Fertility Prep and Optimizing Pregnancy

Pregnancy doesn’t have to be hard. With a natural, healthy approach, you can successfully prepare and optimize your fertility, your pregnancy and your postpartum period. In this episode, Katie sits down clinical nutritionist Christa Orecchio to discuss how to make pregnancy easier, healthier and happier.

Christa is the founder of TheWholeJourney.com and Gut Thrive in Five, a digestive and immune healing program that has helped thousands to deal with their gut and digestive issues. Christa also hosts a nationally syndicated TV show about health and is the author of the book, Conceive Naturally and Have a Healthy Pregnancy After 30. Christa has helped thousands of patients to use food as medicine and to determine the root cause of their issues by addressing the whole person: body, mind and spirit. 

What’s the Five Trimester Approach to Pregnancy?
Most people think of pregnancy as 3 trimesters. Some midwives will talk about 4 trimesters. But Christa has a 5 trimester approach to natural conception and pregnancy. So what are these additional trimesters?

1. Preconception: This is a very important 3 month period before conception. It’s a critical time for women—and men—to simultaneously cleanse and nourish their bodies in preparation for pregnancy.
2. Postpartum: This is the 3 months after pregnancy when it is important for your body rebalance its hormones (this is why consuming your placenta is so effective).

Nutrition Before, During & After Pregnancy
Christa recommends a preconception plan for both men and women to adjust their diet and supplements to optimize the process. In this stage, both parties should scale back on things like alcohol, caffeine, sugar, gluten and pasteurized dairy. Supplementation should include maca (black for dad and yellow for mom).

Preconception plan should include:
• Scale back on things like alcohol, caffeine, sugar, gluten and pasteurized dairy.
• Supplementation with maca (black for dad and yellow for mom), grass-fed beef liver, probiotics, vitamin D, bone broth and a high-quality multivitamin.
• If conception is difficult, get lab tests for food sensitivities,  thyroid antibodies and genetic mutation.

During pregnancy:
• Focus on getting plenty of protein in your diet in your 1st trimester
• Focus on folate-rich foods and kidney-supporting foods in 1st trimester
• High-quality salt and mineralized water.
• In 2nd trimester, focus on vitamin C, calcium and magnesium. 
• In the 3rd trimester focus on getting plenty of healthy fats in your diet

Postpartum
• Start supplementing with maca again to modulate estrogen levels
• Placenta encapsulation to avoid a drop in progesterone
• Get protein and healthy fat within 1 hour of waking

RESOURCES
• TheWholeJourney.com
• HowtoConceiveNaturally.com
• Christa’s book, How to Conceive Naturally: And Have a Healthy Pregnancy After 30
• GutThriveIn5.com
• Christa’s video series on gut health
• Food As Medicine eBook

Get Christa’s eBook!
If you struggle with infertility or gut health issues, Christa has offered a free copy of her Food as Medicine eBook that include 180 original recipes. To get this along with other bonuses, join our community with a free membership.

Stock up on Bone Broth
Part of Christa’s recommendations in this episode includes bone broth. And until May 30th, you can 5% off pre-made bone broth from The Brothery, Katie’s favorite source. Just go to http://wellnessmama.com/go/broth/ and use the code wellnessmama5.

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