Slimfast during pregnancy?

[Particles]

Was never a breakfast eater before this pregnancy but now physically find it hard to get going in the morning on an empty stomach and also feel as though I need to eat every few hours because blood pressure is also low.

I don't suffer from sickness as such but do get nauseous in the mornings and find certain smells turn my stomach so often can't face food even though I am starving and take fruit to work which never fills me up.

Was browsing in Boots earlier and am considering a Slimfast/Complan/meal replacement shake in the morning instead. Reading the labels I saw that they are not advised during pregnancy - why is this?

I am not overweight and would obviously not be using a weight-loss plan or trying to lose weight so would this be ok or is the warning more to do with the shakes being fortified with certain vitamins/supplements which might not be 100% safe? Anybody know? Thanks!

I'm afraid I really would avoid. Those things are highly, highly processed and full of nasty refined ingredients and esoteric additives plus shedloads of artificial sweetners, which are highly dubious in pregnancy - well for anyone really. Could you stomach something like a breakfast bar? Or how about just a normal milk shake. Hell I'd even recommend a McDonald's one over those meal replacement drinks.

Do they have a lot of Vitamin a in them? If so that might be why.

Very easy to make your own. Glass of milk, one banana and a spoonful of full fat yoghurt (any flavour, though with banana honey yoghurt is lush) is all you need, blend until it's smooth.

I think I'd agree with the others. If you think you could drink one of those shakes, how about smoothies (such as Innocent)? or maybe drinking yoghurt?

I've never tried one lol have to say they aren't sounding too appetising from what you guys have said!

Home-making smoothies or something instead sounds like a much better idea even if it means dragging myself out of bed a bit earlier - will dig the blender out!

What, if anything could I put in with fruit to thicken it out and make it a bit more filling? Have literally been eating nothing in the morning as more the thought and smell of food than food itself is turning my stomach, iyswim and then snacking in work all afternoon because I am still hungry after lunch! Anyone else ravenous? Seem to remember it easing around the end of the second trimester last time.

Particles as a Dietitian I would not recommend you take it due to vitamin A content. A milkshake or a yoghurt drink (such as frigg, yopp) would be a good alternative. As you stomach gets used to this nourishment in the morning you maybe able to progress to cereal bars, cereal or yoghurt.

My favourite breakfasts when pregnant were cinnamon and raisen bagels or fruit scones- but my morning sickness made me crave carbs.

Yes, avoid. They tend to be fortified in amounts that are not recommended for pg women.

I had much the same problem as you. I found it was helpful to make up some porridge with tea instead of milk for breakfast and for my second pg I turned to those protien shakes they sell for bodybuilders. You can get some that are much more natural and since they are geared towards athletes they are less sugary and more substantive iykwim.

Mostly you just don't want anything with "low calories" because you really do need your calories and the things they substitute for calories to make it palatable are pretty terrible.

The only innocent shake I could stomach when pg was the vanilla bean one, which sort of defeats the point .

Aonach, I was the opposite. If I didn't have meat with every meal I would be terribly sick, and handling raw meat made me terribly sick . All the advice said "eat carbs" but if I didn't have some protien with it I would be ill.

Particles, bananas are lovely for thickening up shakes, but keep an eye on how many you eat. PG constipation is no small beast even without eating loads of bananas .

You could try adding a handful of oats - Innocent used to do a berry thickie which was yogurt, berries and oatmeal and it was lovely!

Ooh yes oats or granola with yoghurt/banana or similar sound yum! At this time of night.. Will see what my gag reflex thinks in the morning!

Thanks for all the advice everyone - some really helpful ideas here!

Yum Yes a spoonful of porridge oats in it to thicken it up.

If you get some frozen berries from the supermarket to throw in then it's lush. You don't need to thaw them, just throw a handful in and you get a lovely cold, thick drink. Also a lot cheaper than buying fresh berries.

i'd read the label first... why would you want to take unnecessary chemicals? take some face non-fat yogurt, add honey and berries and linseeds... much better and healthier for you and the fetus..

Pret a Manger Very Berry Bowl & a porridge with honey! That's what my OH is eating at the moment. I wouldn't let her eat anything for the first 3 months. :) no red meat, no vitamin a, anything on a naughty list was a no no.

Ooh yes, in the summer I make a great smoothie. Bannana, milk, bit of ice, scoop of oats plus anything else you fancy (particularly any fruit that needs using up).

Depending on the amount of oats, it's practically a bowl of muesli!