It's New! It's Improved! It's.... New and Improved!

Hi, everyone!

I have decided to leave my original plan & protocol as-is, because it contains oodles and oodles of things that HG mamas might like to use for ideas for their own plans. However, for my own use, that plan is now far too large and cumbrous, especially as I have completed or decided not to do about half of the items on the list. I am, therefore, going to leave the original list intact for public reference and compose an updated, simplified list for my own use - which you will see below.

I would love to hear any input from you all! What would you add to your list?

For other great examples of HG plans/protocols, see Knocked Up, Knocked Over and various lists at helpher.org (like this one).

You will notice that I don't have a detailed plan for HG treatment - it's mostly pre-conception. I pray that I never need that, but I'm not sure what I would write other than "Go to hospital and pray that I get treated well." Definitely a weak point.

Latest Update: July 2014

Pre-Conception Plan

Health

• Diet

• Clean (no junk food, no additives)
• Low sugar, low grain, no wheat, high in good fats (animal fats, avocado, coconut, etc.)
• No vegetable oils 
• Very Low Carb (VLC) at 3 months postpartum
• Lemon/ACV water (for alkalinity and liver cleansing)
• Butter, 2+ Tbsp. per day, preferably grass-fed
• Bone broth, 2 cups per day
• Coconut oil, 2-4 Tbsp. per day
• Lacto-fermented foods - with each meal, or at least daily
• See below

• Supplements 

• All the time
• Multi (Super Mom or other)
• Fish oil (Fermented preferable, but must provide DHA/EPA, preferably 1000 mg DHA daily)
• Vitamin D (preferably 5,000 IU daily)
• Alpha Lipoic Acid (600 mg/daily)
• Vitamin B complex
• Probiotics (Tummy Tune-Up by Beeyoutiful, see reference to NVP in link), also whole-food probiotics such as kefir, kombucha, yogurt, and other lacto-fermented foods
• Magnesium - See sub-category below
• Dessicated Liver Pills - For iron and micronutrients. 
• Finances Permitting
• Resveratrol (100 mg twice daily)
• Turmeric (350 mg twice daily)
• Occasional 
• Kelp - occasionally for iodine
• Yearly Liver Cleanse (dates done: May 2011, May 2012)
• Occasion-Specific (not necessary for pre-conception)
• Alfalfa - During second half of pregnancy
• Floradix - During last trimester of pregnancy
• Liquid Ca/Mg supplement - During last trimester of pregnancy and postpartum, or as needed

• Magnesium {see this article and this article}

• Liquid Calcium-Magnesium or Natural Calm 
• Epsom Salts for bathing and foot baths (evidence shows that magnesium is absorbed best transdermally rather than by oral supplement... best price found at Azure Standard)
• Unrefined sea salt (I get pink sea salt from the bulk bins at Sprouts)
• Magnesium oil applied to the skin 
• Bone broth - ideally two cups per day, and ideally from organic and/or grass-fed/pastured/antibiotic-free sources (Sources: Sprouts, Backyard Farmer, The Meat Shop)

• Exercise

• Especially weight bearing exercises, since muscle mass helps with insulin/glucose metabolism. (Am I doing this? Noooo.)

• Sunlight

• Protein and Fat Intake
  
  The following list is quoted from this article (above mentioned) as a daily recommendation for pre-conception protein and fat intake:
• 3-4 eggs 
• Some form of healthy meat at every meal 
• 2 cups (average) of homemade bone broth daily 
• 2-4 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil 
• 2+ tablespoons grass fed butter 
• Coconut based snacks like coconut cream 
• Various other forms of protein and fat like tallow used in cooking, bison for snack, etc.

Healthcare

• Find a naturopath

• I have several recommendations, plus the local naturopathic college.

• Contact acupuncturist

• Done! They recommend starting pre-conception - something to consider for next time. 

Spiritual

• Bible verse memorization

• Right now I am working on Psalm 121. I find that having Scripture verses to recite during stressful or panicky times is truly a lifeline, and it's one that I want to develop more fruitfully. 

Personal and Practical

• Make the most of the time!

• I find that the thought of future HG helps me to treasure my healthy times, and encourages me to use my time wisely - to take every advantage of time with my children, to train my children as much as possible in character and practical skills, etc. 

• Work on organizational projects as much as possible

Post-Conception

Health

• Diet

• Strict VLC (very low carb)
• Start protein shakes (zero-carb version)
• Constant snacking - every hour at least
• Lemon/ACV water - lots of it! 

• Supplements

• Add more Epsom salts baths (daily)
• Add Morning Sickness Comfort
• Add digestive enzymes
• Consider Protandim 545

Healthcare

• Start Vitamin B/Magnesium/Folate shots at naturopathic college
• Contact acupuncturist to let her know in advance
• Get appointment with OB/GYN for Zofran prescription

Spiritual

• Pray!

Personal and Practical

• Buy paper supplies (plates, bowls, utensils)

• Good resources for food for family while unable to cook: 
• Fruit and vegetable platters 
• Rotisserie chicken
• Lunch meat
• Easy kid snacks - gold fish, healthy bars, raisins, juice boxes, cheese sticks, cheerios, dry cereals

****

And there you have it! Additional ideas, anyone? 

Feel free to let me know if you have questions about any of the above. (You will also find more specific links on the larger protocol.)

Happy Sabbath, everyone!