Nutrition during pregnancy
Last (third) trimester
If you missed the First Trimester tips, click on this link.
I'm here in my last trimester with only 5 weeks left to go! I am so excited to meet this new little person. Excited is not quite the right word, though. Ecstatic, elated, anxious, anticipating eagerly!!! Yep, you'd think I would be all ho-hum about being pregnant by now - this being my 8th, but I can honestly say that I get even more and more attached, bonded, and romantic about it all with each one.
Perhaps it's because I'm watching 7 little lives unfolding and developing in front of me. They each make me laugh. They have their cute, individual little quirks and "things" about them that make them super unique and special. Their personalities - so complex. Their skills and talents - so full of variety and in amazing combinations. They make me want to take pictures of them all day long!
I guess I do anyway...
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but, who can resist capturing these cute little people??
That is, when I'm not busy running around trying to feed, change, clothe, train, wash, visit with, inspire, and pick up after them.
So, nourishing the body during this season requires just a bit of adjustment from the first 2 trimesters.
1) The body seems to need extra REST. Perhaps because the baby is growing so much here at the end, the body needs to focus a bit more energy down there. Sleeping more and letting the body build is key.
2) Keep up your daily regiment of supplements, including: protein shakes/snacks, minerals, cod liver oil, cal-mag w/D, vitamin B's, etc. Don't forget why you're doing what you're doing. The body is working so hard to build your baby, not to mention keep you going all day with all the other things you do. Remind yourself here.
3) Nutritionally, the baby needs more Omega 3's during this trimester (and in the next 2 years of development) than any other time in it's life. Salmon Oil Plus is an awesome supplement during this season (and the next). A healthy dose of Omega 3's has also proven to help reduce the risk of premature birth.
NeoLife's Salmon Oil Plus is different from most (if not all) typical "fish oils" on the market for the following reasons:- It has ALL 8 Omega 3's (as opposed to the 2 common EPA and DHA of most competitors)
- Tested for over 200 toxins with NONE allowed to exist in their product. Therefore, you can take the recommended amount during pregnancy without being concerned for toxins.
- non-farm raised - these fresh caught fish are harvested from the cold ocean waters! There is no need to fear the excess mercury from farm-raised fish in this supplement.
4) Iron - If anemic, this last trimester seems to really need the extra iron in the blood to transfer oxygen and nutrients. Your blood will also need to be built up, to avoid complications with blood loss.
5) Vitamin K - If you are prone to bleeding after birth, hemorraging, etc, Vitamin K1 can really help the body in the blood clotting process. In the last trimester, especially, nourish your body with Vitamin K - found in large doses in green leafy vegetables like Kale, collards, spinach, etc. Also found in NeoLife's Cruciferous Plus supplement.
6) The baby is growing bones, muscle, and finishing its organs (like the lungs) during these last few months. The baby also puts fat on it's body, so if you're craving take-out or ice-cream, consider healthy fats like coconut milk, avocado, meats, and cheeses instead.
You're almost there!! Keep up the good work. :-)
You're almost there!! Keep up the good work. :-)
*I'm not a doctor, nutritionist, or "diagnoseer", or "treater" of any diseases or situations. I'm just a mother who likes to research nutrition and shares what I have learned and found.