24 Weeks Pregnant - finding balance and rhythms in life

Weekly pregnancy updates from a childbirth educator, doula and mum to 2 little girls. Come and join me on my journey as I share how I’m feeling, how baby is developing, what I’m doing to prepare, and some favourite resources!

It’s been a quiet week this week, just normal busy daily life with my husband and two little girls. There’s nothing much particularly coming up for me around pregnancy right now, though I am feeling baby move regularly and continuing with my near-daily practice of Spinning Babies exercises, breathing and “horse lips” exercises, and listening to positive birth affirmations and relaxation/visualisation audios. I didn’t have enough of these quiet weeks in my last pregnancy, so I am really enjoying it!

Systems and rhythms

I’m also working on improving my systems and rhythms around the home so I can balance business and housework better, while having the time to be truly present with my girls. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with everything going on, and end up in the cycle where you’re constantly having to say “just a minute” to your kids while you finish loading the dishwasher, hang the laundry, or send that work email. And of course there is a time and a place for them to learn patience and to respect the time you need for your things. But too easily the other things can pile up and take over and you realise you’re not spending time doing “life” with your kids: reading stories, chatting, or just enjoying the outdoors together.

Finding the balance with 2 children vs. 1

When I had just one child, I managed to fit housework and work/study in during her naps or sleep time, and I really could focus 100% on her the during her wake time. But with two children it’s been more complicated, since they don’t always nap at the same time and have different needs as they grow. I haven’t always been good at finding ways to spend the quality time with them that I want to (and I don’t just mean having them underfoot while I try to cook lunch!). I am really excited that the last month or two some tweaks which I’ve made are having a huge impact on how I organise everything, allowing me to feel like I am balancing everything in a healthy way again. This of course has had a really positive impact on my stress levels, which can only be for the best for my pregnancy and my baby’s health and development!

What symptoms am I feeling?

In the past week I’ve been getting some Braxton Hicks or “practice” contractions, which are very common in second and third trimester, though some mums don’t feel them at all, or perhaps just aren’t aware of them. I certainly wasn’t aware of them at all through my first pregnancy, but last time and this time I definitely have been. They’re a tightening of the uterus which lasts for a short while. They can be uncomfortable, but shouldn’t be particularly painful. They’ll stop after a while, often if mum changes position or has a drink. They are not harmful, and in fact are actually useful in helping the uterus “practice” and prepare for actual labour contractions. (But if you don’t get them that’s not an issue either!)

How has baby been developing this week?

At around 32cm and 670g, baby has now developed sleep and wake patterns, often getting active when mum is resting! Mum moving around tends to rock baby to sleep. Unsurprisingly many babies want lots of rocking to sleep after they’re born!

What am I doing to prepare?

I’m finally on the verge of finishing reading “The Postnatal Depletion Cure” by Dr Oscar Serrallach (which I started back in week 15!). It's been such a good read. I struggled with feeling lower energy and constantly tired while breastfeeding my older two, and this has prompted me to plan to take supplements postpartum this time. I'm going with the Maternally Happy Prenatal supplement (which is also for pre-conception and postpartum). It has nearly every single one of the micronutrients Dr Serrallach mentions which are commonly lacking in mums he sees with postnatal depletion.

Resources:

“The Postnatal Depletion Cure” by Dr Oscar Serrallach

The Maternally Happy Prenatal supplement has been clinically formulated by a Nutrition Consultant, Registered Midwife & Nurse for the three stages of motherhood: preconception, pregnancy and postpartum. High quality, bioavailable ingredients. Made in Australia!

And that’s it for this week! 🌿💛

[Image credit: Photo by Juan Encalada on Unsplash]