I’m sharing this guest post at Day 2 Day Joys all about my 10 Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy. Follow the link below to visit Rachel’s blog and learn how to have the most amazing healthy pregnancy – naturally!
10 Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
Are you pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant soon? Today I’m writing at Day 2 Day Joys about 10 Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy.
Congratulations on this beautiful journey you’re embarking on. As you prepare to welcome your little bundle of joy into the world, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing your midwife. This incredible individual will be by your side throughout your pregnancy, labor, and delivery, providing you with support, guidance, and personalized care every step of the way. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the right midwife for you? Don’t worry, mama – we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make this important decision with confidence and peace of mind. So grab a cozy seat, mama-to-be, and let’s dive into the wonderful world of midwifery together!read more
For many years, I thought that eating butter and extra fat was “bad” or at least unhealthy. Thankfully, I understand more about eating healthy and making better food choices. Today we are going to talk more about why you should eat butter and how it is actually good for you!
Steps to a Healthier You
I have shared easy steps you can start today towards a happier and healthier body. We have already covered drinking more water each day and cutting out the sugar. Now we are going to focus on adding something back in – healthy fats! read more
We learned in Cut the Sugar, that we need to make changes to reduce the sugar in our diets. I am so excited to see more and more Stevia products on the shelves. This is great news for people wanting a zero calorie, healthy sugar alternative.
What is Stevia exactly?
Stevia is actually derived from a plant. It is related to a daisy and ragweed (I’ll take the daisy, thank you!). The Stevia plant can be found in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina and it is cultivated in China. You can even grow it yourself if you want! Stevia has zero calories and is 200 times sweeter than sugar without affecting blood sugar. Since it is sweeter than sugar, a little goes a long way! You also don’t want to over do Stevia because there can be too much of a good thing, then it will taste bitter.
Stevia is more than just a sugar substitute: Livescience.com says that “stevia also served as a treatment for burns, colic, stomach problems and sometimes as a contraceptive.” Pretty neat stuff here!
Is Stevia Safe?
100daysofrealfood.com explains that not all Stevia is created equal. read more
Being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time job in itself, but that doesn’t mean you have to neglect your own health and fitness. In fact, finding time for self-care and exercise can be the key to feeling fabulous and energized throughout the day. So, if you’re a busy mom looking to stay fit and healthy, look no further! In this blog, I’m going to share my top tips, low carb recipes, keto recipes, sugar detox ideas, and healthy tips specifically tailored for busy moms like you. Get ready to get fit and feel fabulous working out as a stay at home mom!read more
After I had my baby, I started searching for exercises to heal your abs and how to heal Diastasis Recti. These tips will show how to bring abs back together after pregnancy.
Diastasis Recti is the separation of the abdominal muscles. Most commonly occurs as a result of pregnancy.
Before I was pregnant, I had no idea how my body was going to change to bring in this little person into the world. Once she was here, I felt like I had to learn how to be me again. I found out that during pregnancy my body had developed Diastasis Recti.
Some women are just prone to this abdominal separation, but there are some factors that increase the likelihood of it occurring:read more
Holidays are the time to share with friends and family. This year you can share how you are staying Trim and enjoying all of your Trim Holiday Drinks!
No need to let this holiday season be an excuse for added pounds. These Holiday Drinks are the perfect solution to quench your thirst and satisfy your sweet tooth without adding to your waistband!
YOU CAN ENJOY THESE TRIM HOLIDAY DRINKS WITHOUT ANY GUILT!
Hey there, incredible moms-to-be! Are you navigating the journey of gestational diabetes and searching for ways to manage it naturally, all while ensuring the health and well-being of you and your baby? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Gestational diabetes may seem daunting, but with the right approach, you can take control of your health and enjoy a smooth pregnancy journey. In this blog post, we’ll dive into some practical tips on how to manage gestational diabetes naturally through diet and exercise. From making mindful food choices to staying active and finding balance in your daily routine, we’re here to support you every step of the way. So, grab a cozy seat, mama-to-be, and let’s embark on this empowering journey together! read more
I am very new to this idea. I myself have been going to a chiropractor since I was in the 7th grade off and on.
After I had such a great experience with my end of pregnancy adjustment that ended in me going into labor 12 hours later (check out my birth story)…. it got me wondering about how important it is to be aligned properly.
I had read about chiropractors adjusting babies for reflux and gas from other moms and it working. I had heard it was great for constipation and that most kids would go to the bathroom soon after an adjustment. After a weekend full of fussiness from Annaleigh, I was ready to go get my complimentary first new born adjustment from my new chiropractor.
I also thought, why not get Aidalyn adjusted too – so we did.
An infant adjustment doesn’t look like much. He just manipulated her pelvis a little and her neck just slightly while I was holding her…
It didn’t look like much at all to the eye, but today she is a completely different baby! She is back to taking naps and being content to play in a bouncy seat or on the floor.
So you may want to think about taking your kids to get adjusted if you are dealing with constipation or gas… something to try!
Pregnancy is wonderful… Gestational Diabetes is not.
I’m 29 weeks pregnant now. Usually around this time, it is typical to test how your body is responding to glucose. In your pregnancy, there are certain hormones that can interfere with your body’s ability to bring glucose into the cells leaving a higher blood glucose. If you think about it, it makes sense because you want some glucose to go to the baby. However, if too much glucose goes to the baby, you could end up with an unhealthy, “fat” baby with sugar issues at birth.
Last pregnancy, I did the typical one hour 50 grams of glucose test. I think my result was 140 (which is the upper limits of normal). From that point on, I was put on a very restrictive, low carb diet. This was before I had ever heard of being grain free or paleo. It was a major shock for me when I had no recipes that I liked that were basically no carbs (no sweet potatoes : ( , brown rice, beans).
Gestational diabetes is somewhat controversial in some groups as in “does it really exsist” or is it a normal thing in pregnancy to have higher blood glucose to give energy to the baby. Most studies show that there is no better outcome from being diagnosed with gestational diabetes – if anything there are few positive outcomes when doctors insist on inducing early or just scheduling c-sections due to risk of larger babies.
One article I read, said that possibly babies that are going to be larger and need more energy release a signal to the placenta to secrete more hormones that block glucose absorption into the mom’s cells leaving more for the growing baby. I’m not sure, but it makes sense given my 9 pound baby – is now a toddler who is over the 95th percentile for weight and height. I don’t think there was anything I could have done differently to have “grown” a smaller baby given her personal genetics.
Luckily, going through that process last time has helped me so much this pregnancy. I decided to decline the one hour glucose tolerance test, and just test at home one hour after meals to see what foods caused any spikes. I wouldn’t say that I have gestational diabetes, but I do tend to have glucose intolerance – which would be the precursor. I have very few high numbers 2 hours after meals (over 120)
The past week I have been testing and showing that I do great for my typical breakfast and lunch. I start my day with eggs and yogurt and usually have a huge salad for lunch. Dinner is usually when I vary my meals. I’ve learned that I can have some carbs this pregnancy (I don’t think I could handle any carbs at first last pregnancy).
I cooked homemade chicken alfredo with tons of vegetables and tossed with pasta – it was SOOOOOO good!! and it didn’t spike my blood sugar! But If I eat over 50 grams of carbs (or so) even with lots of protein, I will see a rise in my blood sugar. Last night we had CORN (clean our refrigerator night) and I had taco meat and black beans, with roasted sweet potatoes, carrot souffle (recipe here) and green beans. At one hour, my glucose level was 106 – which is great!
Again, the change isn’t as bad as last pregnancy when I was eating a lot more carbs (whole grain what-nots). When I don’t eat any carbs (fruit, starchy vegetables, etc) I don’t feel like I have any energy – like can’t get out of the chair. So I am very thankful I can tolerate some healthy forms of carbs for energy.
Exercise wise: I am either doing about 35 minutes on my elliptical machine (last week I got in 55 minutes one day!) or going on about a 50 minute walk in my hilly neighborhood daily. I would exercise normally, so that isn’t a change at all.
I just have to be a little more proactive in what I’m going to cook or eat – and no cheats – which I would have had a treat at small group that I will have to pass on now : ( Only 10 weeks or so left! Of course I want to do anything to have a healthy pregnancy and baby, this will be worth it in the end.
I’m taking the Perfect Prenatal whole food vitamins throughout my pregnancy. They were recommended to me when I was pregnant with Aidalyn and I loved them so much I’m taking them again. You can buy some through HerbsPro (affiliate) with this discount code:
We are getting so excited about welcoming Annaleigh into our family!
