27 Weeks Pregnant Chalkboard + Pregnancy Leg Cramps

By Kate Horney

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How far along? 27 Weeks, 2 Days

Maternity clothes?  Can we all agree that yoga pants are the best?  It doesn’t even matter if you’re pregnant. I’m all about some spandex 24/7. And Bella bands are pretty awesome too, since they allow me to still wear my old shorts!

Best moment this week:  I launched my free 7 Day Jump Start (workouts & recipes) this week and got an amazing response.  We have almost 600 women signed up for our challenge this week!  It’s been so fun to get to know these ladies and I’m grateful the Lord has allowed me to stay active through my pregnancy so that I can be part of fun workout challenges like this. Let’s start changing the fitness industry, one mom at a time!

Miss Anything?  Honestly, right now I’m still feeling pretty good. I miss the days of not feeling like a beached whale, BUT in a recent IG post, the general consensus was that it’s still ok to rock the baby bump and a bikini, so I’ve been owning the beached whale status. #sunthebump

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Movement: All the time! He loves to squirm late at night and is especially active after I eat (which is frequently- lol)  Patrick saw my belly move during church on Sunday and it was fun.  It’s weird (and cool) to watch the movement from the outside.

Food cravings: This week’s lineup has included some of our BEST BeyondFit Recipes including the all time favorite Peanutbutter protein frosty (perfect for these hot humid summer days) and healthy chicken tenders, which both Jackson AND I have been loving lately.

Looking forward to: Labor.  TWO of our BeyondFit Life mamas had their babies recently, and it’s upped my baby fever like none other.  They both totally rocked their labor & deliveries and I’m starting to get excited for my turn.  I know, I know, it’s crazy… but it’s so cool to see what our bodies are able to accomplish. The ultimate goal is to get baby H #2 here safe & sound in whatever way necessary- but I’m praying I can do it naturally- Lord willing!  I had a wonderful experience with Jackson and I’m looking forward to getting our 2nd little guy here. I can’t wait to hold this little boy!

Biggest struggle this week:  Leg Cramps!

 The 2nd trimester is coming to an end, but I remember with Jackson that as my body gears up for the final lap, a few new pregnancy symptoms appear… 

One of which is the dreaded pregnancy leg cramps. 

It makes sense if you think about it: your poor pregnant legs are carrying extra weight, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs.

For some reason my leg cramps seem to be more common at night (again attributing to the pregnancy sleep issues) but I’ve found a couple of things to help me deal with the cramps…

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Solution:  6 Tips to Avoid Pregnancy Leg Cramps

  1. No Crossing- Avoid standing or sitting with your legs crossed for long periods of time.
  2. Stretching- Stretch your calf muscles regularly during the day and several times before you go to bed.
  3. Leisurely Walking- Take a walk every day- even if it’s just for 10 minutes!
  4. Left Side Lying- Lie down on your left side to improve circulation to and from your legs.
  5. Water Drinking- Stay hydrated during the day by drinking water regularly.
  6. Relaxing- Try a warm bath before bed to relax your muscles, or consider taking a magnesium supplement.

Note on Magnesium: I’ve read quite a bit of research that suggests that taking a magnesium supplement in addition to a prenatal vitamin may help some women avoid leg cramps. As with anything, check you’re your Dr. before taking any kind of supplement during pregnancy.

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P.S. Are you a fellow pregnant mama?  

Healthy babies come from healthy moms!  

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!