How about foods like peanut butter, cheese, crackers, breads, rice, etc....can your pouch tolerate those? Those foods should help you pack on the pounds rather quickly. At 18 weeks, I was probably a few pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight, but not much. I lost weight my 1st trimester with horrible nausea, but I was able to put weight on ok during the rest of the pregnancy. I never gained much with either of my kids. Maybe ~23 lbs with my son who was post-pouch, and I think I lost about 15 of that the day he was born between baby and water and all the fun stuff that comes out :-)

If I were in your place I would just focus on finding the combination of what what I wanted to eat and the foods that didn't cause me pouch problems. It might not be by the "healthy pregnancy book," but these would at least give you and your baby some basic nourishment. Women through out history and in the world have eaten all kinds of things during pregnancy and produced very healthy babies. You are strong and have survived a lot. (There is no way you would be on this board if that was not true.) So maybe just experiment with where your body wants and will allow you to go and try to hold how "healthy" it is gently. (I know there is a limit to how far you can take this, but it is where I would begin. I have found that food works best when it is inviting).

(Also, if you haven't, I recommend watching the movie BABIES, its shows women doing many different things and still participating as good and loving mothers. I think it is an awesome movie about human diversity. Nourishing, especially for those of us who cannot follow the most conventional path.)

Thanks ladies,

I have been doing all of the foods you suggested, clz81. Thank you for the reminders of them. I sometimes get frustrated that the 'healthy' things are making me miserable. I'm still not gaining a ton, but I'm not overly concerned.

elliepouch - I agree, there are a lot of foods that are healthy and good for me that may not be on the pregnancy must-haves. Thanks!

After one of my surgeries I lived on ice cream bars and fudgesicles. I gained 10 pounds in 2 weeks!