I’m so thrilled (and to be honest, nervous too!) to share the big news that my husband Jon and I are expecting our first baby! I’ve trained so many women (over 10,000 at this point!) throughout their pregnancies but it still feels absolutely surreal to be experiencing it for myself.
Jon and I (that’s us in the photo up there) got married in October and decided we wanted to try for kids pretty quickly. When we found out we were expecting in late Spring we were both quickly filled with much excitement—and fear! I was surprised by how nervous I felt so quickly. I think it was in part due to my work with all of my clients– part of seeing thousands of pregnancies means that I’ve seen up close that a positive pregnancy test does not mean a healthy, full term pregnancy. I’ve seen what can happen and go wrong, and was pretty wary about getting too excited early on. However the weeks have passed and the test results have come back with good news, and Jon and I are starting to think that this is probably happening. We were so excited to find out a few weeks ago that we are expecting a boy in late December!
Over the next 6 months I’ll be writing here weekly about my experiences- not just in terms of pregnancy and exercise (though I will be writing a lot about that), but also the big picture stuff too—all the amazing (and crazy, and sometimes hard) things that I’m experiencing.
I’ll admit up front that this hasn’t been a roses and butterflies, all easy-happy pregnancy—it’s been a lot tougher than I expected. It’s also been more surreal than I ever expected to be feeling the things I’ve educated so many women about (a real thought I had as I rolled over at 3am last night—“holy cow, round ligament pain is way worse than I expected!”) I’ll be honest- as an expert in the field I was sure I’d be rolling with the pregnancy punches easily, but that hasn’t been the case. Even knowing all the answers, I’ve felt overwhelmed and lost at times. I’ll be sharing about these feelings in my posts in the coming weeks too.
Please share in the comments about what topics you’d like to hear about—and any words of advice you might have! I’ve spent the last 10 years telling pregnant women what to do (wall sits anyone??), now the tables have turned, and I’d love to hear from you about what advice you wish you’d been given. I’m excited to share this journey with you!
-Kathleen Donahoe
Co-Owner, Oh Baby! Fitness
Kathleen, this is tovi. I haven’t seen you in awhile but I have two little boys now and you helped keep me fit during and after both pregnancies. Just wanted to say a huge congratulations! So happy to hear your news. Guess you’ve had to change up your intro speech at the start of each class?! Best wishes for your pregnancy!
Kathleen, I’m thrilled for you and your husband! December Boys are amazing :). Best wishes for a happy, healthy pregnancy and baby!
Erin
Congratulations!!!!!!
I, too, got married in October (and got pregnant in October!) and have been taking Veronica’s Oh Baby! yoga class at Cafe of Life for the past 26 weeks! I was even in the training video you guys filmed during one of our classes, which was a lot of fun!
I can’t express how much the class has meant to me in terms of maintaining physical and mental conditioning (I was a Bikram yogi before pregnancy!); I’m hoping to make it to my last class at 39.4 weeks on Wednesday! But the best part has been the women I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made. Being a recent transplant to Atlanta, far from any family, friends, or support system, the Oh Baby Yoga mamas have become our own little network of sharing stories, fears, tips, questions and ideas about pregnancy and motherhood. I think it would be so much lonelier and more daunting of a journey without this critical piece of the puzzle. As one of the women in my class has quoted: ‘It just takes one woman to have a baby, but it takes a village to raise a child.” Best of luck on your adventure and enjoy the wild ride!
Congratulations Kathleen! So very excited for you! David is 13 weeks old and as an experienced mother (ha!), I can attest that all the pains, fear, sleepless nights and heartburn are worth it. I swear that if anyone talked about the reality of pregnancy during sex ed in high school, the teen pregnancy rate would be MUCH lower! But you can make it through! Look forward to reading the blog.
Katheeeeeen! Billy and I are so pleased to hear your lovely news! Boys are soooo fab- fun, loving and cuddly 🙂 Hoping to find the funds to join your classes again soon. Lots of love, Amy xxx
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
Many many congrats!! You probably don’t remember me but you helped me during both of my pregnancies especially my first bc I was on bed rest most of my second. Your classes were so much fun ! I am thrilled for you. December is a wonderful time to have a baby! Best wishes for a healthy and easy pregnancy;)
Ohmygooooodnessa hooray!!!! Your were such a HUGE part of my first pregnancy, can’t wait to follow your journey to the “Motherland”!!! You are going to be an amazing Mommy & Mommy-to-be, enjoy it all – even the crazy/weird/uncomfortable stuff, it makes for good stories :):):).
xoxoxo
Meg
Congratulations! How exciting! It truly is the most surreal experience. Our little ones will be just a few months apart, can’t wait for play dates! Yay!
Wonderful news Kathleen!!! Congratulations and Welcome to the mommy club! As you will soon discover, there’s nothing more rewarding than being a mother. Best wishes and prayers for a healthy and happy pregnancy!!!!!
Taker care!
:Lakisha Cheek
Pilates Personal Trainer
Yes!!!!!! Whoooo-HOO!!! oh YEAH!!!! Tim, Jessie, and I send our congratulations!! If you ever feel the need to sit down and discuss the mental side of pregnancy, just let me know. I wasn’t all sunshine and roses and happy trees, even though physically all was wonderful. Being a mom is just super awesome and way hard and fabulous and crazy times.
Super duper excited for you guys! Congrats!!!
Congrats Kathleen! You are going to be a great mommy. Enjoy the journey and hopefully we will see you soon.
Congratulations! You were an amazing instructor and the best thing you taught me was how to push. Follow your own instructions – 15 mins and three pushes – all thanks to your class. Good luck!!
CONGRATULATIONS Kathleen and Jon! That is SO exciting! Kathleen – you will make a fantastic mother!
Wishing you all the best from Pittsburgh,
Much love,
Heather
CONGRATULATIONS. I never got around to taking a class at Oh Baby! But I am on the email list and am really excited for you! The fear is normal and the experience is breathtaking and beautiful! 🙂
Kathleen, you will be a wonderful mama!!! You’ve already got the great spirit, spunk and energy that it takes to mother. That’s 90% of the job. Everything else, you can Google 🙂 Congrats, and happiness to you, your husband and your little man. Jacquie & the Twinbots
Oh Kathleen! What amazing news! I’m so happy for your and your husband. You already have such an knack for bringing such incredible wisdom, humor, and help to pregnant women. I know this will make you an absolute guru!!! I know you are aware that you have touched so many of our lives and given us the gift of healthy pregnancies and deliveries. I couldn’t be more thrilled for you and I hope you’ll post pictures as you grow!!! All my love and best wishes, Heidi Einhorn
Congratulations Kathleen and Jon! How exciting! Parenthood is an awesome experience. I know you all will have the added bonus of support from all the moms you’ve helped over the years. We’re really excited for you all!
Kathleen,
I am beyond thrilled for you! Congratulations!!!! All I can tell you is that you will read a lot of books and get a lot of unsolicited advice on how to’s etc. Take little bit and pieces that make sense to you and do what is right for you and your family and do not worry about what anyone else says. All children are different and require different things at different times. Take care of yourself and enjoy it. Babies are awesome and grow up so quickly.
Congratulations again,
Teresa
Kathleen!
So excited for you! You were so supportive with exercise during my first pregnancy, after my second and gave me great advice about my post partum issues. Yes, it is definitely different being the pregnant one instead of the teacher,but you will do great! You have a huge heart and will be a wonderful mom! Blessings to you and Jon…
Kathleen! What exciting news! I am so happy for you and excited to read about your pregnancy journey! Being a mom has been such an incredible experience–you’re going to love it and it is all definitely worth it! Hang in there and keep up the great work!
Congratulations Kathleen! This is very exciting news and very exciting times. I’m so glad that you’ve decided to share your experiences with us. I will be following your journey and I invite you to check out my blog, Material Mayhem Entertainment. It’s a blog dedicated to all things woman and I am just one of several female writers. Most of my posts are about my thoughts, feelings, and experiences as a new mommy. You can check out my posts at http://materialmayheminc.org/author/mvmurray1/ and I encourage you to browse around at some of the other posts too! Congratulations again, I’m so happy for you and your husband.
IF you move back to Tricities, you’d be set for babysitters!!! I’m so happy for you both. I know you will be a great mom!
Kathleen-
We are so excited for you and Jon! Both are wonderful and we can’t wait to follow your pregnancy and the arrival of your little one. You helped us both so much with our pregnancies. I hope that the rest of your’s goes wonderfully. (maybe a great pregnancy like Summer’s with an good delivery like mine! 🙂 ) Just remember all the wonderful advice you have given and joy you have brought to many exercising moms!
Congrats!
Rachael and Summer Clayton (and Seth and Rory too!)