by Angela Zapien
Becoming pregnant is an exciting time, but it’s also a time when your health is closely looked at. A time when your life starts to change for the better. At times some might think that there is never a “right” time to become pregnant. It could be due to financial situations, living arrangements or health conditions. When I became pregnant in March 2012 I was happy to know that I was on the right track. My weight was normal and healthy, my eating habits were good and my overall lifestyle was a healthy one. Part of staying in the best health possible was so that I could enjoy a healthy pregnancy. I knew that I didn’t want to be overweight, depressed and tired all the time. Although, I quickly learned that some things were out of my control.
During my first trimester I was fine for the first few weeks and I kept thinking, “This is going to be a walk in the park!” But I was wrong! Towards the end of the first trimester I became sick with vomiting AKA morning sickness every day, tired and literally stayed in bed for almost two weeks. I couldn’t even teach class nor brush my teeth. Then I suddenly realized my emotions were starting to be affected – I would cry, feel helpless and often ask myself “Am I really strong enough for this?” By the support of my friends, family, my husband and my faith I knew that I would get through it. I just had to take it one day at a time. Soon I realized that it was getting easier and I was starting to embrace the beauty of pregnancy. All pregnancies are different and I wanted mine to be an inspirational one for others.
Was It Easy? In all honestly for the most part my pregnancy has been “easy”. I really think that my clean eating, daily exercise (running, walking, prenatal yoga) and my faith played a big role. I did experience back pains, but I knew it was because I needed to rest. Most of the time yoga helped me, but when it didn’t I just relaxed. There were also times when I became very emotional. I would start to worry if I would be a good mother (my childhood memories would start to come back), what if we couldn’t get the nursery done in time and all the “what if” questions us mothers think of. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster! I encourage you to really take it ONE DAY AT A TIME! Don’t let the “what if” stress you out. It’s not good for you and definitely not good for the baby.
A few of my favorite tips to make your pregnancy enjoyable: Start capturing weekly/monthly pictures of your baby bump, journal your happy moments (baby first kick, belly growth, doctor appointments, etc.), frame your first ultrasound picture and plan for a maternity photo shoot. Also start incorporating exercise such as walking and prenatal yoga. I really loved doing prenatal yoga. It became a special bond. I would at times get emotional during a pose that required me to rub my belly. You start to discover how to relax, breathe and embrace your new body. Prenatal yoga helps with stretching, keeping your muscles limber and breathing for delivery. Lastly, sleep like a baby! Be sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
How did I maintain good eating habits? Since a baby was growing inside me I knew that I would have to increase my calories (300 is sufficient) and I was NOT eating for two I had to maintain my clean eating habits. Always eat a hearty breakfast, increase your daily intake of water, never skip meals, incorporate veggies and fruits (salads were my favorite!) and enjoy a treat or two for cravings. And of course skip alcohol!
In conclusion, I am very thankful for my faith because it really gave me the strength I needed and I had a change of heart. Becoming pregnant was a blessing because I NEVER wanted to have children. Now that I have been blessed with such a beautiful healthy boy all the morning sickness, all the heartburn and days lying in bed paid off. I would encourage you to simply enjoy your journey and strive to be a healthy fit mama!
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Angela Zapien was born and raised in San Jose, CA. She currently resides in South San Jose with her husband Alex and their dog, Latte. She is the Fitness Coach for The Pink Ladies Boot Camp and is both TRX Certified and CPR Certified. Her hobbies include running, scrapbooking, reading, helping others and going to church.