Nutrition during pregnancy: my challenges as a new mom

Hello again! I have been meaning to write this post for a while as I hope it resonates with many mums to be out there. Pregnancy, although a beautiful period, can come with many struggles, one of the most frequent ones is balancing our act around how we are nourishing our bodies (and babies).

Even with more knowledge as a nutritionist around what to eat, what to avoid, how much to increase energy intake or which nutrients are important to watch for, the struggle was real to follow my own advice particularly around the first months of pregnancy. So here is the best advice I can give you if you are suffering from any of the following issues

The nausea- morning sickness

And it's not only in the morning when nausea hits, right? This was one of the biggest challenges for me, because the nausea got so bad at some points, I couldn't stand being in the kitchen, opening the door to the fridge or the dishwasher, the smells of certain foods being cooked (i.e., onions, peppers), the look of some foods (i.e., chutney, beans or any pulse in a plastic container). So, even though I'm no longer obsessed with tracking my weight, I lost weight during the first semester as a result (and this was evident from the first appointment I had with my midwife).

What helped?

• Cold drinks: particularly water or sips of fruit juice here and then.

• Fruits that have a high content of water: apples, pears, mandarines/easy peelers, grapes. They gave me more hydration, which is important when you have nausea.

• Eating more frequently and having smaller portions throughout the day (avoiding very fatty or spicy foods at night). I noticed that the longer I kept without eating

• Sticking to foods that I could tolerate even if they weren't the most wholesome: plain crackers, white bread, rice, potatoes.

• Ginger: I don't like it and it would have caused me more gags, but it's a good choice if you can tolerate it.

Not judging me for eating the above, and finding times in the day where the nausea was better and when I could eat more vegetables and forms of protein (eggs, for example).

Metallic taste: sucking coins or tasting something burnt permanently

Although this symptom improved after week 17, it came back during the last trimester and I still struggle from time to time to find ways to deal with it. Even after eating you may experience the taste coming back, so it's a matter of being patient and keeping your mind occupied.

What helped

• Good hydration: water, sips of fruit juice

• Acidic foods: tangy apples, kefir, grapes, berries, pineapple, and in my own case carrots with lime and chilli powder (this is a very typical Mexican snack). On this same line, I confess that at some point crisps (Salt and Vinegar), where a great companion as well as sour gummies or sweets (not all day, but a couple when the taste was at it's worst)

As I mentioned before, keeping busy and not torturing myself for feeding crisps to the baby when this was a real comfort during the day, is part of seeing the process of eating from a greater perspective than just the nutrients in it.

Reflux

Even though this is more prevalent during the third trimester, I happened to have it at different points during pregnancy, and it felt awful. I recall even taking Rennies (or pesto bismol/ riopan in Mexico), making me feel worse. The compression of the stomach due to baby's growth is to blame, but there are definitely ways to prevent it.

What helped

• Avoiding fatty and spicy meals, especially at night. This can translate into diminishing takeaways or being more cautious with new places and foods you order in there (where you aren't sure how foods are cooked).

• Having smaller meals (especially at night)

• Antiacids

• Sleeping in a more supine position (almost seated)

Weight gain

I have found so many contrasting views on people's comments around my belly size that often I have felt that I'm doing something wrong.

As I have struggled in the past with my weight and body image, I thought being pregnant would make go into overdrive for gaining weight. Luckily this hasn't been the case, as I have come to love my "dome". Yet I know that the process of seeing our bodies change may be challenging and triggered by social media and comments that aren't necessarily always helpful. If this has happened to you:

• Remind yourself that weight gain is needed to make space for your baby and all the conditions he/she needs to develop well

• Realise that comments you read or listen may come from a place of struggle or lack of empathy from someone else. They shouldn't dictate your truth, reality, worth.

• Your body will change after your baby is born. Give it time :)

Being pregnant comes with a wisdom and opportunity to reconnect with our bodies. As women we should trust the process more and realise that we don't need to be counting calories (unless it's helpful/advisable), as our body is designed to give us the cues when it needs to eat, rest, move, relax. It could be you cannot "tune in" as easily, and seeing a health professional can be beneficial, especially because there can be weight gains that can have an impact on how your baby is growing and developing.

Overall, be kind to yourself during this period. Growing a human being is a challenging task and I'm sure you are doing the best that you can xx