Pregnancy and Prenatal Vitamins

     In case you haven’t heard, and you probably haven’t because I never officially announced it- we’re expecting baby number 4 in December!
​
      I had one week in this first trimester that truly kicked my butt. All of a sudden, coffee became repulsive so fatigue, nausea, and crazy cravings kicked in. I’m talking about an unquenchable urge to eat General Tso’s chicken, which takes some prep work to prepare gluten-free, yet by the time the food is finished, I feel personally offended that I ever could have wanted this meal and I just want to hide in my car because I can’t take the smell.

Good times.

     But don’t worry too much about me; I’ve managed to gain more weight than I ever have in the first trimester. Somehow my doctor didn’t think this was a grand accomplishment! Nevertheless, I’ve learned that the body does what it needs to during pregnancy, and it will all even out some point along the way.

     Finding proper ways to nourish yourself takes a much deeper role than simply eating well. Our bodies are only one-third of our being. And let’s face it, when our souls are craving something, we can stuff the “answer” into our bellies instead. I’ve been notorious for trying to treat stress with chocolate, and then I’m still stressed and crash from a sugar high.

     Over the weekend, I had the awesome opportunity to meet with representatives from some of the leading vitamin companies and sample their products. I’ve been particularly impressed with Child Life’s DHA. I use Child Life for my kid’s multivitamins, calcium, and echinacea and vitamin C, but didn’t know they offered anything for an adult.  I had avoided taking DHA supplements during this pregnancy because I thought I might not stomach it well. But I decided to try it about an hour and a half before bed, just in case I ended up in the bathroom. Unlike many other brands, they had the great idea to add a lemon flavor to their formula so that when you burp, you’re not propelled to vomit because of the awful fish taste!

     Getting back my nutrition back on track with Child Life’s DHA and my prenatal vitamins have helped me feel slightly more “normal.” And, once my stomach's strength returns, I'll add in some probiotics and collagen! 
​
What kind of vitamins did you take during your pregnancy? What are your recommendations?