"Nov 2016.
1
Strength
I wonder what makes strength
is it the energy?
the emotion?
or just the ability to do what I don't feel like doing? 
or is there more? 

 5
Bent 
This has got me bending 
bending over backwards
Things I never felt
Emotions I've only read
and I won't have it any other way
because it births you.

 4
length, 126.
For now, 
For tomorrow. 
For now, because there is so much 
bending I can take. 
for tomorrow, because there is so much
more to look forward to.
You. "




Pregnancy The cuddle blog


I won't exactly call myself the poster girl for fitfam community but I tried my best to eat healthy and exercise during the second trimester. The 2nd trimester starts from week 13-week 27 and by this time I was stronger and motivated enough to start exercising again (not like I did a whole lot before). I would visit Youtube and type in "2nd trimester pregnancy workout" with these there were appropriate exercises that helped a bit with the back pain I was experiencing.

Symptoms;


Most of the symptoms I had in the first trimester disappeared at this time but I still had backaches, i was exptremely obsessed with tracking cuddles size on the Ovia and Nuture app I was using and it was great.

Baby Bump?;


I also didn't start showing till about the 5th month and I could still wear my old cloths. I officially had a bumb at 20 weeks. I continued to go for my monthly doctors appointment and my bi-weekly antenatal classes which was kinda fun but I wish it was something that was also compiled in a printed handout that I could read at home. 


Hello Bump

Pregnancy Blues;

There were days where I questioned myself about child birth, parenting. I didn't think I was ready for the responsibilities that come with it. I had a breakdown one day and it took the intervention of my husband to help me through all the negative thoughts I was feeling. I felt so down and low, I cut my hair because I was tired of it adding to my stress and I needed to be as stress free as possible. 

At the salon for a haircut 

Gender Reveal;


At week 20, it was about time for us to go for Anatomy scan - this scan reveals the gender of the baby and I 'felt' like I was having a girl, my husband wanted a girl but felt we were having a boy and we went into the appointment with our fingers crossed. The technician kept asking us to guess while he already knew the answer and didn't tell us till after all the examination. It was a very very long 30 mins. 

We were so excited when we found out we were expecting a little boy. Since, there was no luxury of a gender reveal party (who gender reveal epp?) I went to our family whatsapp group and made them guess and almost everybody guessed right. 
This was one of the exciting times during the pregnancy. 
Gender Reveal


Weight gain?


By the end of my first trimester I think I just gained about 2kg and 5 kg by the end of my 2nd trimester. I was very conscious of the fact that I didn't want to gain so much weight and I am glad that I had healthy weight progression. One thing that helped me early on was the fact that I read that I am NOT eating for 2. The baby will get whatever he/she needs from me regardless. So, I didn't necessarily increase my portions and I indulged in my cravings moderately. I weighed 55kg before pregnancy and I was about 62kg at the end of the 2nd trimester, which is not bad at all.


 






Maternity Style?

Half way through the 2nd trimester, My bumb was visibly bigger and my cloths smaller. I had to pack up my cloths and I had to sew some Ankara gowns and I also got some cloths from a close family friend who was also pregnant at the time with her 3rd child, so she gave me some of her old maternity cloths and It definitely came in handy. My 'new' wardrobe consisted mainly of;

  • Leggings
  • My old Jeans - I leave it unbottoned
  • Pinafore - Like the one in the pic above
  • A-shaped Gowns 
  • T-shirts
  • More leggings
I could get away with not buying new cloths because I work from home and I know that I won't be able to if I was going to an office. 




At the end of the day, this was hands down the time I enjoyed the pregnancy the most. Next week, I would be sharing my least favourite time in this beautiful "pregnancy diaries series" Catch up on the series if you've not below

Pregnancy Diaries Series so far: 

How we found out 
1st Trimester

What was your 2nd trimester like? If you have a link please share in the comment section.