Pregnant and healthy weight gain

skinnyclare
skinnyclare Posts: 27 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi, Ive found out I'm 8 weeks pregnant (we have been trying since last May), I have lost 18lbs in preparation to make myself as healthy as possible. Ive not really been restricting over the last few weeks as I have been super hungry. I normally try and stick to 1200 calories a day, what do people recommend is a healthy calorie intake whilst pregnant, I'm feeling very anxious already about gaining weight and I don't wont to gain too much extra weight. I'm thinking it should be 1500-2000 a day any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Replies

  • Kiyalynn
    Kiyalynn Posts: 128 Member
    I got pregnant after loosing 20 lbs on this site. I asked my doctors what would be OK for a calorie limit and we agreed upon 2000. For pregnancy you should be eating at a maintenance (min) and adding at least 300 calories. I will say that you need to not worry about gaining weight. you look very skinny in your photo, witch means you should be looking at gaining 25-35 lbs, for the health of your baby... But understand that weight goes off quickly... I gained 35 lbs in my pregnancy 9with giving up on tracking calories two months in)... and lost 15 of it in one day. Now with a newborn I'm barely able to find time to eat and with breastfeeding I need a extra 500 calories. I need to weigh myself again but it wont surprise me If I've lost several more pounds.
  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    When I got pregnant for the first time I changed some not so good habits to good habits. And in the 1st trimester I lost 10 pounds. After that initial loss I gained the 10 back and 18 more. I tried to make good choices according to my hunger. Fruit and veggies instead of chips, Skim milk instead of pop and lean meats and fish instead of fatty ones.

    After I had the baby I continued to eat well and breast feed. I lost 35 pounds by 6 weeks post partum . The doc said that was within normal limits.

    The medical professionals will tell you that 25 to 30 pound gain is advised. You do not have to go hog wild and eat for "two" as some ladies do. Just a couple hundred extra calories a day is plenty. Just make them healthful calories.



    Edit to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!
  • skinnyclare
    skinnyclare Posts: 27 Member
    Thanks for the advice ladies:smile:
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Talk to your doctor. 1200 at goal weight seems very low.
  • jade_222
    jade_222 Posts: 147 Member
    I agree with the other posts. My son is now 9 months old and I have 13.5 pounds to lose. I gained 55 pounds!! So my plan for my next pregnancy, so as to not let this happen again is, track what I eat, my calorie goal will be maintenance plus 300 calories. I would also find an exercise program to do. I haven't decided what I will do yet. Ideally I would like to run, which I had attempted with my first pregnancy, however, I got neaseous and if I ran I would be dry heaving over a toilet. So I would suggest that you be prepared with some back up plans.

    I suggest the exercise not so you don't gain weight but so you can stay strong and healthy during your pregnancy. I unfortunately fell in the Christmas time trap (eating to much and taking a break from my exercising, walking, and I struggled to get back into the swing of things after). After that I got so big I struggled to even get off the couch. I was so depressed by my inability to do simple things that I couldn before. Which is why I'm very focused on exercise for my second pregnancy. Before being pregnant I would normally run for 30-60 minutes a day and could easily get off the couch.

    So my biggest advice is find a way to stay strong and stay active! good luck!!!

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