Pregnant

[Naturallynice]

Hi, I don't know if this is the best place to post, but since you have kids, you might be able to help me.

I am 33 weeks pregnant with my third child and had started the 30 day challenge 3 days ago.

Anything in particular I need to eat/avoid while on the raw?

Also,

How can I find the journals of other pregnant mummies?

Thanks a lot,

Esther

[veggiegirl2010]

Hi, I don't know what foods to avoid/include...but I'm about 6 weeks pregnant and was looking for some support along the same lines. I'd love to know if there are any journalers out there who are doing raw and are pregnant also.
I'm really glad you brought up this topic! :)

[Boysenberry]

Hi, I am pregnant too. I am about nine weeks along. I have been raw since August, but when I found out I was pregnant, I went on a cooked food eating frenzy. The news stressed me out and sent me into a depression. I already have six wonderful children and was training for a marathon and thought I was done having children.

I am over being depressed about it, finally. My sister took me out for raw yesterday at the raw bar in Whole Foods. I couldn't believe it, I thought all I wanted was fruit. Stomach being sick and all, but yesterday I couldn't get enough veggies! Victoria Boutenko reccommends listening to your body (she is talking all the time, not pregnant) and that is what I wanted yesterday. I felt 100% better and believe it was the final thing to pull me out of depression.

I really want to stay 100% raw, for the pregnancy and after. Absolutely, I am in on any type of support group we could form.

Sami

[Migrou]

I'm 20 weeks pregnant with my second child, although not raw I try to eat as much of raw as I can. I would love to be 100% as it's been my goal for a few years.

Let"s start a support group!

Michelle

[cpinokc]

I'm about 7 weeks pregnant! :D

Ladies, just a couple of weeks ago I started a Yahoo group called ~RawPregnancy~ (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RawPregnancy/) . I'm sorry I've failed to mention it! It's still new with only 3 members. Come over there for some great support and information!

[Naturallynice]

Thanks for the invitation, nice meeting you ladies!


Esther

[McKenzie]

Just found out that I'm about 5 weeks pregnant - I really would like to stay mostly raw but would be afraid of depriving the baby. :( I haven't had my first appt. with my doctor yet, so I'll see what he says - have any of you heard from your doctors about your diet?

[karenisraw]

Hi,

I thought I would post this for all of the pregnant ladies here. I found this on my raw vegan doctor's website. He owns a raw vegan restaraunt here in Minneapolis. He also lectures to the public for free on health and nutrition.

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11221

[love_to_eat_raw]

I am new here and enjoying reading the posts. I have been mostly raw (90-100%) with my last four babes. My first four pregnancies were not raw. Last four pregnancies... uncomparable.

We just recently got our computer and I am shocked at how many raw moms there really are!

pamela s.

[Raene]

Wow, congrats on your pregnancies, ladies! I have to tell those of you who haven't been raw with a nursing little one before...I just started eating raw this month and my 2 year old who is still nursing is actually being choked by so much milk. My supply is up to what it was when she was 6 months old. Wow, raw really is amazing.

[Raene]

Speaking of pregnancy on raw diets, do you still get morning sickness? I'm really curious.

[Naturallynice]

Raene,

very encouraging to hear that your milk supply is shooting!

I had really bad morning sickness with this pregnancy (high raw but not 100%) It only lasted the first trimester.

Esther

[firefaery]

Morning sickness is generally a depletion of B vitamins and iron. If you can up them in your diet you'd be suprised at how quickly the m/s goes away. If I'm feeling icky and not getting enough I just make an infusion of herbs and put it in the sun to get those needed vitamins and minerals. Floradix + Iron is a great supplement that would do it as well...not sure that it qualifies as raw...
I think a raw diet is actually optimal for pregnancy. How far to go with it is a very personal choice and depends greatly upon your health pre-pregnancy. The only struggle there could be (in theory) is vitamins A and D. You can watch for those deficiencies though-they're very clear and tend to manifest on the skin. People with gut damage cannot always convert carotenoids to vitamin A. There are easy ways to take care of it if you have that issue though.
Make sure you get plenty of protein and fats and above all else, plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids that are necessary for fetal brain development. Flax meal or oil will supply this in abundance.
I tend to not discuss my diet with doctors. They are not required to take more than one semester of nutrition in med school so chances are you know more than they do! They (generalization here) tend to be rather alarmist if you are against the mainstream in ANYTHING. Get all the info you can from the supportive ladies here and do your own research to make your choice. You'll know in your heart what's the best for you and your growing babe-and what could be better than a nutrient dense diet complete with all the enzymes?