“I suggest that you think of ‘eating for two’ as being twice as careful about what you eat, not eating twice as many calories.”
Dr. Robert A. Greene

Raging, out-of-control hormones are a “normal” part of pregnancy, right?

At least one obstetrician says it doesn’t have to be that way.
Dr. Robert Greene, founder and director of the Center for Reproductive Health and Hormone Balance in Redding, Calif., says morning sickness, fatigue, mood swings, sleeplessness and even bizarre cravings can be controlled through, among other things, diet, exercise, toxin avoidance and stress reduction. In addition, thyroid disease, diabetes and high blood pressure can be kept at bay through hormone management.

As a result of the mom-to-be’s improved health and hormonal balance, her fetus’s brain development will be improved, Greene says.

He outlines this hormonal balancing act, based on research that has been published in peer-reviewed journals, in “Perfect Hormone Balance for Pregnancy,” published in 2007 by Three Rivers Press.

In the introduction, he lists the top 10 barriers to a “perfect balance pregnancy”:
1. Overeating
2. Fad diets or unbalanced nutritional plan
3. Hormone-disrupting chemicals in food, water and cosmetics
4. Sedentary lifestyle
5. Insufficient sleep
6. Chronic stress
7. Untreated symptoms
8. Intoxicating drugs, alcohol and tobacco
9. Lack of information or inaccurate information from doctors
10. Weak support system and underinvolved partner

Greene says when symptoms present themselves, pregnant women have more options than their doctor may lead them to believe.

“This ‘we-all-go-through-it’ mentality is disheartening, even potentially dangerous, to women and their babies,” Greene writes in the introduction.

He adds that in addition to treating symptoms through dietary and lifestyle modifications, he recommends hormone deficiencies be treated with bio-identical hormones (“hormones that are chemically identical to the ones produced naturally by your body”) or with medication. He backs up these recommendations with research and states that not treating hormone imbalance is more dangerous than allowing an imbalance to “spin out of control.”

“For instance, many miscarriages occur because of a correctable deficiency in progesterone,” he writes. “We’ve also learned that failure to correct low thyroid levels in pregnancy contributes to learning disabilities in their children; that poorly controlled blood sugar levels is a precursor to childhood obesity; that not treating depression in pregnant mothers can lead to behavioral issues and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in their children.”

The first line of defense against the barriers named above is to keep weight gain under control.
“I suggest that you think of ‘eating for two’ as being twice as careful about what you eat, not eating twice as many calories,” Greene writes.

A person of normal weight (18.5-24.9 body mass index) should gain 25-35 pounds, while an overweight person (25-29.9 BMI) should gain 15-25 pounds during pregnancy.

Greene recommends eating small meals throughout the day and indulging cravings without overeating.
“When satisfying a craving, eat slowly and concentrate on every aspect of your snack — its aroma, how if feels in your mouth and its multidimensional flavor. By doing so, your brain will actually release more dopamine because a larger region of the brain is being stimulated.”

Keeping fit is another way to combat hormone imbalance, Greene says. Inactivity triggers imbalance and causes metabolism to slow down and blood pressure to rise.

He recommends walking for 30 to 45 minutes a day, preferably in the morning, at least five days of week and doing so at a pace that allows you to hold a conversation. He also favors yoga and strength training.

Stress reduction can be achieved through exercise as well as through keeping a journal, quitting smoking and getting a gentle massage.

Reduce fatigue in the third trimester, Greene says, by exercising, drinking plenty of water, taking deep breaths and eating power carbs (such as bananas, almonds and pumpkin seeds).

Greene also goes into detail about postpartum hormone management, adjusting his plan based on the new role hormones play after birth.

After outlining the ways to keep a healthy hormone balance in the first part of the book, the remainder of the book deals with troubleshooting specific problem areas and disorders of pregnancy and postpartum health and includes Greene’s treatment recommendations.

Greene’s main point is that pregnant women don’t just have to “grin and bear it” anymore.

“I believe you owe it to yourself to be your own health advocate and to take action, whether through the many self-help preventive and therapeutic options I’ve offered or in your prenatal visits. Not only will you have a more enjoyable pregnancy, but also the health of your baby will be all the better,” Greene writes in conclusion.