Raw Pregnancies

[aravis]

I was wondering if there is anyone out there who has become pregnant while 100% raw and had a raw pregnancy. I would love to hear how the experience was, especially if you can compare it to a non-raw conception/pregnancy. Some of the posts I have read have discussed how some people no longer have periods. I understand that that does not necessarily mean that you are not ovulating but I want to make sure that it does not affect my fertility.

[Spectatrix]

Jinjee at http://www.thegardendiet.com/ has had two raw pregnancies. She has an ebook that you can buy about her pregnancies (2 raw, 2 cooked) and the differences between them.

[aravis]

Thank you, I'll take a look at those.

[Boysenberry]

I was 100% raw when I became pregnant and am now back to that. I am 20 weeks along... This is my 7th child, so I can tell you that I do not have heartburn, major fatigue, sciatic nerve pain or even morning sickness! I still run 3-4 miles 3-4 times a week and keep up with the other 6 children while trying to build my raw business. I am still wearing my prepregnancy clothes. My daughter said today that I don't look pregnant to her.

I am seeing a regular OB/GYN and they have done an ultrasound... the baby is measuring a tiny bit bigger than her "age" and has a healthy strong heart beat. My blood pressure is low and the rest of my blood tests came back fine, except that I am anemic. However, I have always been anemic since I was a child. I have to eat two very big ( about two heads of greens, kale, collards,that sort of thing) servings of greens a day to keep that at bay... and frankly, sometimes I just don't want to. :rolleyes:

All of this is amazing to me because, usually I have gained so much weight by this time that I hurt all over, can't sleep. Exercise is walking very slow down the street and XL maternity barely fits. I used to go through a box of TUMS in a week. :eek: because the heartburn was so intense. My legs cramped and with three of my babies I was bed ridden. I used to have sciatic nerve pain so bad it would knock out the use of my legs, sometimes while walking and send me to the ground. I hated being pregnant!! This is the best pregnancy ever. I have been able to enjoy to small movements of the baby and still enjoy my other children and my life. Life hasn't had to come to a halt until the baby stopped nursing!

Hope this helps
Sami

[aravis]

Sami,
Thanks! That was exactly the kind of information I was interested in. I have 3 so far and would like lots more. My husband and I didn't start having kids until we were married for quite a while so I don't want want to slow the process down. I was hoping that this new way of eating would not interfere with my fertility and would improve my next pregnancy. I always love being pregnant when I'm not pregnant then I get pregnant and remember that I don't really like it that much! :) I also get TERRIBLE heartburn, leg cramps etc. Plus I gain a ton of weight and keep 10 lbs with each baby. I don't think I'll go 100% raw but I would say I'm about 80% and I've lost a ton of weight and feel really great. The worst part of pregnancy for me is at 10:00 am every day of the first trimester. I would always feel really low blood sugar, neasous (sp?) and weak. I would feel too tired to do much about it. This happening with one or 2 other kids was hard enough. I can't imagine how you have done it with all your little ones! Do you keep some sort of online journal? I'd love to follow along with your pregnancy. My youngest is 11 months and I just started my period last month. I've never had more than 2 periods without getting pregnant so I imagine I will be soon. (I would love to be.) Bless you for your positive attitude.
Thanks again!

[faith4u]

Aravis,

Good for you. I have four children and would love many more too.

I didn't start my last pregnancy out raw but I went all raw at the beginning of my third trimester.

I couldn't believe how good I felt. Tons of energy and none of the discomforts I usually had.

I can't say that the labor was helped all that much but I am sure it would have been different if I had been all raw for the whole pregnancy.

I always suffer really bad morning sickness in the first four months. It is when I eat the least amount of raw because it makes me sick. I would like to see how my body does during that time if I start out raw. It would be interesting.

I encourage you to at least try a 30 day 100% raw period and see what you think.

Good luck

[Spectatrix]

Good for all of you who are having or planning to have raw pregnancies! I must say, though, I can't imagine wanting to have more than 2 or 3 kids... :eek:

[aravis]

faith4u,
Thanks for the information! I'm so glad to hear that it went well for you during your last trimester. There sure are a lot of discomforts I would like to avoid especially during the 3rd trimester.
I have considered doing a 30 day raw but I just think that I need some meat. I just want to have mostly raw and some, not much, organic meat every week, not every day.

Spectatrix,
My husband and I really only wanted one child and we never really felt ready. We were married 8 years when we had our first son and we realized that we both wanted many more. What a blessing. It's hard but many good things are. I just didn't know how full and interesting life could be. Kids are truly amazing.

[gatorgrrl]

I would love a dozen, but 1 or 2 at this point would make me sooooo happy.

[Blu]

Wow Sami, what a great testimonial for raw if I ever heard one!

[gatorgrrl]

I am going to have raw pregnancies. Can't wait.

[rawbaby]

I was about 90% raw when I got pregnant (had been mostly raw for about 9-10 months). I didn't have any trouble conceiving.
Then I went crazy and fell back to about 75% raw for my 1st trimester! Now, I'm just beginning my 2nd trimester and I'm going for 100% raw. I'm also trying to stay active, which I think helps.
I would LOVE to hear more about all of your raw pregnancies everyone! :)

[Boysenberry]

Aravis,

The thing I found that helped with the weakness is banana/celery smoothies. 2 bananas/1-2 stalks celery (depending on how much you like celery) and enough water to blend it. It helps me a lot.

I don't have a raw pregnancy journal.... I will look into making one. You could email me and we could keep in touch so I can tell you where it is...

I am coaching a raw pregnant lady here in Austin! I am so excited!

Take care all!

Sami

[rawrunnergirl]

The thing I found that helped with the weakness is banana/celery smoothies.



I have a question...weakness as in, your body feeling weak? or weakness as in....you're craving something? weakness w/the diet? do those questions makes sense? I'm just wondering - what type of weakness does the smoothie help with? thanks!!

[jkitovar05]

i have just recently considered starting the raw food diet,i think i will do really well with it since i already love fruits and vegetables and nuts.it took me a while to consider to try the diet because my husband and i have been trying to have a second child for 8 months now.i am 23 and he is 24,but still no baby.but i have been about 100 pounds overweight since my daughter was born in 2001.i finally decided that since i wasnt getting pregnant,most likely due to anovulatory cycles(maybe due to my weight??),i would finally do something about all this weight!!!im just scared that starting the diet will interfere even more with my reporductive problems?also when you do become pregnant is there any other additional supplements you should take?are prenantal vitamins ok? please help!!!

[Brianna]

I am so excited to have raw pregnancies and little raw babies. I want lots of kids, like maybe six. I'm gettin' the cart a little before the horse though. I don't even have a boyfriend yet!!!

[Boysenberry]

Rawrunnergirl, the banana/celery smoothie helps me with fatigue type weakness... during and after the run. Even though I only drink it before running. Hope this clears it up for you!

[Ariella]

i had high raw pregnancies with both of my kiddos. with my first i was following hallelujah diet, my 2nd was just plain high raw. with both pregnancies i only gained maybe 20 pounds, stayed physically fit and had good and short labors. my first labor was only 6 hours with a couple of hours of hard pushing - but he was BIG for a first baby 9 pounds 4 oz! eegad! my 2nd labor was again 6 hours but most of the time it didn't feel like much of anything. i had around 3 to 4 minutes of active labor and those minutes were VERY intense but she just pushed herself out and it was actually pretty easy. there she was! such an amazing birth! our midwife didn't come out when we called with her initially because she thought it sounded like it would be awhile from the way i was conversing with her on the phone. so she did not get there in time and my hubby delivered her.

i do think raw makes a huge difference when it comes to pregnancies and labors. if we shoudl get pregnant again i am hoping to do the next one 100% raw. i have been 100% raw now for 53 days :) so that would be the plan anyway!

good luck!

Ariella

JUICE PLUS+
www.juiceplus.com/+dj73561

my journal: www.ethicalcentral.com/main

[cassidy]

Yay! This was such a fun post to read! My husband and I are trying to have another baby. I just started eating raw about a month ago. This is my first week 100% though. I feel so fantastic! I can't wait to get pregnant and be raw and have healthy little babies. I want lots. My dream is to have a cute little house with hard wood floors and tile countertops and lots of windows, a big patio, a huge yard with lots of green grass, a garden and some fruit trees and lots of kids. A big healthy family! Really... thats all I want!
Sami - you are such an inspiration! 7 kids... you are amazing.

[Brianna]

Yay! This was such a fun post to read! My husband and I are trying to have another baby. I just started eating raw about a month ago. This is my first week 100% though. I feel so fantastic! I can't wait to get pregnant and be raw and have healthy little babies. I want lots. My dream is to have a cute little house with hard wood floors and tile countertops and lots of windows, a big patio, a huge yard with lots of green grass, a garden and some fruit trees and lots of kids. A big healthy family! Really... thats all I want!
Sami - you are such an inspiration! 7 kids... you are amazing.
Just what I want too. Six kids that I feed raw and homeschool, huge garden, fruit trees, large yard for kids to play in, raw food husband.

[dreamrawalwz]

aravis - i'm just wondering why you think you "need" some meat? Not judging, just curious.

[rawandama]

With my first pregnancy I ate two enormous salads a day and only snacked on fruits and veggies. I ate oatmeal for breakfast and would have a very tiny portion of cooked food for one of the other meals (sometimes both). When I went into labor it was extremely intense right away and lasted for 6 hours- it was transition-type labor the entire time. This time I'm hoping for an even faster labor!!! I'll take what I get, though, and I just hope for a very healthy baby boy or girl. :) I will let you all know if being more raw helps....

[rawbaby]

Jkitowvar05 - to respond to your question about prenatal vitamins....I know that this is not considered "raw", but I am taking the prenatal vitamins during my pregnancy. Maybe I don't need them, maybe I do. I'm just not taking any chances! This is my 1st baby, and I'm trying to do it as close to 100% raw as I can. I have had trouble getting to 100% again, but I'm trying!

And...just my opinion...but I don't think raw will interfere with you're getting pregnant in any way. I think raw will help you lose the weight you want to lose and to help your body heal and regulate your cycles naturally. I wish you luck with raw and with getting pregnant!! :)