Take it easy….

Everyone knows that when a woman becomes pregnant, she’s going to get big. But what no one talks about is how shocking it can be to watch it happen to yourself – especially in those last months. No matter how much we try and prepare ourselves for what will happen to our bodies during pregnancy and postpartum, it is reality check of a life time once that baby arrives.

I read an article once about a spinning instructor who taught classes up until her 5th month, then had to change her routine based on her pregnancy level. She commented about how hard it was for her to adapt to the fact that she couldn’t push herself anymore because someone else was in charge. I could totally relate.

Gotta love this part about pregnancy - the part no one ever talks about. Sure, some people can exercise right up until the day they deliver. Some, but not all. Each and every woman is different, just like each and every pregnancy. Although we grow up seeing pregnant women walking around and we know we are going to get big in the process, experiencing it first hand and actually dealing with it, is a whole new ball game.

All these physical and physiological changes happen for very good reasons; to make room for the growing fetus, improve the efficiency of the circulatory system and prepare your body for labor and delivery. That’s all fine and dandy but am I going to get my body back??!!!

And then the baby comes and we panic! We look down at ourselves and freak out because we still look about 4-5 months pregnant and wonder; how the hell am I going to get all this weight off??

Remember…it took you about 9-10 months to put the weight on so it’s probably going to take you about that much time to get it off. I mean when is the last time you saw an over weight or obese person lose 30 pounds in just 3 months safely?? And they don’t have a new born to take care of! After that baby arrives, your hormones crash, you are beyond exhausted and through all your delirium, you put unrealistic demands on yourself and your body.

The reality is if you have just had a baby, you need to give yourself a HUGE break. Let nature take it’s course before you spiral out of control. Your life is different now so exercise and “routine” has a whole new meaning.

Samantha Montpetit-Huynh is a mom of two beautiful girls and the owner and founder of Core Expectations, a Toronto-based full service wellness team that delivers personal training, abdominal rehabilitation, nutrition, massage, chiropractic and doula services to pregnant women and new moms across the GTA.