Radiant Recovery® Basics for Pregnant Moms
Pregnancy Concerns
Here are a few things that some of our community members have raised as concerns:
Glucose Tolerance Test
A number of women have asked about the dreaded GTT (Glucose tolerance test). Your doctor may tell you that you need to take a glucose tolerance test to test for gestational diabetes. First of all, remember that your doctor is working for YOU, not the other way around. The GTT test does not have to be done routinely. Many doctors simply operate on the protocol they use and have not really thought about alternatives. Helen was working with a midwife and here is the information she was given:
She told me to fast starting at midnight. Go to the office first thing in the morning and have my fasting blood drawn. Then go out and have breakfast- protein and complex carb like I eat anyway. Then come back in 2 hours and have my blood taken again. She said that will tell her everything she needs to know. Now it is a bit of a pain because the test will take all morning instead of an hour, but I think it is worth it.
And if you are at risk for gestational diabetes and you and your health care provider need to do the GTT, note that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists did a study that showed that 18 Brach's Jelly Beans (the small ones) had exactly 50 ml of glucose and was a valid alternative to the glucola for the gestation diabetes test. Women also tolerated the jellybeans much better with fewer side effects such as headache and nausea/vomiting. Here is the link for the study. Print it and take it to your doc and say you want to do it this way.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10561636
Folic Acid
Here is information from the March of Dimes Website. Folic acid is a naturally occurring B vitamin that is crucial for the neural tube to develop properly. However, folic acid only works if taken before getting pregnant and during the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman may even know she is pregnant.
The best way to get enough folic acid is to take a multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid in it and eat healthy foods. Most multivitamins have this amount, but check the label to be sure.
Once you're pregnant, you should increase your folic acid intake to at least 600 micrograms of folic acid. Your prenatal vitamin should have the right amount of folic acid you'll need during pregnancy.
Sleep
Sleep can be a concern both in early and late pregnancy. Low blood sugar will make sleep problems worse. Have a protein and complex carb snack before bed and keep something by the bed so if you get up in the night, you can have something before going back to sleep. A number of women keep a thermos with almond milk and Restore right on the night stand. Some women get one of those compact refrigerators and use it as a night stand.
Lower Back pain
Lower back pain can occur in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is as a result of hormonal changes that loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine.
Exercise helps to strengthen abdominal and lower back muscles. Swimming is a wonderful option because, not only does it strengthen the muscles, it also takes the strain off the joints.
Labor and Delivery
Just when you feel that you cannot stand another minute of your being pregnant, here is baby boo ready to be there. Remember that labor and delivery are hard work. Have your husband or partner or family help you by having good program food for you during this time. If you will be delivering in a hospital, take good food. Plan a cooler. Choose the things you love most. When someone says *what can I do to help?* give them a sheet of program friendly food to make for you.
Be mindful of the hormonal and neurochemical impact of labor and delivery. While you are pregnant, your beta-endorphin is very high. It went up at ovulation and stayed up when you got pregnant. Labor makes it spike. Nursing maintains it. If you decide not to nurse, your BE level will drop. And this is what causes post partum depression. Talk with us on the list about things you can do to protect against this.
You will be very, very tired after labor and delivery. This is normal. It is designed to keep you doing nothing but resting, sleeping and being with your new baby. Do not be surprised if all you want to do is sleep when you are not feeding the baby. This is the best time to call in all the offers of “How can I help?” Have your husband or partner or mom or best friend coordinate. Have people do the laundry, vacuum, take care of the other kids, get the groceries, walk the dog. You rest. And let your husband or partner buffer all the people who are excited and want to see you and the baby. Wait for 6 or 8 weeks and rest.
Let your hormones and neurochemicals settle down. Do BE-raising things. Spend
quiet time with your immediate family. Sleep. Be with the baby. Sleep some more.
George’s Restore is a wonder drink for this time period. The particular type of
protein in it helps to make breast milk. So it is your friend!
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