Pregnancy post Cohens

[new_ruby]

Just wondering if anyone has information re the suggestions to follow a healthy eating regime, post refeeding, if one should happen to fall pregnant?
I understand that it is NOT possible to complete the program if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, but am wondering what guidelines, if any, are available to those who fall pregnant soon after completing the full program?
From memory there were a number of NO NO's whilst I was pregnant last time, such as seafood, certain meats, cheeses etc, which would probably fit into Cohen's Maintenance guidelines, but I am wondering about getting enough good nutrition if I'm to follow a Refeed or Maintenance program if pregnant...

Obviously this is a way off for me, as I have just started, but would like to source some info before my next 'planned' conception at the end of the year!
Thanks

[SuzieQ]

Hi Ruby,

That's a good question and I have been thinking the same thing. I would love to have another baby after I lose my excess weight. What I am planning to do when I fall is talk to my GP and make an appointment with a nutritionist to get a diet plan which will support the baby but not put on anymore than 10-13kg which is what is 'normal' they say. My first pregnancy is when my weight problems began when I ballooned from 52kg to a whopping 95kg towards the end of my pregnancy, I ate everything and anything, I can't believe how much I shovelled in. I will not be letting that happen again I can promise that!!

I think seeing a nutritionist might be the best way to make sure bub is getting everything needed and we aren't eating too much. I know of quite a few women who have done this.

Good Luck

Suzie

[JennyC]

Hi Ruby, I am wanting to start a family when I finish cohens too. I am terrified of putting on all my weight again. I just don't want to work so hard to get it off and fall into the trap of "eating for two".

I was thinking of doing what Suzie has suggested, seeing a nutritionist/ dietician when the time comes. My mum put on alot of weight with pregnancy, I just don't want to go there. Hope this helps, at least your not alone in your thoughts!!!!

JennyC

[Jamanoha]

My husband and I would like another baby... this is why I am doing Cohens... I want to lose the weight I have kept on from my previous pregnancies.
I totally agree with SuzieQ's suggestion of seeing a nutritionist... and if you're to fall into the "eating for 2" trap, make sure you eat for 2 in the best way's possible... remembering that what good things you put into your body are going to be wonderful things for your baby... additives, colours, preservatives etc are not a good thing to be having in general, but definitely not the best when pregnant. I know I ate terribly with my first son... and much better with my other children... and my son has ADHD and other difficulties that the others don't have... I put a lot of it down to what I was eating at the time.
All the best

[new_ruby]

WOW what faboulous advice ! Thanks heaps everyone.
Knowing that the Maintenance program means we should still leave 5 hours between protein meals, and keeping to low carb foods, I am wondering if it's going to be possible to do this, and meet the requirements of the baby. Last thing I want to do is harm the baby (obviously), or end up completely exhausted and depleted of energy every day - as there is still the toddler to deal with!!!
Hopefully there will be more info, if and when I ever meet my 'assigned' consultant from the Cohen clinic.

[SuzieQ]

Hi again,

Ruby when you get pregnant again, if you decide to see a nutritionist/dietician for an eating plan, it might be a good idea to explain that you've been on Cohens and would like to try to stick to the maintenance plan as much as possible - but without starving yourself or the baby. That is what I am planning to do when the time comes, baby comes first .

Jamanoha I can relate, my first pregnancy I was out of control with the eating - hubby and I still recall those days when we EACH had a big block of chocolate and big packet of chips almost EVERY night WHAT WERE WE THINKING???? Number 2 I did eat a lot better compared to the first time, and hopefully for number 3 I will have the knowledge and motivation to follow a healthy eating plan so I don't end up back here!!

Baby dust to us all.......after we lose the weight.

Suzie

[shell]

Hi Ruby,
You don't have to wait 5 hours between meals once you are on maintenance.
Shell

[*dreamchaser*]

Wow....Looks like there are going to be a few post cohens babies!!

I am planning on trying STRAIGHT after my wedding in April....can't wait!!!

I was also planning on seeing a nutritionist/dietician as I put on ALOT of weight during both my pregnancies, more the first then the second. However, I know it was all my own fault - the whole "you are what you eat" came true

[Sezi]

Hi all

I have just had my baby, I hadn't finished cohen's when I fell pregnant, throughout my pregnancy I followed the maintenece guide to the best that I could, it is nearly 2 weeks since I had my little girl but I managed to maintain my weight (I lost a couple of kg's).

I think that doing Cohen's is the best thing that I ever did as it made me very aware of how much crap I used to put in my body. It teaches you so much about the foods we should be eating and about portion sizes which I think stands us in good stead to survive whatever may happen

Sezi

[new_ruby]

Hi Sezi,
Thanks for your post. I wonder, if you are B/F, then are you supllementing with 'extras'..? I was most concerned about the restiction to dairy.
Would love some more advice from you along the way, as I am hoping to fall pregnant in December asap after finishing refeeding.
Thanks

[Sezi]

In terms of breastfeeding yes you do have to take in extra calories etc but you can be sensible about waht to eat. I find that if you focus on eating whole grains and cereals, fresh fruits and vegetables, foods that provide plenty of protein, calcium, and iron. If I feel like snacking I opt for natural yoghurt a cracker with tuna etc.

It all comes down to your choices of what you eat. If you up your carbs a lot of course you are going to put something back on. So I will have a small amount of carbs like cereal with nat yoghurt for breakfast and snack on premiums like I would have while doing Cohen's and that would be all the carbs I eat. I keep up my water I have about 5L a day they say that you should drink 8 to 12 glasses to help with milk production. I love my water so i find it easy to drink 4 - 5L per day

[SuzieQ]

Wow Sezi, congrats on your baby girl! I have 2 boys and would love a little girl to complete the family .

You did really well throughout your pregnancy, so you didn't put on any weight at all during that time? Or do you mean you just lost it after the birth? I'm confused, sorry.

Good luck with losing the rest of your weight, I'm sure you won't have any probs there, sounds like you've got it all worked out.

Suzie

[Sezi]

Not too sure when I lost it as the last time I weighed myself was just before I found out that I was pregnant. I didn't find out until I was over 3 months gone and I was still loosing at this time.

During that time I didn't want to obsess about my weight and didn't weigh myself at all. Once I was home and settled I weighed myself again.

[shrinkingTam]

Originally Posted by new_ruby

I was most concerned about the restiction to dairy.

hi Ruby - my neice's baby was sensitive to dairy, so she ate a dairy free diet for the whole year that she was breast feeding... so I don't think you need to be concerned with missing out on "dairy" as long as you are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need. Like everyone else has said, a nutritionist should be able to help with this

PS - I am planning on TTC straight after my wedding... hehe

[Inn]

Just wanting to ask- If trying to fall pregnant, while doing the program... Do you think, that still have the preganacy vitamins on top of the multi- or just add foliate to the multi- as it has alot of the usual vitamins...?

I take the multi and calcium, for back. Seeing Dr end of Jan, so i'll double check.

[new_ruby]

Hi Inn,
Are you aware that if you fall pregnant whilst on the program that you must stop following it immediately?
Ruby

[Skinnykat]

Hi

I too am planning to fall pregnant after I finished re-feeding hopefully end of Jan - there are so many of us thinking this way.. maybe we could support each other when preggy-time comes?
Inn, I was wondering, do you think I should start taking the folic acid now allready?

I don't know why we're dong this to ourselves - starting to try for the next baby after just losing the previous one's fat. But I guess it's better to start at goal weight and incorporate the new life-style in our pregnancies than just adding more to to weight we were... Does that make sense?

Anyway, girls - here's to babies and to the joy they bring us!

Skinnykat

[new_ruby]

Hi SK,
My theory has always been to lose all the weight i needed to (i.e 20+ kgs), so that I could start my next pregnancy at my metabolic equilibrium. So, fingers crossed this will happen asap!! I have been told that my weight should not alter dramatically (post preganancy weight vs. end of refeed weight), so long as I follow maintenance guidelines and don't "eat for 2", as i did the first time around...!!
Since starting Cohens I have taken the following supplements to help with the lowered food intake as well as in preparation for baby no.2:
Folate
Calcium & Magnesium
Zinc
Iron
Vitamin C
Pre-conception MultiVitamin
and Glucosamine Chondriton.

I think it is recommended that Folate be started at least 12 weeks before conception and taken certainly for the first trimester as well.
Good luck & baby dust to us all !!!!
Ruby

[LiLi]

Hi Ruby

I have the same theory....lose all my weight and then try to conceive naturally (as I currently am not able to do that at the moment)...

Are those supplements ok by your clinic?? Just checking - I have been considering take folate, but wasn't sure if we could?

Cheers
LiLi

[SuzieQ]

Hey Guys,

I'm with Ruby, I think the best way to go is to lose the weight before getting pregnant again. That was one of my main motivations for doing Cohens, I didn't want to end up 90+ kg's again, too much strain on my body and unhealthy for the baby as well.

I recently read that some hospitals have started turning away obese mothers to be as the risk to both baby and mother is so high they don't want to be responsible for anything going wrong, plus it's more work for the hospital staff etc.

I don't know about the multi's, the only supplement I've ever taken leading up to and during pregnancy is the folate.

Skinnykat, I hear what you are saying but just think how easy it will be to lose the excess baby weight when you start your pregnancy from your goal weight....too easy! Plus our babies will be healthier with our new lifestyles as well.

Suzie