Is it safe to do this while pregnant?
SamanthaLouiseMence
Posts: 663 Member
To cut this story short… I've just found out that I'm pregnant and the doctor had confrirmed I only about 3 weeks… so I'm still in the 'danger zone' as he so lightly put it
After my first child I got to my heighest weight, and I've lost 50lbs since then, and still have another 60lbs to go for my goal weight
But my doctor wouldn't specify if it's still safe to lose weight while pregnant… especially this early in the pregnancy… all he said was "it's up to you should you wish to continue or stop"
I miscarried a few months ago but no-one can pin-point the reason why… the doctors/midwives just said it's one of those things that just can't be helped
I just want to make sure this time that this is completely safe todo while expecting… I'm currently on a 1200 cal diet each day, but obviously I'll be adding more cals on with the pregnancy
NO BASHING PLEASE!!!! I'm just generally asking for advice from someone who has been/knew someone in this situation before
Thank you in advance
After my first child I got to my heighest weight, and I've lost 50lbs since then, and still have another 60lbs to go for my goal weight
But my doctor wouldn't specify if it's still safe to lose weight while pregnant… especially this early in the pregnancy… all he said was "it's up to you should you wish to continue or stop"
I miscarried a few months ago but no-one can pin-point the reason why… the doctors/midwives just said it's one of those things that just can't be helped
I just want to make sure this time that this is completely safe todo while expecting… I'm currently on a 1200 cal diet each day, but obviously I'll be adding more cals on with the pregnancy
NO BASHING PLEASE!!!! I'm just generally asking for advice from someone who has been/knew someone in this situation before
Thank you in advance
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Replies
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This is medical advice and if your doctor cant give it to you, find another doctor!7
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I might find a different doctor at this point.... But, in my opinion (not a doctor) you should start eating at maintenance right now and by the second trimester add in at least 500 calories. If you are significantly overweight then it's not a bad thing to gain just 20 lbs or less during a pregnancy but you need to focus on your health and the health of the baby regardless.5
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Yeah, I'm going to second (third? fourth?) asking for a second opinion. It's pretty bad that your doctor declined to advise you.3
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@MonkeyMel21 is correct, eat at maintenance and focus on what's growing inside you. There'll always be time to lose weight after your baby is born.2
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I'm no doctor, so take this with a grain of salt...you would probably be fine with trying to lose weight for a few more months. You only really need those extra calories when the baby is bigger and "eating" what you're eating. Even then, it would probably be okay to eat at maintenance.3
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you are pregnant, not dying. it's fine. i would get a better doctor though. eating healthy while pregnant is a good thing.3
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sherbear702 wrote: »I'm no doctor, so take this with a grain of salt...you would probably be fine with trying to lose weight for a few more months. You only really need those extra calories when the baby is bigger and "eating" what you're eating. Even then, it would probably be okay to eat at maintenance.
you should have stopped at "im no doctor"....telling someone to lose weight for the first few months of her pregnancy is not good or safe advice...8 -
Just want to point out, I'm from the uk and my local practice… we can't pick and chose our doctors, we get who's available at that time
I will however be speaking to my midwife army first appointment for her advice also, I'm not just relying on the doctor who said that
I'm honestly just looking for a little advice from someone what has possibly been in a similar situation x 0 -
I don't think gaining weight in the first trimester is a priority. A lot of women don't gain or lose a few pounds because of morning sickness.
I personally would put any diet on hold and just try to eat healthy. Make sure you are taking prenatals and folic acid.
For me the best part of being pregnant was eating whatever I wanted 0 -
I started in the obese category when I found out I was pregnant (245lbs). The advice I was given, was eat at maintenance the first trimester. After that I was told to eat at surplus of 300-500 calories per day. I was also told that the mathnof the surplus is not going to be accurate tobjow much weight I gain. I gained a lot of weight in fluid that they expect will go away shortly after delivery.
Not sure what resources you have in your area, but you could always ask for a referral to a dietitian who specializes in maternity.6 -
If you can't switch doctors, then you should see a dietitian. Don't try to lose weight while you're pregnant; even this early on. I'm sorry about your miscarriage; it's a very common experience for most women, sadly. Best of luck to you and your Baby!1
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My understanding is you should be eating at maintenance in the first trimester, losing weight isn't worth it! I've also heard that watching carbs (i.e. 40% carbs a day) can help prevent diabetes.
For what it's worth the recommendations for women not to gain more than 35lbs (or 20 if overweight) are a bit bull. I tracked my intake and worked out every day until 8 months pregnant and I still gained 45lbs (was slim to start with). My baby was born at just 6.7lbs! My best friend is a dietician and she also gained 45lbs, some women just gain more in pregnancy than others, so much of it is fluid.
Ps - congrats!1 -
I just don't get this. It's like people panic when someone is pregnant. First, my doctor's rule of thumb was simply eat at maintanance the entire pregnancy. He specifically told me I did not need to add any calories in future trimesters because baby is going to take from you what he/she needs. At 50 more pounds to your goal I personally would just eat at maintenance. As you get ultrasounds, if baby is not growing as much as doc thinks they should you can always increase calories but that has never been an issue in my experience. A good friend just lost 25 pounds while pregnant and had a 10lb 7oz baby. So weight gain has not a lot to do with how many calories you're eating so much as quality.
Second thing is - a lot of miscarriages happen as a result of low progesterone but it often gets overlooked. One miscarriage is not uncommon. Should you experience another I highly recommend you push your doctor or midwife to check your progesterone both not pregnant and especially immediately following finding out when you're pregnant. And it wouldn't hurt just to have them check it now to make sure it's where it should be for this baby.
Whatever you decide, instinct and some common sense are not bad. Obviously follow the advice of whomever is following your pregnancy but I certainly would have no issue with your doctor telling you that continued weight loss is up to you. My doctor put a lot of emphasis on a mother's instinct and common sense. Perhaps I greatly appreciate that more after reading all of these responses.4 -
I personally would never eat less than 1900 calories while pregnant. I'm pregnant now and am eating 2550 calories a day for a steady 1 lb a week gain (I ate around 2200/day and didn't gain in my first trimester). Your doctor should probably at least recommend a minimum calorie amount and keep you under supervision. In your first trimester though, the baby doesn't need you to eat any extra calories.
I agree with the poster above that it's a good idea to check your progesterone. Someone I know lost their pregnancy for that exact reason.
General rules of thumb for women who start pregnancy at a normal BMI is 0 extra calories above maintenance for the first trimester, 300 extra in the second trimester and 500 extra a day in the 3rd trimester.
It can - under some circumstances - be safe to lose weight during pregnancy, but never without specific guidance from a medical professional on how to do that safely. I second the recommendation to see a new doctor or to see a registered dietitian (not a nutritionist).2 -
I get what people are saying
But I think I should add. With my first child, I wasn't on a healthy eating plan, and I was a little over weight. I lost a lot of weight during my pregnancy, and after my son was born I gained a a lot, I'm talking 4 stone (not sure what that is in lbs) and almost 2 years later I still haven't been able to shift it all
Also my son was 6 weeks early and wasn't growing properly inside me (this is why I'm concerned btw)
I don't want to experience the same things - losing a lot of weight then to be told my child isn't growing properly and risk losing my baby forever is not something I would wish on anyone
Just hoping it's something that can be prevented if I'm honest, and hoping I can still work in a healthy lifestyle aswell as carding a fulterm heathy baby x0 -
Not gaining enough during pregnancy can cause preterm delivery and developmental problems in the fetus... which it seems you have concerns about. So I would not try to do the same again now... For now, you have a few months to figure it out so maybe start with eating maintenance and use that time to your advantage. Good luck with your pregnancy and congrats!0
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It was over 50 years ago that I was pregnant ... and I lost weight during my gestagion period. My weight did go up due to the baby but after my child was born I was 20 pounds lighter than I had been when I got pregnant. But my child was born 6 weeks early. It's important to get good nutrition, isn't it, while you are preganant ...0
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Details matter. I would put heavy emphasis on nutrient dense foods and a really good prenatal vitamin (don't know if they do those in UK like they do in the US).0
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I was advised not to try to lose weight while pregnant. With my girls I found out I was pregnant about 5 weeks along and was told to stop the cardio and dieting I had been doing. To just focus on healthy choices, plenty of rest and my babies. I did go on walks when the weather was nice but I quit jogging and lifting the light weights I was doing. Focus on your baby, you will have time to lose weight once you are ready eventually.0
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What are your stats?
How tall, age, and weight?0 -
My advice is to stop taking advice from random internet people who do not know your medical history, and instead talk to a dietician/nutritionist who can advise you best practice for YOUR pregnancy.3
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Eh, no point shaming her for asking opinions....My advice is to stop taking advice from random internet people who do not know your medical history, and instead talk to a dietician/nutritionist who can advise you best practice for YOUR pregnancy.
She's also already said she's waiting to speak to her midwife.
The whole thread is her prcessing information and thinking through things prior to meeting with the midwife.2 -
I'd suggest eating no less than maintenance and focus on getting balanced nutrition and enough activity. You may find you lose a little in the first trimester or two (I did), and as long as you don't lose too much too rapidly from calorie restriction, it's pretty normal. Gaining weight is necessary, but as long as you are not using pregnancy as a license to eat everything in sight, it shouldn't come off too hard after the baby is born. If you choose to breastfeed, you get the added built in deficit from milk production which makes it even easier. Definitely get a second opinion though, as suggesting that losing weight intentionally during pregnancy is personal preference, is generally not accepted as safe or healthy unless under doctor supervision.0
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My baby is 9,5 months old and i recall my pregnancy well. In the first trimester you absolutely don't need any extra calories (not 300 and not 500). I have even lost weight in the first 3 months because of being nauseous all the time. The extra caloric intake recommended during the pregnancy for an overweight person is about 200 calories max. and it starts in the second - third trimester. Just listen to your body, try to reduce sweets and sugar.0
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SierraFatToSkinny wrote: »
Eh, no point shaming her for asking opinions....My advice is to stop taking advice from random internet people who do not know your medical history, and instead talk to a dietician/nutritionist who can advise you best practice for YOUR pregnancy.
She's also already said she's waiting to speak to her midwife.
The whole thread is her prcessing information and thinking through things prior to meeting with the midwife.
Sorry that wasn't meant to look like shaming... apologies to the OP if I came across too blunt. I was trying to make the point that the internet is not the safest place to get medical advice, especially given the OP's concerns with previous miscarriage and the amount of conflicting (and potentially unsafe) advice already in the replies.0 -
I would say seek the advice of another doctor.1
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Not pregnant and no plans to be, but we are the same age and both in the UK - I will say that doctors sometimes give absolutely *kitten* advice and sometimes you feel a bit trapped, especially if you see a small practice. One refused to prescribe me an inhaler for asthma and said getting rid of a pet would help. The next doctor I saw gave me the inhalers - lucky cos I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to dust and pollen too. First doctor's advice could've landed me back in hospital.
All I did was ask not to see Dr X and see another doctor instead. If you have to be pushy with the reception so be it.
Until then... eat at maintenance. Probably the safest thing to do in the interim.0 -
Felicitations My wife had gestational diabetes and in order to control it, she went on a diet to keep her blood sugar in a healthy range (no insulin). Our baby was born in full health and a perfect weight and my wife had actually lost weight during her pregnancy. But she frequently attended an Obstetrician who encouraged her to diet and exercise mostly walking. So follow the advice of your G.P.and Dietitian. 0
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SamanthaLouiseMence wrote: »Just want to point out, I'm from the uk and my local practice… we can't pick and chose our doctors, we get who's available at that time
I will however be speaking to my midwife army first appointment for her advice also, I'm not just relying on the doctor who said that
I'm honestly just looking for a little advice from someone what has possibly been in a similar situation x
I am from the UK and you can request a 2nd opinion. Use the PALS service. I've used it myself in the past to change doctors without much issue. http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1082.aspx?CategoryID=682 -
The first few weeks and months of pregnancy you really don't have to eat up to 500 calories more...the fetus is the size of a peanut at the beginning of month 4 and isn't that much of a "system load" in terms of your need for fuel.
I don't know how to answer your overall weight loss questions, though, and yes get more detailed medical advice.0
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