A Pregnant Nutritionist's Secrets for Stamina (even if you're not pregnant!)

At Replenish, we’re always finding ways to “hangout” together. Since we’re a virtual organization, we’ve had to structure some creative venues for “water cooler” conversations.

Today, I’d like to let you in on some of those behind the scenes chats! We laugh, we celebrate and we do, admittedly, get a little nerdy ~ sharing our client successes, our experimentations with different forms of magnesium, and, always, our recipes.

This week I wanted to pull back the curtain and share a conversation I had last year at about this time with one of my advisor nutritionists and go-to herbal consultants, Megan Liebmann. At the time, Megan was about to have her second baby boy!

Megan had been on the Replenish team longer than anybody else, to date. You’ll likely get a kick out of our ease and rapport with each other, but more than that, you’ll devour the information she shares including:

▪ supplements to support you during pregnancy and beyond (magnesium, vitamin C, probiotics. . . don’t leave home without them!)

▪ making food now and doubling it to put in the freezer for after the baby arrives

▪ concocting an herbal sitz bath for after labor and delivery

▪ and how to enlist friends and family to help you prepare food even if you have dietary restrictions

You’ll also hear Megan and I speak about how pregnancy can be a trigger for autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s.

So even if you’re not planning on having a baby any time soon, or those days are long gone (yes, that’s me!!), you’ll want to tune in and think back to signs and symptoms you may have experienced after your own pregnancy or other major hormonal shifts in your life.

Triggers are something we discussed quite a bit during the Butterfly Effect Workshop (if you missed it live, you can still register to watch the replay).

And we’ll most certainly continue the conversation during the life classes for Girl’s Guide to Hashimoto’s. (that’s right, we start this week so if you’ve been considering enrolling, now is indeed the time!)

LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION WITH MEGAN NOW!

As Megan was preparing for labor and the birth of her baby, she was testing and tweaking her favorite herbal recipes. I asked her to give us a sneak peak into her kitchen and share some of her creations with me (and you!).
Not going into labor anytime soon?
(I know I’m not!)

These are still powerful tonics to explore, to support your overall health, especially for sustained yet even energy, and a sore bum (owie ~ let’s face it. . . it’s not just pregnant ladies who suffer hemorrhoids).

I love to be playful with herbs ~ and Megan’s always an inspiration for me to do so.

I especially want to invite you to check out the last recipe on the list, the gummy recipe. It’s great for supporting digestive health and giving you that stamina you need through the day. Think of it as jello with (nutritional) benefits!
MEGAN’S LABOR-OF-LOVE, LOVE-YOUR-LABOR RECIPES
Labor Elixer:
ingredients

1 teaspoon red raspberry leaf

1 teaspoon nettles

1 teaspoon yarrow

1 cup fresh coconut water

1-2 Tablespoon grade B maple syrup

pinch of sea salt
instructions

Place dry herbs in a glass mason jar. Pour hot water over top of the herbs. Steep tea for ten minutes for a good strong brew. Combine strained tea, coconut water and maple syrup in large mason jar and sip during labor (or endurance activity of your choice).

Note: You can also allow the elixir to cool and pour it into ice cube tray to make frozen cubes. Suck on the cubes to keep you cool and steady during labor.
Post Partum Sitz Bath:
ingredients

1/4 cup comfrey leaf

1/2 cup lavender flowers

1/2 cup plantain leaf

1 Tablespoon peppermint leaves

1/4 cup yarrow flower

1/2 cup calendula flowers

1/4 cup Epsom salts
instructions

Stir all the herbs together with the Epsom salts and keep in glass mason jar.
how to use

For bath: Add 1 cup of herbs to 2 quarts boiling water. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 20 minutes. This can be used for both mama and baby as this blend will help speed the the cord healing for your baby.

For peri bottle: Use the same instructions as above and add to a peri bottle. Spray perineum after each time you use the bathroom.

Ice packs: Pre soak pads or washcloths in herbal mixture (same as above) and freeze. This is one of the best healing ice packs for post birth perineal pain!
Labor Longevity Gummy Recipe:
ingredients

3/4 cup water

1 cup blueberries

5 Tablespoons grass fed gelatin

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 Tablespoons grade B maple syrup or 1 Tablespoon of raw honey
instructions

Add the water and blueberries to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the blueberry blend into a saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin slowly over the surface of the water and allow it to dissolve (or “bloom”). Set aside.

Add the lemon juice to the saucepan with the bloomed gelatin. Gently warm the saucepan and stir until all the gelatin has dissolved and there are no lumps or clumps. Do not overheat. Add the maple syrup and mix until incorporated.

Pour the gelatin mixture into small molds or into a baking dish. Refrigerate for at least two hours or until set. Remove them from the mold or cut the larger tray into pieces and serve!

I’M READY TO LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION WITH MEGAN NOW!

And don’t forget, the first live class for Girl’s Guide to Hashimoto’s is tonight. The conversations have already started on the Message Board and the community is taking shape, we’re just waiting on one thing (hint: you!)

To your health and sustained energy, happy belly and happy bum.

Warmly,


P.S. If the eight-week Girl’s Guide to Hashimoto’s is calling your name, you’ll want to register today so you don’t miss the first class. (Registration closes for good this Sunday at midnight).

Come take a sneak peak inside the program here

By: Andrea Nakayama, FxNA Founder & Functional Medicine Nutritionist

Functional Nutrition Alliance provides the comprehensive online Functional Nutrition training in the Science & Art of the Functional Nutrition practice. Learn to address the roots of your clients’ suffering with client education, diet & lifestyle modifications.