I can’t believe I’ve finally passed the halfway mark through pregnancy, woohoo! I’m still keeping super active and busy while the bump is growing day by day, fuelling my body and making sure I take some time-out. I’m hoping to start feeling some kicks and movement soon too!
In fact, we got to meet Baba again last week at our 20 week scan and found out the gender…
WE’RE HAVING A BOY!!!
He is growing well and healthy which is the most important thing, but it’s so exciting now to be able to give this little human an identity and imagine what life will be like when he is born!
You may have seen Sam, Emma and Amy share their top tips for keeping healthy during pregnancy in part #1 of my blog series – now it’s time for the second part where more inspiring women give their advice on how to feel great during these life-changing nine months.
HOLLY WOOD
UK Lifestyle Blogger. Food obsessed, home renovating & travel lover. Officially Mrs Holly Wood & mama! Founder of @WeBlogMCR & Wedding Consultant
My best piece of advice from being pregnant is:
“Don’t stress”
I know that sounds waaaay easier said than done, but it really is a state of mind. I read that when you’re stressed, you release hormones that can be felt by the baby, even in the early stages of development in the womb. As soon as I read that, I knew that everything else had to pail into insignificance and that all I should be thinking about, was me having a positive mental attitude and staying happy for my growing baby. Although I had a stressful job, I didn’t let it get to me and previously when I would have been anxious and worried, I’d take deep breaths, lower my shoulders and relax. After all, no one could argue that my pregnancy was now my focus! This really is your time, don’t forget that.
GEORGINA – GREENS OF THE STONEAGE
Freelance writer, mother, maker of scrummy Paleo eats and treats. Lover of everything nature brings, BJJ, calisthenics, kettlebells. Feature writer Free From magazine
When Pamela first asked me to contribute a little paragraph to her blog on pregnancy, I thought to myself – “Oh my god, how can I even start to talk about this – I’m no expert…” – and I’ve had 3 kids. It wasn’t until we started up a conversation about my own pregnancy and birth experiences that I realised maybe I could offer a little valuable, if not slight unglamorous, information after all.
Have faith in yourself
And that brings me on to my 1st valuable tip – believe in yourself and never be too harsh on yourself either. And that’s applicable from pregnancy to birth, and beyond. Your gut instinct will allow you to make all the right choices for yourself and your baby, and yes sometimes you will make mistakes – but you’re human and not a robot. Just don’t get wrapped up in the small stuff.
Keep moving
My 2nd tip is to stay active, even when you’re tired. I’m not saying head on down to the next CrossFit Open, I’m just saying keep your activity level the same as it was pre-pregnancy and on those super tiresome days, stick your legs up for a few minutes before doing some light yoga or going for a walk. Not only will this boost your endorphins, leaving you with a positive mental attitude but it will also help keep those niggly aches away and prepare your body for birth. Just don’t exert yourself and if you experience any spotting or pain after exercise speak to your midwife immediately.
Down the herbal tea
My last tip is to drink more herbal tea – yes really! Chamomile tea is great for relaxation, peppermint for bloating (you all probably know what I’m on about here), and from 32 weeks onward drink 1 cup of raspberry leaf tea a day, building up to 2 to 3, in order to help your uterus prepare for labour. Think of it as a workout for your uterus – it quite literally tones the muscles!
MARIE-EVE – EVOLUTION ORGANICS
Evolution Organics provides an authentic source of high-quality organic nutrition and supplements for people who care about their health.
I found out I was pregnant in March 2014 and now have a gorgeous, funny and spirited 2 years old. She has brought so much joy to our lives. It’s incredible, nothing comes close. It took me by surprise the amount of love I could feel for such as small person and believe me, it will happen to you too. It might not happen immediately though but when it does, it’s something else.
You want to make sure you are doing what’s best for your little peanut and everybody is different and because you get so many bits of advice from friends and family (and even strangers) it can feel overwhelming at times. I get it. Then I found out that the lovely Pamela was pregnant and when she asked me to share some tips and advice I jumped on the offer. I was more than happy to share and maybe help a few of you out there?
I started writing about my pregnancy on the Evolution Organics website and I got asked so many questions and here are a few tips that I shared on our blog and I hope might help:
You are amazing
Remember that. You are growing a freaking human being in there. How awesome is that?!
Eat but don’t overeat
There’s always this hype that you need to eat for two. Not true, sorry. You burn 300 more calories a day when pregnant, that’s the equivalent of a sliced apple with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. Eat when you are hungry and try to keep a supply of healthy snacks that way when you do get hungry, you have something healthy ready to go.
Drink plenty of water
Dehydration during pregnancy can lead to complications such as headaches, nausea and dizziness. Have a bottle of water with you at all time. You’ll find you are drinking more and more.
Take a few chosen supplements
Take Vitamin D, that’s a given, especially if you are pregnant in the winter months, a probiotic, an omega and a prenatal vitamin. That’s all I recommend. Being pregnant is not the time to drastically change your diet so when you start taking these supplements, introduced them slowly into your diet and don’t worry if you forget now and again.
Exercise!
Go for a walk, take a prenatal yoga class, go swimming, weight training… anything. I strongly think it can do wonders if you suffer from nausea or feel tired. Being fit will also help you cope better with labour. But once again, continue what you already do but if it’s new to you, introduce it slowly.
Enjoy your bump
MARIE – REE BALANCE NUTRITION
Nutritionist, Simple Solutions, Honest Foods, Tasty Recipes
I suffered horrendous morning sickness but it doesn’t have to be something you simply grin and bear! With a 10 yearr gap between my kids, because of it, after the first pregnancy I learned a trick or two.
Try these morning sickness treatments (You may need to do some experimenting to find the right balance to keep you feeling good all day long). Tried-and-tested methods that worked for me:
Natural Treatments
These easily found natural home remedies are easy for you to try on your own, many women find that a combo of these keeps them pretty nausea-free throughout the first trimester.
Ginger
This root is popular in Chinese medicine, and noted for its tummy-taming properties. You can drink it in homemade tonic or tea, or try ginger ice pops whenever you’re feeling queasy.
Mint
Eating or sniffing something containing this fresh flavor can help you feel less nauseated. I became obsessed with brushing my teeth! And chewing gum (Bonus: Mint can help with a not-so-fresh mouth after a round of morning sickness.)
Little and often
Sometimes it’s a matter of simply keeping your stomach from hitting empty. Eat small, frequent meals, and eat as soon as you wake up!
Ritz biscuits or toast
Simple starches like crackers can help settle the queasiest tummy.
Move
You probably don’t exactly feel like running a half-marathon when your tummy is so queasy but a gentle walk could do wonders for your body & mind. Even walking 20 minutes a day can help release endorphins to counteract the fatigue and nausea.
My top 10 power foods for pregnancy:
- Yogurt – Calcium, Probiotics
- Kale and spinach – Calcium, Fibre, Folic Acid & Vitamin A
- Eggs – Vitamin A, Iron and Protein
- Salmon – Omega 3’s, (healthy fats)
- Lamb – Vitamin B12, Iron and Zinc
- Berries – Antioxidant & Fibre
- Avocados – Potassium, folic acid, lutein, (healthy fats)
- Vegetarian Protein – Beans & Lentils, Fibre, Iron, Folate, Magnesium and Zinc
- Nuts and Seeds – Fibre, Vitamin E & Magnesium
- Sweet Potatoes – Vitamin A and Vitamin E
Huge thanks to these amazing ladies for taking the time to write these nuggets of information, I hope you find them as useful as I have!