Maternal Diet and Baby's Health

The Huffington Post published this article citing research that what we eat during pregnancy affects our babies' health long after delivery.  Excerpt below:

"Studies have already shown that if a mother eats large amounts of fish oil during pregnancy, it may exacerbate her child's colitis — an inflammation of the colon.
The effects of a mother's diet on her unborn children seem to be linked to the microflora — the microorganisms that live in people's guts — that are passed on from mother to child, Gibson [one of the lead researchers] said. There is evidence microflora can affect not only susceptibility to infection but also may have links to metabolic disease, diabetes and even autism, she added."

Frankly, the info is so vague, there's not much we can do but freak out.  I plan to switch my DHA supplement to one from algal oil rather than fish oil.  Aside from that, what can a constantly nauseated, carb-craving girl do? 

First Trimester=Knitting

Making it to the gym has become an internal battle that I don't have the will power for lately.  Seems like everything is exhausting recently!  So I've spent more time than normal knitting.  I'm still in the first trimester, so I'm superstitious about knitting baby things, but as the weather cools, all those winter patterns become more and more appealing.

I'm currently working on leg warmers I found on Pinterest (click to see what they'll look like completed).  The lace pattern is surprisingly easy to memorize, so it's a satisfying project.  The link to the free Ravelry pattern is here.

"It might get better, it might get worse...

Pain scale from the excellent blog Hyperbole and a Half

...or it might not change at all."  Those were my gastroenterologist's words to me when I asked him what to expect with my colitis now that I was pregnant.  It's looking like I'm in the last group.  A few friends with colitis have conveyed that their conditions actually improved during pregnancy, but I haven't had that experience.  I would be curious to know the stats on that (how many people improve/decline) and how quickly those who improve see that change.

After a few dietary dalliances this week (a bagel one day, sukiyaki with rice the next), I definitely paid the price.  Back to fruits and veggies...(boo! hiss!)

Spazzy About Stretch Marks

Yes, it's probably super neurotic to buy organic lotion.  But when so many things can go wrong, why not make choices that you won't regret?  I'm an "err on the side of caution" person when it comes to pregnancy.  And beyond the organic status of Spoiled Mama products, the tummy butter is so thick and creamy; I can still feel it in the evening.  The fragrance isn't anything to write home about, but that's because there's nothing artificial in it, and that makes me happy.

(Shockingly Good) SCD Carrot Muffin

Pregnant women want bread (at least this one does).  I've tried Specific Carbohydrate "breads" before (almond paste mashed into a bread pan).  Not good. 

But thank goodness for those Paleo Diet peeps; they've come up with some delicious recipes, and they're generally SCD friendly. 

This carrot muffin recipe (made with almond flour and chopped pecans but not nearly as dry as typical almond muffins) is delicious.  You can see I was pretty liberal with the cinnamon, and I'll add raisins next time.

CLICK HERE to link to the recipe.

Drugs, drugs, drugs...

For a typical mom-to-be, the idea of taking Tylenol would make her squeamish.  But for those of us with chronic illnesses, powerful drugs are a necessary evil.  When researching IBD drugs online, "the experts" reassure us that all is fine, but I kept asking myself, "Are real women following this advice or am I the only sucker?"  I couldn't find anyone legit online (besides anonymous forums) that discussed using biologics or immunosuppressants while preg.  

I currently inject 80mg of Humira once every two weeks.  It's not ideal, but I need it.  Both my OB-GYN and gastroenterologist insist that it is safe during pregnancy and even while breastfeeding (although baby cannot have live vaccines).  I was also on prednisone when I discovered I was pregnant and quickly tapered off that same week.  

Should the ever-lurking flare recur, I will be going back on prednisone.  The Docs say the risk to the baby is far greater if mom is flaring than the risk of prednisone's side effects; I'll keep telling myself that.  

Homemade Yogurt: Probiotics Without the Sugar

One of the cornerstones of SCD is homemade yogurt, and it's healthful for everyone--even those with unrestricted diets--especially pregnant women.  Those of us with IBD or IBS often avoid diary, and this is a great way to get calcium that you need now more than ever.
Additional benefits of homemade yogurt are:

• It has very little lactose (even less if you use goat milk). 
• It has probiotics that can help with digestive upset that all women suffer from when pregnant.
• You can control the ingredients.  Conventional yogurt has a ton of sugar, but homemade yogurt is literally just milk and probiotics.

My sweet mom makes me a batch every few weeks.  (I've done it myself too but failed because I didn't mix the probiotics well enough.)  She uses the Yogourmet yogurt maker and GI ProHealth probiotics.

Here are the steps:

1. Heat 2% organic milk for 2 minutes, keeping it between 185 and 190 degrees to kill bacteria.
2. Refrigerate milk until it returns to 70-80 degrees.
3. Slowly add probiotics (heaping 1/4 teaspoon for a gallon), mixing VERY well.
4. Allow the yogurt maker to heat the milk for 24 hours.
5. Remove internal container from yogurt maker (but don't open!) and refrigerate for 8 hours.
6. Enjoy!  I always top with honey and bananas or berries.  (Not tough enough for plain yogurt...)

Not Your Grandma's Peas...

One awesome pregnancy symptom I've had recently is instant hunger accompanied by nausea.  And when you're following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, you can't just pick up a muffin at Sbux.  Whenever I find an SCD legal food that's nonperishable (ie. I can carry it around in my purse), it makes my day.  Today that food is freeze dried peas from Target (They have a whole line of freeze dried produce from Archer Farms).  Literally, the only ingredient is green peas, and they're actually pretty addictive.  Plus we can enjoy them without worrying that we're harming baby or ourselves.  Win-win.

(Mostly) Chemical Free Nail Polish

With chronic illness, there are so many things we can't control.  So whenever I can choose the most healthful, natural (read: risk-free) routes, I do.  However, I'm not ready to wear natural deodorant or forgo nail polish if I don't have to.  And I'm so grateful to Priti NYC for creating beautiful nail polish that doesn't have all those chemicals we're warned against: toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DHB) and formaldehyde.  It's as nice as Essie (yes, seriously), so I'll continue using it even after baby arrives.  You can also buy polish remover from Priti NYC, but it's a tiny amount for a not-so-tiny price.

If you're bothered by the smell of normal polishes, unfortunately these still have fumes.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet: It Can't Hurt!

While taking prescribed medication is essential to remission, I'm always trying to keep control using natural means.  I find the Specific Carbohydrate Diet offers some relief from symptoms and can keep moderate flares at bay.  It is extremely strict, but when I follow it obediently, it makes a difference.  The key rules are:

• No grains (wheat, barley, oats, rice, quinoa)
• No refined sugar OR sugar substitutes (replace all sugar with honey)
• No soy
• No potatoes (including sweet potatoes)
• Limited dairy

So what can you eat?  Lots of lean protein, veggies, fruits, and nuts.  There are some fantastic recipe books out there, and I'll post some of my favorite recipes as well.  Frankly, this is a very rich and healthful diet for your growing baby, and if it helps keep your symptoms in remission, it's worth it.  My OB-GYN and gastroenterologist both suggested that I continue the diet throughout pregnancy.

If you're new to SCD, check out the bible: Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet by Elaine Gottschall B.A., M.Sc.

My favorite recipe book: Eat Well, Feel Well: Meals to help manage Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, diverticulitis, IBS, and other digestive conditions by Kendall Conrad, M.Sc.