Firstly, MORNING sickness is the biggest crock of bulldust I have ever encountered – morning, day, evening, night. Both pregnancies. And the 12 week mark was another myth.
While I was pregnant, I began living off bread and dry biscuits because it was about all I could stomach (and all I was willing to bring back up). This saw anaemia set in. My doctor told me: “eggs, mushrooms and leafy green vegetables: full of iron – just chuck a handful of baby spinach leaves in everything”. And that became my new policy. You will see heaps of my recipes with baby spinach leaves in it – even chocolate cake!
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with my second pregnancy. Goodbye sugar! Goodbye fruit! I was devastated. I had been smashing out the nectarines (and chocolate). I knew this one was my fault (although it definitely isn’t for some people!) because I had overeaten for the first half of the pregnancy. My doctor kept telling me to go easy with the food. I only put on 11 kg with my first child and thought I had the second one in the bag! I was thoroughly enjoying my food (it was the festive season!), I had gained 5 kg by the halfway mark when the actual baby only weights 300 grams. Once I found out I had gestational diabetes and what that meant for my unborn baby, I knew I had to make some changes. From that day, I did not put on another kilogram of weight. My baby was growing beautifully (and registering on the large scale because he had a mighty good start), but I was getting thinner and trimmer!
Gestational diabetes and anaemia saw our (my husband and me) diets change so much, it was so good for us. Now, if I had of had lupins to add in a huge punch of protein and fibre (definitely needed the additional fibre when on the iron tablets), I would have been laughing! Baby spinach leaves and lupins all the way!
Eating for two? Check out these great recipe ideas: