5:2 whilst TTC

[jellypi3]

I've decided to have a health kick and loose some flab before getting pregnant, but I wondered if it's safe to IF whilst trying to conceive? I know you shouldn't do it if pregnant, but are there risks whilst TTC?

Thanks!

Would you think about trying something like Slimming World? I only ask because it's an approved diet to follow while you're pregnant too so you could keep doing it once you get your BFP :) Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. I have considered slimming world, I might reconsider again :) Ta

Several folk on the 5:2 thread have received visits from the stork and done very well.
They return to us afterwards to return to pre-pregnancy weight.
No problems reported re ttc and Mumsnet said we have 40,000 visitors per month, so quite a lot of folk here are IFing

Warning re All Diets in Pregnancy

This is for all diets that reduce calories or complex carbs in some way, e.g. Slimming World, WeightWatchers etc just as much as IF / 5:2 or low carb.

Epigeneticists say there is evidence that restricting calories, especially carbs, in pregnancy modifies the expression of the baby's RXRA gene, increasing the risk of the baby being obese from childhood onwards.
This epigenetic change is hereditary, so grandchildren etc affected.

Related papers:
here , here , here and here

So, do NOT do any diet once you have BFP, unless your doctor advises you to diet for medical reasons - they would then specify exactly how for your particular case.

I was doing the 5:2 thing while TTC and stopped when I got my BFP.

Well, I say I stopped fasting but then the vomiting kicked in and I was barely taking in enough calories and lost lots of weight, so I imagine there were epigenetic changes aplenty going on there!

If your body refuses to keep down food, that probably has different consequences to not allowing that hungry bod to have what it's crying out for.

I think the warnings are about deliberately reducing cals below TDEE for Mum and mini over some months, without medical advice, or doing low carb for months.

bigchoc, the risks with the epigenetic changes are probably the same with hyperemesis, simply because it is a state of chronic undernutrition rather than anything to do with the underlying cause, so likely has the same risks of metabolic syndrome/obesity etc. It isn't going to stop me having babies and it is just one risk factor, but it is an interesting connection.

(I'm a doctor/biochemist doing research into obesity.)

I assumed that vomiting would usually be only for a few weeks (naive ?!) and that doctors would be advising how to maintain decent nutrition during pregnancy - as compared to someone ruthlessly dieting for 9 months without medical input and ignoring hunger.

If your nausea was very prolonged, my sympathies !

Sadly with hyperemesis, many women vomit for months (I certainly do!). I have access via work to dieticians and their advice is always to try to eat as well as I can but if I can't, I should eat what I can whatever it is! This time round, I've eaten a lot of mashed potato...

Anyway, not long to go this time! (DC4 due next month, I don't learn!)

No. 4, you are tough ! Best wishes

There is "some evidence" (not official tho) that intermittent fasting "may" reduce optimal conception in women. But I really very much doubt this will take place on a standard 5:2 diet, as long as enough calories and nutrients are consumed during the eating days.

www.marksdailyapple.com/women-and-intermittent-fasting/#axzz3BWPsUVO7

www.paleoforwomen.com/shattering-the-myth-of-fasting-for-women-a-review-of-female-specific-responses-to-fasting-in-the-literature/