The Pregnant Mother Runner Podcast

Serena Marie RD
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

The Pregnant Mother Runner Diaries is an honest, week-by-week look at running, pregnancy, and motherhood. Hosted by registered dietitian and runner Serena Marie RD, this podcast follows the real-time journey of training, fueling, and navigating the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy while staying connected to running. Each episode shares behind-the-scenes updates on workouts, nutrition, symptoms, mindset shifts, and the realities of balancing motherhood with athletic identity. Expect practical tips, science-backed insights, and candid reflections for runners who are pregnant, postpartum, or simply curious about how women’s bodies adapt through it all. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep running through pregnancy, fuel your body well, and embrace the evolving seasons of motherhood and sport, you’re in the right place. 🏃‍♀️🤰

  1. 2d ago

    Pregnancy Week 37: This Pregnancy Did Not Go How I Expected

    Week 37 and things are getting HEAVY. My belly is huge, I’m uncomfortable, the lightning crotch and Braxton Hicks are happening constantly, and sleep definitely wasn’t great this week. But weirdly? I’ve also been feeling pretty good. This week I hit my highest running mileage in a long time: 15 miles! Hitting double-digit mileage again felt so exciting, especially after a pregnancy where movement looked very different than I expected it to. I’m sharing an update on my latest labs, including my improved hemoglobin, why my blood pressure has been reassuring at my recent appointments, and where things stand with my concerns around preeclampsia. I also talk about some less glamorous pregnancy symptoms, including bleeding gums, my suddenly very carb-heavy cravings, and the general reality of being 37 weeks pregnant and VERY ready to meet this baby. Plus, I’m reflecting on this pregnancy, the movement I was able to do, the expectations I had going into it, and how much I’ve had to redefine what a “fit pregnancy” actually looks like. Business is prepped for postpartum. Baby can come anytime. I am officially READY.   Tired of your clothes not fitting during pregnancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here to get $30 off! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

  2. Sep 29

    Pregnancy Week 36: Baby Is Head Down! + The Emotions of Becoming a Mom of Two

    Week 36 and we are officially getting VERY close. Physically, I’m actually feeling pretty good. The lightning crotch and Braxton Hicks are very real, but I’m so grateful to not be dealing with the constant nausea and exhaustion that followed me through so much of this pregnancy. Running has also been feeling surprisingly good. My mileage is low, but I have completely let go of needing to hit a certain number each week. I’m running when my body wants to run, resting when it wants to rest, and even went climbing this week. Right now, the goal is less about maintaining fitness and more about going into birth feeling as rested, strong, and restored as possible. Emotionally, though, this week hit me. I had this realization that very soon my son won’t be my only child anymore. I’m obviously incredibly excited to meet this baby, but there is also some grief around the end of this chapter where it has just been the three of us. I talk about those feelings, along with some of my anxiety about postpartum and returning to running when I know I’m entering this postpartum period less fit than I was the first time. I also met with my doulas to finalize my birth preferences, shared my birth plan with my midwives, and I’m sharing some of the things I included in it. And BIG NEWS: baby is no longer breech! I also talk more about monitoring my blood pressure and preeclampsia, why I’m prioritizing stress reduction and recovery as birth gets closer, and, on a completely different note, why renting clothes through Nuuly has been one of my favorite pregnancy hacks. The final stretch is officially here.   If you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you can keep strength training safely while protecting your core and pelvic floor, check out the ANDA App. You can get a 7 day free trial and 20% off with my code SERENA Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

  3. Sep 22

    Pregnancy Week 35: Rest Is Training Too

    At 35 weeks pregnant, I’m finally feeling more like myself again. I’m definitely getting more uncomfortable, my belly is getting BIG, and bending down has become an athletic event of its own, but compared to the nausea and sickness I was dealing with earlier in pregnancy, I’m feeling so much better. Running has also been feeling surprisingly good. I ran 7.5 miles this week and have been feeling stronger, while also noticing more cramping and Braxton Hicks as my body gets closer to birth. This week, I’m shifting more of my focus toward labor prep and trying to enter birth as rested and restored as possible. I’m wrapping up maternity leave prep for my business, making extra dinner so I can stock the freezer for postpartum, and being much more intentional about slowing down. I also dive into nervous system regulation, what it actually means, why it was something I practiced regularly before becoming a mom, and how motherhood slowly pushed it to the side. As I get closer to birth, I’m bringing some of those practices back and reminding myself of something athletes often struggle to believe: Rest is training too.   Click here to try Legion Protein Powder for yourself use my code RUNNERGIRL for buy one get one 50% off and free shipping on your first order! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

  4. Sep 15

    Pregnancy Week 34: Baby Is Breech + The Postpartum Reality Is Setting In

    At 34 weeks pregnant, I am officially getting VERY close to meeting this baby, and this week I’m reflecting on how much this pregnancy has changed over the past few months. Physically, I’m actually feeling better. I’m still dealing with occasional nausea and vomiting, but I’ve noticed that eating frequently makes a huge difference, so I’m being really intentional about snacks and bigger meals. My sleep has improved, my energy is coming back a little, and even though I am extremely pregnant and uncomfortable, I feel better than I have in a while. I also got my latest iron labs back. My CRP has improved and my ferritin is still a little lower than I’d ideally like, but it’s moving in a better direction. Movement has been feeling better too. I got in a 4.5-mile run this week that actually felt GOOD, and I’m sharing when and how I’ve been fitting workouts into life lately as my energy has shifted. Then there’s the mental side of getting this close to birth. I’m talking about my worries around postpartum, losing fitness, nursing, returning to running, and figuring out life with two kids. And because pregnancy apparently needed one more plot twist, I found out baby is breech. I’m sharing what I’m currently doing to encourage baby to turn, along with why my doctor is keeping a closer eye on my blood pressure. Plus, my baby sprinkle was this weekend, and it was such a sweet reminder to slow down, celebrate this pregnancy, and spend time with the people I love before everything changes again.   Tired of your clothes not fitting during pregnancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here to get $30 off! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

  5. Sep 8

    Pregnancy Week 33: Running Less, Nesting More & Preparing for Labor

    Pregnancy week 33 and suddenly it feels like we are in CRUNCH TIME. Baby could be here in about a month, and this week has been a mix of surrendering, nesting, and getting everything ready. I’m sharing what I’ve learned from PT and why I’m finally accepting that my body needs me to take things a little easier right now. I’m still squeezing in runs two or three times a week when I can, usually around my son’s naps, but I’m also coming to terms with the fact that this pregnancy and postpartum experience may look very different from my first. I’ve been feeling incredibly tired, short of breath, and dealing with some weird food aversions, which means I have to be extra intentional about eating enough even when I’m not hungry. I talk about how I’m managing meals and blood sugar when my appetite is low, plus the ongoing mystery of my iron, ferritin, and CRP levels after getting another round of labs. And then there’s all the baby prep. I’m sharing what I’m doing and eating to prepare for labor, packing my hospital bag, getting everything organized for my son while we’re at the hospital, and preparing our home for newborn life. My baby sprinkle is this weekend, I went climbing this week, and apparently climbing can help get labor going… so catch me at the climbing gym at 37 weeks trying to politely encourage this baby to make an entrance 😂 It’s officially go time.   If you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you can keep strength training safely while protecting your core and pelvic floor, check out the ANDA App. You can get a 7 day free trial and 20% off with my code SERENA Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

  6. Sep 1

    Pregnancy Week 32: Weaning, Doula Decisions & My First Solo Trip as a Mom

    Week 32 and I’m finally feeling better after being sick, but pregnancy has decided to keep things interesting. The vomiting and food aversions are back, smells are suddenly VERY offensive again, and I’m still feeling pretty tired. This week I’m also talking about getting my iron tested again and why I’m not totally convinced the results reflect what’s really going on after being sick. I’m meeting my doula in person for the first time next week, and I share more about how I chose her. This time around, I realized how much I leaned on intuition. Of course I asked questions and did interviews, but I also paid attention to how I felt talking to each person and whether I could actually picture them supporting me during birth. And I’m getting ready for a pretty big milestone: my first solo trip away since my son was born. I’m heading to a yoga retreat where, for a few days, my only responsibilities are basically… nap, be outside, do yoga, repeat. 🙌 The trip is also part of something much more emotional for me: finishing the weaning process with my first. I share what weaning has looked like over the last few weeks, why it has been harder emotionally than I expected, and why I know I want to be completely done before baby #2 arrives.   Click here to try Legion Protein Powder for yourself use my code RUNNERGIRL for buy one get one 50% off and free shipping on your first order! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

  7. Aug 25

    Pregnancy Week 31: I Haven’t Run in 15 Days… and I’m Okay With It

    We skipped week 30 because I got hit with a pretty brutal cold, and honestly, week 31 has been a lesson in surrender. For a while, I felt like I was forcing consistency with running and lifting because I wanted to keep doing what I had been doing. But I haven’t run in 15 days now, and surprisingly, I’m not stressed about it. Pregnancy is officially in the driver’s seat, and I’m embracing that instead of fighting it. This week, I’m talking about shifting my focus toward hip mobility, pelvic floor work, and movement that actually feels supportive right now. I also share some of the stranger symptoms I’ve been dealing with, including full-body sweats while my feet are somehow freezing, basically no appetite, and having to intentionally remind myself to eat. Baby is moving so much that I can visibly watch my belly shift around, which is equal parts wild and amazing. It hasn’t been a very exciting week from a training perspective because I’ve mostly been sick and resting, but maybe that’s the point. Sometimes the work is letting your body lead.   Tired of your clothes not fitting during pregnancy? Try renting clothes from Nuuly, click here to get $30 off! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

  8. Aug 18

    Pregnancy Week 29: When Your Pregnant Body Says Slow Down

    Week 29 and the reality that I’m actually having another baby is starting to sink in. Nesting has officially begun, baby is moving nonstop, and I’m starting to feel a major shift in what my body needs from me. This week I tried running with the running stroller and my SI joint was NOT a fan. After dealing with a lot of pain afterward, I’ve decided the running stroller is done for the rest of pregnancy. I’m spending more time in PT, scaling back my movement, and setting some new boundaries around exercise as I get deeper into the third trimester. I also talk about coming to terms with the fact that I probably won’t be as fit at the end of this pregnancy as I was during my first pregnancy, and why I’m working on listening to my body instead of chasing a previous version of myself. Plus, I’m officially in that stage of pregnancy where I rarely feel hungry... until I actually start eating and realize I was VERY hungry. I share how I’m navigating low appetite while still making sure I’m eating enough. Finally, I’m talking all about hiring a doula. Finding one felt much harder this pregnancy, so I’m sharing what the process looked like, what mattered to me, and some of the questions I asked while interviewing doulas. If you are pregnant and trying to figure out how you can keep strength training safely while protecting your core and pelvic floor, check out the ANDA App. You can get a 7 day free trial and 20% off with my code SERENA Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @runnergirldietitian

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About

The Pregnant Mother Runner Diaries is an honest, week-by-week look at running, pregnancy, and motherhood. Hosted by registered dietitian and runner Serena Marie RD, this podcast follows the real-time journey of training, fueling, and navigating the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy while staying connected to running. Each episode shares behind-the-scenes updates on workouts, nutrition, symptoms, mindset shifts, and the realities of balancing motherhood with athletic identity. Expect practical tips, science-backed insights, and candid reflections for runners who are pregnant, postpartum, or simply curious about how women’s bodies adapt through it all. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep running through pregnancy, fuel your body well, and embrace the evolving seasons of motherhood and sport, you’re in the right place. 🏃‍♀️🤰

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