Cultivating a Healthy Pregnancy - Part 2

Pregnancy

Welcome to part 2 of Cultivating a Healthy Pregnancy.  In today’s post, we’ll be discussing how to support the body as you journey through pregnancy.  And if you missed our first post all about natural conception, be sure to check out part one here.

Congratulations, mama!  You’re officially pregnant, and ready to begin one of the most transformational journeys of your life – physically, emotionally, and spiritually!  Pregnancy is a wild ride as you go through so many changes, experience a whole host of new symptoms, and watch your body transform.  It’s also a very magical, spiritual time, as your intuition heightens in preparation for motherhood and to connect with the new life growing inside of you.

Below, we’re sharing our holistic tips to support you on your pregnancy journey, from natural ways to ease morning sickness and nourish your little one, to building your support team and cultivating pregnancy rituals.

Balance your blood sugar

Both morning sickness and gestational diabetes are strongly linked to imbalanced blood sugar, so learning to maintain balance is key during pregnancy.  Try your best to include a good source of protein and healthy fats in every meal, eat regular snacks throughout the day, and consider supplementing with chromium.

Consider Intentional Supplementation

Aside from your daily prenatal (we recommend Garden of Life’s Once Daily Whole Foods based prenatal!), AOR's Magnesium Glycinate helps relieve pregnancy-related insomnia and constipation, Garden of Life’s Prenatal Probiotics ensure optimal gut-health to keep things moving, and Prairie Naturals Vitamin D can help prevent deficiency.  And if you’ve been blessed with unbearable morning sickness, consider supplementing with NOW Official Vitamin B6 to greatly improve daily nausea.  Studies show collagen supplementation can reduce stretch marks during pregnancy, so consider adding in WithinUs Naturals True Marine Collagen daily.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Blood volume increases dramatically during pregnancy, and so does the body’s daily water requirements.  We recommend keeping a water bottle on hand at all times, and drinking consistently throughout the day to avoid dehydration!

Use caution with herbs

Many of the herbs that were supportive pre-conception may pose potential risks during pregnancy, such as increasing risk of uterine contractions and misscarriage.  But that doesn’t mean you have to swap out all teas entirely!  Peppermint and ginger can be wonderful remedies for morning sickness, whereas rooibos is a naturally caffeine-free alternative that contains many beneficial antioxidants.  And in later stages of pregnancy, red raspberry leaf supports uterus toning in preparation for birth.  Do your research, use your intuition, and consider speaking with a qualified herbalist if you have any concerns.

We like New Moon Tea Co’s loose leaf Maternity Teas, with special blends formulated for each of the 3 trimesters of pregnancy.  

Learn what’s safe, and what isn’t

From eating deli meats to cleaning your kitty’s litter box, there are so many things that are no longer safe during pregnancy.  Do your research, find some pregnancy books that resonate, and lean on the support of a midwife, doctor, or doula for guidance.

Continue with good nourishment

Many of the foods we discussed in part 1, such as fruits, vegetables, and dark leafy greens, iron-rich liver and grass-fed meat, omega 3 fats from wild-caught seafood, nuts, and seeds, adequate protein from eggs, legumes, poultry, and seafood, and complex carbohydrates found in sweet potatoes, squash, and whole grains are all excellent building blocks for good prenatal nutrition.  If you’re struggling to get enough protein, consider adding in an easy to digest, whole-foods based protein powder like Botanica Health Perfect Protein.

Morning sickness and pregnancy cravings during trimester one can make eating your favourite nourishing foods much more challenging, but the good news is these symptoms usually clear up by trimester two.  Don’t be hard on yourself during this time, and simply do the best you can.  And if the only foods that sound edible are crackers, bread, ice-cream, and chips, come into Roberts Creek Well-being for a wide variety of healthful alternatives!

Create your birth team

Who will your birth support team be?  Will you choose a midwife or doctor to be your primary prenatal caregiver?  What about the additional support of a Doula?  Start envisioning what you want your birth to look like, and find aligned practitioners to support you on this journey.

Utilize a Variety of Modalities

Techniques like prenatal yoga, massage, and chiropractic support can all help reduce stress, realign the body, open up the hips, relieve pain, build strength, and optimize your physical health prior to birth.  Energetic practices such as reiki and mediumship can help clear emotional blockages, elevate your frequency, and connect you with your spirit baby. We are happy to make local recommendations for these offerings!

Cultivate Pregnancy Rituals

Daily rituals can be a beautiful way to celebrate your pregnancy journey and connect more deeply with your baby.  Some suggestions include creating a birth altar, using meditation to connect with your baby, or keeping a special pregnancy journal.  Daily full-body oil massages with Weleda’s Stretch Mark Massage Oil are a beautiful way to connect with your pregnant body while simultaneously hydrating the skin to prevent stretch marks.

We hope you found part 2 of our Cultivating a Healthy Pregnancy series informative and supportive.  Stay tuned for part 3 coming soon!

Written by: Hannah Schmitt