things i am currently considering

April 17, 2012

re-embracing caffeine. ahh, i can’t decide! someone around here is a morning person . . .


and i have to admit i miss that AM lovely jolt. i gave up caffeine due to potential miscarriage risk [even though it’s actually been shown that coffee in moderation is safe, i just didn’t want to wonder “what if!?” in case i ever had a problem]. however, i don’t want annabel to have any sleep problems and similarly wonder if it’s my coffee doing it to her.

plus, it wasn’t that much fun to go through withdrawal during the earliest stages of pregnancy, and yes — it’s less than 2 weeks after delivery, and i’m very sure that i want to have more babies! so i’m leaning on no. but i’d welcome your thoughts/experiences!

a treadmill for our apartment


we’re 12 days out and i’m already itching to run. while i’m going to give things a little bit more time to heal, i’m already trying to figure out how i will reincorporate exercise into my life. for years, fitting in workouts — even during the busiest times — has helped me to feel more energetic, happy, and balanced. while i had to learn moderation over the past year or so, i still think that exercise has an important place in my life — and that i need to make it a priority.

it’s just not going to be the highest priority these days.


that spot has been taken.
but seriously, i think that fitting in activity will be doable and really is a good idea for me. and i think that having a treadmill in our apartment — while a little unconventional — will make this much easier. i’ll be able to take advantage of naptimes, and when josh goes back to working his crazy hours it will be possible for me to get a run in while annabel is still asleep in the mornings. it will also be great for when i am on call — i’ve always hated taking the pager to our apartment gym or bringing it along on an outdoor run.

i still plan on running with annabel outside, but the reality is that weather and her sleep schedule may not allow that to be something i can count on regularly.

so we’ll see! anyone have any recommendations for at-home treadmills? or does my idea sound crazy? of note, our apartment is a giant renovated warehouse and very solidly built, so i don’t see the pounding being an issue for downstairs neighbors. we’d also get a pad and do all possible sound dampening measures.

all right, off to catch up on laundry while this nap continues!

13 Comments

  • Reply Marci March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    we need to become daytime text friends during feedings. for exercise, my husband and i started taking turns going to gym on weekends and i walk with baby during week. also feel like it’s a workout doing everyday activities and just taking care of him!

  • Reply Morgan March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    it’s not crazy. when Aaron was born we got a treadmill for the same reason. it was a great idea. had the monitor right there, could adjust the length of my workout based on his naps, or fit in a second run if my first was short. if you can, go for it.
    also, i drank coffee through most of my pregnancy (except 1st trimester when it grossed me out) and all through nursing. just 1 cup a day. never seemed to have any impact on Aaron. just a little food for thought

  • Reply Sarah M. March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    FWIW, they did a study in Brazil that might help you justify some coffee… 😉
    http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/255103/lifes

  • Reply Sharon March 10, 2019 at 7:19 pm

    Hey Sarah, Annabel looks so adorable! Congrats again…
    BTW, she looks just like Josh in that first picture…
    Personally, I made a commitment to quit coffee forever after I quit just before I got pregnant again. It was nice having that little bit of energy in the AM, but the negatives (mainly, migraines if I even miss my dose by a couple of hours) outweigh the positives for me. I do miss it tho, and decaf is just not the same.
    We got an elliptical machine right after Iris was born for the same reasons as you noted, and it helped both of us lose our baby weight (mike gained 15 lbs last time around!). I would highly recommend it! it was so convenient to just go down to the basement and turn on the monitor and fit in 30-40 min workout while baby was napping. worth every $. I don’t use it currently but only because the morning sickness was kicking my butt and couldn’t even keep any calories down, but now that I am feeling a bit better I am considering going back on…but otherwise i would consider it still being used.

  • Reply Lee Becknell March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    I think getting a treadmill for your apt is a great idea.

  • Reply Jenny March 10, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    Can you just get the luxury coffee? For example order a great espresso when you are at a good coffee bar but skip the daily addiction?

    Go for the threadmill! I absolutely prefer running outdoors, but I still got one last winter. I don’t use it much but sometimes it is the only way to get a run in and then I do use it. Since you acctually like runing on the mill I am sure yours would get plenty of use. Go for it! But remember – you absolutely get what you pay for, so allow yourself to splurge on a good one!

  • Reply Erica March 10, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    When we brought our little guy home, the first thing I wanted was to have morning coffee. I did a lot of reading, even some Pubmed searching, and ultimately I decided I was ok with it. I just have some "half caff" coffee and just one cup. Because I was off coffee for 10 months due to pregnancy, that little bit of caffeine is just enough to shake the morning fog off (especially after sleeping in 2.5 hour increments). I say give it a shot for a few days and if you notice that A is more alert 4-6 hours after you drink it, then you’ll know! http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle

    I had an unmedicated vaginal delivery (+ forceps) and a second degree tear, so I did absolutely nothing for the first two weeks (though I had to try walking to the mailbox … it was a bad idea). At 2 weeks, I went on a one mile walk, then worked up to 2 miles wearing an Ergo baby carrier. At 3 weeks postpartum, I did a hilly 5k walk in an hour pushing the BOB. I’m doing this for a week and hoping at 4 weeks postpartum I can try a short run/walk. Just go with how you feel. I was hoping to wait until I stopped bleeding for a few days in a row. And definitely get a treadmill! We’re planning on it. Then you can do occasional workouts in the house while the baby naps!

  • Reply Courtney March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    We bought a lifespan tr3000 about a year ago. We don’t use it a ton (my son is 4 and in preschool so I run then) but when we do we like it. It’s a good option if you don’t want to spend a ton. Ours is in the basement but when I’m on he first floor I can’t even tell that my husband is on it. Feel free to email me if you want any more info.

  • Reply Trenton42 March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    I drink coffee every morning and it doesn’t seem to bother E. I did drink it while pregnant, though, so she may be used to a little caffeine. I went from 4 cups pre-preg to 1 and that was the best I could do :). I’m planning to try a run at 3wks 4d. DH will be home, so I can hopefully get out for a bit. The weather is so nice now I can’t resist but once the heat kicks in, I’ll be looking into gyms with childcare or a treadmill at home. Leaning toward the treadmill, so I’m looking forward to which treadmill you choose.

  • Reply clairetherd March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    I think I am going to go cold-turkey on the caffeine too, someday.

  • Reply siobhan March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    i did lots of research – but i’m in uruguay now. i’ll give you the name of the one i bought when i get back this weekend. it has a great platform, a fan and speakers. very solid, and folds up easily (which is important for safety reasons) and of course – space..

  • Reply Autumn March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    I haven’t had caffeine in 6 yrs. and I would never go back! I drink a glass of water right away in the morning and that honestly wakes me up.
    We bought a Sole TT8 when our first son was born 5 yrs. ago. Best thing ever. I still run outside too but it’s the best when you have a new baby! (We have three kids now)

  • Reply Allie March 10, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    Sarah:

    I found your blog through KERF and have just been lurking around but I wanted to chime in on this post. I would totally recommend buying a treadmill! I started running again when my son was 2 weeks old (warning…it is a messy undertaking) but it was really hard to work running in around an infant’s schedule. For this reason we bought a treadmill when my son was 4 weeks old & I have loved it. He is 6 now and I have run thousands of miles on that thing! I ran when he napped when he was little, after he went to bed when he got a little older, & now I run at 5:30 a.m. before I get him up for school. It is ridiculously convenient and has allowed me to actually be a more consistent (and therefore faster) runner than I was before I became a mom. So I think it is a great idea. When I was choosing a treadmill I went to the treadmill store (I bought mine in California so I don’t know where one buys such things here in Durham) and ran on all of the ones I was considering. For my purposes I looked only at treadmills that went up above 10 MPH so I could do speed work on them. I ended up with a Pace Master and have loved it.

    I hope that helps, and good luck!

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