Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

3

This is a funny post, since I posted a few months ago about not being hungry and being a little under the normal weight gain for my pregnancy.

But NOW I'm in a normal, healthy weight gain range. And NOW I'm starving. I wake up at night to eat, eat first thing in the morning and then I have to eat every 2-3 hours throughout the day to keep myself from passing out.

I'm still working out at a moderate intensity level every other day, and I chase my toddler around all day and we walk a lot with the stroller. So I know that I'm active, young (27) AND pregnant - but this is just ridiculous. Should I be concerned that my leptin sensitivity is off? Should I be tracking calories and nutrients?

Or should I just eat very healthfully and let my body do whatever it is that my body needs to do to sustain my pregnancy and me? What would you do?

Note: my diet has a lot of fat, meat, nuts, tons of veggies and some fruit and some full fat dairy (but not a ton.) I'm somewhat strict, but if I have a craving for more whole milk, I don't ignore it.

flag	asked Mar 29 2012 at 18:21 Sarah 1,943●2●10

I'm glad you asked this - I'm almost at 31 weeks and have been a lot hungrier the past week or two! Apparently this kiddo is doing some major growing :-) – Lauren Mar 29 2012 at 23:16

Casey · Answer 1 · 2012-03-29 18:36:59Z UTC

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EAT.

Whatever your body and that little bambino are telling you they need, GIVE IT TO THEM.

answered Mar 29 2012 at 18:36

Casey
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	Hah! Well, I probably will NOT give my body the Sour Patch Kids I've been craving. But I did let myself eat a whole bunch of kiwi instead. It's just... strange. I shouldn't need THIS many calories, according to all the reading I've done. – Sarah Mar 29 2012 at 18:41
	Within reason, of course =D – Casey Mar 29 2012 at 19:03

jj · Answer 2 · 2012-03-29 18:47:36Z UTC

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Girl, you are PREGNANT! Eat. While you can... you've done this before, you know that as it gets further on that baby will take up all the room where your GI tract was and it's hard to eat as much... or, you know, breathe normally. :-P (I'm assuming that you're in the 2nd or early 3rd trimester.)

answered Mar 29 2012 at 18:47

jj
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	true. I don't have the same crowding issues, as I'm almost 6 feet tall, that other women seem to have. I was eating big meals with no problem up until 40 weeks last time. (I'm almost 22 weeks now.) – Sarah Mar 29 2012 at 20:40
	So jealous, my ribs touch my hip bones, I'm seriously short-waisted, things got pretty crowded in there. – Happy Now Mar 30 2012 at 1:50
	Yeah... I'm 5'1", so there wasn't much room left in there for food once I hit about 34 weeks. – jj Mar 30 2012 at 23:05

Dragonfly · Answer 3 · 2012-03-29 18:55:31Z UTC

Sounds mostly normal.

Babies have growth spurts in-utero, just like they do after they are born. Definitely follow your body's cues.

Cheese may be useful, if you tolerate it. Think nutrient density/high calories over food volume.

Are you eating organ meats?

Also, make sure you are staying hydrated.

Getting enough Vitamin D & magnesium? If you are waking up at night to eat, I am wondering if you are missing any nutrients...

Absolutely starving while pregnant.

3 Answers