Supplements I took daily:
Probiotics: I took these regularly to keep my immune system strong and healthy, and also to help ‘seed’ my baby’s microbiome.37 Probiotics can help to ensure your baby gets a good healthy dose of beneficial bacteria from you when passing through the birth canal.³⁸ Probiotics can also help with digestion issues that can arise during pregnancy.
Magnesium: I take magnesium regularly, as it’s such an essential mineral. It's involved in over 300 biochemical functions in the body, including neurotransmitter functions and regulating heartbeat rhythms. It is vitally important that your levels stay healthy during pregnancy and this is where supplementation can help. Magnesium can help with muscle relaxation, morning sickness and proper hormone function. I took it in liquid form, but there are many other ways to take it including magnesium oil (applied on the skin), and also bathing in magnesium salts, which can help relax and recharge your pregnant body. Some of the known signs of magnesium deficiency include; headaches, digestive issues, fatigue, mood disorders and muscle tightness.³⁹
Iron: I have always been conscious of my iron levels, but was even more so when I was pregnant. It was important to me that I took the right kind of iron, so instead of fortified iron (which can be constipating) I chose plant-based non-heme iron. I took blackstrap molasses early on in my pregnancy (which is high in iron, potassium and magnesium) and towards my third trimester also took a plant-based liquid iron supplement.
Vitamin C: Dr Suzanne Humphries, author of ‘Dissolving Illusions’, has some fantastic information on this subject. She suggests that pregnant women should be taking at least 500 mg/day. Vitamin C is vital for the growth of your unborn baby, and the process of labor and birth itself uses massive amounts of vitamin C.⁴⁰ There are some studies that suggest having sufficient amounts of vitamin C throughout pregnancy can help prevent neonatal jaundice.⁴¹
I chose ‘Camu Camu’ powder which is a whole foods-based powder (containing naturally high levels of vitamin C) throughout my pregnancy, rather than synthetic Vitamin C. Camu Camu has around 50 times the vitamin C content of oranges and is packed full of antioxidants.⁴² One teaspoon of Camu Camu powder contains around 600mg of vitamin C (over 1000% of the recommended daily intake).
Red Raspberry Leaf in Pregnancy
Supplementation is very specific to the individual, which is why it’s a good idea to see a naturopath or other holistic health practitioner to determine the supplements that your body requires. There is one supplement, however, that can be amazing for all pregnant mothers to take to assist them in having a healthy labor.
You may have already heard of the benefits of taking Red Raspberry Leaf tea during pregnancy. Known widely as the “the woman’s herb” red raspberry leaf tea contains the alkaloid ‘fragine’, which can help strengthen the uterus and pelvic area. It’s high in vitamins C, E, A and B and also has large amounts of minerals including magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorous.
I’m convinced that it works, not only because there is actual research to back it up, but also because I’ve heard from so many mothers who have had positive experiences with it. One study found that it can help to reduce labor time and resulted in fewer medical interventions, including cesearians.⁴³ It's also been known to reduce pain during labor and after birth. Labor may be shorter and less painful due to the effect it has on toning the muscles used during labor and birth. Red raspberry leaf can be taken as a tea or in tablet form, and the general recommendation for optimal results is to take it in tablet/capsule form from 32 weeks gestation. It is recommended that pregnant women don’t consume it any time before the third trimester.
EMOTIONS AND YOUR UNBORN BABY
“Positive maternal emotions have been shown to advance the health of the unborn child. Thoughts which infuse the developing baby with a sense of happiness or calm can set the stage for a balanced, happy, and serene disposition throughout life.” - Dr Thomas Verny
Many of us consider only the effects of our physical actions on our unborn child, such as the food and supplements we put into our body, and neglect to consider the power that our emotions and thoughts have. Nourishing your baby isn’t just about putting healthy food into your body. It is also about nourishing yourself and your unborn baby with positive thoughts, intentions and healthy emotions.
In a book which he co-authored called ‘The Secret Life of The Unborn Child’, Dr Thomas Verny, who was also the founder of the Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health states this:
“Everything the pregnant mother feels, and thinks is communicated through hormones to her unborn child, just as surely as are alcohol and nicotine.” ⁴⁴
What pregnancy research is now showing is that a pregnant woman’s thoughts and emotions have a great impact on her child. When the mother feels anxious or stressed the stress hormones released into her bloodstream cross the placenta to her baby. A mother’s hormones when she has been experiencing intense stress can profoundly affect the distribution of blood flow in her baby, and even affect the child’s physiology. At only six months into a pregnancy an unborn baby is already emotionally active, aware and reactive. They are also able to hear, taste, feel and even learn.
Positive emotions also have a health-enhancing effect on your baby. When a pregnant woman feels joy and calm, her body releases natural endorphins. These allow the baby’s nervous system to work harmoniously and have been shown to be helpful in promoting a sense of calm in your baby.
All of us have stress and negative emotions at times. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be human. The emotional ups and downs I felt as a pregnant mother were at times overwhelming and extremely difficult for me to process. I remember in my first trimester randomly bursting into tears, wondering what on earth was wrong with me, when I was simply going through the normal hormonal changes of early pregnancy. If you’ve had similar feelings during your pregnancy, then you might have simply been experiencing the effects of hormonal fluctuations as well.
Having tools to help you at those times is vital. I used yoga, meditation, grounding, and other self-care practices to help me. It’s so important to know how to deal with negative emotions when they come up. By being more conscious and aware of negative thoughts and emotions, we can use the necessary tools to help process them.
What Can You Personally do to increase this Positive Effect on Your Baby Whilst Pregnant?
One very powerful way to positively affect your unborn baby’s health is through visualization. Visualization exercises are fantastic as a way to promote a natural and healthy birth, and a healthy growing baby. Bruce Lipton, author of ‘The Biology of Belief’ has said that a mother can influence her baby’s genetic development through imagery.⁴⁵ Visualization was used in ancient times by healers, so much so that it was thought of in some cultures as the very first method of healing.
Research has confirmed that visualization can even influence blood flow and grow healthy cells – a powerful example of the mind-body connection.⁴⁶ Another technique that many mothers use to help encourage a healthy birth is to use affirmations, which can be in the form of single words or phrases. These can be repeated daily to bring about the desired intention. I used affirmations throughout my pregnancy as a tool for easing my mind and creating a more positive and confident birthing outcome.
The powerful combination of thoughts, emotions and intentions