I am thrilled to be a few weeks into my third trimester. While my pregnancy has flown by thus far, I am wondering if that will continue or if the last two months will feel like an eternity. At this point, I have gained about 20 pounds, and I’m packing on about one pound a week. My provider gave me a clean bill of health after my last round of blood work, which was a great feeling, especially with the thyroid issues I had in my first trimester.
Five months ago, an older gentleman who practiced as an OB-GYN for 40 years shared with me his thoughts on weight gain and eating healthy while pregnant. “People will jokingly tell you that you’re eating for two,” he said. “But if you adopt that as your mantra, you could easily end up gaining too much weight and being at risk for gestational diabetes.” He encouraged me to eat when I’m hungry and to focus on key nutrients, like calcium and protein. Under the supervision of my health care provider, I take plant-based prenatal vitamins, fish oil (not just any brand–certain ones are unsafe during pregnancy), vitamin D, magnesium, and a B vitamin that helps my migraines….