I recently found out I am pregnant after initially having a miscarriage back in August. I have been following the BTD for about 7 months, but am wondering what to do now. I could continue with BTD or I could switch to genotype. I come out as a definite explorer. I have had the book for awhile but never really wanted to try it as a lot of the foods that are supposed to be good for me are not available, plus many of the foods which I love to eat are now avoids (plums, bananas, figs to mention a few). Being pregnant I want to get the most variety I can obviously, but some of the value of things change quite dramatically in the explorer diet.
For instance, I can now have honey and apples and apple juice whereas on BTD they were definite avoids with me being a non-secretor. And rice and lentils/pinto beans are now diamonds instead of being neutral (and I thought make type Os fatter or something like that).
Any opinions/experiences?? I did try to do the explorer diet for a few days but got sick of just being limited to watermelon, pineapple and grapefruit (those are the only in season fruits right now that are beneficial). Here in Chile we are drowing in plums, nectarines, peaches, figs and imported bananas. The meat of course is doable, and the only pain about the veg is not being able to have spinach.
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Congrats on your pregnancy!
I'd stick with the BTD; in fact I'd buy a copy of Eat Right 4 your Baby and follow the values in that; a few foods change values for pregnancy and nursing.
You don't want to limit your foods during pregnancy any more than you have to; if you're finding GTD restrictive, then now is NOT the time to try it for the first time. In any case, I'd reccomend BTD over GTD (until/unless you can get a SWAMI) because you're an Explorer and because you're a nonnie; both categories of people tend to have big changes in SWAMI compared to GTD book food lists.
Listen to your body; if you find that certain foods don't agree with you, avoid them no matter what any of the food lists say. Similarly, if you find yourself craving certain foods, go ahead and enjoy them, provided they're not "junk food" or obvious avoids on either BTD or GTD. A craving for apples or spinach (each one OK on one food list but not the other) you can go ahead and indulge in; a craving for wheat, corn or peanuts should be avoided.
Ruth, Single Mother to 18yo O- Leah, 17yo O- Hannah,and 11yo B+ Jack
That makes sense to me. I am finding that the beans/lentils thing is great but then I crave bananas and avocados so I was hoping I wasn't doing anything stupid by combining all this together (picking from each I know isn't how it all is supposed to work).
I haven't got the Swami yet. I am assuming this will be near impossible to order living here in Chile? I'll have to investigate. I think I will just stick to BTD. Avocados are in season here as well so they are very cheap. It seems crazy not to eat them when they seem fine with me. Swami sounds so interesting and I'm betting this should be the final word for me.
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Even if you eat foods that are OK in either list (either for Os or for Explorers) you're still way ahead of the game, compared to people who aren't following BTD/GTD at all.
Ruth, Single Mother to 18yo O- Leah, 17yo O- Hannah,and 11yo B+ Jack
ok, I have one more issue that I forgot about until this morning. It is quite complicated so bear with me....
After the miscarriage in August I started to have really bad diarrhea and stomach cramps which never went away. After taking antibiotics, antiparasite meds and many many exams I finally had a colonoscopy (worst experience of my entire life) and apparently still had a small parasite at a guess from the colonoscopist in my small intestine. No IBD or Chrons or anything like that. So was put on Metronidazole and strong probiotics. Things improved for awhile then went downhill again. I was also having intense night sweats having to change bedclothes 2 to 3 times a night.
So now I am awaiting more test results. Thankfully the night sweats went away.
Then recently I got pregnant again. Which is great as my body clock is ticking and since doing BTD I have managed to conceive twice, even if once ended not viable.
Anyway, I started to try the explorer diet because I was wondering if that might help my gut problems. And it did. Even after only doing it for a couple of days I finally had a solid bowel movement and no having to go all morning. I didn't include the dairy though. I am very sensitive to casein and previously spent 2 YEARS trying to get off the stuff (it effects psychologically).
So now it seems I am leaning more towards the explorer diet only because it makes my gut better. It can't be healthy to have diarrhea all through pregnancy. At the same time I should be eating what I crave within reason. So far I seem to want a lot of fruit and ground beef, but the lentils are very good too.
Most important thing of all -IMO- is to not be stressed out!
Just relax! and Nature will take care of it. Eat healthy, exercise moderately and you're bound to get a baby that's far healthier than the average one!
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Please do not exercise during pregnancy--- it depletes the babies oxygen it is as if you are smoking to the baby when you exercise.
Sorry Damon to disagree.
MIFHI
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"Healthy people have the least overt symptoms from eating avoid foods." Dr. D'Adamo
Some evaluation of the differences between the two diets seems to be what you need to do. I assume that you know what foods you stopped eating and what foods are new. You may experiment with adding in foods that you stopped eating one at a time for a day or two each before stopping it and trying another, etc... Keep a food log to record how you feel, etc. to be able to determine whether the foods you gave up were problems.
It may be that you needed some nutrient from a food you added to clear up the digestive upset and now that it cleared up, it won't return unless you get deficient again...
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Luisa, are you no longer in the uk?
''Just follow the book, don't look for magic fixes to get you off the hook. Do the work.'' Dr.D.'98 DNA mt/Haplo H; Y-chrom/J2(M172);ISTJ The harder you are on yourself, the easier life will be on you!
No I live in Chile. I visit England once a year though. I just got back my results from loads of tests and they can't find anything wrong with me. I am convinced I still have a parasite as I have never had IBS in my life and usually don't get affected in that way under stress etc. A lot of food tends to come out undigested and I still get these weird furry balls with black strings attached coming out every now and then (nice!). I had many many parasite tests and even had specialists examine the stuff and they concluded the furry balls were the lining of my colon, the black strings were old blood vessels. I had diarrhea for over 2 months and yet didn't lose much weight.
And of course I'm pregnant now, so I have to figure out what is the best course of action. I love the BTD but I'm wondering if it is exacerbating my gut problems. I used to eat very low carb and ended up gaining weight doing that. I have gradually got my thyroid working again by adding back in lots of fruit, and now I have added in the lentils and brown rice.
But now I have read the GTD I am not mentally comfortable eating stuff like bananas and figs when I come out as an almost 100% explorer. I fit the profile exactly APART from having low body fat which I don't. I am left-handed, negative, square face, narrow gonial angle I think - EVERYTHING fits. Even all my fingerprints and length of fingers/torso/legs fit the profile.
I am not really stressing about it, but I don't see how one food can be good for me and at the same time bad. It doesn't make any sense. And it seems the worst thing to do is to mix the 2 systems.Gargh!
Maybe I should just stick to BTD and forget about the fact I have read the GTD. I wish I had Swami.
Congratulations on your pregnancy. Are you taking Dr. D's Probiotics? They may be the best ones for you. If you feel better on the BTD, why don't you just stay on what the baby book recommends until after your pregnancy.
thanks I'll see what I can do. I don't think I'll be able to order the probiotics though. I can get stuff from iherb.com though so maybe get something similar. I don't think I can afford Swami right now however....we are a bit tight with cash and I can't see convincing my DH. Oh well.
More diarrhea this morning. I was doing the BTD yesterday. I am 100% compliant. I don't buy anything packaged. Nothing.
ok I just ordered Swami from this site - seems that the order went through. I thought the price was higher than it was - good thing the dollar isn't strong against the peso at the moment.
I just got back some test results. I have misshapen white blood cells and blood in my faeces. I am scared. This has been going on for months. I also have arrhythmia I am assuming from all the diarrhea. I am frustrated and upset. And awaiting another miscarriage probably. I mean I can't see how I can carry a baby with all this going on still. Sorry to vent but things are not looking good.
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(((HUGS))))
If there are foods triggering diarhrea, try to identify them and eliminate them from your diet. If this means following GTD rather than BTD, then do what works. I'd made my previous suggestions of BTD over GTD before knowing your specific health issues.
Your poor health does NOT guarantee that you'll miscarry. Women and babies have managed in spite of all kinds of odds. Just do the best you can to care for yourself, and leave the rest in G-d's hands.
Ruth, Single Mother to 18yo O- Leah, 17yo O- Hannah,and 11yo B+ Jack
Anyway, I started to try the explorer diet because I was wondering if that might help my gut problems. And it did. Even after only doing it for a couple of days I finally had a solid bowel movement and no having to go all morning. I didn't include the dairy though. I am very sensitive to casein and previously spent 2 YEARS trying to get off the stuff (it effects psychologically).
So now it seems I am leaning more towards the explorer diet only because it makes my gut better. It can't be healthy to have diarrhea all through pregnancy. At the same time I should be eating what I crave within reason. So far I seem to want a lot of fruit and ground beef, but the lentils are very good too.
Can you get an idea of which things about the explorer diet were the biggest benefit to your gut? That seems to be an important thing right now - to reduce the inflammation so that your gut can heal. That in itself will lower your stress and anxiety, which will be a benefit to your pregnancy. Maybe you could follow the explorer diet until your SWAMI arrives and you complete it. And if there are things in the type O diet that don't seem to be hurting your gut, you could add them in so that you have more food choices. . . just a short-term solution until you can get your own specific diet.
I hope you can lie down for short periods throughout the day to give your body and mind a few moments to 'let it all down'. Just to even out your breathing, calm your body, relax every part of you - even if only for a 10 minute stretch. More than once a day would be a plus.
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. ~Mary Jean Irion
bummer. They just refunded my Paypal account so the order didn't go through. I'll try to contact the place here in Chile. I think though they only do the geotype basic diet from what I've heard (a friend here is also doing the Explorer diet).
I haven't eaten anything with gluten in it for 6 years now.
Well I thought maybe the beans and rice were helping but then this morning I had bad D again and I stuck to just that, some meat and veg and some pineapple and apple juice yesterday.
DH went and bought me loads of juicy mangos and some nectarines yesterday, and I was craving blueberries although I don't have any right now. I think I'm going to have to ditch following either plan to the T because I shouldn't be restricting anything I crave. The other night I really wanted blackcurrant juice but alas we don't have that here!
I am craving lots of fruit though, and ground beef. I spent so many years following a low carb diet that cut out just about all fruit and since then I just want to eat fruit, fruit, and more fruit. Along with meat and veg of course.
Off topic I don't have ANY morning sickness yet but then I am only 6 weeks although it feels like more than that. I was getting symptoms a week after conception. My gynae thinks I am super fertile as I seem to conceive pretty easily. That seems to coincide with doing the BTD and finally giving up coffee. We took a break from trying whilst I was on antibiotics and trying to find out what was wrong with my gut. Anyway I read that no morning sickness isn't necessarily a good sign but I'm hoping this time round the bean will stick.
Another off-topic - sorry, maybe this should be posted in the baby forum. Anyway, I was given 1mg folic acid and this stuff makes me really anxious after I take it. So now I'm just taking a prenatal that has some folic acid in it and that is fine. I don't know why that happens but it isn't just in my head. I feel really c**p after taking the 1mg f/a. Weird huh?
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I wonder what else is in that folic acid pill; maybe you're reacting badly to an "inert ingredient" rather than the folic acid itself. If you can stomach them, eat lots of leafy greens. Those things are loaded with folate. Hence the name, folate: from foliage.
Ruth, Single Mother to 18yo O- Leah, 17yo O- Hannah,and 11yo B+ Jack
I don't think so, the pills are absolutely tiny. Luckily I think they are going to process my Swami order after all. I am glad, because things are getting quite bad again in the intestines department. This all suddenly came on in August and hasn't left since after several rounds of antibiotics (which just make things worse), and constantly I am expelling undigested food and weird furry ball things. I am losing my faith in doctors.
yes I have been taking probiotics all along. They don't do anything. It is Summer here and I can't go camping or anything like that because I have so much diarrhea in the mornings. It's depressing. Am awaiting more advice from my gastro doc once he has a look at some exam results I took. The arrhythmia is very disconcerting as well. I tried taking magnesium and multi minerals for that but it just seems to make it worse not better!
yes well I tried that as well - you know balancing the two but no improvement.
Swami got emailed to me so I now have my new lists. Thankfully I got back just about all of my BTD foods as neutrals and a few as beneficials. Honey and apples are now avoids again but apple juice is neutral.
I am wondering about parmesan cheese though. It is a diamond according to Swami, but I am mildly casein intolerant (from testing). The questions only ask about lactose intolerance which I don't have. I would love to be able to eat cheese again but am not sure about this. I will ask in the Swami section anyway.
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The lentils may be helping the diarrhoeal.
if you eat less of the following may help
onions, wheat, lentils, apples, apricots, pears, sorbitol, fructose, maltodextros, mannitol, baked beans, ans especially avoid pistachio nuts. it may actually be worth looking at swami thinking about it but makes the changes slowly.
the following veg will help reduce your problem.
sweet potato, broccoli, green beans, carrot, parsnip, ginger, romaine lettuce, pumpkin, sweede or turnip, courgette,
fruit - that is better banana, blueberries, grapefruit, pineapple,
also pumpkin seeds.
fingers crossed for you.oxo
the medication you are on - put a link up to the ingredients if you can
Kind Regards PC.
Partner (F) is O+(Non) MN. Duffy Fy(a+b+), Lewis (a+ b-) Fructose Malabsorber. Explorer. Daughter (6) is O+(Non) Lewis (a+b-) (Fructose Malabsorption)62% Gatherer ?
Please do not exercise during pregnancy--- it depletes the babies oxygen it is as if you are smoking to the baby when you exercise.
Wow, it finally makes sense now.. my younger brother is an Explorer 100%, while the rest of us are "normal" Hunters. I've tried asking my mom if she did anything different while carrying him, but she swears we were all the same. I know she did exercise a lot with all of us, so maybe she did more cardio with Andrew. Must be the only explanation since she didn't smoke or (as she claims) have any unusual stress.
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I think the key is to do gentle exercises, and not over-tax yourself. Honestly, Andrea's post on this thread was the first time I'd ever read anything about exercise during pregnancy being dangerous. I have read in numerous sources how gentle exercise is beneficial, and most of those sources also stress the importance of recognizing your limits and not over-exerting yourself. I've also seen references to specific exercises being dangerous (such as certain weight lifting machines.)
Since you're not in the best of health, be even more cautious.
A gentle swim, a walk, or a "yoga for pregnancy" DVD should be fine. Now isn't the time to start jogging if you're not used to it.
Ruth, Single Mother to 18yo O- Leah, 17yo O- Hannah,and 11yo B+ Jack
Exercise per se is not bad for a pregnant woman, but the type and intensity.
If the pregnancy is at risk, light, regular exercise seems more appropriate than vigorous exercise.
With my second pregnancy, I was spotting after 7 1/2 months. I was strongly encouraged by my midwives to lie down several times a day with my legs elevated higher than my torso. I did this and it really seemed to stabilize my body.
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. ~Mary Jean Irion
so I was looking for parmesan cheese here in Chile, and there is hardly any! However, there is Reggianito cheese. On Wikipedia it says that Reggianito is really the same as parmesan, just the Argentinian version and smaller cheeses or something like that.
Because....guess what?? I am SERIOUSLY craving hard cheese. I have been taking my calcium as well....I will be 8 weeks preggas tomorrow. I have an ultrasound this morning. The thing is I haven't touched dairy for years. I usually only crave cheese if I have been eating it. The smell of just about all cooked food apart from rice, tuna and cheese is turning me off. I was making a cheese omelette for my hubby this morning and the smell was seriously good to me. I was nearly throwing up clearing the plates from a meat dish the night before.
The good news is that I am finding rice is very good for my gut. All kinds of rice. So the doc is right on with regards to explorers and rice.
So back to the cheese. Reggianito is not listed at all on my Swami, but parmesan is a diamond. I used to adore Regianitto. It is a very hard almost spicy cheese. I assume if it is essentially the same as parmesan I should go ahead and eat it? If I react badly I will just have to cut it out again.
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Go ahead and give it a try. Your primary goal is to eat enough to support the baby's growth, and if you can tolerate the cheese, have as much as you want.
I hope you're able to get in some veggies and/or fruits as well. Tuna, rice, and cheese for every meal is quite fine (and sounds tasty mixed together!) as long as you're also getting some produce in.
Ruth, Single Mother to 18yo O- Leah, 17yo O- Hannah,and 11yo B+ Jack
oh gosh no, what I meant was as far as cooked-hot food was concerned I can't seem to stomach much.
I am eating loads of fruit, and raw carrot and celery, also spinach. Fruit doesn't make me sick. It's the smell of meat stews that are really bad right now. Pretty much all cooked food. But the smell of cooking cheese - that smells amazing. And rice tastes really good. I can eat fish and very well done thin strips of beef I can just about do.
I just had my 8 week scan and everything looks great - saw a heartbeat etc.
I think I will go ahead with the Reggianito. It doesn't seem right to be craving something so badly when I am not in an addiction-withdrawal cycle and not to go ahead with it.
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My general philosophy is to indulge cravings for healthy, wholesome foods while pregnant. I just find it interesting that you can tolerae fish but can't tolerate meat; when I was pregnant it was the exact opposite. I wonder if the baby is an A, and that's why you're not liking meat right now. What's the blood type of the baby's father?
Ruth, Single Mother to 18yo O- Leah, 17yo O- Hannah,and 11yo B+ Jack
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