the Keto Diet during Pregnancy

I'm not gonna lie, despite having been following the ketogenic lifestyle for the past several years, I was not totally certain if it was something I would choose to continue in the event that I ever became pregnant. Deep down inside of me, despite knowing the research and living the lifestyle with great success, I was wary about whether keto would be the right choice during pregnancy. And honestly, that is absolutely great. You SHOULD be wary and you SHOULD do research before embarking on any new health or diet plan, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or plan to become pregnant.

Well, as it turns out, this wasn't a decision I would have to put off long...My husband and I are excited to be expecting our first child in October 2017! We discovered the news on February 1st. Joy and jubilant excitement ensued...followed quickly by sheer panic. What would I eat?! I set out on my journey to research my burning questions.

Shameless ultrasound pic of my perfect child. A real looker, just like their mama! ;)

My first stop on the Google train was a website of the highly esteemed Maria Emmerich (a fellow Wisconsinite, I might add!). Her thoughtful article on keto during pregnancy put my mind at ease. (I highly recommend you check out her article: http://mariamindbodyhealth.com/keto-pregnancy/)

Ultimately, the only argument against following a ketogenic diet while pregnant was the concern over getting enough proper nutrients for mother and baby. And of course the usual nonsense where the author assumes ketosis is the same as diabetic ketoacidosis (which IS dangerous, but is not the same as nutritional ketosis.), and assumes that all of us keto freaks live solely off of buttery coffee and bacon. Well, obviously this all just silly and based out of well-intentioned ignorance. Eating keto does not mean ZERO carbs...it means eating low carb and choosing quality, nutrient-dense sources loaded with fiber, such as tons of leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, etc. Not to mention, the keto lifestyle (when done intelligently) can provide a more well-rounded, high nutrient, whole food diet than the vast majority of Americans consume on a regular basis (ironically, most of these people are the loudest critics of the keto diet...). I already knew all of this, but it soothed my overactive mind to reconfirm it (I blame pregnancy brain!).

However, not one to be satisfied by Internet research alone (and you shouldn't be either!), I asked my prenatal nurse and doctor about whether my ketogenic lifestyle was safe and healthy for me and baby. At first they were confused when I told them that I ate low carb. I expected this, as there is so much confusion surrounding the keto diet and low carb, even in the medical community among esteemed health care professionals. The first question I got was, "Well...what do you eat??"  But as I proceeded to explain that my diet consists of loads of healthy fats from avocados, nuts, eggs, meats, cheese, olive and coconut oil, etc., as well as carbs from LOTS of veggies and berries (yes, you can eat these and still be in ketosis!), they were both thrilled! My doctor pointed out that eating a whole food diet like that, devoid of processed junk, artificial sweeteners, sugar, chemicals, and the like, was a good thing on its own, but consuming an abundance of healthy fats, moderate protein, and all those veggies was basically the most wonderful diet she could hope for from a patient, especially an expecting one! Naturally I was psyched and wanted to pat myself on the back for already being an excellent mother to my unborn child. ;)

I also want to point out that I have had zero morning sickness throughout my pregnancy and have had no food aversions or cravings whatsoever. I credit this largely to my nutrient-dense keto diet. While coupled with my amazing prenatal multivitamin, I can rest assured that my body and little one are thriving and healthy.

I do also enjoy carb refeeds most weekends, which consist of healthy carbs like sweet potatoes, oatmeal, fruit, etc. I choose to do this because I am still following a heavy weight lifting program throughout this pregnancy, and at almost 19 weeks along, I still feel great and my workouts have not suffered a bit yet. I also enjoy home made sweet potato fries waaaaaaay too much, so I feel good about letting myself and baby enjoy our favorite healthy snack from time to time. I also believe that pregnancy should be a time of not only physical health, but mental health. And while I love following a healthy, ketogenic lifestyle, allowing myself a "break" from being 100% on point every single day with my keto macros has helped me keep my sanity and my stress levels low. As long as I know that my carb refeeds are a limited occurrence and are focused on healthy, whole food carb sources that will fuel my body, rather than processed junk food and sweets, I can be okay with my decision. I have all the time in the world after baby comes to obsess over my macros and fat loss- but for now my main concern is keep us happy, healthy, and well fed! And right now, we are definitely all of those things! :)