for sick moms-how to get protein?

[Hazel]

I just cannot eat right now. everything I eat I have to pretty much gag down. I am wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to include more protein when feeling so sick.

[mom2sweetboy]

I've lost my appetite too, and feel sick most of the day. Sorry, guess I don't have much help here. I am taking a prenatal vitamin.

[chrissy]

i'm not sick yet but i was with both of my other kids- really sick for a pretty long time. just eat what you can and try not to worry too much about it. i mean certainly if you can eat healthy things then do, but if it's between not eating and eating something less than optimal, i'd go with eating the less than optimal thing.

:hug it stinks. i know.

[OMama]

So, the morning sickness hasn't kicked in yet for me, but my appetite is already getting pretty finicky. Today, I re-discovered my protein powder that had been in the pantry for awhile. It is Aria -- a woman's brand and it looked like the ingredients were "safe." Since I'm still nursing my toddler I figured I may need some "extra" protein as well. I made it with milk and frozen bananas -- and it was good!

Maybe a protein shake would taste yummy when the nausea is kicking in too. Good luck! I know it sucks -- I still remember it from last time and I feel like it is waiting for me right around the corner. I'm only 4 weeks along now so I keep thinking any day now I'm gonna feel like I'm back on that boat again!

[honeybeedreams]

you don't need to worry so much about protein right now, just that you get enough calories so you don't lose weight.

you should eat whatever you can.

that said i am a big believer in medical marijuana... if you are so sick you can't function, can't eat, can't care for yourself, smoke a little pot. not enough to make you wreaked, just enough to make you feel better.

mothering mag had an excellent article on it a few years ago (2?) do a search for it on the site.

other things that sometimes make moms feel better... eating protein every two hours, making sure you are hydrated (sometimes club soda or regular water with lemon squeezed in) high doses of B-6, acupuncture, rest.

hope you feel better soon!

[Tori Gollihugh]

protein is a main building block for all parts of baby development, so if you can't actually EAT good proteins, then I totally second the protein shake idea! I haven't purchased mine yet, but will be resorting to that very shortly because my stomach is more and more struggling to deal with the solids I'm putting on it! :(

Also, if you are a normal to heavy weight and you are taking in enough food and you do lose weight, don't stress. I lost a bit during my last pregnancy (was pretty fluffy to start) and my DD was 8lds 4 oz! This time I'm fluffier than when I got preggo with DD and I've lost 5 pounds already. That said, I'm not TRYing to lose weight. But you also don't want to just make yourself barf the things you are able to eat. YKWIM?

Not to be arguementative, truly, but I would definitely research the MJ thing before buying it. Whether medicinal or not, there can be effects on you and DUC (dear unborn child). Especially if your heredity predisposes you or DUC to the possible neg effects. My family is predisposed to depression, anxiety attacks, paranoia, schitzophrenia (sp?), and etc... so MJ has BAD effect on those sibs who have used it. The bro who smoked the most is quite paranoid and possibly schitzo (undiagnosed as yet) as well! So, I wouldn't ever - in any foreseeable future - allow myself to use it. As with anything, though... RESEARCH is always a good idea! :)

good luck. :thumb

[honeybeedreams]

Not to be arguementative, truly, but I would definitely research the MJ thing before buying it. Whether medicinal or not, there can be effects on you and DUC (dear unborn child). :thumb

have you actually read the article i am refering to in my PP? it had 3 pages of references in which it backs up quite clearly that smoking a little pot has NO affect on an unborn child. the stress i baby feels due to mom not getting adequate nutrition is much greater than a few tokes of pot could ever in anyone's outragous imagination could every cause.

i am not being arugmentative here, i think we have a knee jerk reaction about "drugs" in this country... we have been so brainwashed to believe that they are never ever any good for anything no matter what. and this is simply not true. marijuana has been used for 1000s of years medicially with excellent results, just because americans cannot use it in a reverent respectful way does not make it an evil drug, it makes the way many people abuse it harmful.

medical marijunana is legal in many parts of this country. many many people respect and honor it's medicinal powers.

i am not suggesting the OP use it get stoned out of her mind and abuse it. i am suggesting that is she is so sick she cannot function, that she use a small amount of it to feel better. this is no different than suggesting a long laboring woman have a glass of wine to help her relax and get some sleep.

it's not the substance that is "bad," it's the way people choose to use it, and there is absolutly no reliable evidence that a small amount of medicinally used marijuana has hurt any mothers or babies, on the contracy it has allowed many women to actually gain weight, care for their other children and birth healthy, good sized babies.

here's the article if anyone would like to read it:

http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/marijuana.html

[OMama]

I agree in someways with both Honeybeedreams and Tori. I have read the above-mentioned article, but think it is sage advice for each mama to research what she feels is right. I think the article was powerful and persuasive (like so many articles in Mothering!) but I have also read other pieces which were equally convincing and would make me want to steer away from pot during pregnancy. Like any decision, you should gather as much information as possible from a variety of sources (and be aware of where those sources are getting their information and how sound their arguments are) and then weigh the risks and benefits. With that said, I fully agree with the benefits of medical marijuana and think it is truly outrageous that it is a contraband substance in our country. I have a loved one with a chronic disease who benefits greatly from its use and it makes me really mad that it is hard to get sometimes. As for use during pregnancy, I haven't used it before personally but had a friend who did and it helped her a lot and her son is a thriving, healthy child. Again, like so many decisions I think this is one that is personal and should be made after doing sufficient research. In the end I wouldn't immediately reach for the bong at the first tinge of nausea, but I also wouldn't rule it out if I felt it had a positive role to play during my pregnancy. Good luck!

[Tori Gollihugh]

I was simply sharing personal reasons I'm aware of for choosing never to use said item. Wanted to mention it because they are a reality and could be things to consider that others might not know. No knee jerk here, simply stating personal experience/perspective. :)

have you actually read the article i am refering to in my PP? it had 3 pages of references in which it backs up quite clearly that smoking a little pot has NO affect on an unborn child. the stress i baby feels due to mom not getting adequate nutrition is much greater than a few tokes of pot could ever in anyone's outragous imagination could every cause.

i am not being arugmentative here, i think we have a knee jerk reaction about "drugs" in this country... we have been so brainwashed to believe that they are never ever any good for anything no matter what. and this is simply not true. marijuana has been used for 1000s of years medicially with excellent results, just because americans cannot use it in a reverent respectful way does not make it an evil drug, it makes the way many people abuse it harmful.

medical marijunana is legal in many parts of this country. many many people respect and honor it's medicinal powers.

i am not suggesting the OP use it get stoned out of her mind and abuse it. i am suggesting that is she is so sick she cannot function, that she use a small amount of it to feel better. this is no different than suggesting a long laboring woman have a glass of wine to help her relax and get some sleep.

it's not the substance that is "bad," it's the way people choose to use it, and there is absolutly no reliable evidence that a small amount of medicinally used marijuana has hurt any mothers or babies, on the contracy it has allowed many women to actually gain weight, care for their other children and birth healthy, good sized babies.

here's the article if anyone would like to read it:

http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/marijuana.html

[honeybeedreams]

I Again, like so many decisions I think this is one that is personal and should be made after doing sufficient research. In the end I wouldn't immediately reach for the bong at the first tinge of nausea, but I also wouldn't rule it out if I felt it had a positive role to play during my pregnancy. Good luck!

i totally agree, i just don't think scare tactics ever helped anyone make an informed decision!

[seahorsie]

This is my first time experiencing nausea during pregnancy - after 3 days of it, not eating, & ginger not helping, I put on my dd's Sea Bands 1/2 hour ago (the type of wrist bands you buy for motion sickness at the pharmacy) & all nausea left immediately! So there are other options - hope this helps others too. :)

[honeybeedreams]

This is my first time experiencing nausea during pregnancy - after 3 days of it, not eating, & ginger not helping, I put on my dd's Sea Bands 1/2 hour ago (the type of wrist bands you buy for motion sickness at the pharmacy) & all nausea left immediately! So there are other options - hope this helps others too. :)

of course there are other options! my OP said basically "here's an option you shouldn't forget about" and then i listed a whole bunch of other things you can do to deal with feeling sick.

[seahorsie]

of course there are other options! my OP said basically "here's an option you shouldn't forget about" and then i listed a whole bunch of other things you can do to deal with feeling sick.


Jeez! All I was doing was adding my experience, not disagreeing with you. By all means, whatever works.

[Chicky2]

I agree that marijuana is a very valuable plant. Too bad ppl overdo it, just like w/alcohol, which also has medicinal purposes. It can be a viable option. I personally would not hesitate, if I should get as sick as I did w/my first again. That said, I personally try to stick w/the protein every hour or two when I'm awake, and that really seems to help alot. Wild yam is said to be good for m/s, too, and a mw friend of mine recommends a protein shake w/spirulina in it. Very nutritious! G/L Mama! I'm sure to be wearing the pukey shoes soon. Already starting to gag alot...

[~Shanna~]

Hi Hazel,
I agree with previous posts, eat whatever sounds good to you right now. I think the trick is to be eating optimally as soon as you can. Also, if there is something, anything, that sounds good to you now, go ahead and sprinkle some flax, protein powder, nettles, whatever on it to boost up the nutrition.
Good luck mama - my nausea has only been mild so far, and I can't believe how much it has changed how I eat.

This too shall pass.

[annethcz]

First of all, I'll just add some anecdotal experience that it is possible to be REALLY sick, lose weight, and still have a good-sized healthy baby. I've been pregnant 3 times before, and each time I lost a significant amount of weight in the first trimester (15-25 lbs). I am overweight, but not obese. My babies were all good sized 7lbs+, and all are happy healthy children now.

That said, I've used different strategies to get protien. Protein shakes aren't a bad idea, even something like SlimFast, if it's all you can choke down. I've had success with adding protein powder to fruit smoothies for breakfast. Protein bars are also a possibility. I really like the Zone bars, they were the ones I could keep down the best during my last pregnancy. You may also want to try adding more nuts to your diet. My midwife swears than eating raw almonds helps to settle quasy stomachs (although I never had luck with that).