Wednesday 21 May 2014

35 weeks…no complications yet a cesarean is mentioned...

Type 1 Diabetes has been part of my life for the past 27 years, so saying I don't really know what life is like without it, is an understatement.

On becoming pregnant I was a little worried the moment I found out because I didn't feel as prepared as I wanted to be - but as we know, you can't plan for everything in life, even the tiny miracles :)

My pregnancy journey has been amazing. Honestly, I was never sick, I wasn't severely exhausted, I had lots of energy and felt positive and blessed the entire time. Yes I've had a couple of emotional moments, literally a couple, and weeks where I felt a little less energetic as usual, but overall I have literally loved being pregnant.

Besides the slight swelling of my ankles in the last couple of weeks and the hip pain that wakes me up about every two hours, I'm still doing very well.

My blood pressure is normal, my blood sugars are great, I'm measuring completely normal and still feeling the same as I did (minus my workouts and outfits) pre-pregnancy.

So it's frustrating when today at my weekly doctor's appointment, my OB tells me how amazing I'm doing but in the same sentence mentions a planned cesarean due to his concerns about shoulder dystocia (as he's backing out of the room I might add). The baby is still measuring on the bigger side (his abdomen) but he is still only in the 78 percentage which isn't crazy big by any means.

The reason they measure the baby's belly for diabetics is:

Babies born to diabetic mothers are often larger than normal. This is because blood glucose passes directly from you to your baby, so if you have high blood glucose levels your baby will produce extra insulin to compensate. This can lead to your baby storing more fat and tissue.

This pregnancy has been a blessing for my husband and I - a complete miracle, a complete surprise, and a complete natural event. Everything has gone so well, and still is, so it is hard to hear someone say, in so many words, well…just to be careful let's say you might not be able to deliver this baby, even though nothing is actually wrong...

I guess I wanted to write this post to express my frustrations. Yes I have T1 Diabetes, but nothing about my pregnancy has been high risk. I can't be under the care of a midwife, which I have accepted, but it doesn't mean I don't still believe in natural childbirth. I live my life as natural and holistic as possible, and it is this part of me that I feel makes me who I am. 

I'm not saying that I would ever do anything to put my baby, or myself, at risk. But I need hard facts…I need a reason to why this planned cesarean "might" have to be the only option for me. I'm not against cesareans, but I also need to feel that the decisions being made are for my health and the baby's health - not for convenience. 

I respect the OB I'm working with immensely, but if he wants to convince me this is the route we have to take that's exactly what he's going to have to do - convince us with hard facts, statistics and reasons related to my health and the baby's health specifically. 

Unfortunately for him I'm not going to be an easy sell - especially with the residents I've seen through this pregnancy who just assumed I was having a c/s because well, that's what we do with diabetics.

So wish my husband and I luck with this new development and whatever is meant to happen will, that's the one thing we agree on completely - the universe has it's plan and as long as everyone is safe and healthy that's all that matters!

xoxo




Wednesday 7 May 2014

Updates from Ultrasound + Appointments

So after my appointments at the clinic this morning I have some updates:

Baby size - he's a little on the bigger size, 78% for size which isn't terrible for a diabetic but is slightly on the bigger size. His head size is perfect for the due date, tummy is a bit bigger than average but again nothing crazy and he is just under 5 lbs - which sort of scared me but they said it's fine and even said ultrasounds are never perfect with the weight of the baby.

Apparently he has big cute cheeks - can't wait to pinch them!

My Stomach size - I'm measuring at 33 weeks (which is sort of my guess anyway) but my OB says I'm 33 weeks on Saturday so it's only a few days difference.

Blood Pressure - 118/78 so I am VERY happy about that

Weight - I've put on roughly 25lbs now but I am still wearing normal clothes (other than maternity pants of course) and don't really feel that much different other than my tummy of course which is like a basketball haha - they said the slight swelling I have around my ankles is normal and just to watch to make sure it doesn't move up my legs or happen anywhere else

Diabetic Numbers - they were very impressed with my numbers and the fact that I did all the adjustments in the last month (joys of a clinic when they forget about you at your last appointment)

I have a requisition to have thyroid, iron, A1C and proteins checked two weeks from now.

OB Updates - I have to go for ultrasounds every week now, my OB said they are bio-physical not just growth ultrasounds so whatever that means (still have to google that)

They are quite happy with everything, which makes me happy (not that I've been nervous, I haven't at all) and just tell me to keep up with my monitoring and exercising and healthy eating.

The only thing I have to watch is for low blood sugars, because that will indicate something is wrong with the placenta and if that happens I am to come into the hospital immediately.

The thing is with Diabetics, especially Type 1's, is that the hormones the placenta is producing on it's own now fight with the insulin and so my sugars rise even when I'm just sleeping - nothing crazy because my control is so good but into the 7's usually instead of how they were in the 4's and 5's for the majority of the pregnancy.

Again, they won't let me go past 38 weeks, so sometime around June 14 I will be induced (if I haven't already gone into labour naturally)

I've been reading a really great book by Deepak Chopra called: A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth and it's really supported a lot of the ideas I have surrounding pregnancy and childbirth which is great - even if I might not have the most natural childbirth, there are still things I can practice which is all I want in the end :)

Tuesday 6 May 2014

33 weeks and symptoms (finally) arise...

So I'm 33 weeks this week and have had some interesting symptoms arise that I feel are worth sharing whether you're a pregnant diabetic or not:

Plantar Fasciitis (I think) - sometimes I'm getting this burning in my heel once I've stood for a long period of time, not really after walking or exercise but more when I'm standing still with little movement. I have a really high arch so probably adds to this type of thing developing. (need to keep on eye on it especially because of diabetes)

Sweaty Feet - ok, my feet are sweating all the time, seems not so crazy but it is when you're just sitting at work with sweaty feet!

Swollen Ankles - some days are better than others, my legs aren't swollen at all and my feet haven't swelled that bad either, it's literally a ring around where my ankle ball is located - like an ankle bracelet without the bling!

I think that is also why my calves seem extra tight - trying to stick to my yoga routine and walking and the gym but may need to add in even more stretching and more elevation and icing!

Hip pain - only when I sleep on my sides (which I can only do obviously) so I flip a lot in the night, which is still easy to do thankfully but I basically wake up with what feels like a knife in my hip and have to sit up, stand up, and then it goes away….I do some hip stretches as well - quite funny at 3:30am.


New Diabetic Symptoms:


NOTE: a lot of my pre-pregancy symptoms have cleared such as my sciatica, the marks on my shins from my diabetes have vanished and everyone claims there is no cure so this proves to me that obviously hormones and amazing sugar control are the cure! I also haven't had a headache since I've become pregnant - go figure!


I'm taking a lot more insulin now…which I'm not ecstatic about, but, I would rather have more insulin in me than have higher sugars which effect the baby even if it means slightly more weight gain for me.

For example, normally I'm about 1 unit an hour all day - and 1 unit per 10 grams of carbohydrates. Usually 1 unit brings me down 2 mmol as well.

Now I'm at 1.15 units per hour roughly all day and through the night, and 1 unit per 5 grams of carbohydrates - which is the most I've ever taken. Now 1 unit brings me down about 1-1.5 mmol.

My sugars are steady around the 5, 6, 7 marks - which I'm ok with….through most of the pregnancy they were at the 3.5-6 mark so I've gotten them under control again even when I'm rising through the night with the hormonal effects.

So all in all I am still feeling really great, but noticing changes….which if you know pregnancy, every week is different and a new experience!

I do have to say, lululemon is amazing - I'm still wearing all of my yoga gear very comfortably so cheers to stretchy workout clothing!!!!



Tuesday 15 April 2014

Healthy Snacks - Pregnant or not!

There is no doubt that people have cravings when they're pregnant - I can't say it's a new thing for me as I've always had random cravings based on the time of year or just what I see in the store or at the farmers market.

This week I have been craving dill, blueberries and greens - I swear I will be a die-hard greens fanatic forever!

Here are some snacks I want to share for all those mamas-to-be out there and just for those of you who are trying to make healthier changes, or keep your healthy choices going strong!


Healthy Snacks - Pregnant or not!

Celery with Almond/Cashew Butter
• side note: I thought I loved almond butter but oh do I love almond/cashew butter

Apple slices with Almond/Cashew Butter

Apple Slices sprinkled with cinnamon and drizzled with a bit of honey (if you're not diabetic ha)

Sliced Apple full rounds so you can get one thick top and one bottom, spread almond butter on both insides, then sprinkle with your favourite granola on either top or bottom and make a sandwich!

Rice cakes with avocado a squeeze of lime, sea salt and pepper - I can easily eat 4-5 of these

Bell Peppers, Carrots, Celery and Cucumbers with hummus

Mary's rice crackers with hummus and cucumber slices

Fresh pineapple, blueberries and raspberries cut up into plain unsweetened Greek Yogurt

Frozen raspberries, mangoes and bananas blended up to make your own sorbet!


I know this isn't rocket science but these snacks are SOOOO easy to make, remember and indulge in!

So happy snacking whether you're at work, on the couch or on the go! :)










Tuesday 8 April 2014

29 weeks + a pic just because

Even though writing a post at the 30 week mark may sound better, I thought an update might be in order - and a photo of my progression!

I'm just short of 29 weeks and still feeling great...actually, still feeling quite normal other than a few hiccups, and not just from the peanut! I am still walking at the same pace and have to remind myself to slow down a bit - climbing stairs are now harder than usual and I lose my breath quite easily!

Blood sugars are getting a little wonky - not really during the day, but mainly at night and through the night while sleeping. I'm only waking up once in the night to pee -  I hear these stories of people waking up all the time, thankfully that hasn't happened to me yet.

Around this time some women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant only) and are experiencing the weird sugars just like I am. For the most part my control is still great, I'm just having to take more insulin which isn't ideal, but for the health of the baby is it VERY important.

Thankfully, I have a pump and it makes this process a lot easier!

I haven't had many food cravings - more fruit than usual, mainly pineapple and mangoes - but that's pretty typical for me in the spring anyway. I'm eating a lot of apples and oranges as well which as we know are healthy snacks, especially with a little almond butter.

Still loving salad - don't think that will ever change with me haha

Last week I had two days of intense exhaustion, weakness and some dizzy spells, so having my iron checked tomorrow!

Aversions - none. Nothing through this entire pregnancy has turned me off, although, my appetite has been quite low and I'm having more problems finding something to eat.

Still working out as much as possible - if I can't make it to the gym I walk as much as possible to work, on lunch and after work usually for a total of 5-6km. 

I'm doing yoga at home on and off but not as long - more some basic sun salutations and stretching.

Today the baby was stuck in my rib I think - I actually couldn't stand up and then felt him kick and the pain was released - very weird feeling. I forget that I don't have much room in my middle so moving quickly while at my desk or turning suddenly can bring on this!

The baby is head down and to the right - or so my last ultrasound showed - and I feel him a lot on the right side, very far in fact, up into my ribs on the right and out in front like right behind my naval - whenever I put my hand to my belly he goes there - it's so cute and fascinating.

Sleeping is ok, was having sharp hip pain in the night but now just have a small pillow between my knees and everything is fine - I still roll over a lot though back and forth and had some weird shin splints last week - probably from the gym or walking in new boots!

Still fitting into most of my normal clothes - or, baggy blouses and stretchy tops that I already owned, as well as all my lulus and workout clothes - thankfully that stretch really helps haha!

Here is my most recent pic from Saturday - maternity jeans but normal tank, top and sweater :)





Friday 7 March 2014

Day 4 - Thursday, March 6 Meals

7am: Ezeikel muffin with almond butter and blackberry jam

9am: 1/2 cup of oatmeal with cinnamon and almonds

*had a bit of an emergency from noon until 3:30 so I didn't get to eat anything…was a long day 

4pm: small apple and Kind Bar granola bar - almond/coconut

*my brother came for dinner so we took him out for sushi

7pm: Sushi dinner: had some avocado/yam rolls, a few california rolls, some yam tempura, sweet and sour soup, mango salad, seaweed salad

Needless to say my day was a little "off" yesterday, didn't get much exercise other than my 2km walk to work, and my meals were not on par with my usual meal plan…but, c'est la vie!


Thursday 6 March 2014

Day 3 - Wednesday, March 5 Meals

7am: Green smoothie - banana, spinach, pumpkin seed protein powder, spirulina, frozen peaches, frozen raspberries, chia seeds and fresh ginger

9am - organic americano, small freshly made cinnamon bun (I couldn't resist haha)

11am - handful of raw nut mix

12:30pm - 1/2 pumpernickel veggie sandwich - arugula, tomato, avocado, mustard, cucumber on pumpernickel bread

3:00pm - 1/2 cup of homemade carrot, ginger, cumin soup

4:30pm - small organic apple

7pm - (husband surprised me with a delicious dinner) baked chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and spinach, wrapped in prosciutto with greek salad (onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon AND garlic mashed (organic red) potatoes

10pm - small bowl of air-popped popcorn

………

Sugars were perfect all day: 3.8-4.6, after dinner I was 5.5 and then before bed 3.9 (so had the popcorn) and at 2am I was 5.1 - no rising in the night this time. No hip pain at night anymore but I do turn over quite a bit. The gym really is helping with sleeping and my overall feeling. Prenatal yoga is great and I am still practicing when I can, however just the slower cardio on top of the walking I already do daily is really helping the way I'm feeling - for the 4 days I was on "rest" I started to feel swollen (even though I really wasn't, I just felt that way) and fatigued…so it really proves that the exercise I was doing for the first 5 months, and that I'm doing now is really benefitting me in every way!

………

Exercise: 2.5km of walking to work, 20 min on the stationery bike, 20 min walking at a slight incline on the treadmill and then set of wide-legged squats with 3 different sets of arms with 8 lb weights, I've dropped from 12-15 lb weight to 8 and do more reps of each exercise.




Wednesday 5 March 2014

Day 2 - Tuesday, March 4 Meals

7am: Hot lemon water, Ezeikel english muffin with almond butter and blackberry jam

9:30am - small coffee, half the oatmeal and raspberry breakfast I made for today (saving some for snack time later)

11am - handful of raw nut mix

1pm - leftovers from last night: chicken parmesan with quinoa spaghetti + sauce with fresh arugula on the side

3:30pm - handful of raw nut mix, small organic apple

7pm - 1 piece of pumpernickel bread toasted, topped with arugula and 1/2 an avocado and an omelette with old cheddar cheese on the side

10pm - 1/2 banana and small piece of pumpernickel toast with organic peanut butter

……………

Blood sugars were amazing all day - high 3's and 4's. I was 8 around dinner because I needed to change my site but knew that already - so I'm pretty happy with how my sugars are doing. Through the night I'm still waking up around 9 even when I go to sleep in the 4's - and it's 3 hours after I go to sleep.

……………

Exercise: walked 2.5km during the day, 20 min of stationary bike at the gym and 15 min of walking at a decent pace at 3.5 incline on the treadmill - stretched for 10 min

……………

Sleeping was actually way better - only woke up twice and sleeping perfectly on my sides with the pillow between my legs and stacked right on top of each other definitely has eased the shooting sharp pains in my hips, and my sciatic has been fine as well - fingers crossed it stays that way!

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Day 1 - Monday, March 3 Meals

Day 1 - Monday, March 3

7am - Piece of organic sourdough toast with almond butter and organic blackberry jam

9am - Small mason jar of organic oatmeal, organic plain yogurt and a handful of frozen raspberries (see attached pic), 1 small coffee at work

11am - 2 small handfuls of Artie's Raw Nut Mix (from the Superstore) which includes: almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios and walnuts

12:30pm - Bowl of homemade carrot, ginger, cumin soup (with onions and garlic), 20 Mary's crackers with organic hummus

3pm - handful of raw nut mix, 1 organic apple

7pm - baked chicken breast with pasta sauce and parmesan cheese, side of quinoa spaghetti

……..

My blood sugars were in the 4's all day - seriously, between 4.4 and 4.9 all day, but then 3 hours after going to sleep I woke up to my blood sugar being 12.4 - so I bolus'd and woke up at 3.9…which is perfect for me. NO idea how this keeps happening but I'm tracking it very well and meeting with the diabetic team next week. But other than that, the numbers were perfect all day :)

……..

*Exercise: 15 min walk in the morning (just over 1 km), 15 min walk at lunch (just over 1 km), 15 min of yoga (short vinyasa sequence), 30 push-ups, 30 dips, 50 squats with weights, 30 lunges with weights

……..

I had such a busy day that after dinner I relaxed for a bit, checked some emails, did my exercises and then had a nice epsom salt bath. We went to bed earlier than usual but it was well deserved!

Here is a pic of the breakfast oatmeal I made for the week:




Monday 3 March 2014

Recording my Meals for the Week

So I've decided to record all my meals for this week - each day I'll post what I'm eating, how I'm feeling (which hasn't changed much) and how my blood sugars are responding, changing or staying the same.

The only issues I'm having right now have to do with sleeping - I keep waking up throughout the night with sharp pains in my hips and have to switch sides quite often. Needless to say I'm not getting much sleep as a result but I'm trying different methods of using pillows and hopefully we will be getting a new much-needed mattress soon!

So far I don't have many cravings, no food aversions at all and actually have less of an appetite rather than a larger one.

I'm still keeping active everyday with walking at least 3-5km, 15 min strength-training workouts at home and either prenatal pilates or 30-45min prenatal yoga classes at home. I'm joining Goodlife again though because the weather has just been so cold lately I'm feeling like I need more cardio. It's not always easy to get the amount of walking in that I want to, but at least I have my commute to ensure that ;)

At 24 weeks this week I'm feeling great, a little stiff in the mornings and tight around my growing bump in the evenings. I've gained 17 pounds so far which isn't too bad, and all of my clothes pre-pregnancy still fit - other than my bras ;)

The only thing that worries me slightly is the need for more insulin, which can lead to more weight gain and just not an overall great feeling. So far the only changes that have happened are through the night - instead of being low for the first 5 months I am now rising mid-night to around 8 or 9…which is quite odd but I'm taking it day by day for now because things can change so much!

Hopefully people will find this helpful, whether Diabetic or Pregnant, or not.

Happy Monday and Happy March! The first post will come tonight :)

Thursday 27 February 2014

Healthy Pregnancy

Being a Type 1 Diabetic for 26 years now has not only taught me a lot about the importance of one's health in general, but also discipline and to appreciate the health you do have in the present moment.

Since becoming pregnant I have maintained amazing control because really it's the most important thing to the health of my baby and me. 

I can't lie and say this hasn't been difficult - testing before and after every meal, 8 times a day, counting each carbohydrate that I consume and adjusting my bolus rate as accurately and quickly as possible. 

The other difficult thing is that during every woman's pregnancy things change, nothing remains the same the entire time and that is truly the case with my body's need for insulin.

But, after my last appointment at the diabetic pregnancy clinic I go to my A1C was 5.9, my thyroid was perfect and the rest of the bloodwork was great. Plus, the baby is doing very very well and is not growing bigger than the average at all which is a major concern with diabetic pregnancies.

I really contribute these results to everything I've mentioned above: my discipline, gratitude and my knowledge and passion for good health. My sugars have never been this good and I really feel amazing being pregnant, this has truly been a miracle for my husband and I and only motivates me to continue this type of control in the future! 

Here is my most recent photo at 23 ½ weeks (just short of 6 months) too bad I look so serious haha: 


Tuesday 25 February 2014

Smart Snacking Vending Machines

This is amazing, and well over-due if you ask me.

I stumbled upon this website when a friend posted it to Facebook and I think it's brilliant - although not all the products are actually as healthy as people want you to believe, 90% of them are, but you do have to please everyone's tastes when it comes to vending machines ;)

I love how if you purchase this machine you can choose your own menu items as well - from Larabars, Luna Bars to Coconut Water and Pure Mango Juice.

http://smartsnacking.ca/products.html

Hopefully these will start to pop up everywhere making healthy snacks on the go available to everyone whether you're in a hospital waiting room, out shopping at a mall (and you're pregnant and about to eat anything in sight) or just need to grab something at college between classes.

Check out their website to learn more today :)

http://smartsnacking.ca/home.html

Kate

Monday 10 February 2014

Carbs for breakfast

If you're like me, I went from smoothies and grapefruit for breakfast to needing more carbohydrates (breads) for breakfast when I became pregnant.

I wouldn't call it a craving as much as just a smoothie and fruit left my stomach feeling empty in less than an hour, so I would need something more substantial.

If you have been following me for awhile you also know I try to eat as gluten-fee as well as flour-free as much as possible. 

So yesterday when I woke up wanting pancakes so badly for Sunday morning brunch I had to improvise without eggs or pancake mix!

Luckily I'm resourceful and stock a random selection of gluten-free flours for muffins and flatbreads when I'm in the mood for cooking ;) So welcome:

Amaranth Cinnamon Pacakes 

2 cups of amaranth flour
½ cup of flax meal
2 tbsp of cinnamon
3 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp cane or coconut sugar 
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp coconut oil
½ cup of water
3 cups of almond milk

Mix dry ingredients together then add wet ingredients, stir until mixed not necessarily smooth and cook in a pan with coconut oil over medium heat - top with butter and maple syrup or whatever you fancy!

You could also add cardamom, ginger and clove to make it more of a chai flavour too yum!



Wednesday 5 February 2014

Hearty, yet fresh and light lunch

In the midst of winter and yet another winter storm, sometimes craving comfort food only comes naturally.

This week however I have been dreaming about spring, ok and summer too, so I decided to stick to some hearty, yet fresh and light lunch ideas!

Today's lunch and a dill chickpea veggie salad:

1 cup of rinsed canned chick peas 
Large handful of fresh dill chopped 
Small handful of fresh parsley chopped
Chopped orange pepper
Green onion
Sliced kalamata olives
Black pepper
Avocado 
Sprinkle of goat cheese

Mix the above together with the juice of half a lemon and olive oil, and scoop onto two large handfuls of organic spinach! 

It's hearty, delicious, easy and healthy!! 


Monday 20 January 2014

The daily lists

So I do have to say that the daily lists of things I need to do and take since becoming pregnant are pretty extensive.

Taking care of your body, mind and spirit during pregnancy are very important things and takes practice. Here is my daily list as not only a pregnant woman, but a Type 1 Diabetic woman:

- testing blood sugars 8x per day at least, once before every meal and once after every meal and having my sugars between 4.7 and 6.3 all the time which is very difficult but I've actually been accomplishing this pretty much 80% of the time

- take my thyroid medication upon waking up and not having any calcium or magnesium within four hours of this pill which includes of course all dairy products

- take my three prenatal mutlivitamins daily as well as 2 folic acid supplements and 3 vitamin B complex pills

- take a tbsp of my omega oils at night and a tbsp of my calcium / magnesium liquid supplement

- make sure to get at least 30 min of physical activity every day: I include my 2km of walking to the street car in this and try to practice at least 30 min of yoga at night, usually prenatal vinyasa as well as my at-home workouts which consist of squats, push-ups, lunges, planks, arm exercises and weights

- make sure to connect with the baby twice daily and practice gratitude at the same time morning and night which I basically turn into a five min mediation whether it's in the shower or sitting or lying in bed

- ensure my meals are as healthy and clean as possible

- and finally, work!!!

So it's a bit of a long list but I seem to be doing pretty well so far. I have also been reading nightly different pregnancy books on yoga, midwifery and other subjects

Xoxo

Sunday 19 January 2014

Happy New Year and…we're expecting!

Seeing as it's a new year, and things have changed dramatically in the last few months I felt the need to write a long post and let you all in on some spectacular news:

My husband Will and I are expecting!!!! Here are the little babe details:

Due date: June 26, 2014 (although I've also been told the 27 and 28)

*Note: because I'm Type 1 Diabetic and considered High-Risk, I'll be induced two weeks prior to my due date at 38 weeks

Today, I'm officially 17 weeks and 3 days pregnant.

I feel amazing, completely normal. All of my tests at the 3 month mark were normal and the OB said I have the health of a healthy 15 year old which made me feel really great! I've gained about 8-10lbs now and I can feel my mid-section expanding slightly, but I'm still wearing all of my clothes just some of my jeans are a tighter (and most of my bras) - I cannot wait to start sporting a small bump, should be about another month - let's hope anyway!!!! ;)

A lot of things have changed in my life not only due to finding out I'm carrying another person in my body, but since I started working at this amazing new job downtown my schedule has changed, my commute has changed and therefore my life has changed.

Unfortunately, I had to stop volunteering at the Power Yoga Canada Oshawa due to my new work schedule and life, and I had to stop practicing as well. Most pregnant women are not advised to practice hot yoga during any trimester, although depending on your level of experience some still do. Being high risk I was advised by both my OB-GYN and Naturopath to refrain from practicing hot yoga.

This was literally the hardest thing I had to give up - next to red wine of course! I have been practicing some non-heated yoga classes, and signed up for yogaglo.com again because they have some amazing prenatal classes!

I've been doing my own workouts at home and following this amazing blog fitinheels.com for extra at-home workout ideas. I've also been walking about 3km a day but I'm really looking forward to getting more of a sweat on - think spin class (but I will take it easy), riding the bike and I'm also thinking about doing some sort of swimming further along in my pregnancy because I love the water!

In terms of food, the only things I've been craving are salmon, spinach, goat cheese, apples and eggs. Actually, the week I found out I was pregnant I had eaten eggs 4 days straight for every meal - I didn't think anything of it until I reflected after the test was positive and something clicked…I had an aha moment!

I truly didn't have any pregnancy symptoms that were obvious like nausea or morning sickness. I was tired about a month in and the tiredness lasted about 6 weeks and normally hit around 9pm. Around 9 weeks along I felt a bit relieved and then at 10 weeks I felt normal again, I could actually stay up past 10pm!

My diabetes is another story altogether - my sugars are going in stages. Some weeks they are very controlled and I'm in the 4's and 5's, like a normal person, every single day. Then they will jump up into the 9's and I'll have to adjust my bolus rates a bit. I have my new Accu-chek pump and love it - and I am really trying as hard as I can to get my numbers perfect as it is the most important thing for me during this pregnancy. Not only does my health depend on it, but so does my baby's, and that is something I don't want to mess with. My A1C before I was pregnant was 7.6 and 3 months in I got it down to 6.9 which isn't too bad, but it needs to be much better. It is interesting though how my sugars were very low for about a month and a half which happens to non-diabetic women as well.

In terms of meals, I am eating the same but having more substantial breakfasts. My typical day looks something like this;

7am - Green Smoothie with banana, spinach, pumpkin seed protein, chia seeds, hemp seeds, frozen raspberries, fresh ginger and water

9am - amaranth porridge with cinnamon and home-made granola

11am - almonds, small apple with almond butter

12:30pm - soup, small salad, half a sandwich or quinoa salad

3pm - mary's crackers, carrots, celery with hummus

7pm - brown rice pasta with sautéed kale, olives, tomato sauce, veggies or baked salmon with baked sweet potato slices, steamed broccoli

10pm - small bowl of organic greek yogurt with granola

Supplements: I have to take 4-5mg of folic acid a day being diabetic so I ensure I get at least that amount in supplements but also consume healthy meals full of nutrients

- Pre-Natal Multivitamins (3 per day = 1mg folic acid and all other supplements required)
- Folic Acid (2 pills per day)
- Advanced B-Complex AOR brand (3 per day = 1mg folic acid and all B vitamins)
- Calcium/Magnesium Liquid (1 tbsp)
- DHA Nutrasea Oil

I'm going to continue some posts along the way mainly talking about my diabetic journey with pregnancy. There are so many things to discuss when it comes to pregnancy that every woman goes through - but the diabetic journey is different. I hope you will take what I write as valuable and helpful information as most of it will be encouragement for a happy and healthy journey!