Natural pregnancy week by week

Hello you all!

How are you? I know I promised you some updates on the 'breaking news'!
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/07/breaking-newshun-i-got-some-news-for.html


So I had my first prenatal doctor's visit.
Took me half a hour to fill up some paperwork, thank God I went early!
My appointment was for 9:00 am and I was at the office by 8:30! It took so much time to answer all the health history questions etc...

                                                                  The lab works

So I did the usual urine test, (right on time...)
Weight in: 5 lbs gain!
Blood pressure test, my BP was perfect!
Did the blood work, (She took like 5-6 tubes )
Got the physical and went ahead and got a Pap smear done,  heard the baby's heartbeat yeaah..(it sounds like a galloping horse)!

The urine test came first
I then waited a few minutes to get them to weight me and take my BP.

                                         Prenatal visit and a woman's right to pretty shoes...

When I first got called the first thing the nurse asked was how to pronounce my name, the second thing she said was " I love your shoes"! I thanked her and told her that I have 3 pairs of these shoes! ( I know it's crazy but I just love them.) She explained to me about the urine test and then left. I waited a few minutes before moving on to the rest of the tests that my visit entitled!
When a different nurse called me to take my weight,her first comment was about my shoes, the nurse taking my Blood Pressure asked where I was from and she kept checking out my shoes and complimented them, then a third nurse stepped in and noticed my shoes right away and complimented them and commented that they match well my dress and even my nail polish!

We don't expect a fashion revue when at a doctor's office but I must tell you it felt good to get these compliments! When you are starting to feel frustrated, challenged and limited with your wardrobe comments like those help a whole lot! Like I told them I have three pairs of those shoes, because, as one of them assumed, they are very comfortable in addition to being very pretty! I love pretty things and I love comfort! I am not the type of girl you will catch in pretty shoes that cause a lot of pain!
(I will add a picture of the shoes later on! I am writing in a rush!)

Picture update

Prenatal doctor's visit!

After my time with these fashion critics/nurses I waited in a private room (pictured above)...I waited like 15-20 mns before I was seen by the midwife. Thank God I had my crosswords puzzles book with me or I would have lost patience like a fly trapped in a small space. I never go anywhere without a book in my purse and my puzzles book have kept me sane at many occasions when my patience was running low!

                                                              Pregnancy and exercises

The midwife came in. The first thing we did was go over my paperwork. She had some questions naturally! She was curious about the fact that I do work out more than 3 times per week. (The paperwork does require to specify how often you work out).
She asked me what kind of exercises I do and I explained that I normally run on the treadmill but haven't done it in the past 3 weeks. I still walk one hour most days, I stretch daily for at least 20 minutes. I did not care to tell her that I do squats and lunges every other days.
 She asked if I plan on working out as the pregnancy progresses, my answer " Of course! Exercising and staying healthy is more important now" I said! I went on to say that I am very much aware that it's thanks to exercising that I have had some healthy pregnancies in the past and some prompt recoveries!
She was also interested in the kind of supplements I take, (the paperwork inquires about medication, supplements etc) I am not under medication, haven't been since the pain killers of my last C-section!
                                                   
                                                               Details about my supplements
The midwife was curious about my supplements and I explained that they do include the prenatal vitamins I started taking recently and they also include the following:  B12, Folic Acid, Fish oil, and Magnesium. I have been taking all these supplements daily or weekly for months now and I continue to take them in spite of the fact that some of them (B12 and Folic Acid) are present in the prenatal vitamins that I now take.
Magnesium keeps you regular and believe me I am seriously sticking to it because pregnancy causes constipation and constipation is BAD if you plan on being very healthy! The midwife seemed surprised that I knew the benefits of magnesium as a supplement to prevent constipation.
 B12 is already present in the prenatal vitamin but I still take that supplement because B12 is the 'energy vitamin' and I need energy now more than ever!  Please check the following article for more info about the importance pf vitamin B12
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/02/little-introduction-to-benefits-of.html

 Folic Acid is the most important vitamin during pregnancy, as a matter of fact it's very important even before pregancy!

After the questions and answers session and sharing some general info, I got a physical and I got to hear the sound of the baby...Aw www so sweet!
I told my midwife that my hubby and children would love to listen to it so after I got dressed a nurse gathered them from the lobby and we crammed that small room while I laid once again for a sonogram! It was great to share this with all my children but the best was saved for last!

                                                       Ultrasound and more shoes talks
I got my blood work done while waiting on the ultrasound to determine how far along I am in my pregnancy! I was so glad to get the ultrasound done because they were not sure that they could fit me in in the schedule since they were only working half day today! I said a little prayer on the subject that God graciously answered!
After getting all of us set up in the ultrasound room, I was about to lean back on the bed when the lady doing my ultrasound said " Oh you are the lady with the pretty shoes!" It caught me off guard...

Picture update

Here are my favorite shoes!

I was surprised that words have gotten around about my shoes. My hubby made a comment on the way home that only us women would do things like that, check people from head to toes and talk about them "and their shoes" (lol).

                                                              Special moments
Having my children watch the ultrasound was a special moment! They had tons of questions, made their smart comments about their little sibling in my tummy and found that it was the best part of the visit! I agree with them! I feel so grateful for this blessing! It's so amazing to be able to see a baby at such an early stage and it's awesome to be 'chosen' to carry a new life! I have always respected the gift of 'fertility' because I am so aware of others 'misfortunes and I spend so much time praying in secret for others less fortunate, to experience that gift!

                                                             Still guessing how far along I am
So... we had the ultrasound and my hubby was surprised to be wrong in his estimate!
He thought I was just 8 weeks. I have been telling him how many weeks I thought I was, but he acted like he knows my body better than me, (making a face).
 It turns out that my prediction were pretty close, the ultrasound revealed that I am actually at...umm let's make you wait...

       I will give you some hints

• in 2 more weeks I should be able to feel the baby move,
•  in 7 weeks we will know the sex of the baby

      So how many weeks am I?

Picture update:  me after my prenatal visit

Got to rush out of here, will be back with pictures and will update this post sometimes tonight or tomorrow! Have a great week-end and thanks to you all for your love!

To any expecting woman reading this, I wish you too a Happy Pregnancy!
Okay got to go, hubby is ruuushing me!
~Hugs~

N'na

How to knock out a cold the natural way!

Hello!!!
How are you doing? I hope all is well with you, I appreciate you stopping by!
I am currently working on the article I promised you all last week, my interview with my Natural friend Africa Brown, but something came up...
There's a nasty cold trying to knock here and I won't be having it!
I am knocking out this cold the N'natural way!! Cute hein?!N'na my name, the natural way...I might stick to this ..N'natural! N'natural way!!!Hum! Pretty good!!!

Ok let's get down to business (smiles)!
 I was working on the article that I am concocting for April 1st and I have a lot of  work to do because Africa and I are sharing a lot of stuffs, adding plenty of pictures and I suggest you get ready to just hangout on the blog! Pick some time over the week-end, make yourself comfortable and come hangout with Africa and N'na because if you like Natural hair you might have some fun here!

Initially,I was not planning on writing today but dealing with a cold I felt like it might benefits others to know how I knock out a cold! (Little disclaimer here this is by no mean supposed to replace medical advice, I am just sharing what works for me)

Even though I normally drink some healthy homemade fruit smoothies or freshly made carrot blends, today I needed to step up my game. Here is what I did this morning.

Here is my good health lab and work station loaded with the ingredients to my N'natural cold remedy!

My N'natural ingredients:
                        3 Lemons and 1 orange
                        2 Carrots
                        Parsley grown from my container garden on my deck
                        Fresh Garlic I just use 1 clove
                        1/2tablespoon of Apple cider vinegar
                        Frozen bananas I used just 2 pieces
                        Frozen apples and blueberries
                        Flaxseed
                        Honey
                        Oregano,
                        Fennel
                        Turmeric

1st Step

I juiced my citrus fruits because I am not using any water or other liquid. I am juicing 3 lemons and 1 orange. The virtue of citrus fruits especially lemon is common knowledge right?! Full of Vitamin C, anti-bacterial,  etc. But did you know that lemon juice can relieve fevers and reduce the body temperature? We will get back to lemon another time!

Step 2

I am chopping my carrots, 1 clove of garlic and some fresh parsley from my container garden on my deck.
Why carrots?  Carrots have vitamins C, B, E,D ( said in a singing voice) and K in addition to beta-carotene, and magnesium, potassium and lot of other good stuffs!
 I mean carrot juice is said to be so good for your health it will take another day to dig into all that!  I frequently blend some fresh carrot juice but I think today I needed more for my skin in addition to all the other things carrot juice can offer me! I mean, when you are not feeling the best it kind of shows on your skin doesn't it?! I thought so! So I need my skin looking good too! I want good health from the inside out!


Why garlic? Garlic has long had the reputation for preventing and healing colds because it helps maintains healthy blood circulation, it strengthens the immune system, strengthens the body's defense, when chopped chewed or bruised it releases allicin. Allicin is a sulfur compound that's a very strong antibiotic and potent agent that helps the body inhibits the ability of germs to grow and reproduce. Did you know that it's actually said that 1milligram of allicin has a potency of 15 standard units of penicillin?!
So you see, that's good natural stuff!!! Isn't it?!

Why parsley? Commonly used for garnish most people do not even realize that parsley has very important health properties. It's high in Vitamin C & A. I will take time soon to share more about parsley because I believe that it's health benefits are underestimated!

I am adding just 2 pieces of frozen bananas for sweetness considering that bananas are one of the sweetest fruit you could eat!  Bananas are great for your health and are kind of a super food because they have two times as many carbohydrates as an apple, five times as much Vitamin A and iron and three times as much phosphorus. In addition to that they are rich in potassium and natural sugars! That's why beside a little bit of honey there is no need to add any sugar to my blends when I put some bananas in! So I sometimes use bananas to sweeten my blends but I never use the whole banana because bananas are high in calories and I am on the path to slimming down remember? So I need to stay on tract no matter what I blend...

In addition to frozen bananas, I added some frozen apples to add sweetness and more good properties to my drink and I added some frozen blueberries as well. I did not use the strawberries.
Why blueberries? Among their many amazing health benefits blueberries are also an anti-depressant!  Did you know that?! Well anti-depressant is good because  on rainy days when you are not feeling the best you need to keep depression away, far away... (ha ha ha)! Blueberries are also great for the immune system which is perfect to prevent or fight a cold or a fever! Blueberries are full of antioxidants and contain many vitamins including Vitamin C, E, A and B complex. They also contain copper, selenium, iron and more other natural goodies!
I like to keep some frozen fruits in my freezer so that when needed I only take what I need and put the rest back in the freezer!

Step3: Ready to blend! I started with the Chop setting....

I added some 1/2 tablespoon of Flaxseed, some Apple Cide Vinegar and the following herbs for their healing properties:

Why Fennel?Fennel is useful in respiratory disorders such as congestion, bronchitis, cough, etc due to the presence of  Cineol and anetol which are expectorant in nature, among their many virtues! Among its other benefits fennel is a diuretic, incurring amount and frequency of urination thereby helping the removal of toxic substance from the body. It also helps relax the body, which I think is good for someone  not feeling well and it sharpens memory, another property of this natural ingredient I appreciate since I need my memory to get my work done!

Why Oregano? Oregano has strong antibacterial properties, one ounce of oregano is thought to be of the most antioxidant dense of all food! It has 42 times the antioxidants of apple. Amazing isn't it?!

I actually planted some fresh oregano on my deck a couple of weeks ago, but I used the powder version because I did not even remember until now that I have some fresh one available!

Why turmeric? Turmeric helps with inflammation and relieves headaches which are something I want to prevent , for more on turmeric check my article on the Benefits of turmeric it's loaded with information that might greatly surprise you and very few people are familiar with turmeric  http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/benefits-of-turmeric.html

To finish it up, I set the blender on Smoothie after I added some of my daily supplements. Fish oil that I started taking recently and Vitamin B12 that I have been taking for about a month now. This drink will be my breakfast! I added 1/2 tbsp of honey not just for sweetness but for the healing benefits of honey against colds.

My results after blending! I did not add any water or any liquid beside the citrus juice I made...

At last: Ready to savour by topping it with some Fresh Mint from the garden!

I said savour and some of you might think that this blend is not delicious just because it has so many vegetables and herbs! You would be surprised! It has a tangy taste because of the citrus juice but it is naturally sweet too! Remember that the bananas, the apples and the honey added some natural sweetness to this blend so no need for sugar. Due to the fact that the bananas, apples and blueberries were frozen it added some good texture to the drink! With all the fibers from the carrots this truly is not a drink that you can swallow within seconds like some apple juice ! So I made time to enjoy drinking it!

Below is what my carrot blends normally look like, so as I said earlier, today I had to step up my game!

Now, last thing here: It's one thing to blend all that and wait on the properties to kick in and heal me from the inside but my mind has to go with the flow too! Can't have healing half way, it got to be the whole package! So one thing I always do it to take care of my appearance and my surroundings especially if I am not feeling the best! Chaos frustrates me so that can't help me feel good, right?! On days I might not feel the best, I think that the way I dress and carry myself play a role too in my quick recovery. I think that if people act and constantly talk sick they will feel sick longer. I truly believe that Good health is also a mental thing!

So as I act and talk health I get to feel healthier and become healthier! So even though I was not feeling the best when I first got out of bed this morning, I still showered, got dressed as if I was 'going somewhere', that's a diva thing you know ha ha ha, got my hair done in an updo and got rolling with my day!

I didn't have the zeal to be running a bunch of errands today but at least I am feeling and looking  better than someone who probably could have spent all day in bed! I am still being productive from the comfort of my Mom cave!(see below)

Now, I might not look radiant at this point but I don't look like someone who should be laying in bed! Right?! Ha! Ha! That's the good-health-diva for you!

Sometimes this morning in my mom cave working on my laptop, with my cold remedy drink by my side!

A glance at my cave, the right place to find refuge on days like today ( rainy  and grey day when my body and mind need  both a boost and some rest.....)

It's exactly 5:42pm now and since drinking this drink hours ago I have been feeling pretty well , not exhuberant but relatively well!  All the fiber in the drink has also kept my appetite into check! Yes the diuretic properties in the drink have worked their virtues so did all the vitamin C that got in my system the Natural way! I meant the N'natural way! (lol)

This being said, I hope that in sharing all that you did learn something new! Did you learn something new?  Were you aware of the healing properties of all those ingredients? Which one were you very surprised to read about? How do you normaly prevent and/or fight a cold?

N'na

Why eat salmon?! A little introduction to the benefits of Salmon and roles of some vitamins

1. 

Salmon is one of the most nutritious and delicious food on the planet and it seems that some people who don't even like fish would admit to liking Salmon. It's available fresh, frozen, smoked or canned. It's loaded with beneficial properties as it  has lots of vitamin D,selenium, B vitamins like Niacin,  vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, as well as the prized Omega-3 fats.
Well you just read that and might still asked yourself: " Well, so?!!! What's the big deal if I don't eat salmon?! "  Well I think that sometimes when we know that things are good for us, we might not eat them because we don't fully realize what exactly they do for us. So I wanted to explain a few of  the benefits of some of those vitamins and minerals that are available in salmon so that when you hear about those vitamins/minerals available in salmon or in other food you might ( I hope) be more motivated to add them to your diet.

Selenium plays an important role in the prevention of generative disease such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, infections and aging.
Vitamin D's major role is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Recently, research also suggests vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases.
 Magnesium's benefits are many and include solving or preventing osteoporosis, heart attacks, hypertension, constipation, migraines, leg cramps, kidney stones, gallstones and more. I have heard before that if someone wanted to never be constipated again they should add some magnesium to their diet!


Delectable grilled salmon sandwich with guacamole and much flavors that make you go crazy and...ease stress...lol

     Nota Bene: Just for the record , I did not eat those chips !!! That was my hubby's tray and I had water with my order! The proof is on a picture below! ha ha! My order that day came with a corn chowder soup! Vitamins B or not you will be greatly happy after eating that sandwich. Went with friends last Sunday, I ordered the same sandwich and a salad this time and the friend who took on my recommandations to try the sandwich was all "Hummm this is gooood Hmmmm.." in a delighted Cuban accent! He was so happy!!!!

B Vitamins are mood boosting vitamins and can ease stress, treat anxiety and depression, aid memory, relieve PMS and reduce heart disease risk.

Niacin is actually vitamin B3. It greatly helps with the reducing and controlling high cholesterol levels  and is also known to benefits our bodies in maintaining a healthy skin condition and good blood circulation.  Niacin helps in maintaining good brain function, it boots memory power and it also can aid the digestive tract to absorb sufficient carbohydrates,fats and proteins.

Vitamin B6 also known as pyridoxine, helps brain function and helps the body convert protein to energy. It works with Folic acid and vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 is often called the "energy vitamin" of the Bvitamins as some athletes or people with low energy often talk of needing a B12 injection.  Apparently clinicians use B12 injections to assist people  with low energy level and to support their nervous system.  B12 injections is more common among people suffering from pernicious anemia as their body can't absorb it from dairy products or other foods.
Please watch the video:

B12  might also be important in the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. B12 can even be associated with weight loss due the fact that it increases our energy and metabolism when consumed daily.The vitamin B12 is actually called cyanocobalamin or just cobalamin because it contains the metal ion cobalt. B12 can help keep your mind, heart and nerves healthy! Your body needs this vitamin to make blood cells and maintain a healthy nervous system. B12 also helps with the synthesis of both fatty and amino acids.

Well, this is just a little introduction. Vitamins and minerals both work so mysteriously in term of their beautiful role and efficiency in our bodies and salmon is "loaded". I think that in knowing some of the major benefits of those vitamins and minerals it become more clear as to why/how eating some salmon (preferably wild salmon) at least twice a week could be so important to our health.

Delicious grilled salmon sandwich, a bowl of soup and a bottle of water! You can eat healthy and still be happy!(lol)

I don't know if it's the B vitamins in the salmon that boost my mood but I am always happy eating that sandwich! The truth is I love good food so just smelling a dish and thinking of the flavors will boost my mood!

You might have noticed that I did not mention the benefits of Omega-3! That's because I plan on talking more about them in one of my upcoming post next week!So make sure you come back!

In the meantime I am curious to learn a few things from you: Do you take any of those vitamins/minerals above as supplements? Do you suffer from any condition due to the deficiency of those vitamins? Do you have a diet/lifestyle that offer many of those vitamins and minerals? What's your preferred source of Bvitamins, vitamin D and magnesium?


N'na

2 creative uses for ripe bananas: facial mask or frozen for smoothies.

If you are like me you probably have one or two bananas on your kitchen counter that you don't feel like eating but that will spoil unless you do something with them. Instead of discarding them, there is a simple way to put your ripe bananas to good use.
Bananas are a nourishing and moisturizing fruit that can be used in face as well as hand masks because it's gentle, and exfoliating . Bananas contain magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, B6, B12 and A. They are rich in dietary fiber, low in Sodium.
There are two things I like to do with my ripe bananas. One is for beauty in your home spa , the other one for nutrition.


Beauty use for ripe bananas:  Make a facial mask
To prepare the mask smash 1/2 banana, mix with a 1 tablespoon of honey and 1-2 tablespoon of sour cream. The mask can also be done with natural yogurt instead of sour cream or just banana and honey.  Apply on your face avoiding your eyes areas. Leave on  for 10-20 minutes and then rinse gently with cold water. Considering that its also a delicious mask should you swallow some of it you should relax knowing that its chemical free. (smiles)
This mask is great for all skin types especially normal and dry skin.

Nutritious use for ripe bananas: Freeze them to use in homemade smoothies.
For those bananas that you can't get to finish, if they  are still good cut them up and freeze them so that you can use them up for homemade smoothies.Natural yogurt, frozen bananas ans strawberries make a delicious smoothie for a breakfast on the go or for a nutritious meal replacement. I often add coconut milk or almond milk to my smoothies with  or without the yogurt . You can also use unfrozen bananas it's just that adding frozen fruits replace the need for crushed ice. I often add blueberries to my smoothies and a few spices and herbs like cinnamon, fennel and even flaxseed.
Keep in mind that bananas are already high in sugar so when making a smoothie with them do not use more than one banana,  and avoid adding any sweetener to your smoothie. Adding cinnamon to your smoothie is a great way to regulate the sugar level.

If you have any healthy suggestions for ripe bananas feel free to share. Do you have any smoothie recipes that you would like to share? There are many smoothies ideas in our Facebook albums.

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