Do take vitamins. - Up until about 10 weeks I was still taking my normal all inclusive one-a-day vitamin. Why? Because it has all of the same stuff a prenatal vitamin has in it except when you buy vitamins with the word "prenatal" on them the price seems to more than double. My vitamin had more than enough folic acid which is what you're really worried about for prevention of neural tube defects. I read labels, I'm not crazy. I started to wonder though, if the iron in my daily vitamin was contributing to my morning sickness. I found an all natural gummy prenatal vitamin for about $10 for a 45 day supply to try out. I have been sick very rarely since I switched to a vitamin with no iron.
It tastes like candy; sour gummy worms to be specific. It has been the highlight of my mornings. Some days I really want to eat more than two and I have to make a conscious effort not to OD on vitamins. So in hindsight, I would just buy a regular all inclusive vitamin that didn't have iron. I have no idea how I'm going to wean myself off of these gummy things. Don't eat raw meat.- I love my burgers medium rare but this is something that I could give up. Well Done Please! Another thing about meat.. I'm not supposed to eat deli meat unless it is heated to steaming hot due to the bacteria listeria. I don't eat deli meat like that anyway so no biggie.
Do eat two eggs a day. - Say what? My healthier lifestyle switched to egg whites long ago, but that won't cut it. It's the choline in the yolks that I need. Every now and then I'll eat eggs with the yolks but two a day is extreme for me.
Don't eat raw or big fish. - Mercury... Dun Dun Dun... You should generally try to stay away from fish high in mercury pregnant or not. The general rule is that the bigger the fish, the higher up on the food chain, the more mercury it will contain. Try to stay away from fish like tilefish, swordfish, shark, and tuna. Not canned tuna but the big ones like Ahi. Even still, I should limit my seafood intake to about 1-2 servings a week. By the way, the Omega-3s in my vitamin come from a fish source so they have been tested for mercury and it's all clear. Confession: I love shrimp, and they're the worst because they are bottom feeders. I still eat it, but sparingly. Everybody knows sushi is my favorite food in the world. Please bring some to my delivery suite. Thanks.
Do get a lot of dairy. - Seriously, three cups of milk a day! C'mon man! It can't be skim and it shouldn't be full fat. I've been sticking to 1% milk. I can't drink a glass of milk so the only milk I consume is after I finish my cereal and whatever they put in ice-cream. I'm considering this one a work in progress.
Peanuts? This is the source of some controversy. Some say you shouldn't eat peanuts in pregnancy because it could contribute to the child developing allergies against nuts. If this is the case, I'm sorry in advance little baby. When I couldn't keep food down or smell meat, peanuts were my ONLY source of protein. Others say it's fine. I agree with the others. LOL
Caffeine? This is also the source of controversy. I admire the women who before pregnancy, like me, drank 6-8 cups of coffee a day but found out they were pregnant and quit cold turkey. Three days ago I went to Starbucks and got a salted caramel mocha with skim milk. I salivated watching them make it. It was everything I wanted and more. I have most certainly cut down on the caffeine but I figure if I cut it all out the baby would go through withdrawal, as would I. When I crave it, I have it. I did decide to give up the diet sodas because of the artificial sweeteners. I drink regular caffeine FULL cokes instead. It's much more satisfying.
Alcohol? My biggest sacrifice. Although, my midwives say if I would like to have glass sparingly late in my third trimester no harm should be done. Going from sipping a bottle of wine 4 times a week to NONE has been rough especially because the holidays are all about booze and celebrations. Chef is getting me some of that alcohol free wine so that I don't feel out of place this Christmas.
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