Raw Pregnancy

Comment by Lennea on January 21, 2009 at 9:26pm

Hello Everyone, I have been raw for 3 months now and just found out that I am pregnant. I am a holistic nutritionist and have had good experience with prenatal nutrition...Now its time to put my knowledge to the test.
Yesterday morning I had the maddest craving for Cows milk..I wasn't about to rush out to the supper market so I thought to myself that I must be looking for more calcium. Soooo I made this amazing super smoothie containing

Brown and black sesame seeds (great source of calcium)
Soaked Almonds (Also high in calcium)
One large bunch of kale (magnesium transmutes into calcium) (also high in calcium)
Blueberries Cause I love em
fresh pear juice
Vita mineral Green

Believe it or not....It tasted great I made enough to sip on all day

Every now and then I feel a bit queasy....I drink some water and lay down
five minutes later I feel great. I am hoping to stay raw this whole time...I am crossing my fingers....

Comment by Leigh Ann on January 30, 2009 at 12:43pm

Hello, mamas! I'm really excited to have found this group.

I am still at the very very beginning of a renewed raw journey and then a few weeks into it, began feeling oddly thick... hmmm... so, needless to say, it feels like a huge challenge, as far as what I am now craving. But, I am really excited to be having # 3. I'm excited to reconnect with my amazing midwives and let them in on my new commitment to health and giving this baby all the nutrition he/she deserves.

It is so difficult to eat food you don't really want when you are pregnant. This morning all I wanted was a turkey sandwich with mayo. Organic, natural mayo, but still... I had to have it- wheat bread and all.

I would be sooo grateful for more great tips on raw alternatives to eat when a green smoothie just won't go down.

I've been chugging steeped ginger root with agave to curb nausea, which helps.

Also, I just got the worst acne break out of my entire life. And, conveniently about a week after swearing off of cosmetics, ha.

I began my raw journey when looking for a way to really truly get that clear, glowing skin, and connected with Seppo Pussa and his book 'Clear for Life.' So part of this break out may be the natural detox that occurs periodically as you cut junk out of your life and diet- and add super nutritious greens and fruits. Also, I read that at the beginning of pregnancy, your body may do a detox all on its own, just preparing for the months to come, which can cause the funky sick feeling and, for some of us lucky ones, acne.

Anyway, it is so awesome that there are so many raw, natural mamas to support one another. It seems like, in my part of Ohio, at least, it is very odd to do anything natural and "homeopathic"- having babies at home is literally considered a crime by some- all kinds of junk in the courts right now in Ohio- midwives being sued and stripped of credentials and all. So, raw food is also a stretch. Even the co-ops and health food stores are very limited in what they offer. I can't find raw cashews anywhere. Goodness gracious! If anyone has an online source they highly recommend, I'd be happy for the tip.

Rock on, super mamas! I'm looking forward to the discussion!

Comment by chicagomama on January 30, 2009 at 2:49pm

I am really glad this is here too! I we are having #2. I have been transitioning to raw since april 08, but have been on varying levels, sinking quiet low, percentage wise, around the holidays. Throughout January I have been at about 60-75% with some days at 95% (b/c I have non-raw condiments). Mostly I follow Natalia Rose's transitioning at #2/#3 and still consume some flesh-based meals w/raw goats cheese and eat meat from a local farm I have a share in (like a CSA). I have been limiting my meat intake, but still cook it for my husband, etc. But I am content with where I am at and hope to maintain this level throughout my pregnancy. But I am so glad to find a group where I can find other mother's who relate/aspire to/life the raw lifestyle!

Comment by bonbon on February 1, 2009 at 3:01pm

Hi everyone! I've been off-line for quite a while now. My baby has just turned 2 and I now seem to have a little more breathing room. Check out the following blog on raw pregnancy, breastfeeding, toddlers, etc.:
http://zingbabies.blogspot.com/2009/01/combate-dry-skin.html
One of the founders of online raw food sellers "Natural Zing" in Maryland shares her experience raising 2 raw babies! :)

Comment by Julianne on February 1, 2009 at 10:53pm

Hi girls! I am 21 weeks pregnant right now and just found out we are having our second boy, yay! I have eaten raw for a time and just a few months before I got pregnant I had completed the "raw diva detox." After some time, due to finances and a big move, I went back to my high protein (meat,dairy) and veggie eating habits. That was this past year. We are having baby #2, and I have decided after the first trimester to get back into raw foods for the wonderful nutritional bennifates and to feel so much better than I did in the beginning. But it is h a r d. I've been trying to eat raw 100%, otherwise I end up just having a feast filled with all of the foods I shouldn't eat. So, I find myself in these crazy patterns of eating 100% for a few days at a time, but then getting in 50% the following 2 days, and then back to 100%. I want to find some recipes that include the vitimens, calcium, and iron that my body needs, as well as being kind to my extreme heartburn. I wouldn't mind them to be tasty too! What a challenge!

Comment by Debbie on February 2, 2009 at 9:28am

Julianne, I would recommend green smoothies. I even added a little avocado to mine for more creaminess. I would also recommend not aiming for 100% raw. Lots of us (if I can speak for others) have mentioned about how we eat some brown rice, sprouted bread and some steamed veggies. I love sweet potatoes baked in some coconut butter with sea salt. I also love marinated kale salads and any raw dessert. Maybe allowing some cooked each day would not send you to the foods you don't want in your diet.

Now, an update on me...About a week or so ago I started to feel guilty that I wasn't fulfilling my nutritional needs. So, I added yogurt to my diet. Then I decided to add eggs and some milk and cheese (all organic, not that it makes a huge difference). Well, by last Thursday (less than a week with this new "diet") I was nauseous, constipated and miserable. Friday, my poor son came down with terrible poopies all through the weekend. The dairy is out of the house again! And I'm confident I was treating my body extremely well. I suppose I had to experiment to come to this conclusion. But I'm still very woozy and having some intestinal cramping. It feels like first trimester all over again. Today I'm only sipping on ginger tea. I might call my dr. or nurse just to review my symptoms. Maybe it's a bug? I don't know. My energy feels great, I just gotta get the digestive track back in order. If anyone has any thoughts on that, please share.

I'm 28 weeks now.
Have a great day.

Comment by Julianne on February 2, 2009 at 12:06pm

Thank you for the advice, Debbie!!! I think you are right. I had done a ton of research lastnight hoping to be assured that 100% raw is ok, but was very mistaken. I even posted a blog this morning on WLIR about what I found and how I am really conserned that 100% raw may be harmful to the baby. (It includes all of the facts I found...)
You know what is most important, our little ones health and safety. So as much as I am DYING to eat 100% raw, or close to that, just because of the way it makes me feel and look, I will never make that sacrifice or be reckless like that, taking serious risks that the baby may not be getting what he needs.
It's just harder than I thought to get all of those greens in to make up the calcium, and iron in that baby needs. I just am going to try to do what you said with the cooked veggies, bread, etc. and keep tabs on nutrient levels with weighing produce and comparing values...
Seems like life revolving around food for a short while until I get into the swing of things..

Comment by Julianne on February 2, 2009 at 12:13pm

BTW: I am happy for you that you are beginning to feel better. It does sound like you might have caught a bug similar to the one your son had, but I can also strongly identify with how eggs and dairy can make you feel sluggish, constipated, and miserable. You are doing the right thing, cutting it out of your diet. You might want to check the blog I posted to glance over some of the nutritional values needed for us, like calcium, as your body might need a little more of it? hence, the craving? I believe upping the content of broccli and celery might help reach those goals.
This is quite a JOURNEY! And I feel very lucky to be figuring this stuff out with other moms like yourself that are warm, supportive, and have similar values.
Thank you for your support, as I will share tid bits of what I come across that might help you aswell.
Good luck to you!

Comment by Debbie on February 2, 2009 at 3:26pm

Yes, the green smoothies really help. And I'm never hesitant to eat some raw fudge or chocolate treat!

I talked to my nurse and I seem to have some bug that is going around. It's not terrible, but I have no appetite and my stomach is just making constant noises. I've been sipping on ginger tea and nibbled on a banana and some raw honey. Either way, I look forward to my appetite coming back soon and a big green smoothie.

Oh, I bought chia seeds the other day. I put them on a salad and they were delicious. I found a recipe for a "tapioca" pudding made with chia seeds. I'm going to attempt it when I'm feeling better.

I agree, being raw does seem simple compared to the balancing we're trying to do. :)

Comment by chicagomama on February 2, 2009 at 9:20pm

Hi everyone. I agree on adding a mix of cooked food to stave off other cravings, though today I had a few (yes, multiple!) bagles, at least one was sprouted grain. I am definately craving starchier foods (still in first tri) so I think I will incorporate more cooked root vegetables. For lunch a had the sprouted grain bagel with mashed avocado, mustard and spourts. It was delish. I am now muching down on carrots and celery. I am finding no problem with greens--drink 32 oz of natalia rose's green lemonaid each day w/no problems--I think the ginger helps--but I am really mostly craving fresh, water-filled vegetables and starches. Nuts and raw deserts, even chocolate, are grossing me out right now. Not sure why or how long it will last, but I will go with it I suppose! I am really encouraged this group is getting so much traffic! It is the only raw-preg community I have found thus far!

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