Pregnant Athlete Problems: When You Feel Strong and Terrible

Week 21 & 22: Resting, Comparing, and Trying to Trust My Body

In this week’s pregnancy update, I’m combining weeks 21 and 22 and sharing what it has been like to navigate ongoing lower back and butt pain while pregnant. After dealing with this pain for about a year and seeing different PTs, I finally booked an appointment with sports medicine, where they brought up the possibility of a sacral stress fracture. Now I’m waiting to get an MRI approved so we can figure out what is actually going on. I talk about how hard it is to rest when you don’t have answers yet, especially when running is such a big part of how I feel like myself. It has been 17 days since my last run, and I’m processing the grief, frustration, and comparison that comes with that. During my first pregnancy, I ran until my due date, so this experience feels very different. In this episode, I also talk about comparing myself to other pregnant runners, ordering a belly band to hopefully help with possible SI pain, the excitement of our anatomy scan, ongoing lightning crotch and pelvic heaviness, feeling more tired, nausea creeping back in, and finding a little bit of sanity through deep breathing core exercises. This is your reminder that taking time off from running, resting, or changing your workouts does not mean you won’t come back. Sometimes the strongest thing we can do is listen, adapt, and let our body tell us what she needs.   If you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you can keep strength training safely while protecting your core and pelvic floor, check out the ANDA App [https://joinanda.com/]. You can get a 7 day free trial and 20% off with my code SERENA Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian [https://www.instagram.com/runnergirldietitian]

Week 20: Bumpin’, Slowing Down, and Dressing the Body I’m In

At 20 weeks pregnant, the bump is officially bumpin’ and I’m fully living in pregnancy clothes now. In this episode, I’m sharing how renting maternity clothes through Nuuly has helped my body image by making it easier to dress my changing body in clothes that actually fit and feel cute. I also talk about how training is going right now: running still feels good, but I am definitely slower. And even when you know slowing down during pregnancy is normal, it can still be mentally hard when your pace doesn’t match what you’re used to seeing. I also share an update on some mild back pain, what my pelvic floor PT said about it, and how my sugar cravings have improved since I started prioritizing high-protein snacks. This episode is for the pregnant runner who is navigating body changes, pace changes, craving changes, and trying to keep showing up for herself without expecting her pregnant body to perform like her pre-pregnancy body.   Click here [http://legionathletics.rfrl.co/j6yn5] to try Legion Protein Powder for yourself use my code RUNNERGIRL for buy one get one 50% off and free shipping on your first order! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian [https://www.instagram.com/runnergirldietitian]

Week 19: The Belly Popped, the Pace Dropped & the Sugar Cravings Entered the Chat

This week, the belly officially popped and I am feeling very pregnant in the cutest way. Running and workouts are still feeling good and comfortable, but I am definitely slowing down, which is a very normal part of training through pregnancy. I’m also talking about sugar cravings this week, not from nausea or food aversions this time, but from that very real “I could eat dessert for every meal” kind of vibe. And for pregnant athletes, cravings can sometimes be a helpful cue that we may not be eating enough overall. If you’re running, lifting, growing a human, and trying to get through your day, your energy needs are not exactly giving “light snack and vibes.” In this episode, I’m sharing why meal planning and prepping can be such a helpful tool for pregnant runners, especially when your appetite, schedule, and energy are all changing. We’ll talk about how to make sure you’re getting enough calories, carbs, protein, and nutrient-dense foods without making eating feel like another full-time job. I also went to pelvic floor physical therapy this week, so I’m sharing what we talked about, what I’m paying attention to, and why pelvic floor support can be such a game changer for pregnant athletes.   Tired of your clothes not fitting during prengancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here [https://share.nuuly.com/serena584] to get $30 off! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian [https://www.instagram.com/runnergirldietitian]

Grief, Hospice, & Pregnancy: Weeks 16–18

In this combined pregnancy update for weeks 16–18, I’m sharing a much heavier season of life. My dad was placed on hospice and passed away during these weeks, and navigating grief while pregnant felt surreal and overwhelming. I talk honestly about what it looked like to simply survive during this time, letting exercise go for a while, and how emotional stress can change your relationship with movement and self care. I also share how it felt returning to exercise after time away, the physical symptoms that started popping up this pregnancy that I didn’t experience with my first, including back pain, pelvic floor heaviness, and lightning crotch (WHY does no one prepare us for that name?!). And in the middle of all the heartbreak, there were still beautiful moments too, like seeing baby kick from the outside for the first time. This episode is raw, vulnerable, and a reminder that pregnancy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Life keeps life-ing, and sometimes the goal is simply getting through the day with compassion for yourself.   Want to try Go Guarded [http://shrsl.com/29gn4-2ytg-1cz5w]? Use my code serena10 at checkout! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian [https://www.instagram.com/runnergirldietitian]

Week 15 Pregnancy Update: Feeling Baby Kicks!

This week officially felt like a turning point. I’m just loving how amazing it feels AMAZING to enjoy food again and actually feel hungry. I share what’s been different physically this week, including why I think I may have started feeling baby kicks for the first time. I also open up about something heavier going on behind the scenes. My dad has been sick, and balancing pregnancy, motherhood, work, and family stress has made self care feel really hard lately. We talk about what it looks like to try your best during seasons where life feels emotionally overwhelming. And yes… we’re also talking boobs. 😂 I share how drastically my chest changed during my first pregnancy, why I switched to nursing bras while still pregnant, and the sports bra that actually worked for running after trying what felt like 7 million options. If you’re pregnant and navigating the weird mix of excitement, exhaustion, body changes, gratitude, and stress all at once… this episode will probably make you feel a little less alone.   If you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you can keep strength training safely while protecting your core and pelvic floor, check out the ANDA App [https://joinanda.com/]. You can get a 7 day free trial and 20% off with my code SERENA Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian [https://www.instagram.com/runnergirldietitian]