111: Everything you need to know about being pregnant with PCOS: Learnings from my third trimester

How have we made it to my third trimester learnings podcast already?!

When I first found out I was pregnant I thought “well, this is going to be a looooong road” and sure it has been 9 months almost but quite honestly, I think it’s gone so quickly.

And as you’re listening to this, I’d have already given birth and be with my lovely little girl — crazy!

Everyone says that the “honeymoon period” is the second trimester and then you start to feel like very big, slow, flaming hot trash from there on out. But I can pretty confidently say that I’ve felt even better in my third trimester (thankfully). I feel almost completely normal, just with a basketball shoved up my top!

The main thing I found was I had a lot of people (who weren’t my OB, GP and midwife) telling me what I can and can’t do and what I should and shouldn’t be doing. I’m sure they all meant well (even the strangers who came up to me to tell me I shouldn’t be eating my poké bowl 😂 — listen to my ‘pregnancy rules I’m breaking episode for more on that!).

But at the end of the day, I know my body best and it made me realise, everyone has different experiences.

Who knows, if I’m lucky enough to have another baby in the future, I could spend my next pregnancy. I’ll be on the couch with my head over the loo for several months!

I got so much wonderful feedback from those expecting and enquiring minds of those that aren’t (or aren’t planning to have children) on my first and second trimester learning episodes so of course I couldn’t leave out the third trimester! And for those of you who are curious — yes I will be releasing a podcast all about preparing for birth and postpartum, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

This episode is for you if:

You’re currently pregnant or trying to conceive with PCOS
You have insulin resistance
The term “eat for two” has been thrown around and you’re wondering if there’s any truth in that
You want to know how PCOS can affect pregnancy and breastfeeding
You’re curious as to whether PCOS gets better postpartum
“Mom brain” is getting to you!
You’re wondering if you should still be worried about managing your insulin after passing your gestational diabetes test
You want to know how pregnancy affects insulin resistance and nutrient levels

Some things we cover in this episode:

Sugar cravings and insulin in the third trimester
Why you shouldn’t stop being vigilant about keeping your insulin under control after you’ve passed your gestational diabetes test
Omega 3s and pregnancy
Do we need to “eat for two”?
Nutrient levels in your third trimester — and what’s different in PCOS
Protein and pregnancy
What my exercise regime is looking like in my third trimester
How I’m feeling about birth, postpartum and breastfeeding
How PCOS affects breastfeeding
Swelling and stretchmarks
“Mom brain”