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"I think this was helpful. This sight is to bring helpful general information. It's not to take the place of what your Dr wants you to do. Too many of you just sound angry or argumentative. I have found this site to inform women who are not informed. To help women have healthy pregnancies. Of course, you can have different viewpoints, like arguing what's better for you, vegan, vegetarian, paleo or what ever other diet there is. Everyone is different, that's why this article pertains to those women who are healthy and are in no need of dietary restrictions determined by their Dr. Thank you Babyfit for being a great source of info." -- BLESSEDBY2 - 1/11/2013 5:47:06 PM
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"Well this is rather irrelevant for people who follow Atkins, because you do eat vegetables, and fruits, and nuts and some grains. I would be interested in an article that covers that information." -- 5-AND-COUNTING - 7/31/2012 1:19:06 PM
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"ketones have not been conclusively proven to be dangerous, neither have they proven to be benign, and there is a fair amount of data linking significant amounts to problems in the baby. It seems safest at this time to err on the side of safety and carefully test for and avoid ketones. Here is some information with some cited research -- Ketones
" -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 11/8/2011 11:50:56 AM
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"Are you able to cite any studies regarding the link between ketosis and fetal brain development? I happened to be in ketosis when I got pregnant, and our search of medical and science journals turned up few to no studies on ketosis in pregnant humans (quite bizarrely, often cows and goats, which is not exactly useful!) I am out of ketosis now anyway, but I still am interested in the research. I think there is a lot of misinformation out there about restricted carb diets, which is why I actually like to look at the science.
" -- NO_TOUCHING70 - 11/8/2011 7:40:56 AM
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"You are certainly correct and if you read Part 3 linked in the comments below, you will find an outline of them." -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 4/26/2011 7:51:21 AM
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"lots of scare tactics in this article. there can be very healthy, sensible, carb-restricted (and grain-free, sugar-free) diets that are not going to cause brain damage or bone loss." -- EMMAEGBERT - 4/25/2011 7:45:10 PM
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"Be sure to read Parts 2 and especially Part 3 which outlines the healthy carbohydrates to include and those to limit." -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 4/25/2011 10:32:36 AM
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"I agree that certain carbs are essential to a healthy diet but I think this article glosses over the fact that all carbs are NOT created equal - nor are the people who consume them. Of course fruits, veggies, beans and whole grains are very important to a healthy diet but no one needs refined carbs, such as sugar and white flour, in their diet. In addition, some people, such as myself, are more sensitive to refined carbs, especially when they contain gluten. They cause extreme drops in blood sugar which are in no way healthy for myself or my baby. No, you shouldn't be on a no-carb diet while pregnant but you can definitely cut out refined carbs and still have a very healthy pregnancy. Comon sense and moderation are my guiding principles when deciding how to feed myself and my unborn child." -- KATMAXIM - 4/25/2011 8:39:38 AM
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"I suffer from severe hypoglycemia since I was little. Even in this pregnant my sugar is never more than 3.5 I've been told I'm eating well and even carrying fantastic snacks and drinks also glucose tablets for fast acting sugar but the one best recommendation my doctor gave me was to eat more carbs pastas sandwiches I've actually been feeling better since putting more of these into my diet!" -- ARTSYMOMMY123 - 4/15/2011 1:52:59 PM
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"Pregnant or not low carbs diet is really bad idea. Ideal and health diet is: 50-60% carbs, 30-25% fat, 15-20% proteins. Carbs is the best source of energy. Without them our body needs to find them in another place which is not healthy for you. Before I start to study Nutrition I was avoiding too much carbs and fat, but without results with my weight. I felt exhausted and tried during day. The worse time was 1-2 pm. Now, I know what to eat and understand why, and I feel very well with full energy all day. I am 4 week pregnancy and now my energy is slightly low, but still I am fine." -- APGFITNESS - 4/1/2011 8:58:05 AM
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"Add: although I do think it's good to cut down on the unhealthy carbs like cakes, cookies, etc. I actually was turned off by these foods for the first 4-5 months, but I wouldn't want to cut out carbs all together." -- SUZI4HEALTH - 10/21/2010 11:40:03 AM
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"I would die without carbs - Pasta, breads are some of the main things that got me through the first few months. They were the only things I could eat! I couldn't imagine anyone going on a low-carb diet during pregnancy unless your doctor actually made you for some reason." -- SUZI4HEALTH - 10/21/2010 11:32:30 AM
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"pregnancy isn'ts a time for low anything. You can severely endanger your child if you don't eat enough vegetables, fruit, etc... All of that is required to help the baby develop. Just watch the things like chocolate and other junk while your are pregnant. snack on things like fruit and vegetables or low fat yogurt." -- BRONZZY6 - 10/21/2010 9:02:50 AM
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"I gained 70 lbs with both my previous pregnancies. I had Preecclampsia and was on bed rest and was miserable. This time i am 'dieting;\' in the sense that I am monitoring EVERY morsel of food or drink that crosses my lips. I ate really well with my other pregnancies and was put on bed rest for my illness. That's when the weight really packed on. I gain weight easily- just a fact. Combined with the slower rate of metabolism, lack of exercise, and severe water retention I couldn't stop myself from gaining. It was so unsettling and extremely uncomfortable.
It isn't fair to judge what another woman should or should not do for her nutritional well being. I am restricting all my sugar and salt ingestion to ZERO! No 'treats' and I restricted eating out- I just can't trust that a meal prepared by anyone else will meet MY particular nutritional needs. Women who are over weight (even a little- like myself) really should watch everything they eat. To say that pregnancy is not a time to diet is ignorant of the unique needs of every individual woman. Each woman needs to follow her own specific nutritional plan that she and her doctor have agreed upon- even if that means getting FEWER calories than she may be used to getting." -- LCHANNAH - 10/18/2010 11:48:13 AM
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"if you have never had a problem with weight its not really fair to judge why others worry about it. A lot of women (myself included) struggle on an ongoing basis. With my body type I need to stay away from carbs as much as I can. I eat lots of fruits and veggies but stay away from complex carbs." -- THATSALOTTAKIDS - 10/5/2010 8:29:48 PM
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"Healthy weight gain is mandatory during your pregnancy, and prepares you for the strenuous demands of motherhood. It is also one of the indicators that your child is growing properly and getting the nutrition it needs. You can learn more here -- http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/art
icles.asp?id=213
" -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 6/29/2010 11:33:15 AM
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"Pregnancy is NOT the time to diet! Why would people want to risk the health of their child for their own vanity? I do not understand this concept . . ." -- BROOKEB78 - 6/28/2010 7:33:40 PM
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"Why are people so worried about weight gain during pregnancy?? It's GOING TO HAPPEN because it's natural! I have never been a large person in my life and really struggled with this concept, and as far as eating, I've done everything just about right - I eat a TON of fruits and veggies and alot of whole grain and have gained a healthy weight at a healthy pace and I'm almost 30 wks. What I think women don't realize (I've been on the South Beach diet before) is that not all carbs are created equally. We hear "carbs" and we freak out!!! They ask pregnant women to limit sweets and fatty foods because they're simple carbs and they break down too quickly (as this article points out). Complex carbs (which are found in fruits, veggies, whole grain pastas, whole grain breads, whole wheat flour, sweet potatoes, etc) are GOOD for you and won't cause your blood sugar to spike and then drop quickly because they're prcoessed more slowly in your body, and aren't quickly turned into fat (also as this article points out). So my opinion? Quit worrying about weight gain because it's natural when pregnant. Eat carbs while you're pregnant but be Carb Conscious about what kinds of carbs you are consuming (simple vs complex). Think healthy for you AND your baby. It's really worked for me and has made a huge difference in my pregnancy." -- ASHIE83 - 10/21/2009 10:04:10 AM
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"My daughter is 16 and on 10 carbs a day for a modified atkins diet for seizures. It works great for her and we have just found out she is 9 wks pregnant. We are shocked and so worry about the health of the developing fetus. We would wish she terminate but she doesnt agree. We are praying all goes well." -- DAINTYPET - 8/13/2009 1:58:08 PM
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"I am wondering if the 120 carbs per day that you refer to is total carbs per day, or total NET CARBS as referred to in the Atkins/Low Carb lifestyle diets?" -- MOMS864 - 7/27/2009 1:07:21 PM
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"Dr. Atkins actually died from trauma to the head after slipping on ice." -- JANGMI - 4/24/2009 7:44:32 PM
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"I think perhaps you will want to re-read this article for what it IS saying and not what you 'think' it is saying related to a particular program. No specific program is mentioned because the article is not about a program but about the practice of following a VERY LOW carbohydrate intake. People need (especially during pregnancy) at least 120 grams of carbohydrates per day. Some people choose (usually because they are ill informed and NOT because they are following a specific plan) to follow a VERY LOW carbohydrate intake and aim to keep their carb intake at less than 50 for the day. This article is aimed at that lack of understanding and not to someone that is changing the type of carbohydrates they consume from white to whole grain or candy to dried fruits." -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 4/24/2009 11:05:26 AM
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"I dont understand why people would still follow the atkins diet when Dr. Atkins himself died of a heart attack due to his diet. Isnt your overall health and the health of your baby more important than conforming to America's standard of beauty!" -- EROBY1129 - 4/24/2009 11:04:08 AM
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"I am frustrated that this article is written in a way that discourages low-carb completely without the understanding that diets such as Atkins and South Beach are not completely NO CARB but rather limiting your carbs to mostly leafy green vegetables AND restricting your proteins to lean and unprocessed meats which are NOT high in saturated fats/sugars/additives. The problem is that people trying to lose weight fast do not truly understand or follow the diet plan usually and go to an unhealthy extreme. Dr. Atkins did say however that his diet was not for pregnant women because they require different nutrients for their baby and should not be focused on losing weight so much as maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy. I wish people would be more balanced when giving advice." -- RACHELWALDEN - 4/24/2009 9:19:46 AM
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"As long as your low carb diet includes at least 120 grams of carbohdyrates a day to fuel your body that is terrific. When you routinely consume less than 120 grams of carbs a day, that's when you can get into trouble.
" -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 3/31/2009 6:43:51 PM
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"I live a low carb lifestyle because my body needs to. I will process carbohydrates right into fat and not burn them off. I have a problems with this statement in the article: The risk of many cancers increases because fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, and beans are eliminated from the diet.
If you follow a low carb diet the correct way. You may eliminate these things for a few weeks, but the correct low-carb life style incorporates fruit, vegetables, whole grains and beans. They are eaten in moderation and according to your own body's needs.
I am pregnant and continue with low carb (low carb does not mean NO carb). My energy at the gym is fine, no constipation, no headaches, no morning sickness either and a doctor's clean bill of health." -- MY2GIRLS5AND2 - 3/31/2009 2:15:14 PM
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"This is an excellent, well written article. Very useful as it spells out clearly that during PG we should be more concerned about eating whats right for our growing babies and not so much about the extra kilos that we are carring as they are needed for healthy development. All in moderation I say. Thanks a heap!!!" -- PEDNI256 - 2/11/2009 5:01:08 PM
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"Your medical provider knows your pregnancy history and medical situation best so their advice should be followed. Controlling your carbohydrate intake by watching certain higher glycemic index foods is fine many times as long as your diet is balanced in other areas and using other whole grains when possible." -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 10/21/2008 9:34:16 AM
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"My doctor told me that I could have no rice, pasta, bread, fruit juice, or potatoes. I am border line having gestational diabetes and she told me that if I continued to eat any of the above listed items I would likely have to have a C Section. I am trying to have natural child birth so I have been doing the diet. What's your take on this situation?" -- PARTYBALOONS - 10/21/2008 7:56:54 AM
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"I found this article to be a valuable insight on the diet of a pregnant woman. There are women out there who either knowingly or unknowingly but their concerns about society's perfect body image before, what I see to be, our main task as mum's to be, growing a healthy baby. It is reassuring to read solid evidence that restricting your diet from essential carbohydrates in pregnancy can cause issues to arise with the baby, This might change the outlook of just one reader which would be a job well done." -- MACASGIRL - 4/24/2008 7:49:24 PM
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"We think the article explains the background information. Please let us know if there is more specifics that would be helpful or would better explain.
"When carbohydrates are lacking, the body cannot use its fat in the correct way. Normally carbs combine with fat fragments for energy. When carbs are not available, there is an incomplete breakdown of fat that produces a by-product called ketones. These ketones accumulate in the blood and in the urine causing ketosis."" -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 4/24/2008 2:13:54 PM
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"Well, Tanya ... Like I said - it's irresponsible to tell pregnant women, who already have so many concerns and worries, that producing ketones during pregnancy will make their babies mentally handicapped or cause birth defects. And yes - like you said - the ketones produced with gestational diabetes are slightly different. However, they are produced in the same manner and via the same mechanism that other "harmful" ketones are produced with. Bottom line - it's irresponsible to give a blank statement like that without any qualifying information, or background information." -- SARA7VENUS - 4/24/2008 2:10:56 PM
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"The ketones produced as part of gestational diabetes are somewhat different then that of those produced as part of a low carb diet.
"Extremely low-carb diets may not be safe during pregnancy because carbohydrates are needed so they can be combined with fat fragments and used for energy. Without a certain amount of good carbohydrates the body cannot use its fat in the normal way, and there is an incomplete breakdown of fat, called ketones. Certain low-carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, rely on this breaking-down of fat to work correctly." You can learn more at:
http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/
pregnancy-articles/20.html
" -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 4/24/2008 11:00:47 AM
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"I'm sorry - but ketones do not produce mental retardation or cause ANY problems to occur when they occur during pregnancy. During my third trimester, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I was testing my urine for ketones, and I always had some in my urine. Any educated person knows that ketones are a natural byproduct of losing weight, regardless of whether it's from low-carb dieting or regular balanced dieting. While I was not eating a low-carb diet during pregnancy, my body was producing ketones because I was losing weight. My daughter was born a very healthy 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and she is now 17-months old, talking in sentences, knows two of her colors, and can count to eight. Her pediatrician tells me she's gifted. I think it's completely irresponsible to tell pregnant women something that is flatly FALSE, and that could potentially cause a lot of worry and concern for no reason." -- SARA7VENUS - 4/24/2008 10:45:45 AM
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"As a woman in the early months of pregnancy I'm just glad there is someplace to go where I can read up on eating and lifestyle adaptations during pregnancy. This is my first pregnancy and I've always been conscientious with my diet -- never eating greasy foods, trying to eat lots of fruits, vegetables and beans, and going out to eat was a joke -- i only had one choice: salad. However, now I try to follow my cravings a little, even those that tell me to eat grilled cheese....IN MODERATION. I think if you train yourself to listen to your body, it will tell you all you need to know. I've tried low carbohydrate diets, pre-pregnancy, and now I know why I couldn't stick to them!" -- VMCQUILLAN - 4/24/2008 9:01:52 AM
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"Yet another misperception about low-carb diets (i.e. The Atkins Diet). The Atkins Diet encourages the intake of lots and lots of vegetables and it also includes complex carbohydrates. It also discourages eating organ meat (a big fat source).
I suppose it's popular now to dismiss an entire category of diet without researching it. Simply because a few people misuse diet information isn't sufficient evidence to condemn the diet itself." -- JENNIFERWARTHAN - 4/24/2008 8:59:38 AM
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"I have to say that this article while informative on EXTREME low carbohydrate eating during pregnancy is NOT good. Can be misleading in regards to a Modified low carbohydrate nutrition plan which can be VERY beneficial for pregnant women, especially those with high blood sugars or GD. I personally with my first child had an issue with insulin resistance, I cut out all refined sugars (simple sugars, white breads, cakes, pastries, cereals) my diet consisted of low glycemic index fruits/berries, nuts, lean meats and cheeses, I ate lots of fresh vegetables(raw), and steamed. Drank lots of water and took a good prenatal vitamin. I gained about 28 pounds and my daughter went full term and weighed 8# 8oz at birth.
While I think extreme restriction of any foods that can be good for you in moderation while pregnancy is a bad idea, I do think that eating lower carb, (healthier carbohydrates) should be something more pregnant women with glucose/insulin issues should take a look at.
Thanks! Enjoyed reading the article." -- LORRAANN77 - 12/7/2007 12:44:15 PM
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"oh yeah, I forgot... its not a good idea to load up on saturated fats and cholesterol that some fad diets advocate. You may think you doing you body good because you might get skinny, but without carbs, your body will burn will your muscle for energy, then you will gain back fat which takes up twice the room, making you even fatter than when you started! No thanks. Muscle will dictate your metabolism, so it stands to reason that the more muscle tone a person has, the higher the metabolism. Exercise and common sense! Not that hard." -- EMPSREPETE - 10/21/2007 10:58:21 PM
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"Great article! I teach a nutrition and fitness class, (bkdaugherty dot c0m then transitions lifestyle system) and agree that it is horrible to eliminate any one catagory of food (except sugar, we were never meant to eat that garbage!) and be healthy! Just remember that fiber is a carb and is very important! Atkins people are just kidding themselves! If an atkins follower is not having these no carb problems, they are not following it like it was written! No carb diets create and increase carb sensitivity and damage metabolism. I've seen enough clinical studies to know this. Email me with an adress and I'll send you a list of clinicals!" -- EMPSREPETE - 10/21/2007 10:48:57 PM
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"Awesome article! This is what I'm always trying to get across to people who go on low carb diets. Because of my education in exercise physiology and experience low carb diets are not a healthy way of losing weight. Those who go on low carb diets are people who are not educated in nutrition, usually go on diet after diet and don't like to exercise. I've never met a person who lost weight from a low carb diet and kept the weight off because low carb diet is not a healthy way of eating which you can keep for the rest of your life. However, I have met many people who've made a lifestyle change which is not a diet but a way of living for the rest of their life. These people chose to eat a diet of 50-60% carbs, 20-30% protein 20% fat and EXERCISE! These people do not chose a diet but a healthy way to live and the results are better health and permanent weight loss." -- TRACIMORRILL - 10/21/2007 7:05:48 PM
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"This article is distressing low carbohydrate does not necessarily mean a high protein lifestyle. Most low carbohydrate plans focus on eating nutreint dense carbohydrates and giving up sugary or processed foods. Low carbohydrate diets really lean towards eating whole unproccessed foods, just like many dieticians and doctors would recommend. Also keep in mind that over the past 5 years the FDA has been decreasing the amount of carbohydrates that an average person should consume in one day.
Interesting thought; if high carbohydrates and low fat is supposed to be the best for you, how is that we are facing an epidemic of overweight people here in the US?" -- DSAUER1837 - 8/10/2007 5:39:57 PM
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"This article makes me nuts. I have been on Atkins for 1 yr and now that I am pregnant, I still follow low carb but not the same way. Low carb does not mean starving yourself or eating so low to put yourself in danger. What would be the point of that? This article is very misleading. I do agree however that NO WOMEN should be in ketosis during the pregnancy. Period. That I agree is dangerous; but you can do low carb without going into ketosis and eating enough for your baby's needs and not lose weight. Adding some fruits and breads, etc but not going overboard does not mean it is not low carb. People still don't read past ketosis to know about low carb plans to understand that you are not in ketosis 24 hours a day. That is for 2 weeks and after that, you just adjust your carb level so you are not eating the same as before to gain weight. Its sad that critics never read only what they want to blow out of pro-portion." -- BABYSMOMMA1 - 6/28/2007 10:53:28 PM
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"I was Hypoglycemic with my first child and HAD to follow a low carb diet in order to get through my pregnancy without shaking and going in for IVs constantly. I'm pregnant with my second and I have been following a low carb diet to ensure I do not have the same problems as last time (by doctors orders). I disagree with the stress that Ketosis can cause brain damage or mental retardation as a general statement. My OB/GYN has stated that, yes, this can happen but the majority of that is in women who are diabetic. I also had a friend at UNR who did a study on this and he could only say that it was in women who were diabetic. He was unable to make a blanket statement that this was the case for all women. Now, with all of that being said, I do not feel like women should follow a low carb diet to lose weight. I am doing it because of necessity and would not recommend it to anyone who wasnt in the same position I'm in. I definitely found the article informative and am always curious to read more about this subject." -- STINAV1204 - 4/24/2007 12:22:54 PM
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"As a 6-month pregnant dietitian and athlete, I agree completely with this article! Extremely low-carb diets are hard on the kidneys, the brain, and the baby inside of you. However, I think the most important issues are 1) quality and 2) moderation. When I choose fruit, oatmeal, and brown rice over soda and cookies, balancing those good carbs out with some lean meat, lots of veggies, and good-quality fats like nuts and olive oil, I feel so much better.
Happy Eating!" -- AMAHON - 4/24/2007 10:03:11 AM
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"Fruit is a great complex carb even for Gestational Diabetics since it has so much fiber. Just make sure you eat the fresh fruit plus the skin if appropriate." -- EPARIS - 4/24/2007 9:49:50 AM
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"You have to remember the important difference between simple carbs and complex carbs. You can reduce the number of simple carbs that you eat and still get the appropriate amount of carbs for the day through complex carbs (vegetebles, beans, whole grains, etc.) For those that are diabetic, you can also look at the GI (glycemic index)" -- RACHAELM06 - 4/24/2007 8:10:30 AM
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"I follow a pretty low carbohydrate diet and have done so for nearly ten years. It has changed my life. I feel fantastic and have more energy. Previously, I had severe problems with rice, pasta, breads and sweets. Even a small intake triggered weight gain and bloating. I guess I just wanted to say that not all low carb diets are unhealthy (although the extreme ones may be). I routinely eat several servings of veggies per meal (although not potatoes or many beans), and have at least three servings of fruits per day (I love berries of all kinds!). And contrary to this article, I get plenty of fiber. I don't count it as part of my carb intake because it doesn't have much biochemical interaction within the digestive system. I increased my carbs during pregnancy, but still avoided pasta, rice and most bread and I have had three healthy pregnancies." -- EMILYINTEXAS - 2/11/2007 10:10:50 PM
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"I have Gestational Diabetes and have been put on a carb restricted diet. I have found that although fruits are simple sugars, for some reason they don't raise blood glucose levels as fast as many grain products. If I eat a piece of fruit with my lunch, it may only raise my sugar level a few points more than without it. If I eat a full piece of whole wheat bread, it will raise my one hour sugar level to a very unhealthful range." -- CLRSIGHT001 - 12/15/2006 2:55:22 PM
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"Hopefully your friends Dr. is monitoring her closely to balance risks and benefits." -- TANYA_BABYFIT - 7/5/2006 10:10:30 PM
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"My friend has gestational diabeties. Her doctor has put her on a severly carb restricted diet. Do the same risks apply in her case?" -- WILLIAMSEBASTI - 7/5/2006 6:50:08 PM
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