Heartburn? acid reflux?

I've been asking myself if I'll get heartburn or acid reflux this pregnancy. I guess if I am still asking, that's already a good sign. In fact, I was totally 100% vegan over the holidays and 100% nausea-free as a result. Then I came home, got totally disinterested in cooking, and in a moment of weakness took the kids to Costco and got pizza. Later that night I could feel the heartburn/acid building. My first thought was the same as all the other pregnancies, "oh, It must be the sauce that causes it." Then I stopped to think, "duh, I've had tons of marinara sauce with spaghetti and haven't had one issue." Could it be the pepperoni and cheese? What meat does pepperoni come from anyway? How is it seasoned? Bet I could season tofu in the same manner...

My husband decided to do the 21-day vegan kickstart challenge nutritionmd.org is sponsoring. I have heard Dr. McDougall's name a lot and looked up his comments. Interesting. Plant-based diets soothe the stomach lining. GERD and ulcers are a result of animal products in the system in an unhealthy manner over a long period of time.

Pregnancy does all sorts of fun stuff to a body. I might get heartburn, but I'll bet if I do, it won't be nearly as bothersome as before.

Crazy Cravings

Do you have crazy pregnancy cravings? Heard of some from friends? How about avoidances?

Through my last three prenancies I have had an aversion to sugar and ice cream. This one is proving to be no different, right down to the ice cream part - meaning I can't even have non-diary versions. The one very odd part I'm finding is my aversion to wheat. Can't do it. Can't eat my homemade bread or rolls. I can't eat a slice of white bread unless it's a sandwich, and limited to one at that.

This wheat thing has made me switch gears and focus on lots of brown rice, quinoa, and grinding barley into flour for pancakes instead of wheat. It leaves me puzzled though, why no wheat?

Pregnancy can do some very strange things.

I have been craving pizza every day for weeks. I've purchased a Kashi vegan one (unfortuntely our local Walmart stocked one that expired 3 months ago - they were good to give a refund), and Trader Joe's one (which is good by the way) but all to no avail. Cheese-less doesn't cut it. I can't stand vegan soy cheese either, so I don't dare make my own and watch it go down the drain.

That craving got so strong I finally decided to brace myself for digestion misery. I stopped at Costco with the fam and treated us all to pizza. The kids were estatic. I can't blame them, pizza was one of my all-time favorite foods; I ate it at least 3 times a week in high school. Rather than just order a cheese pizza I really wanted to give in to my craving and get a pepperoni, which is exactly what I did. Good move! Did you know that pepperoni has less cheese than a cheese pizza, I know that seems like a no brainer, yet it is a detail I forgot. It was divine. I knew my limit though. After a slice and a half I traded the remainder with my daughter for the crust of her slice she was nibbling at.

All night I expected misery, I woke myself up a few times expecting it, it never came.

How? All I can thing of are a combination of 2 solutions. I've been drinking a vegan greens drink everyday since Thanksgiving that supplies lactase. I also think that this little baby needed some nurishment from it and rewarded me for supplying it. Hooray!