The first stage begins three months prior to conception.

The second stage involves the mother's activities and dietary habits during pregnancy.

The third stage is during nursing and the dietary habits of the breast feeding mother or breast milk substitutes.

It is also a good idea to have a physical evaluation performed by a naturally oriented physician to improve the general health of the mother and assess any possible disorders that might interfere with the pregnancy or the baby's potential. The necessary natural treatments can improve the health of the mother during pregnancy and increase the potental for a smooth delivery. Accurate treatments can also reduce the chances of passing a disorder on to the baby.

Preparation for the best conception

Ideally, a woman should start her nutritional preparation for pregnancy at least three months prior to conception.

She needs that time to maintain optimal health through proper diet, exercise and taking the necessary nutritional supplements.

Pre-Pregnancy Diet

Preparing the body for pregnancy through diet involves eating fresh organic foods. Refer to the Healthy Diet page for specific food ideas. Remember, when you are preparing food, it is best to undercook vegetables because valuable nutrients are retained.

Also, it is important to note that caffeine can make it more difficult to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy because it suppresses production of the female hormones. Coffee and black tea are stress in a cup, the type of stress that is easily avoided.

Pre-Pregnancy Supplements

The idea behind preparing the body nutritionally, before you become pregnant, is to make sure that you are not deficient in any area that could compromise the baby's development, especially during the early weeks of pregnancy even before you realize you are pregnant.

The following general recommendations need to be approved by your physician, especially if you are taking any other treatments.

A low potency multiple vitamin/mineral taken three to four days a week. The reason that I say low potency is because thiamine (B1) can cause stressful reactions in the body when excessive. Make sure the multiple vitamin that you are taking has no more than 100% of the USDA's recommendation for thiamin and the remainder of the multiple vitamin supplement will generally be good for you.

Folic acid and B12 are critical to the development of the nervous system in the fetus. Having enough in the body before you find out about pregnancy is important. 1600mcg of folic acid and 1000 mcg of Vitamin B12 a day taken with meals is a general recommendation. When taking B12, purchase the sublingual ones and chew them before of after a meal. It is not necessary to hold the tablet under the tongue.

An amino acid complex. Amino acids improve cell growth and will be needed by the body during the initial weeks of pregnancy and beyond. Make sure that the aminos that you take are high quality and free of additional nutrients that may overlap with other supplements. Also watch out for stimulants that may be added in the formula. Stimulants including green tea extracts, chlorella and algaes are not recommended during pregnancy. The daily dose of amino acid complex should be about 2000 mg.

Electrolytes are a basic supplement to take when the body is stressed emotionally or physically. In our modern day world, we generally need electrolytes on a regular basis. Not all electrolytes are equal, make sure to get one without a lot of sugar, or stimulants in it.

Foundation: A low potency multiple vitamin in capsule form that contains trace minerals, essential enzymes, the necessary bacteria for healthy digestion, and a balanced complex of nutrients.
Folic acid and Vitamin B12: For development of the nervous system.
Free Form Aminos: Pure free-form amino acids are the highest quality of protein available. They are completely absorbed and used by the body within minutes of taking and are non-allergenic.
Electrolyte 2: Electrolytes keep the body systems working under stress. This formula has been perfected from over 18 years of clinical research and development.

Stage 2.

Pregnancy Health

After you find out that you are pregnant, it is important to be monitored by a competant physician. Maintaining a proper diet which may be tailored to your specific needs by your practitioner is very important. The following are general dietary and supplemental recommendations. Nurturing a baby is a delicate process and it is VERY important that you approve anything you want to do such as excercise, taking supplements by your physician FIRST.

General Pregnancy Diet

During pregnancy there are certain foods that can have the potential to disrupt the digestive tract of the fetus causing them to be excessively active.

Stay away from these:

The following foods can cause intestinal gas and cramping for the fetus due to their concentration of sulfur.

cabbage

cauliflower

broccoli

onions

The following foods can aggravate the fetus's intestinal tract due to the concentration of their protein molecule. This makes them more difficult to digest for mommy and fetus.

nuts

nut butters

seeds

milk products

wheat products

soy products

Quick test for possible milk sensitivity

Milk products have the potential for causing colic due to the concentration of its protein (casein). If milk products are a preferred food, a simple test helps to clarify their effect. Eat a bowl of yogurt or have some milk and observe the fetus's behavior within the following thirty minutes. If there is noticeably more activity with kicking and pushing, the chances are the milk proteins caused colic. If this happens, it is advisable to avoid milk products.

Under your Doctor's care you can perform this test with other foods if there is a suspicion.

General Pregnancy Supplements These are the supplements that I recommend for the pregnant mother in general. Please check with your physician BEFORE taking any new supplements. The multiple vitamin fills in nutritional gaps in the diet, folic acid and B12 are essential for nerve development, and the amino acids improve cell growth in the child and the mother. In over thirty-seven years of treating pregnant women, the patients who took amino acids during their pregnancy noted they never developed stretch marks. I have also observed an increased demand for calcium in the last few months of pregnancy. Foundation: A low potency multiple vitamin/mineral taken three to four days a week. Folic acid: 1600mcg folic acid increasing to 3200mcg in the fourth month of pregnancy.   B12: critical for development of the nervous system chew 1000 mcg a day Free Form Aminos: an amino acid complex taken at 4 a day until the last trimester, and then 6 a day. Coral Calcium: Add a Coral calcium supplement during the last trimester. Generally, 600 to 1000mg a day is plenty in the last trimester. Women that are overzealous in taking calcium created placentas that feel as though they have sand in them. This happens from the excess calcium deposits. It is not dangerous but does indicate an excess consumption.   General Pregnancy Exercise Any exercise during pregnancy needs to be closely monitored by your physician. This can include mild to moderate exercise three to four days a week. Pilates, yoga, walking and conservative training that increases heart rate and maintains muscle tone. It is also important to exercise the internal muscles of the stomach and female reproductive tract in preparation for birth. A great book for this is Natural Childbirth. Save the stretching exercises for the last few weeks of pregnancy. This helps to maintain the routine. The most effective exercise I have identified is the 'duck-walk.' Just walk around the house for about fifteen minutes while squating down, like a duck. This exercise effectively stretchs and loosens the pelvic muscles and ligaments in preparation for an easy delivery.   Balancing Nutrition and Nausea Although the period of gestation requires strict dietary guidelines, morning sickness can also play a critical role in what can be eaten. Nausea, throwing up, indigestion and heartburn can make pregnancy extremely uncomfortable and challenge the flow of nutrients to the fetus. Morning sickness, also called nausea gravidarium, results from the onslaught of pregnancy hormones on an "uneducated" liver. It is the liver's responsibility to dispose of all used hormones, but it is not always prepared for the increased levels associated with pregnancy. This in turn affects the gall bladder causing restricted bile flow. Digestion decreases and the body would just as soon send any meals in the opposite direction to ease the burden. EstraLiv is a product developed to assist the liver in managing the elevated hormone levels of pregnancy. I usually recommend Colaid if constipation is present with nausea. Chewable Papaya/Pineapple enzymes, in some cases, can reduce the nausea of pregnenancy. I am not really sure why, but enough women have noticed that chewing three to four papaya/pineapple enzymes during nausea helps to alleviate it within a few minutes.   The general doses are 2 to 3 EstraLiv, 1 Colaid and 3 to 4 Papaya/Pineapple enzymes three to four times a day. Eventually, the liver catches up to the demand and the supplement dosages decrease.

General Breast Feeding Diet

It is very exciting to have a newborn baby and very special to nurture them naturally with breast milk. Breastfeeding is the optimum way of feeding a baby and the most convenient. Breast milk is the perfect food for all babies and ideally should continue for eighteen to twenty-four months. During the newborn phase of life, it is important to follow any specific dietary guidelines from your physician. Our general breastfeeding diet is designed to insure the baby has enough protein and is free from unnecessary aggravation. Any discomfort experienced by the baby within thirty minutes of nursing usually indicates an exposure to an irritating food that the breastfeeding mother has eaten.

While breastfeeding it's best to avoid certain foods that have the potential to disrupt the digestive tract of the baby. Distress, crying, and fussy behavior usually indicates the baby has eaten something that is causing stress. Information has surfaced recently regarding the potential toxic contents of mother's milk. This is even more reason to consume strictly organic foods.

Foods to include in your diet:

Please refer to the Healthy Diet page.

If there is any kind of noticeable change while consuming any foods while breastfeeding, please consult your physician right away.

Stay away from these:

The following foods can cause intestinal gas and cramping for the baby due to their concentration of sulfur.

cabbage

cauliflower

broccoli

onions

The following foods can aggravate the baby's intestinal tract.

nuts and nut butters

seeds

milk products

wheat products

soy products

The following foods can also cause mastitis (inflammation and pain of the breast ducts).

nuts, nut butters, seeds, fried foods, margarine, sesame oil, foods containing mono and diglycerides

bacon, pork, beef, and lamb

milk fat (cheese, whole or low fat milk, cream cheese, cream, butter)

Quick test for possible milk sensitivity

Milk products have the potential for causing colic due to the concentration of its protein (casein). If milk products are a preferred food, a simple test helps to clarify their effect. Eat a bowl of yogurt or have some milk and observe the baby's behavior within the following thirty minutes. If there is noticeably more activity with kicking and pushing, the chances are the milk proteins caused colic. If this happens, it is advisable to avoid milk products.

Breastfeeding and Infant Hypoglycemia

It is important to consume enough available protein in your diet so that your child will receive adequate amounts for growth. A sign that you may not be consuming enough, or digesting it properly is if your baby needs to nurse constantly. One way to make sure that you are getting enough is to eat some protein with each meal. Other ways to improve digestion are to take an enzyme specifically designed to digest protein, eat your protein first and separately from other types of food, and eat it in smaller quantities, but more often throughout the day. Another thing to keep in mind is that the high-protein part of the breast milk is toward the end of the meal (the first part of the meal is more carbohydrate). So make sure that your baby finishes most of the milk currently available from one breast before moving to the other breast. Always consult your physician before taking any new supplements.

Breastfeeding and Mastitis

Another thing to watch out for while breastfeeding are foods that can clog the breast ducts and cause the painful and potentially big problem of mastitis. This is caused by fatty based deposits in the ducts, then milk fat gets too thick, it builds up in the ducts and eventually causes inflammation. At first sign of pain and hardness in the breasts consult your physician to see if you can take the following general recommendation. If mastitis has gone on for a long time, your physician may recommend antibiotics.

Lecithin: This is a natural fat emulsifier. It will help to break down the fat molecules that are stuck in the breast ducts. At the first sign of breast inflammation stop all dietary fats and take two capsules of lecithin three times a day. In most cases, this is enough to clear the duct and eliminate the mastitis.

Enzyme F/S: It helps to finish the digestion of fats that have lodged in the breast ducts. It generally helps when the area that is affected is larger than a dime. Chew two to three tablets three to four times a day until the inflammation is gone. For prevention, chew one to two tablets after meals. LipoPan: This is another enzyme product that promotes digestion of dietary fats as well as fats that have accumulated in the breast ducts. When the area of inflammation is smaller than a dime or there are multiple areas of discomfort, LipoPan is recommended. Take two to three capsules three times a day until better. BromoPlex: It reduces the inflammation so that the lecithin and enzyme F/S have access to the area. Take two to three capsules three times a day until better. PanPro: is a balance enzyme used to assist in protein digestion. Take one tablet before protein meals.

Breastfeeding and supplements Coral Calcium: I have found over the years that mined coral calcium has the best results. Take one capsule (500 to 600mg) a day during the first six months of pregnancy. In the last three months of pregnancy and during breastfeeding, two a day is best. Vitamin B12: 1000mcg a day during the entire pregnancy and breastfeeding. Rememeber to chew the tablets with meals. Amino Acids: Take four a day while breastfeeding to guarantee the infant is getting all the amino acids necessary for healthy growth. Electrolytes: Electrolytes are needed if there is any stress during the breastfeeding period or if there are frequent urinations. They are also indicated if the infant is a restless sleeper and has spells of not being alert. Generally, one to two electrolytes is needed a day in these cases. Foundation: As a general rule, any multiple should be taken four to five days a week after two weeks of daily dosage. The body tends to fill its reservoirs of vitamins and minerals after two weeks and then only a few capsules a week is needed to maintain them. Folic Acid: Take two to four folic acid 800mcg a day while breastfeeding.

Breast milk Substitutes

If formulas replace breastfeeding, then goat's milk is the best substitute. It is the most like human breast milk but has less folic acid and B12 and less bioavailability of iron. Folic Acid/B12 drops are available and can supplement these deficiencies. Goat milk has more protein and fewer carbohydrates though. In any event, goat's milk is easily digested, non-allergenic and today there are numerous sources available on the internet and health stores.

Goat milk powder
Goat milk powder packets

Folic Acid/B12 liquid

Stage 4.

Introducing Solid Food to Baby

As the baby matures, the introduction of solid foods begins while breastfeeding or formula continues. Adding solid food to a baby's diet happens gradually and in a precise order. When adding a new food, observe any possible reactions that might occur. This would include fussy behavior, skin eruptions, and diaper rashes, painful cries indicating colic, or listlessness. These symptoms can begin within an hour to three days after consumption. So be observant and only add one food at a time. If your baby has any reactions, discontinue the most recently added food and consult your physician.

6 Months:

This is the time to begin adding seasonal fruits in the cooked and in the raw state when available. Hold pieces of raw fruit so the baby can chew on them or mash them for easy consumption.

7 to 8 Months:

Begin adding vegetables in a similar fashion as were fruits. Cooked and smashed vegetables are easy for the child to chew and swallow. Hold raw vegetables so they can enjoy them without the danger of swallowing too large of pieces. At this age, an interesting phenomenon begins to develop. Children want to be part of the family. They want to sit at the table and they knowingly want to eat what everyone else is eating. I have observed this on numerous occasions to such an extent that I re-examined the method by which I recommend adding foods to a child's diet. I have found it is best to have the child sitting at the table with their own plate. The parent should take small portions of food, smash them with a fork and place them on the child's plate. Then feed them from the child's own plate. This makes them feel as if they are part of the family, because they are eating the same food as everyone else. Psychologically, this has important benefits, as they get older.

9 to 12 months

:As a child acquires new teeth, add more solid foods. Pieces of fruit and cooked vegetables, peas, beans, squash, and sweet potatoes are well tolerated at this age. You can also add eggs and small amounts of chicken. Soups are an excellent method of beginning meats since the pieces are small and the broths are full of nutrients.

12 to 18 months:

This is the time to introduce grains and grain products gradually, always being observant of any possible repercussions. Of the grains, most children generally tolerate rice and spelt products. Add them one at a time and wait a day or two for any reaction. Most reactions will be visible on the skin as rashes. Children can also react to difficult food items with rapidly developing fevers, sinus drainage and changes in the quality of their stools. If everything seems OK, then add another item. As an example, start with rice milk and well-cooked rice cereal, then try cooked rice and finally rice flour products including rice noodles, pancakes, muffins and even cookies. With spelt, start with spelt tortillas, then spelt bread, and finally spelt noodles and baked products. In most cases, the child will develop preferences, but it is best to attempt regular variety.