Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

This is my first pregnancy, and I know everyone is completely different - But I'm already a bit overweight so I'm concerned about gaining 'too' much with this pregnancy - Not only b/c I don't want to struggle to lose a ton of extra weight, but also b/c I don't want to be unhealthy and MORE uncomfrotable than I have to be .....

So, my question is, I see some people gained 10 lbs, some 30, some gained 60, some gained 80 ...........
Is this just predisposed to your body? Or, are those gaining 80 lbs eating "bad" ??

It would seem to be common sense that if you eat well, you'll gain what you need to for the pregnancy, and if you eat like you don't care about how much gain, well, then you'll gain ..........but common sense seems to go out the window when it comes to the pregnancy stuff

My cousin who was overweight to begin with, gained 70lbs and INSISTS she ONLY ate healthy food and NEVER ate any junk (personally, I think she's full of sh*t) but could I be wrong? Is it possible she gained 70 lbs eating well balanced meals?

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I was normal to begin with. I stopped smoking and immediately put on 4 pounds from literally breathing, I did not eat more at all in the beginning. I was constantly nauseaus and all I literally ate were fruits!!! I've gained weight steadily throughout the pregnancy, and have not been eating REALLY badly, I definitely allow myself some bad things here and there, but I'm not in the mindset of everything is guiltfree...I'm 25 weeks and have gained according to me 18 pounds, according to my doc 14 pounds, bc he didn't count the 4 I put on right away...I'm not not binging or doing anything crazy. So my long answer is I think our bodies are just predisposed to gain the weight to be honest wtih you, bc I see a lot of other girls that are literally eating they're faces off and not gaining as quickly as I have....I think our bodies put on the weight its supposed to . I think there are some ppl that do go overboard though, but t he majority I think its just what our bodies do.....

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

Everyone's body reacts differently to pregnancy. You could eat well and exercise and still gain 50 pounds. You could also constantly overindulge and not gain much. It really depends on the person.

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

My SIL was thin but not tiny before my niece was born and ate very healthy (she is a bit obsessive with fats and weight gain) and Still gained 65 lbs with her. It happens. I was by no mean a thin girl, before this pregnancy. At my level II (3 weeks agao) I was up 9.6 lbs. I capped myself at 20lbs. I have a wedding 5 months after he is born and struggle to loose weight on a good day. If I go over my "limit" Oh well, I will just feel better not. I also eat what I want when I want it, so anything is possibly. I def can see myself as that oh so large PG lady waddling down the street.

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I was borderline plus sized to begin with and am pregnant with twins. I have some appointments where I gain nothing in 3 weeks and others where I've gained 6 lbs in 2 or 3 weeks. I did not change my eating habits. I really think your body will gain what it wants to within 10 lbs or so. I also know I have at least 8 lbs in water weight on me as I can see it all over my body. I am 24 weeks

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I was slightly overweight before I got pregnant. I was trying to lose weight but it was just not coming off. I had many of the concerns you have. But to my suprise I have done nothing but lose weight so far this pregnancy. And it is not due to morning sickness because I had no morning sickness at all. I just did not have much of an appetite in the beginning & I had to force myself to eat. By 16 weeks I lost a total of 14lbs. By 20 weeks I gain back 4 lbs because my appetite returned in full force, but then by 24 weeks I lost another 3 lbs. I don't why I lost 3lbs because I was eating normally & mostly at night so I really thought I would have gained. I also havenot been eating 100% healthy so I really expected to gain, but it seems like my body has other plans. I guess I already had enough FAT to support carrying a baby... I don't know....

So now at 27 weeks I am still 13 lbs lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight. I go for my 28 week appt this friday & I hope to have gained a few lbs. But my Doc says the baby is growing right on target, but we will keep watch on him just to make sure he is ok during the 3rd trimester.....

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I was slightly underweight when I got pregnant. I quit smoking and by week 11 I was up 15lbs. As of 37 weeks I am up 56lbs. I am not going to lie, I do not eat entirely healthy, but I don't overeat either.

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I am gaining weight the same in this PG as the last. Nothing. I gained nothing until 16w last time, and it looks like a repeat for this time. Since I have horrible m/s this time, and no m/s last time my guess is that you will gain what you gain.

I did show earlier and my weight is distributed differently this time. Also I never lost much of the PG weight from my first PG, so my bosy is totally different this time.

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I was thin before getting pregant and I gained 50lbs. I'd be lying if I said that it was just my body doing it's thing.

I did have a big baby, but I also gained 14lbs in ONE month alone because I ate anything and everything I wanted. The following month I got really strict with myself and only gained 2lbs.

At the same time, it was very unlikely that I would only gain the 35lbs my doctor recomended without being VERY on a strict diet. And I'm violent when I diet (not preggo) so I didn't want to risk it when I was.

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I gained 30-35 lbs with my 1st pg, I did not "diet" at all though I eliminiated of a lot of things (caffeine, artif. sweetener, tried to stick with largely organic, etc). But when I was hungry, I ate... period.

All except maybe 5 lbs of the weight were gone within the first couple weeks of the birth... I am guessing that weight was the baby, placenta, and fluid, etc. The last 5 lbs came off over about 2 months, THAT is the weight I think was due to overindulging.

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I am firm beliver that everyone has a prerequisite amount of weight they will gain when pregnant. Look at some of the pp and you could eat well or not have m/s or not, it doesn't seem to matter. If your body will gain 40lbs it will gain 40lbs. You might have control over 5 or so pounds but you will gain what is set. I just wish I knew what that number was since this in number 1 for me.

Re: Question/Concerns re: Weight Gain

I think it's a combo of things. This is just my theory from being on this board for a while and reading many posts.... so I could be wrong, but this is what I presume:

Cravings / hormones have a lot to do with it. Some women have to remind themselved to eat (me), and some can't go an hour w/o eating. There have been dozens of threads discussing out of control hunger and eating several small meals before 11am. Obviously, even if these moms are eating healthily, they will still be putting on more weight than those who eat maybe 4 times a day.

Cravings are another crazy story. Many of us all of the sudden crave some cr@ppy food we would have NEVER consumed pre-pregnancy. For me, it was caf-free coke. I NEVER drank soda. Total empty calorie land... but during my 2nd trimester, the cans was both literally and figuratively 'golden'.

A third portion of the story is pre-pregnancy weight and eating habits. I am overweight, but only eat natural / home cooked food. we seldom eat-out, so I control my salt / fat intake completely, and don't eat pre-packaged foods or artifically flavored things.

Being overweight, I should be gaining about 1/2 as much as a healthier-weight individual. So I should gain about 20 lbs. At 37 weeks, with my home-cooked diet, I lost 5 in the first trimester, and regained it and another 19 lbs so far. Pretty good.

Oh, under special circumstances, gestational diabetes could also play a role... since the restricted diet forces those who normally eat junk to cut it out ASAP.

But overall, I bet the hormones dictating your hunger and cravings, along with pre-existing diet habits, take account for a mom's weight gain during pregnancy.

But, if you decide to BF, a lot of it will melt off quite quickly, so don't be afraid. Just eat well, and eat when you're hungry (or at least 4-5 times a day if you're never hungry), and you'll be fine......