Im pregnant and gaining FAST!!

[nena1717]

Im pregnant now and have already gained back 20 pounds. I feel like I cant low carb and I feel lousy and huge.
Is it true that I cannot low carb while being pregnant????

I was 145 pounds and now Im back up to 164 lbs.

[pcx99]

You should not be low carbing durring pregnancy from everything I've read. Save the low carb for after the pregnancy (and probably after the breastfeeding if you plan to go that route -- human milk has 2-3x more carbs than cows milk so you'll need some carbs to keep everything balanced).

[kbgardengirl]

You should not be in ketosis during pregnancy but you can do maintenance levels of low carb. Cut out the potatoes, sugar, starches, white flour and rice/pasta. Eat plenty of veggies Eat wholegrain cereals and bread(limit your portions). Eat low carb fruits. Watch your portions of fat containing meats and cheeses. You can and should expect a gain during pregnancy but you can limit how much you gain by carefully monitoring your eating.

[SusieQ12]

There is a pregnancy thread over on the Maintain Lane. Go check it out. I'm sure you can get plenty of great advice from those ladies.

[Kellyann]

If I was pregnant I would go to maintenance levels by adding in fruit (probably all fruit) and higher glycemic veggies like peas and carrots and such...lowcarb bread and cereal and all of the salad veggies and natural protein I wanted. I would avoid nitrates though as in hot dogs and some bacon and stuff. Congrats on being with baby! There is a pregnancy thread on the maintenance board.

[7littleangels]

You can and should low-carb while pregnant.
I am the mother of 9 (7 living ) children,so I have been pregnant A LOT.

I only low-carbed with my last pregnancy and it made a HUGE difference. No more morning sickness,acid,numbness,high blood preasure, or rapid weight gain.

You will gain a ton if you stop low carbing. Expect to gain upwards of 10# a month.

My 2 cents is to cut out all the refined stuff and eat whole natural foods add in a few whole grains if you want. Eat lots of veggies and maybe a few more fruits.

Go over to the pregnancy thread on the maintain lane board.

Best of luck to you.

Jeanie

[NYC Amanda]

Boy can I relate to this one!! I have PCOS, but have never been big thanks to a very controlled diet and good luck. When I finally got pregnant last April (2003) I weighed only 118 lbs. I gained so much (got up to 165 and stopped weighing!), and so fast, that my doctor talked to me about it pretty frequently. I wasn't eating any sugar or flour. My doctor finally came to realize that it was just the way my body worked while pregnant - she said some women just gain a TON, despite a controlled diet and moderate exercise. So yes, I agree with all the other posts about keeping your sugar intake down and sticking to whole grains, protein, low glycemic fruits, etc., but I also have to say that your baby may just want mommy to be big!! I know it stinks to feel like a whale right now - I remember oh so clearly - but pretty soon you'll have a beautiful baby, and the weight does come off. You'll have to work for it, but you'll get back down to your goal soon enough. Enjoy creating this new life - it's so amazing, isn't it!!!?

[coffeeaddict]

Take it from me--throwing away your low carb diet now is asking for trouble! I lost over 80 lbs after my first pregnancy LC and then went on the Ben N Jerry's diet during my second pregnancy. I gained it ALL back and then some and felt HUGE!!! (Um, I was). I have lost it all again but it came off slower the second time and was much harder! I so wish I could do that over again. I would have stuck to LC foods while adding back in maybe a piece of wheat bread or pasta every other day and lots of fruit. I was miserable when he was born and saw what I had really done to myself. I hope you can stop while you have a chance . . .

[LilPunkin]

Please check out the South Beach Diet. It is a wonderful diet and is based on the glycemic index, so it will keep your blood sugar down!! It sounds perfect for pregnancy!

[MonkeyBelly]

This is a great conversation to have with your obstetrician!

[ksmom3]

Been there, three times! I wish I would of cut out the junk food and all the sugars and flours when I was preggo! With my last pregnancy my Dr. told me to cut down the carbs and the sugars and flours. I did not listen to his advice very well and I did my body no favors. Do the best you can, I know it's hard but it will make it a lot easier when the sweetie gets here. Good luck and congratulations on baby!

[Diana]

Just try cutting out the bad carbs and portion control and exercise

[sugarfreedee]

I would do the maintenance phase of Atkins while pregnant. 20 lbs may sound like alot but it could be alot of water weight. Have you been tested for gestational diabetes??
Personally, pregnancy is a time to take it easy, just cut out the sugars and starches and you'll do fine.

[BFL Chick]

I read somewhere that babies whose mothers gained about 20lbs do better and are healthier and have less complications. So you probably don't want to start trying to lose weight now. Just maintain what you've gained so far...remember the baby and the sac and all that other stuff has a weight too....your weight gain might not be all fat. I think you should talk to your doctor about this.
BTW, Congratulations!

[jdprecious]

i would agree with all of the above posts.. dont do induction level carbs.. just eat whats on the allowed foods list for all levels of atkins... id stay away from sweets and breads,rice, pasta meals...

i gained 50 lbs with my pregnancy and was back down even smaller than before i had my daughter after 6 months...

dont obsess over every pound you gain.. cuz its gonna happen and there isnt anything you can do until afterwards... and i know you feel like a whale but the best advice i can give you is cherish every single second becuase it goes by fast and when you look back on it you will miss it very much...

i hated being pregnant i was miserable.. but now looking back it was the most wonderful experience of my life!

[TaiwanTeacher]

I think the www.westonaprice.org site has the best suggestions for diet during pregnancy. It's also very motiviating because it tells right out how a poor diet during pregnancy can affect the fetus.

[Diny]

A pregnant woman is supposed to gain 25-35 pounds, and I read an article once that said that babies were healthiest when the mother gained 40 pounds. How far along are you? Women actually don't gain weight for all 40 weeks of pregnancy. Weight gain stops towards the end, and you usually lose a few pounds before going into labor (it's one of the signs that labor is coming actually). Just stay away from junkfood, especially sugar and refined flour and rice, and try to eat a lot of protein and vegetables.

[Laprettygurl]

I gained 20 lbs the first tri, slowly lost it over the second and start of the third, now I am getting close to being back to 20 lbs. It doesn't bother me, it's for the good of the baby.

(btw, I am not low carbing at all)

[MrsBenson]

start the maintance phase now!! it saved me BIG time when i was pregnant!!! i just ate alot of cottage cheese..along with vegis...meat...etc. just add a few things to it...you'll be TONS better. you'll stop gaining so fast..trust me! start now!

[KaseyinTx]

I gained quick the first trimester and then it slowed down. I think I gained 25-30 pounds total and most of that was in the first few months.

[Beth Sch]

How long have you been preg.? That is a lot of wt. to gain if you are only in your first tri-mester... It is not good for you or the baby if you gain too much, too fast.

Have your Dr. do a thyroid panel on you. This should included not only TSH test, but also a free T4, free T3, and Reverse T3 tests as well. If your Gyno. doesn't have a clue about these tests, you must find an endocrinologist who is versed in reading and admistering the proper medication. Alot of physician don't like to touch hormones during pregnancy. They don't know about them and will let you suffer due to their ignorance...

Don't do what I did, and listen to a Dr. who had no clue about subclinical hypothyroidism. Thank God my daughter is alright. Hypo mommies can give birth to mentally retarded children, and suffer from a whole host of complications. Call a compounding pharmacy in your area and ask them if they can recommend a Dr. who deals with Bio Identical Hormones.

Good luck to you. Get on the maintanance level of carbs, and stay proactive with this situation. Don't just sit back and let your poor body gain 100 lbs. There is no need to gain anymore than 20-25 lbs. Some women actually have lost wt. during pregnancy, and only gained 3-10 lbs. My mom being one of those women.

Take Care, hope this helps, also, PM Non stick Pam. She can help you with Thyroid info as well!

Beth

[tiva]

Yes, yes, yes, you can low carb while pregnant! It's best to stay out of ketosis, since no one knows what the effects might be on a child. But maintainence is completely healthy. Don't eat any sugars or simple starches--they aren't necessary for a developing child.

What you should be eating:
a prenatal vitamin, of course

plenty of good sources of protein, the cleaner the better (ie, unprocessed, organic is great)

unlimited non-starchy veggies, at least 7 half cup servings a day. Pumpkin and baby carrots are great for a fetus (vitamin A). The more colorful the vegetables, the better. Eat your veggies! They are full of nutrients that a developing child needs for her brain development.

fruits--2 servings a day, especially of berries and cherries. Again, the nutrients in fruits will really help your child.

nuts--keep them in the freezer, and eat an ounce or two a day, especially walnuts and almonds. They have lots of essential fatty acids, especially omega 3s, which are great for fetal development.

flax--a little is good, but not too much (a tablespoon a day).

dairy: 3 servings a day of cheese and yogurt.

Limit the soy products (soy may not be great for a developing fetus), and fish. Fish is great for brain development, but unfortunately most fish is contaminated with toxins that aren't great for a child's development. One meal a month of most fish is the standard recommendation for pregnant women.

[yvonne326]

I agree with TIVA...friend of mine who is due in December is low-carbing...just sticking to maintenance menu...and she is controlling her weight rather nicely and the baby is growing well. She did add fruit to her diet and takes her vitamins. The important thing is to stay away from bad carbs and move around (if OK by doctor)....I walked and did some exercise with both my pregnancies and had good pregnancies and labors (and recoups after).

Congratulations and hope you have a wonderful (rest of) pregnancy and easy childbirth!

[megananne]

Originally posted by Beth Sch
How long have you been preg.? That is a lot of wt. to gain if you are only in your first tri-mester... It is not good for you or the baby if you gain too much, too fast.

Have your Dr. do a thyroid panel on you. This should included not only TSH test, but also a free T4, free T3, and Reverse T3 tests as well. If your Gyno. doesn't have a clue about these tests, you must find an endocrinologist who is versed in reading and admistering the proper medication. Alot of physician don't like to touch hormones during pregnancy. They don't know about them and will let you suffer due to their ignorance...

Don't do what I did, and listen to a Dr. who had no clue about subclinical hypothyroidism. Thank God my daughter is alright. Hypo mommies can give birth to mentally retarded children, and suffer from a whole host of complications. Call a compounding pharmacy in your area and ask them if they can recommend a Dr. who deals with Bio Identical Hormones.

Good luck to you. Get on the maintanance level of carbs, and stay proactive with this situation. Don't just sit back and let your poor body gain 100 lbs. There is no need to gain anymore than 20-25 lbs. Some women actually have lost wt. during pregnancy, and only gained 3-10 lbs. My mom being one of those women.

Take Care, hope this helps, also, PM Non stick Pam. She can help you with Thyroid info as well!

Beth

Actually, the recommended gain is 25-35 lbs for a singleton pregnancy. Women that are very overweight to begin with can safely gain less, but they need to do it with input/monitoring from their doctor/midwife.

[megananne]

ok, i just looked at your due date, and it seems as you are about half-way thru, right? So 20 lbs for halfway...even if you gained another 20, a total of 40 is not too bad...if you can avoid bad carbs and eat a healthy, maintenance-type LC plan, you may be able to only gain another 10-15 and come up within the recommended range.

One thing I have thought of is that you may have gained a lot of water weight. LC tends to have a diuretic effect, and pregnancy tends to have a water-retention effect, particulary in the hot months of summer. Some water retention is actually healthy for pregnancy. Make sure you eat plenty of protein. A protein-rich diet in pregnancy will help prevent pre-eclampsia, excess water retention, premature labor, and more. You should get AT LEAST 100 g a day for best outcome.

Good luck with the rest of your pregancy and birth

[Diny]

Originally posted by megananne
Actually, the recommended gain is 25-35 lbs for a singleton pregnancy. Women that are very overweight to begin with can safely gain less, but they need to do it with input/monitoring from their doctor/midwife.

Right, overweight women should gain 15-25, and obese women should gain 15 and not more, if possible.

[megananne]

Originally posted by Diny
Right, overweight women should gain 15-25, and obese women should gain 15 and not more, if possible.

Looking at her stats, it seems like when she got preg, she was only 10 lbs above goal...so she def. wasn't in the obese category, and not really very overweight (if at all), so I think the 25-35 lb category would probably be ok (admittedly not knowing anything about her height, bodyframe, etc.).

[nena1717]

thanks!
I will stick to whole grains, veggies, meat and fruits.
Are mangos ok? I crave mangos. lol

I am exactly 20 weeks - halfway through the pregnancy - 5 months pregnant. Ugh, it is taking soooooooo long. Already I am tired. I feel like a popcorn machine. lol
I think there is a discoteque inside me. lol

I feel a little better...so thanks everyone. When I found out I was pregnant, I totally blew the WOE off. I started eating whatever I wanted. My dh is no help there. lol But now I think I will be more careful, I don't want to get depressed anymore. I have to do something about it.

You all have been very helpful to me here - even before when I first started this woe, I came upon this site and learned alot.

Thanks!!!!!!!!