Managing Your Energy Levels During Pregnancy (Week 36)

I'm in the home stretch now. Four more weeks (roughly) to go, and my excitement/anticipation is growing. That's not the only thing that's growing: as of three days ago, I measured 42 3/4" around my middle. This is the point in the pregnancy that I'm saying to myself, "Really? Can my belly get any bigger?" Of course the answer is "yes", but it's pretty disconcerting nonetheless.

Energy Fluctuations
One thing that I've noticed throughout my pregnancy is that my energy levels have fluctuated quite dramatically on a week-by-week and even day-by-day basis. I was told to expect that my energy levels would suffer in the first trimester, pick up in the 2nd trimester, and then drop off again in the 3rd. Although I did have a marked improvement in energy in the 2nd trimester, I've found that in this last stretch there has been a lot more variability. Sometimes I have good days, and sometimes I have bad days.

Sure, I've put on about 1/3 of my pre-pregnancy weight, which is a lot of work to haul that much extra weight around. But that doesn't explain why some days are easier than others. It all boils down to fluctuating hormone levels and the physical adaptations to pregnancy that my body has to endure. Although at this point I've become used to the feeling of not having as much control over my body as I once did, I've found ways to optimize my energy levels.

How to Boost Your Energy During Pregnancy

• Exercise. It's no surprise that I recommend exercising as a way to boost your energy, however this advice comes with a caveat: pick a day when you're feeling more energetic to get in some activity. Forcing yourself to exercise when your energy is low will more than likely make you feel more tired, not less (this is advice runs counter to what you would do if you weren't pregnant: exercise can often boost your energy when you're feeling low). Also, at this point, just getting off the couch can be enough to be considered exercise. Walk, stretch, do yoga, swim, or do a prenatal exercise class or video.
• Rest when you need to. There will be days when you just don't feel like moving at all. Get over it and just accept it. I had to. Resting when your body tells you to will make you feel better. So get as much sleep as you can. Take naps, or just put your feet up and relax in a comfortable position. As it is, many women don't sleep as well in their last trimester as it gets more uncomfortable to be in a much larger body. And if this wasn't convincing enough, just remember that soon enough your time will no longer be your own, and your opportunities to rest will be dictated by someone else. Enjoy it while you can.
• Eat well and drink plenty of water. Eat foods rich in iron and protein. Choose foods such as red meat, poultry, seafood, leafy green vegetables, whole-grain cereal and pasta, beans, nuts, and seeds. Bright-colored veggies and fruits are packed with nutrients--some of which can help increase energy. The jury's still out on whether or not caffeine is okay to have during pregnancy, so play it safe and stay away from it. Besides, having caffeine too close to bedtime just increases your chances that you won't get a good night's sleep, and caffeine in general makes you dehydrated. Dehydration can decrease your energy levels, so drink for two. If you're urine comes out a pale yellow, you're drinking enough water.
• Manage your stress levels. Being pregnant can be stressful in and of itself. There's a lot of learning and a lot of planning to be done before your little one arrives. So take some time and meditate, pamper yourself, laugh, and spend as much time as you can with loved ones--especially your partner. Again, all of these things will be harder to do once the baby arrives, anyways.

So many moms have told me to enjoy my time being pregnant, and although it's not always easy, life is always better when you count your blessings instead of your aches and pains.

On Breastfeeding and Birth Plans (Week 35)

Why I Chose to Breastfeed
It was quite early into my pregnancy that I decided that I would breastfeed my baby. I had two reasons for choosing this: a) vanity, and b) miserliness. First, breastfeeding will help me to lose weight more quickly than if I formula feed. Believe it or not, you need to take in more calories when you're breastfeeding (up to 500 calories per day) than when you're pregnant (200-300 calories per day). That's because when you're breastfeeding, a lot of calories you take in are diverted to creating breast milk for the baby. Also, breastfeeding encourages your uterus to contract to its original size more quickly than if you don't. That satisfies my vanity quite nicely.

As far as miserliness is concerned, that is more obvious: breastfeeding is a lot cheaper than buying formula, which can cost up to $250 a month.

My Visit to a Breastfeeding Clinic
Today I made a visit to a breastfeeding clinic to learn all I could about how to breastfeed. Hearing the stories of the pain and frustration experienced by other moms I know during their first few weeks of trying to breastfeed, I wanted to make sure I was aware of all my options.

I learned a lot, to say the least. At the clinic I got the chance to see some patients breastfeed their babies, and learned what to watch for in terms of signs of a good latch. I was also lectured on the ins and outs of  sore nipples, skin-to-skin contact, breast engorgement, and even how to tie a baby wrap around my body so that I can carry my baby hands-free (a great way to do chores, run errands, or simply go for a walk with the baby).

One thing they also made me aware of was how having a birth plan can help me stay in control of what happens to me at the hospital while I'm in labour, as well as what happens to me and my baby after delivery.

The Quick and Dirty of Creating a Birth Plan
The first question I asked myself was, "how do I know what I want to happen during my labour and delivery if I've never done it before?" The lactation specialist recommended that I seek out a doula to educate me about the process about labour and delivery, as well as coach me during the actual process. Again, being cheap, I had decided a while ago not to use the services of a midwife or a doula, so this didn't interest me too much.

So, I did what I always do: I did my own research. What I found was that I have a lot of choices that I can make at the hospital so that I am not confined to their regular procedures. The birth plan is also helpful to your partner to understand what it is that you want to happen. This is particularly useful because he or she can be your advocate when you are in the throes of childbirth, and not feeling very communicative. I am also going to talk to my obstetrician about my birth plan so that he can make further recommendations.

In general, some things for you to consider include:

• Hospital vs. home birth
• Vaginal vs. cesarean delivery
• Types of interventions you would like (or not like) to happen; e.g. pitocin, amniotomy, episiotomy
• Who you want to have around you; e.g. your partner, family, etc.
• The kinds of pain relief methods you'd like to employ; e.g. breathing techniques, massage, epidural
• You may want the option to walk around, drink and eat during labour
• The position in which you'd like to give labour--as opposed to the traditional "on your back" hospital position
• How you would like your baby fed: breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding

After writing my birth plan I feel a lot more confident about going into my last stage of pregnancy than I did before. I highly recommend empowering yourself by learning as much as you can, either through clinics, hospital workshops,hiring a midwife or doula, or simply do as much reading as you can.