My personal definition of exercise? Anything that doesn't include sitting!

Let's face it, unless you have a full time chef, nutritionist, diet advisor and/or personal trainer on hand to regulate your eating and physical activity, it is extremely difficult to say no the eating urge whilst pregnant and even more difficult to resist the temptation to sit at any opportunity.

So I didn't focus on the word exercise. I focused on staying mobile.

I have been pregnant twice with noticeable differences. My comments below are based on my two pregnancies and my realisation that these differences were a direct result of my physical activity during pregnancy.

As it happened I was waitressing when I found out I was pregnant with my second child and because of this I let my employer know immediately. I estimated that in this role I would be able to work 3-4 months. In Australia, it is normal for women to continue working right up to 6 weeks before expected birth. But this usually applies to women in sitting roles.

So I decided to take it one day at a time. I worked between two jobs, both waitressing. It was a busy time and although my intentions were to work 3-4 days, I worked 6-7 days, a minimum 8 hours per day right through to 8 months. I just loved my job, the interaction, the freedom, the guys I worked with....

What did this mean to my physical and mental health, and to that of my unborn child?

Weight gain - I actually gained weight within the normal recommendation, around 11 kilos in total.

Size of baby - I had many people comment that I looked very small and that I probably would have a small baby. I never forget waiting to see my obstetrician. The lady next to me asked me how far I was, suggesting 5 months. I told her I was due in a few weeks. She gave me this look of sympathy and said "oh good luck". I panicked. My obstetrician calmed me, promising my baby would be over 7 pounds. As it turned out I was simply carrying less fluid and my baby was actually larger in size than my first born, where I had carried a lot more weight.

Quick recovery to pre pregnancy weight - Because I gained weight steadily and non excessively, I returned to my pre pregancy weight within 2 months.

Stretchmarks - two on one side, two on the other. Four in total. I understand that stretchmarks occur where the skin stretches quickly and suddenly. It is only normal for pregancy to result in unavoidable stretchmarks. However steady weight gain during pregancy and steady weight loss after pregancy can help in reducing the severity of stretchmarks.

Labour - I went straight into labour. There was no warning. There was no pre labour for me. I woke 2 minutes apart and gave birth within two hours of my first contraction. My body was well prepared although I wasn't mentally prepared for the sudden urgency. My doctor didn't make the delivery so I gave birth without him and without any pain relief.

With my first child, I found it very difficult to resist all the wonderful temptations of being pregnant. I ate when I wanted to, I sat when I wanted to, I complained about how unfair it was to be pregnant, how hot I felt, how I couldn't wait to give birth. I gained considerable weight and slowed down to a snails pace, walking like a cowboy with both palms on my lower back. With my second child, I enjoyed the benefit of exercise (if you call waitressing exercise) and had the most wonderful pregnancy and labour.

Learn more about this author, Sophia Paradeisi.
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