Tag Archives: holly beck obermeyer

baby bump

Little Kicker

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bumping 4 mos

 

A few days ago I began my 18th week of pregnancy. It was early morning, about 5am. The howler monkeys were loudly celebrating the sunrise in the distance and although we still had another half hour before the coffee smells drifted through the open window, I was awake. For the first time I was sure that I felt the little creature inside me kicking. I gently picked up my husband’s sleepy hand and rested it on my belly so he could feel it too. It was the most awesome moment of our pregnancy so far. As if the baby was joining in with the monkeys in letting us know it was time to get up and greet the day.

 

surfing while pregnant

Surfing at 17 weeks Pregnant

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At 17 weeks pregnant, my belly has started to grow. I definitely feel it when I paddle. I’ve been trying to put more weight on my knees/thighs to take the pressure off my belly, which works pretty well other than that it is now a bit harder to paddle into waves. I’m riding a wider/thicker board and a little slower to my feet, but once I’m up and riding I’m feeling great!

pre-natal care

What’s Wrong With Ultrasounds

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I’m a nerd. I love learning, particularly by reading, and when I take up a new pursuit I put everything into it. I feel like i’ve signed up for a 6-months-long, independent study program with a grueling final exam at the end. Luckily, I have a few trust-worthy lab partners and a lot of enthusiasm to learn. I’m also a cynic. I like to look for holes in arguments and consider the sources. So i’ve been doing a lot of critical thinking.

I recently finished reading a book called The Business of Baby by Jennifer Margulis. The subtitle is “What doctors don’t tell you, what corporations try to sell you, and how to put your pregnancy, childbirth, and baby before their bottom line”.  It was an interesting and informative read, despite the fact that it seemed a bit over the top. The case studies used to prove her points were incredibly extreme and clearly not the norm. The message I took from the book is basically that hospitals are dangerous, doctors DO NOT have your best interest at heart, and even those that are trying to do the right thing and truly care for their patients are handicapped by things like insurance concerns and hospital regulations, or are brainwashed by corporations.
Continue reading What’s Wrong With Ultrasounds →

surfing while pregnant

Surfing at 14 weeks Pregnant

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Now that I’m into the second trimester my energy is back to near-normal levels. I don’t feel sick in the mornings, although I am overly tired in the afternoons. But I am able to surf again without feeling exhausted just from walking down the beach. I’m trying to take it a bit easy and not wrench my core on cutbacks, takeoff on gnarly waves, or attempt turns I’m unlikely to make. Taking it easy is easier when the waves are smaller. A few days ago, we had a nice clean swell and though I was working – coaching ladies on a Surf With Amigas retreat – I was able to sneak in a few waves of my own. We’ll see how long I can keep up this level of surfing….

baby bump

12 weeks and Starting to Show?

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I’m a skinny human. Always have been. When I was a toddler, my mom was always trying to fatten me up. She’d feed me to the bursting point and then insist on “one more bite….” and then she joked that she was glad that the high chair held a full belly full, as everything she had painstakingly put into my mouth came right back up and she had to start all over again! Continue reading 12 weeks and Starting to Show? →

surfing while pregnant

Surfing in the First Trimester

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I’m pregnant, YAY! I’m excited to finally be 12 weeks pregnant and not shy about sharing the news. I’m also excited that i’m finally starting to feel a bit more like myself. I still get really tired in the evenings, but most of the nausea has faded – although it can come back quickly when scrolling through all the previously delicious looking recipe posts on Pinterest! 

backsideup

If you don’t know already, i’m a former professional surfer who now runs Women’s Surf Yoga and Adventure Retreats. Surfing is a huge part of my life. When planning our pregnancy, my husband and I thought about timing. We figured I’d be totally fine to surf at least until the 4th month but that we should be sure to plan the later months of pregnancy and delivery for the low surf season of our business – the often stormy, rainy months of August – October. Fortunately, we got pregnant right on schedule in December which points to an early September due date. Perfect! Continue reading Surfing in the First Trimester →