Give your Baby the Best Place to Grow

Hi there,

Your baby depends on you to provide a healthy place for them to grow. While your baby is in your womb, they get all their nourishment from you. But did you know other substances flow through the placenta from mother to baby? Your choices shape the baby’s environment for the whole nine months you carry them. Your lifestyle is their lifestyle. At no other time in your life do you have such an important reason for taking good care of your own body!

Even though the best time to make lifestyle changes is before you become pregnant—when you start thinking about having a baby--it’s never too late to improve your baby’s womb environment.

Here are some big things that impact your baby’s womb environment:

Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs. Things that are not good for adults are also not good for babies in the womb. It should come as no surprise that smoking, drinking, and using drugs are hazardous to your baby’s development, just as they are hazardous to your own health and well-being. So, it’s time to quit!

Caffeine. Caffeine is not as bad for pregnant women and their babies as smoking or consuming alcohol or illegal drugs, but it also doesn’t have much to offer you and your little one. Be aware of how much caffeine you are consuming and try to limit it.

Products that contain strong, chemical smells. This includes a fairly wide range of products, so keep this in mind especially when you’re cleaning. Many cleaning products are generally safe to use, but those with strong smells are important to avoid. Turn these cleaning jobs over to someone else while you are pregnant or choose a natural cleaning product. You should also be wary of grooming products (hair dye, for example) and insecticides.

Preparing for your pregnancy can be both exciting and a little nerve-wracking—of course you want to do everything to have a healthy baby! If you’d like a little more support, book your FREE discovery call to discuss your needs and guidance on a healthy and happier pregnancy. And please feel free to reach out with any questions!

Recipe Suggestion

Looking for a delicious caffeine-free coffee replacement? Try this delicious chai mix/latte from the Minimalist Baker:

5-MINUTE CAFFEINE-FREE CHAI MIX

CHAI MIX:

INGREDIENTS

? 4 Tbsp ground cinnamon

? 3 Tbsp ground ginger

? 4 ? tsp of ground cardamom

? 1 Tbsp ground black pepper (reduce by half for less spice)

? ? tsp ground nutmeg

? ? tsp ground cloves

To make: add all spices to a small jar and shake or stir thoroughly to combine. The mixture will keep at room temperature for up to 3 months, or you can store it in the refrigerator.

LATTE:

INGREDIENTS

? 1 to 1 ? tsp of chai mix

? 1 Tbsp real maple syrup (or other sweeteners of choice)

? 1 cup milk or dairy free milk of choice (for storebought, check ingredients list for healthy ingredients)

INSTRUCTIONS

Add Chai Mix, sweetener of choice, and 2 tsp water to a mug (or small blender). Use a spoon to mix spices into water (or skip this step if blending). Then add warmed milk of choice to your mug (or blender) and stir (or blend) to combine.

The spice mix can settle to the bottom but blending really helps! Keep a spoon handy to give it a stir when drinking if the spices need to be dispersed.

(Recipe from minimalistbaker.com/5-minute-caffeine-free-chai-mix/)

Quick Tips?

How to Kick the Caffeine!

? Reduce the amount of time you percolate the coffee or steep the tea—In general, the longer coffee and tea are brewed, the greater the caffeine content.

? Try herbal teas that are caffeine free.

? If the warmth of the beverage is what satisfies you, try hot water with lemon, warm milk, hot apple cider or herbal tea.

? If you are having trouble getting started without your daily caffeine, start cutting back gradually. Brew your coffee using half decaf and have regular and then gradually decrease the portion with regular caffeine.

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