New member, joining because of pregnancy problems

Hello everyone.  I'm 18 weeks pregnant and joining up because I need help tracking my calories.  I was at a healthy weight (BMI 22) before my pregnancy, but I haven't yet been able to gain any weight, despite following doctor's advice and trying everything.  I don't have hyperemesis gravidum, just severe thirst and lack of appetite.  The baby is perfectly healthy and panels run by my doctor show no obvious thyroid problems, so I was just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

I can't help, luv, I'm sorry. But I thought I'd bump your thread and *help try to get some people in here.

I lost quite a bit of weight early on just due to morning (and afternoon, and evening) sickness, but gained it all back later on... And then some. Hence why I'm here, now.

Good luck with everything, and I hope you and the baby stay healthy and happy!

What about drinking something like Ensure or even Slim Fast? Just something with carbs, protein, fat and nutrients in it. Smoothies would be a good option, too. Just anything to get some food in you.

Keep in mind that you are only 18 weeks pregnant. If this is your first pregnancy, it's not uncommon to have little to no weight gain up to this point. I gained all my weight with pregnancy #2 during the second trimester and pregnancy #1 in the third trimester. Hopefully this is an extension of morning sickness that you will overcome soon :)

Good luck!

I was also wondering if you couldn't work in some HEALTHY but calorie dense foods like nut butters. Nuts, in general, are also good if you can find some low sodium stuff and if you don't have allergies.

Full fat tofu, Full fat dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc) Avacado, corn, potatoes, beans, pasta, barley, olives, whole grain breads... There's a lot to choose from.

I agree with bier that it seems a bit "early" for your doctor to be worried about this, but you have lots of healthy options for gaining if it comes down to needing them.

I haven't been desperate enough to start on Ensure yet, but I have been drinking weight-gainer shakes from GNC (so gross) at night before bed.

And the doctor isn't really worried so far about the health of the baby, as it appears to be perfectly fine.  It's more that the lack of nutrition I'm receiving is causing me to be extremely weak and exhausted.  And advice from well-intentioned friends and family to "just eat more" is making me cranky on top of all that.

Anyway, I do appreciate the advice, and my next appointment is tomorrow (to find out gender), so I'll see if the doc has any more help for me.

How exciting! That was always my favorite appointment :)

I assume you're taking prenatal vitamins which should help with nutrients for you and your baby. I was anemic during my most recent pregnancy and had to take additional iron supplements. I was extremely exhausted before starting the supplements and only mildly exhausted afterward ;)

Yeah, I've been on prenatal vitamins since the day I found out, and they determined a few weeks ago that I'm slightly anemic, so I've been on iron pills (which make me feel REALLY sick, but anyways).  The extra iron does seem to be helping a little, but it's really not making a life-changing difference.

I found that taking my iron supplements at a different time of day than my prenatal vitamins really helped. I'd take my vitamins in the morning and the iron supplements with dinner or before bed.

Yeah, I didn't notice a big difference in energy level, either. My doctor rechecked my iron levels a few times and they never got back up to where they should be, even with supplements. They did improve, though, and were high enough to be able to handle a c-section.

So....boy or girl?

It's a boy!  I am very excited.

Well, congratulations!

Aww congrats!  Boys are fun.  Ok ok....all babies are =)  But with the weight, honestly don't stress too much yet!  I've had hyperemesis (twice) and it was probably one of the worst things I've ever been through.  With that they did have me go to ensure just to try to get something that wouldn't be so heavy on my stomach but was more calorie dense then trying to hold down toast.

They had me cut out any low cal for a higher calorie option if it was something I could hold down.  And they just told me if I couldn't eat just drink whatever calories I could.  Also, I (could for some odd reason) hold down apple juice frozen to a slushy state and those extra calories stacking up helped with a gain. It was bad but other then needing iv fluids I was fortunate and avoided needing a gtube and central line.

I'm glad you're looking for extra answers early so it doesn't become a bigger problem so really good on you!   If it makes you feel any better, my son was my 3rd child and with him I found out really late in the game because of amenorrhea.  My first labs they said 6weeks (for some odd reason) and 2 weeks later I had a kidney infection that landed me in the hosp.  Doc did an ultrasound to check what we thought was an 8wk baby... and woosh.. there goes a foot. 18 weeks and a boy...talk about a shocker! 

They more or less put me on full fat anything and told me to EAT.  It was frustrating by my doc was one that said 1lb is 1lb and he'd rather see me healthy then eating everything in sight and becoming an issue gaining too much.  With him by the end, thanks in part to bedrest I gained 28# and he was a month early. 

Hang in there!  It'll get better

5 months now.  No weight gain.  Strangers have no idea I'm pregnant.

Why don't they make 2,000 calorie pills?

I'm 5 months now, I havn't weighed myself in a couple days, but the last time I did I had gained 1 pound from my pre pregnancy weight. I'm pretty sure people know I'm pregnant. People will know eventually, even if you never gain a pound!

I was just cranky because of a quote I read in What to Expect When You're Expecting.  It has a little week-by-week breakdown, and it's very informative (though the writing gets annoyingly cutesy at times).  It was very annoying to read, "At this stage, there's no hiding the fact that you're pregnant!"  Grr...

I wore maternity jeans and a really tight t-shirt today, and while no one actually said anything, I did get that little extra super-friendly customer service while I was buying breakfast that made me think maybe they could tell.  At least Cade (the baby) is still my favorite little squirmy, kicking spazz, so I know he's fine.