top from stitchfix maternity (who I just tried after a year break and was pleasantly surprised with) & maternity jean shorts from Old Navy a few years ago.
Today I am officially in the final stage of pregnancy. That's exciting for a million reasons. We're a few weeks closer to meeting this little one. I've only got a few months left of being pregnant (most likely forever, we'd love to complete our family with two kiddos). And, we've made it this far without any major bumps.
In fact, compared to last pregnancy, with the panic over the (turned out no big deal) CPCs, the deployment, the fear that I'd go into labor alone, the general unsettled feeling that Paul would miss the birth and the gestational diabetes, this time around has been a walk in the park.
We had a routine ultrasound without markers of anything abnormal. Paul and I are both working a lot, but our conversations take place on the couch or at the dinner table, not over Skype. Not only will Paul be here for the birth, but he will get to take 10 days of paternity leave and be home for those precious early weeks. My mom will also be here starting in late October so we know Ellerie will be well taken care of no matter what labor/delivery brings.
And – craziest of all – I passed my gestational diabetes screening test last week.
Yes, as the trimesters have moved along, it's been one relief after another around here. I'm feeling so relaxed I even think house-hunting is a good idea. (Which is crazy and not going to happen before the new baby comes. But, spoiler alert, we are thinking about moving within San Diego eventually for a million and one reasons that I am sure at some point I'll have time to jot-down…or maybe not.)
Not having GDM this time around is really exciting. The diagnosis was unexpected last time, but I failed the screening test pretty badly and then was not able to pass the three hour test. I ended up controlling my blood sugar well with diet which was awesome, but having to prick my finger 4 times a day for 12 weeks was a hassle. Thankfully, I stayed healthy and Ellerie was born a week "late" at 7lbs 9oz and 21 inches long. It was, in the big picture, no big deal and I was prepared to go through the whole thing again this time around.
But I passed! Hooray! There are probably a hundred things that contributed to this, one of which is that every pregnancy is different.
My lifestyle today is very different than it was two years ago as well. I estimate I've doubled my (moderate) activity level this time around. In 2013, I pretty much sat at my computer. And now, from wearing a Fitbit, I know that computer days? They are embarrassingly low on the "active minutes" scale. On a "work day" (which every day was back then) I was probably getting about 4000 steps (and that's generous). Now, because I am aware of it, I fight for 10,000 steps a day – more than doubling my average activity level from 2013.
I have to believe that adding this extra energy burn (I started using the Fitbit in April 2014) has helped my overall wellness. And I have to believe that being more phyically active has helped my body process sugars and function a bit better.
Plus, when I took the test I was just coming off the Whole30 diet which obviously can't be ignored. I basically avoided sugar for 30 days and then threw it at my body which must have been like "are you kidding me with this crap right now?" (Sorry, body.) The good news is I was able to process it effectively. And the other good news is I never eat sugar like that; it makes me feel like a garbage can.
And last, my stress-level this time is so much lower. You'd think with a more intense job and a kid this time around I'd be more stressed, but the relief of having Paul home and our house settled (last pregnancy I was in the middle of buying a house by myself and getting us moved and set up) is worth something for sure. I have a lot going on, but most days all of it feels manageable.
So that's three huge lifestyle changes, all of which have to be taken into consideration. But the results are so good and the relief is overwhelming. I'm re-inspired to keep up the walking. I am happy to eat fairly low-carb, and low-sugar and to keep up the high vegetable intake. I'm just so glad that Paul is home. Of course, I will keep talking to my doctor and make sure that my blood sugar levels stay on track. A healthy baby is infinitely more important to me than passing a test. (File that one under things I desperately wish went without saying.)
It's all good. Depending on who you talk to, the third trimester drags or flies. I hope mine just flows along. We've got something special cooking right now.
related reading : what I ate with gestational diabetes & my experience with the fitbit.
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enJOY it 
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