2. Did anything happen during pregnancy no one had told you about, any surprises? Yes, I didn’t know how bad heartburn could be. I had it daily from 20 weeks and it caused me excruciating pain, especially at night. I also wasn’t prepared for my immune system to drop so low in the first trimester. I was really susceptible to getting run down and I had never had a cold sore before but I developed a really bad one. 3. How did you stay fit and healthy during pregnancy, any tips? I am usually a very fit and active person. Up until 20 weeks, I trained with a personal trainer who specialises in pre and postnatal training. I went to her mums and bubs small group sessions, which were great. The mums and bubs classes also gave me a good idea of what it would be like to train once I had the baby. From about the 20 week mark, I suffered from pubic symphysis which caused me a lot of pain so I started going to reformer pilates with a physiotherapist who specialises in women’s health instead. For me, the biggest thing I learned was to listen to my body and adapt my training to what I needed. 4. What did you think would be challenging about pregnancy but wasn’t? And what didn’t you think would be challenging but was? From what I had heard, I thought I would be desperate to have the pregnancy over by the end, especially as I was due during the middle of summer. I thought towards the end I would be less mobile and more uncomfortable but I was actually still pretty active and I had a surprising amount of energy despite the lack of sleep and heartburn. One thing I did find really challenging and didn’t think would be so challenging, was to be diligent with my nutrition. I am normally a really healthy person but I found it incredibly hard to control food cravings. 5. What advice do you have about what to bring to hospital when planning the birth? The best thing I did was pick the brains of my mum friends and ask them their advice. There are the usual suspects like baggy, dark granny undies, nipple cream, nursing bras and singlets. For me, what I found handy was a lavender essential oil to calm the nervous system and help with sleep. I also found a mobile phone extension cord handy so I could be in bed and still reach my phone while it was charging. I also brought a big drink bottle to sip from while feeding to re-hydrate and my own pillow because I struggle to sleep without it (not that you get much sleep, let's face it). 52 Pindara Magazine 2017
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Ten
To see the actual publication please follow the link above