Half way finished growing inside, half way to meeting my first child! This year has been wild, but I am so excited for this new little mouth to feed in spring 2021. <3 A reflection and notes for being half way:
I have wanted to be a Momma for as long as I can remember, and now my longest prayer of being pregnant is for real, for real!
I’ll never forget in one of my first dietetics classes being asked, “Why did you choose dietetics?” My answer makes me cringe because it was so awkward, but I said, “Well, I really just want to be a Mom, but my Mom said I need to go to college and dietetics seemed to fit my interests.” I think my teacher was like, “Ooook… Next?”
So, I’ve worked on my education and career and created a niche for myself, and I’m thankful for this. Now, I’m (so!) ready to fulfill this burning desire to raise a family. I am not naive — I know anything worth it is not easy, I know it’s going to be challenging to lead a career and be the Mom I dream of being, and I know you can’t give 100% of yourself two times over. BUT I am gonna do my darndest to find a balance (& then keep modifying and finding a new balance) that feels good for me and my little family. Stay tuned for this wild ride… 😉
The first time of things are always a little scary, especially when your body is in control. I worked on myself for years, planned, and prepared and I still don’t have it all together… At all! That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned with pregnancy so far is just to trust my body, trust the process, and keep working to find a balance for myself and my future.
I drink my green smoothies and eat home-cooked meals when I can, but I also have relied heavily on Wendy’s, Goldfish, and a little Coke (on ice!). I worked on my faith, but I’ve still found myself needing to sit down and pray, meditate, and journal even more. I worked on my strength and routine, but I’ve still found myself having to modify greatly and listening to my body’s needs. It’s asking for grace upon grace upon grace, and yet I don’t want to take any part of it for granted.
With that being said, I am no “seasoned pro” and have had to ask for help many times, but this is a little list of things that have really helped me find some sort of wellness balance while navigating nausea, increased hunger, fatigue, and other new uncomfortable feelings during the first half of pregnancy. Here’s to the second half! <3
Food!
- Prenatal vitamin – Ideally, this should be taken months in advance, but don’t fret if you didn’t know, just start now! A prenatal vitamin isn’t an excuse to never eat a fruit or vegetable, but it’s a very nice cushion to give your body the essential, crucial nutrients needed when it isn’t easy to meet 100% of needs with food. Most important nutrients to look for: Folate/Folic Acid, Iron, Iodine, DHA, vitamin D, omega-3/EPA & DHA. Did you know 50% of women become iron deficient during pregnancy?! | My favorite Nature Made Prenatal with DHA | Good quality and affordable.
- Vitamin D – A prenatal vitamin includes vitamin D, but so many of us need more than the basic need, especially when growing a human that needs vitamin D! If you aren’t outside in the sunshine all day in spring and summer, and you’re not eating fish daily, then you likely need more. A simple blood test from your doctor can confirm if you’re deficient and need an additional supplement – Vitamin D supplement.
- Choline – Eat eggs more frequently, yolk included, to help meet choline needs. Other sources and information about choline can be found here: NIH Choline Fact Sheet
- Smoothies – My saving grace for being able to get down leafy greens, seeds, avocado, plain yogurt, coconut water, and a wide variety of fruit. My favorite recipe is below this list!
- Once Upon a Farm Smoothies and Puréed Pouches– Similar to the smoothies, these have been convenient to grab when I need quick nutrients. *Pricey, so I try to get just two bottles or pouches per week.
- Made Good Granola Bars – Another fun way to try and get in some vegetable nutrition! *Pricey, I try to get a box every other week.
- Tortilla Chips with Flax Seeds – Salty, crunchy, but with a tiny boost of nutrients from some flax seeds. There are many brands – Some are made with black beans, too.
- Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt or Chobani Lower Sugar Yogurt- A low sugar, probiotic-rich source of protein when I can’t stomach meat or eggs.
- Cheesesticks and cheese cubes (Mild cheese like mozzarella or Colby Jack)- Another protein source when meat is a no-go.
- Chicken Noodle Soup – Pacific Foods in Bone Broth or Wolfgang Puck
- Breakfast Essentials, High Protein Drinks – They do have 12g of added sugar, and they do have some ingredients I’m not crazy about (like soy protein isolate), BUT they have been a life saver some days at work when I need quick nutrition and high protein. They have a wide range of vitamins and minerals, even a little choline which is important for development of fetus. Other options: Only What You Need protein drinks and protein powder (more expensive and harder to find).
- Whole grain bread with no sugar added Sunbutter and natural jelly.
- High-fiber cereal with whole milk- I have drank SO much milk, I craved it at first! Milk is a great source of iodine, calcium, and protein! Fortified cereal can give us a boost of nutrients like folic acid, iron, and magnesium. Make sure your cereal has at least 3 grams of fiber!
- Sunbutter and fruit.
- Ice water, watered down orange juice, and unsweetened iced tea. #ColdDrinks and #Ice help with nausea while sitting at work. Also, staying hydrated is extra important when growing a human.
- & do not feel guilty if you are eating Wendy’s from time to time, have to sip on a Coke a couple days, are having to run through Starbuck’s for a sausage and egg sandwich every day for a week straight and scarfing it down in the parking lot, or are munching on pretzels and Saltines at your desk so you don’t vom. #Balance #Grace
Resource
- The Prenatal Nutritionist – A credible resource for all your food and nutrition questions before and during pregnancy. I follow her Instagram account. This registered dietitian specializes in prenatal nutrition! Can you eat deli meat? What about soft cheeses? She answers the most common questions, backed by research. She also has a great cookbook.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth: I don’t have a birth plan, but it’s nice to read about what we can do to help prepare and a reminder that it’s a natural process that our body was made to do.Revised 10/2021: Yeah… Skip this and read the Pioneer Woman’s new book instead for some good laughs and relaxation!
Movin’ The Bod
* Edit 10/2021: PLEASE ask your OB/GYN if exercise is safe for you during pregnancy. There are some pregnancy complications where certain or all exercise should be limited or avoided.
- RLG Fitness Online or Pop Sugar Fitness (free) for online workouts. A pandemic pregnancy = no group workouts or gym dates, but online workouts can still provide a class-feel.
- Walking outside. (If you don’t suffer from fall allergies… #Annoying.)
- Focusing on strength and flexibility: Stretch to relieve some growing pains! Use your body weight to strengthen your body: Squats, lunges, modified push ups, side leg lifts, and bridges. Five minutes of doing this is about all I could do some days! Yoga is a great guide for this, too.
- & do not feel guilty if there’s days you truly don’t have the energy or are too sick to exercise or go on a walk. I’ve been there multiple times already – I just rest those days! Evaluate how you feel, rest, and try again tomorrow!
Mind
- Journal: Alllll the things you feel like you need to do, work on, change, plan, and buy prior to baby. Alllll the new feelings. Alllll the anticipated changes. It can feel overwhelming – Journaling has been great to keep my thoughts organized, work towards solutions, and document this season of growth!
- Prayer/reading bible verses/meditation/yoga: Whatever helps your soul. Do it, and when you forget for a few days or weeks just do it again.
Other
- Air
- Water
- Rest
- … At the end of the day, you need nutrients, water, air, and rest to keep going and help this child nurture and grow. It’s easy to get caught up in allllll the things people will try and say you should and should not be doing while pregnant… I’ve struggled with this, especially being pregnant during a pandemic! I have to remind myself to take it back to the roots & do what feels right for me! I know my body best, and this pregnancy is my responsibility. I don’t know much about this journey, but I know that’s what I’m clinging to right now! Now, rub that belly and say “Thank you!” & take care of yourself to the best of your ability today. <3
Momma Smoothie
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1/2 C Frozen fruit Berries, mango, pineapple
- 1 Banana (ripe), frozen
- 1 Handful of greens Spinach, kale…
- 1 C Liquid Whole milk, milk substitute, coconut water, water, juice (Or a mixture!)
- 2 Tbsp. Sunbutter, almond butter, or peanut butter Best = no sugar or hydrogenated oils on ingredient list
Notes
Motherhood is… An act of infinite optimism.
Gilda Radner