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    My Vegan Pregnancy Supplement Protocol

    Jan 13, 2021 • Hormones, Pregnancy, Wellness & Lifestyle

    I’m excited to share the vegan prenatal supplements I’ve been taking throughout my pregnancy!

    Honestly, I’ve been feeling better since getting pregnant than not pregnant… I don’t know what that is about… (!) but I contribute it to the supplements and increase in hormones. I’m currently 22 weeks and due May 16th, 2021. I have more energy during my pregnancy to workout and use weights than I did before getting pregnant! I know this can change in the third trimester though, haha, as people like to tell me. “Just wait” they say. Which is semi-annoying because I’m not expecting it to be awful, just taking it day by day and really enjoying it so far!!!

    I know my experience is not everyone’s experience but so far, I’m loving every second of growing a life. Of course I’m tired with minor aches and pains but that is to be expected, in my opinion. There’s a lot of opinions out there, my goodness!! But I take them all with a grain of salt and am definitely doing things my own way (hello, I’m planning to have a home water birth in a tub with midwives and a doula) but that is another blog post for another day. Not doing things by the books is the way I like it haha. UNCONVENTIONAL, you know?!

    Today is all about vegan prenatal supplements and making sure to fill in the gaps nutrient-wise so baby has everything they need to grow into a healthy little human. I don’t mind taking a whole handful of supplements because they have a purpose for my baby girl. Don’t be a baby about it, just do it, you know?! I split them up between morning and night, which I will get to.

    If there is a time to splurge on the best supplements, that time is when you’re pregnant!!!

    • It’s really important to buy HIGH-QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS (if you can). And not supplements from the grocery or drug store because they’re not absorbed as well (they often don’t have the right forms or enough, let alone absorbable forms) and many of the big well-known companies go the cheap route when possible. This means using fillers, using less ideal forms, etc. Not surprising though, and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you guys that!
    • The building blocks should come from nutritious foods first. Foods are the foundation. Supplements are important to fill in where you may be missing but the bulk of your nutrients should come from fresh food, first, always. How can you expect to grow a healthy baby without healthy whole foods to nourish you both? Think of all the beautiful rainbow foods, the yummy plant proteins, greens, all the fruits and veggies, nut and seeds. This is the time to buy the best supplements, eat the best food and take care of yourself as best you can.

    If you want to learn more about prepping your body for fertility, check out my Fertility Prep Guide ebook where I share all the supplements I took and what I did to prep my body.


    MORNING SUPPLEMENTS:

    • Microbe Formulas Mineral Drops – 1 dropperful in my morning water, work your way up to 3 dropperfuls per day!! Cellcore and Microbe Formulas have the same products, FYI. I take these mainly to keep my cells hydrated and to support my baby! Drinking a ton of water is great, but it’s important it has minerals or else drinking water is pointless and it will actually flush the minerals you do have in your body. This is why people can still be dehydrated even though they drink a ton of water. With 69 naturally-occurring, plant-derived minerals and a dozen amino acids, BioActive Carbon Minerals provides building blocks for cellular energy production, which is needed to support detox. The mineral drops contain 100% organically-complexed, nano-sized molecules, which supports their bioavailability to your body. I love these drops so much, but you have to start slow!
    • Iodine – 1 per day in the morning. I take iodine for my thyroid, for baby’s IQ and brain development, for energy, and for reducing the toxic load in my body to help prevent baby from inheriting my toxins. It also helps protect the mineral’s passage through the digestive tract, plus it binds and removes unwanted elements to help support your cells’ iodine uptake.
    • Liposomal B12 Spray – for my vegans/vegetarians. 6 sprays per day in the morning. This spray has been life-changing for my energy! Not everyone needs a B12 spray but my body prefers this form as it’s easiest for me to absorb. Our b vitamins are SO easily depleted in times of stress and we all need extra B vitamins right now. There are lots in my prenatal but this is just extra B12 which is essential for range of things like cognition, sleep, energy, eye and cardiovascular health support.
    • Vitamin D drops – 2 drops per day, in the morning. Of course we would all love to get vitamin D the natural way (from the sun) but living in the midwest, I must supplement. In my practitioner course, I’m learning that basically everyone is deficient in vitamin D. It’s a good idea to supplement all the time, but especially in the winter months. Vitamin D is essential for hormone production, immune support, cardiovascular support, mood support, bone support and brain function. Literally everything. SO so important. The vitamin d in the picture is different than the one I linked because the vitamin D I take was energetically tested for my body, specifically. If you want to try the one from Klaire Labs go for it! But I don’t want to recommend a product that maybe won’t work for you, so I linked Thorne because it’s a trustworthy brand.
    • Reishi Spores – 1-3 per day, at anytime but usually in the morning. If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know my obsession with reishi spores and king coffee (see below). I get asked all the time if it’s okay to take reishi spores while pregnant. In my opinion, absolutely!!! But it can’t just be any reishi. It makes me wonder if they take tylenol when they have a headache, but don’t even think twice? We have to stop being scared of natural medicine. And again, the quality matters. I don’t trust any other brand anymore, after knowing what I know now. If I have a headache I take 2 reishi spore capsules. I don’t take tylenol or anything from a drug store but that’s just me. Reishi spores are the most potent part of the mushroom. They are the seeds and hold all the adaptogenic immune intelligence. You can’t just pick up reishi from any random store and expect the quality to be good because it’s likely just the lucidum (the fruiting body of the reishi mushroom, not the spores) and could have been grown on grains. You never know! If you want to learn more about reishi spores, check out this blog post!
    • King Coffee (1-1.5 per day). Pretty sure this counts as a supplement because it has helped me so much in my healing journey pre-pregnancy and now during my pregnancy. I drink one, sometimes 1.5 per day. Yes I drink coffee while pregnant. But it’s not just any coffee. It’s ORGANIC coffee that is tested for mold/mycotoxins and infused with a therapeutic dose of… you guessed it… reishi spores. You can’t overdose on reishi spores. My magic in a cup. Again I don’t trust any other brand. King coffee is gut healing, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-candida, boosts immunity and brain function, helps with sleep, anti-anxiety and most of all has been very supportive of my pregnancy. I wouldn’t drink any other coffee!!!

    NIGHTTIME SUPPLEMENTS:

    • THORNE BASIC PRENATAL. 3 per day, at night (helps prevent the nauseous feeling). It’s one of the best in the industry because it has great ratios and a great formula. It has all the essential vitamins and minerals for pregnancy and they’re at an adequate dose, which is surprisingly hard to find! All the nutrients surpass more than 100% of the recommended daily value which is important and on top of that it has the active form of folate and B12 (methylcobalamin)!!! No folic acid and no cyanocobalamin. This means higher absorption rates and its safe for those who have the MTHFR gene mutation and don’t know it. It’s known as an active prenatal. The other one that is just as good is Prenatal Pro by Designs for Health. They’re both professional formulas that are third-party tested meaning you aren’t being exposed to fillers and crap. It’s been great for me, no complaints at all!
    • Nordic Naturals Algae Omega – 2 per day, at night. Omega’s and DHA are super important for the nervous system, cognitive function, brain health, eye function, breast health and reduced risk for postpartum depression. And obviously for a growing babe, omegas are absolutely essential. 200mg is the recommended minimum daily amount.
    • Evening Primrose Oil – 1 per day, at night. Evening Primrose Oil is a famous source of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)(Omega 6), Linoleic Acid (Omega 6) and Oleic Acid (Omega 9). These are essential fatty acids that are important in maintaining the structure of human cells. It is known to help tone and support the uterus. Start taking in the second trimester.
    • Nested Naturals Choline – 2 per day, at night. The smarty pants nutrient! Choline helps support the health of the nervous system and liver and promote normal prenatal development and growth during pregnancy. Essential for brain development, memory support, liver health and cardiovascular health.
    • Nested Naturals Chelated Magnesium Glycinate – 3-4 per day, at night. Ahh, these put me right to sleep and help calm my nervous system before bed. Don’t know what I would do without them honestly! This is a highly absorbable form. Great for nervous system support, muscle relaxation, leg cramps, stress relief, sleep support. Magnesium is an essential mineral for over 300+ chemical reactions in the body.
    • Mycelium – 4 per day, at night (as seen above). This is totally optional! I just add this for extra brain support, anxiety and sleep support. It really helps me stay focused and stay on track with my work. It’s a different part of the reishi mushroom, it’s the root-like web that grows underground! Super interesting.

    That’s it for my supplement protocol! Let me know if you have questions below, I’m happy to answer them and I hope you found this helpful.


    PIN FOR LATER:


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    « The Plant-Based Cookbook for Women
    What I Eat During My Vegan Pregnancy »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dawn

      July 04, 2021 at 3:15 pm

      Unfortunately, the Thorne product is NOT vegan. Their D3 comes from lanolin, which comes from wool.

      (Just as an FYI, most D3 vegan products are typically lichen-based.)

      Reply
    2. Eliana Camerer

      March 01, 2021 at 10:31 pm

      How much do you spend on supplements monthly?

      Reply
      • Shannon Leparski

        March 03, 2021 at 11:57 am

        Good question! I don’t know and don’t want to know haha. I take my supplements very seriously because they’re high quality and essential!

        Reply
    3. Megan

      February 22, 2021 at 11:15 am

      Thanks for posting this! I’m wondering why someone might need or want to supplement B12 and D separately if the prenatal already has more than the RDV? Just curious. I stopped my separate supplements once I started prenatal because the prenatal has it all. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Shannon Leparski

        February 25, 2021 at 10:54 am

        We can never have enough B12 or vitamin D!! Plus they are two different forms, liquid and capsule and I take them at different times of the day for optimal absorption 🙂

        Reply
    4. Hannah

      January 30, 2021 at 11:21 am

      Thanks so much for sharing your protocol! I will be adopting many of these. I was wondering, what are your thoughts on that omega 3 containing carrageenan? It’s been something I’ve avoided for years so I hate to see it in there! Thanks so much 🙂

      Reply
    5. Mari

      January 23, 2021 at 7:04 pm

      Thnks for sharing! I would like to ask how you deal with the right amount of iron daily?! I am plant based but was diagnosed with anemic at 28 weeks!
      Best 🙂

      Reply
    6. Tarie

      January 21, 2021 at 9:25 am

      I can’t find your email address but I have a question. I am using honey as an ingredient for a DIY face wash. My skin reacts well when I apply honey topically. BUT, since I’m learning that your skin still absorbs what we put on it… (why we avoid the endocrine disrupters products) but would my skin be absorbing the honey and since that goes in my body would my blood sugar be raised because of the topical honey ?? Silly question maybe but I am genuinely wondering. I’m new to all of this thank you for your work!

      Reply
    7. Jaime

      January 13, 2021 at 4:25 pm

      This is such amazing information, Shannon! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

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    SHANNON Leparski

    SHANNON Leparski

    Hi! I'm Shannon, a Certified Hormone Specialist and plant based blogger living in Chicago. I help women heal their bodies bodies from the inside out and balance their hormones naturally through a plant based diet and lifestyle. Let me guide you through it, so you can glow from within and feel the best you've ever felt!

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    shannon.leparski

    Wellness, Motherhood, Holistic Nutrition, Gut Health
    • Root Cause Practitioner
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    💌 shannon@theglowingfridge.com

    SHANNON LEPARSKI, IHP
    bottomless king coffee please 🖤 #tiredmama wh bottomless king coffee please 🖤 #tiredmama 

what are you guys up to today?! I’m installing our new shower filter that I can’t wait to share about, running errands, cleaning, thinking about dinner, the usual Sunday things 💗💗💗
    HANDLE NAME CHANGE!! I’ve been wanting to do th HANDLE NAME CHANGE!!

I’ve been wanting to do this for a while as a fresh start with all the changes to my “brand” in the last year. It feels right to just use my name 😀 (fun fact: I haven’t taken my hubbys last name yet because of business paperwork that I’m too lazy to figure out 😅 name changes are complicated) 

@theglowingfridge started out of my love for the plant based lifestyle but so much has changed in the last 9 years and I’ve been itching to update. Nothing else will change and my blog will still remain as is, if you still use my recipes and such. Love you all and thank you for supporting me through all these changes 🤍🤍🤍

#namechange #handlechange #branding
    what I eat for gut health, happy hormones, healthy what I eat for gut health, happy hormones, healthy skin & hair, and to be a patient mama 🖤

When my blood sugar is on a nasty rollercoaster, I’m not the best mama that I know I should be for my girl. I’m more irritable and short. So I prioritize protein, healthy fats and carbs at each meal. This helps me feel balanced and provides energy to play and chase after her all day! I need all the fuel I can get.

- breakfast tacos with pastured eggs
- collagen king coffee ☁️ 
- leftover homemade chicken fried rice 
- swedish meatballs & gf pasta & green beans
- my homemade tahini maple cookies (I have a reel with the recipe!!) but I’m truly addicted 🍪 
- always sipping on @gerolsteiner_usa 💧

#whatieatinaday #happyhormones #hormonebalance #bloodsugarbalance #guthealth #hairhealth
    I don’t get ready everyday… But when I do I f I don’t get ready everyday…

But when I do I feel better, duh! And more confident. More productive. Happier in general. Of course I have super lazy days but I try to get myself together because I’m more likely to leave the house, you know mamas? I hate when people ask “why do you get ready if you’re home all day”.. 

I’m sharing different content like this because I feel like it and don’t want to be stuck in a box 😀

#grwm #sahm #selfcare
    I mean if you drink it everyday… It should be o I mean if you drink it everyday…

It should be organic, mold-free, tested for mycotoxins and taste delicious, etc. King coffee goes a step further with a therapeutic dose of reishi spores, the most powerful and potent part of reishi mushroom! Most other companies use the lucidum part of reishi, in case you’re wondering 👑

Want more info? DM me “king” and I’ll send you the deets 🤍🤍🤍

#kingcoffee #reishicoffee #reishi #healthycoffee #organic
    passes & smashes for gut healing ❤️‍🩹 I passes & smashes for gut healing ❤️‍🩹

I have many more passes too.. extreme diets, too many supplements, gluten, juice cleanses, eating too fast and not chewing enough.. the list goes on!

Gut healing takes a multi-faceted approach and it’s never just one supplement to heal or one thing to do.

It takes time, patience and grace! And working alongside a practitioner you feel called to 🙏🏼 

#guthealth #guthealing #guthealthmatters #healyourgut #happyhormones

    Shannon is a health enthusiast and plant based nutrition advocate, living in Chicago. She studied Health and Fitness at Purdue University and loves everything about the plant based vegan lifestyle, especially creating colorful, nourishing, happy hormone recipes in her kitchen. Read More…

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