"limiting carbs"

I'm 5'11", and when I was pregnant with dd I worked in a candy shop, and she came out at 6 lbs 10 ounces... she's now exactly what you said your son is, 42"/42lbs with a large head, big frame. I was really careful not to indulge too much, but obviously if you work in a candy shop and you're pregnant sometimes you're going to give in Anyway, the carbs didn't make for a large baby.

I want to point out as someone who has done the Atkins diet : that when you cut carbs drastically your body goes into ketosis, which is a toxic state that taxes your kidneys and can't possibly be good for your baby.

Worst thing of all is that she told you there was something wrong with your last delivery when obviously there wasn't :

I don't know if your baby is "too big" or anything like that but otherwise the midwife's suggestion makes a lot of sense. I am guessing she thinks you have gestational diabetes or that you are borderline for it. Women with GD often deliver larger babies, large enough to cause problems in many cases. Limiting carbs is the best way to control GD, so my guess is that's what she was getting at.

I have been a lowcarber for 6 years now and certainly will not go back to high carb eating now that I'm pregnant. I'm only 4 weeks so I have no idea what foods I will and will not be able to keep down or what my body will need. I may go up some in carbs but I'll keep them low to moderate.

Why? Because I'm at great risk for GD (and probably would have regular Type II diabetes now if it weren't for my diet). I'm hypoglycemic as well--totally controlled by diet yea!

I would try to talk to the midwife more. See why she made those suggestions (I don't think breaking your water to induce labor is a great idea) and if that makes more sense. If it still seems off to you, find someone else. Doesn't matter if she's right or wrong, you have to be very comfortable with the person delievering your baby.

HTH,
Cyndi

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Actually, there is no other treatment for hypoglycemia other than diet.

And low carb is not a healthy diet for a growing baby. I can understand limiting "bad carbs" -- anything white -- but otherwise, your body needs carbs.

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I wanted to respond to this because it isn't the case. Ketosis is not dangerous, nor is it thought to be so. Ketosis is a sign that your body is burning fat for energy instead of carbs. Bodies preferentially burn carbs if they're available.

If you're eating average amounts of carbs but you're in ketosis that is a sign that something is terribly wrong. Generally it means you're a diabetic in crisis.

But if you're eating a healthy diet that happens to be lowcarb, and you're in ketosis, that's fine.

If you're in ketosis because you're getting too little food of any variety, that's also not a good thing.

Ketosis is a fairly neutral state of being and does not "tax your kidneys."

Now, there is some controversy about ketosis during pregnancy. There's no evidence that it's a problem but none that it's safe either. So most lowcarb advocates suggest that you stay out of ketosis while pregnant, just in case. You don't want to lose weight while pregnant anyway so lowcarbing would be for blood sugar problems mainly.

Cyndi

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If my medical professional "thought" I was in danger of developing a condition and didn't tell me explicitly, I'd be pretty pissed off. I'm a partner in my care, not a recepient. That's sorta off-topic, but I had to say it.

Nothing about a 9# baby who grows to be a sturdy toddler is suggestive of diabetese anyway.

PS Congratulations on your pregnancy!

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This is actually false. Ketosis is a toxic state that causes various toxins to build in your system and as someone else stated puts a huge stress on your kidneys.
I actually have a sub-degree in renal pathophysiology and wrote my thesis on the medical condition of ketosis so believe me I've researched this to death and examined endless blood reports, biopsies, case studies and post mortems.
Atkins has done a wonderful job of marketing Ketosis as a safe state to be in, but if you read the fine print you will find they don't recomend staying in it long because of the toxic effect on your kidneys.

Thanks to everyone for your input!!! It was really reassuring and helpful. I think I do need to talk to her more--3 years have gone by and maybe now she's just seeing the chart/ weight of baby/ length of labor, without remembering that I was really into a high protein (but not low carb) diet, everything natural, etc. She actually did add in a GD test on my early tests, so clearly that's where she was coming from (and said as much), which I thought was totally bogus, but it wasn't a secret. I DID gain 50 lbs last time, but I still think they were a GOOD 50 lbs. So I think I'll just try reminding her where I'm coming from (it's a big practice), and making sure we're on the same page. But the more I think of it, the less I want to limit carbs--though cutting back on white sugar and flour couldn't hurt, given my current diet habits!! :
Thanks again for all the support!

a few hour after this baby was born, my mw said, you know why you had such a big baby? since i've been here i've seen you eat nothing but bread!

he was nine and a half pounds. she is also not a fan of a high simple carb diet but prefers protein and lots of whole foods. since she is the first health care provider i have ever had who didn't give me a hard time about being a vegetarian, i chose to disagree quietly with her on that one. well, i do agree with a lot of it and did try to watch things like white bread and sugar and too much fruit or chocolate soymilk. but i had a "better" diet with my daughter, i think, and she was only 7, 13. i did get more exercise then.

i've seen ladies (in my doula work) eat too much sugar in terms of lots of bananas, "protein" shakes, tons of soymilk, not exercise, and grow huge babies and need csections, but simple answer of limiting carbohydrates doesn't seem to make sense to me. my midwife asked for occasional diet sheets esp around the GTT test (which with her was eat pancakes for breakfast), but she also respects the individual, and said while my diet was a bit heavy on carbohydrates it is probably normal and optimal for me and my temperament.

i wouldn't necessarily look for another hcp if you like her otherwise. you'll have to make some kind of compromise or ignore something no matter who you use. if you think it's a harbinger of rigidity to come, then see how she responds in discussion or over some other issue.

I agree with Tofumama in that I think the size of your baby is usually genetic. I remember reading stories about babies born during World War II and how even though the mothers had limited food access (though not starving) they still had big healthy babies. My mom, who had her children back in the 1960's, had big babies even though she was put on a "pregnancy" diet by her doctors and only allowed to gain 18 pounds. (She was petite and thin already, so go figure...) Anyway, despite this, she birthed nine and ten pound babies. I think unless someone is literally starving or eating nothing but junk food their baby will grow to the size it's supposed to be. Obviously, GD is a whole other thing. JMHO.