Pregnancy Nutrition Tips {And Week 17 Photo!}
Happy Friday! 🙂 I’m excited for the weekend, aren’t you? I thought I would share a little update about my pregnancy as well as some pregnancy nutrition tips that I’m so geeky-passionate about.
I’m now 18 weeks, but this photo is the most recent. I don’t think too much has changed in the last week. 😉
Compared to my pregnancy with Ridley, which left me with pregnancy & birth-PTSD {not kidding!}, this pregnancy has been incredibly easy. I had all-day sickness for the first 4 months, but it has mostly subsided now. Yay!
You may remember that I gained 70 pounds with Ridley. Yowza! I’m determined not to gain that much this time. A healthy 35-40 pound weight gain from eating the right things is okay in my book. 🙂 These tips are working for me and I hope they are helpful to you!
Real Food
I wholeheartedly believe that the difficulties I had with my Ridley pregnancy were directly tied to what I was putting in my mouth. I was working full-time and we were eating out a lot…and I mean, a lot. Over the last few years, I’ve committed to learning more about good nutrition {not the government’s food pyramid} and healthful eating. We definitely are what we eat and obviously there is a big problem in our country. Am I the only one who thinks about this?
We eat at home 90% of the time with pastured meats, organic dairy, fruits and vegetables, as well as some grains that we can tolerate. We love white spelt, gluten-free oats and Rudi’s gluten-free multigrain bread. The only sweeteners that we buy are raw sugar and honey…and these amazing soy-free chocolate chips for a special treat. 🙂
My midwife highly recommends The Brewer Diet. I agree with most of the diet, but I disagree with both the whole grain and soy recommendations. We try to limit whole grains and we avoid soy if at all possible. I love that the diet is high in protein and suggests unlimited salt intake. Ingesting unlimited high quality salt reduces risks of toxemia, pre-eclampsia and other complications.
Morning Sickness Relief
I didn’t just have morning sickness, but I had all-day sickeness. Ugh. Not so fun, but very worth it. I found that fluctuating blood sugar contributed to my nausea. Eating protein {meat, cheese, yogurt, peanut butter} every 2-3 hours helped my blood sugar stay level and kept nausea under control.
Also, my herbalist recommended these B-12 tabs that just dissolve under the tongue. They are fabulous! Whenever I start feeling nauseous, I pop 2 tabs under my tongue and within 30 minutes I feel much better. I love that they also are full of folic acid and good for my developing babe!
Juice Plus+
I’ve listened to my sister and other friends rave about Juice Plus for years, so I finally broke down and ordered it. My midwife also prefers that all her clients take it because it’s so ridiculously good for you. Research has shown that Juice Plus+ reduces inflammation, protects DNA, supports a healthy immune system and a multitude of other things.
Red Raspberry Tea
I can’t say enough good things about Red Raspberry Tea. It increases fertility {in both men and women}, balances hormones, eases morning sickness, prevents miscarriage, strengthens the uterus and prevents hemorrhage after birth. I *try* to drink a quart of tea a day. When I forget to make the tea, I pop several Red Raspberry capsules which helps keep my hormones in check, but when I forget the tea and the capsules, I’m a hormonal hot mess. LOL!
My favorite tea is this herbal tea mixture that includes alfalfa, nettle and peppermint which aid digestion.
Exercise
This is probably the most difficult for me because I have to specifically schedule time to get it in. No popping pills or drinking exercise water will do. Ha! My sister recommended this pregnancy pilates dvd to me and I love it! I try my hardest to get it done 3-4 times a week. Running after a three year old has to count for something, but I really want to be more faithful about intentional exercise every day.
Besides these tips for great pregnancy nutrition, I’m also taking liquid Vitamin D3 drops that I mentioned in my 12 Natural Immune System Boosters post.
I would love to hear from you! What did you do to stay healthy during pregnancy?
XO
*****
As an avid Juice Plus+ user, I can testify to its incredible power! I used it all throughout my first pregnancy 4 years ago and my pregnancy, labor and delivery was the EASIEST thing I’ve ever done. 1-1/2 hr labor and 3 pushes. I mean, it was easy as pie! 🙂 I was NEVER sick during my pregnancy either, but I have been a bit with this one, and I blame myself for not being as diligent about taking my JP+. Best to you and congrats!!
@Tracy Bennett, Thanks Tracy for your comment! It was just what I needed to spur me on to faithfully continue my JP+! 🙂
I also use Juice Plus (no OTC prenatal vitamins needed!)….I just double my dose. We eat similar to you, no soy if we can help it at all, we’re starting to limit our grains, but I will admit that’s been one of my hardest things, thankfully we don’t have any issue’s at this point with gluten, but I know that could change so we’re working on making those healthy changes.
I walk daily. I’m already over-weight, but have lost weight this pregnancy!! The baby is growing perfectly and will be here in just a couple of weeks (or less)!!!
Christy´s last blog post ..It’s Part of Life
@Christy, Good for you Christy for walking every day! I meant to link to the prenatal pilates dvd that I do several times a week. I wish you all the best with labor, delivery and a healthy momma and baby! 🙂
No labor for me, hopefully. All 5 of my previous births have been c-sections, will be scheduling mine tomorrow. Hopefully if all goes well, I have 1 week left and our newest blessing will be here! Daily walks have been a bit limited as we just recently had single digit temps here in Germany, but it’s thankfully warmed up to above freezing again, so hopefully this last week we can get our daily walks in again, if the rain holds off….but it’s Germany so we’ll probably be carrying our umbrella’s and walking!
Christy´s last blog post ..It’s Part of Life
You look beautiful
@LeAnn, Awww, thank you LeAnn!
I am currently in week 19 of my 2nd pregnancy. In my first pregnancy, I gained about 30lbs, but it took me 3 yrs to get back down to the “overweight” status. I was considered “obese” after my first was born. I had Gestational Diabetes the first time around and guess what? I have it this time too…BLAH! Before I got preggerz the 2nd time around, I had dropped 50lbs thanks in part to myfitnesspal.com AND Zumba for Wii…worked like a charm! I am 37, so I know I will NEVER lose the baby pooch, but I can tone it. Because of the GD, I need to watch my carbs….but I mainly have been eating salads this time around….my main cravings! I only crave sugar at night before bed, so I give in. We found out on Valentine’s Day that we are having a boy. Did you find out yet? PS….you look GREAT and very healthy! Cute lil baby bump too!!
@Meg Doucette, Awww yay for weight loss/portion control and for having a boy! Congrats! 🙂 I lost 35 lbs last year and was 5 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. Happy weekend!
you are so beautiful Myra – I just love the glow about you !!
@Stef Layton, Aww, thanks Stef! 🙂
Great Tips! I’ll have to remember to come back and check them when I need them next! I have always exercised during pregnancy and I do think that is part of why I had relatively easy labor/deliveries. (My pregnancies had complications though 🙁 )
johanna´s last blog post ..The Gift of Grace
@johanna, I meant to include the prenatal pilates dvd that I do several times a week in this post. That’s what I get for staying up late working. LOL! Thanks for your comment, Johanna! 🙂
Great post. We take Juice Plus at our house. Love it! You are looking great and your tips are going to be helpful for so many. Before my daughter came I worked as a labor and delivery nurse for 14 years. So, I am glad you are writing healthful and helpful posts about pregnancy. Too many women go through the process uninformed and making poor choices regarding their health and health of their unborn child. Good for you, Myra. 🙂
Lisa@BlessedwithGrace´s last blog post ..It’s about time…
@Lisa@BlessedwithGrace, Thank you for your encouraging words, Lisa1 🙂 xoxo
Just wondering why you avoid whole grain and soy. Do you have an allergy?
@Julie, My 3yo and I are sensitive to gluten. We haven’t been officially tested, but it makes us both feel bad digestively. This article explains well why we avoid soy. 🙂 http://www.foodrenegade.com/dangers-of-soy/
@Myra, Thank you so much for the article. My 6 yo has been lactose intolerant since an infant so she has been drinking soy milk. I will definitely stop buying soy milk & switch to Lactaid or maybe Almond milk.
Julie, have you ever tried goat’s milk? Many who are lactose intolerant can tolerate goat’s milk. 🙂
@Julie, When I was lactose intolerant, I found that if I ate yogurt before something with dairy, I could tolerate them fine. After several months of doing that (and eating a lot of yogurt in the process!), the lactose intolerance went away. Not saying it would work for everyone, but it worked for my brother and me 🙂
Diana´s last blog post ..It’s Garden Time!
I enjoy your page, thank you for sharing. I have two boys that just turned 18 & 20yrs old. I certainly did my best to eat healthy while pregnant. I enjoyed your info on healthy eating and I agree, this country has weight issues. We too raised our boys eating in 90% of the time. I did not restrict their diets too much but encouraged healthy choices. Your weight gains with pregnancy sound similar to mine. I joined Weight Watchers about three years after my youngest son was born. I didn’t have a lot of weight to lose just the last of the baby weight. It was such a benefit to our whole family. It taught me portion control and the understanding of how important good foods were for the body. It was many years ago but I still practice the knowledge I have learned. You look great and keep posting pics. I have been visiting baby Martin’s site to continue to pray for this little guy.
Blessings to you and have a great weekend. 🙂
@Melissa T., Oh Melissa! You made my day. Thank you so much for your comment and for continuing to pray for baby Martin. 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
#1 you look awesome!
#2 To the woman who said she won’t be able to loose the baby pooch because she’s 37…you TOTally can!! My parents have been married 25 years. Dad is 45 and mom is 43. I’m the oldest and they had 5 of us (24, 19, 16, 8 and 3) which means my mom had their last at 40. She’s worked hard these last 3 years, always eats healthy and maintains an active lifestyle. Lost the baby pooch of having the 5 of us and did it in her 40’s. She looks so amazing! If she can do it, so can you! 🙂
@meg, Thank you Meg for your encouraging words!!!! 🙂 Happy Friday!
loved your tips. i am almost 18 weeks too. i have heard red raspberry leaf tea is good during pregnancy. i need to check it out.
i went back in the archives on your blog and read about your first birth. wow! it was like reading my own story. hoping for an easier time this time for both of us! and you do look beautiful btw!
Maybe obvious, but drinking tons of water (or decaf liquids like raspberry tea) is so important.
Bethany´s last blog post ..Book Review: The Easter Story
Have to say you look fabulous, Myra! So happy and with a precious little bump 🙂
I’ve had three sick pregnancies (got sicker each time), gained 40-50 lbs each time, and had rough recoveries. I followed the Brewer diet each time, but with what I’m learning recently about my body, I now realize that too many grains and too much dairy definitely contributed to my gaining that much— a lot of it in bloat-weight. Definitely the protein is important, but I’ve found that *produce* is a much better source of carbs (and full of nutrition too).
Protein totally helped my nausea too! Though I found that (if I can be really blunt!) actually throwing up in the morning and then eating some eggs with something acidic (like orange juice) calmed down my nausea and I was fine the rest of the day.
Has your midwife mentioned anything about taking a liver tonic to help with the nausea and hormones (one that’s safe for pregnant mamas)? I’ve come to realize that I have a sluggish liver, and I know that contributed to my pre-natal and post-partum hormone issues.
Congrats on all you’re doing for your own health and your family’s 🙂
You look great!
Have a great day, Debbie
Debbie~refreshrestyle´s last blog post ..Savannah on my mind!
Myra, thank you for this post! I’m not preggers (yet) but my husband and I are praying that we will be soon. When I am, God willing, I am definitely going to use this post for your great tips! If a baby is in my future, I want to do things as naturally as possible during my pregnancy but I’ll admit that it can be hard to sift through all of the information out there. Sharing your experience with herbs, organic eating, etc.has definitely helped clear things up and answer questions I’ve had about it all. Congratulations on the little one! Praying for you! P.s.- Thanks for the link to the soy-free chocolate chips. I’ve been looking for those! 🙂
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Thanks so much for all of this! This is my first pregnancy and I’m basically clueless (thank God for my sisters-in-law and their help). I’ve been having the worst morning sickness, so I’ll have to keep these in mind. I’m definitely going to try some of the red raspberry tea, though I sometimes have trouble even keeping tea down. Where do you buy red raspberry capsules? Thanks!
~ Andi
Andi T.´s last blog post ..So Exciting!
Lots of walking and pre-natal vitamins, even during pregnancy. You’re looking great! Take care! How’s Ridley taking the growing tummy?
I am LOVD´s last blog post ..Goodbye Week. Hello Weekend. Lessons Learned: Take 34.
I am 23 weeks with my second baby, and I am loving all the tips! I have not heard about red raspberry tea, but I will have to pick some up this weekend! You look fabulous!! 🙂
Tara´s last blog post ..A Very Special Name
Can I just say how proud of you I am! You’re an amazing and beautiful woman, my dear! I’m also thankful for the great positive comments ahead of mine and the beautiful women behind them! 🙂
I also had horrible all day sickness with my two pregnancy. I tired everything and never had much success…I threw up protein about 30 minutes after eating it every single time. I do have to say that some of the only things that helped a bit were taking vitamin B6 every day and those sea sickness bands that you put on your wrists. Ginger didn’t do much and I used to love those little ginger chews but now I have a major aversion to them. I am glad that your feeling better!
Emilia Brasier´s last blog post ..In Honor of my Father
I’m curious why you try not to eat soy? I am a pescatarian and suplement protien with soy. We are trying to get pregnant so I am wondering if there is something I am missing. Thank you in advance for your thoughts on this!
Hi Sherri! This link explains why we avoid soy. http://www.foodrenegade.com/dangers-of-soy/
I took liquid chlorophyll to help combat anemia symptoms, low energy, and the inability to stand up for more than 15 minutes at a time 🙂 It worked wonders for me! (And, btw, Myra, I accidentally left a double comment on Julie’s post above…if you want to remove the second one, you’re welcome to 🙂 )
Diana´s last blog post ..It’s Garden Time!
Yes! Liquid Chlorophyll is amazing! 🙂
We are expecting baby number 6 in August I am currently just over 14 weeks along. I did the Brewer diet with the last one and she was my biggest baby at 9lb. 4oz.. I had great midwives and did not tear. The labor and delivery were very easy once I calmed down and had an empty house. I woke up in the middle of the night and had her about an hour later. No real pushes just a change in position and she was here! I knew about the red raspberry leaf tea but didn’t realize all that it helped. Thank you for sharing your information!
By the way you really do look great! Healthy too!
Yea!! Making progress, looking fabulous, and feeling healthy!!! 3 VERY BIG blessings! So happy for you and your little bundle of joy on the way! I had short labors with both of my kiddos, and while I definitely attribute it to exercise and diet, I mostly attribute it to the Lord answering my prayers! He has helped me SO much through my labors and I am so thankful!
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Congratulations !!! I am also expecting a baby girl in June! This is our first, we are thrilled !! I like the tips, I am going to try the raspberry tea!!
Great post! And you are looking lovely. I definitely saw a big difference in my pregnancies that I believe is related to my whole foods diet. With my first I was working full time and not cooking as much. But towards the end, when I started seeing a midwife was when I started making changes. By the time I was pregnant with number 2 I’d given up a lot of processed food, and I gained less and lost post baby weight faster, had more energy, and recovered more quickly from birth. I know there are a lot of factors involved, but I know whole foods is one of them. Know you have me curious about Juice Plus!
Thanks for sharing some tips here.A lot of pregnant women will like this tips..Hope you had a safe delivery..
Paula´s last blog post ..Health Advice
Hi! I just found your blog today and love it 🙂
My baby boy was born 9 weeks ago after a beautiful natural labor and delivery with only my husband and two midwives present. My midwife also really encouraged me to watch my diet and exercise. I kept a food journal and wrote down everything I ate from May-December, which really helped with accountability! If I didn’t want to write it down, I wouldn’t eat it. Somehow I made it through Thanksgiving without a single piece of pie! 😉 I gained less than 30 lbs during my pregnancy, which was incredible to me because I was overweight as a teenager. At 2 weeks post partum I was down below my pre-pregnancy weight and at 9 weeks, I weigh less than I have in 3 years. My “pregnancy diet” helped me become self disciplined and inspired love for healthy eating habits!
May God bless your pregnancy and baby’s birth!
Thanks for the wonderful tips! Glad your pregnancy is going so well! Your belly is adorable!
ang´s last blog post ..Adore
Beautiful as always, sweet lady!
You look beautiful Myra, definitely got that glow. 🙂
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Hi Myra,
Congratulations on your pregnancy, hope all is going well. I agree with you that nutrition is important. I have compiled a list of nutrients that are important to pregnancy at http://www.LifeAmines.com/health-help.html#pregnancy. I hope this can be of help to you and your readers!
Hey Myra!
I just got my Mamas red raspberry brew from Bulk Herb, as you suggested. I made a pitcher full and I am wondering if it is okay to drink it with some leftover tea leaves, herbs, in the liquid? I cant seem to strain them all. Is this okay? Do you have the same problem?
Thanks in advance! I am 14-15 weeks preggers so right behind you!
Elise´s last blog post ..Ephesians, Proverbs, and a quiet tongue 😉
Hi Elise! Yes, you can drink left over tea leaves/pieces. I let everything settle and then I pour/strain. It’s no biggie. 🙂 I hope that helps!! xo
One good resource for those who question wheat is Wheat Belly by William Davis, M.D. I know that there are many who are only comfortable with something stated by a doctor. I’m definitely more comfortable with a wealth of professionals, but if you need a doctor’s reasons on why to avoid wheat–yes, INCLUDING whole wheat–that’s the book! Many have lost tons of weight who were already doing the “right” things including eating “healthy” whole grains. My mom believes her arthritis has cleared up; my aunt’s ulcerative colitis seemed to clear up after she was introduced to this…and I believe one other relative even experiences reduced “jitteriness” when going wheat/ gluten free. Take care!
Just a question, what is the Juice Plus+? I’m currently 14 weeks pg. Also how is the red raspberry tea supposed to benefit you?
Did you still take prenatal vitamins along with Juice Plus?
Shawna, I didn’t take specific prenatal vitamins. I did the red raspberry, b12s with folic acid and the juice plus. With nutrient dense diet that I ate along with the supplements, my midwife didn’t recommend a synthetic prenatal vitamin.