Jamie
10-27-2003, 03:47 AM
Hello all. I'll try to not to be too longwinded :)
I am 27 and weigh 260 lbs, size 22-24. I have been "chubby" throughout much of my childhood and teenage years, and downright fat in my adult years. I have 2 kids, ages 8 and 2. In September of 2002, I lost a baby at 20 weeks when my water suddenly broke. There was no known reason for the loss. My youngest was then just about to turn 1, and she was born out of the hospital in a freestanding birth center after a 3 hour labor with no drugs and no complications though she was very large - 9lbs 12oz. I think probably due to my not having well-controlled blood sugar during the pregnancy. I did not have gestational diabetes, but ate a lot of sugar and refined starch. My oldest daughter weighed 7lbs 13oz at birth.
I am now 17 weeks pregnant, nursing my 2 y/o (much less frequently than before, she tells me the milk is "yucky" and nurses maybe once or twice a day). I have experimented for brief stints throughout the years with vegan/vegetarian diets, but never really made them a part of my way of life. I have read *all* the books - Robbins, Stepaniak, Ornish, McDougall, Klaper - you name it, I've read it.
I'm finding that lately, I'm really disgusted by animal products, with the exception of eggs, which I still occasionally eat. The more I actually *think* about what I am eating, the more repulsed I am by animal flesh. I have also felt very sick lately when I eat fatty or overprocessed foods. In the past, I have found that lack of preparation is my downfall when it comes to healthful eating - when it's 4:00 and I haven't eaten all day, I have very little patience to come home and cook a healthy meal. I like simple savory meals and feel like I really *need* protein rich foods (whether this has any scientific basis or is just my neurosis, I don't know). If I eat something too rich in refined starch (white pasta, white rice, bread) without a significant portion of veggies or beans, I tend to not feel so well and my hunger returns very quickly.
I am looking for information and support for adopting a completely vegan diet during this pregnancy. I want to avoid gaining a lot of additional weight and eat a nutrient-rich, low toxin diet. In the past when I ate a vegan diet for a few months (even one top heavy in simple starches/sugars) I lost a fair amount of weight. I want to make sure I have an appropriate weight throughout the pregnancy. In other words, I don't want to gain much, but I understand it is also not appropriate to lose during pregnancy.
Any suggestions for healthy meals, appropriate exercise and information regarding appropriate weight gain considering my current situation are welcome. I'm also interested to know if anyone has adopted a vegan diet after becoming pregnant or ever had issues similar to mine.
BTW I'm planning a home birth for this child - we barely made it to the birth center on time with my 2 y/o. This time my midwife will come to me! I want to make sure I take care of myself properly so that I have the best chance of a normal, healthy birth.
Jamie
I am 27 and weigh 260 lbs, size 22-24. I have been "chubby" throughout much of my childhood and teenage years, and downright fat in my adult years. I have 2 kids, ages 8 and 2. In September of 2002, I lost a baby at 20 weeks when my water suddenly broke. There was no known reason for the loss. My youngest was then just about to turn 1, and she was born out of the hospital in a freestanding birth center after a 3 hour labor with no drugs and no complications though she was very large - 9lbs 12oz. I think probably due to my not having well-controlled blood sugar during the pregnancy. I did not have gestational diabetes, but ate a lot of sugar and refined starch. My oldest daughter weighed 7lbs 13oz at birth.
I am now 17 weeks pregnant, nursing my 2 y/o (much less frequently than before, she tells me the milk is "yucky" and nurses maybe once or twice a day). I have experimented for brief stints throughout the years with vegan/vegetarian diets, but never really made them a part of my way of life. I have read *all* the books - Robbins, Stepaniak, Ornish, McDougall, Klaper - you name it, I've read it.
I'm finding that lately, I'm really disgusted by animal products, with the exception of eggs, which I still occasionally eat. The more I actually *think* about what I am eating, the more repulsed I am by animal flesh. I have also felt very sick lately when I eat fatty or overprocessed foods. In the past, I have found that lack of preparation is my downfall when it comes to healthful eating - when it's 4:00 and I haven't eaten all day, I have very little patience to come home and cook a healthy meal. I like simple savory meals and feel like I really *need* protein rich foods (whether this has any scientific basis or is just my neurosis, I don't know). If I eat something too rich in refined starch (white pasta, white rice, bread) without a significant portion of veggies or beans, I tend to not feel so well and my hunger returns very quickly.
I am looking for information and support for adopting a completely vegan diet during this pregnancy. I want to avoid gaining a lot of additional weight and eat a nutrient-rich, low toxin diet. In the past when I ate a vegan diet for a few months (even one top heavy in simple starches/sugars) I lost a fair amount of weight. I want to make sure I have an appropriate weight throughout the pregnancy. In other words, I don't want to gain much, but I understand it is also not appropriate to lose during pregnancy.
Any suggestions for healthy meals, appropriate exercise and information regarding appropriate weight gain considering my current situation are welcome. I'm also interested to know if anyone has adopted a vegan diet after becoming pregnant or ever had issues similar to mine.
BTW I'm planning a home birth for this child - we barely made it to the birth center on time with my 2 y/o. This time my midwife will come to me! I want to make sure I take care of myself properly so that I have the best chance of a normal, healthy birth.
Jamie