Is it safe to have a deficit when you are pregnant?

My husband and I just found out we are expecting our first child after a miscarriage eight months ago. I am 33 years old,  5'8" and weigh 158 lb- just 10 lb away from my goal weight of 148 lb-and I eat healthy, varied foods. My BMI is about 24-on the higher end of healthy.

I was wondering whether it was safe to have a calorie deficit in the first trimester? I dont aim for more than a 300 calorie deficit anyway, since less than that makes me hungry. I read that you should gain 1 lb a week in the second and third trimesters.

I really want to keep my weight gain in a healthy range so that I have an easier time taking it off after the baby is born.

I think you should definitely talk to your midwife or obstetrician about this.  I was over 200lbs when I got pregnant with my last child, and I stayed the same weight throughout the pregnancy because I started eating a lot healthier and getting a bit of exercise.  Essentially, I gained baby weight and lost some fat and muscle because I had a calorie deficit for a woman of my size.  However, I was a lot heavier than you are and I did make sure I got adequate nutrition for me and the babe.  My advice (as a non-professional) would be to limit your diet to the best, healthiest, most nutrient-dense foods, and to never let yourself go hungry.  Continue to get exercise without overdoing it, and try not to worry about the numbers on the scale at all.  Once my son was born, I got down to 185 pretty rapidly, probably because I was breastfeeding and continuing with a very healthy diet.  I didn't get much exercise because I had a c-section, but I did what I could.  Congratulations and best wishes for your pregnancy!

Agree, Check with a Doctor you are feeding two and you had a miscarriage so the second baby would need extra care. I wish you luck and a healthy baby.

Nieto

Generally speaking, no. You are within a healthy weight range therefore it's recommended that you gain 25-35 pounds during your pregnancy.

I understand that you want to lose the weight quickly and easily after the baby is born. Most of us do. Creating a calorie deficit without medical supervision is NOT okay. Even if you do have a 300 calorie/day deficit, you will still gain weight. I mean, you're growing a baby and along with the weight of the baby you have the placenta, amniotic fluid, increased blood volume and increased fat stores. All that is going to add to your weight.

As minuseighty stated, she did not gain weight while pregnant. This is typically recommended for obese women and done under close supervision of an OB and nutritionist.

If you're concerned about the wegiht gain, speak to your doctor and see what s/he suggests. Stay as active as you are now throughout your pregnancy. If you're not active now, try to walk every evening for 30 minutes. If you gain a reasonable amount of weight, it will come right off after you have your baby. Without dieting or exercising, I dropped the 40 pounds I gained in 4-5 months postpartum (after having a second c-section).

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Congratulations!
I pray that all goes well and that your body recovers better than you could even imagine!