Confession time, Amanda Griffin is my absolute girl crush! Sure she's gorgeous and sexy, but she's also a go-getter, one of the original multi-hypenated celebrities and just seems like a genuinely nice person. And now she's taking motherhood to a whole new level! Ayayay. Peg na peg. #charmedlife
Anyway, I will stop now before I totally embarass myself and let you read through Amanda's take on some common pregnancy misconceptions
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Motherhood is one of the most demanding jobs a woman will undertake, and pregnancy can be a challenging time, especially for first time moms. As soon as the word gets out that you have a child on the way, family and friends can be overwhelming with everyone wanting to share a piece of their “pregnancy wisdom”. We don’t just deal with the physical changes our bodies go through but also pregnancy myths that have been talked about for as long as I can remember.
I know a lot of expecting mothers think that their lives need take a backseat to their child’s, to provide the best care for their unborn babies. But let me tell you mommies, it doesn’t always have to be that way.
During my first pregnancy, as soon as my bump started to show, I started to feel like a glorified incubator. I know a lot of mommies to-be can relate, thinking that it’s a normal part of the maternity journey. We stop thinking about our own wellbeing and how we look and focus solely on our baby. But we are the very first home of our precious baby so it makes sense that our health and welfare directly affect our unborn child. So I sought advice from my doctor to disprove some of the most common pregnancy myths that stopped me from some of my normal activities.
MYTH: YOU CAN’T FLY AFTER 30 WEEKS
I love traveling but was told by everyone that I wouldn’t be able to fly in my last trimester. This worried me since I live part time in Hong Kong so this was the first thing I asked my doctor about. My doctor explained that the safest time to fly is sometime between weeks 18 and 24; since the chances of miscarriage and premature labor are both relatively low then. You can actually fly well into your 3rd trimester (with doctor approval of course). I got the okay from my doctor to fly at 34 weeks for my last flight for both of my pregnancies.
MYTH: YOU CAN’T EXERCISE
Exercise is part of my life. And I want to remain active and practice my Bikram yoga and go running while pregnant. But of course I worried about the safety of my baby. After consultation and a checkup my doctor gave me the go signal. It has been proven that the more active and fit women are throughout those nine months, the easier it is for our bodies to adapt to the changes in our shapes and weight. Just remember to stick with exercise that you were doing prior to pregnancy. Don’t try new forms of sport or exercise. Also remember to do it in moderation.
MYTH: YOU CAN’T DYE YOUR HAIR
While pregnant with my first born, Kieran, I thought I couldn’t color my hair. My doctor explained that no scientific link between hair dye and birth defects has been proven. Although some color solutions contain harmful chemicals, the skin absorbs only a very small amount of it. So if your doctor clears it, go for it! I always make sure to request for ammonia-free hair dye for my peace of mind.
MYTH: YOU CAN’T DRINK COFFEE
I don’t drink coffee but I know a lot of women can’t go without a cup of their favorite brew – especially in the morning. Is coffee bad for our little ones? Well, experts say that there have been countless studies stating that there is no increased risk associated with caffeine consumption. However, it’s best for pregnant women to enjoy coffee in moderation – one to three small cups, or about 200mg a day.
<Here's where the product placement comes in, because everyone has to make a living, even celebrities like Amanda Griffin ;-) -Jill>
A balanced diet can sometimes be a dilemma. Especially if you have morning sickness or your preggy taste buds become a little picky with food. But we want our babies well nourished for their physical and mental development. Can we make this happen? Mama yes, you can! ProMama is a milk supplement, which gives you and your unborn baby the nutritional support you need.
ProMama contains the Pro-Nutri Builders, ingredients that support the health and development of both mother and child during pregnancy. These include Maternal Immunity Enhancers like Vitamins C, E and A, which also help promote good vision and cellular growth.
Pro-Nutri Builders also contain nutrients for the unborn fetus. ProMama has Mental Enhancers like DHA, a nutrient important for a child’s visual and mental development; Folic Acid, which is essential for the development of the nervous system and in preventing neural tube defects; and Zinc, which assists in fetal neurodevelopment. ProMama’s formula also contains Bone and Muscle Builders such as Vitamin D, important for calcium metabolism and to support an unborn baby’s bone and teeth development; Protein, the building block of all tissues; and Calcium, which supports bone development.
Busting these pregnancy myths is very liberating. But our utmost priority should be maintaining the best possible health for both our precious cargo and ourselves. It is best to visit your doctor for regular prenatal check and consultation before taking any medications or supplements. With the help of complete nutrition and healthy lifestyle, we should be on the right track to delivering healthy and happy babies.