15/06/2016

My Future Trim Healthy Mama Pregnancy And More (For a HG Mom)

This morning I woke up with my first menses since about 28-29 months ago. That's being pregnant and nursing our last child. A month ago or so I stopped night time nursing. I needed my sleep back desperately, and I knew once I stopped it would be only a matter of weeks until I started ovulating again. So here I am!

Fertile. Fertile.

What does this mean to an "HG mom"? (Hyperemesis Gravidarum to those who do not know is Extreme pregnancy sickness) It means that it's time to stop slacking in numerous ways and start putting my armor and arsenal on. It all comes down to health, basically. Nutritious foods, good habits, sleep in the bank, etc.

What are some changes that I need to start like, YESTERDAY? Let me map it out for you, but also I'm mapping this our for myself as a reminder.

Diet

Don't do's

  • No sugar. I have to be aware of and avoid hidden sugars. 
  • No unsprouted wheat, and very little sprouted ones.
  • No white rice or white potatoes.
  • No caffeine, coffee, and consume very little home made Skinny Chocolate. I just packed away my "Keurig"... sigh*
  • No heated oils. Using the good oils as salad dressings etc.
  • No processed foods. No junk!
Do do's (ha ha!)
  • Increase fermented foods, sauerkraut, pickles, ACV, probiotics, kefir, kombucha tea, etc
  • Increase vegetables, especially leafy greens. Last pregnancy I was able to juice vegetables more than I could eat them, and it helped me a lot. 
  • Keep hydrated. I know I love me GGMS', but I need to start loving plain old water as well. I've heard that natural spring water makes a bigger difference than filtered water. I gotta check this claim out.
  • Eat according to the Trim Healthy Mama plan. You can find more about it HERE
  • Supplementation. I am seeing a Naturapathic Dr, getting tested for everything to see where my body is at, and we will be supplementing on what needs addressing. Exciting times, indeed! I've never been so thoroughly checked!
  • We will be investing in organic and ethical foods, when possible. $$$!! I know.


Surroundings

  • We need to empty our home from like...everything, basically! This is the time to either give away or box-up most of it. Let's put on our "stage the house" mode, and pretend we need to depersonalize the home for selling. There will be no time to do this while (Lord willing I am not!) under the nausea of HG. 
  • Simplify homeschool to nearly a complete self-led study. We will be signing the kids up for mathseeds.com and ixl.com, raz-kids.com, brainpop and brainpopjr.com. Hubby will be prepared to take over some of the schooling, especially in the beginning.
  • Now or never is the time to focus on "attitude" with the children. They do their chores, but when I am out of action- they need to do these without being asked. Rewards system, ready-set-go! A wall chart will help them keep their progress and goals visual.
  • Getting a pair of "walkie-talkies", check! The best purchase EVER. No more struggled whimper yells. "Purple leader calling for red-leader. Over."
  • Cooking 20-30 freezer meals for my family. Stocking up the freezer and pantry with portioned healthy snacks and ready P&J, and cheese&deli sandwiches. I need to get my thinking cap on...menu planning, here I come!
  • Letting go of commitments. All the "extras" that my family and I can live without.
  • For me, a mini fridge next to my bed is a must. 
  • Create  "A Family Binder". Gather all the information of everything you or your family -or babysitter, aunt, friend, should have and put it in a binder. Make it accessible, pretty and simple. Telephone numbers, links, chores and menu list, manuals, recipes, instructions etc. Whatever you feel is important for the possible times that you are out of action.
  • Stocking up on good quality protein powder and collagen. 


Habits etc

  • Start taking daily epsom salt baths.
  • Praying as a couple for my womb and for my pregnancy.
  • Meditate on scripture and prayer.
  • Going to bed on time. If I get into bed by 9 p.m, it gives my thoughts and body time to settle into sleep mode. I can spend my time in bed reading or making love to my husband. Both which affect sleep in a positive way. 
  • Habits include diet.
  • Taking care of my appearance and more. A healthy well-kept body is a "strength" to any level of nausea. It made a big difference in my last pregnancy. So what does this mean exactly? For me, it is about getting groomed (waxed, haircut, eyebrows plucked, pedicure etc), visiting a pelvic floor physio -getting my core and pelvic floor into where it should be, working on my cardio and muscle strength at home or at the gym, and over all complexion.  
  • I will be budgeting for a cleaner weekly, if possible. 
  • Same goes for a regular babysitter. Some may think of this as a waste of money, but this is paying for services that I need and will make our lives that little bit manageable/easier. We don't need to go out of the house for a "date" when we hire a babysitter. Doing simply nothing, is bliss. 
  • Going over remedies that worked for me in my previous pregnancies and accumulating doTERRA essential oils that will be on my "go to" cupboard. More information on doTERRA HERE
  • This one is pricey- but if possible, I will be going to regular high dose vitamin and mineral IV treatments given by my Naturapathic Dr. I can only see this being a positive impact on my future (lord willing) pregnancy. More information HERE
My dear "blogger friend" is pretty much going through what I am as we speak, preparing for a possible future HG pregnancy. She has a wealth of knowledge when it comes down to this all, and it was through her blog that I got most of my knowledge and support through my horrifically sick pregnancies. You can find her blog HERE

So what else can I share? I have my last pregnancy's blog still up there and running. I will most likely continue writing in it, when and if we're blessed with another "peanut". I'm quite excited to find out! You can have a look and read all about how I coped with our previous pregnancy HERE

9 comments:

  1. Gee, Cathy! I keep trying to read through your post here, and each time I jump up shouting, "Oh, no! I need to be doing THAT too! Must go do!" Seriously - too much good information. :) Anyhow, I'm going to work on a thorough response, but it may take me a day or two - just wanted to let you know that I am still here and haven't forgotten this post! :)

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    1. Well I feel the exact same when I read your posts! Seriously! Your list is like me "litmus strip", am I up there where I should be!? Lol xo

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    2. LOL, I can't keep up with my own protocols either. Sometimes I read them just to remind myself what I OUGHT to be doing!! :)

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    3. yeah totally. I SO hear you.

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    4. I'm just going to go through and leave comments as I see things, so this will look a bit random. Here goes!! :)

      Diet - I love all you have to say here! This matches my plan completely, except that I have not completely eliminated coffee. (I have one cup a day on most days.)

      Seeing a naturopath - I love this!! I should do this too. I never have, due to the cost, but I should.

      ACV - I just discovered that you can take this in pill form! I don't know if it's as effective as the real stuff, but I dislike the real stuff so much that it's worth a try. I got some at vitacost.com.

      GGMS - I've wondered if this stuff might be GOOD for NVP because of the ACV and ginger. Maybe?? Even preventative?

      Decluttering - Amen and amen! I'm working on the same thing over here.

      Attitude/responsibility for children - Another amen. I'm working on this with our eldest.

      Freezer meals - I've given up on this one, simply because my husband will NOT use them. I've tried! Too bad. But I think it's a wonderful idea - go you!

      Protein powder - How do you use this? I gave up on protein shakes because I just didn't find them as helpful as eating "real" protein (i.e. cheese, meat, etc.)

      Thank you for sharing your plans and ideas. You have so much good information here!! I love it. I hope to share this from my blog in the next week or so.

      Enjoy that beautiful Canadian summer!!!! :)

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    5. Lovely! Let me expand a little on the "coffee" part. I love coffee. I am such a coffee snob, I really am. The reason I am avoiding coffee (as I had a cup at a breakfast restaurant this morning...sigh*) is A) because of the 'teratogens'. Teragonens interferes with the rhythmic reproductive "dance" of our genes, chromosomes, and cells. There are effects of this disruption that cause lots of negative cases with baby. B) as a HG mom, I can't have anything in my body that I will cause me to have any withdrawal symptoms. As a HG mom, I believe that these symptoms (headaches, fatigue etc) multiply so drastically, and I would rather not have any of it! LOL

      ACV - Thats awesome! Maybe during pregancy I won't be able to tolerate the taste, but right now - I don't mind it. Who knows what aversions the next pregnancy will bring. I will def.look inot that! THANKS!

      GGMS - I'm having a brain "fart" right now.... whats a 'NVP'? LOL

      Freezer meals- my husband thrives on them. Last summer I went to Finland for 6 weeks and cooked 52 freezer meals for him. They were all either "S" or "E" meals. I still don't know what to make for a whole family? I'm kind of lost... maybe just stick to simple "cold foods"?? What is your take on that?

      PROTEIN- my hubby would wake me up at 4 a.m EVERY morning to drink a casein protein shake. It was hard, but I did it! The protein was slower to digest and it really helped me in the morning. My blood sugars wouldn't drop so heavily, which I believe made a huge impact on the same morning and day. I will start drinking shakes now, to feed my muscles etc...-1-2C water with a scoop of what-ever protein, and chuck it down!

      I can't wait to read your post!!!! I'm working on a post on how my hubby is preparing for my pregnancy too! So funny! So real!

      HUGS!! Remain blessed!

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  2. Awesome ideas, all of them!

    I love the protein shake idea. I heard another idea that was very similar, that is, eating two hard-boiled eggs before bed every night. Considering my pregnancy aversions to eggs, that would be VERY difficult - but it's the same concept, of providing that protein that prevents morning instability. I keep cheese and nuts in a cooler by my bed for the same purpose - eating as soon as I get up in the morning. If I did in the early morning, I'm sure it would be even better.

    NVP = nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. :) I use it instead of "morning sickness," because that phrase is so vastly inadequate. Also, NVP covers both regular morning sickness and NVP, so I don't have to write out both. :)

    Freezer meals - I think that's awesome that that works for you all!! My husband just isn't into that - he's a fast-food kind o' guy. When I am in NVP mode, we tend to eat a lot of take-out (storebought rotisserie chickens, etc.) and easy things like tuna, PB&J, fruit and crackers and cheese for the children, etc. It stays simple for a VERY long time. Then when I'm able to tolerate a bit of cooking, I move into easy things like spaghetti with storebought sauce. It's like learning to live all over again when I finally make it back to real cooking! :) I imagine you know all about that!!

    If it's okay, I'd love to share this post from my site in the next week or two??

    Have a wonderful night!!
    Diana

    P.S. 2ww for me right now. Drives me NUTS. :)

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    1. "If I did this early in the morning..."

      "NVP covers both regular morning sickness and HG..."

      Sorry, I can tell I was writing this late at night!! :)

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  3. So nice to read a blog post from you again!! Been missing you! :)

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