05. The Case for Trimester Zero
Before starting to "try."
Before the fourth trimester, before the third, second, or first, I would like to make a case for trimester zero or the pre-trimester or… If you have a good name for the three months (and more!) leading up to conception, by all means, please share.
Today, most women considering pregnancy are tossed a prenatal recommendation and let loose into the world of conception. A world that, for some, is easy and, for many others, creates stress that is not conducive to babymaking. Not to mention the studies that show that hormonal birth control tends to deplete essential nutrients key to fertility and healthy pregnancy; however, women can start making small shifts so that when the time comes, it’s not a matter of turning your life upside down, frantically going through toxic house cleaning products, coming off birth control, throwing out processed food, etc.
Why Trimester Zero? Well, for obvious reasons, the three-month period feels quaint because it fits with the whole trimester package and ideally makes it easy to remember. It also sits nicely with our human construct of a year, adding up to 12 months in total. But aesthetics aside, the science even backs this one up. An egg is preparing for ovulation 3-4 months leading up to conception, and sperm is generated 2-3 months before conception as well. If that egg or sperm busts into a majestic blastocyst of a baby three months down the line, what can you start doing now to help it along on its journey?
You (and your future baby) are what you eat. Starting to look at food as a super powerful tool to help you and future babies feel amazing now can help avoid unnecessary suffering down the line. Start with the basics. Can you switch to mostly organic and local food? Is there a CSA you can join or a farmers market you can go to nearby? Not only do you avoid pesticides and GMOs on organic farms, but studies have shown that organic produce enjoys much higher nutrient density than its conventionally farmed peers. Find a farmer’s market near you here.
The importance of high-quality, animal-sourced protein, and lots of it. Protein provides the building blocks for making a baby and avoiding many pregnancy complications. Find a local butcher or use excellent online markets to bulk order frozen meat. Why the emphasis on protein from animal sources? Animal-sourced proteins are complete proteins, providing all 20 amino acids our bodies need. In pregnancy, new research suggests that even “non-essential” amino acids become conditionally essential due to the high demands of pregnancy.
Balance blood sugar. Every client I work with as a nutritional therapist eats less than the recommended amount of protein for an active adult. This deficiency appears in Food & Mood Journals as that afternoon slump where another coffee or maybe a cookie is desperately needed to get through the afternoon. I was on a coffee and sugar cycle for years, and looking back at those frenetic years (hello, 20s!) I see how much my dysregulated blood sugar dictated my personality. But more than personality, balancing your blood sugar allows your body to manage internal systems happily and efficiently. The easiest way to kick off your blood sugar balance rituals is in the morning. Try to eat before coffee and ideally get about 20-30 grams of protein through eggs, smoothies, and even that morning latte with lots of milk. See what that does for your mood and energy throughout the day. I don’t wholly agree with the calculations provided by this Dietary Reference Intakes calculator created by the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Still, it’s a good place to start for individualized protein recommendations.
We can lose ourselves in many deep dives when considering what we put into our bodies, but we can revisit all that and any questions you might have in future posts. What do you wish you knew about in your preconception journey? Or what burning questions do you have about Trimester Zero? My mind goes to prenatal vitamins, toxic home and beauty products, and so much more to explore soon! In the meantime, be well sister mamas.
P.S. Do I seem obsessed with protein intake? Absolutely. As someone who experienced severe preeclampsia, the importance of protein is the message I will yell from every hilltop until I die. But that’s another story for another day…