Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

[smile_22]

I'm pregnant and really overweight. My doctor told me that I was not allowed to gain any weight during my pregnancy and that since I was not gaining weight that I would actually be losing weight. Now does anyone know if it's ok for me to be taking prenatal vitamins on Atkins or will they interfer with the whole science of how this diet works??

[jsj0305]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

First off, CONGRATULATIONS!!! A new baby is always so very exciting!!! I am so happy for you! What a blessing this is! Is this your first??

Okay okay, I will cut out the chit chat

I found this article which may ehlp expain more to you, I hope! I love the part where it says to reduce sugar, if not omit it entirely! LOL

I think if you are exercing and you stick with it, such as walking, you will be fine. Also Dr A advises us against doing Induction when we are pregnant, so I wouls eat in moderation in Maintenance. Have whole wheats instead of regular white bread, things like that. I hope this helps even a little!!!

Almost all medical experts advise AGAINST dieting during pregnancy. Your baby needs good nutrition and is depending on you to get it. Do not try to lose in order to keep from gaining too much during pregnancy; as a large woman you will probably not gain as much as a smaller woman would anyhow (see section on Weight Gain in Pregnancy), and dieting during pregnancy may cause significant harm to your baby.

If your baby cannot get good nutrition, it may be malnourished and underweight at birth or have other significant problems. Pregnancy tends to be more complicated and delivery tends to be premature and more risky in undernourished women. Keep in mind the most important priority right now-----your baby's health.

It probably IS a good idea to restrict sugar and other simple carbohydrates like fruit juice or sweets to small amounts only or to omit them entirely. Smaller, more frequent meals do tend to reduce nausea and heartburn and keep a consistent energy level, but restricting caloric intake is NOT a good idea. Most pregnant women need 300-500 calories over the level needed to maintain weight (this will differ depending on your size and activity level). Generally speaking, most registered dieticians give large women caloric intakes of around 2000-2300 calories during pregnancy.

A few antiquated doctors still do recommend that fat women try to lose weight during pregnancy, and while some don't recommend actually dieting during pregnancy, they will tell women not to gain any weight during pregnancy. This can be harmful too! One woman pregnant with twins was actually put on a restricted-calorie diet and told to drink SlimFast during the pregnancy! Researchers on gestational diabetes often call for restricting the intake of obese women with GD by 30% or more, yet the disturbing fact is that they RARELY follow-up on these children to see if there is any long-term harm from this practice! There is little research proving that restricting intake is not harmful to babies; providers should err on the side of caution and NOT recommend restriction or dieting during pregnancy.

Yet a few doctors still are doing this, even today. One recent research study examined the use of a diabetes medication in pregnancy, which it gave to all the fat women with GD in the study. When the perinatal mortality rate rose, they blamed the medication or the women's obesity for the problem, conveniently ignoring the fact that all of the fat women had been put on 1200 calorie diets during the pregnancy. 1200 calories is barely above official starvation levels as dictated by the World Health Organization for a single non-pregnant person; it is completely inadequate for a pregnant woman! Yet the doctors refused to consider the possibility that undernourishment or ketosis in the mother may have produced the higher mortality rate. Even in pregnancy, some doctors simply cannot conceive of the fact that dieting or restriction might be harmful.

Although periodic examples of restriction do exist even today, the majority of doctors and midwives feel very strongly that fat women should NOT diet during pregnancy. Yet surprisingly, many women of varying sizes do choose to diet during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester when weight gain really begins to add up and their new girth suddenly seems threatening. The book, A Good Birth, A Safe Birth (Korte and Scaer, 1992), notes:

Madeleine Shearer reported that a survey showed 25 to 80 percent of women in childbirth education classes were dieting to hold the line at their seven-month weight gain. The end of pregnancy is not only the time when the baby has a huge growth spurt...but it is also a time of rapid growth of her brain cells. "Even mild degrees of maternal undernutrition in the last few weeks can interfere with the normal growth and development of the normal fetal brain," says John Dobbing, British research professor, quoted by Gail Brewer in What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know: The Truth about Diets and Drugs in Pregnancy.

Occasionally, some heavy women who have been on so-called 'sensible diets' and become unexpectedly pregnant have wondered if they could stay on those food plans during their pregnancy to try and help the pregnancy be healthy and to try to avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy. This is a difficult question, because so much depends on the program involved.

Controversially, a few places like Weight Watchers have, in the past, offered special food plans during pregnancy that are sometimes called 'diets'. These may not be true diets, however, just healthy eating plans (so they argue), but extreme care should be taken when considering one of these. Beware of excessive caloric restriction; anything less than 1800 calories a day is probably not sufficient, and many feel that 2000 to 2300 is probably safer. Ketones in the urine must be kept track of to be sure that these acids are not being 'spilled' as a by-product of weight loss----as noted, some studies have linked excessive amounts of them to learning disabilities later in life for baby. If ketones are not being tested in your 'diet' plan, then you should probably not BE on that plan.

If your so-called 'healthy pregnancy diet' is planned to include all the extra nutrition you need as a pregnant woman AND monitors for ketone spillage AND has sufficient caloric intake, then it may not be harmful---------if it's just a sane healthy eating plan. In this situation, why pay someone else big bucks for that? Do you have so little control over your own eating that you need a weekly weigh-in or meeting to keep you honest? Isn't your baby's health sufficient motivation? For a few, such a plan may not be harmful, but must be considered extremely carefully. This is a decision you have to make for yourself. Just be SURE that any 'diet' you consider is not restrictive and is actually just healthy eating and good monitoring.

However, probably the safest and most sensible position is to absolutely avoid dieting during pregnancy. Doctors are quick to add in that this doesn't mean you can go out and go crazy 'eating for two'. Sensible, healthy eating is still very important, and QUALITY of nutrients is more important than QUANTITY of food. However, be sure to get enough food that baby can get enough protein, folate, and other nutrients to build a strong and healthy body. Avoid junk, but don't be afraid to eat healthy foods. Good nutrition in pregnancy is very important. Your baby needs you to feed him or her right!

[jsj0305]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

Ketones in the urine must be kept track of to be sure that these acids are not being 'spilled' as a by-product of weight loss----as noted, some studies have linked excessive amounts of them to learning disabilities later in life for baby.

I guess that means, eat healthy, but do not do into ketosis.

I hope 2big can share some info on this. She's the best

[2big4mysize]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

LOL YOU better have some ketones or your baby will have no brain!!! ketones are the building blocks for neonatal neurodevelopment.

Ketoacidosis which isn't Atkins ketosis can negatively effect both baby and mother.

You can do the Atkins maintnenance phase while pregnant which will help you with any weight gaining issues and allow the bady to develope just fine. IF you go into the weight loss phases of Atkins your body will think you are in a famine period and will decide to hoard the fuel for you and not share nicely with the baby so it can grow and develope.

We have had many preggos here and have several new babies in the last 6 months. read their [posts ansd see how they did with their docotrs help

[jsj0305]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

OOPSIE, don't listen to me!!!

That's what I ment to say 2big, I swear!!! LOL

Oh jeezz, I should have just left this one to the pros!!

[chrisie_20]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

I am by far no expert, but I was pretty overweight with my last pregnacy too. And my doctor actually told me it was okay to do atkins while being pregnant and it was okay to lose a pretty good of weight being pregnant as long as you and the baby was being monitored. I chose not to do atkins because in the very begining Dr.Atkins says not to..althought you can do the lifetime maintence phase...which might atleast help you not gain weight.

[cypressgirl]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

What your Dr may have have meant by "losing weight" is that as the baby grows and you don't gain weight, you will actually have lost weight after he/she is born.


Just my opinion here but, as the mom of two healthy babies, I would do whatever erred on the side of caution to insure the baby's health. Eat healthy, no deep ketosis but no junk food either. Get your fruits and your veggies along with moderate portions of meat, grain and dairy. Don't focus on the losing right now. Just use this time to change old bad habits that got you heavy and enjoy the feeling that you are providing great nutrition to your little one. There will be time for loss later.

Congrats!!

[chrisie_20]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

I aggree with cypress on this that is why I wouldn't do the induction part of atkins even though MY doctor said it was fine. I just didn't feel comfortable with it. As I am sure many don't. I am sure there are many doctors out there that would agree with mine, but I am sure there are many many more that would say no too, so you kinda have to use your own judgement in these situations. Is this your first child?

[JandLsMom]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

As long as you aren't restricting your calories and are getting plenty of fat, i wouldn't think that Atkins induction should be a problem should it. Why would your body think its in starvation mode if your eating 2,500 calories a day, but just keeping your carbs under 20. As far as i know your body doesnt think your hoarding anything just because your low carb, it would think your starving maybe on low calorie though. Could someone please provide some studies on this. I just really can't comprehend why induction would be a problem while pregnant as long as you were sure to keep the calories high!

[narose]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

You sound like me JandLsmom! I don't really see what the big deal is either. I am pregnant and plan to stay on some form of low carbs. I really think I eat a more balanced diet which will inturn be healthy for my baby. I just know me and know my trigger foods and bread is definatley one of them. I just can't eat a slice of bread without wanting some cookies, ice cream, soda, etc.

Smile_22 I am a member of this Yahoo Group called PregnantAtkids and all of these women are on some form of Atkins and not just the Maintenance phase. There are also many success stories about staying low carb and having a healthy baby. You will be surprised how many people do lc while pregnant and was a lc baby themselves. Check out http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PregnantAtkids/.

[Iamscandalouslyglam]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

Congratulations! Isn't it funny how Dr's act like telling a pregnant lady not to gain weight is an easy order to follow. I do wish you luck...be healthy for you AND that baby!!

[jsj0305]

Re: Can't Gain Weight During Pregnancy!?!

So how's the pregnancy going?? Are you having any lucky w/ not gaining or gaining very little??

Keep us posted!!