At 35 weeks pregnant, I’m finally feeling more like myself again. I’m definitely getting more uncomfortable, my belly is getting BIG, and bending down has become an athletic event of its own, but compared to the nausea and sickness I was dealing with earlier in pregnancy, I’m feeling so much better.

Running has also been feeling surprisingly good. I ran 7.5 miles this week and have been feeling stronger, while also noticing more cramping and Braxton Hicks as my body gets closer to birth.

This week, I’m shifting more of my focus toward labor prep and trying to enter birth as rested and restored as possible. I’m wrapping up maternity leave prep for my business, making extra dinner so I can stock the freezer for postpartum, and being much more intentional about slowing down.

I also dive into nervous system regulation, what it actually means, why it was something I practiced regularly before becoming a mom, and how motherhood slowly pushed it to the side. As I get closer to birth, I’m bringing some of those practices back and reminding myself of something athletes often struggle to believe:

Rest is training too.

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At 34 weeks pregnant, I am officially getting VERY close to meeting this baby, and this week I’m reflecting on how much this pregnancy has changed over the past few months.

Physically, I’m actually feeling better. I’m still dealing with occasional nausea and vomiting, but I’ve noticed that eating frequently makes a huge difference, so I’m being really intentional about snacks and bigger meals. My sleep has improved, my energy is coming back a little, and even though I am extremely pregnant and uncomfortable, I feel better than I have in a while.

I also got my latest iron labs back. My CRP has improved and my ferritin is still a little lower than I’d ideally like, but it’s moving in a better direction.

Movement has been feeling better too. I got in a 4.5-mile run this week that actually felt GOOD, and I’m sharing when and how I’ve been fitting workouts into life lately as my energy has shifted.

Then there’s the mental side of getting this close to birth. I’m talking about my worries around postpartum, losing fitness, nursing, returning to running, and figuring out life with two kids.

And because pregnancy apparently needed one more plot twist, I found out baby is breech. I’m sharing what I’m currently doing to encourage baby to turn, along with why my doctor is keeping a closer eye on my blood pressure.

Plus, my baby sprinkle was this weekend, and it was such a sweet reminder to slow down, celebrate this pregnancy, and spend time with the people I love before everything changes again.

Tired of your clothes not fitting during pregnancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here to get $30 off!

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Pregnancy week 33 and suddenly it feels like we are in CRUNCH TIME. Baby could be here in about a month, and this week has been a mix of surrendering, nesting, and getting everything ready.

I’m sharing what I’ve learned from PT and why I’m finally accepting that my body needs me to take things a little easier right now. I’m still squeezing in runs two or three times a week when I can, usually around my son’s naps, but I’m also coming to terms with the fact that this pregnancy and postpartum experience may look very different from my first.

I’ve been feeling incredibly tired, short of breath, and dealing with some weird food aversions, which means I have to be extra intentional about eating enough even when I’m not hungry. I talk about how I’m managing meals and blood sugar when my appetite is low, plus the ongoing mystery of my iron, ferritin, and CRP levels after getting another round of labs.

And then there’s all the baby prep. I’m sharing what I’m doing and eating to prepare for labor, packing my hospital bag, getting everything organized for my son while we’re at the hospital, and preparing our home for newborn life.

My baby sprinkle is this weekend, I went climbing this week, and apparently climbing can help get labor going… so catch me at the climbing gym at 37 weeks trying to politely encourage this baby to make an entrance 😂

It’s officially go time.

If you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you can keep strength training safely while protecting your core and pelvic floor, check out the ANDA App. You can get a 7 day free trial and 20% off with my code SERENA

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

Week 32 and I’m finally feeling better after being sick, but pregnancy has decided to keep things interesting. The vomiting and food aversions are back, smells are suddenly VERY offensive again, and I’m still feeling pretty tired.

This week I’m also talking about getting my iron tested again and why I’m not totally convinced the results reflect what’s really going on after being sick.

I’m meeting my doula in person for the first time next week, and I share more about how I chose her. This time around, I realized how much I leaned on intuition. Of course I asked questions and did interviews, but I also paid attention to how I felt talking to each person and whether I could actually picture them supporting me during birth.

And I’m getting ready for a pretty big milestone: my first solo trip away since my son was born. I’m heading to a yoga retreat where, for a few days, my only responsibilities are basically… nap, be outside, do yoga, repeat. 🙌

The trip is also part of something much more emotional for me: finishing the weaning process with my first. I share what weaning has looked like over the last few weeks, why it has been harder emotionally than I expected, and why I know I want to be completely done before baby #2 arrives.

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We skipped week 30 because I got hit with a pretty brutal cold, and honestly, week 31 has been a lesson in surrender.

For a while, I felt like I was forcing consistency with running and lifting because I wanted to keep doing what I had been doing. But I haven’t run in 15 days now, and surprisingly, I’m not stressed about it. Pregnancy is officially in the driver’s seat, and I’m embracing that instead of fighting it.

This week, I’m talking about shifting my focus toward hip mobility, pelvic floor work, and movement that actually feels supportive right now. I also share some of the stranger symptoms I’ve been dealing with, including full-body sweats while my feet are somehow freezing, basically no appetite, and having to intentionally remind myself to eat.

Baby is moving so much that I can visibly watch my belly shift around, which is equal parts wild and amazing.

It hasn’t been a very exciting week from a training perspective because I’ve mostly been sick and resting, but maybe that’s the point. Sometimes the work is letting your body lead.

Tired of your clothes not fitting during pregnancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here to get $30 off!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

Week 29 and the reality that I’m actually having another baby is starting to sink in. Nesting has officially begun, baby is moving nonstop, and I’m starting to feel a major shift in what my body needs from me.

This week I tried running with the running stroller and my SI joint was NOT a fan. After dealing with a lot of pain afterward, I’ve decided the running stroller is done for the rest of pregnancy. I’m spending more time in PT, scaling back my movement, and setting some new boundaries around exercise as I get deeper into the third trimester.

I also talk about coming to terms with the fact that I probably won’t be as fit at the end of this pregnancy as I was during my first pregnancy, and why I’m working on listening to my body instead of chasing a previous version of myself.

Plus, I’m officially in that stage of pregnancy where I rarely feel hungry... until I actually start eating and realize I was VERY hungry. I share how I’m navigating low appetite while still making sure I’m eating enough.

Finally, I’m talking all about hiring a doula. Finding one felt much harder this pregnancy, so I’m sharing what the process looked like, what mattered to me, and some of the questions I asked while interviewing doulas.

If you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you can keep strength training safely while protecting your core and pelvic floor, check out the ANDA App. You can get a 7 day free trial and 20% off with my code SERENA

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

I officially made it to the third trimester, and baby is making their presence known with nonstop kicks!

In this week’s pregnancy update, I’m sharing what week 28 has looked like, including pregnancy insomnia, ongoing fatigue, reflux, and the complicated feeling that my body does not completely feel like my own right now. I’m still running, but I’ve reduced my mileage to support my changing body and continue taking care of my SI joint. I also share an update on taking iron supplements every other day to address my iron deficiency.

I also dive into the gestational diabetes screening test: what it is, why it is performed, and why passing or not passing is not simply a reflection of how “healthy” you are or what you ate during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is influenced heavily by pregnancy hormones and placental changes, and much of that is outside of our control.

Finally, I share practical, nonrestrictive nutrition strategies that can help support more balanced blood sugar if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, without blaming, shaming, or fearing carbohydrates.

Click here to try Legion Protein Powder for yourself use my code RUNNERGIRL for buy one get one 50% off and free shipping on your first order!

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It’s the final week of the second trimester, and things finally feel like they are calming down a little… even though I know the third-trimester countdown is about to begin.

This week, I’m sharing updates on reflux, fatigue, changing hunger cues, and the results of my latest bloodwork. My iron, ferritin, and hemoglobin are all on the lower side, and I talk about the symptoms that made me feel like something was off, why I pushed to have my levels checked, and the supplements I’m taking to help correct the deficiency before repeating my labs in four weeks.

We also talk about the importance of advocating for yourself during pregnancy, especially when your body is telling you that something is not quite right.

On the movement front, my SI joint pain is continuing to improve with physical therapy. I’m still running, but I’m keeping the mileage lower and trying to work with my body instead of constantly asking it for more.

I also share more about switching providers, how different it feels to be cared for by a practice where I feel safe and listened to, hiring a doula, and beginning the very long list of everything that needs to happen before this baby arrives.

Click here for the iron supplement I discuss in the podcast.

Tired of your clothes not fitting during pregnancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here to get $30 off!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

I’m almost in the third trimester, and somehow this pregnancy is flying by while also feeling very, very real.

This week, I’m feeling tired, run down, a little moody, and absolutely ravenous. I finally got my blood work done and am waiting for the results, while also navigating another flare-up of SI joint pain. I’ve been running and working out a little more, but the pain has me wondering whether I pushed too hard. I took a few rest days and am heading back to physical therapy to hopefully calm things down.

I also share the emotional experience of weaning my toddler from breastfeeding and how complicated it feels to close that chapter of our relationship.

Then, I continue the conversation about changing my birth plan after learning that the place where I delivered my first baby is closing. I thought I had found a practice that offered the birth experience I wanted, including the option to labor and give birth in a tub, but several red flags during my first two appointments left me questioning whether I had made the right choice.

Sometimes trusting your body means resting. Sometimes trusting yourself means admitting that a choice no longer feels right. I’ll pick the birth-center saga back up in the next episode.

If you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you can keep strength training safely while protecting your core and pelvic floor, check out the ANDA App. You can get a 7 day free trial and 20% off with my code SERENA

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

This week, pregnancy started to feel very real.

I’m thinking more about how much life is going to change, how difficult it is to plan for the unknown, and how emotional it feels to prepare for another baby while still living your current life.

Physically, I’ve been extremely tired, dealing with nausea on and off, and experiencing intense pressure around my left ear and jaw that may be pregnancy-related TMJ pain. I still need to get my labs checked, its just hard to get things scheduled with a toddler and all the other appointments I have right now.

There was also some encouraging news this week. I met with a physical therapist who helped release the tightness and pain around my SI joint, and I was able to complete three short runs. Two caused no pain afterward, and the discomfort after the third improved quickly with PT. Between physical therapy and wearing a support belt, I’m feeling hopeful that short runs may remain part of my pregnancy.

I also talk about why movement still matters to me on the days when I feel tired and run down. The workout may be incredibly short, but having that time to connect with my pregnant body can completely change the quality of my day and improve my mood.

Finally, I share an unexpected change to my birth plans. The place where I delivered my first baby is closing before I give birth, and I’m grieving the loss of returning to a place that meant so much to me.

Tune in next week to hear what I decide to do.

Click here to try Legion Protein Powder for yourself use my code RUNNERGIRL for buy one get one 50% off and free shipping on your first order!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian