Bouncing Back After Baby

"I am only going to gain 25 lbs when I get pregnant." .....said I a year ago as if I had much of a choice in the matter. The only choice I could make to this matter was to maintain eating healthfully and keep up my exercises.
 I gained 50 lbs. And I gained that while maintaining my very healthy lifestyle. Granted...I had a ton of extra fluid than the normal pregnant woman thanks to my messed up circulatory system- but, I had no further control other than the food I ate and the activity level I maintained over the weight I gained. I gained what my body needed to healthfully grow little Ellie.

But, I still want to care for my body to maintain excellent health especially of my heart. I want to know and be confident in doing all I can to spark attraction and interest from my husband ( though he would tell you he always finds me beautiful.) Though scripture tells us beauty is fleeting, I do think it is important and respectful of your spouse to want to look good for them! It means I care about his attention even if he does give me the same loving attention when I have unwashed messy hair, no makeup on, glasses, wearing his workout clothes, and my retainer in! Haha!! I want to have confidence in my own self and I see nothing wrong with that so long as it does not consume me or become an idol. Healthy body- healthy lifestyle- these are my consistent goals even before I was ever pregnant and didn't have a new "mom bod" to work on. And for the record let me state...yes...I am thankful and blessed to have had the chance to obtain a mom bod. A blessing for sure!

I do NOT believe in dieting. I actually believe it is one of the most detrimental things you can do to your body. It is so deceiving. It ruins the metabolism amongst other things. I do not diet and I never have and I never will. Even a "safe" diet is a bad diet. To "Go on a diet" is not good- to have a healthy diet is an entirely different thing. Your diet is what you eat. Not necessarily restricted eating as most people think when they first hear that word, "diet." Going on a diet is the perfect way to actually help you gain more weight than when you first began the diet. Sure, you may lose a lot of weight in the beginning, and there is something to be said for getting unhealthy weight off- but nobody maintains that kind of eating. It takes them months to lose "X" amount of pounds, but nearly the moment the timeline of that diet is completed, the weight jumps right back on.

This is why a healthy diet must be a lifestyle choice. I have been practicing this since college as I began studying nutrition. And all my friends know that I do love to occasionally indulge in my cheese fries, mac and cheese, and hibachi. Everything in moderation. I don't eat these types of food, fast food, or out of the house often at all. When I do- I save it for a fun date night with Eric. And the type of food I do regularly eat on a daily basis is yummy! I am not eating miserable food or small tiny little pitiful amounts of food and suffering like I think most people believe of me. I have a hearty southern girl appetite! I get full fast and enjoy the taste of the foods I prepare. And they are all very healthy! I'll be happy to share recipes any time if there is interest. I love knowing what is in the food I cook.

I maintained this lifestyle of course with pregnancy sans the first trimester where I needed way more carbs than I would normally take on as my morning sickness (aka all day sickness) was severe. Once I began feeling better I went back to the veggies that weren't cutting it the first 14 weeks. It was my goal and desire to not eat anything and everything I wanted just because I was pregnant. I've seen the result of women doing that and it is much harder to get that weight off--it doesn't all just magically go to the baby as the media would have you believe. My goal was to feed Ellie in my tummy the healthiest foods I could per the usual and when I had a big strong craving for hibachi or ice cream--I indulged. Because it was in moderation and very uncommon. Usually a craving could be remedied by just having some fruit or greek yogurt. I knew that pregnancy called for only a few extra calories that basically more or less added up to apple slices with almond butter or an extra serving of veggies. Not an extra meal altogether! I also only ate when hungry as was recommended by my cardiologist. I didn't (nor do I ever) count calories.

You all know I prepared 32 healthy dinners for post partum that should last about 2 months. 1 month down and still half a freezer to conquor! They taste good too, by the way! This has really helped with the ease of not giving in to any eating big unhealthy carby casseroles or having fast food because it is quick and simple. I have had my meals ready every night and it is going great!

I gained 50 pounds.  It has been 4 weeks since I delivered Ellie. In less than a week of delivering Ellie,  I had lost 34 lbs. 75% of that was water. I finally could see my leg muscles, tendons, bend my toes, my neck and arms weren't so swollen. It felt so good to lose all that excess puff of water. I have been walking since day 2 post partum - thanks to Eric's help. It was hard but it helped me recover quickly. Now I am back to a 5k walk daily and I cannot wait for clearance to run again in 2 weeks!

I currently have only 6 lbs left to lose to be back at pre-pregnancy weight. I am focusing a lot on cardio as always but also strength training to help rebuild and tighten up muscles. I feel like all my muscles melted away.

While continuous healthy eating and exercising are what has helped me most, I also believe in the power of a post partum belly band. I have been using the Rose Belba brand and I LOVE it! It targets helping to heal my mild diastasis recti and helps my uterus to also shrink back quickly and brings good circulation to the stomach. I did get a mild 1.5 finger gap in the abs (diastasis recti). Therefore, I am also focusing on slowly training the abs back in tight before I can safely continue my usual exercises that include things like planks and push ups and burpees. This is a journey of continuing good heart health, overall health, a healthy lifestyle, and utilizing my passion for health nutrition. I want to encourage others towards this lifestyle...because it is actually easy...but mainly it makes you feel good and keeps your body healthy and performing at its best. I believe the body is a temple with which we serve God and we are to care for it well! I also want to be an example to Ellie not of vanity, but if strength, endurance, and health. Not dieting or counting calories but of just taking care of her body.

40 weeks preggo to 4 weeks post partum 

Lots of toning back up to do but it is a slow and steady process!

I am thankful for this journey to see what my body can do-especially due to a healthy lifestyle. Never underestimate the power of your fork and plate!

Thanks for letting me share my passion and my journey!

 

The Night We Became Parents To Ellie Clardy Gladden

August 1, 2017. 5:30 a.m. - I woke up. Eric had been up since 3:30 and left for work shortly after so that he could run a chemical reaction at work. Most mornings, Eric is up at 5:30 for work and Ellie has grown accustomed to this schedule and awakens wildly with him....thus also waking mommy. But, this particular morning I felt no such activity from Ellie. 6 a.m. rolled around and up I was to brush teeth, make breakfast and start the busy day as usual. I found it peculiar but not particularly alarming that I had not felt Ellie yet. I carried on with breakfast, a 5k walk, some exercising, a trip to the groceries, and a shower. Usually when I am busy like this I don't feel much activity until I've sat down for a moment. It was in the shower that I noticed again-- I really have not felt Ellie outside of a round little butt to the ribs a couple times. While just the day before her jabs had me gasping for breath! I got out of the shower with the decision I would check in on her with my fetal doppler. I was officially on edge and anxious. Not only does the doppler assure me her heart is still beating like it should be, but Ellie hates the thing and always kicks it violently. I managed to find her heart rate in the healthy 150's but no kicks, no movements....not even a flutter. So, I continued my chores and prayed as I worked for God to make her move so I knew she was ok. I prepared and cooked an entire dinner.

3:30 p.m. rolls around. Eric is home and digging up grass in the backyard preparing  for our patio we will soon be creating. I open the back door-- anxious enough now that I am breaking my comfort zones of anxiety and letting somebody else in on my fears.

"I don't feel her moving and really haven't much all day. I know her heart is beating but I am concerned." my words to Eric.

He suggests I sit and try to focus on her movement, try to stimulate her first. I quickly told him how I had done this many times already today and I closed the door and anxiously paced the kitchen and talked to God. God revealed to me so that I even said it aloud to myself.... I am Ellie's voice and advocate. It would be a stupid risk to not call the doctor. I would rather be an annoying paranoid patient than not speak up and something terrible be happening.  I called the doctor and in the next hour I had been told to head to labor and delivery triage at the hospital to check out why the lack of movement. I grabbed Eric who had showered in the meantime and he packed the car with our bags....just in case.

I said to him and to myself in the car....I am probably just paranoid but I would rather have confirmation that all is well. He agreed and we joked about how this could  be our practice run for Thursday- when my induction was scheduled.

Arrive at triage. I am hooked up and before the millions of typical questions can be completely answered-  one of my OBs was admitting us to the hospital telling us we are having a baby TONIGHT. It was the kind of comment that purposely came out of her mouth in a smiley and nonchalant manner as to catch a good reaction from her audience. And that she got! I froze and rewound her words and she stared at me smiling. I said...um, wait...like she is coming....tonight?! right now?! And with a big nodding yes and smile away i was whipped into a delivery room.

I was bawling my eyes out with joyful emotions! It was just not at all what i had expected to hear. I thought I would be home in the next 30 minutes.

20 minutes after being in the delivery room and meeting many new faces....It was explained to us that the reason we have been admitted was because of the lack of activity from Ellie.

The doctor told me my mother's intuition was spot on...Ellie was not moving and she was not a happy girl. She wants out now. She continued to explain that I had 2 options. And I knew then what was before us and I tensed up and squeezed Eric as he rubbed my hair. The two options were to continue with an induction and see how it goes knowing that it is very unlikely it will progress nor does it seem safe as Ellie would be in distress if we waited too long and then had to turn to what would be the second option---a C-Section. When I heard C-Section.....I began to cry very hard because I KNEW it was the right option. How does somebody who has had 3 open heart surgeries find a C-Section daunting? It is a big procedure that I have had the blessing of helping perform when I was still doing clinical rotations. Anybody who says a C-Section is the easy way out is an idiot. Sorry, not sorry.

A C -Section scared me because of my cardiac risks- which at this point were way below the risks for Ellie if we didn't go this route. A C- Section scared me because I do know what they do and I do know what it looks like and is happening and the risks. It was surgery. I have not had major surgery in 22 years. I was scared, but I was more scared of not doing it of what could happen to Ellie. So I cried and I said yes. Let's do this right now. Eric gave me courage and love and motivation. Ellie empowered me with my love for her and the desire to start being a good mommy from the very behinning by doing what is best for her. I remembered God was in control and He had nudged me to get here to the hospital to check on my daughter and now this was God saying this is His plan. And I knew it and I saw Him in all of it. And I tearfully obeyed and turned it over once again to Him. I gave Him my heart physically and Ellie's life. And away we were whisked once again to L&D OR.

I felt the most out of control of my body I have ever felt. I felt hot and sweaty, numb and tingly, without breath though I had 100% O2 stats. I felt high and dizzy. Eric came in looking sexy in some bunny suit scrubs. He stayed near and prepared for pics of Ellie.  Then the moment came. They had reached her and it was time for her to come out into the bright, loud, crazy world! I looked above me and saw Eric's smile, dimples, and happy creases around his eyes. I heard his joy and emotion in his voice...then.....I heard my baby girl....my daughter...crying! And I burst into possibly  the happiest, ugliest, hardest tears I have ever cried! I had not even seen her face. But I heard her voice and it belonged to us!! When I saw her face I cried even harder!! She came out healthy and happy and pink.

I was soon told that the reason for her inactivity was becsuse the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck 4 TIMES! In fact- the ultrasound we had performed in 4d just 24 hours prior did not even pick that up and apparently often does not. This baby who was suspected by all doctors to be 8 lbs. came out at 6 lbs and 14 oz. She had restricted growth at the end due to lesser oxygen. However, God kept her healthy and He called on me and placed in my heart and mind an intuition to act...even if I just looked like a paranoid first time mom.

Now we are resting peacefully with our beautiful and sweet and happy, healthy baby girl. She has started out life as a pro with breastfeeding. She did not wait around for anybody to show her how! She has the best and sweetest attitude.  She is funny already and makes me laugh! I love being her mommy and am so grateful God allowed me to physically be able to carry a baby when I was not supposed to be able to. He helped Ellie and I survive a lot of crazy times this pregnancy. And He has made her our miracle. The fact that her life exists after all we have done for this moment is a miracle.

We are finally a family of 3 with our beautiful baby girl!! Thank you all for your prayers, love, and support! We finally made it! Praise our awesome God!