Pregnancy Cravings

More than just for fun, sometimes cravings are actually your body crying out for nutrients you are lacking, according to Dr. Andrei Rebarber M.D.   Most craving fall into the following categories - sweet, salty, spicy or occasionally, sour.  Only 10% of women actually crave fruits and veggies, which means your doctor may show concern over some of your cravings.  The worst part of the cravings is that you may actually fill up on unhealthy foods and snacks and leave little or no room for nutritious foods.  Weight is also a factor, since the average desired weight gain is 25-35 lbs. Too much unhealthy or fatty food can cause abnormal weight gain, which can create health problems for mom and baby.  Too much weight gain can also lead a mom into gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia, which can be damaging to babies and even mom.  Rarely, some women find themselves with abnormal cravings, like dirt or cement.  Indulging those cravings can cause neurologic damage and even a drop in IQ. Be sure to cover your cravings during your doctor/practitioner visits, so that they can help you find some alternative ways to satisfy them. 

During my pregnancy with Zara the following are cravings I had:  Peaches in February, which are not easy to find, but Dr. Ho did!  Whiskey Chicken Burger from Red Robin’s and Licorice and cucumber salad. 

Activities you can do while pregnant

Running: we recommend only running until you are 25 weeks
Rock climbing  (not bouldering): you must wear a pregnancy specific harness called the Mountain Mama see link for ordering:  http://www.mountain-mama.com/products/the-mountain-mama-by-mad-rock#.Vh2CvstX5_w
Swimming: this is a good option during your entire pregnancy. Even if you just float or do water walking, it will help with swelling.
Yoga: select a prenatal yoga class if you are less experienced, but more experienced yogi’s can stay in regular classes since they are aware of body position practices.
Spin class: only if you have been biking prior to pregnancy . For some women who have anterior pelvic pain, this is not a good choice for them.
Pilates:  Try the Reformer Classes instead of the mat or floor classes
Hiking:  Set your own pace and make sure your breathing rhythm is even and not breathless (remember you are breathing for you and baby).
Body Sculpting classes: these classes prepare your body for labor and all the endurance of that event and pushing, but it may not be advised to start too late in pregnancy as you may have to much relaxation in your body.


With Zara, I ran 5 miles till I was 25 weeks along, then swiftly walked and also did yoga and power sculpting.  With my current baby, I am running 2-3 miles,  3 times a week and I do rock climbing and at home squats, step-ups and calf raises and lunges.

Review of Pregnancy Apps

My View of Pregnancy Phone Applications:

1. What to Expect App:
*Love About it:  The video’s and the healthy tips are great.
*Least Favorite:  This is an application that costs to update to the full version and it can be overwhelming that they do a running check list of all the things you can possibly do.

2. Sprout:
*Love About it:  The graphics are great and it was rated by Time magazine as the best pregnancy application.  I believe that this is due to the fetal development pictures and I did love this.
*Least Favorite:  Cost is expensive but it does seem to have better graphics.

3. WebMD Pregnancy:
*Love about it:  It was super geeked out with things mom can track from appointments, to work-outs and what they need to get ready on a weekly basis.
*Least Favorite:  The information provided was lacking and it was also a little heavy in pushing medical procedures that may not be necessary for mom’s depending on their age and condition.

4. Pregnancy +:
*Loved about it:  It had nice pictures and easy to use icon’s.
*Least Favorite:  It had limited and kind of boring information for mom’s to be overall and I felt like a new mom needs a little more excitement as she is excited about her new child’s birth.

5. My Pregnancy:
*Loved about it:  It was in the form of a check-list and I am a busy mom that likes check-lists and organization.
*Least Favorite:  The layout was not done by week but day by dad and I found it visually very busy and a little confusing.  Also for me a little too much parenting advice and it all centered around buying things for your baby.

6. Baby Bump Pregnancy Pro:
*Love About it: The baby image size and they give basic information about each week and what to expect.  They also give fun tips for dad.  This is my favorite for its simplicity and ability to not over suggest medical procedures.  I followed it for my first pregnancy and with the 2nd pregnancy I am still enjoying the application.
*Not my Favorite:  The emphasis on sharing with a larger community and some of the shopping features.  I think that you are bombarded enough with the urge to purchase un-necessary items.