Week 17 Pregnancy VLOG by Teresa Palmer
What week?
17
How big is the baby?
The size of a pear. Approx 5.2 - 6 inches long (13.2 -15.2cm)
What's something new this week?
This week I felt like I got to have some really nice connection with my daughter. I had a mama’s retreat through Bodhi’s school. It meant 2 nights away, we did Pilates, had a sound bath, I SLEPT IN!! I also drove uninterrupted for 3 hours and got to listen to podcasts. I haven’t ever been away from Forest before, and have only been away from Bodhi twice in his life so this was really the first kid free time I’ve had and the first time I could just focus on baby girl without the other responsibilities of looking after my other babes.
Most challenging moment?
Being away! Haha. It felt very foreign and lonely at night, I am so used to having 3 bodies in the bed with me that I felt a little melancholy before bed, missing them. I slept DEEEPLY though and uninterrupted for the first time in a long time, so I knew it was good for me.
Most exciting moment?
Listening to my true crime podcasts and having a 3 hour drive ahead of me. So rare and totally blissful. I sometimes would switch to listening to Australian Birth Stories though because the true crime podcasts would get too intense and I’d need a break.
This week was also Halloween! It was amazing seeing the boys trick or treating together, Bodhi had his arm around Forest and was leading him from house to house. It was beautiful to see their bond, and also just to watch them in their element! So happy and giddy with excitement. America really knows how to do Halloween. It’s so amazing for the kids, they block off whole streets and there are hundreds of dressed up children running from spooky house to spooky house trick-or-treating. What a blast. It was probably the best night of the year for us so far!
Starting weight?
114lbs / 51.7kg
Current weight?
124lbs / 56.2kg (exactly the same weight gain during my pregnancy with Forest at this same point!)
Exercise?
I did a group exercise class called The Shift with my friend and fellow mama Meghan who owns Mind and Motion Pilates. She was on the retreat with us and led all the mummies in an amazing exercise meant to be equal parts meditative & soul searching and equal parts Pilates with aerobics mixed in to it. I LOVED it so much and feel like a new person. I’m going to try to fold this in to my life a lot more. It was probably the most enjoyable exercise class I’ve had in years.
Meals?
My usual staple of smashed avocado, veggie burgers, salads, protein smoothies, daily green juice, daily muffin, crispy Brussels sprouts, veggie quesadillas, lots of pasta and lots of carbs. ALL THE HALLOWEEN CANDY!!
Food aversions?
None (I want ALL the food)
Cravings?
Salty stuff, chocolates, anything really. No major specific cravings, I just love eating right now!
Reflections?
After the retreat, I came home and have never felt more in love with my husband and kids, I just felt so connected with them and happy to be home. Being away for a couple of days was an amazing way to reset and to cultivate self care. With the self care I felt re-energized and it felt amazing coming home to the greatest loves in my life. It just goes to show how important it is to take the time out to be with self, even when it feels so foreign to be focused on ourselves for once. The gift in it is immense. Even if it’s just 1-2 hours a day! Take that bath, go on that hike, read that book, have a massage, go for a swim or head to the Korean spa! Take some important time out for yourself.