Being pregnant is one of the most wondrous periods of our lives. One moment you are feeling great joy and elation, the next you may be overwhelmed by the uncomfortable physical aspects and petrified by the great unknown – exactly what will having a baby be like, let alone living with a baby and the impact it will have on my life?
Science Honours graduate, Kasha Dubinska, was typical of many pregnant mums. Kasha turned to research to become more informed about her body and pregnancy. She sought advice from her doctor, spoke to other pregnant mums and mothers, discussed her problems with a nutritionist, and read many books and magazines and investigated many related websites.
From her research and experience as a new mum, Kasha offers the following tips when pregnant :

·Knowledge brings confidence. Seek out all the trusted information you can about pregnancy. Ask your doctor for a reliable book as a source. The best advice may come from a trusty friend, who has been through it all before you that you can call up and chat to at anytime.

·“Morning sickness" often occurs in the first 12 weeks and can happen at any time of the day.  Nausea first thing in the morning may be prevented by eating a dry biscuit or toast with some herbal tea, before getting out of bed - so your partner has to be on hand in those early morning hours (practice for later on!).  Sickness during the day is relieved by eating small meals often. Some fruit may also help, barley sugar, ginger, flat lemonade or dry ginger ale.  Smelling lavender has been known to help before raiding the fridge!

• Sometimes, you may crave items that you had when you were a child; soft boiled eggs, mums chunky vegetable soup, melted cheese on toast are some example that my friends encountered.
• It is best to return to a good eating pattern as soon as you are able. Do not miss meals! Eat something, as this is better then not eating at all.  Rest when you can and distract yourself with a funny book, a walk, a phone call to your mum or a friend.  The first 12 weeks will soon pass.
• Constipation invariably occurs at sometime in the pregnancy, thankfully usually after the nausea has gone.  Now is the time to switch to a high fibre diet, such foods as bran, prunes, wholemeal bread, cereals, vegetables and salad, nuts, fresh fruit and dried fruits. Drink plenty of fluids.  Keep some magazines in the bathroom to helps pass all the extra time you seem to be spending in that "room" of the house.
• Heartburn is another of these digestive track aliments The symptoms, you will be glad to hear,  can be relieved by making small changes in your diet.  Firstly, the acid in your stomach maybe be neutralised with either some milk or an antacid.  Secondly, avoid making your stomach too full.  So stick to the small frequent meals and drink your fluids in-between the meals, rather then during the meals. Take you time  eating, relax and enjoy each mouthful by chewing thoroughly. I found that eating a handful of raw almonds  helped me with heartburn and also with constipation.  So you can use one remedy for two ailments, a great bonus with some many things needing to be remembered.

Your pregnancy will not last forever, those 40 weeks will be soon gone and you will look back with laughter for many years to come, at all the changes that your body when through. It may help to keep a diary of all those changes. For some of us it is a once in a lifetime experience that you will want to remember. When the time comes, you will pass on your wisdom and experience during this beautiful time to your daughters or daughters -in-law. Enjoy each  and every  moment  of having your baby grow inside you!  The moment your baby is born, all the heartburn, constipation and a long list of physical changes that your body was going through magically disappear.

Now that you have had a healthy pregnancy, the next step, when the time comes, is to start your baby on healthy solid foods. Recognising the need to inform other parents  about a healthy start for babies, Kasha produced her own DVD, Yummy Beginnings, and website, www.yummybeginnings.com.    Made in conjunction with qualified nutritionist Jennifer Williamson, Yummy Beginnings helps give parents more confidence by addressing their concerns in an entertaining and informative manner.