Third Trimester Pregnancy Update:

5 Weeks and Counting!

I can’t believe how time continues to FLY by! As I write this we are going into Week 35, which means I am over 8 & 1/2 months pregnant. We have about 38 days until her estimated due date!

Right now she is almost 5lbs and approx. 17 inches (this is what our app tells us ha!) I am measuring on schedule and baby is still head down and ready to rock and roll (she has been head down and I’ve been carrying low since about 28 weeks!) She is about the size of a large pineapple and is moving consistently during the day AND at night. It has been crazy (fun) to watch her movements and to wonder…”What are you doing in there?”

The last month has been another wonderful whirlwind! In my previous post I shared about my trip to California and Vegas with my family.

The last full week of May Brian and I took a short trip to Walt Disney World! This was to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary, our birthdays AND a “Baby Moon”. We did 2 days at the parks (Magic Kingdom and Epcot) and the 3rd day relaxing by the pool and a wonderful time and dinner at the Grand Floridian Resort. It was a fast paced yet wonderful mini getaway for us.

THEN the first weekend of June my mom and sisters came to stay with us from California/Arizona. June 5th was my official Ohio (second) baby shower!

They helped so much with the shower and then organization our house & nursery afterwards with all the amazing gifts! The shower was so wonderful and I loved how everything turned out. Baby girl Occkial is very blessed and we are very appreciative of the love and support!

After that week, Brian and I were ready to settle down and enjoy “normal” routine for these last few weeks before her big arrival!

This month we have had a few more midwife appointments and an in-person birthing class. All of this has continued to go smoothly and really helping us feel mentally, emotionally and physically prepared. We have a great support team and doing our best to plan and “be ready”, but I am also trying to minimize the stress and thoughts. I am reminding myself that I am not doing this alone and that I CAN and am MADE to this. Labor and post partum is so foreign and there are so many WHAT-IFS?! But Brian and our medical team has reassured me that that we are all in this together and to address issues if or as they come. It is important to be educated, aware and know of options, but it is also key to not over-think it and let things happen!

I am nervous, excited, ready, not ready, happy, blessed, overwhelmed….all at once! But overall, I know I have a fantastic support system (Brian, my family, his family, our midwife and doula team, my friends and clients) and of course, GOD and His strength to provide for us…just like He always has and will!

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My Personal Health:

I have been focusing on overall consistency and flexibility in all aspects of life. Most days I still feel REALLY good (mentally and physically). My energy and focus has been great and I have been continuing with all my healthy habits.

Exercise and Movement: I am still working out, pushing myself but also modifying where I need to. My main focus is daily activity and just DOING IT and maintenance as much as possible! With my movement I am concentrating on: daily stretching and mobility, regular core activation exercises, hitting my step goal every day (usually 15-17k) and my balance of cardio and strength circuits.

My body is starting to feel heavier each day and I sit down to work (I normally stand) more than I used to. I don’t have any pain, but there is A LOT of pelvic and hip pressure, plus the urge and frequency of bathroom trips has increased even more (which I didn’t think was possible LOL). I’ve had to modify how I move or pick things up, because certain angles create a lot of heaviness and pressure. But overall I am blessed to have minimal issues and still able to do SO much.

Sleep is starting to get interesting, as it is hard to find a comfortable position and also dealing with lots of dreams, 2x bathroom breaks per night and the occasional insomnia. I am guessing this is practice for having a newborn?!

Nutrition: I have been steadily getting hungrier in this 3rd trimester and honing into my intuition of meal frequency and portions. I still have been sticking to my main foods as before, but if I had any “cravings” lately it would be for fruit, salads and crunchy chips with hummus. I am still enjoying baking healthy treats and following a colorful, whole foods diet rich in protein, veggies, healthy fats etc. We DID get an ice cream maker, and just started to make my own with coconut milk and granulated erythritol! So yummy 🙂 No fast food or junk here…I don’t crave it or want it for myself or baby girl!

Birth Prep: I have been using my Doula Deck of cards (I got this from a lovely client!) that has different journal prompts, affirmations and exercises for a mindful balanced pregnancy, birth and post-partum time. They help me set a focus and intention for the day.

I have also started to incorporate tactics like: practicing labor positions with my breathing techniques, perineal massage and writing out a birth plan with Brian and our doula.

At about 37 weeks I will start to use other tactics such as consuming dates, raspberry leaf tea, movement on the birthing ball etc. in order to help facilitate into labor and make the process hopefully smoother 🙂

In the next 5 weeks:

We are putting final touches on the baby nursery room. We are waiting on a few orders to arrive like the glider/rocker and some wall decor. Otherwise, it is organized and “ready for use!” All the rest of the supplies, like our downstairs Pack & Play (changing station & bassinet) is set up, travel system & car seats in place etc. Now we just need a baby for all of it!

We start to have weekly appointments with our midwife in July. I am seeing my pelvic floor therapist again in July and continuing to see my chiropractor regularly (about 2-3x a month and can go more often if need be).

We will gather all of our supplies needed for our home birth and also “pack a bag” with some essentials to have handy in the house and/or if we need to transfer to a hospital for emergency purposes.

Next post I will share some of my top strategies, tips, items etc. that have helped me during my pregnancy, as well as what is on our “healthy and non toxic baby” registry!

Questions about a holistic pregnancy, home birth or just anything related to health and wellness? Feel free to email me! allisonbergstromfitness@gmail.com

Happy to share this journey with others!