Moms: What were you glad you did/wish you did while pregnant?

I wish I had looked into nutrition, as opposed to weight management, before becomimg pg and having my kids. I ate a pretty typical diet when we started having kids. I was of normal weight, a bit heavier than high school, and I ran and exercised frequently and long. I didn't think too much about nutrition and what would be the best foods for a baby (after breastfeeing was being reduced). Did I want them eating veggies and meats, or did I want to start them on grains or sweet fruits? When you have just one baby at home you can completely control their nutrition, and I wish I had stayed healthier with them as they aged and not introduced stuff like cheerios, raisens and goldfish crackers when they could have had (what I consider to be) more nutritious foods instead.

I'm happy I breastfed each child for a couple of years, found a playgroup to meet other moms with similarly aged children, slept with my babies in my room, and used a midwife.

As for diet, I get pretty sick for a few months so I tend to lose 10-15lbs. I reagain that plus another 35lbs. I got to the same weigh, give or take a pound, with all of my three pregnancies. After the birth I lose almost 30lbs within the first week, and than that last bit seems to hang on until they are toddlers.

Good luck with it!!

Kalikel wrote: »

Enjoy it more. The first pregnancy is the last time in your life when your world is all about you. Spend that time doing stuff that's all about you.

Once that baby is born, everything changes. It's never about you again.

this is just not true. sometimes my life is about me, I have interests outside of my children, and if I dont foster them, I become an irritable crappy mother.

here I m, my son just turned 8m and I m back to pre pregnancy weight, though nt the same shape, not fitting back to my clothes. I ate very healthy, lots of fruits and milk was my fav during both pregnancy. I was working till 8m of my first pregnancy and 6m in second pregnancy and I always cycle to work. I m scientist by profession so my work is standing on my feet working in lab. I havent done any particular exercise though

I wish I hadn't stressed out so much. I really should have cut myself more slack.

I lost 57 lbs before getting pregnant with my 2nd child. My first I gained 45 lbs and I was also Obese. This time around I gained the recommended amount (a tad under 25 lbs) and continued to log everyday. I'm very glad I did too. But although I weigh daily, I freaked out alot when I had sudden LARGE spikes. Which were all pretty much growth spurts.

I also continued (light) swimming. I swear it helps with Labor & delivery sooooooooo much.

ETA: I lost all of my pregnancy weight by 17 weeks postpartum. I'm now 7 lbs under my prepregnancy weight.

I was glad that I got a giant peanut butter malt shake at coldstone every day.

vinerie wrote: »

spearmintskies wrote: »

I wish I had been more conscious about my cravings and what I was putting in my body. During the second trimester I basically lived off strawberry nesquik.

So the big question is, how do you control the cravings? I suspect it's easier said than done.

Same as you do when you are not pregnant. Pregnancy does change how things taste, so you might find appealing foods you never liked, or gag at the smell of favourite treats. But it is not this magic thing that takes over your life. You still have free will and can decide when to stop eating, or what to not eat. I was on a diabetic's diet in 3 pregnancies. With strict calorie and carb goals, plus several other food restrictions. Of course I had all sorts of foods I wish I could be eating. But I also could make the decision to not eat them. Same as when not pregnant

GeddesFit wrote: »

Every woman and every baby is different. I had the same starting weight with both my babies and with my son I gained about 26 pounds and with my daughter I gained 40! The best you can do is eat healthy and try to stay active. Cravings will try to overcome. With my son I craved cheese burgers from McDonald's. I'm back to my prepregnancy weight and I had my daughter 3.5 months ago.

Baby does not really come into it, unless we are talking about changes of a few lbs. Variations in baby's weight or amniotic fluid cannot be more than a few lbs up or down, unless we are talking multiples of course.

lisalsd1 wrote: »

I would get the "gaining 25-35lbs" out of your head. I was at a normal weight when I got pregnant. I was convinced I would only gain 25, b/c duh I already ate well and exercised. I gained 37 with my first and 35 with my second. I was frustrated with the "extra 12lbs" with my first. The second time around, I expected to be closer to 35 and was a lot less annoyed with the weight gain. Just focus on eating real food,and you'll be a lot happier and less stressed.

This is so true. I gained 45 lbs total (and that was at 38 weeks, it would have been more like 50lbs if I went to 40 haha!) I started off normal weight, kept active, didn't overeat. People would come up to me at the end "how much weight have you gained, let me guess, only 15lbs right?" I was all bump. After giving birth I was 25lbs lighter (my baby was under 7lbs too) so yea, try your best to focus on staying active and eating right.. but don't stress about the scale too much.