23 Weeks Pregnant Chalkboard + How to Reduce Pregnancy Swelling
By Kate Horney
How far along? 23 Weeks, 2 Days
Maternity clothes? Swim suits, dresses & workout gear. They’re stretchin w/ the best of em. Also loving my new Cross Training Couture tank (great for workouts AND the beach)…
Best moment this week: Celebrating Memorial Day weekend w/ Patrick HOME- beach, grill & lots of fun with Jackson and some little baby kicks- so grateful for this special time with my sweet family. It’s hard to believe that we only have a few more months until little man #2 makes his appearance!
Miss Anything? My trips to the potty are becoming more and more frequent as my water intake stays steady and my little guy pushes more and more on my bladder…. Is it worth it? YES! But is it annoying to have to stop to pee every 10 minutes… yes. 😉
Movement: Squirming is starting to turn to full on kicks and punches. I love our active little man. Just like his big (and active) brother!
Food cravings: This weekend was fabulous for some delicious (and healthy) eats off the grill. I’m thankful that my awful chicken aversion has passed, and I’m loving getting lots of iron from red meat right now as well. Fresh blueberries are in season as of this week, so I’m looking forward to picking some delicious blueberries. I’ve also been on an apple kick this week. (Great sliced in oat bran and mixed with some stevia + apple pie spice!)
Looking forward to: Having a sweet little baby in there in less than 4 months!! Jackson has started to say “baby” and pat my tummy at night before we read and say our prayers. I’m not sure how much he understands, but it’s sweet none the less.
Biggest Struggle this week: Figuring out how to reduce pregnancy swelling (Aka pregnancy BLOAT!).
I’m really grateful that I haven’t experienced the “beached whale” look yet, but I do know some other pregnant mamas experience some bad swelling at this time.
It’s totally normal to notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer…
In addition, know that sluggish circulation in your legs mixed with normal pregnancy water retention is pretty common and can cause swelling…. (Don’t worry, your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby- which is why you’ll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery)…
But still, it’s not fun to be puffy, so I’m working to avoid that pregnancy swelling as much as possible.
Solution: Ok, so now let’s talk about how to reduce pregnancy swelling…
3 Tips to Reduce Pregnancy Swelling
- Water- I am all about making sure that I keep up my water intake! You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention.
- Left Side– I’ve found that it’s helpful for circulation to lay on my left side as much as possible (I sleep with my snoogle on my left side now) and also to put my feet up when I can.
- Move- I know that sitting in one place for long periods of time also contributes to swollen ankles, but thankful for Jackson, I don’t have to worry much about that right now. 😉 (Seriously, the boy has energy!)Another great tip to reduce pregnancy swelling- EXERCISE! You know I had to say it… but exercising regularly really does increase circulation, and I attribute my weekly BeyondFit Life workouts to my lack of pregnancy puff up to this point!
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P.S. Not sure where to start with your exercise while pregnant?
I’d love to help you!
Your baby is a REASON to make a healthy choices priority… not an excuse for why you can’t!
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to a FIT PREGNANCY, join us over at the BeyondFit Life Club where I upload all of my personal workouts (100% safe during pregnancy) and share all the best fit mom recipes, tips & tricks!