Most women have been led to believe that getting pregnant, and being pregnant, is going to be one huge nightmare—or, at the very least, not much fun. But the reality is: having a super healthy, super vibrant, soul-quenching pregnancy, birth and mama-hood is a totally attainable reality! With her new book, The Kind Mama: A Simple Guide to Supercharged Fertility, a Radiant Pregnancy, a Sweeter Birth, and a Healthier, More Beautiful Beginning
(Rodale Books: April 15, 2014; ISBN: 978-1623360405; $23.99; 368 pages), Alicia Silverstone, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kind Diet and GGA friend, has created a comprehensive and practical guide that shows women how to take charge of their fertility, pregnancy, and first 6 months with baby—all while feeling amazing. Pregnancy and birth should be kind to Mama, baby, animals, and earth – and nobody knows this better than Alicia. Alicia is a walking example of how to delve into parenthood with a full heart and open arms.
Alicia told us;
“I wanted to provide women with a book that was full of valuable information that would help them get pregnant, have an ailment-free pregnancy—free of the conditions we assume are unavoidable (everything from hemorrhoids and swollen ankles to diabetes)—know their birth options, empower them to make choices that are best for them, and help guide them so that they can have the most healthy little baby. And I wanted it all in one, accessible place. That’s what The Kind Mama, is all about!”
Drawing on her experience, as well as that of top obstetricians, midwives, nutritionists, holistic health counselors, and others, Alicia takes readers through every stage of pregnancy—answering questions, offering solutions and providing tons of yummy, nourishing recipes along the way. Alicia shares the choices she made and the choices that many women around the world are making so that readers can find the path that feels best for them. “It’s the book I wish I had read when I was pregnant with my little man,” she says.
Starting with morning sickness!
Here Alicia shares her morning sickness survival strategy with GirlieGirl Army readers!
Luckily, morning sickness–or let’s just be honest and call it all-day sickness–often disappears by your third month, though if you’re like me, it can extend well into your sixth. But as much as I hated feeling crummy, I embraced my morning sickness. I liked to think that it was reassuring, like my body was telling me that everything was working exactly as it should. Or maybe it’s humbling preparation for becoming a mother–a reminder that life is hard but also beautiful. And while we are powerful, there are larger forces at play in this universe.
Remember that one day you’ll be able to eat all your favorite kind foods again. But in the meantime, here are some things you can try to get a little comfort. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so keep experimenting until you find something that works. If you’re not feeling the urge to eat, don’t force it, though getting something in your stomach could make you feel better.
However, this is not the time to let yourself go. Giving in to an Oreo craving isn’t going to help you feel good, it’s not going to help you create a healthy baby, and it’s not going to help you give birth. I’m not saying you can’t make yourself feel a little better with some comforting yumminess, but make those treats as kind as possible. And if you fall off the wagon, don’t beat yourself up. Just get right back on again. Here are a few things to help you through those first months:
Ginger tea: Ginger is a natural digestive aid and can soothe the stomach. Grate 2 teaspoons of peeled fresh ginger and add 1 cup of boiling water. Let the tea steep for 10 minutes before you drink it. It’s nice plain, but if you want to sweeten it, add a few drops of stevia, brown rice syrup, or maple syrup.
Peppermint tea: Calming for the tummy and digestive system.
Sweet Vegetable Drink: This macrobiotic remedy settles nausea and combats cravings for sweets. See the recipe on page 296.
B-complex vitamins: Medical studies have shown that taking 25 milligrams of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) every 8 hours for 3 days can bring significant relief from morning sickness.6 You could try incorporating more of the foods that are rich in this vitamin, like molasses, brown rice, wheat germ, bran, corn, or yellow bell peppers. A small spoonful of molasses stirred into your oatmeal in the morning is a tasty way to get B vitamins and iron, so you’re already ahead of the game!
Soft-cooked rice or oatmeal: Some women find that porridge is calming for the stomach.
Mochi: Made out of pounded sweet rice–a fattier cousin of brown rice–this yummy, chewy treat puffs up like a waffle and can be fortifying while settling the stomach.
Umeboshi plums: Sucking on the pit of one of these sour pickles helps quell nausea and restores the appetite.
Gentle movement: Activity can ease morning sickness.7 Be tender and patient with yourself, but try greeting each day with your usual chores and rituals instead of giving in to the nausea. Walks in the fresh air can also help.
Meditation: Morning sickness is more common in women under a lot of stress, which I can vouch for firsthand. Fifteen-hour days, shooting nights, and a baby? Hello, stress! I know it’s hard sometimes, but try to take a little time to unplug–even if it’s 15 seconds of deep belly breathing. See page 79 for more ways to Zen out.
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Alicia Silverstone is the bestselling author of The Kind Diet and founder of TheKindLife.com. Best known for her generation-defining turn in Clueless, she continues to work steadily in film, television, and theater. A dynamic and well-connected fixture in the acting, political, and scientific communities, she is a dedicated activist on behalf of humans, our planet and animals. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their son, Bear Blu.
Alicia Silverstone’s Morning Sickness Survival Strategies