No Ultrasound? Paleo/Weston Price Pregnancy?

[Dr.M]

I'm doing/planning a few things that aren't mainstream, and I wonder if anyone else is...

No Ultrasound
After doing a lot of research, I'm not convinced its a great idea.
(I know its really common, considered "safe" and there are a few benefits).
But I wonder if anyone else is going this route?

Paleo/Weston Price Diet
I've been eating this way for a year, and I've never felt better. No grains, lite on fruit TONS of Veggies, Grassfed/Pastured Meat/ low-mercury wild fish/ eggs.
Anyone else?


PS: While I know a lot of people like to share advice, I'm not looking for advice on why you think these are bad ideas. I've done medical journal research and I'm totally comfortable/confident in my choices. I'm seeking ALLIES or the CURIOUS.
Just curious

 

[MommyxThree]

Hi DrM!

I've never heard of the Paleo/Western Price diet before. Can you tell me a little bit more about it?

I'm not doing the no ultrasound theory, my mw doesn't normally give a lot of them unless we really ask. I had one so far just to date my pregnancy (I really wasn't sure when I last had my period) and she said that I don't need anymore unless I really wanted them since I'm sooo low risk. I will agree that it does seem some pregnancies and some doctors give a lot of scans. My friend is pregnant with twins and has easily had at least 8 so far and she's only in her 22nd week. I'm not sure if that's standard here over in the US or not though.

 

[Dr.M]

Hi DrM!

I've never heard of the Paleo/Western Price diet before. Can you tell me a little bit more about it?

I'm not doing the no ultrasound theory, my mw doesn't normally give a lot of them unless we really ask. I had one so far just to date my pregnancy (I really wasn't sure when I last had my period) and she said that I don't need anymore unless I really wanted them since I'm sooo low risk. I will agree that it does seem some pregnancies and some doctors give a lot of scans. My friend is pregnant with twins and has easily had at least 8 so far and she's only in her 22nd week. I'm not sure if that's standard here over in the US or not though.

Thanks for your feedback!

I'm in the US too (NY) and they def do too many. I'd get a scan if needed, for sure, on a mw rec - I'm just not sure they are always needed.

Here's a link to Weston Price: https://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/311-diet-for-pregnant-and-nursing-mothers.html

You can google Paleo - there's no perfect go-to place

I also like Nina Planck's Book " Real Food for Mother and Baby" and Nora Gedgaudas "Primal Body Primal Mind"

What are you doing in your pregnancy - love to learn new things

 

[prdlyexpectng]

Paleo diet-

I think the paleo diet is okay for someone who is not pregnant, but honestly the paleo diet involves eating too much meat. While of course meat is a great source of essential nutrients and protein, it also contains artificial growth hormones that were given to the livestock and that are NOT good for your baby. you really need to eat a balanced diet for your pregnancy. of course talk to your doctor/mw, but i really think that paleo is not the way to go when youre pregnant

 

[Dr.M]

Thanks for your concern. You'd be right if I ate somekind of garbage industrial food version of paleo (like maybe some people do). That's a bad idea pregnant or not!!!!! Certainly there wasn't that kind of shitty meat available in the neolithic period Or even in the 1920s

But I don't eat that kind of meat (I also don't eat a lot of it). I eat 100% organic grassfed meat, wild fish, game, etc. These meats have a fantastic nutritional profile and no junk.

Thanks for your concern, though.

 

[MommyxThree]

Are you anywhere near NYC? I haven't been up there since June and I'm dying to go back. Probably one of my favorite places ever!

I'm not doing anything in particular really. I don't normally eat very badly and I got a good metabolism from my biological father. Usually lots of fruits and veggies, throw in some chicken or fish, some grains. I don't drink a whole lot of milk, but I do eat yogurt and cheese and whatnot. I haven't had enough water today (I had off with the kids b/c of president's day), and I'm feeling a little off tonight now.

I do get cravings sometimes; I HAD to have a Cinnabon the other week from the mall. I was nearly in tears! Dang that first trimester craziness!

I'll def look up the link you sent through tomorrow while I'm at work. I can always use some advice on how to eat healthier!

 

[Nobody]

I havent heard of this, and I do find it interesting. Thanks for sharing. I'm going more organic and natural in my food choices, so I understand what's driving you.

Off to google.

 

[prdlyexpectng]

Dr. M- hmm well I suppose the Paleo diet doesn't sound bad in your case! Maybe if you just ate some sort of grain or starch once a week, like a potato or something natural like that? Congrats on your pregnancy

 

[Dr.M]

@mommux3 - I teach in NYC (well, Queens) and live in the 'burbs on long island. You're in PA?

This is my first one - its all a new adventure.
My only sign has been the eerie quiet lack of signs. Every month I TTC I had every "symptom" -- this time: nada.

You mentioned your MW. Did you use her (or him) before? Whats the care like>

Thanks!!!!

 

[MommyxThree]

Ahh long island...been nearly five years since I've been there!

I'm right outside of Allentown, PA. I'm about 2 hours or so from Manhattan and about an hour north of Philly - not that I ever get to either city!

This will be my second pregnancy with my midwife. First was with a group of OBGYNs. I adore my mw. Both her and her husband really! Truly makes you feel like a real person, not just a number like the OBGYNs did. My last birth was with her but in a hospital. Within the last year and a half or so, I believe all mw's have been banned from hospital births in our area. At the moment, I'm convinced to have a homebirth even just for the fact I want my mw with me, but hubby isn't sure at all about it yet.

What about you? Do you know what you want to look into yet?

 

[Dr.M]

Its too bad they banned mw at the hospitals - That's CRAZY? What was the logic on that? Homebirth sounds like a good option!

There are some hospital options for mw or tubs here , but none I'm really EXCITED about. I'd like to have a homebirth unless there's something kooky going on - have not debated with the husband yet. Since I live 1 mi from a hospital my mw is associated with, and since she's been a real leader for 30 years, I think it would be super low-risk.

Right now, I'm just praying for a sticky bean

 

[Ew68j5]

Hi, I just wanted to clarify for the sake of any ladies who were worried about ultrasounds in pregnancy. There are no "radio waves" in ultrasound, they are simply sound waves that are a frequency that we can't hear and are completely harmless. To avoid ultrasound would be like ensuring you live in silence for 9 months - not practical. There is a small body of evidence to suggest that overuse of ultrasound can increase the risk of adhesions (areas of bowel/bladder/uterus sticking together) but this has only been reported in cases where ultrasound is used very frequently, like daily.

I think your diet sounds pretty healthy and if you feel better on it go for it. Carbohydrate is very important for the energy your body needs to develop the baby but the other food groups are simply converted to carbohydrate products in the body anyway so your body will do what it needs.

Good luck.

 

[Dr.M]

Hi!

Thanks for your concern

Just to restate a point I made at the opening of this thread, I'm seeking allies and the curious. I know its not mainstream, but my ideas are researched over years and I really don't feel like "defending" them, but I am happy to "explain" them:

Paelo/ Carbs
I eat carbs (15 servings a day of vegetables) I don't eat grains.
However, there is no carbohydrate requirement for the human body. We would never have survived the ice age (no/little plant life) if there were. Pregnant women certainly had no problem reproducing that way. There would be no Inuit if you needed carbs to reproduce. Humans can alternate between fat- and sugar-burning systems. https://www.amazon.com/Primal-Body-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298382710&sr=1-1


ULTRASOUND
You are correct that ultrasound is not "exactly" a radiowave. Its high-frequency cyclic sound pressure. I know people use them - and I would if needed (suspected issue), but not for regular use. Its not safe enough for me.

A great introduction to the ways in which Ultrasounds may be less benign than we think: Sarah Buckley and Ina May Gaskin"s Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering has a whole chapter dedicated to the topic

https://www.amazon.com/dp/158761322...&adid=0WQAT8AB83CZYHTCA5Z0&#reader_1587613220

Here's a sample from the book.

 

[heather91]

I'm not hun, but tbh I wish I hadn't had an US at all now as I was told baby has a high NT reading which has made me sick with worry. x

 

[tryn42mel]

I think the paleo diet (done with grassfed beed/free ranging chickens) is a great idea during pregnancy. My husband and I were on the paleo diet for a while last year. I am definately going to do a lot of paleo this pregnancy, but I can't go completely paleo. It's a very restrictive diet. I have to have me some unhealthy carbs at least once a week lol. Good luck with it. I am for sure having the 2nd tri diagnostic scan though.

 

[Mama627]

After reading all of this, I had to throw in my own 2 cents. I am not "attacking" the original poster, I'm simply throwing in some additional information.

As another poster pointed out, ultrasounds aren't radio waves. Kudos on beating me to that. I believe Tom Cruise's kid came out OK and didn't he buy an ultrasound machine for home use? Talk about excessive exposure!

Finally, carbohydrates are important. I saw that the OP said she gets her carbohydrates from vegetables rather than grains, and that's a good thing because carbohydrates are essential. Realistically though, grains are far higher in carbohydrates than vegetables so you have to eat less of them to get what you need. Why do you need carbohydrates? Well, basically your body breaks them down into glucose, which is what you use to power important parts of your body -- like your brain and heart. If you don't have enough carbohydrates your body will break down muscle and tissue to make up the difference. When that happens, a toxin called Keytones are created. Keytones make your blood acidic, which is a condition known as Ketosis. Ketosis can be fatal, especially to pregnant women, unborn babies, and diabetics.

So although the posters diet is do-able for a pregnant woman, you have to be careful about it and I personally wouldn't do it without a doctors blessing. It's easier, and less risky in my opinion to just opt for healthier grain options, like whole grain pasta instead of the regular variety. However, if you're comfortable with this type of diet, there's no reason you shouldn't pursue it.

 

[grandbleu]

I agree with not overusing ultrasounds in general. I was only going to get a couple U/S (12 and 20 weeks) but since I have miscarried once I will probably get a couple more for my peace of mind and to make sure the baby is doing/growing fine. I didn't have an U/S for my first pregnancy and I was totally fine with that until I lost him at 12 weeks. It made me sad to not even have a photo of my wee one. But that is obviously a very personal issue.

As for diet - I'm a veggie! So it would be hard to eat the Paleo diet and stay alive LOL. But I do eat lots of whole grains, no processed foods, lots of veg and fruit in season and try to do organic with the more pesticide-laden ones.

I can't believe midwives are banned in US hospitals!? Really???

I think it's really interesting to not do everything by the "book" and do what you have found through research to be right and healthy for you and your baby.

 

[Mama627]

I can't believe midwives are banned in US hospitals!? Really???

Not really! My first doctor this pregnancy was a mid-wife. She delivers at a very large hospital. I switched to an OB though because my mid-wife's support team (aka her nurse) was a real b**** and I couldn't imagine not slapping that woman for another 7 months. I don't think the mid-wife is allowed to do a delivery without the OB she works under being in the building though since she's technically a nurse, not a doctor.

 

[irish_cob]

It's not keytones it's ketones, and they're not toxins, they're naturally occurring, and we'll all have ketones in our bodies at some level, and they're caused by the breakdown of fat, not muscle or lean tissue (although that might happen if you don't have enough fat to break down). But carbs can be sufficiently obtained from vegetables, you don't need to eat pasta or grains to get enough carbs. The whole "must have carbs" thing is very politically correct at the moment, but a lot of research is being done into this area and there are suggestions that the chronic levels of obesity in developed countries are actually being caused by carbs, not by fats. So I wouldn't get too high on your high-horse if I were you until the jury is finished deciding Certainly the original poster is right, at various times through human history humans have had very limited access to grains, fruits etc. And it's certainly true to say that this explosion in obesity has come about since everything became processed, and what is usually at the centre of processed foods? Carbs. Crisps, chips, popcorn, cakes, donuts, chocolate - all carbs.

I'm wondering how long you'll manage on your diet though. I hope you can stay on it if that is what you want to do. I think it will depend on how you find the 1st trimester. I usually eat very healthily, lots of fruit, snacks of yoghurt, nuts, that sort of thing. I'm veggie so I don't eat meat, but I used to eat tofu and quorn, and lots of veg in the evenings, with some rice and pasta in small portions. Since about 6 weeks pregnant I've really struggled with food. I can't bear the thought of fruit or veg, and I've been mainly living off All Bran (a very plain breakfast cereal), wholemeal toast and the occasional baked potato. I'm really food averse, everything is wrong, nothing appeals at all, and I know this isn't uncommon during pregnancy, so you may find that with all the best intentions in the world, you end up just eating whatever you can cope with, rather than what you'd planned to eat or what you would usually eat.

 

[grandbleu]

Thanks for explaining that to me. It's unfortunate that these nurses are specialists for delivering babies and aren't fully trusted in the hospital setting.