Dr. Brandy McCans, Nederland.   Last month my partner, Rodger Ruge’s, daughter got married. She was stunning! It’s incredible to watch our children grow up. We’ve known each other 10 years now, and to see how far she’s come is spectacular. My heart explodes for her.

While we were there, surprise! She’s pregnant! It’s a fantastical gift, and we’re thrilled. It’s beautiful watching her transform into a conscious being.

She’s now coming with questions about how to care for herself while pregnant. I am honored. That said, a piece of my heart breaks that I didn’t talk to her sooner about this. Yes, it’s vital for a woman to take care of her body while pregnant, especially with the horrific rise in autism, other congenital issues and infertility, and it’s just as vital for a woman to prepare her body for pregnancy, and I totally dropped the ball here. If I’d only taught her to nourish her body, to be capable of carrying a baby and producing the healthiest baby possible, we may’ve been able to prevent morning sickness, and even more, improve delivery, create less stress on the baby and have her baby be as healthy as possible.

There’s still hope! Of course, we know her baby will be beautiful, and will have all the elements it needs to live a healthy life, and I thought I’d share with you a few things you can do if you, or someone you know, is planning a pregnancy. Think of it like preparing your garden’s soil. My friend, Jeanette, told me how bad their garden produced this year, thinking it’s because they’ve been growing in the same soil for years, whereas their friend who had a great garden, rotates his garden with compost each year. It’s the same for humans. If you’ve had any kind of stress in your life, or previously had a baby, then you may be depleted in certain nutrients which are vital to growing a healthy baby and having a good pregnancy.

Three months prior to pregnancy, periconception, is the time to focus on improving your health as a soon-to-be-mother. Here’s a list of superfoods to eat daily:

Cod liver oil:

Contains vitamins A & D

Raw milk:

Purchase from Light Root Farms in Boulder.

At least 1 whole egg PLUS 4 egg yolks:

Fats are required for production of sex hormones (important for both sexes during periconception).

For brain, nervous system and intestinal tract development.

Contains folate, biotin, zinc and selenium.

Pastured eggs can contain over 200x more folate than commercially raised poultry!

Contains choline which is critical for brain development, and egg yolks are the richest source of Vitamin K2 which is critical for proper development of bone structure and teeth and is needed for blood and brain health.

4 Tbsp ghee/grass-fed butter daily:

Contains even more nutrients than egg yolks, rich in fat-soluble vitamins, as well as selenium, copper, zinc, chromium and iodine.

2-4 oz liver:

The most nutrient-dense food in the human diet, one of the best sources of vitamin K2, contains phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, vitamins B2, B6, choline, biotin and folate.

Has more vitamin C than apples or carrots.

2-4 servings of fresh fish:

A study of 14,000 women and children showed than women who ate less than 12 oz. of seafood per week had children with low verbal IQ’s, impaired social, communication, and behavioral skills and difficulty with fine motor skills.

Fresh beef, pork or lamb:

Iron and zinc are needed to build body, brain and blood.

2 Tbsp. coconut oil:

For healthy reproduction, gestation and lactation

Lacto-Fermented foods:

Helps maintain optimal flora in the birth canal and mammary ducts.

Bone broth:

Contributes to strong bones, tendons, and connective tissues in mom and baby.

Fresh vegetables and fruits daily

Unrefined sea salt:
Proper neurological development requires sodium to activate an enzyme needed for glial cell production, which supports logic and creative thinking.

This is a great starting place, and if you know a woman considering pregnancy, pass this information along. Also encourage her to get her nervous system balanced, as I’ve seen miracles in my pregnant women and those who get their nervous systems balanced along the way makes for a far happier outcome.

(Originally published in the October 11, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)