We are sharing success stories to find out why people decide to see a dietitian, what happens on the journey, what the hardest part of that journey is and what results are achieved. This week we chat to Glenise Valentyn, who started seeing Registered Dietitian Retha Mostert after she struggled to fall pregnant and was diagnosed with insulin resistance. Here is her story ….
Why did you decide to see a dietitian? (the before story)
When I visited a gynaecologist, because I was struggling to fall pregnant, he did some tests and I was diagnosed with insulin resistance. He explained the dangers involved for the baby and me, should I fall pregnant and advised me to immediately start with a healthy lifestyle. I decided to see a dietitian.
Tell us about your journey with the dietitian?
I made my first appointment with Registered Dietitian Retha Mostert soon after I saw the gynaecologist. She worked out very easy meal plans (not diet plans) for me. All the ingredients were readily available at our supermarket. I could prepare food that my whole family enjoyed. She taught me how to make the right choices when making decisions on what to eat. I was very comfortable with her. A little bit later I found out that I was pregnant. I visited Retha throughout my whole pregnancy, looking forward to my bi-monthly visits with her.
Tell us about your results / successes?
I could feel a difference in myself right after I started to see Retha. I had much more energy. I only gained a total of 5kg throughout my whole pregnancy. Most of it was only in the last weeks. The gynaecologist was very worried at first that I wasn’t gaining weight, but she checked the baby’s progress and growth and was happy. I was tested for insulin resistance during my pregnancy and there was no sign of it. I gave birth to a normal baby daughter of 2.89kg. My weight after the birth of my baby was less than before I fell pregnant. Seeing Retha helped me make a complete lifestyle change.
What was the hardest part of the journey?
The hardest part was to resist pregnancy cravings. I always had to remind myself of the consequences of eating the wrong foods.
What are the top three tips you can share?
- Believe in yourself
- Trust your dietitian
- Always plan ahead and put your plans in writing
What the dietitian says (a few words from Retha Mostert)
Throughout her pregnancy Glenise was so motivated. Her sugar levels were showing warning signs before the pregnancy and by making smart food choices she kept them under control throughout her pregnancy. She proved that its not necessary to ‘eat for two’ when you are pregnant. Even when she went for her regular check-ups with her gynaecologist, he couldn’t believe that she herself was not gaining a lot of weight, but sonars confirmed that her baby was growing the way she should. At 38 weeks Glenise had a healthy baby girl! What better reward can there be?
To find a Registered Dietitian in your area, please visit: www.adsa.org.za
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