Pregnancy is brand new to me! As I write this article, I am 17 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I still very much feel like a fish out of water. It's been a beautiful journey so far and I very much look forward to the rest of it and to welcoming our healthy baby in July (God willing)! But, it hasn't been without its challenges. In an effort to help you navigate your pregnancy journey - I'm sharing my most frequently asked questions as well as some tips I've learned along the way!
How do you relieve pregnancy nausea?
First trimester nausea is brutal! Truly brutal! Also ... why do they call it morning sickness? It was more like all day sickness for me! Anyway .. Here are some of the things that helped me relieve it.
- B Complex Supplement - My doctor recommended I take this. B vitamins, specifically B6 is known for helping treat morning sickness symptoms in pregnancy.
- Eating Every 2 Hours - When your blood sugar gets low, it makes you more prone to feel that nausea. Keeping snacks around (my go-to was popcorn) really helps!
- Fresh Air - Getting outside and feeling fresh air on your skin can really help you feel invigorated and combat that icky feeling.
- Stay Hydrated - Hydration is super important in pregnancy. Your blood volume and fluid retention increase dramatically when you're with child. My favorite hydration solution while pregnant was Buoy. They make unflavored electrolyte drops that are free of artificial sweeteners, flavors, and preservatives! Click the image below to get a free gift with your purchase!
What foods were you eating?
Pregnancy has had a weird effect on my palate! I have craved moist and sweet treats for as long as I can remember and suddenly .. crunchy and salty were all I could think about! From french fries and potato chips, to box cereal or everything bagels. If it was a carb or something crunchy, I wanted it! This worried me a lot! I was so used to eating a pretty clean and healthy diet. It felt like an alien was invading my body and causing me to crave all the most unhealthy foods. And all the healthy things I used to love (spinach salads, smoothies, veggie stir fries) suddenly became repulsive to me!
I spoke to my doctor and she told me that in first trimester, it is more important to consume calories than it is to try to force yourself to eat foods that repulse you and the just vomit them up. Especially when taking a good quality prenatal - I quite agreed. I decided I would give my body what it was craving but I was going to try to do it in a healthier way so my baby wasn't made out of 100% bread and potatoes - lol! Here are some of my go-tos that got me through the first 14-16 weeks of pregnancy!
- Fruit - I ate 2-4 servings of fruit daily!
- Spinach & Eggs - I would trick myself into eating veggies by adding spinach and tomatoes to my eggs. It was delicious!
- Healthier Cereal - If your box cereal cravings are as intense as mine were, Love Bird Cereal is what you need! They use all natural and clean ingredients, no artificial junk, sugars, preservatives, etc. This cereal didn't spike my blood sugar and it had lots of fiber which is great for combating pregnancy constipation (more on this later).
- Egg Sandwiches - I was craving everything bagels like nobody's business. A plain bagel isn't the most nutritious meal in the world. But, I never like to deprive myself and I always think in terms of "what can I add" rather than "what do I take away?" I added scrambled eggs on top of my bagels to make egg sandwiches and it seriously hit the spot! If you're not allergic to eggs and not opposed to them for dietary or ethical reasons - I totally recommend!
- Peanut Butter - Clearly this baby takes after it's mama! I ate peanut butter every single day.
- Veggie Wraps - Veggie wraps became my new obsession. They were an easy way to get 3-4 servings of veggies in (yay fiber) + I could add my weirdest craving .. banana peppers on top!
What supplements did you take?
- Prenatal - I started with one prescribed by my doctor and am now switching to Ritual! I will report back with how it's going!
- Seed (Probiotic) - Taking Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic was a game changer. It kept me from ever experiencing that pregnancy constipation that everyone mentions and also helped fight gas and bloating that are also other common pregnancy symptoms! Seed is a probiotic and prebiotic all in one. Essentially, it feeds your gut healthy bacteria so that your digestive system can work optimally. This, combined with a high fiber and plant-forward diet was my secret to keeping my bowels moving. Use this link to get 25% off of Seed when you use code PBJILLY25 at checkout!
- Omega 3 - My doctor recommended any high quality omega-3 (fish oil) to be taken daily with food! It can help the baby's brain development and also with your own baby brain you may be experiencing.
- Protein Powder - I snuck protein powder into everything. Cereal milk, oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt, etc. My favorite vegan protein powder is from NUFYX. I like the vanilla flavor. It's certified USDA organic, gluten-free, and has clean ingredients. Plus digestive enzymes! Use my code PBJILLY to get 15% off NUFYX.
- B Complex - This is the one I used. I cut the pills in half and took one half in the morning and one half in the evening (all with food).
What did you do for stretch marks?
Two words - Bio Oil! I slathered this on my belly, breasts, chest, hips, thighs, and bum every single day.
Favorite Breakfast
Protein Oats! It was the easiest way to fill myself up and turn off my hunger until lunchtime. Otherwise I was going to be a snack queen all morning. Also, it helped boost my fiber, protein, fruit, antioxidants, and it tastes good. Always with peanut butter. Here is the recipe!
Why did you stop being vegan?
My journey to stop eating 100% vegan began a few years ago. To state it simply, my hormones were out of wack, I was having trouble keeping weight on my body, and I was experiencing low energy and a lot of fatigue. In addition to this, I felt restricted. I wanted to nourish my body with whatever it was craving and honor my hunger. I wanted to go to a restaurant with my husband and not have to piece-meal a dish together or resort to salad and french fries every time. And, most of all, I wanted to give my growing baby the nutrients it needs and not deprive it of any food. We want to raise our children to have a healthy and not restrictive relationship with food and to me, this was the first step. I added back eggs and occasionally fish and my bloodwork improved leaps and bounds. Veganism is a great lifestyle. So is being vegetarian, pescatarian, or a full out omnivore. Just listen to your body and don't ever feel pressured to deprive it. Do what is best for you.
Hope This Helps!
Leave a comment and let me know what you think! Also, feel free to DM me on Instagram if you have any other questions you'd like me to answer!
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