Diet and water intake worries

[sleepylion]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here, and in need of some reassurance.
I'm 35 weeks pregnant. I'm going this alone. Went out of control earlier in the year after a 10 year break up. Got with a rogue, and now facing something I never thought I would.

Before I was pregnant I was very careful to eat a balanced diet. Lots of oily fish, fruit, 2 litres water etc. But I think the emotional issues I've been dealing with whilst facing single motherhood have led me to self destruct. I'm so worried about the damage I've done to the baby. I've hardly had any oily fish, have been dehydrated the whole pregnancy, and have stuffed my face with sweet and starchy snacks all the way through.

Could I have now grown a malnourished child with potential health problems?

Oh god. I've known all along I've been making the wrong choices, but kept on going.

Can anyone offer me any genuine peace of mind?

Thanks

[readyfornum2]

Hi Loulahoop
First of all congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope you have plenty of support
Dont worry about sweets and snacking I never had a sweet tooth before DS but when I was pregnant if it had sugar I wanted it! DS was 9lb 13 and very healthy
He is 18 months old today and has no prob;ems with food at all- infact given a plate of food he will head straight for the vegetables!

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and get plenty of rest and remember MN is fantastic for advice and venting

[addictedtoharibo]

Do not worry - babies are like parasites and will take all the good stuff from you! You will have stores of most nutrients in your body and bet you are getting at least some nutrients in your diet. If you are worried why not take some vitamin tablets, fish oils etc?

When I was pregnant with DS I had awful morning sickness the whole time through. For the first 20 weeks I pretty much ate haribo, ready salted crisps, chocolate and lucozade. In the last 20 weeks I progressed to fry ups and chinese takeaways!

The really ironic bit is I am doing a phd on child diet, lol. I couldnt eat anything else though.

DS was born 7.7 lbs and is a healthy toddler now. He actually doesnt really like chocolate or biscuits (havent let him have sweets) and loves his veg. He has no problems and is very healthy (touch wood!)

Do not worry - baby will be fine. Women had babies in concentration camps and they were fine!

xxx

[sleepylion]

Wow - being a first timer on this site I am amazed how quickly I have received support already. Thanks so much for your speedy and hearty responses to my cry for help.
Your stories are inspiring and encouraging and I feel SO much better already!
x

[dizzydixies]

Hi Loulahoop
am glad you're feeling a bit better and I can only add to the previous posts. with dd1 I could only keep down lucozade & beans on toast and was told by midwives it was fine as baby would take all she needed, she is a great eater and loves all things healthy. with dd2 I was really good and ate very healthily and she has a wild sweet tooth - go figure eh?!? I would agree about trying to get some supplements for yourself though as once baby takes all it needs there isn't much left for mum!!
x

[spackcat]

Don't worry loulahoop, it's normal to eat crap in pregnancy and addicted' is right babies are parasites! I was really consienious (sp!?) with my diet before pregnancy, like you but when I fell pregnant a lot of it went out the window! (I used to avoid anything with sugar except the odd weekend treat as I thought it made me moody, now I have the perfect excuse to be moody and am merrily cramming in sugar soaked products like there is no tomorrow!) Seriously though your bubs will be fine and your midwife would have told you if you are really difficient in anything from the blood tests that you have in pregnancy. Pregnacare is a good supplement to take, I take that and my midwife said I had excellent iron levels at the last results (and I hadn't been eating brilliantly, lead up to xmas etc!)It's also good if you plan to bf as you might not have the time or energy to prepare spotlessly healthy meals! xxx

[spackcat]

Plus it sounds like you have been really healthy for years - that doesn't go away over night and some women vomit up everything throughout their entire pregnancy and still have healthy babies, nature takes these things into hand.