(Latest Update: February 2016)
Introductory Comments
It's that time of year, folks! The time when I go through my supplement and diet plan and revise for the coming year. And... here it is! Version 2016, at your service.
Last year I pared down the information to eliminate all of the things I wasn't really serious about doing. I also updated the formatting and included a new sourcing section.
This year my goal was to incorporate all of the awesome things I have learned from other bloggers and authors over the past year into my official protocol.
Please remember that although I do my best, even I cannot keep up with my best intentions. I do not do everything on this plan perfectly (or at all). I'd say a really-really good day is achieving 25% of the below. It's just too much to keep up with on a daily basis with perfect consistency. I simply do my best.
My two main conclusions from last year remain unchanged:
(1) Diet and supplements can have a hugely positive effect on morning sickness and other pregnancy issues, and...
(2) It is extremely important for women to pay careful attention to their health during their childbearing years. (It's always important, of course, but during the childbearing years the negative consequences of neglecting one's health can be particularly dire.)
Thus, I do take my diet and supplement regimen extremely seriously, and I put lots of energy, effort, and time into both developing my regimen and putting it into place. It's a work in progress, but I hope to make consistent progress. The end goal is worth it.
(1) Diet and supplements can have a hugely positive effect on morning sickness and other pregnancy issues, and...
(2) It is extremely important for women to pay careful attention to their health during their childbearing years. (It's always important, of course, but during the childbearing years the negative consequences of neglecting one's health can be particularly dire.)
Thus, I do take my diet and supplement regimen extremely seriously, and I put lots of energy, effort, and time into both developing my regimen and putting it into place. It's a work in progress, but I hope to make consistent progress. The end goal is worth it.
I'd love to hear any input - and also to see your supplement and diet plans, so do let me know what you're doing!
* sourcing information provided below
PRE-CONCEPTION PLAN
Diet
Very Low Carb* (VLC) at 3 months postpartum.
I have found that I haven't been able to make this diet work long-term. However, I had wonderful success using the VLC diet to prevent hyperemesis. I have since incorporated more carbs back into my diet, but I firmly believe that the VLC diet can have a huge healing potential for post-HG pre-conception mums.
Clean (no additives, or as few as possible!)
Alkaline
Focus on vegetables, lemon water, other alkalinizing foods.Vegetables*
3 cups colored, 3 cups greens, 3 cups sulphur vegetables (onions and cruciferous vegetables), daily.Avoid industrial seed oils (cottonseed, soy, etc.) and fake fats (hydrogenated oils, margarine)
Lacto-fermented foods - Preferably with each meal. I try to eat from at least four of these options every day.
Kefir* (one-quarter to one-half cup daily)
Kombucha*
Yogurt* (small amounts daily)
Raw sauerkraut*
Raw pickles*
High in good fats
Saturated animal fats (free-range organic grass-fed preferred)
Avocado
Coconut oil* (2-4 Tbsp. per day)
Olive oil
Butter* (2+ Tbsp. per day, preferably grass-fed)
Other Super-Foods
Avocado
Asparagus
Chia Seeds*
Flax Seeds*
Nutritional Yeast*
Okra*
Walnuts
Lemon water (for alkalinity and liver cleansing) - Half of my body weight (in pounds) in ounces each day. (This is a really hard goal to reach, but I try.)
Another good option is water with apple cider vinegar. Unfortunately, it's absolutely revolting, but I'm going to be trying Good Girl Moonshine by Trim Healthy Mama, which includes ACV. It also includes ginger, great for NVP!Detoxing Supplementation
Epsom Salts baths
Broccoli sprouts (optimally 1 package per week)
Rice bran (optimally 1 Tbsp. per day)*
Flax meal*
Dry brushing
Bone broth (optimally 2 cups per day)
Gelatin* or Collagen* (as often in possible, dissolved in hot liquids like coffee or soup)
Eggs (3-4 per day, preferably organic and free-range)
Some form of healthy meat at each meal
Coconut based snacks - Coconut cream*, coconut-flour* baked items, Trim Healthy Mama skinny chocolate, Trim Healthy Mama volcano mudslide muffin.
Unrefined sea salt* (pink or grey)
Kelp* for iodine - Since we used non-iodized salt, I attempt to add this to main dish meals for iodine supplementation. (Seaweed has additional awesome benefits, for details see The Wahls Protocol.)
Blackstrap Molasses* (1 Tbsp. per day)
Supplements*
Multi-vitamin (Super Mom* or other) - Since I'm taking cod liver oil and dessicated liver, I believe that the multi is less important. It's optional.
Cod Liver Oil * (Preferred dose = 10 mL per day, to provide 1000 mg DHA daily)
Alpha Lipoic Acid (600 mg/daily)
Vitamin B complex*
Vitamin D
Probiotics
Pill form*
Lacto-fermented foods (see above list under diet)
Dessicated Liver Pills* - For iron and micronutrients.
I also take raw liver, cut into small pieces and taken like a pill. You will need to find a trustworthy source of organic, grass-fed liver if you want to take this route.Magnesium
Oral supplement - Natural Calm or Doctor's Best Chelated Magnesium (or other options)
Epsom Salts baths* - minimum once per week
Magnesium oil* or Magnesium Lotion*
Magnesium water*
Zinc (A couple of times a week, not every day)
Turmeric* (1 cap per day, plus use in cooking)
I also try to do a yearly anti-microbial protocol, thus: "1 teaspoon colloidal silver plus one turmeric capsule, three times per day, on an empty stomach, for about 10 days"Milk Thistle (80% silymarin) - This didn't help the last time I tried it, but I might try it - it's standard pre-conception procedure for post-HG mamas. One to three per day, can continue post-conception.
Cocolaurin* (3 scoops per day)
********************
Other:
Finances Permitting
Resveratrol (100 mg twice daily, decreases inflammation)
Occasional
Yearly Liver Cleanse (dates done: May 2011, May 2012)
See my list of pregnancy supplements for other pregnancy-specific supplements (most are third-trimester birth and postpartum prep supplements).
Lifestyle
Exercise - Especially weight bearing exercises, since muscle mass helps with insulin/glucose metabolism.
Sunlight - Minimum 15 minutes per day.
Sleep - Minimum of eight hours per night. Preferably nine.
Self Care - Keeping my house clean so that I'm not a stress-case about it. Doing things I enjoy occasionally. Cooking healthy food, drinking water, and taking my supplements. Staying off of the computer. Going for walks. Keeping up with my devotions and Bible study. All of the things that keep me sane, balanced, and emotionally healthy.
Healthcare
Make sure that I have the following:
- An excellent midwife
- A recommendation to a good OB
- An acupuncturist
- A source for vitamin B/magnesium shots
- A good naturopath
Spiritual
Bible verse memorization - 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.
Regular prayer and Bible study
Personal and Practical
Make the most of the time. I find that the thought of future pregnancies helps me to treasure my time, 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.
Read as widely and deeply as possible on the topic of health. (See my ever-growing booklist here.)
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POST-CONCEPTION
Diet
Strict VLC (very low carb)
Constant snacking - every hour once nausea begins
Lemon water, ACV water, or Good Girl Moonshine - lots of it. Do not drink plain water.
- Recommendations from a friend for other drinks: Pink Stork peach ginger tea, Whole Foods brand rooibos tea, Trader Joe's mint melange tea.
Supplements
Add more Epsom salts baths (daily)
Add digestive enzymes
Consider Protandim (this might also be a good pre-conception supplement)
Add super-powerful probiotic (like Bio-K Plus) and continue till worst of nausea subsides
Increase milk thistle to three per day
Really good pre-natal multivitamin if not already taking (SuperMom, doTerra, etc.)
Baking soda - Four (size 00) caps daily, one at a time on an empty stomach. Make caps in
advance. Optional, add 1 tsp. to 1 Tbsp. of colloidal silver at the same time.
Healthcare
Optional - Start Vitamin B/Magnesium/Folate shots at naturopathic college.
Optional - Contact acupuncturist to get appointment.
Spiritual
Pray!
Personal and Practical
Buy paper supplies (plates, bowls, utensils)
Easy kid snacks - gold fish, healthy bars, raisins, juice boxes, cheese sticks, dry cereals
Put lots of toys away to reduce pick-up load
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* Sourcing Information:
Very Low Carb Diet
Feel free to email me for the diet sheets I use. To find very low carb recipes, Google "low carb" or "ketogenic" or "Trim Healthy Mama S meals" when you search. I should also note that at the time of this writing (January 2016) I am not following a strict VLC diet. Hopefully I'll update on that soon - stay tuned for details.
Vegetables
For more information on the "3 cups green vegetables, 3 cups colored vegetables, 3 cups sulphur vegetables," please refer to "The Wahls Protocol" by Dr. Terry Wahls.
Kefir
Kefir is easy to make. Just buy grains or get some from a kefir-making friend, and follow easy directions for culturing plain milk. I unfortunately have not had good luck with it, so I buy plain, full-fat Lifeway kefir (or whatever is on sale) from Sprouts.
Kombucha
Kombucha can be purchased, but it's so easy to make! My directions here. The longer you culture, the lower the sugar content.
Yogurt
Full-fat plain yogurt is also easy to find, but it's pricey. I make a gallon a time at home.
Raw sauerkraut
The sauerkraut you buy in the supermarket is not real sauerkraut. It is heat-treated for sterility and not useful from a probiotic standpoint. Look for the words "raw" on the label. Raw sauerkraut is available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and most health food grocery stores. I buy raw Bubbies sauerkraut from Azure Standard.
Raw pickles
The pickles you buy in the supermarket are not real pickles. They are heat-treated and not useful from a probiotic standpoint, and if you're buying typical brand-name pickles, they are also loaded with toxic dyes, additives, and aluminum compounds. (For non-toxic regular pickles [non-probiotic], buy at Sprouts, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe's.) For probiotic pickles, look for the words "raw" on the label. Raw pickles are available in the refrigerated section at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and most health food grocery stores. I buy raw Bubbies dill pickles from Azure Standard.
Coconut Oil
I buy Wilderness Naturals from Azure Standard or the coconut oil now available at Sam's Club. Coconut oil is also available online from Tropical Traditions.
Butter
The butter I hear most often recommended (organic and grass-fed) is Kerrygold, now available at Costco. I buy the slightly cheaper Rumiano's from Azure Standard.
Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Nutritional Yeast
All can be purchased from Azure Standard or from your local Sprouts or Whole Foods.
Okra
You can buy frozen sliced okra from the grocery store at reasonable rates. Check out Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook for ideas on cooking okra (especially if you don't like okra and want okra-hiding recipes!).
Rice Bran
I purchase from Azure Standard.
Flax Meal
I buy flax seeds whole from Sprouts and grind in my blender, then freeze. Flax can go rancid very quickly, so it's best to grind your own and keep it chilled whenever possible.
Gelatin or Collagen
I buy gelatin from Azure Standard. A (probably better) popular product can be purchased from Amazon. You can also buy gelatin or collagen from the Trim Healthy Mama Store (or the same THM products from Azure Standard).
Coconut Cream
I buy Artisana Coconut Cream from Azure Standard. Coconut cream is available online from Tropical Traditions.
Coconut Flour
Purchase from Azure Standard, Tropical Traditions, Sam's Club, or Costco.
Unrefined Sea Salt (Pink or Grey)
Pink sea salt is available very inexpensively in the bulk bins at Sprouts. Other types (purchased in smaller individual packages) at Sprouts or Whole Foods will be much more expensive. You can also purchase from Vitacost.
Kelp
Kelp powder can be purchased from Azure Standard.
Blackstrap Molasses
From Azure Standard.
Supplements
Online, I buy supplements from Amazon.com and Azure Standard (available only in areas to which Azure Standard delivers) and Vitacost. I buy herbs locally from Desert Sage Herbs. I buy supplements locally at Sprouts Market, Trader Joe's, and the medicinary at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona.
Supermom Vitamins
The most inexpensive way to purchase that we found was to buy a three-month supply through Amazon. This is not currently available, but we hope it comes back soon! It's much more expensive through the product website.
Fermented Cod Liver Oil
Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil by Green Pasture. I purchase through Azure Standard.
Vitamin B Complex
See Rachel's recommendations (in general and for specific brand). Right now I am using B-100 Complex from Vitacost.
Probiotics (Pill Form)
See Rachel's recommendations.
Dessicated Liver Pills
My favorite brand is Radiant Life Dessicated Liver. Because of cost, I currently use a cheaper brand, Solgar, purchased at Nature's Health in Chandler, AZ.
Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate) are available in any pharmacy store (Walgreen's, CVS, etc.) or in the cosmetic/pharmaceutical area of any Walmart or Target. It can get quite pricey - most two pound bags run around $6 each, and you use two cups per bath. The best price I have found is the 50 lb. bag for around $45 from Azure standard.
Magnesium Oil
Make your own or purchase ready-made.
Magnesium Lotion
Make your own
Magnesium Water
Make your own
Turmeric
You can buy ready-made turmeric caps at Sprouts, or (try to) save money by buying bulk turmeric (I buy mine at Sprouts) and making your own with gelatin caps.
Cocolaurin
I buy from Pink Stork Solutions. Check out this great company for other awesome resources for NVP/HG prevention.
***
Now it's your turn, dear readers! What supplements and/or dietary changes are you using to prepare for possible pregnancy and to improve or prevent pregnancy health conditions?
Coconut Oil
I buy Wilderness Naturals from Azure Standard or the coconut oil now available at Sam's Club. Coconut oil is also available online from Tropical Traditions.
Butter
The butter I hear most often recommended (organic and grass-fed) is Kerrygold, now available at Costco. I buy the slightly cheaper Rumiano's from Azure Standard.
Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Nutritional Yeast
All can be purchased from Azure Standard or from your local Sprouts or Whole Foods.
Okra
You can buy frozen sliced okra from the grocery store at reasonable rates. Check out Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook for ideas on cooking okra (especially if you don't like okra and want okra-hiding recipes!).
Rice Bran
I purchase from Azure Standard.
Flax Meal
I buy flax seeds whole from Sprouts and grind in my blender, then freeze. Flax can go rancid very quickly, so it's best to grind your own and keep it chilled whenever possible.
Gelatin or Collagen
I buy gelatin from Azure Standard. A (probably better) popular product can be purchased from Amazon. You can also buy gelatin or collagen from the Trim Healthy Mama Store (or the same THM products from Azure Standard).
Coconut Cream
I buy Artisana Coconut Cream from Azure Standard. Coconut cream is available online from Tropical Traditions.
Coconut Flour
Purchase from Azure Standard, Tropical Traditions, Sam's Club, or Costco.
Unrefined Sea Salt (Pink or Grey)
Pink sea salt is available very inexpensively in the bulk bins at Sprouts. Other types (purchased in smaller individual packages) at Sprouts or Whole Foods will be much more expensive. You can also purchase from Vitacost.
Kelp
Kelp powder can be purchased from Azure Standard.
Blackstrap Molasses
From Azure Standard.
Supplements
Online, I buy supplements from Amazon.com and Azure Standard (available only in areas to which Azure Standard delivers) and Vitacost. I buy herbs locally from Desert Sage Herbs. I buy supplements locally at Sprouts Market, Trader Joe's, and the medicinary at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona.
Supermom Vitamins
The most inexpensive way to purchase that we found was to buy a three-month supply through Amazon. This is not currently available, but we hope it comes back soon! It's much more expensive through the product website.
Fermented Cod Liver Oil
Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil by Green Pasture. I purchase through Azure Standard.
Since this writing I have switched to Nordic Natural's Arctic Cod Liver Oil.
Vitamin B Complex
See Rachel's recommendations (in general and for specific brand). Right now I am using B-100 Complex from Vitacost.
Probiotics (Pill Form)
See Rachel's recommendations.
Dessicated Liver Pills
My favorite brand is Radiant Life Dessicated Liver. Because of cost, I currently use a cheaper brand, Solgar, purchased at Nature's Health in Chandler, AZ.
I also eat raw liver. I purchase grass-fed organic liver, cut it into small pieces, and freeze them. I then thaw one per day, cut it with kitchen sheers, and take it with water (like a pill).Epsom Salts
Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate) are available in any pharmacy store (Walgreen's, CVS, etc.) or in the cosmetic/pharmaceutical area of any Walmart or Target. It can get quite pricey - most two pound bags run around $6 each, and you use two cups per bath. The best price I have found is the 50 lb. bag for around $45 from Azure standard.
Magnesium Oil
Make your own or purchase ready-made.
Magnesium Lotion
Make your own
Magnesium Water
Make your own
Turmeric
You can buy ready-made turmeric caps at Sprouts, or (try to) save money by buying bulk turmeric (I buy mine at Sprouts) and making your own with gelatin caps.
Cocolaurin
I buy from Pink Stork Solutions. Check out this great company for other awesome resources for NVP/HG prevention.
***
Now it's your turn, dear readers! What supplements and/or dietary changes are you using to prepare for possible pregnancy and to improve or prevent pregnancy health conditions?
Wowweee! I have bookmarked this post, will be memorizing it!! Fab work, missy!!! Looking to do the colloidal silver treatment prior to pregnancy. I am not ovulating yet and missy is already 15months. So in God's timing... in God's timing. I guess I have some time to really work on my diet and supplementation etc. :)
ReplyDeleteI always forget that you and I are SO incredibly close in the age of our last child - ours will be 15 months in two weeks. I don't think I'm ovulating yet either, but we're definitely in "any time now" land. It makes me nervous and excited at the same time!! :)
DeleteI know, I am excited and nervous at the same time! Can you send me your email address, I want to share a list with you :)
DeleteI know, I am excited and nervous at the same time! Can you send me your email address, I want to share a list with you :)
DeleteHere you go - dianablogs at cox dot net. I sent you an email this morning or yesterday, which may have come from a different address. Let me know if you didn't receive it!! :)
DeleteI can't see any email.. Mine is cathyrose83 at Gmail dot com
DeleteI have responded to your test email, so let's see if that one comes through! :)
DeleteOh, and I can't find the post about colloidal silver and how to prep for the treatment... help! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I actually had my own post about colloidal silver - I think I just copied the data from my friend's post. Here is the quote:
Delete"If you are not currently pregnant, and typically suffer from HG, make an aggressive effort to kill off or at least greatly reduce the h. pylori in your body by taking colloidal silver 3 x day on an empty stomach, coupled with turmeric and/or ginger capsules, for 10 days while cutting out all simple carbs, and incorporating as many fermented foods and beverages as you can handle. Try to start this regimen on a weekend or when your spouse will be around to help, in case you get severe die-off symptoms."
And here is the link:
http://stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-cause-and-cure-of-morning-sickness.html
Which reminds me - I need to do this!! I'd better do it soon. Maybe this weekend! :)
You can do this over a weekend or you start this weekend?
DeleteYou can do this over a weekend or you start this weekend?
DeleteNo, my fault - I just meant to start it over the weekend. I need to do it before it's too late!!
DeleteYes! Same here! Let's start it at the same time then we can vent about it! Lol
DeleteYes! Same here! Let's start it at the same time then we can vent about it! Lol
DeleteI read the colloidal article.. But.. I thought I read somewhere how to take it by taking baking soda first? Is this a different post?
DeleteOkay, great! I'll start tomorrow morning! :)
DeleteAh, yes - I think you must be thinking of this article!!
Deletehttp://www.gracefulabandon.com/how-to-get-rid-of-debilitating-morning-sickness-hyperemesis-gravidarum/
thank you!!!!
DeleteOKay I read that article and the other one... and I have the building block, but I do not know how to? In what order, which, at what time, then? I'm a little confused! Let me get this right, :)
ReplyDelete-First thing in the morning. 1tsp of himlayan salt or celtic salt with 1tsp baking soda and few ounces of warm water
-Followed by coconut oil or colloidal silver? Or both?
-Repeat the coconut oil and colloidal silver 3 times a day, on an empty stomach? For how many days, a week, 3?
Help... lol Thanks for your patience! HUGS
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteI don't think there's any one definite answer - I think it's just a matter of deciding how best you would like to combine the various ideas for an individual protocol. I think that I'll do the baking soda (in a cap), wait a few minutes, and then do the colloidal silver and turmeric. I'm not sure about the baking soda - might skip that part. Then again, I might do it. Oh, goodness - I need to get to bed so that I can think about it in the morning more clear-headedly!! :)
Will start in the morning!!
Diana
P.S. I think I'll just do coconut oil at a different time - not necessarily at the same time as the others. You'll have to let me know what you decide to do!!
I have experienced Hyperemesis with both of my pregnancies and I have a desire for more children. Can I do your preconception regimen while breastfeeding my 5 month old or should I wait until after he is weaned?
ReplyDeleteAlso could you tell me what your pregnancies were like when you followed this? Were you able to not experience HG?
Hi, Kelly! I'd be happy to answer your questions. Can you leave me an email address? (If you like, I could not publish your comment leaving an email if you don't want an email address made public.) Thanks! Diana
Delete