Get fit for birth

[Triniity]

Hi Girls,

We are pregnant ! Still very, very early, but nonetheless. Now comes my problem. I had a severe disc prolaps in september ´10, and am still in pain on most days. no neurological symptoms anymore, thank god. 

In my last two pregnancies, I had severe hyperemesis with hospital stays and i.v. fluids, and following that a transient osteoporosis of pregnancy, which is believed to be due to malnutrition. The birth of DS was uncomplicated, but I had severe pain in my hips and was rather unmovable, not able to birth in a different position than lying on my back, which didn´t help the progress too much. The pushing lasted for like four hours. 

So here´s the question. I desperately need to get physically more fit for birth. I plan to walk the dogs at least once a day, do gardening and stuff. I am thinking about buying a yoga dvd for pregnancy to get myself more flexible. I have physiotherapy twice a week. 

(Written down that already sounds like a lot, and maybe too much to really do it ... )

I am kind of worried about getting the hyperemesis again, but I am already on prophylactic  antiemetics, there are studies suggesting that that helps. I need to get maximal nutrients into my diet, do you have any suggestions? 

What did help? 

Do you have any suggestions? Books, DVDs, websites, anything really? 

Thank you sooo much!

[boysmom2]

I really don't know much about hyperemesis, but as for getting maximum nutrients, maybe try adding calorie/nutrient dense to the things you can keep down. Like, say you can tolerate a really cold smoothie. Use frozen fruit in place of ice, since ice is not going to give you anything you need. Add greens, peanut butter, tofu, coconut oil, full-fat yogurt, whatever you can to boost it. If all that appeals is soup, do the same: you can puree veggies and beans and stir them into soups and stews. Add good oils/fats to everything you eat. And eat as often as you can. Always make sure you have a high calorie snack with you, like trail mix, so you can eat little bits while you're driving or whatever. And maybe even keep something near by when you go to bed. If you get up to go to the bathroom in the night you could have a snack too, if you could tolerate it.

Congrats on your pregnancy! I hope the meds help this time, I can't imagine how awful that would be.

[Triniity]

Thanks, that smoothie thing is a really good idea (why haven´t I thought of it ) I´ll try that !