The Pregnant Mother Runner Podcast

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.
 
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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!
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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.
 
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Pregnancy week 24 brought plenty of ups and downs. My nausea has started creeping back in, especially when I’m not intentional about eating every few hours, so I’m sharing the easy snacks that have been helping me stay fueled when food does not sound particularly exciting.
I’ve also been extra tired, sick, and navigating new information about my body. I had my labs checked this week and talk about why I believe iron status should be monitored more than once throughout pregnancy, especially for pregnant athletes.
After weeks of resting my back, the aching has started to improve, and I finally got the results of my MRI. I have inflammation around my SI joints and within the bone, which means I need to be thoughtful about how I approach movement for the remainder of pregnancy.
I have been given the yellow light to run, not a full green light. Now I’m working through what that means, reaching out to a physical therapist, and creating a plan that allows me to keep moving without ignoring what my body is telling me.
 
Tired of your clothes not fitting during prengancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here to get $30 off!
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This week, I will finally get my MRI after taking a complete break from running and lifting. While I wait for answers, I’m walking and slowing down.
I also had an emotional pelvic-floor moment when I peed myself after sneezing while holding something heavy. It had never happened before, and it immediately made me worry about what it meant for my pelvic floor and my future as a runner.
The nausea is back, my stomach feels crowded, and almost nothing sounds good to eat. I talk about how I’m relying on cues beyond hunger to remind myself that my body and baby still need consistent nourishment, even when my appetite is nowhere to be found.
I also reflect on my first postpartum experience, when I felt desperate to start moving again as quickly as possible. This time, I feel less pressure to rush postpartum, but I’m still confronting a deeper fear: that I’m running out of time to achieve my running goals.
Resting right now has brought that fear straight to the surface. In this episode, I talk honestly about losing fitness, allowing recovery, and learning that slowing down does not mean my goals are disappearing.
 
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In this week’s pregnancy update, I’m combining weeks 21 and 22 and sharing what it has been like to navigate ongoing lower back and butt pain while pregnant.
After dealing with this pain for about a year and seeing different PTs, I finally booked an appointment with sports medicine, where they brought up the possibility of a sacral stress fracture. Now I’m waiting to get an MRI approved so we can figure out what is actually going on.
I talk about how hard it is to rest when you don’t have answers yet, especially when running is such a big part of how I feel like myself. It has been 17 days since my last run, and I’m processing the grief, frustration, and comparison that comes with that. During my first pregnancy, I ran until my due date, so this experience feels very different.
In this episode, I also talk about comparing myself to other pregnant runners, ordering a belly band to hopefully help with possible SI pain, the excitement of our anatomy scan, ongoing lightning crotch and pelvic heaviness, feeling more tired, nausea creeping back in, and finding a little bit of sanity through deep breathing core exercises.
This is your reminder that taking time off from running, resting, or changing your workouts does not mean you won’t come back. Sometimes the strongest thing we can do is listen, adapt, and let our body tell us what she needs.
 
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

At 20 weeks pregnant, the bump is officially bumpin’ and I’m fully living in pregnancy clothes now. In this episode, I’m sharing how renting maternity clothes through Nuuly has helped my body image by making it easier to dress my changing body in clothes that actually fit and feel cute.
I also talk about how training is going right now: running still feels good, but I am definitely slower. And even when you know slowing down during pregnancy is normal, it can still be mentally hard when your pace doesn’t match what you’re used to seeing.
I also share an update on some mild back pain, what my pelvic floor PT said about it, and how my sugar cravings have improved since I started prioritizing high-protein snacks.
This episode is for the pregnant runner who is navigating body changes, pace changes, craving changes, and trying to keep showing up for herself without expecting her pregnant body to perform like her pre-pregnancy body.
 
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

This week, the belly officially popped and I am feeling very pregnant in the cutest way. Running and workouts are still feeling good and comfortable, but I am definitely slowing down, which is a very normal part of training through pregnancy.
I’m also talking about sugar cravings this week, not from nausea or food aversions this time, but from that very real “I could eat dessert for every meal” kind of vibe. And for pregnant athletes, cravings can sometimes be a helpful cue that we may not be eating enough overall. If you’re running, lifting, growing a human, and trying to get through your day, your energy needs are not exactly giving “light snack and vibes.”
In this episode, I’m sharing why meal planning and prepping can be such a helpful tool for pregnant runners, especially when your appetite, schedule, and energy are all changing. We’ll talk about how to make sure you’re getting enough calories, carbs, protein, and nutrient-dense foods without making eating feel like another full-time job.
I also went to pelvic floor physical therapy this week, so I’m sharing what we talked about, what I’m paying attention to, and why pelvic floor support can be such a game changer for pregnant athletes.
 
Tired of your clothes not fitting during prengancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here to get $30 off!
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

 In this combined pregnancy update for weeks 16–18, I’m sharing a much heavier season of life. My dad was placed on hospice and passed away during these weeks, and navigating grief while pregnant felt surreal and overwhelming. I talk honestly about what it looked like to simply survive during this time, letting exercise go for a while, and how emotional stress can change your relationship with movement and self care.
I also share how it felt returning to exercise after time away, the physical symptoms that started popping up this pregnancy that I didn’t experience with my first, including back pain, pelvic floor heaviness, and lightning crotch (WHY does no one prepare us for that name?!). And in the middle of all the heartbreak, there were still beautiful moments too, like seeing baby kick from the outside for the first time.
This episode is raw, vulnerable, and a reminder that pregnancy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Life keeps life-ing, and sometimes the goal is simply getting through the day with compassion for yourself.
 
Want to try Go Guarded? Use my code serena10 at checkout!
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian