Third pregnancy: Doing things differently

Going into this third pregnancy, there are a few things I’m doing differently this time around, let’s dig into it!

Eating well

Since my last pregnancy, which was in 2018/2019, I’ve learned a lot about nutrition and even worked with a fitness coach for a while.

I learned that I was way undereating protein for example, and once I focused on this, the way I ate changed a lot.

Now, the first trimester of pregnancy was rough for sure. I ate a lot of watermelon before each meal because otherwise I couldn’t get anything down. I also ate a lot of sourdough toast and things like that.

But as I started to feel better, I incorporated more and more protein into my diet, and found that it made such a big difference in my hunger and my energy throughout the day. Now, at the end of the day, I’m still feeling hungry, I slice up some leftover chicken or steak and find that it hits the spot.

Previously, I would have just continued to eat more and more carbs, but I’ve learned that I tend to undereat protein, and I know what it feels like to need more protein in a day.

Prioritizing rest and sleep

This seems obvious...but in the first trimester, I was needing SO much rest. My husband took on almost all of the household duties and even if I wanted to force myself to do something, I just couldn’t.

So, I went to bed early, I laid down, I took a lot of naps.

Now, in my second trimester, I have more energy and have the ability to work out more often. But there are still some days, when I planned on working out, and my energy just isn’t there. So instead, I go for a walk and rest.

I also take a magnesium supplement, take baths with Epsom salt, drink adrenal cocktails, and actively stay hydrated.

I found that If I read before bed, I would sleep better (shocker!!), and I’m actively doing a house ‘turndown’ at the end of the day. I turn down the big overhead lights, turn on soft lamps in my room and the kids' room. I even picked up a cross-stitch craft to work on instead of doomscrolling.

And in this category, I limit my caffeine intake to one coffee a day and am mindful of the timing of it. Some people aren’t sensitive to caffeine, but I sure am (plus it increases heartburn for me!).

Mental Health Awareness

In my previous pregnancies, we (as a couple), were dealing with different things. My husband had quit his job due to significant mental stress when I was 8 months pregnant, and it caused a cascade of things to happen in the following months.

I ignored some of the mental health stress signals that I was having, and I suffered a lot with postpartum anxiety and then later insomnia that I waited way too long to get treatment for.

So this time, I am way more aware of when I feel like my mental health is taking a hit and I’m quick to take action.

I go for more short walks to get more sunlight, I put my phone down more, I listen to good music, I cry, talk with my husband or a friend, and rest.

Exercise is the most underrated mental health tool that people don’t use, and I wish I had known this before. Going for short walks relieves a lot of stress, sunlight on our skin is good for us in many many ways, eating well, staying hydrated, resting, and seeking support are all things that I do when I notice that my mental space needs some work.

Thinking about Postpartum

Now this transitions well into preparing for my postpartum period. Here are a few things that I’m preparing for myself and my family to have the best postpartum experience I can.

Limiting visitors:

I remember with my first baby, being 2 weeks postpartum, I couldn’t sit straight, I was so sleep deprived, and some visitors came and sat on my couch and talked to me for way too long. I was too embarrassed to ask them to leave, and when they did finally leave, I felt like I could collapse with exhaustion (and my bottom was so so sore).

This time around, I’m limiting visitors to those who would be helpful to me or my family and limiting the time as well.

This baby is also due mid-January, and I’d like to make sure that we’re limiting the number of germs coming in at that time.

Gift for myself:

Another idea I had recently was to prepare a postpartum ‘gift’ to myself. I thrifted a beautiful knit sweater this summer to start off this postpartum box.

A patient of mine had the idea of getting shower bombs, so that each shower, no matter how short it is, would feel like a spa experience.

I’m also going to add some new pajamas/lounge wear, some small treats, a longer phone charging cord, and a few other items.

Relationships:

My husband and I have been having conversations about where everyone is going to sleep, and how the flow of parenting will be when baby gets here. When my second was born, he took over the care of our first daughter, and it will be much the same this time around.

As a mom, I want to make sure there’s still lots of connection with everyone, so inviting my older kids in for snuggles, watch TV together, or do a puzzle together. I know myself and that I’ll need time to recover, so thinking of simple ways to connect with the older kids will go a long way.

I’m also aware of my own capacity, and that my husband and I will incorporate small moments to check in and connect about how things are going. A hug goes a long way when it comes to the busyness of life and raising kids.

And lastly, baby prep:

When I had my first, I was unaware of what I would actually need and ended up with way too much baby stuff. It was quite overwhelming, and I found myself constantly organizing baby things.

This time around, the list is pretty minimal. I know what I used previously and what I could do without. I’m not collecting as many items as before because I know what it’s like to try to find a home for everything.

We’ve been decluttering and reorganizing our home, thinking about where I’m going to spend my time and how to make it as comfy as possible.

Here’s an example of what’s on my list:

Change table

Stroller

A few sleepers in newborn and 0-3 sizes

One wrap carrier

One structured carrier for when the baby is older

One baby seat/bouncer chair

Bassinette

One play mat

Things I’m not collecting:

Too many clothes

Baby toys

A swing (I used the seat way more often)

A fancy stroller (I bought the same one I had before)

All sorts of baby ‘gadgets’

Spatula for baby cream

Baby ‘outfits’, they spend their time in pjs most of the time initially.

I’m not buying baby blankets- people gift these a lot.

I’m thankful that I’ve been able to learn a lot from my previous pregnancy and postpartum experiences, and this time I’m being very proactive. I’ve even started seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist because I noticed things didn’t feel right and quickly got in for treatment.

My goal is to feel calm, and give my future self the gift of physical, mental, and household preparation.

What would you add or remove from this list?