Worried im eating too many crisps in pregnancy

[NightSkyWanderer]

Had a lecture this morning that I need to cut out the crisps. I'm currently 17 weeks. To be honest, crisps have become a stable in my diet. I'm a complete crisp junkie. Asking me to go cold turkey on crisps is not going to happen.
It has me raising the question how many is too many? I've since been reading all sorts of shit about it affecting development which obviously concerns me. Dinner isn't much healthier , it's usually something unhealthy, pizza ect but I am taking a portion of blueberries and a banana every day. First trimester I literally survived off crisps and cheese but apparently now I'm in second trimester I need to start eating healthy more.
I'd happily eat and have done a share bag of hula hoops plus 2 or 3 multipacks in one day. Obviously I want my baby to be healthy but to be honest I have bad food aversions and went off veg completely and meat in first. Stayed slowly eating fruit now past two weeks. My midwife was young, I don't think she's had children. Food aversions and cravings aren't bloody easy to just say eat this , don't eat that.
Came home and polished off a big share bag of kettle crisps.
Anyone else struggling ?
And did anyone eat alot of crisps during pregnancy have any advice?
Is it really harmful to the baby?
I think she said something to do with the high salt and them being fried

Your midwife is correct. Her age has nothing to do with it.
Yes, you can choose to continue to eat unhealthily but you have to accept full responsibility that you do so knowing it is not good for your growing baby. Or, you can cut down and eat differently, again your choice.
I remember the first time I ate sardines on whole meal toast when pregnant with my first - hated it but knew it was good for baby’s just put up with it and had them each week.
You could ask for a referral to a dietician.

I really struggled to eat anything and lost weight with twins for first trimester.
Mostly ate cake and custard.
My consultant obstetrician an older lady said, "don't worry they are parasites and will strip you of what they need to do well"
Obviously it easier for you to eat good food and they can easily access what they need but they they get their nutrients.
Keep making small positive changes for your long term health and don't worry too much.

@TheMoonstone it's not that easy . I have really bad food aversions and I've struggled to keep anything else down. What is my alternative, to stop eating the only foods I can tolerate and starve . That's not going to help my baby either if I completely stop eating. The only foods I can eat are foods I'm craving otherwise I can palette them. And vomiting up everything i eat wouldn't be helping me either. Of course I feel guilty. I eat really healthy before getting pregnant but pregnancy has completely altered my diet

My whole life I haven’t been a crisp eater but my god, in pregnancy, especially the first trimester, I couldn’t get enough of them. I ate loads . I did put on 3 stone in pregnancy but it all fell off after giving birth. Your baby will take what they need from you.

I had a young midwife who I liked, but like yours she hadn’t had children and I think it’s hard to appreciate the nausea and the cravings for beige food if you haven’t experienced it.

I’ve also heard that the baby will take what they need from what you eat, so in the first trimester when it can be really difficult to stomach anything ‘healthy’, it’s best to eat what you can and know you’re at least keeping something down. After the first trimester, assuming you’re able to eat relatively normally, I think it’s a case of everything in moderation. One (single portion sized) bag of crisps every day is still quite a lot but isn’t going to do any harm, but the amount you’ve mentioned above is quite excessive. I would personally try and cut down on the crisps and also try to cook some healthy meals throughout the week too, although pizza is still fine for a treat!

I'm definitely making some little healthier choices adding in fruit which I couldn't do so before and I'm trying to oven cook everything as opposed to buying fried but obviously I am worried now about my diet before this past 17 weeks and effects now . I have my big scan in 2 weeks now.
When I said my midwife hasn't been pregnant before , I meant she dosent understand me trying to explain I've had serious had food aversions and not being able to tolerate foods since pregnant

I think we all just do what we can to get through the first trimester! I was also big into crisps and cheese! Walkers do a lower salt salt and vinegar which are actually quite nice. I also ate a lot of carrot and cucumber sticks which made me feel a bit better.

By the second trimester I was able to get back into my usual eating habits. Are you usually a healthy eater? It's a good idea to try and get some more veg in small ways. OK have pizza but maybe half the pizza with some homemade sweet potato wedges or salad. Baked potatoes are good comfort food. Sausage and mash with some broccoli. Take your vitamins and do your best. Plenty of water! You will feel better and it is better for baby.

Find a compromise you can maintain. Introducing the fruit was a good idea. If you can introduce small quantities of other food groups say a couple of times a week then you might find you can manage to keep them down. Maybe try some nuts as a healthy snack.

Hi. Sorry posted on the wrong message originally. I’m 17 weeks tomorrow and like you I can’t stop eating crisps. My diet is all over the place at the moment the only fruit I can stomach is strawberries and vegetables I’ve gone off completely. I’m not eating ‘healthy’ should we say. But I’ve also heard the baby will take what they need from what you eat and the most important thing is that you’re eating. I’ve also lost 1.3kg since being pregnant so it doesn’t always mean you’ll put on weight

I survived off chips, cheese and crisps in first trimester (and some of second) as it was either this, or vomiting anything else. If it's the only thing you can keep down, then so be it!

I'm trying to be healthier now, but am struggling to be honest. You aren't alone!

I'm 16 weeks and still having food aversions. I am all into carbs - eating 1 of those rice pouches for lunch each day and having a packet of hula hoops. I cook a healthy dinner but sometimes I just cannot tolerate it and have Weetabix or toast instead!
It's tricky to navigate but maybe limit yourself to a packet a day and replace the others with something you can tolerate?

I’ve eaten loads of crisps in pregnancy. I have low blood pressure which causes salt cravings so I’ve just been listening to my body 🤭

as long as you’re keeping active and making sure you’re getting enough protein and veg in as well then I’m sure you’ll be fine if you try and curb it a bit as well, I think cold turkey is probably just going to make you miserable. You could try a slightly healthier alternative (mini popadoms have more protein in, baked chickpeas are a good option too).

I was very similar to you. Just find the healthiest you can find eg quinoa chips. I got gestational diabetes at the end so was forced to have a very healthy diet and cut out crisps and pasta and bread it was miserable but I managed - things like egg fried brown rice sweet potato salads and beans chilli

Definitely try to swap out for some healthier alternative crisps - I’ve always been a crisp addict so have always had to make sure I don’t go over the top. I love lentil crisps and rice crackers etc as alternatives.
You could also try getting more nutrients through what you’re drinking - smoothies are my current favourite drink!
Also try to ask yourself if there’s also a habitual element to eating crisps - like is there something about the putting your hand in the bag and taking one out etc that you’re a bit addicted to? If so, look for other foods that you eat in the same way (bags of nuts, dried apricots etc).
You might find that eating so many crisps with their high salt content might actually be making your other food aversions worse, because the constant crisp grazing makes it feel like you’re always full, therefore making meals unappealing. Therefore cutting back a bit might make it easier for you to eat other foods.
Good luck!

I’ve always been a crisps lover so tried to keep an eye on it during pregnancy. After a tough first trimester with awful sickness, all I wanted was salty, crunchy snacks. I’m consultant led so spoke to him about my fear of binge eating crisps (I have a history of binge eating) and he gave me a great tip that I’ve been doing. Everytime you’re having some crisps or something you deem ‘unhealthy’, grab an apple, banana, orange, or some carrot sticks and eat it after. It will fill you up, stop that craving, and give your body the extra nutrients and fibre it needs. I know it’s tough but I’m doing it as an ex crisp addict (still let myself have a small bag a day).

Could you try rice cakes as an alternative? I understand how hard it is I've been living on pasta cheese and chocolate milkshakes, just been making sure to take pregnancy vitamins so I'm at least getting some nutrition

Totally understand the food aversions, it’s great that you’re trying to eat healthier. The main issues with the crisps is the high salt content which can cause bloating, water retention and high blood pressure and may increase the risk of pre eclampsia. So I’d really try to cut down. It is hard I know, I’m a big crisp eater myself.its true that babies are essentially parasites, taking what they need from us, but if you don’t have enough of the required nutrients then you could both become unwell, especially sharing all that salt.

Also lots of water, 2-3 litres a day, will be especially important with salty snacks.

Could you try something like cheese and crackers or hummus and carrot sticks when craving the savory hit?