i understand..

but theres always going to be outbreaks of food, there always a risk
look what happened to spinnach, beef, and peanuts....

nothing is safe to consume technically.

I have done 2 pregnancies (currently still doing the 2nd one) and am still breastfeeding while on the Paleolithic diet.

I first got pregnant about 8 months after I started the diet. I still was getting used to diet and had a few cheat days where I gave into the carbs I was craving, but on a whole I mostly ate a loose Paleo Diet (compared to what I eat now). I pretty much eliminated what is in my signature, except I still ate the nightshades at that time. I did supplement with the usual recommended pregnancy tablets, for the folic acid (which has been proven to reduce cases of spina bifida) and iron. I had a complication free pregnancy and a very good birth (1/2 hour after giving birth I said I wanted to do it again).

This pregnancy I have been A LOT more strict, sticking to the plan in my signature 98% of the time, with my only give in craving to 86% cocoa chocolate (by the block full). I did start off with the supplements, but got told I should drop the iron and only do folate, as my diet was high in iron, and as I wasn't losing it (through menstruation) I could have too much iron. There was a concern that I wasn't putting enough weight on (not personally by my doctor but by the expected standards) so he sent me off to get a scan to check the growth of bub and all has been excellent. The only issue with this pregnancy (so far) is that this bub is breech and due in 3 weeks.... I'll let you know how it all goes.

I have felt a lot better the 2nd pregnancy (no morning sickness compared to the first one) although I have been more tired (I attribute that to looking after a little one (there will be 18 months between the two) though, not diet).

I don't think pregnant women are not more likely to get listeria. The problem is that if they do, the baby will almost certainly die. It's not a risk worth taking for that reason.

I would advise anyone to not drink milk of any kind or have butter, especially a pregnant mother (same for grains). This is the paleo area

Pure paleo is fantastic for a pregnancy and our GP was perfectly happy with what my wife ate while pregnant through the two paleo pregnancies.

Sensible advice, Tarlach.

I did a lot of research into the Listeria claims. Apparently the chances of ANYONE getting Listeria is very minimal, it is just that (as Tarlach said) if a 'normal' person gets Listeria, the effects are usually minimal, whereas if a person suffering from a lower immune system will almost be guaranteed to have a devastating result. This also includes the developing child inside a pregnant mother.

So firstly I'd have to be in the group to get Listera, then I'd have to actually be pregnant - but if I happened to be in that VERY SMALL percentage, I would almost certainly (I think the % given was along the lines of > 98%) lose my baby.

Also, many expecting mums get caught up in the hype about food, and avoid many foods for illogical reasons, as some things on the 'no-no' list are not at risk of Listeria, and if you follow correct safety practices (which does include the cooking of some foods) then you are pretty much safe from Listeria. In most western worlds, now days, the risk is even lower than it used to be as the hygiene standards are more strict.

I wish I still had all the sources of my research to quote for you, but unfortunately I don't, so if you wish to look into it further, you'll have to do it yourself. :P

Other than that.... For a healthy pregnancy, I always suggest to listen to your cravings, and then try to figure out what nutrient you are craving and try to supplement it with a Paleo option. With this pregnancy, I kept craving dairy... I suspected I needed calcium so increased my calcium intake (via almonds - a high source of calcium) and it went away. I also craved a lot of high energy foods, which after trying a variety of substitutes (trying to thing what nutrient I thought I was missing) and then just realised I wasn't eating enough, and that provided I ate lots of little meals a day, those cravings went too...

Still can't figure out the chocolate craving though :P I just think I'm addicted to the small percentage of sugar in there and because I caved in it's not going away... :P I've decided that with 3 weeks to go I'll let in to that though - as it's 86% cocoa with no dairy in it and stuff..

Let's move this discussion beyond dairy.

I think you might want to consider whether ketosis during pregnancy is a good idea. Did anyone read the comments in the link to Eades' post that I provided? Even Eades and McCleary, two prominent low carb advocates, advise against ketosis during pregnancy. Stay paleo, by all means, but carb-up a bit.

Here's a quote from Micheal Eades, for your convenience:

I did crave more fruits during my pregnancies... (especially in the 2nd trimester).

I've always been told that chocolate cravings are caused by manganese deficiency. I think bone broth (or just bones, if you're really Paleo) is the best way to get most minerals, including calcium and manganese.

Do you know a chiropractor or an acupuncturist? We used the Webster technique (chiro) and moxabustion/acupressure to turn all three of our babies into an optimum position. You can do the acupressure at home - it's described in "The Birth Partner." Actually, our acupuncturist gave us some moxa and we did that at home too. But don't do either of those before you're ready to go into labor - they really get things going! A chiropractor can help you now.

Ketosis would be pretty hard to maintain during pregnancy. I think the usual cravings for fruit/veg would keep you well out of ketosis???

I'll have to try the bone broth then... makes sense now that you say that... I don't think I get much in the way of manganese....

I am having an ECV (manual turning of the baby) tomorrow, so not much chance of finding a chiropractor or acupuncturist to try before then.

I thought it was a magnesium deficiency. That's why a lot of women crave chocolate during TOM. Adding more magnesium usually works for me to solve that.

Either way, bone broth is definitely the best choice solution.
Mmmm. Broth. Must be time to make more soup...

Good luck with your version!

EVERY one of my 5 children was breech right till the last second. It made me so anxious with my first and second (ended up having 5 c-sections). My first turned vertex one week AFTER he was due (he was 16 days late). Gawd, that was an experience.

Good luck!

I ordered some bone meal today along with some magnesium to pair up with my vitamin d and cod liver oil. I wonder if anyone else here takes bone meal? All of the reviewers for it were talking about how great it was for their pets!

Oh well, it was recommended by Weston Price as a calcium supplement and I tend to listen to their advice. I always like taking things in their whole, animal form too instead of the straight up chemical form. I feel like I get more bang for my buck that way.

Poor capmikee, when I was pregnant he could't get any food into me. If I ate anything it was Ellio's pizza (yuck). I was so sick!

I wish I had eaten paleo then but I couldn't stomach anything!

Good luck with the EVC - I hope all is well.