Antibiotics during and after.

I just couldn't kick that sinus infection on my own. It got worse and spread to my upper lungs, so I took the plunge and decided to get antibiotics.

It worried me to take them because not only does it mess with my own gut flora, but it can mess with my baby's gut flora. Pregnant women who take antibiotics are more likely to have a colicky or reflux baby. I wanted to do what I could to prevent that, so I ate yogurt nearly every day and took probiotics.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Also, antibiotics can make you crave carbs. Add that craving to a desire to just eat simply, and I was downing a lot of cold cereals. Not exactly healthy!

Hopefully, my wee one is ok, but I certainly wasn't. Irritable Bowel Syndrome hit, but I was able to put a stop to it by cutting out gluten, eating bone broth soups, eating more yogurt, taking more probiotics and taking herbal infusions (nettle, agrimony and licorice as well as chamomile-peppermint).

Nettles are strengthening to the system.
Agrimony is a mucus membrane and gut soother

Licorice soothes the gut, too.

Chamomile and peppermint calm intestinal spasms.

Gluten products have bothered me nearly this entire pregnancy, but now it's gotten to the point where I HAVE to quit gluten. This is hard for me, but I look forward to yet another learning experience. Exploring all those gluten-free recipes out there sounds good, too!

Gluten and Casein Free?!

Last week on Facebook, Far Above Rubies had a Q&A with Shoshanna from Bulk Herb Store. I was able to ask Shoshanna what I should be doing now while pregnant to ensure that my milk supply won't dry up before a year like it always has. She suggested a gluten and casein free diet.

I admit, I'm a carb and dairy-a-holic. Could I really do this? Would it really help? Shoshanna suggested this as a way for my body to heal and avoid the added phytic acids, hormones, estrogen-like compounds, and other hormone-attacking gunk. Basically, she said that for some reason my hormones aren't telling my body what to do correctly. That makes sense to me. But can I really go gluten and casein free?

I'll be honest, I don't think I can. Unless I knew absolutely for sure that taking this route would give me breast milk until baby decides to wean, it probably isn't going to happen. But Shoshanna is right about being mindful of our gluten and casein. I've decided I can take steps such as limiting my gluten and casein intake. I can also modify it by soaking my grains and culturing my dairy. I can remove cheese (well, maybe not feta). I can refuse any product with soy in it. I can research more gluten-free options.

I can also research and ask advice.

If you are gluten and/or casein free, please tell me how it has improved your health.