Pregnancy Nutrition

christenld · August 2014

I'm sorry if this is an old topic, but I'm hoping to get some advice on this because my doctor's suggestions seem a little off to me, and I'm also having some issues with my Celiac Disease.

In my own research, I've found a lot of consistent information that a pregnant woman should only add about 300 calories to her diet. I've been eating about 1200 calories a day for about two years now, so I thought I would try to increase to 1500 when I got to the second trimester. I have, however, been careful not to starve myself, and if I'm hungry I eat, but I still stay at 1200. I asked my doctor about it at my last appointment to confirm this and she thought I was insane and told me I should be consuming a minimum of 2200 calories, and should gain no more than ten pounds. I have a hard time even eating 1500 calories, so 2200 seems near impossible to me! Friends I've talked to (all guys, by the way), tell me it's ridiculous and to just listen to my body. Especially my roommate. He sees how I eat and says I eat very healthy and not to push it, just eat when I'm hungry and don't worry if I'm taking in enough because my body will tell me. I agree, but would like some input from you girls as well.

On the other note, I have regular "episodes" related to my Celiac Disease. I was diagnosed nearly four years ago and I've been gluten-free since then, but I still have these strange episodes that will last anywhere from a week to a month in which I simply don't think I take in many nutrients at all. I get nauseated a lot in the mornings and will sometimes vomit, I feel malnutritioned in general and very weak and tired. I'll even look sick in the face. My stomach will also swell significantly to where in the past I've been asked if I was pregnant, but it's just swelling. Also, I can't seem to keep any food in my stomach for long. I will eat and ten minutes later it is literally already gone (not via vomiting) and it just appears as if nothing digested. I tend to eat a little more because things are passing through so quickly, and I'm almost constantly hungry and sick at the same time. Before I was pregnant, I would usually go on a liquid diet and drink Ensure just to try to get some nutrients in, and it's been fine, but now... Anyways, I'm concerned about the baby during these periods, as this is how I have been for about four days now, and I'm so worried the baby won't get everything he/she needs. I have told the doctor about my diet, but she just seemed to dismiss it. Does anyone else have any issues like this and perhaps have some insight? By the way, it's also suspected I have Crohn's Disease, which could be some of the cause of the issues. Unfortunately, the tests are going to run me about $800 up front, and they will not accept payments.

I'm sorry for a long post! Any advice is much appreciated!

christenld · August 2014

@krendel1990 My midwife told me 2200. I don't even have a general practitioner... I'm 5'3", 26, work an office job, and I'm currently about 215. I can understand 1200 being low for pregnancy, but I'm just not sure about 2200. I feel like I would gain SO much more than 10 pounds!

I did have a doctor want to refer me to a nutritionist, but he would only refer me if I did the scopes, which I couldn't afford. And I haven't pursued it on my own...

krysmill · August 2014

I'm into my 2nd tri and have not gained a lb this whole time! I've actually have lost 4lbs from the start! I've had a very smooth pregnancy but I'm just not hungry! I eat when I am! My dr told me not to worry that the baby is getting what he needs. I'm not in a same boat as you but I know what it feels like when you want all the best for your baby and you feel like your failing. I've heard drinking pediasure is great when your sick cause the baby is getting more. Don't know if any of this helped but I hope things get better for you.

boxerrrmama85 · August 2014

I'm going off of what trainers and registered dietitians have told me in the past. 1200 calories is the BARE MINIMUM a healthy women needs in order to perform daily vital functions. Growing a human seems to me like a great deal of hard work on a woman's body. When I was training very hard and very active, I was on a 1700 cal diet and still losing weight. I would definitely go with your doctor's recommendation. He/she knows you best and your body. Good luck.

Maple403 · August 2014

Prepreg I would eat 1450-1600 calories. I kept this diet during 1st tri and still gained 3 pounds, so right on track. When I talked to my doc at the 12 wk appt she told me not to force myself to eat 2200. instead she said to listen to my body and eat when hungry. If I wasn't gaining weight, I should eat a little more until I was gaining a pound a week. I felt much better hearing her advice. I eat more in 2nd tri than first, but still not near 2200. I'm gaining right under a pound a week now, it took a while to take off but I'm on track.

If you are worried, grab a scale and weigh yourself to make sure you are gaining. If not, add some healthy calories. This is my strategy and I find it pretty low stress, compared to feeling anxious about meeting a calorie goal.

Hernsy · August 2014

I have celiac's too, so I know where you're coming from. Pre-pregnancy I was eating about 1300 calories a day. That was for weight loss, but because of the no gluten it was pretty easy to do and still feel like I was eating a lot. I talked to my OB, b/c I had a nutritionist friend tell me to eat about 2000-2200 calories too and thought it was a lot. My OB told me 1700 calories is fine.

Like you, sometimes even that is difficult. I've added an extra protein shake (I have one for breakfast) on the days when I'm not going to get enough or days when food seems to go right through me. My OB did assure me that as long as the baby's growth looked good, even if I didn't gain weight I will be ok, that the baby was getting nutrients first.

I had a rough first trimester. Hope things get a little better for you. I know celiac's already makes life interesting.

bajaco02 · August 2014

1200 calories seems pretty low. Myfitnesspal estimates me to be 1600 a day before pregnancy and that is for maintaining weight. I'm 5'3" 127ish lbs and that is being super sedentary (desk job). I added 300 calories to that and I get 1900. Still a lot less than what your OB is saying. I'd get a second opinion. But I'd shoot for about 1900 calories a day. I have a fitbit as well and that adds more calories to my day based on how much walking/exercise I do. I wish you luck

CogDis · August 2014

1200 calories is the lowest amount a doctor will recommend (without requiring medical supervision) when weight loss is necessary for health reasons. Sometimes doctors will recommend far fewer calories, but this is done under strict supervision for the reason above.

2200 calories doesn't seem too high for a pregnant woman who is healthfully at 215lbs. But I think what @krendel1990‌ said is the best answer! All of the research demonstrates that listening to your body's cues for hunger and fullness while making healthy choices is far superior for health than focusing on calories.

Remember, weight is not as cleanly correlated with health as pop culture would have you believe. The real research demonstrates a stronger and more predictively valuable correlation between physical activity and health. So don't be afraid of calories!

Biscotto · August 2014

Wow, 1,200 calories is really barely enough, that's survival mode. I have no idea how many calories I ate, in the past I had anorexia and bulimia, so I do my best not to count calories now. I imagine I eat soemthing around 1,700-1,800 calories a day, maybe more and I maintain my weight fairly easily (when I'm not pregnant). I am active though. Anyway, 2,200 seems a bit high though, maybe somewhere in the range of 1,800-1,900 is better for you when you're pregnant. The best advice I've had from doctors when I was in recovery is listen to your body, eat what you want, stop when you're full, eat slowly, and walk a lot.

christenld · August 2014

Thanks so much for all of your awesome answers! I know I should listen to my doctor, but I wanted some outside input too. I kind of feel like the doctor isn't taking other medical issues into account, and that's the main reason I've been seeking advice elsewhere.

I think listening to my body is the best thing to do, I'm mostly concerned with my CD issues and the fact that trying to eat more just makes me feel too full. But I'm at 14 weeks and I've lost 6.5 pounds so far...

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