A Simple Healthy Pregnancy - My Thoughts

I get a lot of questions on how I kept nutrition up when I was pregnant and nursing while still following a Simple, Healthy, Tasty Lifestyle.  I have been thinking about it a lot and it's high time I posted my thoughts about it.  I think to make it easier I will just make a list of what I did and/or would do if I had it to do again.  Quite honestly I have learned a lot since my last baby and would do a few things different.  I also asked both of my Sister's (since they have both had had a baby within the past year) and my good friend (who has 6 kids including twins who are almost 2) about it just in case I had forgotten something.  Also please don't forget that this is just what works for me and my own opinion.  Obviously keeping nutrition up as much as possible is just good common sense for building a healthy baby.  But it may look a little different for each person. 

Drink Your Nutrition

		Green Smoothies (at least a quart 3x's a week 4 or 5 times a week would be better)
		Calc Punch  DRINK LOTS!
		Raspberry Leaf Tea with Peppermint-DRINK LOTS! (or Women's Balancing)
		Ormus Greens w/ Liquid Light - Drink on the days you don't have a smoothie
		Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Juices- Drink when craving....so good for you & baby
		Nettle Infusion- (or more Women's Balancing herbal tea)
		Chia Drink- make a quart a week, drink as needed

Whole Food Supplements

		B-Complex, I like Megafood Brand, 1 a day
		Zinc, again Megafood Brand, 1 a day
		Capsulated Alfalfa, Yellow Dock and Kelp-High in Minerals-can prevent anemia*
		B-12 Spray, 3-6 sprays a day under tongue
		Wheat Germ Oil Capsules, 1 morning and night
		Cod Liver Oil Capsules, 2 a day

		Bee Pollen- add up to one tsp. to smoothie-be sure no allergies by starting small
		Maca, I buy the powder and add 1 teaspoon to my Green Smoothie
		Rosehips- again I add to Smoothie - High in Vitamin C
		Flax seed oil and flax seeds, add to smoothie or mix with Organic Cottage Cheese

Get Plenty of Protein

		Hemp Seed is a complete protein, has all essential amino and fatty acids
		Wild Alaska Salmon-great source of Omega 3's and Protein
		Free Range Organic Eggs
		Chia seed contains 18 of the 22 amino acids-another complete protein
		Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat-All complete proteins
		Loved this smoothie when I was pregnant-full of protein

Don't Forget the Fat

		Eat Plenty of good fats - you and your baby need it!
		Extra-Virgin Coconut oil
		Extra-Virgin Olive oil
		Avocados
		Grass Fed Butter
		Coconut Milk

Natural Helps for Common Complaints

		Nausea-Raspberry leaf and peppermint tea, Ginger Chews, Ginger Capsules
		I also like the Panda Licorice w/herbs to help with Nausea
		Anemia-Liquid Chlorophyll, Black Strap Molasses, also see*above
		Constipation-Plenty of water and fiber-whole foods are full of fiber ;)
		Blood Sugar issues-whole foods-Stevia over other sweeteners
		Heartburn- Apple Cider Vinegar
		Insomnia- Cayenne and Lobelia

EXERCISE

		Walking is really the best, low impact, fresh air, sunshine
		Yoga
		Pilates
		Swimming
		Remember to start slow if you are new to any type of exercise use common sense

A little note from me:
I got looking at this list and thought that everyone will think that it is some sort of hugeish commercial. Please know that I have used or use everything here and just linked it to the brands and places that I like and have found most affordable.  Also a healthy pregnancy can obviously happen without doing everything on the list.  You won't do it anyway if it is too complicated and doesn't work for you so make it work for you.

It looks complicated but I still follow similar nutrition and habits.  I drink a green smoothie more often then not, I take whole food supplements, herbs, and teas that I feel help nourish me.  I use natural means for illness or complaints and I exercise regularly.  It's really just principles of good nutrition.  I think the whole food method is a lot more healthy then the synthetic vitamin way.  But I also think that someone can be very healthy eat just whole food without any supplements at all they just have to be very diligent in this day and age.

Also I have to tell you that I went through 2 pregnancies without any animal products.  It can be done but by the end of the second one I felt.....well mostly really, really, tired!  I'm sure I got fairly depleted although my baby was super healthy....biggest one yet....and had no issues.  I was just learning about green smoothies though.  Anyway my point is it can be done but you have to be even more diligent with nutrition.  Again be wise and listen to your body.

If you have some of your own thoughts about having a Simple Healthy Pregnancy please feel free to share in the comments.  My most useful information has come from other Mother's sharing their experiences with me.  Or if you have questions and need help sorting all this out ask away I'll do best to answer them.

In Health,

Tammie