the point of anger) if they forget to bring a snack to a one and a half hour yoga class. As an advocate of intuitive eating, never has there been a more important time to practise what I preach. Food aversions to all vegetables led


me to subsisting for several weeks on Cruskits, Vegemite, cheese and fruit – hardly a balanced diet, but who gives a s#¡it when most of the time you feel like vomiting? Thank goodness for natal multi-


vitamins – it’s a wonder how any pregnant woman before 1940 managed to give birth to a child without spina bifida as getting folate naturally from green leafy vegetables during those crucial early weeks has been impossible for me. The occasional days when I can manage to sneak some spinach into a green smoothie are gifts from the universe.


So much for my perfect expecting mother ideals of eating a ridiculously nutrient- dense diet and spending my days on the couch dreaming of baby names.


I spent a good chunk of last month eating Cruskits and Coco Pops because they were the only thing I could stomach, while dragging myself through meetings, consultations and teaching classes. Only when the nausea got really bad did I finally realise I can’t do it all, and deferred full- time university in lieu of only working full time for myself – as if that weren’t enough! But pregnancy isn’t all constant urges


to spew and an annoying new cup size. Being pregnant has encouraged me to be mindful of looking after myself as best as I possibly can – and that ’best’ varies from day to day. I spent the first few weeks being overly cautious and not


wanting to walk up stairs in case I ’did something to the baby’. Predictably this left me feeling confined, depressed, and even more nauseous. I’ve since realised that, the better I


look after myself, the better I feel (no news there), and the more energy and head space I have to nurture myself and my growing baby. Jogging on the beach, surfing, riding my bike, yoga are all still totally doable and make me feel wonderful. Not for the first time in my life, I’ve


felt the need to slow down, do less, be more present. But for the first time in my life, I have a greater motivation to do so.


It’s no longer about pushing on through the fatigue to get the work done, only to do some more. Now there’s another person involved, and that person’s well- being depends entirely on how well I care for myself. It’s become far easier to say no to


things that aren’t of utmost importance and benefit to my physical and mental health. I’ve reduced my work hours and made some big decisions, including ending my tenure at the creative space and community I have spent the last year building. I’m incredibly pleased to say that I’m handing complete ownership of the space to my very capable business partner. I’ve cut back on some of my yoga


classes and as of now will most likely be running monthly workshops instead of weekly classes. Of course when one door closes, about 20 new doors open and I found myself being offered to teach a bunch of restorative yoga classes for chronic disease patients. Being pregnant is not something I


was ready for, but it is something I’ve needed. It’s a wake-up call to stillness, to new awareness, and to acceptance of the change that is inevitable in life – the change that keeps life interesting, exciting, challenging and rewarding. I regret nothing. n


Casey Conroy is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, nutritionist, yoga and AcroYoga teacher, and naturopath-in-training who


loves raw chocolate and schisandra berries in her green smoothies. She is the founder of Funky Forest Health & Wellbeing on the Gold Coast, and advocates a practical, fun, and pleasurable approach to nutrition.


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