Second time around things are always easier….or are they?

Second time around things are always easier….or are they?
May 30, 2018 Nicola
Fit pregnancy inspiration Maeve

Maeve Kenny is a Fitness Lecturer at the University College Dublin; she’s also the founder of Hissy Fit which provides corporate and private wellness courses, including Running Clubs, Pilates and Bootcamps.

She says ‘Being asked to write an article is always a privilege, it gives me an opportunity to reflect on the topic and allows me to share some of my own experiences that will hopefully help or maybe even inspire those who read it.’

maeve for running in pregnancy irish runner magazine

Maeve writes:  ‘Fitness is a huge part of my life. I have always been passionate about training and leading a healthy life. Training is hugely important to me both personally and professionally.’
In August last year Maeve, who already had one child, suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks. She continues, ‘It was a very difficult time and an awful shock. You never think that it will happen to you. After the miscarriage I decided that I needed a new focus and it became a 5km running event with my running club Hissy Fit Runners. This may sound simplistic, but it was the time spent training with amazing people, being outdoors and getting my body moving again which really helped me mentally, and within 6 weeks we were pregnant again! We feel very blessed by how lucky we were but I firmly believe that exercise is one of life’s most natural medicines and it can heal and work wonders.
When I learned I was expecting for the third time I knew my pregnancy fitness regime would be modified to some extent, and this time around it came a lot sooner than my previous pregnancy.
Obviously staying fit is incredibly important to me at all times, so being pregnant is no different.  When I was pregnant with my first child I was so eager to keep going at everything.  I ran and practiced Pilates till I was 8.5 months pregnant – whilst I did feel good most of the time doing it also put me under a lot of pressure to keep it up.  I felt I needed to be an example and prove that I could do everything.
After my little boy was born I returned to training far too early. I didn’t allow my body to rest and heal and I pushed myself to try and get back to my previous fitness level. I wanted to do it all, be the best mum, run a business and be back running Personal Bests but the pressure resulted in Post Natal Depression which I suffered for over a year. This was a very difficult diagnosis to swallow. I never imagined I was someone who would ‘get’ PND? I must have had grandiose ideas of who I was, Post Natal Depression can happen to anyone. Especially as first-time mum’s we are so vulnerable after a baby is born. It’s all new and a major transition in life. We need time to adapt and realise that this little being will change our lives forever.
As difficult as it was, I think it has been a real learning time for me and a very humbling experience.
Moving on from PND the possibility of having another baby was both daunting and scary but also there was an excitement and a yearning to learn from the mistakes I had made last time round.
I knew this pregnancy was going to be very different for me.  Of course I would always strive to keep healthy and fit but instead of allowing my head to dictate my training programs I listened more closely to my body. At just 5 months into the pregnancy I felt that running was no longer comfortable. It pained me to stop and hang up the running shoes so early but I realised that I would not put myself through the same pressure I did before. Instead I decided to research and find alternative exercises to keep me on track.

Teaching and practicing Pilates has been fantastic, however with the growing bump it has its limitations, (my little bub is sitting low and dictating my range of movement) but that’s ok, I am delighted to be able to keep going comfortably without the pressure.
Pilates is one of those fantastic exercise regimes that is gentle and safe for pregnancy. Taking a class with an instructor who is aware of the changes and knows how to look after you and your growing baby will have fantastic benefits.
Regular, gentle stretching, is keeping me mobile and will also really help in the preparation for labour.  There is a lot of focus on the baby generating force and ‘pushing’ it’s way out, however as mother’s we can help this transition by opening up the pelvis and practicing some pre-labour exercises that will help the baby rotate and navigate its way into the world.
Exercising in pregnancy is fantastic, but it’s ok to scale it back and also to rest. Be kind to yourself and conscious that you’re creating a new little person which is amazing! I choose to exercise differently and yet I still feel the benefits. I’ve exchanged running for walking. Gentle Pilates and focusing on the best stretches and exercises for labour.
But however you adapt your exercise routine, it IS important to stay active.  I will still need to keep up with my amazing little toddler AND manage a new born baby, my fit pregnancy will benefit ALL of us!’

Maeve fit pregnancy journey wearing ultimate collection
Maeve in Ultimate collection Maternity Sportswear

Connect with Maeve:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Get the look:

1st Photo: Maeve is wearing our Maternity Exercise Shorts teamed with our High Support Top in Raspberry.
2nd and 3rd Photo: Maeve is wearing both the top and the capris from The Ultimate Collection.