Dr put me on a diet for duration of pregnancy

cza7048

I saw my OB at 16 weeks. He was very serious about me watching my weight. The reason is, I had a C-section with last baby. DD was 8.4 lbs. Dr is hoping for me to have smaller baby so we could try for VBAC.

I can't have any sugar or starch. Anyone else put on such a diet (similar to gestational diabetes diet, a bit more lenient)? I need advise on what is ok to eat. I'm always hungry! 

oneblessedmess

This sounds off to me. Your doctor put you on a diet for the sole purpose of keeping your baby small?

There's nothing wrong with eating healthier though. I would Google GD meals or maybe look into some clean eating or paleo blogs for ideas.

amberrmariee20

This also sounds very odd to me. I gained 59 lbs my last pregnancy, my baby weighed 9 lbs 7 oz at birth and I delivered him vaginally. This time around I'm at risk for a bigger baby, I have to see an obstetrician at 7 months to rule out the size of the baby. My dr last time guessed my son would be 7.5-8 lbs and no bigger, she was way off. My dr doesn't have me on any specific diet or meal plans this time around to try and "keep baby small" I would opt for a second opinion on this matter.

ChristyM87

The size of the baby does not affect your ability to birth the baby vaginally. 8.4 pounds is a good healthy size. Even if you do follow this ridiculous diet there is no guarantee that this baby will be smaller. You might just make 8 pound babies

PrimRoseMama

cza7048 said:

I saw my OB at 16 weeks. He was very serious about me watching my weight. The reason is, I had a C-section with last baby. DD was 8.4 lbs. Dr is hoping for me to have smaller baby so we could try for VBAC.

I can't have any sugar or starch. Anyone else put on such a diet (similar to gestational diabetes diet, a bit more lenient)? I need advise on what is ok to eat. I'm always hungry! 

Ask for a referral to a dietiean or other specialist. You should have help meal planning.

Yoganinja

Nearly all women that I personally know who have gained little weight in pregnancy (30 lbs max) had big 9lb babies. The ones who gained 60 lbs had 7lb or less babies. Sounds counterintuitive but it's true.

cza7048

Thanks to all of you for replying. Just to clarify, I have a narrow pelvic arch. That's the reason I was unable to push out a 8.4 lb baby.  

groovylocks

Uh... where did your doctor get his degree?

AMAmom79

What the doctor may be going for is preventing common complications found in obese pregnant women, like gestational diabetes or maternal hypertension, both of which can cause harm to you and the baby. If you are obese, it isn't going to hurt you to watch your diet and make sure you get plenty of healthy fats, fruits, vegetables. And protein. Many women use pregnancy as an excuse to go nuts with their eating and that is not a good thing. The old adage "eating for two" is not true.

leela02

Yoganinja said:

Nearly all women that I personally know who have gained little weight in pregnancy (30 lbs max) had big 9lb babies. The ones who gained 60 lbs had 7lb or less babies. Sounds counterintuitive but it's true.

I gained 26 lbs and had an 8lb baby. I only gained weight in my belly. Maybe it's because bigger babies run in DH's family (DH was a 9lb preemie).

I tested borderline for GD and the diet suggested to me was mostly protein, non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats. I was still allowed small servings of sweets (including fruits) & starches.

twogirlsandagreen

There just doesn't seem to be much truth to what you eat and the size of your baby. My friend is paleo and stuck pretty closely to her paleo diet and her baby was huge (I can't remember exactly, but somewhere in the 9's). She only gained 15 lbs too! For me, I ate the exact same for both daughters and my first was 7lbs and second 9lbs! Neither of us had diabetes either. She is still crazy tall for her age (solid 4t in clothes even through she just turned 3). She is not fat, not even chubby, just TALL! Then there is Kate Middleton who looked like she barely gained a pound and was pretty sick the whole time, yet Charotte was 8+ lbs. I'm not a doctor obviously, but I truly think a baby is going to be whatever size it is going to be despite your diet. Now us pregnant moms, on the other hand, can completely control how much WE gain through pregnancy with our diet and a diet low in sugars and starches isn't a bad thing for your own health.

MarleneG88

Big baby is not contraindicated for vbac delivery. Being healthy is always good, of course, but don't let "big baby" fears stop you from having the birth you want.