Can eating the wrong foods cause you greater pregnancy and breastfeeding fatigue? How can you better control your pregnancy blood sugar?  With both my pregnancies, I was amazed how quickly my energy level was affected by what I ate and drank.  Since I spent most of my time trying to stay conscious while yearning for naps, I happily skipped the foods that lowered my already pathetic energy level.

  1. Sugar is obviously at the top of the list, and is often what we crave most during pregnancy or nursing.  Limiting our intake, especially right in the middle of the day can help us keep our glucose levels in check and save ourselves from a mini-coma later.
  2. Simple carbohydrates such as those in pasta, chips, white bread, French fries, and white rice will leave you exhausted and starving in just a few hours.  If you do crave a big dish of spaghetti, you may want to save it for dinner so that you can follow it with an early bedtime.
  3. Juice, soda, and other sweetened beverages will spike your glucose levels and then leave you in the lurch.  Try to stay hydrated on homemade fruit infused water,  green iced tea, water with fresh lemon or lime slices or hot tea.
  4. Fruit is an excellent snack but big servings will cause your blood sugar to fluctuate unless they’re balanced with protein. Combine blueberries with vanilla yogurt or apples with cheddar cheese slices.

Am I missing anything?  I know the list of junk food is endless, but I tried to pick the top offenders that caused me the most strife—especially since some of them seem quite healthy.  Look for foods full of monounsaturated fats that will satiate your pregnancy and breastfeeding appetite while maintaining your energy. Also please know that I’m not a saint.  In fact, I spent most of my second pregnancy with debilitating cheeseburger pregnancy cravings.