AIBU to count calories when pregnant?

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

I'm 12 weeks (+ 6 days) pregnant with dc2.

I'm not following a low calorie diet, just setting my MFP to 'sustain weight', which is about 1900 calories a day for me. I will change it to 'gain 0.5 lbs per week' in the third trimester.

I gained too much weight last pregnancy and never got completely rid of the excess. Would like to avoid the same happening this time round.

Is this a bad idea? I think I'm being sensible, but a friend thinks any sort of calorie counting in pregnancy is a bad idea?

I would ask your midwife. That sounds fine for 1st trimester but you probably need more for 2nd.

1900 calories a day is more than enough for most women, pregnant or not.

It's not at all restrictive, and hardly worth mentioning to anyone.

I'd imagine your friend heard 'calorie counting' and imagined 700 calories a day or something.

It's the mention of watching calories that will raise eyebrows. Most people just eat normally, don't put on weight other than the baby/amniotic fluid etc. and don't give it a second thought.

It depends how you diet. I love MFP. I would do things like have low fat Greek yoghurt instead of full fat, and not have an extra price of fruit if I fancied it as it would take me over my calories. You need lots of good fats when pregnant which are obviously high in calories. Maybe count calories but don't include fruit and veg?
I'm in the same position btw, I have been really sick during my first trimester and it's passing now so I'm considering how to keep the weight off this time, I gained nearly 4 stone last time and found it hard to shift.

Thanks anni. That's interesting to hear. For some reason I thought it was normal calories till the third trimester.

Unfortunately my midwives have said not to phone them for anything until I'm 16 weeks. Before that I am supposed to call the gp. Is this a strange thing to phone a gp for?

I don't think eating sensibly during your pregnancy is a bad thing, but I do think you should speak to your doctor about it first. I know you don't actually have to eat massive amounts more during pregnancy, but I'm pretty sure 1900 calories is below what's recommended, especially as you get further along in your pregnancy.

You only need extra calories in the 3rd trimester and then its only 200 more so 2200 cals for the average woman , you are eating around the recommended 2000 so it sounds fine to me but i would say if you have a hungry day dont deny yourself , a piece of toast or a banana to stave off hunger wont have you gaining excessive weight

X posted with others there.

Thanks. I did explain how many calories I was planning to eat, (have just started this weekend, as I am starting to feel a lot better now). Still got a disapproving head shake...

Sounds sensible to me. I wish I'd done that-I gained 4 stone when I was pregnant because all I did was eat.

I think it's totally fine as long as you are eating properly within that 1900. Lots of variety and meat, veg, dairy, grains, carbs. A good mixture. A lot of people eat a lot of shit throughout their whole pregnancies (and daily life) so if you are eating a balanced diet then I think 1900 cals is not an issue.

THe amount is fine but make sure you're getting sufficient nutrients within that level. Levels of various macro and micro nutrients increase ( or decrease) during pregnancy.

I had HG and struggled to get calories in. Ds is fine

Thanks so much all. I feel less guilty about it. I thought too much weight was bad for both of us, so thought I was being sensible.

I'm not planning to ignore hunger. I'm not hungry when I eat this many calories, but I think (so far), it's preventing me from mindlessly munching loads of stuff I don't really want or need just for the hell of it. Which I would probably do all day if I could!

Thanks ana. I'll look into that as well. Mfp does have goals for nutrition as well as calories, but they aren't specifically for pregnant women.

I'm in the same boat and will be continuing to use MFP. Currently my calories are set to about 1600, but I can top up with exercise if more hungry. I'll probably change to 1700/1800 for second and third trimesters.
It hadn't even occurred to me to speak to midwife or doctor about it!

It depends how you diet. I love MFP. I would do things like have low fat Greek yoghurt instead of full fat, and not have an extra price of fruit if I fancied it as it would take me over my calories. You need lots of good fats when pregnant which are obviously high in calories. Maybe count calories but don't include fruit and veg?
I'm in the same position btw, I have been really sick during my first trimester and it's passing now so I'm considering how to keep the weight off this time, I gained nearly 4 stone last time and found it hard to shift.

Personally, if you know you are sensible and are happy to be well read on things pregnancy related, I'd be happy to make my own decisions on stuff like this. It's really not rocket science. Now in my 4th pregnancy I see midwives as people to check me medically (pee, blood pressure) and support me through labour. All the other stuff is box ticking and information I had found even before appointments on my first.

1900 calories is fine when you're pregnant. Very healthy.

YANBU for maintenance and keeping up healthy habits. It can get really easy to overeat once the nausea fades and physical activity declines later on.

I think people survive on a lot less calories pregnant or not. Even if you did not eat more in your third trimester your baby would be fine.

I'm overweight and when was pregnant started eating a whole lot healthier and used mfp as I didn't think I was eating enough calories and I wasn't. Kept track of what was eating but didn't go mad and I actually lost 3lb overall.

You're welcome. 1990 is fine unless you're six foot something. Look up the guidelines for all the things like calcium, protein, fats, vitamins etc for pregnant women and use that as a guide. Much better to have fewer calories composed of nutritionally dense foods than eat empty calories for the sale of it.

I lost about 20lb having HG in the first trimester. After finally getting some (not terribly effective) drugs and forcing myself to eat I ended up leaving the hospital about 10lb lighter than pre pregnancy. I ate whatever I could stomach which was often utter crap or bland beige stuff.

Ds is as healthy as an ox and strong. They take what they need from you and 1900 kcal a day is totally fine. If you're hungry on top of that then do eat just make it healthy stuff.

People can be arses though - just tell them you have mfp set up to make sure you're getting all your minerals/vitamins etc or something.

So long as you remember that even on maintain weight you'll naturally gain a few lbs as baby grows etc

Totally fine, I watched what I ate with my two pregnancies and was so glad I did. I'm not super thin, I'm just average but I just ate healthily and walked an hour a day and gained nice and steadily. I gave myself an overall "target" weight gain of 1.5 - 2 stone and made sure I didn't gain anything more than that. I had healthy 7lb 4oz and 7lb 13oz babies and all my own weight gain was gone within two weeks of having them, so it was well worth keeping track of. I didn't count calories but I would have consumed roughly what you're aiming for. Most midwives and doctors would be more concerned with excessive weight gain which can come with a whole host of problems for mum and baby. I'd just keep doing what you're doing and not mention it to friends or family - people are waaaaay to judgmental on mums and pregnant women and seem to think it they have free reign to voice all their "opinions" on your decisions.