I am 22 weeks pregnant and the bump is a-growing! I think it is definitely more bump than plump now, finally, thank goodness! I am also feeling lots and lots of lovely kicks, so our little girl is very much making her presence her known. The downside is that as my bump grows, my SPD seems to be getting a bit worse :(.
Regular readers will know that I suffer with SPD/PGP. They used to call it SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction) but now it comes under the bracket of PGP (Pelvic Girdle Pain). Confusing, but it amounts to the same thing, a right pain in the pelvis, bum, legs, back, all of that area basically. In my first pregnancy it arrived quite late on and then rapidly got worse, largely because I didn’t know what what it was and ignored it before eventually getting help, and I ended up on crutches. This time, the pain started at around 6 weeks pregnant, and I was gutted, but also desperate to get help before it got too bad.
I have been seeing a fantastic Physiotherapist at the hospital for quite some time now and with her help and with the exercises she has given, along with basically being careful with what I do physically, for the most part it has been under control. But, now that the bump is properly growing, it is getting a bit harder, and, if I’m honest, I’ve been pushing myself a bit. With all the added energy of this trimester I have doing things that I probably shouldn’t be doing anymore.
Anyway, right at the beginning my physio recommended me to try Aqua-natal yoga at a local centre, where she knew the instructors are trained to deal with SPD/PGP. I’ll be honest that I didn’t get on to the best start as there was no mention on the website of a waiting list for the classes, and they only take ladies from 14 weeks+ pregnant. So I waited until I was 14 weeks and then when I called and spoke to someone there, they unfortunately gave me the wrong information. They advised me to go online and pay and then book onto the class I wanted to attend.
I tried to do this but although the system took my money, I couldn’t get booked onto any classes. When I then spoke to them again (after a bit of back and forth) I was informed that there is in fact a waiting list, so they refunded my money and added me to the list. All is well that ends well but I do wish the website had been clearer as I would have added my name onto the list much earlier. Anyway, another 7 weeks later my name has come up and I was finally able to attend my first ever Aquanatal class!
I was feeling really nervous about it beforehand, I mean I really wanted to go, but I am always nervous about meeting new people and lets face it meeting people as you get changed into your swimming cozzie isn’t the most relaxed of environments! But I sucked it up and off I went and it was actually really lovely talking to some other preggo mummas! Lots of my friends have been pregnant before etc but I don’t really know anyone else who is preggo right now (apart from some other lovely bloggers of course) so it was nice chatting and commiserating with each other. At 21 weeks I was at the early end of pregnancy, compared to the other ladies at 25, 31, 35 and 37 weeks pregnant!
Courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net – my legs are not that skinny!
I have never done anything like this before so didn’t really know what to expect but it was very relaxing and hopefully will help as my pregnancy proceeds. Most of the exercises are fine even with my SPD, and some have to be ever so slightly adjusted, depending on how I feel. Any twinges and I have to stop or at the very least adjust what I am doing.
There were a few times where I had to suppress the giggles and “swish your arms like a piece of seaweed floating in the sea” was possibly my favourite line of the evening. It probably says more about my maturity levels than anything else but I do feel a bit daft with things like that sometimes. There was a lot of caressing our babies and humming to them which is very lovely and like I say, I think I am just immature. It’s not that I don’t like stroking my bump and talking to our baba, but I guess I am just used to doing it in private so doing it in a room full of other people all with our eyes closed felt a bit unusual for me. I am sure I will get used to it though!
Overall it was a very lovely evening and I came out feeling very relaxed. I really hope it helps with my pelvis too as I don’t want to end up unable to walk again if I can avoid it!
All else seems to be going well though, I am a bit fed up of not being able to take hayfever remedies but the spray and eye drops do help a bit so I shouldn’t moan. In general I am just making the most of the extra energy I have at the moment, although I think I do need to be a bit more careful not to overdo it!
Have you ever been to Aquanatal yoga? Am I the only immature mama to be who gets a bit giggly?
Oh wow sounds like great exercise, swimming and water pregnant or otherwise makes me so sleepy but I do love yoga and wish I’d gotten back into it pregnant. Your bump is lovely! #allaboutyou
It is lovely, oh wow, I always find I am more awake after swimming etc, funny eh? Thank you 🙂 xx
I used to love a bit of aquanatal Caroline! I did it all the time with JJ and made some good friends. It is definitely a light hearted thing to do – the instructor was a bit of a joker but lovely. Hope it helps with your SPD/PVP. X
Yeah our instructor is lovely too, this week she told me I had a good bum wiggle lol, I am really enjoying it and really hoping it helps a bit! xx
I’ve never been to aquanatal but suspect I would be a bit giggly too. Hope it helps with your SPD – I had SPD with both my pregnancies too but it was better second time around because I was more aware of what to do to minimise it flaring up. Hope this will be the case with you too – sounds like you are doing all the right things.
Thank you for saying that, glad it’s not just me! Ah sorry to hear you had SPD too, horrible isn’t it? Hmm I know what you mean but find it hard not to do things I normally would. I am going to have to start taking it easier though I think! xx
I quite like the sound of swishing my arms and legs around like they’re seaweed-sounds fun 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it and I hope it helps too x
haha it is quite nice 🙂 xx
Oh hunny I am so sorry your spd is bad, I had it with both so i can feel your pain. Quite literally. It’s awful and I have heard that aquanatal is so helpful. But haven’t tried it myself. Let me know how you like it or not. Supposed to be fun. I would get excited for it too. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me, not long to go though, it will fly by. The end of my second flew by! #sharewithme
Thanks honey, it is pretty rubbish, the aquanatal is lovely and I think it may be helping a little, only time will tell I think! I can imagine the end really flying by, we have such a busy summer planned so November will be here before we know it! xx
I never went to anything like this when I was pregnant but it sounds like you had fun, hope it helps with your spd.
thank you, fingers crossed! xx
Boo hiss!! SPD sucks 🙁 I’ve been fortunate that apart from the odd back ache which is usually my own fault for slouching or trying to sit too far up straight I’ve been okay. I had quite a few people recommend to me to go swimming but my swimming costume didn’t fit great before I was pregnant now I’d struggled to get it on I think lol. I have however falling in love with baths so have more baths in a week than I think I’ve had in a very long time (I think our water bill might be a little bit high…..oops!). Oh well first pregnancy I can always buy a maternity swimming costume second time round as we’ll have a lot of the things we need already. Thank you for your comment over on my blog 🙂 #MMWBH
Thanks it is rubbish! I bought a costume with my first pregnancy but the SPD got so bad that I was advised not to swim as my pelvis was too unstable, so I am very glad to be getting the use out of it now, it felt like a real wasted purchase at the time! Baths are lovely though so keep enjoying those 🙂 xx
I think it’s really good you’re doing the water yoga. I’ve done yoga this time too and it’s really helped me relax and take some time for myself. At 39 weeks I’m still apprehensive about the labour though but I think when you’ve been through it twice before that’s going to be the case isn’t it…?! Your yoga will set you up for the rest of your pregnancy and hopefully alleviate some of the symptoms of your SPD. All the best ;o) #blogbumpclub
It is lovely having that time to yourself isn’t it? Actually thats partly what i am enjoying the most i think because it is the one hour a week that is just for me! Fingers crossed it helps and they keep talking about techniques for labour, hopefully I will be able to give them a try! xx
I went to aquanatal/aqua yoga from 16 weeks to 36, absolutely loved it! I only stopped because it was an hour’s round trip for me to get to Peterborough, so all the relaxation was then gone after the drive home! They’re great classes though xx
Oh gosh i can imagine it would take a bit of relaxation out of it! I am loving the classes, nice to have a bit of relaxation time every week and fingers crossed it will help with the SPD xx
What a lovely little bump 🙂 Sorry to hear about the SPD. I’ve never been to an aqua natal yoga class but it does sound great! #blogbumpclub
aw thank you 🙂 Thank you, the classes are great if you see any near you 🙂 xx
Aquanatal Yoga sounds GREAT! I do a regular Aquanatal once a week which I love – just as much for the opportunity to chat with other pregnant women and make new friends as for the exercise. And I’ve just started an utterly blissful Antenatal Yoga class on another evening which is sheer heaven. I pretty much float out of there feeling a GAZILLION times better than when I walked in. They’re the two times in the week I can fully indulge in being pregnant and connect with the bump properly away from the constant hectic nature of daily life as a busy working mum! Thank you for linking up your lovely post to #BlogBumpClub. xx
I know exactly what you mean about indulging in being pregnant and having time for yourself, I’ve only been twice but so far I feel sooo much better afterwards so I am really glad i have signed up! xx
I loved the few Aquanatal classes I went to – it was another hot summer and the water was just bliss! Unfortunately they aren’t running them anymore which is a shame but I’m looking forward to being able to go swimming once my maternity leave starts!
Aw that is a shame! I bet the swimming will be lovely for you though! 🙂 xx
I did aquanatal last time but this time the classes aren’t really near me (the pool they were at is being used for the Commonwealth Games) so I have to figure out if it is worth the schlep!
★Transatlantic Blonde★
oh wow that is a shame! Hmm tricky if you are going to relax there and then have to get all the way home again! xx
I can’t tell you how much I love the sound of aqua natal yoga! Never heard of it before but am madly googling now! Your bump is gorgeous too. Weeks are flying by now, eh? x x x
It is really nice and actually I enjoyed my second week even more, probably as I was feeling more relaxed and knew what to expect. Thanks lovely, I know it’s crazy how fast the time is flying now! xx
Spd is certainly horrible, hugs to you!
Must say I’ve never done aqua natal but seems interesting.
Thank you it is not very fun at the moment! It is really nice actually and I am enjoying it more and more which is good 🙂 xx
I hope it’s still going well and I think you should have shown us a photo of your legs!! 🙂 #thethemegame
I am really enjoying it but haha no chance, horrible things! 😉 xx
I tried swimming but never aqua natal classes. I am glad it’s helped a bit an was enjoy able. I hope rest of pregnancy goes smoothly x #thethemegames
Thanks, it is lovely and I am really enjoying it 🙂 xx
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