midwives: eating two meals a day during early pregnancy okay?

[caedmyn]

I just found out I'm pregnant. I started doing a program called Fast5 a few weeks ago where you only eat in a 5 hour window a day (mine's between 1:30 and 6:30 pm). It's primarily a weight loss program although I am being careful not to lose weight (don't have any to spare) by eating just as much as before. I'm doing it to try to help some digestive and mild adrenal problems I'm having. Is it okay to do this during early pregnancy as long as I feel okay and am not having problems with low blood sugar? I'll probably be doing a UP until about 4-5 months along as we'll be moving to a different state then and I really don't see a need to see a midwife here for just a couple of visits.

[BendMidwife]

What digestive and adrenal problems are you having? How did you decide on this Fast5 program as a method to help? I'm not sure I understand how limiting your food intake or restricting it to a certain time of day can help adrenal problems....but I'm not a dr.

I would say eating only 2 meals a day is not a good idea. It causes your blood sugar to go all whacky when you go without food. Especially during pregnancy, and not having any weight to spare gives you even less wiggle room. You need constant intake of food even if it is is much smaller quantities. Though you are right, in early pregnancy, it doesn't matter as much that you are getting as many calories~ women and their babies can get through early pregnancy morning sickness and vomiting without harm to the baby...... but still, it is important as you near 12 weeks or so that you are eating regularly and well, and that you are beginning to increase your caloric intake (especially if you are underweight to begin with)

As to the digestive disorders, limiting the foods that affect you is always a good idea, I'm just not sure that limiting the amount of food overall is good.

[Lynnette]

Well, it doesn't make sense to me. Usually the practice of holding off early pregnancy nausea/vomiting is to eat more frequently, not less frequently. Plus, your body needs nutrition more continuous in pregnancy, not less. I doubt that this will help you to feel better, long or short term in pregnancy. It will mess with your blood glucose/sugar levels and we don't store nutrients that way as humans.

I have never heard of this practice and would say that in pregnancy it can even be dangerous.

my 2 cents.