Hello, my friend. If you are reading this, odds are that you are probably pregnant or trying to figure out how to help someone you know who is experiencing some of the joys of early pregnancy such as nausea, vomiting, food aversions and constipation. I'm sorry. I really am.
Had you told me a few months ago that I would one day reach a point in my life where the mere thought of Chocolate Silk Pie would turn me 50 shades of green, I would have laughed in your face. {I've had this recipe & post half ready since "Pi Day", but I just.can't.look.at.it.} But here's the thing: Pregnancy is like having your body temporarily hijacked.
The things you thought you knew about yourself and your habits are suddenly turned upside down and rearranged without your consent -- and with very good reason. You're growing a person. Naturally, that's gotta throw a wrench in the system.
The problem, I've found, comes not so much with dealing with these new and unusual symptoms, but with maintaining some semblance of a normal life while you're not feeling your best {and quite often, not even sharing your news just yet}. I mean, it would be great if everyone would just understand that you need to sleep 12 hours a day and maintain a 50 foot distance from all forms of chicken. But unfortunately, that's not the way it works. Life goes on and you must find a way to be functional.
My first encounter with pregnancy nausea came around the 5 week mark. Before that, I was game to eat just about everything. But then... not so much. I did a lot of laying around on the couch keeping my mind off of food -- something very unnatural to me since, you know... food blogger! It was uncomfortable, unsettling and just about as far from fun as one could get.
I've compiled a list of the things that were so helpful to me during the early weeks of pregnancy in hopes that it will save you from feeling like a zombie!
- Sparkling Water
My doctor thought this was weird as bubbles tend to cause even more gas and bloating {and you will most likely have plenty of that without any help}, but sparkling water was one of the only things that settled my upset tummy during those weeks of feeling, well, unsettled. Sip slowly, as you would when your stomach is upset from indigestion.
There are all kinds of naturally flavored sparkling water brands out there {
these and
these are my favorites}, so if you're kicking a soda habit, it can also help to have a little something bubbly and flavored that doesn't contain caffeine or sugar. Sparkling water can also add some interest to juices and other beverages since you'll most likely be drinking boring things for the next 9 months. It makes it feel a little more festive. So, pour yourself a mocktail and drink up!
- Ginger Beer/Ginger Ale
Ginger has natural anti-nausea properties and is often promoted as a great tool for keeping queasiness at bay in early pregnancy. The downside: Supposed "Ginger Ale" {the soda} is mostly corn syrup and yuckiness and very little real ginger, so not much help there. Look for a natural brand of ginger beverages, such as
Reed's or
Fever-Tree -- or
make your own. Just don't overdo it because there's a fair amount of sugar in the store bought kinds. Ginger chews, candies, teas, and tablets work, too.
Note: Although its name contains the word "beer", ginger beer is non-alcoholic and safe for consumption during pregnancy!
- Applesauce
Here's a little fun fact for ya: I can't swallow pills. Like, I put them in my mouth, take a swig of water and find that the water goes down the hatch while the pill is left hanging out on my tongue. Crazy, I know. Anyway, I found a few years ago that I could swallow tablets and capsules easier when I hid them in a spoonful of
sugar applesauce. Don't ask me why, it just works. Before I even got pregnant, I began taking prenatals and found that they were made for horses. They were gigantic and I was terrified of having to take them daily for what seems like an eternity. Enter applesauce. Done & done. {Tip: Buy the organic, unsweetened kind so you're not ingesting unnecessary pesticides and sugar.}
- All-natural snack bars
So, I love
KIND bars anyway {and more recently, I discovered
Taste of Nature bars which are similar}, but pregnancy made me love them even more. Because when you're pregnant, they {meaning, the all-knowing powers-that-be} suggest eating little bits throughout the day so you're never really empty -- that's when nausea can feel its worst. These bars are portable, healthy, full of nutrients and really yummy. They contain real ingredients so you don't have to worry about chemicals and weirdness, which is nice because you have more important things to worry about.
Even when you don't feel well, they're still easy to stomach. And even though they're a little expensive, that's truly priceless.
- Sprouted Grain Breads
Guess what? Even though you're not drinking any alcohol right now, you pretty much feel hung over ALL.THE.TIME. And what happens when you feel hungover? {I wouldn't know, I drink moderately. Wink.} You want to eat like a 5 year old. Grilled cheese. Pancakes. French fries. But you, my dear, do not have the metabolism of a 5 year old. And if you start giving in to every whim to eat these things in your first trimester, your scale will be yelling at you by the time week 14 rolls around.
For some reason, though nothing else seemed remotely appealing to me, I was craving bread when I felt gross. But bread really isn't that good for you. Empty calories. However, sprouted grain breads like
Ezekiel 4:9 bread
contain more nutrients than their very processed counterparts. So, if you want some toast, by all means, go for it -- but try to make it a healthier option if possible. {I also baked my own bread, but I doubt you want to go there.}
Hang in there. Soon you'll find that you're {hopefully} feeling better and you'll be able to eat like a normal person again. My nausea lasted 2 or 3 weeks and then disappeared. {Some people never feel sick; some feel sick until the start of their second trimester; some feel sick the whole 9 months. I'm crossing my fingers and toes for you that you'll be one of the first two!} Things will be looking up {as opposed to down into the toilet bowl} before you know it!
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't have a medical background. This is simply advice that helped me personally feel better in the beginning of pregnancy. If you have any questions or doubts, seek guidance from your doctor, of course.
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If chewing doesn't sound appealing, you may want to go the liquid route for your food intake at the times of the day when your nausea is at its peak.
Many women find that cold or semi-frozen beverages and fruit smoothies help them feel better when their tummies are boycotting solid foods. This Mango, Banana & Ginger Lassi is such a delicious way to get some goodness in there without gagging.
Both banana and ginger happen to be good for times of stomach distress -- the ginger soothes and alleviates while the potassium in the banana helps to balance the stores that may have been depleted if you've been sick to your stomach. The probiotics {natural bacteria that help boost the good bugs in your digestive system} in yogurt also help regulate what's going on in your stomach.
The best part is the fact that you simply toss the ingredients in the blender and let it do its thing... because I know you don't feel like cooking, mama. Take a shortcut and buy
frozen mango chunks so you don't have to deal with that pesky pit. I also like to buy large bunches of ripe bananas, cut and freeze them so that they're ready to go when I want a cold, thick smoothie.
Feel good knowing that you're putting nutritious things in your body while baby grows, even though your body is bucking the system. And for heaven's sake... step away from the mac & cheese!
Mango, Banana & Ginger Lassi
Yields 1 serving
1/2 a mango {or about 1/2 to 3/4 cup mango chunks}
1 medium ripe banana
1/4 to 1/2 cup your favorite milk {I tend to use almond}
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt {vanilla would work well, too}
Handful of ice cubes
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger {or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger}
{Optional} Pinch of ground cardamom
Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender. Blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass and enjoy... or at least try to! :)
