5 Ways My Lifestyle Changed During Pregnancy

*I partnered with my friends at Megan Media and Tropicana for this post. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. Thank you for supporting those brands that support Afternoon Espresso.

 So many things have changed in our lives since the day we saw two lines on our pregnancy test!  My immediate reaction was a little bit of joy, nervousness, and an overwhelming feeling of what to do next!  The first thing I did was research the types of foods I could and couldn’t eat and what activities I could do and couldn’t do, and I began to compile my questions for our first doctor visit.  Needless to say, there were some lifestyle changes I needed to make.  Some things are a definite no-no during pregnancy, but what I learned was that you really have to listen to your body for most things.  Initially, I thought that after getting pregnant my life was going to flip upside down and I was going to have to be an entirely different person.  Really, that’s not the case.  I still feel like myself, and I’m able to do most of the things I did before, with some adjustments along the way.  These are the 5 lifestyle changes during pregnancy that I made!

1. Incorporate the Right Vitamins and Probiotics Daily #BelieveinYourGut

Prior to becoming pregnant, my doctor told me to begin taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid to get those good nutrients into my system.  My stomach tends to get upset when I take vitamins, so I made sure I got an organic plant based prenatal so I didn’t have to worry about what it would do to my tummy.

2. Eat A Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet should really be a priority all the time.  But let’s face it, sometimes you just want pizza and chips.  There is no shame in that.  I’ve had to eliminate certain things from my diet like sushi or lunch meat (trust me, there is a whole list), but in reality I’ve been trying to stick with my 80/20 rule.  80% of the time I eat the healthy, nutrient rich foods for my body (and Baby P), and then 20% of the time is when I cave into some cravings.  I’m not perfect, though.  There have been some days where I didn’t stop eating and all I wanted in my stomach was “bad” food.  Pregnancy does a lot to your body, and sometimes you just need to embrace those days, but it’s important to get back on the right track the next day.

3. Update Your Workout Routine

This is one of those steps I was most nervous about with pregnancy.  Working out is such a big part of our lifestyle that I was so afraid I wouldn’t physically be able to continue my workout routine.  I learned that this is not the case.  I have continued to workout 3-5 times a week, depending on what my body is telling me that week.  One of those days I try to take a yoga class to help keep my flexibility, which I’ve read helps with labor and delivery.

I sat down with my doctor to discuss the best ways to remain active throughout the pregnancy, and we came up with a plan that seemed like a good balance of physical activity and rest.  Be sure to check with your healthcare provider to see what plan you can come up with because every individual has different needs.

I would be lying if I said I could lift just as much weight and run just as fast and far as I did before.  This is where you really need to listen to your body because it’s going through a lot of changes.  You are growing a human being, after all.  With working out, I really take things day by day.  I see how I’m feeling that day physically and mentally.  If I’m feeling uncomfortable doing a certain workout, then I make sure I back off.  Sometimes if I’m running and I just really feel weak, I will walk for a few minutes to give myself a break.

4. Get Lots of Rest (While You Still Can!)

I can’t even begin to tell you how important this one is.  Every single mommy friend of mine has given me this advice and I agree 100%.  It was very difficult for me at first to just realize my body was tired and that I needed to rest or take a nap.  The first trimester was extremely exhausting, and there were days that I didn’t have a choice but to sleep.  I felt overwhelmed because I wasn’t getting enough done.  At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter; it’s most important to take care of yourself, your body, and that growing baby!  That’s the priority, so I’m learning to just listen to my body.  When it needs rest, I need to give it rest.  Besides, with as active as Baby P has been lately, something tells me she is going to keep me up at night so I need to take as many naps as I can now!

5. Get Rid of the “Extras”

This change is honestly something that I’m still struggling with and probably will continue to do so until Baby P is here.  At first, I was stressed and very overwhelmed with the amount of things I “needed” to do. Then Joey went down my to-do list and pointed out things that didn’t need to be done.  He said these are all “extras” and I needed to start getting rid of things that weren’t a main priority. (I know Joey is going to have the biggest smirk on his face when he reads this. His words have really stuck in my head!)

There just is never enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done.  Joey was right–I needed to take a look at my life and my to-do list and start eliminating these “extras” that were taking up so much time and not adding value to our lives. This has meant starting to say “no,” which is very difficult for me.  I’ve had to turn down collaboration and business opportunities, say no to hanging out with my friends, and even put less effort into some of my extracurricular hobbies.  It’s really made me take a step back and evaluate the things that are important and the things that are just taking up space and time.  The result:  clarity.  I feel relieved by getting rid of some of these extras.  Whether you are expecting a baby or not, I suggest identifying your extras and eliminating them.  Sometimes you just need to clean house!

I certainly don’t know if anyone is ever really ready for a baby, but I know that it’s most important to start making these lifestyle changes now in hopes that the arrival of our new baby will be an easy (or easier) adjustment.  Your overall health is extremely important, which is why I’ve made these 5 lifestyle changes during pregnancy. Even if you aren’t expecting a new baby, I highly encourage you to take your vitamins and try out Tropicana Probiotic juices and see what changes you’ll see in your life.  If you don’t already have a workout routine, it’s the perfect time to start one.  Eat healthy, sleep more, and get rid of the “extras” that are keeping your from your goals!

*I partnered with my friends at Megan Media and Tropicana for this post. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. Thank you for supporting those brands that support Afternoon Espresso.