bf is finishing college this year (september), our apartament is under construction and will be ready March next year, so when everything is completly setled we get married and then we will have our baby!

SPN: it seems that you are the only mom in the boards! I just want you to thank you so much for your help, I've told you before but I am telling you again all that you write means a LOT to me, I am learning, although everybody is differnt, and we have different bodies and metabolisms it is great to know that we that exercise don't need to stress about getting our bodies back because we will get them.
I cannot wait to see my *fiance* holding our baby, he loves children so much, he is working with children at risk (it is related to his college degree) and they love him and he loves them and every child I know that knows him just loves him... he is a kid at heart! So seeing him holding our baby will be something really wonderful!

About breastfeeding if genetics play a role then I will have plenty of milk, mother had so much milk that they had to dry it because I didn't need that much and it was forming something like *bumps* (I know it is not the correct word, but I don't know the word for this and I want to give you an idea) in her breasts and getting high fevers, and also my mother's sister breastfed my cousin for almost 2 years and just stopped because she got pregnant again. I want to breastfeed and I will do it for at least 6 months, I may stop after that, what do you think, should I go longer? I know I will have to ask my doctor but just to hear other's opinons too!

Do you only have a daughter? Are you planing on more?

Thank you once again... so, so so very much
Inês

[psychojoe]

I think the length of time you want to breastfeed for is really up to you. You dont really have to decide now, just see what happens. When you feel like you want to stop breastfeeding do so, or carry on if u want to. Just take it as it comes I guess.

--Joe

[Not So Big]

i cant help u..but u got a great body

[spn]

actually I have a son.....like the post below the time you b/feed is up to you, I went 6 months, I wish I had gone longer but it was getting tough as it got trying to get home all the time to feed, however aas I said he's 15 months and only had one or two short colds so to me it was fine. It is up to you, people are over with their opinion of this. I have friends who went almost two years and their kids are sick all of the time.
We're not planning anymore as orginally thought for various personal reasons including me soon to be 37 which makes me sad but I feel like it's good for us.

[Sereia]

Joe: are you a father or intend to be? If you are then you must be a great dad, because you care about these women things and if you intend to be then I know you will be a very present and dedicated father, am I wrong?

Not so big: Thank you for your complimets !

SPN: Well, I don't think I could go so long (more than 6 months or so) breastfeeding... but this is just me guessing, afterall I have to go through it yet ! Colds happen all the time, althoug I think the mother's milk is precious I don't think the baby will turn to be a babay that is sick all the time. I wasn't breastfe (for the reasons I have already mentioned) and I am very healthy, of course that sometimes I would get colds but it was natural nothing too bad or to worry about! I rarely get sick and if I do it usually just takes a couple of days to recover so I don't think it would have made a great difference if I was breasfed, anyways I will (if I am able to) breasfeed my baby for at least 6 months, then I will see how things go!

What about strech markes, do you have any from the prgnancy?

Thank you!
Inês

[psychojoe]

Actually no im not a father at all, and as far as I can see I don't intend on becoming one. Glad I could be of help though.

--Joe

[spn]

they say if you b/f for even 6 weeks that's a great start for the baby

I don't know if it was genetics or not but I don't have a single stretch mark however ever night I did put a sort of a cocoa butter on my belly and sat in bed with an open shirt to air dry, woowee wasn't I sexy!!

[Sereia]

Joe: yes you are helping me, everyone that shares a bit of information is helping me, because that way I will be able to know what to expect and how to react, I don't want to be depressed over something that is so easy to resolve, so I want to be prepared for everything because the most important thing for me in the pregnancy will be living it to the fullest, with joy and really relaxed

SPN: when you say cocoa butter, it is a normal butter that you just buy in the supermarket or is it a cream that you have to buy in a certain staore?! I have read about it but I never heard about it here... But hope the genetics act here because my mother doesn't have a single strech mark too and besides pregnancy ahe wento through gaining and loosing a lot of weight and still doesn't have any! I don't have any strecht marks to, not even by working out so I think I may be lucky in that department, at least I hope so

Inês

[spn]

i don't remember what it was, maybe by Ponds but a cream that was specific for stretch marks

[FIREMEDIC]

wow wow wow did i say wow

[psychojoe]

Originally posted by FIREMEDIC
wow wow wow did i say wow

wow wow wow did you jsut bring up a really old thread?!

[Sereia]

Ah, ah, I was surprised myself
Thank you anyways
Inês