Fit Pregnancy - Joyful Messes

Tips for Getting Great Sleep While Pregnant

When you are pregnant, it is such a joy to feel the little life growing inside of you, picking out baby names, and thinking about nursery decor. One of the parts of pregnancy that isn’t so joyful is the difficulty in finding just the right sleeping position as your tummy gets bigger week by week. Between the changes in your body and hormones and the excitement of preparing for the arrival of your little one, sometimes getting good solid sleep while pregnant can be a challenge! Thankfully, there are many tips and tricks to help you catch those elusive z’s during this important stage of life. Sleep Hygiene One of the easiest ways to ensure you are getting enough GOOD sleep is to develop good sleep hygiene habits and a relaxing bedtime routine. Sleep hygiene refers to things such as how late in the day you have caffeine…

Exercise

Healthy Pregnancy Work Out Options

Staying healthy while pregnant is extremely important, for you and baby. Being pregnant doesn’t mean that you need to stop working out, or that you can’t start. In fact, a tailored exercise and work out plan in pregnancy can support a joyful birth. In this blog we look at pregnancy-safe work out options for expectant mothers. Pregnancy Related Physical Change Pregnancy involves significant change to your body. Mamas-to-be will experience weight gain and postural changes as baby grows. Abdominal and pelvic floor muscles are stretched and weakened across the course of the pregnancy, which can result in back and pelvis pain and issues with urinary leakage. Fluctuation in hormone levels play an important role in this process, with the hormone relaxin increasing laxity (looseness) of ligaments and hypermobility of joint and impacting circulation. Avoiding the Temptation to Hibernate for 9-Months Reading this, you might feel tempted to retreat…

Fit Pregnancy

How to Navigate the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy Like a Pro

Considering the task of carrying and delivering a baby, the third trimester of pregnancy can be an emotional rollercoaster. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of information, this checklist can serve as your personal guide through what to expect during the last 3 months of pregnancy. It covers everything from what you should expect during your doctor visits to what to pack in your hospital bag. You are winding down and getting close to that milestone finish line of pregnancy! The amazing feeling of getting to hold your precious little one in your arms is almost here! It will come before you know it! But before you get to cross that well-deserved finish line, there are still a few things that are probably a good idea to keep in mind that could pop up along the way during your last three months of pregnancy. You’re Ready For…

Fit Pregnancy

What to Expect in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Can you believe you’ve made it to the second trimester already? Congrats! This is such a great part of pregnancy as you are starting to feel a little better finally,and you’ve got the wonderful opportunity to feel your baby kicking harder and doing little flips and turns inside (especially after a sweet drink or juicy piece of fruit)! Now’s the time to start accomplishing a few important doctor visits during this 2nd trimester. During the second 3 months of pregnancy, you will be going through a lot of changes. You will start to get used to the changes in your body, and you will also start to feel emotional, or even tired at times.To help you get through the second trimester, here is a checklist of the things you might be experiencing and what you should do about them. Second Trimester Checklist You made it to the second trimester where…

Fit Pregnancy

The First Trimester of Pregnancy Checklist: What to Expect During the 1st 3 Months

Pregnancy is one of those things that’s hard to understand until you’ve been through it. You may worry about what’s going on with your body, how your life is going to change, and how you’re going to be able to take care of a new baby. This article is a helpful guide to what to expect in the first three months of pregnancy. It has tips for what to do, what to wear, what to eat, and what to expect. Everything you need to know about pregnancy during the first trimester: Buy an at home pregnancy test and see if you are indeed pregnant, or have your primary care physician order a blood test to check for pregnancy Celebrate this amazing moment in your life by sharing your joy with your spouse or partner and telling them the news Schedule an appointment to see an OB-GYN for your very…

Breastfeeding

Awesome Apps for Tracking Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

You don’t want to miss these awesome apps for tracking pregnancy and breastfeeding. As a new mom, you’ve got a lot on your plate so these simple apps can help you try and keep track of it all! Getting in the modern groove of trying out new apps, are you? Great! There are so many fantastic new apps to explore for tracking pregnancy, baby’s growth, and breastfeeding. Many of them you may recognize from popular pregnancy books, others may be totally new to you, but still may offer some extremely valuable advice and helpful tips. Don’t forget to check out the reviews on some of these apps, as the responses can sometimes share a hidden component within an app that isn’t described in the original description. Some suggested functions that are a huge help and something to consider when choosing which ones you wish to keep and use, is…

Fit Pregnancy

The Safest Prenatal Protein Powders for A Healthy Pregnancy

These protein powders are some of the best for pregnant mamas and growing babies. Protein powder during pregnancy is an awesome way to consume more nutrients for both mama and baby, but choosing a safe prenatal protein powder can be a bit tricky. I also talk about protein powders that are safe for breastfeeding, and the guidelines and products for pregnancy are very similar. I am going to walk you through what makes a safe protein powder, the benefits of prenatal protein powder for pregnancy health and which ones fit the bill on all these terms! I’ve been fortunate to try many of these protein powders, so I can describe to you the taste as well. What Are The Benefits of Prenatal Protein Powders For Pregnant Mamas? Protein is an essential nutrient that pregnant mamas and growing babies need Prenatal protein powders often have added essential nutrients Protein helps pregnant…

Fit Pregnancy

How To Stop Gaining Too Much Weight During Pregnancy

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can happen faster than we realize. If you’ve gained too much weight during pregnancy, don’t worry. It doesn’t mean the whole pregnancy can’t be healthy, or that you can’t turn things around quickly. Believe it or not, you can lose weight while pregnant with the correct diet and fitness program, and completely turn your pregnancy weight gain around. Let’s go over how you can stop gaining too much weight during pregnancy, as well as turn things around going forward. As a mama of three boys, I KNOW what it feels like to gain weight during pregnancy, feel totally sluggish, have no energy and LOVE eating nachos. My first trimester is always the most out of control. I can’t function, I have no energy, I fall asleep in the afternoons, and all I can eat is carbs and cheese. I start gaining extra weight FAST.…