Pregnant and ready to give up! Help!

Lainn
Lainn Posts: 281 Member
edited November 12 in Motivation and Support
I found out on Feb 7th that I am expecting baby #4. :happy:

I am 7 weeks and my weight seems to be all over the place.

My OB and I both agree that I should not gain more than 15lbs this pregnancy. I am 196lbs. With my last pregnancy I weighed 262lbs when she was born and I had only gained 16lbs. So I am already doing better this go...but still a lot heavier than I should be.

I had my calories set at 1550 (I am still breastfeeding) before I became pregnant. My OB asked that I raise it to 1750 because he said 1550 was just too low for me. Now I had NO problem staying under my calorie goal before. Now that it has been raised I find myself in a constant battle to keep it below. I am at the point I just want to give up!

I am so hungry all the time and when I get really hungry I have fainting spells followed by headaches. I have cut out most sugars and drink only water and teas. I am working really hard to keep the carbs low, but they are a life saver when you feel queasy 24/7. I just don't know what to do!

Should I work hard to stay under 1750 or should I eat when I am hungry? It is becoming super stressful and like I said before I am just wanting to give up entirely.

Oh and I try to work out 3-4x a week...30min or more on the elliptical. Been hard of late due to the extreme exhaustion and nausea...but I am trying.

Replies

  • TheDrBuchanan
    TheDrBuchanan Posts: 89 Member
    Have you talked to your OB about the hunger/fainting spell/headache stuff? That sounds like a serious issue to me.

    You say you had no problems staying at 1550 before, but that totally makes sense, because at 7 weeks your new baby has implanted and is now taking nutrients from you. Naturally, you will be hungrier. Do you tend to be incredibly hungry when pregnant? I know I was! I chose to not limit myself, but that's precisely what got me on MFP!

    I think you need more specific information than what you can get on this message board. Your OB needs to give you information on how to divide up your calorie intake. Perhaps more protein is in order? Perhaps your carbs are too low? Nobody on this message board is qualified to make that determination for you. If your OB is going to recommend staying under 15lb gained, I feel it's his/her responsibility to help you meet that goal safely!

    And... congratulations!!
  • Lainn
    Lainn Posts: 281 Member
    Thank you. I have talked to him about the fainting and dizzy spells. That was his main reason for having me up my calories. And my water intake. Other then that he says it is normal.

    I just was never this hungry and tired in my other pregnancies. I feel like I have been hit by a mac truck from McDonalds....

    I know no one here would be able to tell me medical advice. I was more looking if anyone has experienced the same thing and how they handled it. I don't want to "just throw in the towel", but at the same time am wondering if logging is worth the stress.

    I am just confused I guess. And emotional lol....

    Thank you btw :smile:
  • wedjul05
    wedjul05 Posts: 472
    I've 2 small kids and suffered with vomiting for weeks at the start of both pregnancies.

    If I were you, I'd eat when you are hungry. But try to eat healthy. Get fruit, salads etc. Try not to reach for the crap.

    I know it's probably hard with 3 kids already and being pregnant, but try to get some healthy snacks ideas in/made so that way you can reach for them instead of the biscuits etc.

    Don't let your stomach get emtpy, you will fele nauseous when it does and then the visious circle starts and it's hard to stop it. Good luck:smile:
  • Pepper2185
    Pepper2185 Posts: 994 Member
    When I hit 8 weeks I got absolutely ravenous, nothing would fill me up and all I wanted was carbs and processed food.

    I definitely feel the frustration of having gone from healthy eating and exercise to lazy and wanting McDonald's.

    Now I'm in week 10, and my hunger is dying down a bit. In the last two weeks where I was eating like a monster, I really didn't gain much weight. Your body is working so hard to grow your little one, the extra calories are getting used up if your body wants them.

    I would focus on having a good first trimester. That's when baby's critical parts are forming and it's good that you are hungry - it means he's growing nicely.

    I still log, but sometimes I have a snack after I fill out my diary, and who cares? I'm over calories but I'm feeding my little one - and that's more important.

    I also blame hormones for making me feel crazy and fat - but that's just something we have to get used to.

    Don't throw in the towel, you are doing great, even if you don't see it yourself :)
  • Lainn
    Lainn Posts: 281 Member
    Thanks Wedju :smile: It is hard at times with the three other kiddos keeping me from naps :wink: lol. I just want to sleep and eat. Almost like a baby myself! And the not getting hungry thing because then I feel super sick is what I am worried about. I have been trying to snack healthy...but even then I feel guilt cause I know I am going over. But I also don't want to be hungry cause it makes me ill and I do need to eat. *sigh*

    Pepper that made me feel so much better! You really and truly are a inspiration to me and I look up to you. You work so hard and eat so well. I want to be like that too. But knowing that you do not stress about needing to feed your baby and body makes me feel better.
  • CherokeeTopaz
    CherokeeTopaz Posts: 299 Member
    I am also pregnant (my third) and 17 weeks. The ultrasound only showed one.. but I think there's more than one.. lol.I say eat when you're hungry.. you may need more than just 200 extra calories if you're making a baby and feeding one too.. and there's an off chance you could have a second baby (missed twin :p) So when pregnant eat when you're hungry and do exercises to get the excess off.. I like belly dancing.. I'm not a pro by any means but it helps me keep fit practicing the techniques.. and there's a workout related to belly dancing I do that keeps the abs in shape.. (not completely but it helps) and it's totally safe to do while pregnant.. it's called 'shoulder circles' and I modify it by doing it while sitting if I'm too tired to get up. lol I personally set my goal to 1710 and I'm not even breastfeeding.. but still losing. It's sometimes hard to stay under and sometimes not. Hope this helps. :)
  • Willpowerofsteel
    Willpowerofsteel Posts: 20
    Have you had your iron levels tested? I was lightheaded and dizzy during my last pregnancy and it turned out my iron was really low - once I started supplementing I felt much better!
  • Lainn
    Lainn Posts: 281 Member
    Have you had your iron levels tested? I was lightheaded and dizzy during my last pregnancy and it turned out my iron was really low - once I started supplementing I felt much better!
    Yes they tested them twice and all normal!

    They say every pregnancy is different so I guess since this is most likely our last it had to be the hardest lol!

    Cherokee - I actually have been wondering if there might be two in there...but twins do not run in our family (either side) so I think it would be extremely unlikely. Some research I have done suggests that conceiving while breastfeeding increases your chance of twins. But I think that would be the only thing in our favor.
  • LilRedRooster
    LilRedRooster Posts: 1,421 Member
    Honestly, when I was pregnant, I gained most of the weight in the first trimester (like 15lbs), and then just steadied off from there, because I felt like I didn't want to have to worry about my weight too much in the beginning. Not that I was specifically counting calories, because I was a normal weight to begin the pregnancy, but I didn't end up following the prescribed gaining, because my body didn't work that way. Which meant that in the end, I only gained 5lbs the last trimester, and the doctors kept saying "Aren't you eating?" Which of course I was, but I followed my body's cues, and that resulted in less weight gain at the end, and more in the beginning. And I still had a healthy 8lb kiddo, so obviously that didn't make a difference at all.

    Besides, since every pregnancy is different, your body could just be having a harder time with this one than the others. Good luck! :)
  • CherokeeTopaz
    CherokeeTopaz Posts: 299 Member
    Have you had your iron levels tested? I was lightheaded and dizzy during my last pregnancy and it turned out my iron was really low - once I started supplementing I felt much better!
    Yes they tested them twice and all normal!

    They say every pregnancy is different so I guess since this is most likely our last it had to be the hardest lol!

    Cherokee - I actually have been wondering if there might be two in there...but twins do not run in our family (either side) so I think it would be extremely unlikely. Some research I have done suggests that conceiving while breastfeeding increases your chance of twins. But I think that would be the only thing in our favor.

    Well identical twins are completely random.. :p You don't have to have a history at all.. and breastfeeding does increase your chances of fraternal.. so you never know. :p I find out gender and how many are in there for sure on the 13th!! I can't wait!! :) Oh and my sis has fraternal twins and I have fraternal twin cousins and my great aunt had fraternal twins.. lol
  • LindsayChick
    LindsayChick Posts: 129 Member
    Hey! I'm pregnant as well (9 wks) and I totally know what you mean about the constant HUNGER and fainting/nausea spells if you don't eat frequently. I pack snacks to eat every few hours -- carrot sticks, a sliced pear, small bag of almonds, saltine crackers..... none of which are high in calories but will keep your blood sugar up and prevent the spells. It's working for me so I hope it can help you. Good luck!
  • tangiesharp
    tangiesharp Posts: 315 Member
    I've never been pregnant and I honestly say this with love. Seriously. But if you're pregnant and you're having fainting spells and your doctor tells you to increase your calories, would you consider increasing your calories? Both for your health and the health of your baby? Maybe it's time to focus on fitness by walking, swimming, or other doctor recommended activities rather than weight loss. Just my thoughts.

    Please, please, please don't take my comments the wrong way. I'm just worry about your health.

    Good luck and I hope you have a beautiful healthy baby.
  • TheDrBuchanan
    TheDrBuchanan Posts: 89 Member
    I'm glad to hear he's not super-worried about your fainting spells. I myself was ravenous my entire first (and only) pregnancy, and could easily sleep 20 hours a day for both first and third trimesters. I like the comments about snacking more - that was definitely my strategy (although, ice cream and girl scout cookies probably weren't the best choices for snacks!). It should help to keep your blood sugar regulated and your nausea at bay. If you have to, graze all day and don't eat as much at meal time. And, maybe, for this first trimester (while your body is all wonky) raise up the calories a tinge more, with the plan of bringing them back down in the second trimester.
  • Lainn
    Lainn Posts: 281 Member
    I've never been pregnant and I honestly say this with love. Seriously. But if you're pregnant and you're having fainting spells and your doctor tells you to increase your calories, would you consider increasing your calories? Both for your health and the health of your baby? Maybe it's time to focus on fitness by walking, swimming, or other doctor recommended activities rather than weight loss. Just my thoughts.

    Please, please, please don't take my comments the wrong way. I'm just worry about your health.

    Good luck and I hope you have a beautiful healthy baby.
    I am not offended by your comment. I did up my calories to what the OB said. My issue is I seem to be struggling with not going over the new calorie goal. And he really doesn't want me to gain a lot of weight.

    So I juts kinda feel damned if I do and damned if I don't you know? I actually stopped logging my food cause it was stressing me out. My hubby told me I needed to take a break because I was getting very upset and emotional about it. So I am trying to not overeat and keep up with my exercise. I got hit my morning sickness bad and so my diet is all wonky, but I feel like I cannot stress about it right now.

    Thanks everyone for your encouragement and suggestions. (Btw I am trying to do the snacking...but I find that most everything makes me sick...so I have actually not been eating as much. And mostly breads cause that is what stays down.)
  • CottonCandyKisses
    CottonCandyKisses Posts: 246 Member
    I lived mostly on saltines and coke for the first 3 months. Of course not the best or healthy, but I needed sugar and caffiene to prevent monster migraines and the saltines to keep me from throwing up. After that I tried to eat the best I could and smaller portions more often. Also walking for exercise. I would eat for your babys health now and worry about losing the weight that comes with pregnancy later. :smile:
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