Pregnant... (again!)... afraid to add carbs! Suggestions?

[CindyPi]

Hi -

I just found out I am pregnant. I'm glad, but I am also scared to death that dr. is going to say I can't do Atkins anymore and I'll need to add carbs.

Atkins.com says to do Lifetime Maintenance during pregnancy and another site says I'll need 70-80 grams per day! Yikes!

I just started in October (back on track after the holidays) and have lost almost 20 lbs (I still have 70 to go). Has anyone else been in this situation? I am not adverse to adding some carbs back, since I know rapid weight loss during pregnancy is not smart, but I can't go back to eating breads, pastas or sugars. What did you add back and how hard was it? Did you do it on your own or did you see a nutritionist. I need your ESH!! Thanks!

Cindy/COE

[kbgardengirl]

I'm a little bit beyond child bearing age but I do know you are not suppose to be in ketosis while pregnant. You don't have to add back sugar or pasta or starchy food but you might want to add in whole grain in some form. You should eat at maintenance levels of carb which yes is probably 60 to 80 carbs per day. It is important that the new little baby inside of you gets the proper nutrition to develop normally. Get the book, Atkins for Life, as Dr Atkins covers maintenance in depth in this book. Congratulations on the pregnancy. Take this time to enjoy the experience and just maintain for now.

[D0ughB0y]

I'm not a doctor nor female, but if it were me in the position, I would say screw it. Just eat 'square' meals. Try to keep your carbs low, but don't go crazy. Wait until after you have the baby then do induction.

[Jasmyn]

There was another thread on this same topic a few days ago - apparently there are a lot of moms-to-be over on the Maintence board.

However - if anyone can tell me how sugar, processed flour, and starchy veggies are an ESSENTIAL part of fetal development, I'll eat my hat.

Eat healthy - lots of veggies - meats - fruits - some grains - IF you want it. Anything that your baby needs, it can get from your body.

*hugs&congrats!!*

[kbgardengirl]

There are pregnancy threads on the Maintain Lane Board. You might want to check that out. Someone there who's done it will be about to help.

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/fo...d=12&x=13&y=10

[Jasmyn]

I bumped the thread for you Cindy....

[bamagirl]

CindyPi,
I'm in the same boat! I just found out last Monday. I had a hard time getting out of ketosis, but after eating some chocolate chip cookies . . . I'm already up 4#! I'm hoping it's just water.

I don't really know how or what to eat - I enjoy eating low carb, and I don't believe that sugar and processed crap is necessary for a healthy baby. I'm going to try to eat more veggies and maybe some low carb bread every once in a while.

I gained 88# with my last baby, and I still had 3# to go. Not a bad way to start! Let me know if you find out anything!

[Kiekay]

Not sure how helpful this is but here's an article by a mother-to-be at atkins.com: click me

[DoingItMyWay]

Add some fruit and starchier veggies back.

[Lisa Rae]

Cindi..don't be scared..basically you can just slowly move to a manintenence level of carbs..that which you would have to do eventually when you hit goal right? so..relax..talk to your doctor about ..add in some whole grains (like whole wheat toast with breakfast..or oatmeal..some fruit with lunch..and some whole grain rice (like brown rice) or small potatoe with dinner. It doesn't mean you ahve to go back to your old way. There are many low-carbing pregnant and nursing moms on this board..many do sugar busters and other just do maintenence levels of atkins. The health of your baby has to be number 1 right now..and no one..not even the unborn needs to have sugar or white flour. So..

Talk to your doctor about your concerns..go to the challenge board and look for the other preggers out there (tee hee heee) oh and by the way..CONGRATS!!!

[stews]

I would eat meat and vegis like you do now. but add in whole grains and fruits. stay away from processed flours and sugars. (no pasta unless it's whole grain pasta).

[baindegael]

I agree with everyone above, don't overdo juice!!!! When I got pregnant (not on atkins, but i wish that I had heard of atkins when I was pregnant) I gained 11 lbs one month and the only change I had was drinking a lot of juice!

If you're exercising keep at it!

Congratulations!

[lostdixiechic]

Don't go back to eating a bunch of carbs (white flour and sugar). Look at my stats I had lost so much weight and have put more than half of it back on. I finally got it under control and have managed to maintain without gaining any more in the last 2 or 3 months. I started eating like I did when I was losing weight I just added one apple a day to my diet and that was enough to keep me out of ketosis. This was my doctors suggestion, because the weight gain was increasing my chances of high blood pressure and diabetes. Good luck to you and congrats!!
Later....Lost

[Lilyput]

You don't have to stay in ketosis and yes you can still do Atkins. You don't have to eat chocolate cookies to get out of Ketosis!!!! Eat fruit! Go to the Lean for life thread and eat as you would for the wieght loss days without doing the 3 protein days. Not only will you loose you will have a healthy baby...and a wonderful surprise when you are suddenly 20-30 lbs lighter after the birth!
Aim to loose 6-10 lbs while you are pregnent... you will be 15-25 lbs lighter than you are now once you have given birth. An over weight mother is not as healthy as a correct weight mom. Plan to get your excercise by swimming so you wieght is supported. But don't make pregnancey an excuse to stop eating right.
If you look at the weight loss days in lean for Life then you will see it is a healthy diet good for you and your growing baby. You just need to come out of ketosis and you do that by adding fruit anf vegetables not by eating cookies. Cookies will not give you a healthy baby...Fruit and veggies will.