Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: You mean my family still expects to eat while I have morning sickness?
(As you may have guessed by my announcement yesterday, this series is so much fun for me to write right now, and oh-so-relevant!)
It's simply a reality of life, that our husband and children would like to eat even when we want to run from the kitchen. I wonder, though, how many of us have at some point thought something along these lines? "You mean, you still think you're getting supper tonight? Mommy's taking a sick day. There's a box of Cheerios in the cupboard. Help yourself."
Despite the ickiness, difficulty and even repulsion to food and cooking that we may feel during those early weeks and months, somehow, someway, we still need to put food on the table. Decent food would be nice. Healthy food would be a real bonus!
So how do we do it?
Here are the things that have worked for me while coping with my lack of desire/ability to cook during both this pregnancy and my previous ones, while still making sure that my family is fed to the very best of my ability:
** Start cooking up a storm the moment you see that second line appear. Cook and put away in the freezer as many meals or meal components as you possibly can in those early days and weeks. Last pregnancy, I managed to do a day of Once-a-Month-Cooking, and had my freezer stocked up with over 20 meals. This time, I only had just over a week after I found out, which happened to be a very, very busy week, right before we left for the Christmas holidays. I did my best to make 1 or 2 extra meals each day, and managed to put away 10 meals and a dozen muffins before we left town and the sickness hit.
With these frozen meals, you can add things like steamed veggies (use frozen if it's easier), a bagged salad mix or one of those organic spring mixes, some raw veggies with dip, or simply a loaf of bread and some butter. They might not be the most amazing meals you've ever made, but they will be decent, homemade meals, providing solid nutrition for you and everyone else, and they will save much time, money and nausea.
For some excellent resources and recipes for making freezer meals, check out the Nutritious Freezer Meal Carnival at Passionate Homemaking!
** Buy foods that make for very simple, but healthy, throw together meals. For us, this is usually something like sandwiches or wraps of some sort, or taco salad. It's cold, so I don't have to cook it or smell it (except for the ground beef in taco salad, though cold beans can be substituted), I simply have to lay the ingredients out on the counter and cut up some cheese or rip some lettuce, etc.
It helps to have a variety of bread items, such as bagels, tortillas, pitas or simply bread on hand, as well as things like deli meat (especially if you can get it nitrate-free), canned salmon (tuna is unfortunately a no-no during pregnancy), hard boiled eggs, plus all the other sandwich or salad makings your family enjoys.
** Buy some simple convenience foods. Even if it's not something you would usually buy. My reasoning is this: there are always those nights when I have nothing else I can serve and I simply can't pull a real meal together, but eating out would be far more expensive and even less nutritious. In these circumstances, I fall back on a few convenience foods, that either I (or my sweet husband, if I really just can't do it) can quickly prepare.
This time around, the items I chose (actually, my husband chose while grocery shopping for me, darling man that he is!) were: a case of Annie's Macaroni and Cheese (it's a bit more "real" than Kraft Dinner), jars of organic tomato pasta sauce to go over rice noodles, and a pack of 4 frozen pizzas from Costco (gosh, I must love you all to admit that we ate frozen pizzas!). Our toddler can't have wheat, so in those instances, he was served yogurt and applesauce, scrambled eggs and wheat-free toast, etc.
** Use your crock pot. It can be such a good friend to you, if you let it. Last week, I used mine to put in a roast, plus veggies (potatoes, onions, celery, carrots). I did it in the morning, which is my best time of the day (you'll need to do this at whatever time of day you feel best- maybe for you that's in the afternoon, or right before bed). That night, all that we (Ryan and I) had to do was team up to slice the roast and use the drippings to make gravy, and we had a really nice meal. I then used the leftover veggies and gravy for lunches, and the leftover roast beef to make simple fajitas, with very little extra effort. You could easily do this with a roasting chicken and then freeze baggies of the extra cooked meat. Soups and stews are also a breeze this way, or sauces to pour over rice. If the smell of the crock-pot is too much for you, choose a room of the house where it won't bother you, and put it in there (it might help to crack a window open, too).
For a ton of amazing crock pot recipes, visit A Year of Crockpotting. Me and my new crock pot can't wait to try some more of them out!
** Don't expect the unrealistic. Normally, I bake all of the bread that my family eats, as well as make things like tortillas. I knew that this was absolutely not feasible, and so I stocked up on the highest quality breads that I could get (organic sprouted wheat breads and tortillas, and sourdough spelt and rye breads), and kept them in the freezer. It was so good to just go down and grab a loaf, and not feel the pressure to make something.
** Let others help you. If someone asks how they can help or what would serve your family, don't be afraid to say that a meal would be a real blessing. If you are invited over for dinner somewhere, say yes! Even if you don't each much, at least your family will enjoy the meal. In the very beginning, see if you can find a friend who will join you for a morning of cooking, to help you stock up your freezer. If you are really, really struggling and are one of those who women whose morning sickness is quite severe or extended, let your need be known. It's hard for anyone to help if they don't know that you are struggling. Others are often more than happy to help, so let them!
Above all, remember that this is a short season. This too will pass! And please, don't feel guilty for not being able to make the kinds of nutritious, homemade meals that you would prefer to serve your family. Simply do the best that you can, and know that it is enough (though I will try to offer some tips on getting in that nutrition in a later post). Your efforts and desire to serve your family honor God, and He is rich and abounding in grace for each and every season of life that we find ourselves in.
How do you get through morning sickness and make sure your family is still as well-fed as possible (and yourself, for that matter)? What are your tips and techniques? Do share!
Congrats! What great ideas, I don’t need them now but I’ll file this one away. Look here for an old WFMW of mine discussing helping morning sickness- http://web.me.com/everychapter/Everychapter/Home/Entries/2007/8/14_It’s_not_easy_being_green….html
The taco salad looks delicious !! Will be giving it a try for sure !!
I wish I had had time after I found out, but I never seem to find out UNTIL I’m sick. It hits be at week 4 or 5 along with the fatigue and once I notice the 2 together – well, then I take the test. *sigh*
But, for about 2 months I would cook up the non meat part of dinner while my hubby grilled. Best thing ever! I can’t get enough meat during pregnancy but I hate the smell of it, so it worked great! And when I did use my crockpot, I set it out in the garage for the day so I didn’t have to sit around smelling it. 🙂 The only other thing I could do if need be, was get dinner ready before noon as I always felt the best in the morning.
And unfortunately, we too had a couple frozen pizzas or dined out when absolutely necessary.
Stephanie,
First, congratulations on your exciting news! We’re due in mid-March with our second child, and I was excited to see you posting this series.
In preparing all those freezer meals, I’m curious what containers you use? I’m hoping to start stocking up on some freezer meals soon–thanks!
Congratulations! What an exciting time. I am due with our second child April 27. I have a 15 month old daughter so what I am saying is that I am tired! I felt very guilty to rely on frozen veggies and convience foods for some meals. You are so right, you can’t do it all. After this baby is born and all settles down then I can get back to cooking and feeding my family the way I think they should be. You are a wise women. I have really been enjoying your site. I found it about two months ago.
I’m due in a few weeks and I’m sick the entire pregnancy, including a nice stay in our beautiful new hospital. With feeling so terrible and having a very demanding 18 months old, we ate a lot of breakfast for dinner. I tried to make one to two large meals a week so my husband would have left overs for work and if I could I made extra for my freezer. I had a day where I felt alright and managed to freeze 2 each of 3 meals and called a girlfriend and encouraged her to do the same so we could swap and each have 6 different meals. I then called my dad who loves to make chili and asked him to make me a pot so I could freeze it. I sadly have not had anyone offer to help me out so I really want to make sure I have plenty of meals in the freezer for when the baby is here and for now, we struggle along. I stopped entertaining as it was to much pressure also when feeling so terrible.
The count down is on! I hope you feel better soon!
Oh, And to freeze the meals in, I had previously picked up a bunch of casserole dishes at a thrift store and the rest go in ziplock freezer bags. One good options is to line your casserole dish with foil, add your meal, freeze it and then remove the meal wrap it good in the foil and put in a freezer bag, mark what dish you used and when you take it out to thaw it, put it back in that dish. That way if you don’t have a ton of dishes you can keep them free.
Tara V
So during this pregnancy, probably because it’s a boy, I have had MUCH less morning sickness than with my daughter, but here’s how I coped while I was pregnant with her:
I worked as an RN in a busy medical office at the time and I really, really did not want to throw up at work. This was something of a challenge, as you can imagine all the people-and-food smells that go with an office (perfume, coffee, whatever everyone else was having for lunch, etc.). I had a travel cup like people use for coffee but I filled mine with: 1-2 slices fresh ginger, about 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and hot water, and I drank it all day. I also tried not to let my stomach get empty by having smoothies, etc. throughout the day even when I absolutely couldn’t keep anything else down.
I still threw up almost every morning at home, but I never did throw up at work! Thank the Lord, this pregnancy home IS my workplace and I don’t have to worry about that. 🙂 And I can’t second enough the “do what you have to do to get through it” sentiment. Frozen veggies for three months won’t kill anyone. At least it’s not frozen corndogs! 😀
I got the sicky feeling almost right away, unfortunately. I had to wait out a couple weeks of feeling odd/awful before actually testing. Luckily, we still had some Thanksgiving leftovers in the freezer that I could fall back on! I think there’s something to be said for the blessing of an already stocked freezer. 🙂
I’m really wishing I had a crock-pot. They seem like such a lifesaver.
I actually resorted to purchasing my gluten-free breads (at $5 a loaf- ugh!), since I absolutely could not stand the smell of baking bread. But you’re so right- it’s just for a season! 🙂 Thanks for the reminder.
I’m enjoying sharing this season with you, and looking forward to our August babies! 🙂
Blessings,
Michele
Congratulations!
I’ve just gone through the same thing (I’m 15 weeks along) and let me tell you, I feel like I failed miserably. We ate out way too often and had too many boxed meals. I try not to feel too guilty about it, though, because it’s for just a short period of time. Now I’m feeling better and can get back to the business of taking care of my family’s nutrition!
Oh, I am sorry you are going through morning sickness! I do not wish it on anyone. Nothing helps me. And at 23 weeks I am still not right. It’s the absolute worst right before dinner, when, in early pregnancy, I can be found throwing up, having intestinal issues, or crawling my weak body back to bed. This is my 6th time doing this. lol. But I do not want to be a wet blanket here–what I really came to say was that I so WISH I had done the freezer meal thing! Smelling it cooking would have been bad too, but at least it would not have been me cooking it. I thought about getting meals ready, but it was a very busy time in our lives for the 2 weeks between when I found out and when I got sick, so I never got around to it. Hubby was a gem, cooking organic tater tots and fish sticks and cleaning. I hope this passes quickly for you!
I am so sorry to hear that you are having morning sickness so badly. I only experienced it the last few weeks of my pregnancies and that was bad enough. I can’t imagine going through it as long as some women do!
I am really excited to start doing the OAMC and your have given some great resources! Thanks!
Such good ideas! Next time I am going to cook up some stuff as soon as I find out.
We also sometimes eat breakfast stuff for supper…like healthy breakfast stuff. Sometimes for example oatmeal, eggs and a good jarred applesauce.
Also we do soup and sandwhiches a lot.
Gotta run baby woke up
I’m like the other gal up top in the comment section. I am usually quite nauseous before I clue in that I’m pregnant.
One thing that really helped me was calling either my mom or my sister in the morning and saying something like… “what should I make for supper?” They would give me a definate idea and I would just make myself go with it. If I took the meat out then I couldn’t very well let it go to waste right? I also did breakfasts for supper and some convenience foods.
When I’m about 8 months pregnant I usually cook up a bunch of meals for the freezer for after the baby is born. Last pregnancy I made about 15 meals and then had at least 7 given to me. With leftovers and a few very easy meals I didn’t really have to cook for about a month. That is really nice.
I really hope for you it doesn’t last too long. I’m feeling for the poster who mentioned she is sick the whole time. 5 months was enough for me!
Definitely say yes to meals out with friends! We had a wonderful older couple that would have us over about twice a month for the whole pregnancy. It was such a blessing. I remember the first time, I was so sick, I got out of the car at their house, walked to the sidewalk leading to their back door, and sat down in the middle of it. I couldn’t go any further. I was literally green. We still laugh about it now. I just wanted so badly to be able to eat something good that I would have done anything to get out of the house.
An idea came to me. I don’t know how realistic this is for early pregnancy. I’m doing this this weekend with some friends. Do a meal swap. If you really can’t handle food at all, call one of your friends to come help you get finished ASAP so you don’t have to smell the food too long. Or make a casserole like lasagna where you only have to cook the noodles and meat and sauce, then assemble, and freeze. Not too smelly there. Exchange meals and you can come home with 6 or 7 for your freezer or however many friends were there. Plus, you give away the food you made, so you don’t have to get nauseous thinking about eating what you smelled as you prepared it!
I’m so glad you mentioned cooking ahead and stocking up as soon as you find out. Next time around, I’m definitely going to try that!
I’m so excited for you! With my youngest son, I was very ill for about the first 20 weeks (I lost 35 pounds!!). I was so blessed in that my oldest (who’s 15) and my darling husband took over all household chores. I was unable to bear the sight or smell of food, let alone eat it.
I like the idea of stocking the freezer before the sickness hits! If I find out early enough for any future pregnancies, I will definitely try that!
I just have to weigh in here. I am one of the lucky ones (wink wink) who gets violently ill for about 12-14 weeks. I cant stand the smell of just about anything cooking, but I can eat it if it is put in front of me. I tried the once a month thing to prep this time, which has mostly been a great blessing. However!!! I strongly recommend that you all try it once before you get pregnant because I am finding that some of my recipes really dont recook well and we have ended up throwing out quite a bit of it. I was surprised that my stir fry veggies tasted awful (why is it if you buy them in the frozen aisle,they taste fine??), the enchiladas were soggy, and the pasta sauce tasted weird. Bummer. My suggestion is to try it once yourself and then ask friends if they have any recipes that freeze/reheat well.
yay! Congrats!!!!
Congrats on the new little one!! I am currently 20 weeks along with a little girl and we are some kind of excited after 1 1/2 years of trying to conceive. The MS was not quite so bad this time as it was with my son, but I am still tired and do not have my normal energy. Since we were trying, I found out at the 4 week mark and knew I had a week or two to get meals into the freezer. I forget just how many I did–probably around 40, but there are only a few left.
Since I work fulltime, I usually fill the freezer every 3 months or so, and do some extra meals occasionally in between, but it has been such an extra blessing during this time of sickness. We supplemented with the very occasional dinner out, boxed mac n cheese, hamburger helper, and frozen pizzas, and even TV dinners (ick), even though thats stuff I normally never buy. I’m feeling well enough now that I am going to attempt to cook up some ground beef and do some baking this weekend…
Last time I didn’t know what to expect as far as sickness and wasn’t prepared at all. My husband said last night that this time around has been MUCH better food wise! LOL
I’m one of the lucky ones that doesn’t get sick during pregnancy. But the concept of cooking ahead worked well for me when I had both feet operated on (at 2 different times but both in the same year). Otherwise my husband would have had to do all the cooking.
During to the different people I live with..when my Aunt got pregnant she like to wake up early and have a lot of foods in the table while when my cousin got pregnant she loves to sleep whole day than to eat.
thank you for this post. i am 7 weeks pregnant and sicker than sick. if nothing else, i appreciate the encouragement in knowing that i am not alone!
Please post your recipe for tortillas!
I’m just finishing my first trimester of pregnancy, so this is extremely fresh on my mind!
Some things we did: I could NOT touch meat, but I could cook it if it was boneless, skinless, and I didn’t have to handle it. My husband would take a bag of hamburger meat, and divide it into half pound portions for me. This was a HUGE help. I’d also throw a few things in the crock pot with some chicken and just let it cook (chicken didn’t bother me as much as some other things). I’d try to throw in different ingredients each time so it didn’t taste the same.
And, I’d often eat a variation of what everyone else was eating. If I made spaghetti and garlic bread, I’d eat the noodles (no sauce) and plain bread with butter.
We’d usually eat a canned vegetable and bread with butter every night, along with having a glass of milk. Three food groups knocked out in about 2 minutes, so I only had to figure out the protein and fruit. Only having to think about two food groups instead of five was a great help to making me not feel so overwhelmed in my fatigue and sickness stage.
And, yes, it is just a season! I’m still not handling meat with bones, but I am back to enjoying cooking, and we’re now eating fresh vegetable, etc, so we all survived!
Davonne, I haven’t posted a tortilla recipe (though I might one day), but check out this great tortilla tutorial (she makes them basically the same way I do):
http://www.raisingpeanuts.com/2008/05/homemade-tortillas.html
The only difference is that I soak the dough for my tortillas the night before, and then continue on as in the tutorial. I substitute 1 tbsp of yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, etc. for 1 tbsp of the water, for each cup of flour. Also, I use all whole grain flour. Make sense? LOL! Hope so!
hi poped on here around 12:20 am thought i would say hi and pray for me i have to go have test run on me they are doing a mri cause when they done a ct scan they found a spot on the left side of the brain and they are worried about it. so am i. let yall know what i found out just pray they don’t find nothing at all. until then.
Thanks for all the ideas. I’m in my seventh week , first pregnancy, and am feeling like food is the last thing i want to see, smell, or think about! I’m glad this is only for a time.
This is my second pregnancy, my son is 8. Last time I was just tired, this time I have morning sickness every afternoon and I keep getting sick. Im 12 and a half weeks. We homeschool so my son eats all 3 meals at home. I started to really teach him to cook. I have essentially been in bed for a month. Now that the bronchitis had cleared up im hoping to cook a month’s worth of food. On the other hand Friday I went to the grocery and primarily bough cereal, col, sugar laden cereal. Something I basically never allow in the house because if things keep on going the same im not cooking. And at least fruit loops has vitamins. I can tell my son go get a can of vegetables, a bowl of cereal a gob of pb and banana. Ugh I feel sick now. I liked your article.