Before I found out I was pregnant I was a keen gym goer who partook in regular high-impact classes like Insanity, circuits, pump, body attack and spin, keeping me not only heart fit but also trim.
Since finding out I was pregnant I have been constantly battling with the desire to do exercise but the concern that it might have a negative impact on the baby in some way. However, after speaking to my instructors, midwife and doctor and consulting various websites, who all advised me that exercising in pregnancy is actually recommended, especially if you exercised before. In fact it will help you cope with the changes to your body, labour itself and recovery afterwards. Therefore, despite some ill-informed people questioning my exercise regime, I decided to continue to exercise as much as I could to an appropriate level. The main concerns that my gym instructors had was ensuring that my heart rate does not rise above 140 beats per minute, my body temperature does not rise too much and I do not become dehydrated. The answers to these concerns are however easy, I am going to invest in a heart monitor and simply pull back or opt for the low impact versions of moves where possible.
As a result I am currently doing spin, combat and circuits, where possible and have also introduced swimming to my exercise regime. I am exercising about three times a week and during each class I am very aware of my heart rate, body temperature and hydration levels, and simply tone it down a notch or two if I am concerned at all. Doing these classes make me feel so much better and will help me to not only stay fit but will hopefully help me minimise my weight gain during the pregnancy. As I get further along with my pregnancy I'm sure I am going to have to drop some of the more intense exercise classes and increase the swimming and walking but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
I was starting to feel uncomfortable in some of my tight fitting gym gear too as at this stage in my pregnancy I am starting to feel a little bloated and full in my lower abdomen so I invested in a few loose fitting tops. H&M have a great range of exercise gear in nice bright colours at very reasonable prices so I had a little splurge in there and feel much more comfortable in these looser fitting tops and higher waisted leggings with a thick elastic waist band. All in all they are a great investment as they are so much comfier than my previous gym gear. Tops @ £12.99, Trousers @ £19.99 - I'd definitely recommend a look if you are after some jazzy new gym gear.
So I found out I was pregnant when I was just two weeks after doing a digital scan the afternoon before a friends birthday drinks. When I saw that the result said I was 1-2 weeks pregnant I was totally shocked and overwhelmed. The baby was planned but I hadn't expected it so happen quite so quickly.
After that day, I started taking my Pregnacare vitamin supplements and got in touch with the doctors to make an appointment with the midwife, but the road to my 12 week scan seemed like the longest and slowest journey I have ever been on. Although I told family and friends relatively early on, because I am a pretty big party girl so to not drink on a night out was like wearing a big red shiny beacon saying IM PREGNANT! It was pretty obvious. However, I did manage to avoid work nights out and get away without telling anyone at until after my 12 week scan. Although i did have a few close encounters where I was carrying a bottle of tonic around in my bag and switching vodka and tonic for a pure tonic! What a mission that was. However now that everyone knows it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
That first scan was amazing, as I am sure anyone who has been pregnant will appreciate, the first 12 weeks are a little surreal. Apart from sore boobs, I was very lucky to have no morning sickness, so at times I felt like I was imagining the whole thing and it wasn't really happening. So when I finally reached what I thought was 12 weeks (I actually measured 11 weeks) and saw the baby for the first time I couldn't help but to start laughing. Seeing it's heart beating and its tiny arms and legs was literally one of the most amazing things in the world (even though slightly uncomfortable because you have to have a full bladder at the time, so I was dying for the wee!!).
Up until this point I haven't really had to think differently about what I have been wearing on a day to day basis but as a slim size 6/8, I am now finding that my lower abdomen is most definitely swollen and firm. Which is weird when i press it because you can actually feel the top of the womb where the baby is. Anyway a few pairs of jeans are starting to feel a little snug, and much to my dismay, a number of mini skirts I wore last winter are definitely not comfortable to wear anymore :( ......So this is where the fashion dilemmas begin.
I certainly don't look pregnant to a stranger, I just look a little bloated and pot-bellied so the idea of wearing anything fitted like pencil skirts or bodycon midi dresses is not appealing at the moment. I am therefore starting to look for alternative comfy but trendy outfits that I am wear to work and at the weekend...
So...I went on a little shopping spree today to start checking out my options for the next few weeks and my god it was one of the most depressing experiences of my life. As someone who follows fashion and loves trying new trends, I found a trip to the high-street extremely frustrating. Most of the items on the rails, especially the skirts and trousers, are totally unwearable for pregnant ladies like myself. There are plenty of options in the top department but certainly when it comes to the lower half of the body, shopping on the high street is going to be far trickier than I originally thought it would be...i did however find a nice pair of maternity jeans in Topshop but I think the maternity range at ASOS is going to be my saving grace during my pregnancy. Its literally amazing and has so much choice at affordable prices.
So my first shopping spree was more challenging than I thought it was going to be but I am determined to embrace my bump and still maintain a chic, stylish and fashionable look on a day to day basis. My first big hurdle is a black tie event next week......check out my next blog post to find out what I wore and where I got it from...
Happy pregnancy xxxx
