Pregnant on Macro

[Sara123]

I just found out I am 5.5 weeks pregnant... just wondering what I might need to think about diet-wise. I know Macro is the best, but are there certain things/foods I should be concentrating on? My meals usually consist of brown rice, veggies/greens and a bean. On occasion, I will eat white fish...

I actually have started increasing my greens... any other suggestions?

Thx

[soysycophant]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Generally i think macrobiotics is the best policy for most people, but have often read that exceptions should be made for small children, babies, and pregnant women. Your current diet sounds wonderful, but you might need to embellish it with some major iron and calcium sources,maybe eat more fish and even consider eating small amounts of organic dairy.

[Klara]

soysycophant,

I know you have great intentions to help people, but this forum has limitations and can have dangers because of it - I cringed at the idea of any kind of dairy, see no need for it at all.

I too am no expert, so Sara, you don't need to listen to me either. How are you feeling?? Are you doing other stuff in life to give you energy? enjoyment? relaxing? They're also all important as food is. I think as long as you have variety, your diet sound great.

Klara

[Bruce Paine]

Sara123,

I once had a discussion group called macro123...

One of the best people to speak about macrobiotic pregnancy to, is Melanie Brown Waxman, who is not involved in this forum, but if you want free advice you should go to Modern-Day Macrobiotics (mdm) and tell her I sent you.

Otherwise if you want to get her products or avail yourself of her services please visit Celebrate Health and Be Baby Wise !

Her brother who owns mdm (which I also moderate), also has a bunch of kids raised macrobiotically, so you won't be lacking good information at that site.

And, if you want to read all that has been said, here, about macrobiotic pregnancy, see the following instructions:

You can find almost anything that has been talked about if you use the Search engine (using your web browser at Cybermacro forums, the second dark blue horizontal bar down, six menu items from the left, click, Search box opens, click in the box and cursor blink, then type in the word: pregnancy , and press the "enter" or "return" key on your computers keyboard and you should find a whole bunch of items at Cybermacro Forums on pregnancy)!

Please keep us updated on your progress and congratulations to you and quite possibly, your partner, especially if that person is also the other biological parent!

May I someday, will be so lucky!

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[Klara]

Hi again,

Just by chance I came across this: http://www.pregnancyweekly.com/topic...FSYSQgod51V4pg

It's not a mb site, but thought you might be interested.

Klara

[soysycophant]

I think macrobiotics is all abotu balance, not limiting yourself to a certain set of food and looking down at other types. Changes in ones life like pregnancy may require changes in the balance of ones diet, if that includes bring in something like organic, healthy dairy in balanced doses i dont see how that is in any way going against macrobiotics.

[Klara]

Hi soysycophant,

No question mb is all about balance. and no question that we all have to figure that out ourselves, by seeing how food affects us.

truthfully, my views of humans consuming other animals' milk started way before I found out about mb - it actually started when I got involved with La Leche, which btw, Sara, you might enjoy - they have meetings once a month (unless it's changed since I had babies) in people's homes and all stages of motherhood are welcome, those pregnant, those with nursing infants, as well as those with toddlers who are still nursing, of which I did - nurse toddlers.

I realized then how perfect mother's milk was (tho I also felt that before I got pregnant) for human babies, but then also realized how strange that we humans would drink from another species, that we are the only animals (besides those we domesticate and give over our own ways) that drink milk beyond its need and from different species. I'm sure there's plenty on different sites that can be found. I also got strengthened in my attitudes when reading The China Study, an excellent book, I highly recommend it Again the bokk doesn't even mention mb, but does compare different societies, how they eat with the kind of diseases that are prevalent - an excellent eye opener.

Again, in mb there is a lot of different kinds of healthy foods - variety truly is important, one not to get bored, and two to encompass all the different needs your body has. I wasn't mb at the time of my pregnancies, and I do remember those horrible vitamins they'd asked me to take, espeically iron, which causes other problems.

I agree with Bruce that Melanie Waxman is a great source, she knows alot both in mb and in dealing with pregnancies and babies. The best of luck to you Sara.

Klara

[Sara123]

Thank you everyone, for your replies! I do not think I will add dairy at this point... I just don't think I could mentally get myself to do it. I will check the other resources you listed... thank you for being so helpful!

Right now, I am into my 6th week... and have had *minimal* nausea. It's pretty amazing, considering EVERYone I know that is/has been pg has had morning sickness. I think it's a combination of my diet and exercise program that is helping to curb many of the unpleasant pg symptoms... including fatigue. I actually feel great... still jogging 5X/week, although I have decreased my distance/intensity.

The one thing it's not helping to eliminate is my moodiness! My husband is ready for me to NOT be pg anymore!

Thanks again,
sara

[Klara]

Your hormones are probably going all over the place - I hope Melanie can give you some solid advice - my guess is just to find humor where you can, sing, dance, whatever brings you joy - is jogging joyful or work??

I know black soybean tea is recommended for women's problems - not sure if being pregnant is in that category. How you described your eating sounds quite balanced - maybe add some sweet vegetables - either as soup, vegetables, desserts or as sweet vegetable tea -

or maybe visualize your baby - maybe that will soften your moods

if none of that helps, maybe some warmed up sake or cold beer?? or wine??

or listen to some lullabies

Klara

[Klara]

One of the things I love about mb is the principles apply to all different kinds of situations. So tho this writer asks about stress and acne, I think Verne's answer is also good for you, Sara (and probably all of us) in thinking about other parts of your life and how to balance it. So I'm just guessing from my own experience, that the thought of motherhood could be also adding stress, tightness as he calls it, or yang in the common mb terminology - and my suggestions were all yinnizing kinds of stuff. Also interesting how eating too much (realizing you're eating for two, so don't skimp here) or eating the same can also create a yang condition. And most important, what he says is to look at your life and reflect, what other parts may be creating the mood swings you talk about.

This is a great site btw everyone. I highly recommend signing up for their newsletter - this one is from today's newsletter.

Klara


Q: I'm a university student majoring in social work. I've been practicing macrobiotics for more
than 3 months. but I would like to know more how macrobiotics can help in relieving stress as
well as what should I eat or do to help in reducing Acne.?

Youmna - Japan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Very generally speaking, Youmna, stress can have a physical source as well as an emotional source.
Physically, the way we eat can create conditions in the body that constrict'; we feel a tightness that
can be digestive, arterial, muscular, cerebral, etc. Sometimes, this causes us to want substances
that create a loosening effect--relief from this tightness.

It's like the difference between fasting and overeating. One constricts, the other expands. A practical
example of this, in a less exaggerated sense, is going to the movies and eating a bunch of salted popcorn.
The popcorn is usually too salty--and poor quality salt, at that. Suddenly, we start to think, "Hmmm, a soda
or juice would be nice..." And so, the cycle begins.

This is one of the many physical reasons behind our cravings. I address this at length in my book,
"Nature's Cancer-Fighting Foods." This almost seems like a natural balancing act, however, rarely, do we do
this in exact proportions, and so often, if we feel such tightness, we end up taking an excess of "loosening"
substances that can sometimes foster inflammation.

If we are very active, this also creates constriction. This is why it's good to stretch, just slightly before and
after (more extensively) a run. Running, in this example can tighten the back hamstring and front quad muscles.
Some focused stretches (In yoga: the forward bending pose, splits, the camel, the side twist, etc.) can help
these muscles to relax. Sometimes, eating simply, that is, a diet of whole grain, bean and vegetable, which
regulates blood sugar, can get boring and make you crave foods that do the opposite: make your blood sugar
swing high and low. Sugar is a good example. These physical changes also affect us mentally, as blood sugar
swings can cause mood elevation, or depressive states.

For reducing stress, I recommend to clients that they become consistently physically active-on a daily basis.
That is, going for brisk walks, or hiking, treadmill, biking and swimming (all low joint impact activities), when
possible, for a minimum of 20 minutes daily. This moderate activity and oxygenation promotes more blood
circulation and has a remarkable de-stressing effect on your body, without putting it into more stress.
Eating too much volume of food can stress you physically, for the effect it has on digestion and
liver/gall-bladder function.

The other kind of stress that a lot of macrobiotic material neglects is how we are affected physically,
by emotional stresses, whether they originate from familial concerns, work or identity issues .

Emotional stress affects our physical body in ways that we are just beginning to discover. It can influence
digestive secretions, respiration, blood sugar (from hormonal stimulation that is triggered by our emotional
responses) and so many other aspects of health. So reducing stress is not just a matter of controlling and
regulating your diet. It's about understanding your value system and self-monitoring your attitude,
maintaining a flexible perspective (please read my article on the "30 Macrobiotic Principles") as well as
taking care of your diet, avoiding extremes and making sure to get daily physical movement.

And, the same goes for handling acne. It's two-fold. Your immune system is compromised, your fat metabolism,
your excesses of fat and sugar and protein as well as irregular blood sugar patterns all influence acne development
and outbreaks. Western medicine blames bacteria, but good hygiene is just the tip of the iceberg, here. Finally,
there are many emotional reasons that have been documented for skin conditions that have to do with emotional
suppression.

A clean whole grain/vegetable/bean/seaweed diet with low amounts of fruit and oil is a good start.
For emotional work, there a number of therapies that are designed to help you first recognize emotional blocks
and move you through them, as opposed to indulging in them. For many Asian macrobiotics that I've counseled
I've recommended Morita or Nakai therapy--a Japanese zen-like approach to seeing the larger picture and living
in the moment--with good success.

The influence of what we eat, how we live, what we think and feel all constitute our health.
Real recovery has to embrace every dimension of influence.

Verne Varona

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[WonderlandAlli]

Healthy Macrobiotic Family - Parents, Kids, Teens & Babies

There's a section on pregancy at this site as well.

[Hataish]

Hi, This post is very informative, however there are some queries to ask about some specific topic. If someone can help me then please send me a private message. Thanks,

[Klara]

Hataish,

Have you tried Bruce's suggestion to contact Melanie Waxman???

Klara

[Tanuki]

Whatever you do, get adequate B12. You won't get enough from occasional white fish. You'll need something like mussels, dairy, eggs or a supplement.

[Klara]

Tanuki,

Are you a practicing macrobiotic (whatever that means??). Are you familiar with macrobiotic philosophy?

B12 is indeed a huge topic and one that is often a worry of those eating a vegetarian diet. My understanding is one needs very little B12, but it's crucial to have it. I don't understand your comment that one wouldn't get enough from fish - I think that's quite a generalization and I think each person has to look at their own diet.

For myself, the other options you suggest aren't very appealing. I think there must be choices in the mb field, such as foods which have fermented. I would definitely not go to worrying first, but just to eat a nicely balanced, wide (if healthy) diet.

Klara