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- How do you feel about your pregnancy / post-partum / post-adoption body?
I dislike my body now more than I ever have, and not only because it looks worst post-twin pregnancy and post-c-section (and believe me, it does). I also dislike my body because it seems incapable of doing the most basic functions for which it was designed. It couldn't get pregnant, couldn't stay pregnant, couldn't breastfeed, couldn't continue my medically-assisted pregnancy to term without developing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
- Did you have weight gain in addition to pregnancy gain because of depression, fertility meds, etc?
This is one of the several ways in which my body is weird. I never really gained any extra weight due to fertility treatments or really, at all during our three-year struggle with infertility. My weight went up and down within about a 10-lb range, but that's normal for me and wasn't related directly to infertility-related stress or meds. Also, I weighed 16 pounds LESS at my 6-week postpartum check than I weighed on the day I got pregnant, so I actually LOST weight while pregnant with my twins. For the first trimester, people kept saying to me "Wow, you're losing weight." And I was. (Don't hate me because none of those weights are enviable.)
- How do you / have you made time to focus on your health/body since becoming a mother?
I have made several starts at this since my twins were born 16 months ago but have done nothing consistently. I am working on this. . . I am continually working on this, both pre-kids and post-kids. Also, I have recently gone in for my annual gyn exam and made an appointment for a mammogram, as I was overdue for both.
- Do you focus more on healthy food, good exercise, or a mix of both?
Exercise is something that I have found very difficult to fit into my schedule. Between work and my sons, the only realistic time I have to fit it in is before work, early in the morning. I'm not gonna lie: it's hard to make myself get out of bed before 5:30 a.m. to work out, and most days, I don't.
I have had a bit more success focusing on the healthier eating aspect. Yes, I do slip up from time to time and eat candy or fast food, but overall, I make pretty healthy food choices.
I have had a bit more success focusing on the healthier eating aspect. Yes, I do slip up from time to time and eat candy or fast food, but overall, I make pretty healthy food choices.
Love this post!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your IF experience so damaged your relationship with your body. I hope you can build it into something positive over time, as you mother your sons.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to feel like your body is failing you. :( Hang in there lady - I hope you can start to regain faith in your body soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the process of coming to terms with how my body continually fails me as well. Waiting for the results of my GD screening, the 3 hour one, I already failed the one hour test. I love how brutally honest you are in this post. FInding time to exercise, like really exercise is so hard, and yet I feel like I should have the time. Now 17.5 weeks pregnant with my second child, it has become more of a necessity. Facing down GD, PIH, Pre-eclampsia, and well just being plain old according to my OB's charting, I need to do my best to be healthy. Slip ups are OK, as long as you're eating healthy otherwise. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI have toyed with the idea of getting up early to work out and quite frankly the idea is so unappealing.
ReplyDeleteIF def changes our relationship with our bodies... but you are beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteTimely.
ReplyDelete