TF Pregnancy Club - January/February Thread! - Page 7

[cherryblossom]

intro/lurker--preg prep

hi. i am new here and thought i would introduce myself. right now i am a lurker, but possibly a ttc'er in the very near future. i have major baby fever, just to let you know. my son will be 3 in april and originally we thought we would wait until he was at least 3 to start ttc. well, then my brain starts rolling and i start looking at the calendar and making new plans...now i really want an october baby! but that would mean getting pregnant like this week! yikes! seriously, i went for almost 2 1/2 years thinking this one i had was definitely enough. and now just in the last month i am feeling more ready for another one. it's a little disconcerting. i am a perfectionist so i really think way too much about the details and want them all to line up just so. i had 4 criteria that needed to be met before i even considered having a second child and low and behold it has happened! maybe that's why i feel so ready.

anyway, i have a question. what was the most important to you in the way of preparation for pregnancy and what kinds of things did you do? i am just curious what your thoughts are since this is a TF list and i am very TF. i have been working very hard since i discovered WAP/NT to eat well and get my body back in working order. (i had a tough postpartum) it's difficult, you know, i keep wanting to have things be perfect and be in the best shape, but then i think that no one is ever absolutely perfectly ready and that it will just all work out anyway.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by thomlynn

Can you ladies inspire me with some low sugar/high protien snack ideas. I'm feeling a little off and I think it's a glucose issue. I don't have the test until next month but I'd really rather not "fail" and have it marked as such.

I'm just having trouble eating much of what I should be eating.

Honestly, if you can just eat soemthing with loads of fat, that should help. It did for me anyway. I like eggs cooked in coconut oil as a snack if I'm home.

How about homeade granola with nuts? Or cubes of cheese? Sometimes I like ot put nut butters in those little yogurt containers I get for the kids.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by thomlynn

Can you ladies inspire me with some low sugar/high protien snack ideas. I'm feeling a little off and I think it's a glucose issue. I don't have the test until next month but I'd really rather not "fail" and have it marked as such.

I'm just having trouble eating much of what I should be eating.

Honestly, if you can just eat soemthing with loads of fat, that should help. It did for me anyway. I like eggs cooked in coconut oil as a snack if I'm home.

How about homeade granola with nuts? Or cubes of cheese? Sometimes I like to put nut butters in those little yogurt containers I get for the kids.

[nubianamy]

Hi, everybody! I'm new on this forum. Glad to be here!

How long have you been interested in Traditional Foods and how did you first learn about it? I can't remember why, but I read Dr. Ron's book on milk and was fascinated. From there I attended a local WAP showing of Sally Fallon lecturing on basic WAP tenets (I remember clearly my daughter was just a few months old, and I had her in arms sleeping the whole time -- it was a terrible snowstorm!). Anyway, I bought NT and have read bits of it. My cohousing community has a milk coop, so we get raw milk (and kefir, cream, eggs, chicken, beef, etc.) delivered right to our house every week, which is great! I'm a reluctant cook, though, so I mostly eat my foods raw. Oh, I made crispy nuts a few months ago and they were yummy.

When is your baby due? Due date is July 3.

Which number child will this be for you, and what are the ages of your other children (if any)? We have one daughter, Ivy, who is 22 months.

What kind of birth are you having? This will be our second home birth. The first was lovely -- 10 hours of terrible back labor, but I never expected it to be pain-free, so no big deal -- with a triumphant standing birth into DH's arms!

What are your other interests/hobbies? I am a school library media specialist, so I love to read and tinker with the computer. I used to do family genealogy, but it's been a few years. I'm a Wiccan priestess.

What part of the world do you live in? Michigan

One crazy fun fact about yourself! I was on my college (Michigan State) homecoming court! Which, if you know me, is TOTALLY off-character for me.

[nubianamy]

There was earlier conversation about TF pregnancy books. Has anyone read The Naturally Healthy Pregnancy by Shonda Parker? http://www.amazon.com/Naturally-Heal.../dp/1929125127 I have it on my shelf and I think I bought it with some TF books a while back.

[brookescott88]

Originally Posted by nubianamy

There was earlier conversation about TF pregnancy books. Has anyone read The Naturally Healthy Pregnancy by Shonda Parker? http://www.amazon.com/Naturally-Heal.../dp/1929125127 I have it on my shelf and I think I bought it with some TF books a while back.

interesting...does it have dietary info and recipes?

[nubianamy]

Mostly herbal stuff, IIRC. I will check when I get home.

Update: It's full of whole foods recommendations, including a big chart of good foods to eat while pregnant (high in vit A, happy to say!). She advocates for freshly milled flour, raw dairy products and organic/free range produce and meats. I did not notice a mention of fermented foods or organ meats.

Most of the middle of the book deals with various "discomforts and health variations" of pregnancy, and nutritional & herbal methods for dealing with these.

I did not mention before there is a strong Biblical basis for decisions, but (I am not Christian) I am perfectly willing to read it in context and appreciate the advice for what it is. I am happy to say there is a chapter on breastfeeding and a rebuttal of Biblical reasons for feeding on a schedule.

I will have to give this book a good read!

[nubianamy]

Ahhh... I got home an hour early from work today so DH could go to the gym (he was home with our sick little one today). I took advantage of her late nap to make a meatloaf from NT! My first recipe (not including crispy nuts). It looks soooooo good... even raw!

I used my 1lb of remaining salad bar beef (mmmm) but did not have any raw cream in the house, so I used Guernsey instead (a local non-hormone dairy who does not ultrapasteurize)... cultured butter, free-range egg and bread crumbs from Zingerman's deli. I can't wait to taste it!

I am committed to trying new recipes when I can (we mostly eat at common meal, but I cook 1-2x week). Any suggestions for toddler-friendly meals to try next?

Also, what is EFLF?

[nubianamy]

Originally Posted by thomlynn

Can you ladies inspire me with some low sugar/high protien snack ideas.

I have trouble eating my two eggs a day sometimes... unless I devil them, and then I can't stop eating them!

Deviled eggs a la Maggi: hard boil, cut in half, displace yolks into a plastic or wax paper sandwich bag. Add mustard to taste, salt and a bit of mayonnaise, cream or raw egg yolk for smoothness. Smoosh around inside bag until mixture is uniform. Kids love this part! Cut the end off the plastic bag and squeeze yolk mixture out (like a pastry bag) into whites. Nummy!

I often have dry bread sitting around during the week, so last week I made bread pudding. It went quick!

I made a crispy nut mixture and added raisins, cranberries, and some of those naturally-colored organic chocolate candies (I forget the brand, but they're like pastel M&Ms) and I kept it in the car in a jar. Very nice.

Fantastic Foods makes a dehydrated black bean mix (add hot water and cover for 5 min) -- I don't know if this qualifies as TF but it sure is good! Better tasting than canned beans for sure. I mix them up and eat them with smashed avocado and salsa. Mmmm.

Gosh, I'm hungry now.

[steph117]

Hi cherryblossom, & welcome!

Originally Posted by cherryblossom

anyway, i have a question. what was the most important to you in the way of preparation for pregnancy and what kinds of things did you do? i am just curious what your thoughts are since this is a TF list and i am very TF. i have been working very hard since i discovered WAP/NT to eat well and get my body back in working order. (i had a tough postpartum) it's difficult, you know, i keep wanting to have things be perfect and be in the best shape, but then i think that no one is ever absolutely perfectly ready and that it will just all work out anyway.

For me, it was starting to shore up my diet as much as I could in preparation, and getting my DH to do the same (though he didn't really til the few weeks prior - still better than nothing!). I know that WAP suggests at least 6 months-1 year of nutrient-dense foods before TTC - though for me, even though I was eating largely TF, it probably was more like 3 months prior that I started with regular CLO/raw milk/etc. So when we got more serious about wanting to TTC, I started drinking raw milk daily (as opposed to occasionally), taking CLO (I'd been doing it haphazardly on/off for over a year; finally started doing it regularly); eating more eggs; trying to introduce more nutrient-dense foods generally, just trying to eat more TF in general. I also tried to make salmon roe in many incarnations, but that never panned out - I always found it revolting, no matter what I did to it - oh well!

Not sure that's really helpful - sounds like that's what you're doing already. But I will say - even if I didn't prepare exactly according to "plan" - I know that what I did was helpful, and it's been a wonderful, wonderful pregnancy (I had basically 1/2 hour of morning sickness once, and I largely attribute that to diet - there are definitely TFers who have experienced some nasty MS, but from what I'm gathering, there seems to be a high proportion of TFers who haven't!)

Good luck on your journey -keep us posted.

[steph117]

Originally Posted by nubianamy

Hi, everybody! I'm new on this forum. Glad to be here!

Welcome, nubianamy! I'll add you to the intro page.

Thanks for posting the info about the book - I've never heard of it!! It advocates raw dairy??? I need to check this out...

[steph117]

Originally Posted by nubianamy

Also, what is EFLF?

Eat Fat, Lose Fat - Sally Fallon's book on the wonders of coconut oil (I haven't read it myself).

I want to make meatloaf now...how did yours turn out?

[steph117]

Originally Posted by nubianamy

I have trouble eating my two eggs a day sometimes... unless I devil them, and then I can't stop eating them!

Deviled eggs a la Maggi: hard boil, cut in half, displace yolks into a plastic or wax paper sandwich bag. Add mustard to taste, salt and a bit of mayonnaise, cream or raw egg yolk for smoothness.

That sounds good...and I'd try it (the past few days I have NOT WANTED EGGS; I've been eating 1-2 per day the whole pregnancy until now), only I still don't have a TF mayonnaise substitute that doesn't gross me out, and I can't quite bring myself to use Hellmann's! What do you use for mayonnaise? Or do you just use cream? mmmm....cream....maybe I'll try that.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by nubianamy

I have trouble eating my two eggs a day sometimes... unless I devil them, and then I can't stop eating them!

Deviled eggs a la Maggi: hard boil, cut in half, displace yolks into a plastic or wax paper sandwich bag. Add mustard to taste, salt and a bit of mayonnaise, cream or raw egg yolk for smoothness. Smoosh around inside bag until mixture is uniform. Kids love this part! Cut the end off the plastic bag and squeeze yolk mixture out (like a pastry bag) into whites. Nummy!

I often have dry bread sitting around during the week, so last week I made bread pudding. It went quick!

I made a crispy nut mixture and added raisins, cranberries, and some of those naturally-colored organic chocolate candies (I forget the brand, but they're like pastel M&Ms) and I kept it in the car in a jar. Very nice.

Fantastic Foods makes a dehydrated black bean mix (add hot water and cover for 5 min) -- I don't know if this qualifies as TF but it sure is good! Better tasting than canned beans for sure. I mix them up and eat them with smashed avocado and salsa. Mmmm.

Gosh, I'm hungry now.

These are good ideas

What about just grilling a big peice of chicken as well? with some seasonings and salt?

I know one of my favorite lunches lately is some kind of leftover meat, or eggs- with a corn tortilla and raw cheddar cooked quesadilla style in a pan. Then I chop up an avocado and sprinkle it with either lemon or lime and salt. Add on top, then drizzle on yogurt.


How is everyone feeling these days?

[nubianamy]

Originally Posted by steph117

I want to make meatloaf now...how did yours turn out?

Well, I realize now I accidentally cut some of the ingredients in half (meat, since I only had 1 lb instead of 2) and forgot to do that with the cream and butter. Whoops. It was spectacular!! I still have some in the fridge... for lunch tomorrow, I think!

[nubianamy]

Originally Posted by steph117

I still don't have a TF mayonnaise substitute that doesn't gross me out, and I can't quite bring myself to use Hellmann's! What do you use for mayonnaise? Or do you just use cream? mmmm....cream....maybe I'll try that.

I use whatever we have in the fridge -- it's such a tiny amount I don't really mind using a "bad" oil. Generally my husband likes Miracle Whip (yuck!!) but we are currently using some organic something with Omega-3s. Still not great. I think I'd like to try the cream! Last time I made the eggs, I just used mustard. It was a little too dry, but very spicy and nummy.

[nubianamy]

Originally Posted by Leilalu

I know one of my favorite lunches lately is some kind of leftover meat, or eggs- with a corn tortilla and raw cheddar cooked quesadilla style in a pan. Then I chop up an avocado and sprinkle it with either lemon or lime and salt. Add on top, then drizzle on yogurt.

That sounds perfect! I am at work and can't cook, but I could probably make that in advance... or just serve it over brown rice instead of the tortilla.

[steph117]

wow, we've been neglecting this thread! MDC's been having all sorts of issues though, as i'm sure y'all know. it's been sloooooooooooow for me! bleah!

i'm still gaining weight, which is funny to me because this week my appetite really slowed down for the most part. yet i still put on 2 lbs! this week i was not at all interested in dairy, and still not in eggs, though i got some down this morning at least. the dairy desire is coming back - which is good, since i'd rather drink that than take calcium pills. i've gained 45 lbs so far...though i don't look it!

i'm due at the end of feb'y, & just starting to plan for freezer meals now...gotta get cracking on that!

SO: do your DPs cook? my DH is happy to eat (sprouted grain) cereal for dinner every night...(sigh)...he's really not interested. i've taught him to make simple stuff - duck breast, scallops, salmon, baked chicken - but he really doesn't like cooking. but now i'm trying to get him to really understand that he's gonna have to step up after LO arrives, so he needs to start practicing, like, PRONTO, because once those freezer meals run out...in fact, i told him that i think he should make dinner this sunday. he made the mistake of laughing - that didn't go over too well with me. i said, "WHAT? why not?" so he said he'd need my help, and i said, doing what? and he said, well, or i'll need a cookbook or clear directions, and i responded, there are TONS of cookbooks here, just look in one & pick something!

so...anyone else deal with "training" a partner to cook? what worked? i've been showing him how to soak grains, etc, the basics, but more is required! i've gotta show more patience...but i guess i'm getting antsy since the due date's arriving, & i know if (when, I guess) i'm exhausted after the birth i'm NOT going to want to be bothered with the kitchen for a while, you know? and i will NOT WANT CEREAL.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by steph117

wow, we've been neglecting this thread! MDC's been having all sorts of issues though, as i'm sure y'all know. it's been sloooooooooooow for me! bleah!

i'm still gaining weight, which is funny to me because this week my appetite really slowed down for the most part. yet i still put on 2 lbs! this week i was not at all interested in dairy, and still not in eggs, though i got some down this morning at least. the dairy desire is coming back - which is good, since i'd rather drink that than take calcium pills. i've gained 45 lbs so far...though i don't look it!

i'm due at the end of feb'y, & just starting to plan for freezer meals now...gotta get cracking on that!

SO: do your DPs cook? my DH is happy to eat (sprouted grain) cereal for dinner every night...(sigh)...he's really not interested. i've taught him to make simple stuff - duck breast, scallops, salmon, baked chicken - but he really doesn't like cooking. but now i'm trying to get him to really understand that he's gonna have to step up after LO arrives, so he needs to start practicing, like, PRONTO, because once those freezer meals run out...in fact, i told him that i think he should make dinner this sunday. he made the mistake of laughing - that didn't go over too well with me. i said, "WHAT? why not?" so he said he'd need my help, and i said, doing what? and he said, well, or i'll need a cookbook or clear directions, and i responded, there are TONS of cookbooks here, just look in one & pick something!

so...anyone else deal with "training" a partner to cook? what worked? i've been showing him how to soak grains, etc, the basics, but more is required! i've gotta show more patience...but i guess i'm getting antsy since the due date's arriving, & i know if (when, I guess) i'm exhausted after the birth i'm NOT going to want to be bothered with the kitchen for a while, you know? and i will NOT WANT CEREAL.

I'm in the same boat!I am due March 10th, but it will be a repeat c-section, unless babe decides to come on his own.
I do have inlaws coming. I am not so much worried about food as I am my house becoming a look-alike to my inlaws place. I am trying not to be scared. Not wrong, mind you, but different in terms of priorities and standards. But see, I'm just being silly and pregnant right now

Dh cooked for his work yesterday(each person takes a turn doing the food for happy hour each week) and he made spaghetti. Well, we were not home. When I came home, I pretty much wiped down everything to get it back up to my standards! So my biggest fear? A dishelveled(according to me) kitchen! He doesn't cook wrong, just different from me.

But I am a hard one to hold down. Everyone knows it and teases me relentlessly. Even FIL makes jokes about whether I will be up trying to cook and vacuumm after my first day home

I guess loss of control is my issue right now.lol
But MIL is good about making a different dish for every picky person, so I know I can get her to help make what I want. I am just getting my ducks in a row so I can delegate. Making sure I have the right foods in bulk on hand for the first few weeks to cut down on shopping for things we run out of.

I know it will all work out, I just want things to be peaceful during that time.

[newcastlemama]

My dh cannot cook....he can heat things though I made some meatloafs and mashed potatoes for the freezer. My mom also made us some soups. I am planning in cooking still and having him do shopping/clean up. I am just way to tricky to cook for also with my food sensitivies. We are also planning to pay my 13 yo sister to come over and help with ds and chores after the baby is born....She is great with Jack and she is a really thorough housekeeper.

I am due in 10 days and I am definately ready to have the baby...I feel bored with being big and having groin pain/pressure. My active 3 yo is also wearing me out. It is funny because I felt done being pregnant at this exact same time with my first pregnancy. Fortunately I had ds a week early.

Today is my and dh's 5 year anniversary and we are celebrating tomorrow evening so I do have that to look forward to. Plus the weekends are easier since dh is around to help with ds.

Jen