Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs there is. The physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, the is “breast best?” question, the worry of nutrition and what foods to give during weaning & beyond can be incredibly overwhelming.
I found pregnancy really tough. I have spoken about this before. I was plagued with sickness (both all day and general), heartburn which prevented me from sleeping at night and extreme pelvic pain.
My bumps grew rapidly. Kaia was so big and pushed on every internal organ possible. I was unable to eat after 4pm from around 7months, if I tried to, I was violently ill for the rest of the evening.
I was just always so uncomfortable. I am not ashamed to admit that I genuinely didn’t enjoy the day-to-day of being pregnant. There seems to be a boom in lockdown pregnancy announcements and social media has a habit of highlighting our insecurities. I think it is so important to remind everyone that not all experiences are the same and you should never be made to feel like you’re a bad person or mother for not having the perfect pregnancy experience.
I remember people telling me about how amazing their pregnancies were. How they loved every minute of it. What stung the most were the people who had sickness and various other fun things that come with pregnancy, but said that it wasn’t that bad and they still love being pregnant. It took me a long time to realise that I wasn’t strange, I wasn’t a terrible person. It is OK to feel how I feel. They are my feelings and they are valid.
The right balance....
For me, finding the balance between combating sickness and eating well was a challenge.“Healthy” meals made my stomach turn, I just couldn’t face eating anything that wasn’t sweet and/or partially fried. Speaking to many friends, families and customers, this seems to be quite common. Many women worry about what they eat during pregnancy. Will having a day of just giving into their cravings be detrimental to their child’s well-being? Short answer, no absolutely not. Just don’t make a habit of it.
How I coped....
As a Mum who speaks to parents and health professionals daily, I wanted to share my Top 5 tips for how I managed tough pregnancies.
Eat little and often. This can help combat any sickness. I found my morning (all day) sickness was particularly bad at points in the day when I had gone the longest between meals.
Cravings are ok. Don’t fret about the donut you ate today. Pay attention to the foods you are eating over a day/week period. Try to avoid high fat, salt and sugary foods, but if you need that pick me up then go ahead and have it.
Batch Cook. If/when you have the energy stock up the freezer with well balanced meals. If you are suffering from morning sickness pay attention to the foods that you have been able to stomach. Focus on making meals with these ingredients. It’s important to note though, that you may be ok with it today, but tomorrow can be a different story.
Take your vitamins. There were days where I could not eat anything. Even water made me nauseous. But knowing that I was still taking my vitamins, relieved some of the stress that I was not providing nourishment through food.
Rest. Sounds simple right? Until you throw in life. Rest is so important for you and the baby. I found during my second pregnancy rest during the day was not an option, there was just too much to do. So I set a bedtime routine. Every night I made sure I was in bed by a certain time. During the third trimester sleep eluded me, but at least I was resting. Well sort of.
Hopefully you’ll find these tips useful. I’ve learned a lot during my time as a Mum and working with nutritionists for Logan’s Plate. Just remember to trust your instincts, don’t be afraid, and enjoy it. This is your time and your child. You’ll be fine.
If you want to share your experience, I’d love to hear all about it.
Check the blog regularly for other tips and experiences.
Have a delicious day
Tijani