caloric intake for twin pregnancy

PumpkinAndThePeanut · November 2012

Hello, I can't remember if I have posted anything on this board yet (I usually hang out on my BMB) but I'm 14w5d pregnant with di/di twins and will be a FTM. I apologize in advance if this has already been asked dozens of times but I did a quick search and didn't see any recent similar posts.

I have been reading Dr. Luke's book on multiple pregnancies and would like to know from you other ladies (especially those of you who have had multiples with very healthy birth weights) whether you followed the nutritional guidelines in her book (or if you didn't read her book, how many calories you ate/drank per day)? My regular OB suggests 500 extra calories/day but Dr. Luke's book seems to recommend a lot more than that.

I have been upping my calories over the past several days because I'm concerned I'm not going to gain the 24 pounds by 24 weeks (I will have gained about 8 pounds by 15 weeks) but I'm not sure my regular OB would recommend me eating quite as much as I have been. She seemed pleased with my current weight gain at my checkup yesterday, but she is not a MFM or a multiples "specialist."

I should add that pre-pregnancy I was normal weight/BMI.

TIA!

Excitedtostart · November 2012

I'm trying to follow her guidelines, but I'm still really suffering from nausea and I've actually lost weight. Babies are measuring slightly ahead, so I'm trying not to stress and just do the best you can.

My OB had very different guidelines for intake, and when I discussed Dr Luke with her she said it was fine. Her words "Use common sense. And if your blood sugars start raging with your GTT we'll check back in and make a new plan".

2moms2b · November 2012

My OB told me 300 per baby so 600 extra per day. It also really helped as he said the calories are not so much important as what they are so he gave me a guideline that included how much protein, dairy, carbs etc. I don't follow it to a T but I at least make sure I get my protein and dairy.

I never thought I would hit 24lbs by 24 weeks as I was sitting at +5 at my 18 week appointment but I did! I seems from 18 to 24 weeks I added the rest. I am now at almost 26 weeks and am up 30lbs. Then again my OB doesn't worry about my weight as long as the babies are doing well and I am not showing signs of any complications due to weight.

elizabeth0705 · November 2012

My original OB said an extra 500 or so calories per day was about right for twins (she also told me to aim to gain 25-35 lbs throughout the pregnancy, which seemed very conservative). I ended up switching OBs because I moved, and my new OB said to shoot for the higher end of 30-40 lbs because I started the pregnancy slightly underweight. My MFM agreed, and said to shoot for 40 lbs.

I read Dr. Luke's book, and while I didn't stick to her calorie suggestions, I did try to eat as much protein as possible, especially during the first and second trimesters when I was feeling up to cooking a lot. I was not up 24 lbs by 24 weeks, but I do seem to be catching up in the third trimester! At my last OB appointment (34 weeks) I was up 32 lbs. We'll see how much I weigh at this week's appointment, and when I deliver, but it seems like I'm on track to gain around 35-40 lbs by the end of the pregnancy.

I would just focus on protein, veggies, and eating a well-rounded diet while trying to get in the extra amount of calories that your OB recommends. Also, eat when you are hungry! I think the body kind of figures it out.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · November 2012

Thanks all! When I mentioned Dr. Luke's book to my OB, she kind of side-eyed me and said she'd never heard of her. She said to shoot for 40 pounds total. I have been eating a lot, but I haven't been force-feeding myself, LOL. I've been concentrating on protein (including lots of dairy), veggies and fiber and haven't been concerned about limiting fat content. I just felt like I hadn't really gained much the past couple of weeks and thought I should step it up. Very glad to know that others have followed similar advice and got to where you need to be.

Blueyed228 · November 2012

When I was released from my RE they told me 500 extra calories.

My MFM told me 1000. I am meeting with a nutritionist next week at his suggestion.

He also told me he would like to see me gain 30-40lbs.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · November 2012

Blueyed228:

When I was released from my RE they told me 500 extra calories.

My MFM told me 1000. I am meeting with a nutritionist next week at his suggestion.

He also told me he would like to see me gain 30-40lbs.

Would you mind letting me know what your nutritionist recommends? My RE also recommended 500 extra per day. But I don't think doing that would get me to the 40 pounds, based on experience to date, anyway.

lynn0926 · November 2012

I try my best to follow Dr. luke's book. I don't count my calories, but I eat whenever I feel hungry. Lately that is all of the time. I do follow the vitamin regimine. My OB said to expect to gain 50. I am up 25 so far, but it truely is all belly. I just listen to my body and do the best I can. I feel bad because I don't take in as many veggies as I should, but I just can't stomache the thought of them while pg. Normally I eat them all of the time.

growbeangrow · November 2012

I started off at 137 and I've gained 30 lbs to date (I'm 37+ weeks and getting induced on Thursday). The babies have been great sizes this entire time and my MFM has never been concerned. He said I gained the perfect amount.

Honestly, I think if I gained any more weight this pregnancy, I would be 10x more miserable/uncomfortable than I already am.

millerlm · November 2012

growbeangrow:
I started off at 137 and I've gained 30 lbs to date I'm 37 weeks and getting induced on Thursday. The babies have been great sizes this entire time and my MFM has never been concerned. He said I gained the perfect amount.nbsp;nbsp;Honestly, I think if I gained any more weight this pregnancy, I would be 10x more miserable/uncomfortable than I already am.nbsp;

This. I read dr. Luke's book when I first found out I was pregnant with twins. I was a little overwhelmed with how much she wants you to eat, but was sold on it because of the birth weights,etc. I asked both my OB and MFM about it and they both laughed. They each told me to gain about 3035 pounds and I have gained 33 so far 36 weeks. They agreed to focus on proteins, veggies, etc. I agree that if I gained anymore weight, it would just make things so much more uncomfortable at the end. And both of my babies are already measuring over 5.5 pounds each.

Ann003 · November 2012

I use her weight gain guidelines, (20 lbs. by 20w, etc), but don't follow her diet guidelines per se. I try to eat as much dairy, whole grains, healthy fats, proteins, and veggies as I can. I do supplement with Ensure on the days when my meals have lower-calorie (not on purpose, but because they are healthy meals). My docs are happy with my weight gain and the growth of the babies.

Blueyed228 · November 2012

wmorgan003:
Blueyed228:

When I was released from my RE they told me 500 extra calories.

My MFM told me 1000. I am meeting with a nutritionist next week at his suggestion.

He also told me he would like to see me gain 30-40lbs.

Would you mind letting me know what your nutritionist recommends? My RE also recommended 500 extra per day. But I don't think doing that would get me to the 40 pounds, based on experience to date, anyway.

No problem

Part of the reason I am being sent to one is that Im having a really hard time keeping food down still. Plus, Im a very picky eater so I want to make the best of what I can eat.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · November 2012

Thanks all, I feel much better after reading your replies.

Blueeyed228, I really hope you're able to keep food down and start gaining soon... : Hopefully the nutritionist will be able to help.

Blueyed228 · November 2012

wmorgan003:
Thanks all, I feel much better after reading your replies. Blueeyed228, I really hope you're able to keep food down and start gaining soon... : Hopefully the nutritionist will be able to help.

Thank you.

Im nervous because I have lost a few pounds this week.

But I had nasty OHSS (4 drainings) and am still carrying a lot of free fluid, so Im hoping part of the weight Im still losing is some of the fluid? Im down 16 pounds from the highest I was with the OHSS at around 5-6w, but almost 5 of those pounds has been the last 2 weeks.

macchiatto · November 2012

I would love to see what research the OBs who laughed at her guidelines can produce to discredit Dr. Luke's research. From what I know hers is backed up by research more than other guidelines and is associated with better outcomes; some of the OBs and even an MFM I saw were not familiar with Dr. Luke's work but were basing their recs really on singleton pregnancies rather than research specifically on multiple pregnancies. If there are better guidelines out there I'd love to see them. I especially side-eye the OB who told the slightly-underweight pp to gain only 25-35 lbs with twins, since that is the recommended range for a singleton.

I started out pregnancy at normal weight (5'7", 139 lbs) and started following Dr. Luke's guidelines around 13-14w after I read the book. I basically ate all the recommended protein servings and about 2/3 her recommended amounts in the other categories and with that, I gained right on track according to her weight-gain guidelines. It was a pretty steady 2 lbs/wk from 12w on, so what I ate was about right for me. I had a scheduled induction at 37w6d, my babies were 6lbs10oz and 6lbs7oz and very healthy. I gained a total of 54 lbs, so right at the top of her recommended range for twin moms who start out normal weight.

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