Pregnancy Care: First Trimester

First trimesters are both exciting and daunting - what an exciting time! But how do you care for yourself and babe? What does this change look like? Fortunately ND's are trained in working with your MD to provide well-rounded pregnancy care! In the first trimester a few aspects we look at are increasing nutrient intake and managing a healthy gut microbiome, reducing nausea , managing energy, reducing stress & anxiety, and stabilizing blood sugar levels. A well-rounded pregnancy care plan consists of multiple realms.

PERSPECTIVE

First thing's first - know where you're at. By month 3 you'll be 12 weeks pregnant, and growing babe has all of its body parts. It's normal to start seeing changes in your body during this time, but equally as important is recognizing when these body changes are causing stress for you. Understanding that they are normal and part of this incredible process. Reframing conversation about food to be about nourishment and giving your body what it needs, weight gain as natural and understanding where it may occur, and body image and relationships with food as major factors in the insecurities and stressors in pregnancy. Something we see often goes undiscussed in pregnancy is what healthy weight gain looks like, and the cascade that can accompany it.

SUPPLEMENTATION

It can feel daunting during this time to ensure you’re eating enough, but quality of food/supplementation is just as important! During this time, our ND’s look at:

Essential Fatty Acids: DHA is a building blocks of the fetal brain and comes from mom during the first trimester. Fatty acids play a role in preventing premature birth and postpartum depression, while promoting healthy birth weight, and healthy cognitive development!

Antioxidants: Your body is creating new life, which brings oxidative stress which can cause damage. Sometimes eating can be difficult with morning sickness and nausea, but best you can eat an array of colourful fruits and vegetables to get antioxidants and prevent too much oxidation!

Iron: Iron is a common nutritional deficiency in women. It helps develop babe’s cardiovascular system, but low levels increase the risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight. Adequate levels also support mom’s journey postpartum to decrease the risk of postpartum depression.

Vitamin D: We chatted Vitamin D a few posts back, and it’s still important! It helps the development of babe’s skeleton and brain! It also supports reduction of risk for postpartum depression. Another reason to get your Vitamin D levels tested at our clinics

ACUPUNCTURE

Our go to treatment for a lot of first trimester complaints of nausea, acid reflux, heartburn, and general discomfort. We have had amazing results with nausea and heartburn with weekly acupuncture sessions in patients! We can also equip you with some take-home pressure points to stimulate for symptom remedy.

Acupuncture is foundational as part of a treatment plan at EASTND - it offers so much balance and rejuvenation to the body and can work very well during pregnancy to alleviate symptoms of nausea and heartburn, as well as manage stress and anxiety!

LIFESTYLE

When it comes to navigating this new world, it can be difficult to imagine changing even more aspects of your day to day. There are some simple modifications that can be made to mealtime and bedtime and we're here to support this journey by suggesting modifiable lifestyle factors that can help alleviate first trimester symptoms. Some things our ND's recommend are:

• Eating smaller meals. If your stomach isn't full full, there is less likelihood of experiencing nausea or heartburn!
• Stay hydrated! This will help keep symptoms at bay and can be difficult in cases of morning sickness, but hydration really is key! 
• Avoiding tomatoes, spicy foods, sodas, and coffee as these can irritate the stomach and gastrointestinal tract causing nausea, heartburn.
• Drinking between meals, not during to keep your stomach acid undiluted.
• Avoid strong smells by having someone cook for you - you deserve to relax and be nourished!
• Moderate exercise is great to encourage digestion and intestinal peristalsis to support regularity.
• Avoid eating two hours before bedtime to give your body ample time to process food.
• Prop your head up with pillows in bed to let gravity do the work!
• Give yourself the rest you need - so important!

HERBALS

We can’t forget about botanicals. Natural symptom management is what we are all about when possible. Some herbals often recommended by our ND’s are:

• Slippery Elm lozenges can help with acid reflux and heartburn
• Marshmallow root helps coat the esophageal lining to decrease symptoms of acid reflux
• Ginger for nausea and and stomach upset
• Chamomile tea to calm nerves and support digestion
• Red raspberry leaf can help in tone and strengthen the uterus

Curious on how these can fit into your plan?  Contact us!

Moncton: email [email protected] or browse services and book here!

Charlottetown: email [email protected] or browse services and book here!