To feel I’ve failed my unborn baby already

[lllllllllll]

I’m 23 weeks pregnant and have had two scans so far at 8 and 20 weeks that both looked normal.

I’ve been worrying though that my diet hasn’t been great throughout pregnancy - since the second trimester I’ve barely been taking my pregnancy vitamins and haven’t been eating particularly well. A typical day for me looks like this:

Breakfast: cereal with a piece of fruit and a glass of juice

Lunch: soup with bread or a sandwich of some sort

Afternoon: tea and biscuits or a muffin

Dinner: some kind of oven meal, usually with peas - or a curry/spag bol/similar

Snack: yoghurt and occasional piece of fruit

Drinks: tea, squash, juice, lemonade when out

My weight is fine, but I’m beating myself up for not getting my five a day or eating superfood for every meal. Could I have disadvantaged my baby already with this diet?

Your diet seems totally fine to me...if your concerned about nutrients pop to chemist and get some vitamins specifically for pregnancy.

Stop beating yourself up. I can't take my pregnancy vitamins at all, I'm in first trimester and I physically can't keep anything down. I'm dehydrated and I eat an apple, a bagel and a cereal bar at most each day. It's a struggle for me to eat anything as it just comes straight back up.

The baby will take all the nutrients it need from the blood, there will be plenty of all nutrients in there. The placenta takes nutrients more effectively from the blood then your own body. Your diet isnt terrible but if either of you will be suffering health wise it is most likely to be you, not your baby.

Make little changes, try not to stress about it. Biology has got this :) However, for your own sake add in a little more fibre/vitamins etc where you can.

I had HG and couldn't keep a single vitamin down, and very little nutritious food, DD is absolutely perfect. You really don't need to worry

Listen here! - parenthood is set up to make you feel guilty and you must resist this at all costs!!! It starts when you are pregnant and goes on throughout their childhoods - and sometimes longer. There will always be someone, or some article by and "expert", telling you what you should and shouldn't be doing.

Don't let it get to you - trust your own instincts as a mother-to-be. If you start worrying now it will never stop!!

Seriously, your diet is just fine - absolutely fine - couldn't be better - ideal - brilliant.................

Do not succumb to the worry bug!

That was better than what I ate with my first. I could only stomach chicken curry, steak pie and haribo.

I also went through an intense phase of craving fish pie, and retching and crying while forcing myself to eat it as I HATE fish pie. The compulsion to eat it was very strong.

Beau2020 - you have all my sympathy - this sounds utterly grim - it will pass, truly.

Babies are parasites - they take all the nutrients they need without a passing thought for what you might be left with!

I threw up constantly for the whole 9 months and could only stomach a very limited number of foods.
DS was absolutely fine.

Try not to stress, I had horrendous morning sickness with my first and survived on skips (crisps) and Irn bru! 🙈 I struggled to keep anything else down. I spoke to my gp as I was so worried and she said you'll have plenty nutrient reserves from pre pregnancy and the baby takes what it needs, my daughter is now 11 and a picture of health 🥰 relax and enjoy 😉

Cereal is usually fortified with nutrients so it could be you're getting what you need just from that!

Don't worry! If you were living exclusively on chocolate and crisps you might have an issue.

I wouldn't worry at all. Your body gives the baby all the nutrients it needs.

That’s a lot better than how I ate during my pregnancy. I didn’t take any pregnancy vitamins after 12 weeks. I lived on cornflakes as this was my major craving (didn’t eat them before I was pregnant or since DS was born). Had McDonald’s or similar once a week (again not something I usual ate before pregnancy and haven’t had since). Baby was born health 8lb. Please try not to worry

Diet with my first was mainly crisps and marmite on toast. I was sick as a dog for the whole 9 months. She is perfect, now 12 and bright, fit and healthy. I actually lost so much weight in the first trimester of my pregnancies I was underweight and under consultant care, both babies were average weight and absolutely perfect.

You're doing just fine.

I ate chicken burgers for most of the 1st and 2nd trimester. It was the only thing I could keep down.

Even my doctor said don't worry, it's still protein!

Thanks for the reassurance - I’m feeling a bit less worried now!

Your post reads a bit like a stealth boast, your diet is fine. I ate nothing but sugar and I didn't even have any sickness, baby was born 7lb 8 at 2 weeks late, no GD, all fine.

Your diet is just fine. My friend had hyperemesis with both pregnancies and weighed less at the end of both than she had been to start with. She could only stomach melon and white toast. Both boys are adults and over 6’, strong and very healthy. Women all over the world, some of whom do not have sufficient food or appropriate food available to them still go on to have healthy babies.

We have a similar diet, im 30 weeks pregnant. Ive missed some days of my ante natal pills where ive just forgotten to buy a new pack after the old one runs out.

My scans are all fine too, baby moving, blood work ok etc.

I think your ok

Your diet is completely normal. You don’t have to become a saint when you are pregnant. Eat as you would normally! Taking folic acid is important for the first 12 weeks. You don’t need to take any other vitamins, they are a bit of a fad. You can get most stuff in a regular healthy diet.

I’ve had HG in both pregnancies & for the first 16 weeks of each, eaten nothing but toast, mash potato, crackers, Cheerios & very occasionally tinned peaches. DD1 is happy, healthy 2.5 year old. DD2 also appears to be cooking well.

I didn't take pregnancy supplements with DS.

Breakfast was toast, jam & orange juice
Lunch was usually something like a sandwich, packet of salt & vinegar crisps (HAD to be s&v) and a Twix
Tea was whatever I fancied or could face.

DS is 14 and a strapping lad

I ate basically nothing but ginger nuts for the first trimester. DD came out strapping and healthy!

Your post reads a bit like a stealth boast

Haha not sure how eating cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch is a stealth boast, but hey

Thanks again for the reassuring replies. I’ve been feeling like I should have been on a diet of chia seeds and super salads but realistically it just hasn’t happened!

You’re doing great. Don’t let worry eat away at you. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

You're fine - relax and enjoy!