Anyone have some good recipe ideas for first trimester? I'm feeling so nauseous most of the time. Fresh veggies and meat just don't sound good... But I need to feed my family and I know this baby (and mama) probably need more than crackers and bread. My son said he wanted grilled cheese for dinner this week... I was like, "I could do that." I feel like the only food that sounds remotely ok is food I'd consider toddler picky food (chicken nuggets, sandwich, yogurt, etc.)
There is a website called "yummy toddler food" that has some great recipes - my friend recommended their grilled cheese with spinach (for our kids) and I was like "I would like to eat that"
Variations on carbs and cheese seem pretty manageable for me - quesadillas, pasta, soup - all things you get get veggies into while still getting some comfort.
I also think you're fine just eating what you can manage - it should get better in the second tri!
Second @jandawg's Yummy Toddler Food recommendation! She has some great recommendations for pregnancy snacks that I'm starting to put into rotation. But also with my last pregnancy, my OB said that if all you could eat is bagels or whatever in first tri, it's fine. Just do what you can.
@runninginva I’m definitely no help! We’ve been living on frozen pizza, mac&cheese, takeout, and cereal at my house. My kids and husband definitely aren’t complaining haha. The few times I’ve felt up to cooking something more involved I haven’t been able to stomach the leftovers though.
Food has not been a source of joy here lately. This week we had spaghetti and meat sauce, pizza takeout, chicken tetrazzini, bagged salad and rotisserie chicken, and lots of Mac and cheese. I’ve been eating a lot of plain white rice, cereal, breakfast sandwiches, and fruit. Also lots of milky chamomile tea with honey. I did make a soup recently my kids loved that was called “Panera chicken and wild rice copycat” if you search Pinterest- was a hit with the kids!
@runninginva best advice I have is to give yourself grace in the first tri! I typically try to sneak veggies into a smoothie a couple times a week because even looking at most veggies makes me wanna barf lol. As for meat…as long as you’re getting enough protein, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. With DD1, I couldn’t stand chicken, which is like 85% of my protein source usually lol. Try adding in high protein snacks if you can’t stomach it at meals
After my 12 week urine dip test at my appointment it came back on my patient portal as nagar I’ve for glucose and trace for protein?!
I went back to my last pregnancy test results and they were all negative. OB doesn’t seem worried as i haven’t heard from him or office. All my bloodwork, labs and blood pressure are textbook.
@And846 Maybe a fluke or the numbers are only indicating that by such a small amount that your OB isn't worried? It might be worth sending a message or calling the nurse for your own peace of mind, though.
@tacosandtums and everyone else who commented on prenatal vitamins - FTM here and doing tons of research. Apparently about 60% of the population lacks the variation in one of their MTHFR genes that allows their body to convert folic acid (synthetic version of folate) to folate (necessary for baby's neural tube development). You'd only know this if you had genetic testing done at the Dr or something like 23andme. Since I haven't had the test, I'm just assuming I can't convert it and am taking a prenatal that contains folate instead of folic acid (Ritual in my case but I know there are others). Hope that is helpful!
@happynapper just started reading this thread so unsure if this has been answered yet. I'm pretty sure Target does another trade in event in the spring. So you can probably use that coupon now on something and get another in the spring before babe arrives.
@tacosandtums and everyone else who commented on prenatal vitamins - FTM here and doing tons of research. Apparently about 60% of the population lacks the variation in one of their MTHFR genes that allows their body to convert folic acid (synthetic version of folate) to folate (necessary for baby's neural tube development). You'd only know this if you had genetic testing done at the Dr or something like 23andme. Since I haven't had the test, I'm just assuming I can't convert it and am taking a prenatal that contains folate instead of folic acid (Ritual in my case but I know there are others). Hope that is helpful!
Same here and I’ve taken Neevo DHA past 2 pregnancies and will be taking it again for this one.
MTHFR gene mutation is commonly misunderstood. I would be carefulmabout your sources. The CDC still recommends the use of Folic Acid
"You might have read or heard that folic acid is not safe if you have one or two copies of the MTHFR C677T variant. This is not true. Even if you have one or two copies of the MTHFR C677T variant, your body can safely and effectively process the different types of folate, including folic acid."
"You may have heard or read that if you have an MTHFR C677T variant, you should take other types of folate (such as 5-MTHF), but this is not true. Folic acid is the only type of folate shown to help prevent neural tube defects (severe birth defects of the brain or spine).1-4,6
No scientific studies exist that show that supplements containing other types of folate (such as 5-MTHF) can help prevent neural tube defects."
Thank you for posting this! So frustrating to see conflicting advice everywhere I look. I am generally someone who does a lot of research before buying a product and I had read from numerous sources that I trust what I posted about the folic acid v. folate debate. Very interesting to see the CDC take a hard line there. BUT if I'm reading correctly, what I think they're saying is that there haven't been enough studies done on methylated folate as 5-MTHF to know if it is effective in preventing neural tube defects.
I am not pretending to be an expert by any means, but there are a plethora of scientific articles out there stating that folate is preferable to folic acid due to inability to convert. (these are just 2 I pulled but I've read many)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24494987/ "Naturally occurring 5-MTHF has important advantages over synthetic folic acid - it is well absorbed even when gastrointestinal pH is altered and its bioavailability is not affected by metabolic defects. Using 5-MTHF instead of folic acid reduces the potential for masking haematological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, reduces interactions with drugs that inhibit dihydrofolate reductase and overcomes metabolic defects caused by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism. Use of 5-MTHF also prevents the potential negative effects of unconverted folic acid in the peripheral circulation." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23482308/ "Carriers of certain polymorphisms in genes related to folate metabolism or absorption can better benefit from 5-methylTHF instead of FA. 5-MethylTHF [also known as (6S)-5-methylTHF] is the predominant natural form that is readily available for transport and metabolism. In contrast to FA, 5-methylTHF has no tolerable upper intake level and does not mask vitamin B12 deficiency. Supplementation of the natural form, 5-methylTHF, is a better alternative to supplementation of FA"
I promise I wasn't just reading the prenatal vitamin marketing Will continue to do more research and talk to my OB. Appreciate you!
I study scientific controversies (which, I would not consider this a controversy but it is adjacent) for a living. So, I needed out in my response. Please forgive the length. TL/DR summary - there are reviews and articles advancing the use of folate for those with MTHFR not the general public. There is an absence of clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of 5-methylTHF in the general public, while there is an abundance of data showing efficacy of folic acid in the general public (including MTHFR variant having people) that DO show efficacy, so the current evidence based recommendations are to stick with Folic Acid. It's probably OK to take 5-methylTHF but we don't have the evidence we do for folic acid yet.
So "folate" (actually 5-methylTHF) has growing support for supplementation in individuals with a specific MTHFR gene variation. It isn't necessary or recommended in people without that variation and even in people with a MTHFR variant you are more likely to see a recommendation for higher levels of Folic Acid supplementation as standard of care at this time. It is possible that over time and with increased studies, particularly clinical studies comparing the outcomes for babies of 5-methylTHF supplements to Folic Acid supplements in women specifically with MTHFR variation. Ideally, this would be in the form of a Double Blind Placebo Controlled Trial- but a placebo control trial would be unethical in this circumstance, so a double-blind comparison of Folic Acid to 5-methylTHF is the next best thing.
Without those studies clinicians can guess that 5-methylTHF works as well as Folic Acid in prevention of neural tube defects, based on studies of absorption but it isn't actually a known. One of the studies you cute above (the bottom one) stares as much "Efficacy studies on the effect of 5-methylTHF in improving folate blood markers are available and encouraging. However, the role of 5-methylTHF in preventing NTDs or other birth defects has not been tested in clinical studies." That author argues that such studies are unnecessary and that assuming efficacy based on absorption is acceptable, however the CDC, ACOG,, ACMG, AAFP, AAP, Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies (formerly the Institute of Medicine), US Public Health Service, and American Academy of Neurology disagree and see clinical trials as necessary to prove that 5-methylTHF is as effective as Folic Acid before endorsing a shift to its use particularly in the general population. This is particularly true for those without the MTHFR variation because they have nothing to gain from a shift away from Folic Acid which is very well established in preventing Neural Tube Defects and potential risk in making the change. With additional data the recommendation may change and I have no doubt that given the growing popularity there will be retrospective studies and eventual clinical trials, but the benefit for the general public is unknown at this time. The recommendation to take 5-methylTHF as a "better safe than sorry" approach assumes equal performance from 55-methylTHF in prevention of Neural Tube Defects and we don't know that. These organizations tend to be conservative in their recommendation to move away from established, evidence based intervention, especially when getting people to supplement at all is still a challenge. This is also balanced against the knowledge that while people with a MTHFR variation they have reduced uptake of folic acid, not an absence of uptake. Over time folic acid supplementation works. Further, the clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of Folic Acid use include those with the variation. They are part of the population being tested and still showing efficacy. It is degrees of efficacy.
Again, over time 5-methylTHF may show itself to be better at supplementing for those with MTHFR varants, or for both MTHFR variants and others, but we don't have all the data yet. Similar concerns about some of the potential "risks" for those with the MTHFR mutation from Folic Acid - they just aren't adequately established. You will notice that the articles you sight are reviews not meta-analysis or.clinical trials and that the trials they cite are pretty small. Doesn't mean they are wrong, just not conclusive.
So, while it is perfectly possible to look at the data and say that you think that 5-methylTHF probably performs as Folic Acid does and you feel it protects from the possibility of a MTHFR variation causing a deficiency, there are still unknowns and you are introducing risk. Most decisions in pregnancy introduce risk, of course.
I would just recommend anyone with concerns to bring them up with your OB or Midwife to talk about your specific history and whether an analysis of blood levels or a MTHFR screening would be appropriate and to go over clinical indications for use of 5-methylTHF for you.
I would also caution that while the MTHFR variation is real and has real concerns it has also been picked up upon for a lot of misinformation, particularly around vaccines, so as with all things medical: if you have concerns please talk to your physician.
@gadzooks_3 thank you so much for taking the time to write this very helpful post! I truly appreciate it! Such good info there for a very worried FTM
Question you may or may not know the answer to, since neural tube defects occur within the first month of conception, and I am 10 weeks today, is it fair to say that what’s done is done? I was taking folic acid for 6 months prior to conception and for the first month or so of pregnancy. Only switched to the folate prenatal around week 6 or so. Of course I’ll continue taking prenatals but I’m wondering if my concerns about folate vs folic acid are even worth it at this point?
Has anyone found relief for pregnancy rhinitis? I had a cold 5 weeks ago and it’s totally gone, except for massive amounts of clear mucus. It is driving me NUTS. I can’t breathe, I feel like I have post nasal drip, and I blow my nose every hour.
@brookejay06 I've had a cold or something since my positive test. I'm exhausted from being sick. What I use is saline spray (if my nose gets super dry), breathe right strips at night to help me breathe, humdifiers all day every day, and gargle with salt water if I have a sore throat. Of course all of that just treats symptoms, not so much the source. But I've found those things help me feel better.
@pajamstagrams thanks for the tips. I’ll try the breathe right strips. It’s soooooo frustrating to be pregnant while sick because you really just have to suffer through it. (As if we’re not suffering enough thanks to nausea, vomiting, headaches, insomnia, etc)…. It will be worth it 😅
A questions that hugs the line of question or NIPT...but here it goes. Has anyone successfully had Natera recode the test to be "diagnostic" instead of "medical" to have it 100% covered by insurance? RN it is coded as "medical" and I have to pay several hundred as I have not met my deductible for the year. A quick call to Cigna informed me that if they reopen, recode and resubmit at Natera level that it would be 100% covered.
A questions that hugs the line of question or NIPT...but here it goes. Has anyone successfully had Natera recode the test to be "diagnostic" instead of "medical" to have it 100% covered by insurance? RN it is coded as "medical" and I have to pay several hundred as I have not met my deductible for the year. A quick call to Cigna informed me that if they reopen, recode and resubmit at Natera level that it would be 100% covered.
I definitely think that’s worth a try. I have had success, m not specifically with this, but in asking for a couple of lab draws recoded with a previous pregnancy (loss) where my insurance wanted to treat it as just random hormone lab draws and once it was recoded it was covered as pregnancy related
@MrsLaLaBug yeah, Amazon’s baby registry is legit. I can’t remember what the threshold is for the diaper discount (and I don’t think it’s for every diaper purchase…just for a few months of the subscription), but they’ve added a TON of perks to it over the years. Also, their welcome box is usually one of the better swag gifts
ETA: Amazon is pretty savvy about what you add and if it’s not baby related, it doesn’t count towards your total. You can still add it so people can buy it (so like you want a certain decor for the nursery and you put it on their, that may not count, but something like a diaper genie will)
@MrsLaLaBug to add to what @skc040512 said, you *can* add non baby stuff to your registry and buy it, and I believe that triggers the free registry gift. Something about you have to buy something off it first ($10 worth maybe) and then it sends you the gift. I added cotton granny panties to mine and did that 😂🤷♀️
I started one and added some random things. Then went ahead and bought one of those u-shaped maternity pillows so I’ll let y’all know if they send the gift and what’s in it! 💜💜
Anyone had pre-e with any previous pregnancies? I’m concerned about my blood pressure this go around. Typically, I run super low but it’s been getting up into the higher end of “average” ranges in the past week or so. If you have had pre-e before, when were you diagnosed? Anyone else struggle with weird fluctuating BP and it be caused by something else?
@skc040512 I had pre-e with my first pregnancy, at the very end. My blood pressure jumped up very suddenly, def not a gradual increase over time. It was the reason they induced me but I was already 39w so luckily I was almost at the very end when it hit. Are you sure it doesn’t just climb due to white coat anxiety or whatever?
@skc040512 my BP has always been on the lower side and I’ve noticed in the last year it has gone up: 120/80, 123/69, 122/74 were my last three visits this fall. 2 reading from 2020 were 122/68 and 134/75. My weight has stayed the same but there was definitely a lot of anxiety around unexplained secondary IF, Covid stress, work stress and having a toddler. My first thoughts when i looked at my numbers a week or so ago when i really situated to feel crappy and noticed that I’ve been riding on the higher end defining has me deep in Dr Google but everything else right now is textbook. I think it may be white coat anxiety so I’ve thought about randomly using a food store BP machine, ha.
@skc040512 like @MrsLaLaBug I got diagnosed with it when I was after my due date so they induced me. This time around my OB is making me take baby aspirin once I start my second trimester as a way to combat it from happening again.
Thanks, ladies! I think that it’s probably at least partially related to anxiety or stress for me. DH and I were talking about what may have triggered it and he reminded me he had brought up some bad/irritating news from work shortly before. I’ve never dealt with anxiety before, so this seems so random to me but pregnancy makes everything weird lol
@coffeemamaaaaa idk, but at my 12 wk my OB said we're going to watch/look at due dates because I'm now measuring 5 days ahead, vs 3 days at 7 weeks. But I also mentioned I have short cycles (<28 days) so I think we weren't going to make that call then, but just wait and see. 🤷♀️
@coffeemamaaaaa mine was changing at my viability ultrasound, at my first appt. Based on my LMP I was 8w4d, but according to the US I was 8 weeks exactly.
All, I’m so nervous to tell my boss I’m pregnant. I started this job 8 months ago and the expectations are HIGH and demanding (it’s a low stress job, just when they say jump I don’t say “how high?” I just jump as high as I can and usually I still don’t quite reach the mark). Anyway, I’m Canadian and my boss is a childless, American man. My team is all American, but I fall under the Canadian labour law. Our parental leave is drastically different than the US and I’m afraid he’s going to be super angry and give me a really tough time about it. Any suggestions?
Re: The Great Big Question Thread
Variations on carbs and cheese seem pretty manageable for me - quesadillas, pasta, soup - all things you get get veggies into while still getting some comfort.
I also think you're fine just eating what you can manage - it should get better in the second tri!
MTHFR gene mutation is commonly misunderstood. I would be carefulmabout your sources. The CDC still recommends the use of Folic Acid
"You might have read or heard that folic acid is not safe if you have one or two copies of the MTHFR C677T variant. This is not true. Even if you have one or two copies of the MTHFR C677T variant, your body can safely and effectively process the different types of folate, including folic acid."
"You may have heard or read that if you have an MTHFR C677T variant, you should take other types of folate (such as 5-MTHF), but this is not true. Folic acid is the only type of folate shown to help prevent neural tube defects (severe birth defects of the brain or spine).1-4,6
No scientific studies exist that show that supplements containing other types of folate (such as 5-MTHF) can help prevent neural tube defects."
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/mthfr-gene-and-folic-acid.html
Thank you for posting this! So frustrating to see conflicting advice everywhere I look. I am generally someone who does a lot of research before buying a product and I had read from numerous sources that I trust what I posted about the folic acid v. folate debate. Very interesting to see the CDC take a hard line there. BUT if I'm reading correctly, what I think they're saying is that there haven't been enough studies done on methylated folate as 5-MTHF to know if it is effective in preventing neural tube defects.
I am not pretending to be an expert by any means, but there are a plethora of scientific articles out there stating that folate is preferable to folic acid due to inability to convert. (these are just 2 I pulled but I've read many)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24494987/
"Naturally occurring 5-MTHF has important advantages over synthetic folic acid - it is well absorbed even when gastrointestinal pH is altered and its bioavailability is not affected by metabolic defects. Using 5-MTHF instead of folic acid reduces the potential for masking haematological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, reduces interactions with drugs that inhibit dihydrofolate reductase and overcomes metabolic defects caused by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism. Use of 5-MTHF also prevents the potential negative effects of unconverted folic acid in the peripheral circulation."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23482308/
"Carriers of certain polymorphisms in genes related to folate metabolism or absorption can better benefit from 5-methylTHF instead of FA. 5-MethylTHF [also known as (6S)-5-methylTHF] is the predominant natural form that is readily available for transport and metabolism. In contrast to FA, 5-methylTHF has no tolerable upper intake level and does not mask vitamin B12 deficiency. Supplementation of the natural form, 5-methylTHF, is a better alternative to supplementation of FA"
I promise I wasn't just reading the prenatal vitamin marketing
I study scientific controversies (which, I would not consider this a controversy but it is adjacent) for a living. So, I needed out in my response. Please forgive the length. TL/DR summary - there are reviews and articles advancing the use of folate for those with MTHFR not the general public. There is an absence of clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of 5-methylTHF in the general public, while there is an abundance of data showing efficacy of folic acid in the general public (including MTHFR variant having people) that DO show efficacy, so the current evidence based recommendations are to stick with Folic Acid. It's probably OK to take 5-methylTHF but we don't have the evidence we do for folic acid yet.
So "folate" (actually 5-methylTHF) has growing support for supplementation in individuals with a specific MTHFR gene variation. It isn't necessary or recommended in people without that variation and even in people with a MTHFR variant you are more likely to see a recommendation for higher levels of Folic Acid supplementation as standard of care at this time. It is possible that over time and with increased studies, particularly clinical studies comparing the outcomes for babies of 5-methylTHF supplements to Folic Acid supplements in women specifically with MTHFR variation. Ideally, this would be in the form of a Double Blind Placebo Controlled Trial- but a placebo control trial would be unethical in this circumstance, so a double-blind comparison of Folic Acid to 5-methylTHF is the next best thing.
Without those studies clinicians can guess that 5-methylTHF works as well as Folic Acid in prevention of neural tube defects, based on studies of absorption but it isn't actually a known. One of the studies you cute above (the bottom one) stares as much "Efficacy studies on the effect of 5-methylTHF in improving folate blood markers are available and encouraging. However, the role of 5-methylTHF in preventing NTDs or other birth defects has not been tested in clinical studies." That author argues that such studies are unnecessary and that assuming efficacy based on absorption is acceptable, however the CDC, ACOG,, ACMG, AAFP, AAP, Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies (formerly the Institute of Medicine), US Public Health Service, and American Academy of Neurology disagree and see clinical trials as necessary to prove that 5-methylTHF is as effective as Folic Acid before endorsing a shift to its use particularly in the general population.
This is particularly true for those without the MTHFR variation because they have nothing to gain from a shift away from Folic Acid which is very well established in preventing Neural Tube Defects and potential risk in making the change. With additional data the recommendation may change and I have no doubt that given the growing popularity there will be retrospective studies and eventual clinical trials, but the benefit for the general public is unknown at this time. The recommendation to take 5-methylTHF as a "better safe than sorry" approach assumes equal performance from 55-methylTHF in prevention of Neural Tube Defects and we don't know that. These organizations tend to be conservative in their recommendation to move away from established, evidence based intervention, especially when getting people to supplement at all is still a challenge. This is also balanced against the knowledge that while people with a MTHFR variation they have reduced uptake of folic acid, not an absence of uptake. Over time folic acid supplementation works. Further, the clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of Folic Acid use include those with the variation. They are part of the population being tested and still showing efficacy. It is degrees of efficacy.
Again, over time 5-methylTHF may show itself to be better at supplementing for those with MTHFR varants, or for both MTHFR variants and others, but we don't have all the data yet. Similar concerns about some of the potential "risks" for those with the MTHFR mutation from Folic Acid - they just aren't adequately established. You will notice that the articles you sight are reviews not meta-analysis or.clinical trials and that the trials they cite are pretty small. Doesn't mean they are wrong, just not conclusive.
So, while it is perfectly possible to look at the data and say that you think that 5-methylTHF probably performs as Folic Acid does and you feel it protects from the possibility of a MTHFR variation causing a deficiency, there are still unknowns and you are introducing risk. Most decisions in pregnancy introduce risk, of course.
I would just recommend anyone with concerns to bring them up with your OB or Midwife to talk about your specific history and whether an analysis of blood levels or a MTHFR screening would be appropriate and to go over clinical indications for use of 5-methylTHF for you.
I would also caution that while the MTHFR variation is real and has real concerns it has also been picked up upon for a lot of misinformation, particularly around vaccines, so as with all things medical: if you have concerns please talk to your physician.
ETA: Amazon is pretty savvy about what you add and if it’s not baby related, it doesn’t count towards your total. You can still add it so people can buy it (so like you want a certain decor for the nursery and you put it on their, that may not count, but something like a diaper genie will)
boss is a childless, American man. My team is all American, but I fall under the Canadian labour law. Our parental leave is drastically different than the US and I’m afraid he’s going to be super angry and give me a really tough time about it. Any suggestions?