Ballerina Bump Series: Morning Sickness & Cravings

Diving into a Red Velvet Pointe Shoe cupcake, 6 months pregnant! 

Ballerina Bump Series: Morning Sickness & Cravings 

"YOU ARE NOT EATING FOR TWO. You can drink a glass of nonfat milk with every meal to get your additional calorie/calcium needs."  These were the first sentences my doctor uttered after I asked how much more I should be eating. OK then. :(

Figuring out what to eat when you're NOT pregnant is hard enough.....when you add the pregnancy factor, it's daunting! Many of us try to maintain a healthy diet, figuring out what works for our body, what causes inflammation, what we are allergic/sensitive to, etc. When you're pregnant, it all goes out the window. You're in survival mode; what can I picture swallowing and keeping down?  I seem to be faring better than some in the morning sickness department and it is still preeeettty, preeeettty bad.

A typical day for my "before" was lots of lean animal & dairy protein, no yeast, limited gluten, plenty of espresso, 3-4 wines glasses/week, sushi, and vegtables. My "after" is vastly different. I can't stomach much animal protein at all, it was months before I could even think about having eggs, chicken or turkey. A fruit hater before, I am now consuming comical amounts of fruits, especially grapes and grapefruit. 

When you first get THE LIST of everything you can't have, it's kind of annoying. But then you realize that you don't even want MOST things on the list. I like to think that it's your body's way of protecting the baby. For example, since the age of 12 (not really, but kinda) I've had a Venti Americano in my hand before noon every day of my life. Now, even the days I do get a tall coffee out of habit, I take 2 sips and I'm donesky!

Here's what morning sickness taught me: 

1) It's not in the morning, it's all DAY! Make that all day and night. 

2) You can't get hungry or you'll awaken the nausea monster. GRR

3) [This] is not an all you can eat pass, if you start eating badly (especially if you didn't before), your body will not like you. 

4) You are not in charge of what you can keep down anymore. Don't force your old diet on yourself. If all you can picture is eating is pretzels then guess what?! That's what you're having!

5) You WILL, I repeat, You WILL feel better if you move and exercise. Force yourself....on your most nauseous days, just do it! It truly helps!

6) You will punch anyone that gives you advice on how to control morning sickness. ;)

7) Stay hydrated. Coffee is not your friend, don't even think about diet coke.

8) Experiment with your pre-natal vitamin, sometimes a tweak in brand or time of day can make a difference if you're getting headaches.

9) Take naps! When your little body gets too tired, that nausea will creep back in. 

10) It's a balancing act, be active, don't get too tired, eat enough but not so that you get reflux, stay hydrated but just enough to where you don't have to pee all through the night. 

And finally, just "for fun" these are some of the items that I craved the most so far:

1st trimester: Yoplait Greek yogurt, Rold Gold Pretzels (very 1995), Velveeta, as in the chemical cheese product found by the dog food at grocery stores

2nd trimester: Fruit, any and all! Slurpees (very 1995). Mixed greens with balsamic vinagrette. Cadbury's Fruit & Nut chocolate, proscuitto (a Listeria no-no!)

3rd trimester: Ice (can't get enough even though it's minus 20 degrees outside), Pink Himalyian Salt on anything, SALT, Kettle's Salt & Vinegar chips, Beef Jerky preferably from Sable, SALT and SPRUTS (a sprouted almond treat with lots of sea salt)

Again, these are just observations from my experience because I can't get enough of wanting to know if I'm normal or not from other women that have had kids! This is not medical advice, just documentation of my own journey of what has worked and not worked for me. Wishing every expectant or wanting to be expectant mom the very best!

At the peak of my slurpee & beef jerky era!

-xoxo, Zi