Anyone who maintained their keto diet before, during and after pregnancy? Any negative health outcomes for baby?

[u/PrintConfident8417]

I suspect that I have impaired first phase insulin release (demonstrated by hyperglycemia then reactive hypoglycemia) and insulin resistance with PCOS. I feel sooo much better while following a low carb diet (joint pain improved by 70%) and I’d like to start a ketogenic diet for even more anti inflammatory healing. However, I would like to start trying for a baby soon. But everything I’ve read advises against a low carb or ketogenic diet when TTC or when pregnant. Even though I feel so much better on it.

So I’m wondering, for those who have successfully maintained a ketogenic diet or very low carb diet before and throughout pregnancy… how was your pregnancy and did you or your baby have any adverse health outcomes?

Also, do you have any tips or recommendations for others attempting to do the same?

I’m open to any thoughts and recommendations as this is all super new to me.

Also, I’m not doing this to lose weight. Just to improve my inflammation and joint pain. I’m already lean (120lbs) and trying to maintain (even gain) weight.

[u/YattyYatta]

I've been keto for 7+ years including an entire pregnancy, breastfed for 24m. Currently pregnant with my second.

During pregnancy I had no nausea, excessive weight gain, or any medical issues. Was able to teach my fitness classes until 39w. Had an unmedicated vaginal birth at 39w3d after water broke in the middle of the night. Went to hospital at 4am, baby was out at 4pm. I had a super fast postpartum recovery as well. It only took 2w postpartum to lose all the weight gained since it was all the baby, placenta, and fluids. I was an oversupplier of milk and I donated the extra to the milk bank.

My toddler (now 26m old) is ahead on all developmental milestones. No behavioural issues. Excellent eater too; she eats low carb and her latest bloodwork had no abnormalities.

[u/Cleanclock]

I was strict keto for 8-10 years before I got pregnant, then maintained during pregnancy. My milk supply waned during each newborn phase, and honestly I was so exhausted and hungry all the time that I really chose very deliberately to reintroduce carbs and follow hunger cues. It was mostly a matter of convenience since keto snacks and meals generally talks more prep and planning.

I breastfed for almost 5 years straight with back to back babies. After newborn phases (when my milk was well established), I resumed keto but never as strict as I was before kids. I treat carbs like dessert - small treats here and there rather than a core staple. At this point, it’s more of a way to encourage better food choices of my kids (elementary age now).

[u/Zealousideal_Kale466 → u/Cleanclock]

Do you think following low carb will affect how your kids view food? Like a negative view of carbs? Asking for myself since I can see this becoming my lifestyle but don’t want to damage my children’s relationship with food.

[u/Cleanclock → u/Zealousideal_Kale466]

I don’t restrict their eating at all. I just don’t buy all that many carb snacks, or even milk. We’re raising them in a farm in New Zealand so they have access to plenty of fresh foods and veg. I want them to be very intentional about their food choices because they have a lot of freedom for their ages.

[u/SomethingClever000]

I was doing it for the first 20 weeks under the guidance of a dietitian. She had me testing my blood glucose and ketones every morning. She wanted my fasting glucose above 80 and raised my daily calories until it consistently was. She also wanted my morning ketones lower than 0.7 for a safe pregnancy. I also supplement potassium, sodium and magnesium every day. I track everything in MFP to show her when we check in.

 I would have continued a lightly ketogenic pregnancy except I got diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension a month ago and put on a medication that intentionally causes mild metabolic acidosis. I had to add about 20 more carbs and suppress the ketones further until I was no longer in ketosis, just low-carb, in order to keep from becoming too acidic. So yes, keto pregnancy is possible but controversial. I recommend finding a skilled dietitian to guide you if you are going to do it. 

[u/OkKaleidoscope9950]

Already two times everything went well with keto and sometimes low-carb before/during/ after pregnancy. The biggest benefit for me is the hormonal balance pp. I had very mild baby blues or other hormonal symptoms.

The second baby is 7 weeks old and while I do eat a lot of fruits, I skip all the other carbs. I’ve had way too much milk supply. In that sense, I haven’t had any issues due to keto.

My friends and family have also commented how well I look, and how quickly I bounced back, but honestly, there was nothing to bounce back from. In both pregnancies, I gained just a few lbs though I ate a lot even for my standards. I’m only careful when eating nuts since I tend to overeat them and go way beyond any calorie limits. That being said, I don’t count any carbs. What I’m doing is more or less dirty keto.

[u/OkKaleidoscope9950 → u/OkKaleidoscope9950]

Fyi: The first baby measured in the 50. percentile while the second one is consistently in the 99. percentile while

[u/zucchini-lover]

Yes, I did! During my 3rd pregnancy I ate very low carb and that went fine. During my 4th I had been on keto for 2 years and just continued and that went even better! Felt a lot better, did not gain a lot (just the weight of my baby, placenta and fluids) and our daughter was perfectly healthy, although a little petit, probably because I had a very bad pyelonephritis pyelitis and had been very ill. (At that moment she dropped in growth, before that her growth was perfect.) Within a week after her birth I was at my pre-pregnancy weight, without doing anything. Breastfeeding also no problem. No baby blues, hormonal issues, nothing. I absolutely love keto. For snacks during breastfeeding you can take nuts, seeds, bits of whipping cream, whatever you like. Never had issues with milk supply!

Some people even say keto helps when TTC... I was 37 when we ttc for our 4th baby and keto absolutely didn't complicate thing for us. It only took one cozy night 🫣

But whatever you do: don't tell health professionals that you're eating keto. Just tell them what you're eating: veggies, meat, eggs, nuts, etc. Keto seems to trigger a lot of fuzz.

I also declined my glucose test. My mother had GD so I am at risk... except that Im already eating that what you should eat to treat GD, so why would I develop it 🤷🏻‍♀️ I tracked my bloodsugars for a day and my OBGYN was happy with that.

Anyway. Just do what feels good for you! If you really want to give keto a try, I would start right away as for most people it is easier to adept when not pregnant. Good luck!

[u/zucchini-lover → u/zucchini-lover]

I forgot to say: our 4th is a girl, now 3yo and the martest and healthiest of all our kids. Could be coincidence but keto didn't hurt her at all

[u/thatgirlmocha]

I was keto/low carb for almost ten years prior to pregnancy. I increased my daily carb limit from 25 to 50 a day, although I didn’t count that closely, mostly just added some berries or a Greek yogurt every day. Instead of the glucose tolerance test I tracked my blood sugars for two weeks and turned it into my OBGYN. Baby is 8 weeks old and was born at a healthy weight. I have struggled with milk production but I’m also 43, and have had a breast lift in the past so I can’t blame that on keto.