I am writing this article a little in advance because at the time of publishing I am either very, very pregnant, or we have welcomed two new Buckman’s into the world. I thought I would jot down some lessons from my pregnancy for anyone going through or planning to go through the same thing.

Lesson 1: Don’t stop moving.
It has been far too easy for me to wake up feeling a bit stiff and sore and vetoing any exercise, but there is a noticeable difference to my pain and discomfort the remainder of the day on the mornings I have compelled myself to exercise compared to the ones I haven’t. The intensity and type of exercise has definitely changed over the course of my pregnancy. I started in the earlier days with regular walks, swimming, strength and reformer Pilates which by the end of the third trimester has now progressed into incorporating basic, gentle stretches and gentle body weight strength exercise and rarely walking much further than a lap of Gallery Walk. The type of exercise I choose to do every day foreshadows my second lesson but ultimately, to manage mid and lower back aches and pelvic pain with fast, dramatic body changes some movement every day has been crucial.
Lesson 2: Listen to your body.
It may sound counterproductive to my point above, but it has been extremely important to learn to listen to my body during pregnancy. This has been somewhat difficult and has involved rallying against my previous and well formed ‘no holds barred’ attitude towards work and exercise. I truly believe working on this mindset in the early days and allowing myself to rest without feeling ‘guilty or lazy’ is a part of what has gotten me far through a twin pregnancy without any major complications. Clarifying and understanding what I know my body is capable of in the moment compared to what I feel it ‘should’ be capable of has been a game changer and a lesson I am not forgetting going forwards.
Lesson 3: Do not compare yourself to others.
A really special part of being at this age is that there are many friends around us who are also having babies. It has been awesome to share the experience with others, however, I have been careful not to default sharing the experience into comparing the experience. Everyone’s experience of pregnancy is very different. It is a time of learning and uncertainty which is why it is amazing to have friends with experience to ask questions of and ask for help from. It has been important to keep this in mind, we are simply sharing the experience. Receiving advice from older generations can be taken with the same attitude, do not compare, simply receive advice as an opportunity to learn.
I feel privileged to have gone into pregnancy with background knowledge and comfort in what to do and what not to do, especially around exercise and movement. Women’s health physiotherapists like Bec, Jacqui and myself are here to help guide you if you are finding it difficult to unpick the ‘should be’ doing to ‘can be’ doing. At the end of the day - remove the expectations from yourself, pregnancy is wild and is an awesome opportunity to appreciate what our bodies can do.