Hello all!

I wanted to start a thread for those who are expecting (since there are so many threads for those nursing their new babies!) and trying to stay healthy.
I am watching my weight gain this time around under the supervision of my doctor (2000 calories a day for my first trimester, and currently 2200 a day now for my 2nd trimester) and eating healthy and exercising.
I would like to hear about your pregnancies, what you are doing & eating to stay fit and healthy during this time.

I am currently still belly dancing professionally for the time being, walking, and doing some prenatal workouts that I have. My nutritional goals besides my calorie range are:
~6-8+ glasses of water a day
~1 caffeinated drink a day max
~5+ fruits/veggie servings a day
~100% RDA calcium
~limit empty calories-treat foods kept to a minimum and healthier choices made in restaurants

I am currently almost 16 weeks (16 weeks tomorrow). How are all of you?

I haven't been watching what I eat until recently. I'm supposed to be following a lower carb diet and for the most part I have. They haven't been the healthiest of carbs but I'm trying. I also had to add insulin shots on Monday and have already had to up them so it looks like my gestational diabetes hit me sooner than last time as well.
I keep telling myself I'm going to start walking again but that just hasn't happened.
I'm 14 weeks or so right now and my next appts. are on 3-29.

Wow...we have a lot in common, it seems. I am a borderline gestational diabetic, and because it went undetected during my first pregnancy I ended up with a 10lb, 40z. baby who was 23 inches long and had a 15" head! I delivered vaginally, but it was assisted with vacuum extraction after I couldn't push her all of the way myself.
I had the glucose tolerance test at around 20 weeks along with my second, and it was shady-not full blown gd, but sortof in the shady area between gd and normal. They did give me multiple ultrasounds for size, and Raiden was induced at 36 weeks-9lbs, 4oz. with a 15" head. The doctor said he would have been about 11 pounds at my due date.
The thing is-neither time did they have me watch my diet, and neither time did they give me a glucost tolerance test besides the routine 20 week one.

This time around with a new doctor, they gave me a glucost tolerance test at 12 weeks-which for now is still in the okay range-but they are having me eat in the calorie range mentioned above, and while I am not low carb, I am "good carb". Meaning-they want me to eat better carbs that don't spike my blood sugar so quickly-as in fruit instead of juices, whole grains over refined ones, and so forth.
They are going to do the glucose tolerance test again at around 20 weeks, and then again a little later. They are guessing that I am a gd, but that I go into it a little later than the 20 week standard testing time. Rather than inducing 3-5 weeks early if the baby is large, they are discussing maybe going only a week or so early and doing a C-section this time. That would be actually more ideal for me. But-they are hoping that there is a chance of a smaller, normal sized baby with the dietary guidelines this time. I can only hope.

Mine never really got overally big (Lilly was 8 lbs. 8 oz. 5 days late and William was 7 lbs. 12 oz. 2 weeks early). They skipped the GTT with me. I went straight to the diabetic clinic to monitor my fasting and after meal sugar levels.
As for the diet itself, it too isn't that restrictive.
Breakfast--30g carbs
Midmorning snack--15g
Lunch--60g
Afternoon snack--15g
Diner--60g
Evening snack--45g

My problem has been trying to get in my snacks because I just haven't been hungry at those times.

My weight gain has been plentiful. I am almost at 25 weeks and have gained well over 20lbs, I am watching it much closer now since diabetes runs in my family. I am getting the GTT done next week so hopefully that will go well, but as for eating I am eatings lots of fruits and veggies, 3 milk servings a day and high fiber carbs and am trying to make good protien choices.

As for exercise, I am doing prenatal yoga, starting prenatal aquafit, the elliptical and good 'ole walking!!

Anyway, I have a cute tummy now and think the next 15 weeks will go by slowly.

Cheers!

Ali

I am 26 weeks, gained 8 lbs so far, (nothing in the first 19 weeks). I am trying to be more careful in my selections. Next week, the warm weather returns, so I would like to start walking daily again.

I am just at 29 weeks and I am starving alot of the time. I cannot say I have been eating only healthful foods as I just want cream and savoury foods like cheese.
Last time I got really hungry at this stage as well. I did put on alot of weight at the end of the pregnancy but went back to my pre pregnancy weight without trouble.
This time though I am heavier, but healthier due to running around after a 20 month old all the time =)
I am tired but doing ok.

I'm 19 weeks, 2 days pregnant, and have been gaining out of control for the last 9 months. Even before i was pregnant I was putting on tons of weight.

Before that I had lost 80 lbs on Atkins and was down to 180 lbs. Then I started putting weight back on. When I got the pos. pregnancy test I was 230. Now I am 253 lbs on my doc. scale. I have to get a grip.

I started South Beach ph. II today. I have no other choice, but to stick to this plan and get myself in line.

I can't wait to get to know you all more!

I am 9 1/2 weeks and just trying to survive through the sickness. By survive I mean eating at least every 2 hours to keep functioning (if I don't I get way too sick instead of just nauseated). People keep telling me "just make sure you eat the right things," which I almost want to laugh at, because the "right things" a) do not sound good b) do not digest well. I am getting very little meat and vegetables, because they do not agree with my stomach. The more processed it is, the better it stays down. I am getting more fruits as of this week, and I am able to keep my prenatal down, as long as I stick to refined carbs, cheese, sometimes granola, fruit, etc. It is so weird, because it is opposite of the way I always try to eat. I love whole grains, whole wheat, try to keep my cheese low, and usually vegetables sound a lot better to me than fruits (too sweet). It's hard because the things that make my stomach feel better do NOT make my body work as well as it should, and I'm so sick and tired at the end of the work day that I just want to lay on the couch - I have been trying to walk more, but it's hard to come up with the energy. I have gained about 6-8 lbs, and that was after I had gained about the same over the holidays. I was just working to get rid of it when this happened. So yeah, surviving, and hoping to feel better when I get out of the first trimester!

Sara, I've been following your pregnancy news and almost cried reading about your miscarriage scare. What a relief when you wrote: "We have a heart beat." I felt like jumping up and down in my cube.
Thanks for sharing and all the best to you and your baby! Hope you feel better.

I would like to encourage all of the pregnant mamas here to share their eating habits and exercise as well if they want to. It might be encouraging.

As I stated before, I am currently on a 2200 calorie diet-so that I gain weight, but the weight gain will be less than I packed on during the last two pregnancies-the goal is to control my gestational diabetes and see if it makes these gargantuan babies any smaller so I can deliver vaginally-if it doesn't, then I will opt for the C-section this time around.

Yesterday (Thursday) I did Crunch Yoga Mama-a 35 minute prenatal yoga dvd. For those of you who have seen it-I encourage you to try it. It has some strength building poses in it, but also some wonderful stretching, hip opening poses, relaxation techniques, and kegels. (I didn't realize how important these were to do-until AFTER I had my first baby!!!)

My diet for yesterday was: (I am a "grazer" so I snack all day long, rather than sitting down to 3 regular sized meals.)
~Breakfast~
apple
egg and low fat cheese on an english muffin
~Snack~
organic raisins
fat free yogurt
~Lunch~
small portion of beef stroganoff made with extra lean beef
side of veggies
~Snack~
Optimun flax & soy organic bar
~Dinner~
2 small slices of pizza with whole grain crust and reduced fat cheese
LARGE salad made with mixed lettuces (romaine, baby spinach, etc.)
~Snack~
2 cups of sliced strawberries
small slice of fat free angel food cake
(Hey, I'm pregnant. )

Totals for the day:
Calories: 2210 (my goal is 2200-so I did well)
Fiber: 33.8 grams (yay!)
Calcium: 125% of RDA (yay!)
# of servings of fruits and veggies: 7 (I strive to get 5 or more per day )

All in all, it was a pretty good day. Hopefully today will go just as well.
~

Good Morning!
I am a regular poster over on the maintainers forum, I maintained a 30lb weight loss after the birth of my last child (8 years ago)! I am now expecting my second child in November - I'm 7 weeks along. Morning sickness hit about 2 weeks ago and since then I've made terrible choices and feel the urge to eat all day long because I feel so disgusting. However, with my last pregnancy, I gained almost 60 pounds and had a huge 9 lb 15 ounce baby...so this time I'd like to do things differently.

Sara, I definitely empathize with your situation. I'm craving comfort foods, feel a little better while I'm eating them, and then feel awful an hour later and find myself eating again.

Today I'm going to try to eat very small meals of healthy snacks at regular intervals and see how that goes. I've already had an apple and two slices of whole wheat toast with peanut butter. For lunch, I hope to be able to eat something that has more protein and some veggies, although nothing sounds appetizing. My main goal is to stay away from processed foods as much as possible, as white flour/sugar and I do not get along well!

Aphil, Sounds like you are doing very well, your menu is right on. I enjoy reading what others are eating because it gives me ideas and inspires me to stay the course! I'm so afraid of getting to November and being 40 pounds overweight after giving birth...that fear is motivating me to absolutely stay away from sugar. Now I just need to get ahold of how often I am eating to keep portions in check. It's so hard when you feel sick all day long, I'm never really hungry, just trying to soothe myself. The good news is I continue to exercise 5-6 times per week, it seems to help with the sickness a little. I ride the stationary bike for 30 mins and do 10 mins on the treadmill, I also try to fit in some light weight lifting, although I have not been very good about the weights lately. Something to work on!

Thank you ladies for your information and inspiration. I look forward to posting here over the next several months!

Magdie, thanks for your sympathy and support! It was a really hard thing to go through, but it helps me be more thankful that my pregnancy is going fine, even though I am so nauseated all the time. I had my third appointment yesterday afternoon and I got to actually hear the heartbeat on the Doppler. It was a nice reassurance even though I've been feeling fine about everything. I just feel bad that I didn't speak up and ask if my husband could come in and hear it too. Next month I will.
Aphil and lessismore, thanks for your encouragement and examples. I have already gained 10 lb with the severe downswing in exercise and the unhealthy food this sickness has brought on (though I mostly stay away from regular sugary "junk" food - it doesn't help, so what's the point?). I am going to try a little harder to eat healthy things, and hopefully my nausea will subside in the next few weeks (I am at 10 weeks) and I can start eating vegetables, more protein, and complex carbs again. Right now, as I said, it's mostly fruit, simple carbs, and dairy that I can keep down. (and plain white rice/plain white past in large amounts are my best bets for actually settling my stomach... sigh.) Yesterday I had to take an early/long lunch from work, because if I sat there any longer (as opposed to laying down) I was going to throw up (which I have avoided for a week and a half now by avoiding veggies, whole wheat stuff and most meat). I really didn't want to, because all I had eaten so far was actually healthy stuff! I am hanging in there and hoping this will get better soon. I do NOT want to gain 30+ lbs, and I hate not eating the healthy stuff that makes my body feel better!

I am a huge salad eater, but recently I am just really aversed to them argh! Oh well, I am still getting in some veggies and plenty of fruits.

I had the Glucose screening today... that's lots of fun... I felt disgusting after.

I have started Aquafit and am still doing yoga and good ole walking. I am glad the weather has improved.

I am also experiencing sciatica, which sucks, but had a massage today which is helping.

Sara: I lost my nausea around the 10 week mark so I am sure you'll be feeling better soon!!

Take care everyone!

Ali

I am craving SOOOO much stinking fruit with this kid. Guess it could be worse, huh?
I literally just walked out of Kroger at 9pm with 3 pkgs. of strawberries, 2 organic oranges, 3 organic apples, a bunch of organic bananas, and some orange juice.