Healthy pregnancy tips cont'd

This is a time of enormous physical changes and development, and your nutrition is the key to your well-being, post-labour recovery, and the health of your baby.

Eat a diet of whole foods, mostly raw fruits and vegetables, and you might find that even the morning sickness will go away. Don’t be concerned about your massive appetite, you’re eating for two! Avoiding meat, white flour and sugar will help with energy levels.

Ultimately, your body will take care of its own health, just pay attention to the messages it sends you. Heavy, greasy, and sugary foods will make you feel dull and dragged down. This is a time to really tune into signals that your body gives you, so listen carefully!

Eat when you really feel hunger, instead of on a schedule or when everyone else is eating. Drink plenty of water, and try some green juice.

Yummy green juice recipe: Juice 1 apple, 3 carrots, and half a bunch of your preferred greens (kale, spinach, arugula, etc.) It will refill you with the nutrients your body might be giving to the growing baby, energize you, and help balance your hormones.

A moderate level of activity throughout your pregnancy will help boost energy, and can also help you in labour. Yoga, stretching, and hiking are perfect.

You don’t have to quit any exercises you were doing before, but you shouldn’t start any radically different exercise programs either. As a general rule, most activities are fine in the first two trimesters. Let your body tell you when it is the right time for you. Stop anything if it hurts or is uncomfortable.

80% of pregnant women have an iron deficiency. Your body is sending all its iron stores to the growing baby. Unfortunately, it can make you feel tired, weak or unmotivated.

To get more iron, eat lots of sunflower seeds, carrots, asparagus, broccoli, and dark leafy greens. You can squeeze more veggies in if you juice (see green juice recipe above).

You might even consider an herbal iron supplement. I used a natural supplement called Floridex, which helped my energy levels a lot. It tastes like a very concentrated sweet, sour and bitter juice.

Swimming (or more like floating) is recommended all throughout pregnancy, right down to the labour! Get out to the beach, or take a swimming class in your area.

I found even taking baths more frequently helps de-stress your body and mind. Tip: *Pour one cup of epsom salts, three drops of lavender, and three drops of ylang ylang essential oil into the bath.

Suspended in the water, not only are your aches and tensions relieved, but you are also in sync with your baby’s floating experience. There’s something about it that just feels right, and your mind is at ease.

You might also consider water birth.

Especially towards the end of the term, many women get lower back aches. There is nothing better than a relaxing massage from your partner or a trained professional. You can lay on your side, or go to your local masseuse where they have a special pregnancy table.

Yes, every part of you will, so just go with the flow. Your body is now producing a hormone called relaxin, allowing you to sink down into it, deeper than you have before.

Prenatal yoga can do wonders, and any kind of stretching will help relieve cramps and aches. Just don’t overdo it, make sure you stay within the guidelines of prenatal postures...ask your yoga teacher or consult a book.

Knowledge is power. Until we get there and go through it, many women don't know what the whole experience is going to be like - from morning sickness to labour. There are so many questions!

And who can blame you, since the main images we get of pregnant women are from stereotypes in Hollywood films. Labour does not have to be the way it's shown in movies - every woman is unique! Birth can be a gentle, and even "orgasmic" experience. The key is preparation, and knowing all your options. Learn about natural birth. You can become an educated and empowered mother-to-be.

More and more women are making natural birth choices, turning to better care, and some are home-birthing. I had my baby in the calm and private environment of my home: relaxed, comfortable, and without distractions.

In Canada, midwifery is covered by standard healthcare, and the kind of care you receive is phenomenal. Midwives are specially trained in labour and delivery, and they often have many natural answers to pregnancy and labour. They will never pressure you to take needles, supplements or drugs, they respect your choice.

Midwives actually care about what’s best for you and the baby when it’s time to deliver (not just what’s convenient). They won't pressure you to vaccinate either.