Into my second trimester! I'm so excited I could scream! (I did scream a bit, not a lot, don't want to frighten the kids). Had a nuchal translucency combined scan yesterday and all looks a'ok. My blood results will be back in about a week which will confirm the results. The sonographer was having a giggle at the bubs; both were somersaulting all over the place and when she began trying to measure them one lay back cross-legged, patiently waiting. The other carried on floating around in circles. I suppose the one that doesn't listen will take after it's father, however he will definitely refute that.
For those of you not in the know, this is a nuchal scan (copied from Wikipedia):
A nuchal scan is a sonographic prenatal screening scan (ultrasound) to help identify higher risks of Down syndrome in a fetus, particularly for older women who have higher risks of such pregnancies. High thickness measurements are also associated with congenital heart defect. The scan is carried out at 11–13.6 weeks pregnancy and assesses the amount of fluid behind the neck of the fetus - also known as the nuchal fold or 'the nuchal translucency'. Fetuses at risk of Down tend to have a higher amount of fluid around the neck. The scan may also help confirm both the accuracy of the pregnancy dates and the fetal viability. Its high definition imaging may also detect other less common chromosomal abnormalities.
I am so relieved and happy, and looking forward to starting to feel like a human being again. No more shuffling along the floor in exhaustion and falling asleep at dinner for me (I hope!)
Friday, 11 June 2010
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
I heart eating...
There's not much in the world that makes me happier. By the time I finish breakfast I'm looking forward to lunch and whilst eating lunch I'm thinking about dinner. Ok, it's a slight obsession (or a hobby, however you want to see it.)
Since being pregnant I've been starving every 2 hours, which is excessive even for me. It's hard to always find something quick and easy to eat, that's tasty and also healthy. Protein, fresh fruit and veg (especially green leafy veg) are important for women who are 'with child'.
I thought I'd share my diet, this is especially for those pregnant who are struggling with healthy ideas on what to eat and what to buy in the supermarket:
SNACKS
- Ryvita crackers with hummous/cottage cheese
- Carrots/cucumber/celery sticks with any dips (tzatziki yoghurt is great)
- Nuts, especially almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans
- Fruit, or fresh fruit juices/smoothies (Just throw any fruit into a blender! I sieve all the pulp. My favourite smoothie is milk, banana, walnuts, ground cinnamon and honey)
- Dried fruit (with NO added sugar, check the ingredients)
- Boiled edemame with salt/garlic salt/soy sauce
- Yoghurts/Rice puddings
- Soreen loaf
- Lindt 70% cocoa chocolate (better for you than milk chocolate I suppose, but I'm not going to lie, I'm still eating a load of Fruit and Nut, Flakes, Maltesers, Crunchies etc etc!)
- Pretzels or Snack a Jacks (healthier substitutes for those crisp cravings, although again, I've been eating A LOT of normal crisps too, they are my ultimate weakness)
- Frozen grapes
- Low sugar cereal/Porridge
MEALS
- Salad (throw in interesting things like cherry tomatoes, feta cubes, beans, sweetcorn, olives, beetroot, sweet peppers etc)
- Soup (Chicken and veg is fantastic and you can keep it in the fridge for days. Throw in things like carrots, courgettes, turnips, peas, brocolli, potatoes... You could even throw in a handful of macaroni. I'll be adding some of my favourite soup recipes soon.)
- Pitta/wraps (you can even freeze the bread and take them out of the freezer as needed, just defrost them in the toaster. Fill with grilled chicken/tuna [if pregnant keep an eye on how much tuna you're eating]/steak/grilled courgettes or aubergines/salad bits.)
- Pasta, pasta, pasta! (I ADORE pasta. Quick and easy to make and I am eating a lot of it at the moment, even though I suppose I shouldn't be, boooo. I will add some of my favourite pasta recipes)
- Oriental style dishes (I have 'Chinese Food Made Easy' by Ching-He Huang which is fantastic. A lot of her dishes are low fat, very tasty and extremely easy to make. I'll write up a few of my favourite recipes from her book.)
That's all I can think of for now, but keep your eyes peeled for recipes and pictures.
I am now 12 weeks and have been feeling such tiredness during my first trimester that I haven't really been my usual Nigella-esque self in the kitchen, I really enjoy cooking and experimenting with others recipes and with my own ideas. However very soon my energy will return and i'll be sharing all my yummy, quick and easy recipes :-)
Since being pregnant I've been starving every 2 hours, which is excessive even for me. It's hard to always find something quick and easy to eat, that's tasty and also healthy. Protein, fresh fruit and veg (especially green leafy veg) are important for women who are 'with child'.
I thought I'd share my diet, this is especially for those pregnant who are struggling with healthy ideas on what to eat and what to buy in the supermarket:
SNACKS
- Ryvita crackers with hummous/cottage cheese
- Carrots/cucumber/celery sticks with any dips (tzatziki yoghurt is great)
- Nuts, especially almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans
- Fruit, or fresh fruit juices/smoothies (Just throw any fruit into a blender! I sieve all the pulp. My favourite smoothie is milk, banana, walnuts, ground cinnamon and honey)
- Dried fruit (with NO added sugar, check the ingredients)
- Boiled edemame with salt/garlic salt/soy sauce
- Yoghurts/Rice puddings
- Soreen loaf
- Lindt 70% cocoa chocolate (better for you than milk chocolate I suppose, but I'm not going to lie, I'm still eating a load of Fruit and Nut, Flakes, Maltesers, Crunchies etc etc!)
- Pretzels or Snack a Jacks (healthier substitutes for those crisp cravings, although again, I've been eating A LOT of normal crisps too, they are my ultimate weakness)
- Frozen grapes
- Low sugar cereal/Porridge
MEALS
- Salad (throw in interesting things like cherry tomatoes, feta cubes, beans, sweetcorn, olives, beetroot, sweet peppers etc)
- Soup (Chicken and veg is fantastic and you can keep it in the fridge for days. Throw in things like carrots, courgettes, turnips, peas, brocolli, potatoes... You could even throw in a handful of macaroni. I'll be adding some of my favourite soup recipes soon.)
- Pitta/wraps (you can even freeze the bread and take them out of the freezer as needed, just defrost them in the toaster. Fill with grilled chicken/tuna [if pregnant keep an eye on how much tuna you're eating]/steak/grilled courgettes or aubergines/salad bits.)
- Pasta, pasta, pasta! (I ADORE pasta. Quick and easy to make and I am eating a lot of it at the moment, even though I suppose I shouldn't be, boooo. I will add some of my favourite pasta recipes)
- Oriental style dishes (I have 'Chinese Food Made Easy' by Ching-He Huang which is fantastic. A lot of her dishes are low fat, very tasty and extremely easy to make. I'll write up a few of my favourite recipes from her book.)
That's all I can think of for now, but keep your eyes peeled for recipes and pictures.
I am now 12 weeks and have been feeling such tiredness during my first trimester that I haven't really been my usual Nigella-esque self in the kitchen, I really enjoy cooking and experimenting with others recipes and with my own ideas. However very soon my energy will return and i'll be sharing all my yummy, quick and easy recipes :-)
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