Self Care During Pregnancy
Taking care of our dietary and nutritional needs during pregnancy is definitely something each woman should be empowered to do! This page includes a combination of my personal care regimens from pregnancies six through eight.
Again, please do your own research and understand that where I may be deficient in my body, you may not, and vice versa. As we become more aware of ourselves, it is inevitable that we will begin to see, hear and feel our bodies way of communicating things to us. The aches and pains of pregnancy will then be understood as language instead of a terrible ordeal, and we'll seek to heal and prevent rather than suffer through it.
To help in the minimization of unpleasant pregnancy symptoms, it's wise to begin physical and spiritual preparation before conception. Some herbs that are excellent for the job are Red clovers, Red raspberry leaves, and also Nettle leaves. These are herbs a regular health food store should carry. There is also a great herbal combination put together by Aisha Oni, called She Tea.
Again, please do your own research and understand that where I may be deficient in my body, you may not, and vice versa. As we become more aware of ourselves, it is inevitable that we will begin to see, hear and feel our bodies way of communicating things to us. The aches and pains of pregnancy will then be understood as language instead of a terrible ordeal, and we'll seek to heal and prevent rather than suffer through it.
To help in the minimization of unpleasant pregnancy symptoms, it's wise to begin physical and spiritual preparation before conception. Some herbs that are excellent for the job are Red clovers, Red raspberry leaves, and also Nettle leaves. These are herbs a regular health food store should carry. There is also a great herbal combination put together by Aisha Oni, called She Tea.
My regimen is as follows:
1. Diet
- As many raw fruits and vegetables as is possible to consume daily.
- Alkaline Grains (such as Spelt, Rye, Quinoa, Amaranth, Kamut)
- Moderate or eliminate consumption of meat. If consuming meat, organic or pasture fed if possible. Excluding my sixth pregnancy, I've eaten small portions of meat according to my desire throughout pregnancy. Moderation is key, and I make sure to cleanse with gentle herbs like Red Clover or Dandelion root. These herbs aid in cleansing the blood, which is particularly important when consuming meat.
- Water appropriate to your body weight (a safe measure is working anywhere between 1-2 gallons a day depending on weight)
*If much of your attention can go into this area, you'll remove a lot of the aches and pains of pregnancy, ie. indigestion, nausea, heartburn, gas, etc. You want to bring a healthy balance between alkalinity and acidity within the body, emphasizing an extreme of neither one. As for fruits and vegetables, it is best if they are fresh and ripe with no pesticides and/or herbicides. You also want to eat as much unprocessed and unpackaged food as possible, as this will also cut down on the amount of toxins entering your system. Increase those raw fruits and veggies!
1. Diet
- As many raw fruits and vegetables as is possible to consume daily.
- Alkaline Grains (such as Spelt, Rye, Quinoa, Amaranth, Kamut)
- Moderate or eliminate consumption of meat. If consuming meat, organic or pasture fed if possible. Excluding my sixth pregnancy, I've eaten small portions of meat according to my desire throughout pregnancy. Moderation is key, and I make sure to cleanse with gentle herbs like Red Clover or Dandelion root. These herbs aid in cleansing the blood, which is particularly important when consuming meat.
- Water appropriate to your body weight (a safe measure is working anywhere between 1-2 gallons a day depending on weight)
*If much of your attention can go into this area, you'll remove a lot of the aches and pains of pregnancy, ie. indigestion, nausea, heartburn, gas, etc. You want to bring a healthy balance between alkalinity and acidity within the body, emphasizing an extreme of neither one. As for fruits and vegetables, it is best if they are fresh and ripe with no pesticides and/or herbicides. You also want to eat as much unprocessed and unpackaged food as possible, as this will also cut down on the amount of toxins entering your system. Increase those raw fruits and veggies!
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2. Supplements
Please click links for further description of supplements. - Red Raspberry Leaf Infusions - Nettle Leaf Infusions - Dr. Sebi’s Seamoss and Bladderwrack - Traditional Medicinals Pregnancy Tea - New Chapter Organics Perfect Prenatals (the only whole food prenatal vitamin that I can recommend, as I've taken these during my seventh and eighth pregnancies) - New Chapter Wholemega or Twin Labs Cod Liver Oil - Moringa Leaf - Yellowdock tincture for boosting iron reserves - Oregano Oil (although this particular herb is contraindicated by some during pregnancy, I've taken two drops under the tongue, accompanied by water every other day, or 2-3 times a week during the last few weeks of my pregnancies. Some say oregano oil can cause issues with the placenta, although many women attest to taking this herb just fine. Use caution, and as with all new herbs proceed slowly.) - Colloidal Silver (can be purchased online or at your local health food store) and is used for it's ability to rid the body of any infections as well as boost the immune system. Both Oregano Oil and Colloidal Silver are taken for antibiotic purposes in preparation for birth. The Colloidal Silver is taken freely throughout pregnancy and I add the Oregano Oil in small amounts towards the very end. Some of the properties of Red Raspberry leaf are mentioned in my video on herbal infusions. But it is excellent for toning the uterine muscles, allowing them to work more efficiently during labor. Nettle leaf is the next best pregnancy herb as it is full of the required minerals for the body and is rich in chlorophyll. It’s also recommended that you drink very large infusions of Nettle towards the last 8 weeks of pregnancy to help boost the vitamin K levels of the baby, making it less likely for the him/her to experience jaundice (which is vit. K deficiency) after birth. |
In the past, I tend to make the herbal infusions on some days and sip them, and then on others days I will drink a glass of the Seamoss
Bladderwrack mixture. This mineral drink contains 92 of the 102 minerals vitamins required by the human body. During my seventh pregnancy, I took the recommended dose for the whole food prenatals and the cod liver oil in addition to making my red raspberry and nettle leaf infusions. Seamoss and Bladderwrack I added to my green smoothies on the days I decided to make them which usually worked out to be 2 or 3 times a week. With my eighth pregnancy the only thing that changed was the replacement of Seamoss and Bladderwrack with Moringa leaf. My energy levels were excellent during pregnancies seven and eight! So much so, that I found myself comparing it to the youthfulness of my first pregnancies, minus the unhealthy foods! Definitely make the addition of herbs a major part of your pregnancy regimen! Get to know your herbs and better yet get to know them in the wild if it is at all possible. |
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3. Exercises
- Breathing Exercises that can be done alone, or accompanied with Yoga and/or Pilates - Yoga, Pilates, or Dance. Exercises which encourage stretching, strength in stillness, and much hip movement is excellent as it opens the pelvic region and increases flexibility and heat in those areas. - Kegel Exercises - vaginal exercises that tone the vaginal canal through contracting and releasing - Relaxation & Meditation - it is also good to be in the nude during some aspect of relaxation time, as removing the clothing can help with the illumination of fears, anxieties and concerns. Being comfortable in your skin is important, as we've come to only associate nakedness with sexuality. - Make the time to recognize and deal with fears relating to pregnancy and birth. Work to eliminate them by education, and spiritual guidance. Make time to connect with your Ancestors and spirit guides during such times, and ask for their guidance. They are always present and awaiting an conscious invitation into your life. - Take in as much sun and fresh air as possible each day. If pregnancy is during the cold months, pull up those blinds and let the sunshine inside. |
*Use caution when adapting any form of physical fitness into your care regimen. Be responsible for yourself and your unborn child.
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Enjoy your pregnancy! May it be peaceful and empowering!
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