ok, am I wrong to be concerned about weight...?

MrsBalletStar05

I am on www.sparkpeople.com.  Actually, not so much anymore because I am not working out as much as I usually do.......

But fitness, eating right and working out should always be a concern, shouldn't it? Even when pregnant?

And SHOULDN'T weight be a concern?  I mean, if the Dr. wants you to gain *this* amount and you are way over or under that.....it might not be good, right?

I just blogged last week about being excited that I didn't think I was going to gain as much weight this time as I did with DS (50lbs) and got some snarky comment that I shouldn't be concerned about my weight when pregnant.  I just think that is ridiculous.  You SHOULD be.  My weight is discussed at every appointment.  If it didn't matter, why would they weigh me EVERY. SINGLE. APPOINTMENT.?

FWIW, I have gained 30lbs.  I'm excited because I DOUBT that I will put on another 20lbs in 13 weeks :-P

trueblue85

If you go to babycenter.com, they have a pregnancy weight chart.  You enter what you weighed before you were pregnant, how far along you are, and what you weigh now.  They have a linear graph showing if you're on the right track.  It showed me that I've gained faster than I should have, so I've been more careful and going back on track. 

 

 

srbmvp

I think it does matter... there's a reason they say 25-35 pounds, or whatever it is they say to a particular woman. I have a good friend who is 36 weeks, and she is fighting gestational diabetes right now. No risk factors, just the fact that she gained weight too fast.

I am really worried about how much weight I've gained, I'm going to talk to my Doctor this week about safe ways to try and slow the weight gain... not because I don't want to get fat, but because I want to do what's best for both of our health's....

MoniqueJW

I think being aware of your weight while pregnant is not a bad thing, you shouldn't diet, but it is a good idea to stay within the guidelines for weight gain - ignore that person - they don't know what they are talking about:)

summerskysmom

I definately think weight is a concern. During my first pregancy i gained like 45lbs. With my second about 30lbs. Now, with my third one i thought i was gaining too much ex; at 4 months i gained like 10 lbs. I was actually 6 lbs under my usual weight before my pregnancy. I work out and try to eat right. I do still work out though. With the pregancy cravings and all, it should not be an excuse for me to eat. I know some people crave different things, but i mostly crave like things that i don't usually eat like Doritos, and lots of fried stuff.

The Dr's are probably concerned about the gestational diabetes and or specifics about how it can affect our terms or labor. Another thing that i found hard was, as much weight as i might have gained in the past it will take me that hard 6-8 months to actually get back to my normal weight and how intense my workouts might be. You get the idea.Don't stress over it. I'm not.

MrsBalletStar05

My thought is that our weight gain obviously has SOMETHING to do with the baby....gain too little and they are worried the baby isn't healthy.....gain too much and they are worried you'll have too big of a baby you can't deliver vaginally or have gestational diabetes, ect.  I don't think I should just throw everything out the window and gain as much or as little as I *feel* like it.  It seems to me to be something that should be monitored...because again, why would they weigh you every appointment if it wasn't important?

kayteatrudeau

MoniqueJW:

I think being aware of your weight while pregnant is not a bad thing, you shouldn't diet, but it is a good idea to stay within the guidelines for weight gain - ignore that person - they don't know what they are talking about:)

This.

AND with regards to the person who's friend has GD - it likely has more to do with hormones then gaining too much.I know many slender ladies who have/have had GD.

Zista

Totally agree - we SHOULD watch our weight - both for our health and for LO. A lot of women still go by the oldschool assumption that we should eat anything we want during pregnancy, but that makes no more sense now than ever. There is a difference, however, between staying conscious of your eating and exercise habits and progression against healthy weight gain benchmarks, and an unhealthy obsession with avoiding normal weight gain.

k_lynn8488

I *HATE* when people use pregnancy as an excuse to let themselves go. People are always telling me that "It's ok" to eat such and such and as much as I want. NO it's not!

MelH926

I agree with you.  Last year I busted my but and got into an exercise routine, and started eating healthier.  I lost about 20 lbs and was in the best shape ever.  I too gained 50 pounds with my 1st pregnancy, and I DON'T want to do that again!  I still try to eat healthy (although I have to say, I do cheat here and there). My doctor told me she didn't want me to gain more than 30 lbs this time, and I'm really trying - but I gained a lot in the 1st trimester, despite the fact that I was exercising and eating well, so she told me that sometimes no matter what our bodies will just pack on the pounds during pregnancy.  But I don't see anything wrong with a pregnant woman having a salad with grilled chicken for a meal, and I am always hearing people say that I "need" to eat more.  They "need" to mind their business!  We know what's right for us and won't do anything to hurt our babies! 

cookieinva

Zista:

Totally agree - we SHOULD watch our weight - both for our health and for LO. A lot of women still go by the oldschool assumption that we should eat anything we want during pregnancy, but that makes no more sense now than ever. There is a difference, however, between staying conscious of your eating and exercise habits and progression against healthy weight gain benchmarks, and an unhealthy obsession with avoiding normal weight gain.

I think this sums up how I feel best. My habits now are no different than before pregnancy in that I need to eat a balanced healthy diet and get some exercise (for health, not just for weight reasons). I weight myself regularly to make sure I am keeping that diet balanced - it is ok to indulge sometimes but not too often (especially using pregnancy as an excuse) and weight is one way to gauge how well I am doing at that balance. Perhaps too many people think "concerned about weight" = eating disorder or something. I tend to emphasize not that I am "concerned" about my weight, but that I think it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a healthy weight gain at a healthy pace.

Aloe0l

No, you're not wrong to be concerned.  It is important to be aware of what out eating habits are while pregnant and watching what we gain so we know we're gaining enough, but not too much.  It's a balance.  There are so many "eating for two" issues out there (my kid doesn't need 1500 calories a day when it's the size of an orange), that it's easy to get carried away.  Especially when our society makes so many delicious things readily available.  I'm guessing that girl that was snarky towards you has never been pregnant, or is just completely oblivious as to what it means to have a healthy pregnancy.

Sparkpeople has a babyfit website as well you can check out.  I used it for awhile, but, didn't get as much out of it as I had hoped, but I know others on here seem to like it. 

MarknCalsMommy

My goal is to end this pregnancy at about the same weight I ended with the other two.  I gained about 40 with both of them, but started this pregnancy at a higher weight, so I'm trying to gain more like 25-30 this time.  If I go over that, I won't freak out, but it'd be nice to have a decent starting point to lose from at the end.  So far I'm doing great, just out of the first tri, and only 1-2 up.  I know that it'll start packing on any day now though...

stpetegirl

I think 1st time moms are more likely to have the idea that pregnancy is a time to eat whatever. I gained 60lbs last time and have no desire to do so again.

lily225

I just have to say, having gained 50 and 42lbs with my last two pregnancies, weight is a BIG concern this time around for me. Not that I'm not wanting to gain anything or under what I should, but I just want to be more aware of my weight this time. It will lead to an easier labor, I think I'll recover more quickly if I'm in better shape, and in the end, it won't be so hard to lose the weight afterward.

I think in your case, being concerned with your weight is an OK thing, wanting to stay in a more healthy weight range. 

That being said, some dr's are so strict and/or lax about weight gain, so don't feel like what your dr. says is the end-all-be-all about your weight. Do what you are comfortable with.

Aliliv

Of course pregnant women should be concerned about weight; however, the amount should not be the focus!   I think unnecessary stress is placed upon women when Dr.'s say you can only can X amount.

Any weight that is put on from simply eating healthy and staying active is good weight - if the weight was put on by eating like crap and living a sedentary lifestyle that's bad weight!!!  (obviously, regarding sedentary, I'm talking about bedrest - then I imagine eating healthy and resting is the main objective!!)

Some women retain more water which greatly impacts the amount they gain and some don't.  Everyone gains differently.   The guidelines are just that, guidelines.   To take them to the literally and say that I can only gain 15, 20, or 25 lbs. and then get stressed because you are nearing 40, even though you gained it healthly is not the best for the pregnant woman emotionally and mentally.   You have to have a bit of a "what will be, will be" attitude to be able to relax!    

I think first and foremost, lifestyle needs to be the focus, not the actual weight.