anyone told - no weight gain during pregnancy

simplein06

I'm not fond of one of the obs in the practice (there are 10)  I ended up having to schedule an appt with her because I had to move my appt.

I went in yesterday and she told me that I shouldn't gain any weight during pregnancy. 

I think it is ridiculous.  My primary OB said maximum 15lb.  Anybody else in the same boat?????

There were quite a few other things she said (immunization, etc) related that maybe want to call her a moron, but that is another story......

I ran into my friend who recommended the practice and she had less than a positive experience with this woman too.  I pray I don't end up delivering with her.

bearkatjen

I definitely don't need to gain more than 15, and I would like to gain no weight, but my OB does not make a big deal out of it. There's only so much you can control when you're pregnant, and weight gain doesn't necessarily reflect actual gained weight. When you are pg you are dealing with water retention and constipation too. As long as you are not packing it on early on in your pregnancy, you are probably okay. With DS I gained 5 lbs early on, and that was it until week 32. Then it was 6 pounds and more and more. I started freaking out and asked my NP at an appointment if she was concerned. She said no, it's water weight, and I'm going to pee it all off when I have the baby. She was right. I had gained 35 pounds total by week 37, was induced for pre-e at week 38, and one week pp I was 50 lbs lighter. I was 15 lbs lighter than my pre-pg weight. So weight gain isn't black and white in pregnancy.

sbevmc09

I've read about studies that say that overweight women don't need to gain anything, but I think that's a fairly unattainable thing (can it happen?  Sure.  But it depends on a lot of things) and not something I would feel comfortable with my doctor recommending to me.  As another aside, did she give you any specifics of how exactly you were supposed to accomplish no weight gain (which btw, actually means losing weight if you think about it because growing a baby and placenta, etc. actually weighs something, so you yourself would need to actually lose weight to accomplish a zero gain) or she just instructed you not to?  Because it seems like doctors are so quick to point out what you should/should not gain as if it's just so easy, but it's not. 

I'm sorry, the weight thing really irks me.  Yes, we all need to be responsible with what we're doing with and putting in our bodies, but it's not just as easy as saying, well, I'm not going to gain anything over the next 40+ weeks that I'm growing a human.

Also, I think it's rather lame that all the OBs in the practice aren't on the same page about it.  It's stupid that one OB said 15lbs and another said none.  I'd bring it up to the next OB you see to see what they have to say about it.  

ETA: Also wanted to mention that I actually had a good experience as a plus size mama.  I was with an OB practice last time and weighed 240lbs when I got pregnant.  They never said anything about what I should/shouldn't gain (I'm sure they would have if I started to gain "too much", but I feel like they did the right think waiting to see what happened before preaching to me.  I lost quite a bit of weight during first tri and ended up with a net gain of like 7-10lbs or something.  This time I weighed 195lbs when I got pregnant and again, nothing has been said about what I should/shouldn't gain.  So far, I've gained ~3lbs.  My point is, I think doctors are dumb to jump right in thinking they can dictate what a person should gain. 

There's a lot go consider with pregnancy gain and I don't think it's fair to just jump right in to trying to worry a mom about weight gain when obviously, it's something we all think about anyway!  They'd be far better off to just talk about healthy diet while pregnant.  Not to mention, they don't give out the best info anyway.  Both times I've asked what my caloric intake should be and both times I've been told 2300cals/day, which is a textbook response based upon a 2000cal/day diet.  I don't need 2000cals/day.  If I ate that I would gain weight.  So, if they did tell me I need to gain a certain amount (or nothing) and I took their textbook advice, I'd actually gain weight, yet somehow that would also be my fault, right?  It's just all so dumb.  I'm sorry she said that to you

simplein06

LindsRockies:

That doctor is a moron.  Proof that even C students can get through medical school.

I thought she was moron the first time I had a visit with her, prior to getting pregnant.  I thought I'd give it another shot.  this visit confirmed it.  I didn't either bother responding to her comments.  I sat there thinking she is an idiot an I'm going home and putting a negative rating of her online ;-)

I don't see how not gaining weight is an option considering I have an aversion to meat and vegetables and my primary won't let me work out at the gym due to back issues.  (and I told her all of this)

simplein06

I should also mention that I am still at my pre-pregancy weight at 18 weeks so it isn't like I'm packing on the pounds.

bearkatjen

simplein06:

I should also mention that I am still at my pre-pregancy weight at 18 weeks so it isn't like I'm packing on the pounds.

Well the why the frack is she even mentioning it at your appointment? What a douche.

Kie310

Yea. That's not possible. That would mean you are LOSING weight while pregnant because a growing baby, fluid, placenta, etc all come with some weight... they aren't air. Idiot. I would have laughed at the doctor if they said that to me

simplein06

bearkatjen:

simplein06:

I should also mention that I am still at my pre-pregancy weight at 18 weeks so it isn't like I'm packing on the pounds.

Well the why the frack is she even mentioning it at your appointment? What a douche.

It came up because I was asking how much milk I should be drinking and she said I shouldn't be drinking my calories since I shouldn't be gaining any weight during the pregnancy.

The only thing I can think of is that I have gained 5 lbs since I started there for my pregnancy because I lost 5 lbs from not eating during 1st tri (although I explained that to them during my first visit)

LoveIsOwlYouNeed

simplein06:

bearkatjen:

simplein06:

I should also mention that I am still at my pre-pregancy weight at 18 weeks so it isn't like I'm packing on the pounds.

Well the why the frack is she even mentioning it at your appointment? What a douche.

It came up because I was asking how much milk I should be drinking and she said I shouldn't be drinking my calories since I shouldn't be gaining any weight during the pregnancy.

The only thing I can think of is that I have gained 5 lbs since I started there for my pregnancy because I lost 5 lbs from not eating during 1st tri (although I explained that to them during my first visit)

That is so weird!  My midwife told me to drink milk to make sure I was getting enough calcium!  She told me 2-4 servings of milk, cheese, etc. a day!  And just seconding that if you haven't even gained weight at all, WTF is this woman's problem.  I would just ignore her, especially if you had a bad experience with her before you were even pregnant.

LaurelBee

Off topic, but I would seriously consider switching OBs. I got unlucky and got the worst OB in my practice when delivering Ds. She didn't follow my birth plan (Skin2skin, no episiotomy) among other things. I've switched to MWs mostly bc Im having a HB, but I would NOT take chances getting that OB again. GL mama

BigFoot80

As far as that doc being on call when you deliver, if she is, you have the right to say you don't want her in your room.  They will have the staff OB from the hospital deliver baby instead.  I kicked a doc from my practice out of my room because she wasn't helping my marathon labor.  So don't let that stress you out for the next few months.  

wph961

I'm really not sure why everyone is so quick to write this doctor off as a moron. Being a doctor is not an exact science--just look at all the conflicting health research that comes out on a weekly basis. Doctors are going to interpret the information at hand in different ways and possibly come to different conclusions. This is why we get "2nd opinions" from medical providers. It doesn't make her a moron, it just means she has a different opinion than your regular OB. Now, if there is another underlying issue--like she was rude or disrespectful to you because of your weight--then I can see why you'd be upset.

Chocodoxies

wph961:

I'm really not sure why everyone is so quick to write this doctor off as a moron. Being a doctor is not an exact science--just look at all the conflicting health research that comes out on a weekly basis. Doctors are going to interpret the information at hand in different ways and possibly come to different conclusions. This is why we get "2nd opinions" from medical providers. It doesn't make her a moron, it just means she has a different opinion than your regular OB. Now, if there is another underlying issue--like she was rude or disrespectful to you because of your weight--then I can see why you'd be upset.

I am quick to write her off because she essentially told a pregnant woman she should be dieting right now. A pregnancy is not the right time for a weight loss diet, a dietary change perhaps, but not a diet to lose weight. She informed her that drinking milk was "drinking her calories". Now, I was a vegan (I went veg for this pregnancy) and I am aware of why a medical professional would abstain from dairy, however the way in which this is worded leads me to believe this woman is much more hung up on calories and lbs than on health.  The reason a larger woman is informed to not gain more than 15lbs is because that is a reasonable amount of weight for the baby and placenta, amniotic fluid, extra blood, etc. Leading a pregnant woman to believe that she should be losing weight is unhealthy and dangerous. "Pregorexia" has become a very real problem in our society, and just because this woman is a doctor does not exempt her from having some real personal issues with weight and size that could be negatively affecting her patients. She sounds, from this thread, to be a dangerous medical practitioner, and thus I would refuse to see her, or leave the practice all together. 

sbevmc09

wph961:

I'm really not sure why everyone is so quick to write this doctor off as a moron. Being a doctor is not an exact science--just look at all the conflicting health research that comes out on a weekly basis. Doctors are going to interpret the information at hand in different ways and possibly come to different conclusions. This is why we get "2nd opinions" from medical providers. It doesn't make her a moron, it just means she has a different opinion than your regular OB. Now, if there is another underlying issue--like she was rude or disrespectful to you because of your weight--then I can see why you'd be upset.

I see both sides of this (doctors are people not gods, there is conflicting info, and we should remember that medical knowledge is always changing), but TBH I don't have an entirely favorable view of doctors anyway.  What she said, not to gain any weight, is actually becoming more commonly recommended.  As I said earlier, there are now studies being done that essentially say it IS healthier for an obese pregnant woman to lose weight during pregnancy and end up with zero gain.  While I can see the point, I think it's fairly unattainable in real practice and therefore isn't really good advice.  I wouldn't really appreciate it if my doctor gave me this advice because I don't think they'd really be seeing me as a person, but rather a file.  I say that because OP hasn't given them any indication that she's gaining weight recklessly or needs to change her current course.  Also being told, "you shouldn't gain any weight" really isn't helpful in and of itself.

:shrug: 

People have all sorts of reasons for not liking a doctor.  I don't think this is an unreasonable one.  If this OB really gave off an attitude of caring and compassion, etc. and made this statement OP might have not been so offended by it.  Meaning, I'm guessing there were more subtle reasons as to why OP took a dislike to this doctor as well.

sesigs

Kie310:

Yea. That's not possible. That would mean you are LOSING weight while pregnant because a growing baby, fluid, placenta, etc all come with some weight... they aren't air. Idiot. I would have laughed at the doctor if they said that to me

No kidding! I mean at the VERY least you will be carrying around a 6-8lb baby by the end of things. I would have very quickly pointed that out to the doctor.  

kenna_4

Kie310:

Yea. That's not possible. That would mean you are LOSING weight while pregnant because a growing baby, fluid, placenta, etc all come with some weight... they aren't air. Idiot. I would have laughed at the doctor if they said that to me

That's exactly what it would mean. Although I have heard if you are losing weight and over weight it's not a huge deal, but really I don't see that being realistic.

littlemaybaby

While no weight gain may be ideal for people starting out significantly overweight, I struggle more with the fact that this has not been mentioned to you at all until an 18 week appointment . . . And even then only when you asked about drinking milk.  I would certainly think if no weight gain was critical for you that it should have come up before now, along with dietary/nutritional information to help you.

Justtee33

My first doctor told me not to gain any weight. I'm 274lbs. My SO and I looked at each other in shock but then managed to comprehend the possibility that I can safely balance my weight gain while pregnant. I think by changing your eating/physical lifestyle you can safely loose AS you gain baby weight. I also was diagnosed with GD fairly early, which is diet controlled right now and I was very physical. I'm 18 weeks now and just gained 2lbs this week. My new doctor though, said it was ok to gain 10-15lbs. Every doctor has their own theory. Either way, I'm not too worried. If I gain, I gain. If I don't, I don't. Don't worry mama! All will be well