WOW! Time flies.
It’s hard to believe that little face you see there is 10 years ago. I think the whole time of being pregnant felt longer in the last couple of months than the last 10 years have. Where does time go…
I was one of those girls who had a great pregnancy – honestly couldn’t complain. I would not have known I was pregnant except that my tummy started to grow…and not til around 6 months. I was running, biking, swimming, doing prenatal yoga, and eating lots of steak and chocolate. Yes, chocolate! Ate it every day.
The delivery… ah, well, that’s another story. But hey, I couldn’t believe that a human body could endure anything like that and be up walking around nibbling donuts (yes, I DESERVED them) the next day. I was a little wobbly and more tired than I thought literally possible, but everything turned out amazing! So did my baby girl. She’s still amazing!
I was just getting into my nutrition studies when I became pregnant, so it was all new to me. I figured if I practiced what I was learning, then my baby would have a great start. She did. And I’m eternally grateful that I began to understand the importance of good nutrition before, during and after pregnancy. It can be hard… especially if you’re one of the women who can experience nausea, pregnancy sickness, high blood pressure, diabetes… and other complications. It’s hard to know what to eat, and even harder if everything makes you gag!
Craving steak was a clue to my need for more protein, which is actually still the same today. I can just “feel” when my body needs a good chunk of beef. Excellent sources of lean protein during pregnancy are chicken, turkey, lean-lean beef, grains like oats, wild rice, nuts and seeds (if you can have them), eggs, yogurt and hook caught wild tuna and salmon. I don’t like too much fish in there… most of it contains a lot of toxins, but get yourself a good catch from a fisherman who stood in hip waders somewhere up near Alaska… it should be OK for a treat. Proteins help with baby’s muscle development.
Good carbs like oats (again), spelt, brown and wild rice, quinoa, fruits and veggies will keep your blood sugar steady but not send it to the moon! Don’t skip meals and graze throughout the day (eat 5-6 mini meals) which will help keep the baby weight off. I actually gained 5 pounds in total. SHUT UP Erin!! But, I did. Eating for 2 is a myth… you’re eating to nourish yourself and your baby. Now, 5 pounds is not typical – as most women will gain anywhere from 20-35 pounds and this is OK…we are all different. Some women can even lose weight during pregnancy – like my sister, who actually LOST 12 pounds by her 9th month and had a nearly 10 pound baby. I think pregnancy in our family is generally non-typical. Good carbs provide adequate fuel in the form of glucose and help develop baby’s brain.
FATS are good – the right ones. Choosing nuts and seeds, avocados, coconut oil and butter and fatty organic sources of cold water fish – or just take a good quality fish oil supplement from a glass, dark bottle (I don’t eat anything that swims really) are excellent sources of good fats and help with baby’s brain development and reduce inflammation in Mom.
Pregnancy can be a tough time to know what is nutritionally best for you and baby.
I can help. I won’t promise you’ll only gain 5 pounds, but I’ll work with you for your best pregnancy ever!
