As a first-time mum-to-be, there’s loads of new information and changes happening!

In my job, I’m beyond lucky to have access to so much Chinese Medicine wisdom and Functional Medicine information which has helped me so much.

I’m also incredibly grateful to have worked with so many strong, smart, incredible women who have shared their discoveries with me too.

Now I get to pass them on to you.

Need some support in your pregnancy journey?

Myself and my amazing team would love to assist you.

The First Trimester

You find out that you’re pregnant and if you’ve been trying, this is beyond exciting news!

Unless there are complications, you technically just need to organise some blood tests and scans and figure out when you want to tell those around you.

Other than that, it’s generally just you and the internet trying to figure out all your new changes! (that’s why you’re here right?)

While everyone is different, this is what I found helpful.

Information

Gosh, there is just so much out there! Some great info and some is just scary and of questionable sources. So how do you navigate what’s what?

Talk to your doctor and talk to us.

Our job is to support you with the Acupuncture herbs and supplements that your body needs to feel good. This is our medicine and our toolkit.

Our other job is to support you with a range of high quality information and options so you can make the best choices for you and your body.

What to put in your body (and how much coffee you can drink)

Of course a very practical place to start! Obviously avoiding food poisoning is ideal. Beyond that, most of the foods to avoid in pregnancy are due to needing to avoid certain dangerous bugs getting to your baby. This only happens with certain types of bacteria crossing the placenta.

Sweets, you dont have a placenta until 9 weeks. So if you’ve been unknowingly drinking or eating all of the prosciutto, its most likely just fine in the early days.

Here are some useful info

• Here is the Australian Royal Women’s Hospital guide to pregnancy-safe foods.

• Here is the Royal Women’s guide to the safe use of medications in pregnancy. Pharmacists are also very helpful alongside your GP.

• Expecting Better by Emily Oster was a beyond amazing book where an economist dived into all the research behind the pregnancy-safe recommendations for food and beyond while she was pregnant. She looked at the studies behind the recommendations. Some of the info held up, while others need updating. Fully, fully referenced, enjoyable reading, a big recommendation!

Your mind

Pregnancy can be scary!

Miscarriages are common. You want to do all the right things to support this little being without becoming unhealthily obsessed.

Plus, for the A type planners, you now have real concrete dates and deadlines to get stuff done by!

Early pregnancy can be such a gorgeous amazing time, AND a big mental load.

Here’s what I found helpful:

• Journaling, putting things in the calendar, writing on post-its before I went to bed. Get it out of your head so you can sleep!

• Acupuncture. Of course I sound biased here but that regular dropping of my stress levels with either regular Acupuncture or Somatic Therapy + Acupuncture really helped my mind and my body process all of the changes. As did talking about information and resources
  at each session. There’s research to show this too.

• Psychology. Whatever your flavour of mental health support you find works - Keep it up! So much is going on right now. A special shout out to Claudette from the Upp Group for keeping me on track and pretty damn happy through my pregnancy.

Morning Sickness

If only this was limited to just the morning!

I was able to manage my symptoms quite well with the following:

• Eating immediately if I felt even the tiniest bit hungry. Keeping your blood sugar levels steady is a giant part of managing nausea at this time. I loved and lived on date protein balls at work between meals

• Some sugar first thing. Some ladies have dates and crackers by their bed for the second they open their eyes. I loved a glass of juice before I did anything else. Sugar in liquid form hits your bloodstream quicker!

• Protein! This keeps you fuller for longer and prevents multiple sharp blood glucose drops which then spike your nausea. I’ve written extensively on how much protein you need in pregnancy here. For me, this is one of the biggest things to manage my nausea.

• Adjusting my vitamins. Switching my multi to one with extra b6 and ginger in it was really helpful. As was taking more vitamins at night after a heavier dinner. Pausing iron and zinc on days I felt bad helped too.

• Protein at night. Having a hard boiled egg, a protein shake, some canned tuna, some shredded chicken or a big scoop of nut butter before I brushed my teeth helped regulate my blood sugar levels through the night meaning I didn’t wake as often and wasn’t sick on waking.

• Acupuncture. This helped, as did the cool ‘Acu Stickers’ placed on key points to wear throughout the week (you may have seen me rock them and wondered!)

The Body

1. I’ve done Acupuncture and cupping to help my stretching (and occasionally sore) hips and back.

2. I also found Chiropractic including the Webster Technique to be beyond helpful in keeping my body as pain free as possible during my pregnancy.
   A special shout out to Diana from Blossom Chiro for keeping me upright and feeling good throughout my pregnancy.

3. Minimising back & hip pain, and keeping my body (and especially my pelvic floor!) strong through my pregnancy has been really important to me.
   Ive adored this online pregnancy-safe pilates course from Melbourne Pelvic Physio, Jess Jenkins. She’s a qualified pregnancy practitioner and filmed the (short) workout videos while she was pregnant.

4. For amazing pregnancy massages, Ive loved the heavenly Aromatherapy massages from Sonya at Mother Nurture and Pre birth massages from Jody Ann at Restore Wellness Services

Pre Birth

I’m writing this in my 3rd trimester with lots of thought and planning and research into how I want my last few weeks to look and feel.

(Nerding out on pregnancy support is my happy place!)

• I’ve just loved reading Nourishing Those Who Nurture. This is a guide to birth prep (how you want it!) + Postpartum care and recipes for how to nourish yourself for post-birth healing and optimal milk production. I’ve loved showing this to family and friends too so they can support my healing in those first few weeks.

• Breastfeeding sounds like it should be the easiest, most natural thing in the world! But by all accounts, it can be hard and painful.
  Absolutely each to their own when it comes to feeding your baby. I decided to do this very reasonably priced online breastfeeding course - The Thompson Method by Robyn Thompson who has 50+ years of midwifery experience and breastfeeding expertise PhD in nipple trauma + helped >60,000 women globally.

• Again each to their own when it comes to all pregnancy and birth choices. Im personally so happy to be doing Hypnobirthing classes for calming helpful techniques for trimester 3, labour and beyond.

• I’ll be keeping up my Pilates and Chiro until the end and have my Pre Birth Acupuncture sessions booked ahead from 35 weeks for help turning a breech baby if needed and for labour efficiency.

Other than the above, I’m enjoying slowing down, cooking ahead and leaning into the beautiful support from my practitioners, staff and my people.

I hope this blog and these resources have been helpful!

See here for more info and research on Acupuncture in pregnancy.

Here is a great fully referenced guide I wrote on optimising nutrition in pregnancy to avoid common symptoms.

It takes a village to support a pregnancy.

Let us be part of your team.