I decided this week to share with you some updates on my current (second) pregnancy, and how I’m taking care of both myself and my baby.
This week on Women’s Day I reached my 20-week half-way pregnancy mark, and thankfully, I feel amazing, so I want to share some of the things that I feel have helped me.
This pregnancy has been a bit different than my first one, a little more hectic (unfortunately) but equally as special! Last time around it was Covid and I didn’t travel at all, I relaxed a lot, went to the beach most weekends with my hubbie, and I “milked” my extra progesterone (the hormone that has us relaxed and zen!)
This time around, I haven’t stopped traveling (and much more to come) as I’m having the baby in the US, plus I’m currently planning a move of my business to a new location, and will also be moving homes! So it’s a lot.
That being said, I’ve been proactive in taking care of myself.
Here are some of the things I have been doing consistently for my health and the health of my baby:
Daily meditations with Expectuful app (highly recommend for both expeting and postpartum moms) & connecting with my baby constantly
Hydrating like crazy. I have 2-3 glasses of water upon waking, then my warm lemon water with probiotics, and then my matcha latte. And I keep my water bottle with me at all times.
Taking my high quality prenatal (including omega-3). This time I’m using Perelel as I love that it’s a daily packet that includes everything, AND tailored to each trimester. (The other ones I like and considered taking include: WeNatal, SeekingHealth, FullWell and Thorne).
Daily exercise, usually 30-40 mins in the morning, plus I try to walk a little or stretch in the evenings (apart from my own workouts, I’m loving PH method prenatal classes!)
Daily 360 breathwork, and I’ll add in some pelvic activation, too.
Extra nutritious meals; more on this below!
Bodywork. I’m aiming for twice a month prenatal massages, and soon I plan to see a chiropracter, too.
Before bed: Journaling, and then I take my magnesium supplement (I alternate between magnesium citrate and magnesium glycinate).
Amd now a little more on how I’m nourishing myself this pregnancy, in terms of my daily diet.
In terms of nutrition, I’m mostly focused on:
Including nutrient-dense foods with enough folate, omega3 and iron (so tons of dark leafy greens, legumes, avocados, nuts and seeds, fish, meat and even some liver!) and
Eating tons of protein, fiber, antioxidnats (especially polyphenals) and healthy fats in EVERY meal (including snacks) for blood sugar balance. (And separately proper hydration, exercise & rest!)
My daily foods include: leafy greens, other colorful veggies, at least one legume, at least one fruit, nuts and seeds, organic eggs, at least one source of animal protein (fish or chicken/turkey or meat) and cacao. My “almost daily foods” include my vegan yogurt or sauerkraut for added probiotics, and bone broth.
My snacks are usually my high fiber seed crackers with either salmon salad or hummus or babaganoush. If I go vegetarian, I’ll add extra seeds, nutritional yeast and/or microgreens. Or I’ll have a small plate of leftovers as a snack!
For my main meals, I’m usually combining both animal protein (be it organic eggs or chicken, wild-caught fish or seafood, grass-fed meat) and some high-fiber plant protein like beans or lentils or chickpeas. Plus of course TONS of veggies.
For my healthy fats, I eat avocado, nuts/seeds (and nut/seed butters), coconut yogurt, ghee and extra virgin olive oil probably daily.
My carbs come mostly from my veggies, some fruits (I’m loving berries, or green guava or apples with lemon and a pinch of salt), small amounts of quinoa or brown/black rice here and there, and of course, from my healthy desserts (everyday!)!
For my desserts, I’m having fun making lots of delicious low sugar, high protein and high fiber desserts that ADD GOOD NUTRITION and don’t spike my blood sugar. I don’t use added sugars. I mostly make energy balls with only a few dates, tons of nut butters, protein powder, cacao, coconut and/or other nuts and seeds. Or I’ve been making my vegan yogurt bark (coconut yogurt, nut butter, protein powder and a drizzle of dark chocolate on top). Or I just have dark chocolate! Here are some date recipes great for 3rd trimester!
I feel blessed that as a health coach I’m on top of my own nutrition and wellness, but I still have my holistic doctor and health coach with Parsley Health, and I recommend you consider getting a health coach too!
Want more tips on pregnancy &/or fertility nutrition? Set up a discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching!
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