Grief, Hospice, & Pregnancy: Weeks 16–18

 In this combined pregnancy update for weeks 16–18, I’m sharing a much heavier season of life. My dad was placed on hospice and passed away during these weeks, and navigating grief while pregnant felt surreal and overwhelming. I talk honestly about what it looked like to simply survive during this time, letting exercise go for a while, and how emotional stress can change your relationship with movement and self care. I also share how it felt returning to exercise after time away, the physical symptoms that started popping up this pregnancy that I didn’t experience with my first, including back pain, pelvic floor heaviness, and lightning crotch (WHY does no one prepare us for that name?!). And in the middle of all the heartbreak, there were still beautiful moments too, like seeing baby kick from the outside for the first time. This episode is raw, vulnerable, and a reminder that pregnancy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Life keeps life-ing, and sometimes the goal is simply getting through the day with compassion for yourself.   Want to try Go Guarded? Use my code serena10 at checkout! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian