Fat Tuesday: Pregnancy and Dieting

[Deleted]

Just in case habsies's anorexic blogger doesn't spur a five pager--hedging our bets.

Really? The Claim: Dieting Is Unsafe for Pregnant Women
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOOGLE+
EMAIL
SHARE
PRINT

Christoph Niemann
THE FACTS

Obesity in pregnancy is a growing problem. Nationwide, about one in five expectant mothers is obese, and up to 40 percent of women gain more weight than recommended during pregnancy.

But many experts worry that dieting can carry risks during pregnancy, including complications like low birth weight and preterm delivery, although a number of studies over the years have provided largely inconsistent results. To find a more definitive answer, British researchers recently carried out a meta-analysis that pooled data from 44 randomized studies involving more than 7,000 pregnant women, most of them overweight or obese. The studies looked at the effects of diet, exercise — mainly light resistance training and walking — and other lifestyle interventions on maternal weight and pregnancy outcomes.

Over all, the team found that the diets that were most effective at limiting weight gain among expectant mothers emphasized whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein. The study, published in the journal BMJ, also found that such a diet — as long as it was “balanced” and tailored to nutritional needs — lowered the risk of complications.

Compared with other overweight women, those who went on a diet had a 61 percent lower risk of gestational diabetes and a 33 percent lower risk of pre-eclampsia, which causes dangerous increases in blood pressure in pregnant women. They also had lower rates of gestational hypertension and preterm delivery.

THE BOTTOM LINE

For overweight women, losing weight through diet and exercise can lower the risk of complications in pregnancy.

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2012 14:05:34 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

I'll file this under "Things everyone should already know."

Well, I think the title is misleading, since the article doesn't specify whether or not the diet was calorie-limited, or simply limited to "healthy" food. I think the difference lies in one diet not allowing pregnant women to eat when they are hungry even after consuming all of the day's calories, and the other saying that eating whenever hunger strikes is fine, as long as snacks are mainly fruits and vegetables.

[msmerymac]

Jul 10, 2012 14:10:30 GMT -5 @dontcallmeshirley said:

Jul 10, 2012 14:05:34 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

I'll file this under "Things everyone should already know."

Well, I think the title is misleading, since the article doesn't specify whether or not the diet was calorie-limited, or simply limited to "healthy" food. I think the difference lies in one diet not allowing pregnant women to eat when they are hungry even after consuming all of the day's calories, and the other saying that eating whenever hunger strikes is fine, as long as snacks are mainly fruits and vegetables.

Diet - ur doin' it wrong.

You can certain limit calorie consumption and not be hungry.

I believe you only need about 200 calories more than your normal intake to sustain fetal growth and development. The problem being that most people are already eating 200 calories or more per day than they should.

So if you are obese and used to eating about 3000 calories a day, there's really no reason you can't cut it down to 2500 or 2000, ideally through a nutritionally balanced diet (because often when people try to cut calories, they cut out variety and therefore nutrients). It's not an excuse to eat MORE.

I also hear from people all the time who say that pregnant women can't lift anything over 5 pounds, or that you need to stop exercising, which is not true with a normal pregnancy.

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2012 14:19:19 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Jul 10, 2012 14:10:30 GMT -5 @dontcallmeshirley said:

Well, I think the title is misleading, since the article doesn't specify whether or not the diet was calorie-limited, or simply limited to "healthy" food. I think the difference lies in one diet not allowing pregnant women to eat when they are hungry even after consuming all of the day's calories, and the other saying that eating whenever hunger strikes is fine, as long as snacks are mainly fruits and vegetables.

Diet - ur doin' it wrong.

You can certain limit calorie consumption and not be hungry.

I believe you only need about 200 calories more than your normal intake to sustain fetal growth and development. The problem being that most people are already eating 200 calories or more per day than they should.

So if you are obese and used to eating about 3000 calories a day, there's really no reason you can't cut it down to 2500 or 2000, ideally through a nutritionally balanced diet (because often when people try to cut calories, they cut out variety and therefore nutrients). It's not an excuse to eat MORE.

I also hear from people all the time who say that pregnant women can't lift anything over 5 pounds, or that you need to stop exercising, which is not true with a normal pregnancy.

During pregnancy, probably easier said than done. But I understand your point.

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2012 14:32:56 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

I agree with both of you. Having been pregnant, having gained more than the recommended weight, and having had pre-e, I know that nothing is guaranteed in pregnancy, but the thing is, pregnancy is just an incredibly hard time to lose weight. For me, eating was the only thing that made my morning sickness feel better. It wasn't even about having a license to eat whatever, it was like don't eat, feel like you have the worst hangover of your life, or eat and at least feel relatively normal but gain a shit load of weight. I gained 60 and 50 lbs, respectively. I was advised to gain 25. Oops.

Really, the time to handle your weight issues is before pregnancy.

I was also advised to gain 20-25 and gained over 40. I've got 20 more to lose. Unlike you, though, I started out overweight (and that was even with 11 lbs gone from P90X right before). Next time around, I want to be a bit stricter with myself, but we'll see how that goes.

[pedanticwench]

It depresses me to think I have to actually lose weight before I can gain any during a possible pregnancy, but it's the reality.

Dieting is something you should do before or after pregnancy.

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2012 14:54:10 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

I am dropping weight at a scary pace now, in the 31st week of pregnancy. I have lost over 20lbs in the last few weeks. But, I have a raging, raging medical condition that prevents me from eating just about anything except cheerios. Sometimes. And I've been threatened with a feeding tube if I don't eat.

I'm going to go cry now. Sorry. Having a Reeve moment.

I'm so sorry, MrD. I have horrible reflux myself and can't imagine how awful that is. Can they really not give you anything stronger than Zantac?

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2012 15:01:56 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

Jul 10, 2012 14:57:34 GMT -5 @dontcallmeshirley said:

I'm so sorry, MrD. I have horrible reflux myself and can't imagine how awful that is. Can they really not give you anything stronger than Zantac?

I have some industrial strength zantac and prevacid but the real serious stuff is not good for the baby...

I was going to ask about Prevacid, since I know that's what pedis give babies all the time. I didn't know there was industrial strength Zantac...shit. This makes me want to for you.

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2012 15:07:57 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

and this is flameful, but I'm at the point where a preemie baby, g-d help me for saying this, is looking like my best way out

Meaning, are your docs thinking that you're in such a state that they need to deliver early?

[pedanticwench]

Jul 10, 2012 15:14:14 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

Jul 10, 2012 15:12:37 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Will they consider induction at 37 weeks?

yes induction, even 35 weeks if I don't stop losing weight/not getting enough fluids.

yay. 15 years trying for a baby and I can't even keep her in for 40 weeks. Some mother I am.

Don't beat yourself up about this! my goodness, I feel for you. ((hugs))

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2012 15:14:14 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

Jul 10, 2012 15:12:37 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Will they consider induction at 37 weeks?

yes induction, even 35 weeks if I don't stop losing weight/not getting enough fluids.

yay. 15 years trying for a baby and I can't even keep her in for 40 weeks. Some mother I am.

Stop! This is in no way your fault. Shit like this just happens sometimes. Think of it this way--this child was so wanted and loved that you endured this for her and, eventually, made the decision with your doctors that maximized both her health and yours.

[pixy0stix]

Jul 10, 2012 15:14:14 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

yay. 15 years trying for a baby and I can't even keep her in for 40 weeks. Some mother I am.

Whut? You can't help what your body is doing. There's no way anyone could have predicted this, and it's not your fault.

Your baby is going to be just fine, and live a happy and wonderful life with you as her mother.

[ringstrue]

You are eating nothing but cheerios to keep your baby healthy! You are already a great mom!

::hugs::

[statlerwaldorf]

I followed a pretty strict diet while I was pregnant. My mom had GD and I am obese with PCOS with IR. I really didn't want to take my chances with GD. I did not have some crazy calorie deficient or sit around sipping Slim Fast. I cut out almost all refined sugars. I never went hungry. I tried to listen to my body and didn't worry about eating if I was hungry. My doctor was supportive. There was a concern about too much weight loss in the first tri, but that was more due to morning sickness than the diet. I lost 10 lbs in the first tri. I ended up gaining those lbs back plus 5 lbs. My weight gain was pretty steady during the second half of my pregnancy.