Not enough nutrition?

[blushingmare]

I generally eat a fairly balanced diet, perhaps a little too much sweet stuff, but have also maintained a daily exercise regime throughout pregnancy so far, so don't feel toooo bad about the sweet treats. But, in the last ten days or so I am so lethargic and unmotivated to do anything, including cooking myself a proper meal. I've also really lost my appetite and can't face anything too big. But I'm really worried that I'm therefore starving my baby.... For example, today I had a large bowl of Alpen for breakfast, a cheese sandwich for lunch, a piece of apple cake and some mini cocktail sausages for snack and a large bowl of Alpen again for dinner! I know this is really crap, but I seriously can't face cooking or eating a proper meal. It's not that I'm feeling sick, it's just that I can't face it. I am taking Pregnacare religiously! Am I being a total idiot? I'm 16 weeks.

Nope, you're not being a total idiot
And that set of food is not that bad, you've got protein there with the milk, cheese and sausages, carbs in the muesli, bread and cake - it was just light on fresh fruit and veges that day. But if you look back over a week then you'll probably see that it will equal out.
And a multivitamin is like a backstop, it will plug the gaps and you'll pee out what you don't need (expensive wee!)

Your baby will take everything it needs - in priority to your needs. So if anything, you're neglecting yourself, not your baby!

I find it hard to motivate myself to cook and eat full meals - but actually I'm on a gestational diabetes diet which means I'm recommended to eat smaller portions but snacking regularly as well to keep blood sugar levels steady. My DH has become used to me having a cheese, ham, lettuce & tomato sandwich for dinner. Maybe stock up on some alternative snacking ideas?

• nuts (great for protein)
• cucumber, broccoli and carrot batons
• yoghurt pots
• cream cheese spread on crackers
• hard boiled eggs
• fruit slices, grapes, bananas

A reasonable breakfast of cereal & toast is about the only thing I've eaten properly during this pregnancy. Before i was even doing meal planning but that has gone out the window, poor DP & DS. I feel irresponsible but am 37wks & things appear to be fine. I did a load of freezer cooking last time too late pregnancy for when the newborn arrived but no chance of that thiis time. Can't wait to eat properly again!

Hiya, yet another person saying its not the end of the world. I will add tho, that whenever I felt like that during pregnacy it was because my iron levels were dropping. They always tested out as being just in the "okay" zone, but I am sensitive to my iron dropping and what they class as "ok" is not ok for me! I get very lethargic and I stop eating properly. In my 3rd pregnancy I discovered Spatone this stuff

Lots of people on here use it / know about it its v good during pregnancy and for toddlers who are low iron.

HTH

Oh! and you can buy it in boots :)

I have always suspected that about the iron levels in my case too, esp as I can't face taking supplements when I'm not eating properly too, & am veggie. We use Spatone for DS but I find it tastes like blood to me, probably psychosomatic!

Huh, I've never thought about using spatone for my toddler, he's not great at eating iron-rich food, but I guess there's no harm in adding it to some juice every so often. Slight tangent there - sorry, hope you're feeling a bit reassured op.

blushingmare that's a brilliant diet in my books! I've had days where I can't manage much more than a slice of toast or a mars bar and had opposite days where I've eaten way more than acceptable. My hormones have dictated a lot of my diet right from the start. Your body will give all the nutrients the baby needs to the baby before you, so if you do have an off few days/weeks and aren't eating as is normal for you then it's you that'll suffer but not the baby. You really seem to be looking after yourself well, all we can do is our best.

You might want to look into Floradix for iron www.chemistdirect.co.uk/supplements_v_4937.html?gclid=COzJ3-zFkq0CFUQMfAodtl1Fng
And some sort of a superfood - like blue green algae - which is highly nutritious and grown in an organic lake
www.genaturals.com/int_customers.html

Thanks guys I feel much more reassured now. Was starting think I'd be damaging LO through my own laziness! It's a good thought about the iron - I'll look into it.