Trouble gaining weight in pregnancy

I'm not sure if this is where this topic belongs.

I am pregnant with my first baby. My family history with diabetes and my own personal history with PCOS had concluded in my doctors agreeing that I be labeled as a gestational diabetic. I'm technically not in any danger at this point of actually being diabetic, but my "team" is being extra careful.

I keep a food log, limit my sugar and try to eat as healthy as possible. Now up to 3 meals and 5 snacks a day. I also check my blood sugar. My concern is that I'm still not getting enough calories. My weight fluctuates and I've gained about 5 pounds give or take, I'm at 19 weeks today. It seems that when I go to the doctor I am heavier than when I weigh myself at home. Even though I mention my concerns, they don't feel the same way.

Any thoughts on how to get more healthy calories while watching my sugars? Is it normal for weight to bob up and down?

TIA

No experience with GD or PCOS, but didn't want to read and run.  How many calories are you getting each day? Do you feel hungry? Are you exercising/more active than previously? Did you experience weight loss during the first half of the pregnancy, whether due to sickness or positive dietary changes?

Not sure if this will help, but maybe it will comfort you a little.  For reference, I'm usually about a size 10 and get really sick when pregnant.  I gained 12 pounds over prepregnancy weight with the first kiddo, 14-15 with the second.  I'm about 10 weeks along now and have regained to -10, and anticipate a similar net gain as with the first two.  Both kids were healthy and full-term, 7lb 11oz, birth was quick and simple.  Again, I'm just one data point, but I know how frustrating it can be to compare your numbers to "normal" numbers and feel discouraged and wanted to share in case it helps you at all.  

I rarely gain much until after the 20 week point. With ODS (baby #2) I didn't gain anything until my 22 week appointment. I always gain about 25#'s but the end though.

With my youngest I went to a MW and they were a lot more about diet and nutrition and protein. I can't remember the number but they really wanted to to increase my protein while keeping my carbs in check. I thought it was 20 grams of protein/day, I think it was. Lots of greek yogurt, chicken breasts...

Baby 1 was 7#, baby 2 was 6# 8oz, and baby 3 was 8# 5oz even though with all 3 I gained the same amount of weight. I think with my youngest I gained healthier weight with more protein and lots of water and I felt better so that is why he was bigger (it is just by thought, don't know if it is true). Than being said... he was "easiest" delivery - still tough but not as much as the first 2.

Almonds are a good snack. I had a bunch in my desk at work, that I could munch on as needed

I'd try adding some healthy fats...make sure you're doing full fat dairy, fattier meats, add some virgin coconut oil or use coconut milk in your cooking. Eggs are super healthy for pregnant women, too. Avocados and nuts as well.

Edited by erinchelsea - 16 Apr 2012 at 10:43pm

I did the Brewer diet while I was pregnant and gained a lot (sigh, trying to get it all off now), though I feel like I gained it in a healthy way with nutritionally packed foods.  

I have GD, borderline with the first 3, now have it, currently 15 wks into #4. It is hard to eat low carb and get enough calories, since you end up eating so many veggies. Try greek yogurt and granola. Plain greek yogurt is 22g of protein 9g of sugar per cup. I actually eat vanilla greek yogurt, which is 23g protein & 17g of sugar with some granola and that doesn't spike my sugar anymore than a normal meal (I plan to switch to plain GY soon). Cottage cheese is also a good snack, more fat/calories than the yogurt I think. Cottage cheese has 100 cal per 1/2 cup, vanilla GY has 170 / cup. An apple with peanut butter. In fact are there other things in your diet that you could add peanut butter or any nut butter to? Add butter to all steamed veggies. Try hummus for a dip with fresh veggies, or heck even a sour cream based dip for that matter. Slice of cheese is one of my go to quick snacks right now.

I know they talk about carbs and fiber mostly when talking about food, but protein will help slow down the rate of sugar absorption, so protein is super important for every meal/snack.

Don't stress too much about weight gain, the averages and norms aren't always right for everyone. I typically only gain 20 with each one.

Edited by lstols - 18 Oct 2012 at 3:36pm