Early Pregnancy

By: Kyra Schlotter

“You are the closest I will ever come to magic.”

― Suzanne Finnamore, The Zygote Chronicles

It’s a thrilling time to be pregnant, every mother always has questions and needs answers.

Early Pregnancy

So, you’ve found out you’re pregnant – congratulations! This is an incredible time where life can really show you what it’s all about. 

At the start of pregnancy excitement, shock, and joy can quickly be accompanied with fatigue, swollen body parts, oh and did I mention nausea? With the massive amount of changes occurring in your body, you maybe wondering what you can do to support this new life as well as your own. Pregnancy can quickly become overwhelming, but have no fear we understand. We may just have a few tips/tricks to help support you along the way.  

Eating Well During Pregnancy 

Optimal nutrition throughout any pregnancy is vital for growing a healthy baby, minimizing complications, and maximising recovery after birth. Sometimes this can also be easier said than done. 

Early weeks of pregnancy have most gravitating towards less nutrient-dense foods, which is understandable considering morning sickness is comparable to a hangover that just won’t seem to go away... The biggest recommendation I have here would be to aim for smaller meals, healthy cracker options, tonic water and to top it off an excellent quality prenatal vitamin that will help ensure your baby’s needs are being met while helping minimize any nausea. 

I have put together a small grocery list or nutrient dense foods to help make your shopping trip a breeze from the early days of conception to the very end of pregnancy and beyond.

Having a balanced diet like different fruits is essential.

Grocery List

Veggies:  Spinach, Asparagus, Brussel Sprouts, Kale, Butternut Squash, Broccoli

Fruit: Berries, Apples, Bananas, Mangoes, Oranges, Watermelon

Dairy: Milk, Cream, Hard cheese, Cottage cheese

Protein: Fish, Chicken, Beef, Eggs, Beans 

Grains: Oats, Brown rice, Barley, Quinoa

Chocolate: Any (in moderation)

Nausea Go-to’s:

For crackers I don’t think anyone could go wrong with reaching for a bag of Eves Crackers. They are seed based, full of healthy fats, fiber, and low carb! 

The only issue for these crackers is that I have to pace myself, they’re addictive and before you know it one bag becomes one serving! 

One of my favourites, you can just hear that “crunch.”

Another one of my top cracker picks would be Suzie’s 100% Organic Saltines with extra virgin olive oil. These bad boys are to-die-for. These crackers are delicious, and come pre-packaged in 8 portions. Perfect for splitting up between your car, purse, living room, pretty much anywhere that pesky nausea can strike! Suzie’s got your back!   

Another go-to that I can rely on all the time.

Also, b-sure to talk with your doctor about supplements to help settle your stomach! This Anti-Nausea supplement from Platinum Naturals that is specific for pregnancy is a great option to get a small dose of B6, a vitamin that has been shown to help with nausea along with a healthy amount of ginger. 

When the nausea really becomes unbearable, this is the real deal.

Why and which Prenatal Vitamin to take: 

Prenatal vitamins contain most of the vitamins and minerals a mama-to-be’s body needs before and during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a HUGE job and you body as well as your baby’s body need a massive amount of key nutrients. Prenatal vitamins are designed to meet these needs, by containing folic acid (also known as folate) to help prevent neural tube defects, Iron for the expanding volume of blood, calcium for baby’s bones, fish oil for the brain and that’s just to name a few! There are many, many more. 

Once a day and you’re good!

A great option I recommend is the Platinum Naturals Prenatal vitamin, it has been recognized by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. It is a one a day formula that is easy to digest with fish oil included, but don’t worry they also offer a vegan formula as well!

Pregnancy is one of the most difficult experiences one can go through during their life but it is also the most rewarding, through trial and error resilience and a good sense of humor which conquers all. We wish you the best along your journey.