Pregnancy and eating healthy/bad

Ella - posted on 08/03/2011

no smoking and drinking obviously, and Id eat most things in moedration (except easter I went over board and ate HEAPS of chocolate), but not soft serve ice cream, whipped cream, cold meats, eggs that arent well cooked etc I stuck to most of those rules, had a small serve of ham at christmas and some other things but in general I dont care about eating junk food as long its its not way over board and long as Im taking my vitamins and eating enough of all the food groups in a day. I only gained 3kg with my first pregnancy and I ate way more junk then second time practically one vanilla slice a day on my lunch break at work. Second bub I put on 17kg

Stifler's - posted on 08/02/2011

I didn't gain any weight til 20 weeks with both kids. After that mark I put on like 20kg with each one.

Lady Heather - posted on 08/02/2011

Dude, with my first pregnancy, I put on 8 lbs before I even knew I was pregnant. I was not eating any differently and certainly not for two because I had no idea until 20dpo. Just bam - I got fat. That was what made me test again. Ha. So to keep it to 5lbs in the first trimester was obviously not going to happen! I think I ended up at 13 lbs in the first trimester that time. This time it was 7 lbs.

Kate CP - posted on 08/02/2011

With my daughter I would eat anything that would stay down. So if that meant I ate nachos and popsicles all damn day then that's what I ate. With my son I was doing much better in the barfing department but I ended up with GD so I had to be careful with the carbs and sugars. I cannot tell you how hard it was to NOT eat a bucket full of fettuccine Alfredo while 7 months pregnant. :P

I remember reading an article when I was pregnant with my daughter and it said something along the lines of "You're not eating for two people in quantity, you're eating for two in quality" and to not pack on 10 pounds in the first trimester. It said that you shouldn't really gain more than 5 pounds in the first 3 months and that most of your weight gain should be towards the end of the second trimester. That kept me from chowing down when I first found out I was pregnant. But then I ended up with HG and lost 25 pounds...that sucked. :/

Rebecca - posted on 08/02/2011

Well, I have to keep my diet strictly "healthy" all the time because of my health issues and my allergies. If I eat junk, I get very ill and suffer from it. This would not be good pregnant or not.

So, yeah, it is my responsibility to avoid foods that make me ill and put my child in a body that is not functioning well.

I do know it is not like that for others. In fact, if I did not get immediately ill, I may just "cheat" now and then. However, that is not the case.

I sucks, but that is my life.

The offshoot is that I tend to maintain a stable healthy weight though.

ME - posted on 08/02/2011

I was not healthy before I got pregnant the first time...but I changed my ways immediately after I found out (at 6 weeks). With the second one, I hadn't really gone back to my old ways, so I was still doing a pretty good job of eating healthy. If anything, I exercised more while pregnant both times than I do normally :( I did consider it my duty as a parent to take care of myself while pregnant...I consider it my duty now, as a parent, to take care of myself and stick around as long as possible...

Veronica - posted on 08/02/2011

I think its our responsibility to do all we can to be healthier before during and after pregnancy -- however, everybody's body's are different, and each pregnancy is different too. There is nothing wrong with junk food - fat/sugar/starches/etc. are just as important in a well-balanced diet -- its portion control that is the bigger issue. I think what you crave and desire as a pregnant woman - you should eat it (except dangerous things like paint chips and stuff - ive heard of bizarre cravings like these before) -- most of my kids i had spicy cravings - tacos, salsa, chili. My first and sixth it was alllll about cheese, and meat - couldnt get enough steak! lol And salad loaded with veggies was definatly in the menu too! My husband actually ate more junk food than i did - when i was pregnant - he always gained the 30/40 lbs. right along with me - he literally eats pints of ice cream a day, and anything chocolate he can get his hands on - so he takes care of my almost non-existant sweet tooth! LOL

Overall - i think its important to also consider your diet when you are pregnant - but not to an anal point either.

Becky - posted on 08/02/2011

I try to eat healthier than normal during pregnancy, but it's hit and miss for me. My first pregnancy, I couldn't eat meat at all during my first trimester, especially chicken. After that, I could eat a little, but chicken, I could still only really stomach if it was breaded. So I ate a lot of chicken burgers. My first trimester, all I wanted was ramen noodles, fruit, and milk, pretty much. At least I ate a lot of fruit! And then in my third trimester, I got super sick and for 3 weeks or so, lived on chocolate Boost shakes and apple sauce. I could hardly eat or keep anything down up until he was born. I was so worried he was going to starve. My second and third (so far) pregnancies haven't been as bad, but there are still days when I'll make my family a meal, look at it, and go, yuck! Although, that generally tends to be the less healthy stuff, like perogies, hamburgers and pizza. I do tend to eat a lot of carbs when I'm pregnant. They're usually the easiest for me to stomach. So, I think it's important to eat healthy, but I also don't think it's fair to judge, because you never know, a woman may be eating the only thing she can keep down, even if it is crap. (well, not literally, I hope!!) And it's more important to make sure you eat, period!

Kelly - posted on 08/02/2011

I gained 24 pounds in my pregnancy--I was 98 before, got up to 122 at my heaviest, and was back down to 96 within 12 weeks post birth.

I feel it is my duty to both myself and my family to keep myself healthy. I don't like asparagus, it tastes like dirt, but I eat it.

I was lucky with morning sickness--mine was very predictable. It hit every morning without fail from 2am to 5am, then again most days from 2pm to 5pm. I simply planned for it by waking up at 1:30am and eating a handful of crackers so that I would have something to vomit other than bile (which I found too painful to vomit). I ate a healthy breakfast at 6am, lunch at 11am, then a few crackers around 1:45 in case I was going to be sick. Then I had dinner about 6pm and went straight to bed because I knew I'd be up at 1:30am and would not have a chance to go back to sleep before work. I did have to leave work early a lot due to the afternoon sickness, but I owned the company and had great employees so it wasn't a huge deal.

I did give into my cravings on occasion, but not all the time--I craved McDonalds plain double cheeseburger dipped in ranch sauce, so I'd have weighed a ton if I'd eaten them everyday. Even now, not pregnant, I occasionally indulge in junk, I just balance it with exercise.

Calories from junk food are empty, they have no nutritional value, so they must be burnt through extra exercise. Right now, I am sipping on a 12oz can of regular Pepsi, so tonight when I go to the gym, I will do an extra 3 miles on the treadmill at 4mph and a 6% incline. That will burn the 150 empty calories from the Pepsi. Knowing that I have to run an extra 45minutes for a Pepsi or a piece of junk food keeps me from taking in too much. I can't have a Pepsi and a Twinkie in one day because I could never work it off--some may be able to, but I don't have the endurance or the time.

Stifler's - posted on 08/01/2011

I never grew out of hating vegetables either. I really really hate them. I make them anyway though and try to stop myself from vomiting when I eat broccoli or zucchini.

Sarah - posted on 08/01/2011

@Jenn : I just stopped eating. No-one seems to really know why!
I guess I was a really really fussy eater that never grew out of it.

Lady Heather - posted on 07/31/2011

omg. This could have been written by me.
"While pregnant, I had both food aversions and food cravings. Mostly it was aversions - everything made me sick...pretty much everything edible smelled awful to me. You know what didn't make me sick? McDonalds. I might only eat one thing each day that I could keep down and with my son Hawk - that was usually a Big Mac. But people don't think you're awesome when you eat McDonalds every day instead of organic non-fat cruelty-free chicken wraps from the Whole Foods take-out counter. But you know what? You eat what you can eat. And everyone else can go suck it."

http://www.pregnantchicken.com/pregnant-...

:)

Dana - posted on 07/31/2011

That's exactly what I did my first trimester, Sara. I avoided as much crap like that as I could. I craved Hi-C punch but, all the dyes in it freaked me out so I didn't drink it.

Sara - posted on 07/31/2011

I have had gestational diabetes with both my pregnancies, and for the health of my child and myself, I adhere to the very strict GD diet...so yeah, I don't get to eat whatever I want. But, I only gained 18lbs with my first pregnancy and have gained 12lbs so far in this pregnancy with less than 5 weeks left. But, I do think it is important to attempt to eat healthy when pregnant overall. I always avoid caffeine and artificial sweeteners in the first trimester. After that, I loosen up a bit, but still try to eat a balanced diet.

Jenn - posted on 07/31/2011

@Sarah - why did you live on such a poor diet from the age of 2?

Jenn - posted on 07/31/2011

I ate the way I always do, just more of it. I always eat healthy, with a nice dose of junk mixed in. Just the way I like it! :)

Mary - posted on 07/31/2011

I think, as many responses indicate, we are all different in our pregnancies. Now, the easy, obvious answer is that, yes, we all should try to eat healthy, pregnant or not. Some of us do a better job of that than others. Having worked in L&D, I can definitely attest to the fact that there really are a good number of women who do just say, "fuck it" and eat whatever and whenever they want. A 75lb+ weight gain in pregnancy is NOT good for you or your baby, and is certainly indicative of eating in excess of your body's (and baby's) needs.

That being said, I do think there are some unique challenges some of us face while pregnant. Pre-pregnancy, I did eat fairly "well". I continued to do so for the first 11 weeks of my pregnancy. And then....everything changed. I became the official hurling queen. For at least 5 weeks, anything solid was my mortal enemy. I lived on slurpees, italian ice, popsicles, cranberry juice (strange, I know) peppermint ice cream, and regular coke. Vegetables, particularly salads were always, without fail, violently and almost instantly rejected and ejected by my very fickle stomach. Molly was almost two before I could summon the courage to face asparagus again.

After that 5 week stretch of hell, I was able to expand my dietary horizons a little at a time. I could eat a select and narrow assortment of solids that would stay down. Vegetables and any type of chicken were definitely not among them. Like some of you, I found myself eating at McDonald's (double cheeseburger, small fries, and that horrid sweet tea) at least 4 times a week. Why? because for whatever odd reason, it was one of the rare things I found that I could consistently keep down, especially the last 4 weeks or so. I gained a total of 25lbs while pregnant, although I lost 5 of those pounds during the last 2 weeks before delivery.

Before pregnancy, the only time I ate fast food was on long road trips, where it was my only option. By the time I delivered, I was on a first-name basis with all the employees of both my local McD's and the 7-11. Funny, I don't think I've had either a slurpee, sweet tea, or a double cheeseburger since I was pregnant. The mere thought of them now makes me nauseous ;-)

Christina - posted on 07/30/2011

I guess it depends on why you are eating unhealthy. I did indulge my cravings, but I made sure I ate healthy too. With my third, I will admit I only ate McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Arbys. However that is because it was the only thing I could keep down. I would vomit if I tried eating anything else, and wouldn't be able to keep anything down for the rest of the day. I was already thin, and began to lose weight. Finally, I said screw it, and started eating the fastfood I was craving. I kept it in check, and only gained 25lbs by the time I delivered her at 35wks gestation. My midwife was so excited when I began to gain weight and asked if I was eating healthy. I admitted I wasn't, and she asked what I would get from the fastfood joints to eat. I told her I was trying to do the grilled chicken most of the time, and she told me to throw extra lettuce and tomato on it and she would be happy.

Ashley=) - posted on 07/30/2011

We should eat healthy pregnant or not.For me personally.I craved the best foods more so because i had an eagerness to nourish my unborn girls with nothing but the best.I did that fully on my first.

Second time around i fell off track a bit.She was super healthy and very alert etc.I couldn't eat a lot on her.So when i did it was a quick fix i wanted.

I think its good to always want to eat well and on the healthy side as the effects are far greater.

Valerie - posted on 07/29/2011

nutrition is vital to your health and the health of your baby...educate others to that fact and they let go as it is not our place to judge or condemn

Sherri - posted on 07/29/2011

I tend to eat a lot less when I am pregnant. The only pregnancy I gained any large amt with was my first. I gained 45lbs with my first, only 17lbs with my second and 12lbs with my third.

With my third I gained 12lbs and he weighed 8lbs 5ozs. Actually weighed less after giving birth then I did before I was pregnant.

I am currently almost 11wks and haven't gained a pound yet. I tend to eat healthy just not a lot. I think they all seem to sit on my stomach making me full after a small amt.

Sarah - posted on 07/29/2011

I'm a bit of an unusual case, I don't eat "properly", I never have. I stopped eating properly when I was about 2, so I've never known any different.
Basically, I don't eat any cooked food, I lived for years on cheese sandwiches, crisps, chocolate, fruit and yogurts. It was only in my late teens (18+) that extended what I ate to include omelette, jacket potato, chips and pizza!

So when I fell pregnant with my eldest, I was understandably worried about my diet and how it would effect the baby. I went to a dietician, who basically told me to just eat. Not very helpful! Then my GP told me that the baby is like a parasite, it would take whatever it needed from whatever I ate, so the baby would be fine, but I might suffer.

My eldest was born at a healthy 7lbs 13oz. I did have to take iron tablets near the end, and I was very ill after she was born, needed a blood transfusion.......it was a traumatic birth tho.

My youngest was born an even healthier 8lbs and 3oz. I didn't need to take iron tablets (before or after). I had an emergency C-section and was absolutely fine afterwards!

I'm not trying to advocate my crappy diet, lol, it's obviously not the optimum way to be!
I do think it's important to be healthy during pregnancy, but I also think it's not the worst thing in the world to have a bit of what you fancy ;)

Elfrieda - posted on 07/28/2011

I loved the cravings! It was always for healthy stuff (and sometimes Mexican food). Also I had an aversion to ice cream, which my husband says is one of my main food groups normally. So when I got the feeling "I MUST eat this entire cantaloupe!" I just went ahead and did it. :)

I don't know if it was just me, but I felt like my body was taking over, by-passing my brain. When it needed a nap, I woke up confused, not remembering lying down 45 minutes earlier. When it suspected the food of possibly being contaminated, it wouldn't let me eat it. (All red meat, dark green lettuce, and baked sweet stuff were no-goes.) It was kind of cool, but freaky at the same time.

Stifler's - posted on 07/28/2011

I plan to eat healthy and exercise and then I feel so crap that I don't do it. We ate a good dinner with meat and veg every night pretty much but I took Logan to Maccas one day a week and had take away every second other day my whole pregnancy. Then by eating badly I feel worse and gain heaps of weight.

Joanna - posted on 07/28/2011

I gave into my cravings, whatever they were. If I denied myself in the pursuit of being a perfect parent-to-be, I would have been miserable and probably ended up binging in the end. So if I wanted a cupcake, I had it. If I wanted a meal of just steamed green beans and sugar-snap peas, I had it. My cravings were different, not just junk. But I've never had the best diet to begin with, so my different cravings were great (especially since the biggest cravings were for steamed veggies and milk).

Erin - posted on 07/28/2011

OMG so it's not just happening to me?!?! So friggin annoying.

Dana - posted on 07/28/2011

Jeez, this lag waiting for posts to show up when I know they're there, is REALLY wearing thin.

Erin - posted on 07/28/2011

In a perfect world, free of sickness, food aversions, time and financial limitations, yeah we should all be eating the perfect balanced diet while pregnant. But not many of us live in that perfect world. I sure didn't.

So I did the best I could. I craved milk (and am not normally a milk drinker at all), but other than that my diet didn't really change. It wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't terrible. It involved a lot of bland snacks in the beginning, because I was so terrified of developing the HG that has cursed the women in my family for generations. I could not stomach red meat at any point. I definitely paid the price for that. I was severely anemic after birth and had a dreadful recovery and minimal milk production (despite taking prenatals, having a blood transfusion, and being on iron tablets).

In hindsight, I wish I had forced myself to eat the meat. A bit of nausea/vomiting would have been worth it to me. And I will be conscious of that if there is a next time. But I really don't think many women subscribe to the 'I'm eating for two, so I'll load myself up on crap' philosophy anymore. I think most of us do our best in our given circumstances.

September - posted on 07/28/2011

I ate really healthy foods when I was pregnant but I ate crap too. Like pints of Ben and Jerry’s! I think it's important to eat healthy while pregnant but I did not deprive myself when it came to cravings. When I was craving something I HAD to have it! I read a great article about foods that are great for unborn babies and I did eat those foods. One that I can remember was walnuts. They help with brain development, and I loved them.

Lady Heather - posted on 07/28/2011

I guess I did have a week this time where I ate mixed greens and fish. That probably helped. This is why I think there is a difference between the "I'm eating for two and I'm going to eat whatever" thing and what happens to me. Because there I am, 16 weeks pregnant and surrounded by burgers and fries and all sorts of tasty crap at this restaurant on holiday and the only thing I could stomach was a mixed green salad with some nuts on it. I don't eat what I want, I eat what I can.Of course now it's much better and I'm almost entirely back to how I eat normally. Last night the broccoli made me sick again though. I don't know what it is about my normally favourite vegetable that goes all wrong when pregnant.

Minnie - posted on 07/28/2011

When you're puking all the time you have to eat what will stay down. I get very sick too, but not enough to lose weight while pregnant. I think I could puke multiple times a day but I fight it tooth and nail.

Lady Heather - posted on 07/28/2011

Oh Elfrieda - I see you had the same problem. YAY. I mean, not yay. But glad it's not just me. It's absolutely horrifying to think that I actually eat fast food when pregnant. It's not all the time, just a short phase and then at random when I'm not feeling well. Trust me people - this is not what I actually WANT to eat. ha. There was also an ice cream and applesauce period this pregnancy. If I was eating what I really wanted it would have been ice cream and pie. But any sort of baked good was vomitous and applesauce was awesome. It's SO WEIRD.

Lady Heather - posted on 07/28/2011

But seriously - what do you do if you barfing like crazy? Am I the only one this happened to? I mean it wasn't only junk that would stay down, but it was usually only 2 or 3 different foods that I could eat so even when it wasn't junk, it wasn't balanced. For one two week period all I could eat was mashed potatoes with cheese. Then it was McDonald's cheeseburgers (which I don't even like) and green grapes. There was no rhyme or reason to it. Same thing happened this time. Maybe this isn't normal. I don't know. I know my sister only ate apples and jelly beans for a few weeks when her sickness was really bad. Maybe it's genetic.

Minnie - posted on 07/28/2011

I eat healthy whenever. It's my responsibility to be healthy regardless for my family. I have to take care of my children; I don't want to be risking cancer and heart disease due to a poor diet.

Eating healthy while pregnant and breastfeeding goes without say.

I agree that we can gain weight and still be healthy. I eat a diet that is quite high in fat. But it's not 'whatever I want.' Processed foods and hydrogenated vegetable oils are a huge cause of heart disease.

I gained 34 pounds exactly with both of my pregnancies and was back down to 113 by 6 months. I've started working out and gained three pounds in muscle.

Teresa - posted on 07/28/2011

I think it is a responsibility to take care of yourself when pregnant and that means eating healthfully.

Lady Heather - posted on 07/28/2011

I try my best. Before I got pregnant I was all "I'm going to eat all healthy and be active and do everything right". Then I met the first trimester (and a half because my sickness lasts a looooong time). I couldn't eat any of the things I'd planned. If I even so much as smelled broccoli, I'd throw up. At that point I figure you just have to eat whatever stays down, take your vitamins and hope for the best. Even now, I'm a few days away from my third trimester and there's stuff I can't eat because I get the odd wave of nausea. I just try to make it up another time.

I'm sure there are women who are able to eat all the healthy stuff all the time and that's great for them. Myself, I just can't. I don't know why my body does what it does, but I think it's probably better to eat something than nothing. I don't see how I'm a bad person because I probably eat a million times better than most people do when I'm not pregnant. I think that should probably count for something.

Rosie - posted on 07/28/2011

i personally think it's important, however i personally didn't do that. why? theres lame excuses, and not so lame ones, i'll list a few.

my first one i wasn't really all that into the pregnancy. i was single, it was unplanned, i wanted him, but was stressed and i knew i should eat healthy, i just wasn't really aware of HOW healthy i should eat. i ate what i usually ate, just more of it. cause i was starving...all the time.

second kinda the same thing as the first except it was planned. i just really didn't feel think i ate all that horrible, until i looked back and yeah, it wasn't so great. but again, i ate alot...i was starving.

my third. i was stressed out, had no time to cook, it was a hell of a lot easier to get hardees than cook something for just myself. my husband had gotten into a car accident the day after i got pregnant. he was stuck in a wheelchair for 2 months, and couldn't walk without assistance until after lucas was born.

also throughout my pregnancies i did not really crave anything healthy-except for cantaloupe with my second. i didnt' really have many specific cravings persay, but i wanted what i wanted and if i didn't get that i would vomit, or it would taste like shit and not satisfy me. i couldnt' eat it, and like i said, i was starving sooooo, there. my lame and not so lame excuses, lol.

Lacye - posted on 07/28/2011

I ate what I wanted but most of what I wanted was pretty healthy for me, besides the pizza and ice cream (not together), I mostly wanted my veggies, like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and water cashews (I was so craving chinese food!)

Elfrieda - posted on 07/28/2011

I think that it's important to eat a nutritious diet when pregnant especially, but I shy away from making blanket statements about "You should eat this and this, but not that" because it feels like everyone is trying to control pregnant women already.

I sure felt like that. I ended up not reading the "What to Expect" book because I felt talked down to and slightly panicky every time I turned the page to see what other horrible thing I was accidentally doing to my baby just by having a cat, not eating 12 servings of veg a day, etc. Especially when I had such terrible morning sickness and could only eat apples, lemons, crackers, and occasionally bean burritos for three months, talking to me about a balanced diet was not the best way to make friends.

So, yes, be aware that what you eat affects the baby and eat accordingly, but don't judge the pregnant stranger you see with an ice cream cone. That's my opinion.

Oh, I gained 32 lbs (42 lbs, if you count the 10 lbs I lost in the first trimester and then gained back later) and had a 7lb 13 oz, 21 inch boy.

Dana - posted on 07/28/2011

I agree, Cathy, different bodies have different needs and I also think different pregnancies have different needs.

And don't get me wrong. I'm in no way saying I never eat junk food while pregnant. ;) I do however consciously eat better.

Amber - posted on 07/28/2011

I eat fairly healthy overall, so it's not something that I really think about. I always made sure that I didn't skip any meals when I was pregnant though. I sometimes forget to each lunch when I'm busy, so I focused on that aspect. I also tried to grab a snack in between meals too, but that was more for the nausea.

I did eat a lot of Taco Bell when I was pregnant though. I don't even know why. I don't really like Taco Bell. It's one of those once every couple of years foods for me.... This ended when I got pre-eclampsia because of its high sodium.

Cathy - posted on 07/28/2011

First child I was very healthy diet wise. I avoided the foods on the not recommended list. I ate breakfast. Snacked on fruit. I also spent half my pregnancy having black outs from a combination of low blood pressure, vertigo, and low blood sugar. The kid just drained me of everything.

Second pregnancy I just couldn't find time to be that careful what I ate. I snacked frequently on junk and if I craved sugar I ate sugar. No problems second time round with low blood pressure, vertigo or low blood sugar. Second baby was smaller but I'm not sure a 7lb baby compared to 8lbs13ozs is something to be concerned about. I was much smaller second time round despite my lazy crappy diet.

Different bodies have different needs.

Dana - posted on 07/28/2011

Anyway, this kind of proves my whole point. Just because Teresa and myself can get away with eating whatever we want and not gaining tons of weight, do we have that right to do that to the child that we are growing in our uterus? Is it fair to bombard them with unhealthy foods?

Dana - posted on 07/28/2011

Why are you being so touchy. lol I never said I knew what you ate.

Taking this debate a little too personal there, Teresa.

Teresa - posted on 07/28/2011

I did eat healthy TOO. I think I'll trust me, my life, my doctors, and my kids (who were all healthy... and good sizes considering the size of their mother) over people who don't know me and exactly what and when I ate.

Dana - posted on 07/28/2011

Actually I am the same way. I can eat whatever I want and I always weigh 120. That's after my first child and hitting my thirties, before that I weighed 110-115 all the time. Still, I have to make sure I eat very healthy with tons of protein and good fats so I gain a proper amount during pregnancy. You can't eat empty calories and shit and expect to gain a healthy weight for you and the baby.

Teresa - posted on 07/28/2011

Are you me? Yeah.... my whole life I've always eaten whatever I wanted... as much as I wanted... and when I didn't eat crap.... I was LESS than 88 pounds. ;)

Dana - posted on 07/28/2011

But, you can eat healthy and gain the weight, you don't have to eat crap.

Teresa - posted on 07/28/2011

I ate whatever I wanted (still do, in fact), but that does not mean I only ate crap. I do eat crap, but I also eat quite a bit of healthy options.



I didn't have the attitude of 'Yay, I can eat what I want and put on tons of weight, I'm pregnant!' I had the attitude of 'oh crap... I'm 88 pounds and pregnant w/ twins. How the hell am I going to gain enough for them to grow and be healthy?!' ;)