I'm overweight, how many calories should I really eat during pregnancy?

[Aruba417]

I've always struggled with my weight since high school. I'm 28 years old. During the last few years I've lost about 30 pounds. It's taken hard work, and I am still a bit overweight. I'm 5'4 and 145 lbs. I want to get pregnant, but I'm honestly scared about gaining that weight and having to work hard at losing it again. What is a healthy amount of calories to eat while I'm pregnant so that I don't gain too much, but don't keep the baby from getting the right amount of nutrients it will need.

[NicMom]

I was losing weight when I got pregnant and didn't get as far as I should have. I'm still about 30 pounds over the norm. My ob said that I should only have an extra 300 calories a day and I was around 1300 before so I'm between 1600 and 1800 a day now. My ob also said that I should plan on staying in the 30 pound range for weight gain. I try not to even think about that! I'll worry about it after I have the baby.

Remember just because you get pregnant doesn't mean you have to stop exercising and eating healthy. I've continuted to lose a few pounds just from maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Good luck!

[Aruba417]

Thanks so much to all of you for your comments! They help a lot! Smjmekg, Hydroxy Cut doesn't make your heart race? I can't take that stuff! I tried it (and other otc weight loss pills) and it made my heart race badddd! Put me into panic attacks! I'm glad it's working for you!!!!!

[Joyce49788]

smjmekg.... wow i have heard of Hydroxycut but never tried it... maybe i will check it out after i have this baby.

on the weight issues... when i was in high school i weighed 260 (junior year, 16 yrs old) it was awful... but with some changes i got down to 170 about a year after graduation. so i lost about 90 lbs in 2 yrs.  then i met my daughter's father and got pregnant with my oldest who is now almost 15. i ate healthy, i dont remember eating alot of sweets or fast food.. and i ended up gaining 111lbs... it was awful to start at 170 and being 281 when going in to have my child... since then i have not been able to get below 200 although i have been close. my second child i started out at 250 and was pretty sick first trimester... lost 25lbs and only gained 23 lbs back.  and my third child, i was 260 and was 295 when i had him sooo 35lbs total.  when he was almost 2 yrs old his father and i had gotten married.... 3 weeks afterwards i started going to a doctor to monitor my weight and try to lose some as i had wanted a gastric bypass... when i was weighed in the first appt (end of May 04) i weighed 313... i was horrified. then for some reason i just started to lose it, 10lbs here, 5 lbs there... and before i knew it i was down to 222 (Jan 07) i had found a lump under my arm which they removed and biopsied and it was some form of fungus...they had never seen it before aside from ppl who lived in certain areas here in Michigan.  anyhow once that was removed i slowly started gaining weight again... i had gained about 16 lbs from jan 07 to Oct 08 when i found out i was pregnant. so not TOO bad.  now i have gained around 30lbs total as of my last appt (april 8 09) and am hoping to be able to get the weight back off after having baby... plus some.  i dont really want to hit 300 again... so i will do what i can after i have the baby.

so anyhow sorry for the book.. my point is... if you are pregnant dont worry about how much weight you gain, my doc said "it just means you have more to lose afterwards"... just worry about keeping you and baby healthy.  if you are not pregnant yet and want to get to a certain weight before conception then use birth control... if you are pregnant DO NOT try to diet right now... unless your OB puts you on a strict diet.

good luck and again sorry for the book... by the way i am 5'7.... lol

[smjmekg]

Just FYI, I tried Hydroxycut after I had my baby, and started losing weight quick. 3 pounds in a week! and that's without exercise. I had a c-section, and 6 pokes to get the darn spinal in...since then my back has hurt where they were trying to get it in, and I have been told they may have irritated a ligament, which has kept me from doing sit ups the last 9 and a half months, since Elijah was born, but the Hydroxycut worked for me so far.

[smjmekg]

You are the exact same height and weight I was when I got pregnant. I gained 35 pounds. I wouldn't worry too much, I was told to only eat 1500 calories a day and only gain 15 pounds by my first ob who ended up being a b*tch, and my next dr I had already gained about 20 at 7 months. I didn't gain anything the first 4 months, but like I said don't worry too much. My baby came out 7.10 pounds and 21 inches. Yes it's been a pain to get the weight off after, but everything turned out ok. I didn't eat a lot of junk food, and ate healthy for the most part. I didn't have a few sweets once in a while, and chinese as well, but you can't help what you crave and moderation CAN be the key...not saying you will be exactly like me, but...I turned out fine.

[JoyRenee]

When you're not pregnant you need to eat about 1,200-1,600 calories a day. When pregnant you need only about 300 extra calories (a little sandwich).

When you get pregnant you will gain weight. I know how you feel. I was losing weight and didn't get very far before I unexpectedly became pregnant! But I know once I have the baby I'll be able to get back on the weight-loss wagon. Right now I'm focusing on giving my unborn child appropriate nutrients.

[jessbbg]

Aruba, it's always best to follow your doc's recommendations on proper nutrition during pregnancy, the advice from practitioners can run the gamut depending on your personal situation---up to and including orders to actually reduce your caloric intake during pregnancy (if you are overeating or eating unhealthy, etc).  I've known many obese women (including my mother) that actually lost weight during pregnancy.

I say this not to encourage you to cut your calories---which can be extremely unhealthy for both you and the baby during pregnancy.  I say it more to break any pre-programmed way of thinking about eating during pregnancy (or anytime, and we've all heard it and fallen prey to it).  Your body can and does metabolize existing fat stores to nourish your baby as it grows in your womb.  So it can be more productive loosen the rigidity of that thought of "calories per day during pregnancy" and look at it a little differently, asking instead "what nutrients to I need to make sure I'm providing for my baby in my diet and where are the best places to get them?"

A diet whose focus is "restricting calories" can be just as--if not more--unhealthy than one that doesn't even pay attention to them.  It's about balance.  There can be some healthy restriction of calories, but not unless the calories you're letting yourself have are attached to foods rich in the nutrients your baby needs.  For instance, protein is one of the most commonly under-consumed nutrients for pregnant women, especially in those who are overweight or are restricting their diets.  

Any way, enough rambling!!  lol sorry.   I would just caution you to talk to your doctor not about the number of calories you should eat each day, but instead, the most calorie-efficient way of making sure your body gives your baby the tools it needs for optimal development.

I hope that made sense and helped a little bit... :-)  Good luck in your journey!  

[Kimberlee_20]

You really don't have to eat more until a little later on in the pregnancy, and even then you only eat 300 more calories a day, which is not a lot AT ALL! Anyway, once you get pregnant you'll be eating healthy for the baby, if you actually do this, and stick to it, it will most likely be all baby weight that you gain, it will take a few weeks, but it will go away. After you had the baby though, breastfeeding helps you lose a LOT of weight, so I'm sure you'd have no problem losing it after. Congrats on losing weight too! :]