Oh being pregnant… the wonderful time when everyone offers unwanted advice and then tells you that you are wrong if you are brave enough to mention your birth plans. I am not a doctor, midwife or medical professional just a nutrition consultant who wants to share where I have been. I certainly do not claim to have all of the answers, but I thought I would share what I have learned thus far.
I am only going to dive into the first trimester (weeks 1-13.) Currently I am 17.5 weeks, I can’t wait to share my second trimester with you because the second trimester has been dramatically different than the first trimester was!
I’m not going to write a ton about nutrition during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, eat real food. Even if this is not something you would on a regular basis, suck it up, and do it for 9 months. When it comes to supplementation, please purchase them from a Holistic Practitioner, Functional Medicine Practitioner, Naturopath, Nutrition Consultant or a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. When I found out I was pregnant, I went to my former OBGYN to have her confirm my pregnancy. She sent me home with prenatal vitamins that had blue #1 and red #1 food coloring in them! If you’re assuming I never went back, you are correct! I recommend the brand Pure Synergy, PureNatal. Because, well they are pure! Free of gluten, dairy, additives and GMOs. I am also taking a DHA-EPA Omega 3 combination, this product is called Omega 950 from NuMedica. Fun fact, you should not burp up fish oil! If you are, it is because you are not absorbing it properly or you may need to take a higher quality brand. Probiotics are important, however be sure to take the right ones! I am still battling SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) which is untreatable during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. I am taking Sibiotica by Apex Energetics. This blend of Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium breve and Lactobacillus plantarum is specifically made for those individuals with SIBO. I am also taking a Vitamin E product called Deltanol, by Premier Research Labs. Due to gaining 20lbs in less than 12 weeks, I could feel the strain on my cardiovascular system and circulatory system. I was having chest pains and leg pain just from walking to the mailbox and back. Less than a week after taking the Vitamin E the pain stopped and has not come back! I am also taking D3 Serum by PRL as well as their Digest (digestive enzymes,) HCL and HCL Activator. At any point that I start to feel any burping or acid reflux I am going to empty half of the capsule. These supplements were recommended to me by my Celiac Medical Doctor and my boss, Christine Andrew who is a Certified Nutrition Consultant and Functional Medicine Practitioner. I do not recommend taking any supplements without proper testing. All of these supplements are available at Center for Holistic Health and Nutrition.
As I mentioned before, I gained 20lbs in less than 12 weeks! As someone who never gained weight after puberty or during college, this was a huge (lol) shock to my body! I was very tired during my first trimester, was unable to exercise, (other than light walking) and was just straight up lazy! I never dealt with any morning sickness. However just the thought, let alone the smell of fish made me want to vomit after about the seventh week. Around the same time I also had to stop eating pork! (So sad, I know!) Pork actually tasted fishy, go figure right?! I was so bummed when I had to cancel my Paleo Box from Napa Grass Farmer. Meaning no more bacon or ground pork for breakfast!
The last thing I want to touch on is the most important thing I have learned during my pregnancy. All baby clothes, bedding, blankets, car seats, strollers etc. are sprayed with FIRE RETARDANT! Unless you are buying organic cotton, and specifically shopping for items that are not sprayed! (Eco Chic in Vacaville is a great place to start!) At first, this was very daunting because most companies do not disclose in their amazon description if their product has been sprayed. If you are buying products in person, it was say on the tag connected to the garment or item if it has been sprayed. I have contacted a couple companies, via email or on the phone, and they have all been great about disclosing if they have sprayed their products with fire retardant.
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