Serious question about weight gain

cellardoor · July 2009

No.. this is not a 'how much weight have you gained' post (I totally don't mind those posts but I know people flip out about them).

So..If so much of weight gain is extra blood weight, weight of uterus, weight of placenta etc then how come people who are heavier to start off with need to gain less weight? I've seen a lot of posts about people who are heavier to start off with only gain 1 - 10 lbs by the time they are in 3rd tri. I get that there are extra fat stores, but how does that account for the extra weight of blood, placenta etc??

Heather1979 · July 2009

I think the general idea is that if you are more careful about your diet and you eat healthier, than you should lose a little wieght (such as what's stored in you to begin with)... so then when you add in how much the actual baby, water, blood etc. you have less than the average person's amount of weight gain. Or I might just be having a pg brain moment.

AFwife1106 · July 2009

I was overweight went I got pregnant and have lost weight in some places.. and gained it all in the belly and boobs. My bra size went up two cup sizes and down a band size.. I've gained a total of 10 lbs so far. The fat shifted around too. Hope that helps some..

minda31807 · July 2009

Instead of gaining weight the body redistributes the excess to the baby, so actually the mother is losing weight herself but the baby and placenta are gaining weight.

cellardoor · July 2009

Ah... that makes a lot of sense.

lifesadance · July 2009

https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/eatingfortwo.html

Where does all the extra weight go?
Here is an approximate breakdown of your weight gain:
Baby: 7-8 pounds
Placenta: 1-2 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
Uterus: 2 pounds
Maternal breast tissue: 2 pounds
Maternal blood : 4 pounds
Fluids in maternal tissue: 4 pounds
Maternal fat and nutrient stores: 7 pounds

(Not to be snarky, but you could have googled this rather quickly. I did.)

esmith1 · July 2009

lifesadance:
https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/eatingfortwo.html
Where does all the extra weight go?
Here is an approximate breakdown of your weight gain:
Baby: 7-8 pounds
Placenta: 1-2 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
Uterus: 2 pounds
Maternal breast tissue: 2 pounds
Maternal blood : 4 pounds
Fluids in maternal tissue: 4 pounds
Maternal fat and nutrient stores: 7 pounds

(Not to be snarky, but you could have googled this rather quickly. I did.)

Not to be snarky, but that wasn't the question she was asking. What she was saying is if all this weight is composed of necessary stuff (blood, baby, placenta) how is an overweight woman expected to gain less weight than a thin woman?

jenny1980 · July 2009

Theoretically, the woman is losing fat.

cellardoor · July 2009

esmith1:
lifesadance:
https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/eatingfortwo.html
Where does all the extra weight go?
Here is an approximate breakdown of your weight gain:
Baby: 7-8 pounds
Placenta: 1-2 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
Uterus: 2 pounds
Maternal breast tissue: 2 pounds
Maternal blood : 4 pounds
Fluids in maternal tissue: 4 pounds
Maternal fat and nutrient stores: 7 pounds

?
(Not to be snarky, but you could have googled this rather quickly.? I did.)
Not to be snarky, but that wasn't the question she was asking. What she was saying is if all this weight is composed of necessary stuff (blood, baby, placenta) how is an overweight woman expected to gain less weight than a thin woman?

?

Thank you. Obviously the 'non snarky' poster misread or didn't understand my question.?

DiscusCoach · July 2009

I am currently at -1 lb and started out heavy. I am hoping some of my abundant fat stores have converted to blood etc. I am a lot bigger physically which is weird but I guess it is just rearranging itself.

madeleines_mommy · July 2009

This is very interesting to know... that those who are larger to begin with go through a fat redistribution. So your body uses it "wisely"

Also, if you are thinner to begin with, your body will usually deposit fat in the thighs and buttocks first for fuel to produce breastmilk. (this has happened to me)

I learned all of this plus more in my Maternal Nursing lectures in college.

It really is amazing all of the things a womans body does to support pregnancy

Mrs.Clash · July 2009

I started out overweight and have actually lost 21 lbs. in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. I can honestly say that my eating habits haven't changed a whole lot since getting pregnant. Mainly cutting out the pop and drinking a ton of water. I also think that a lot of my extra weight has shifted around. At the beginning of my pregnancy my Dr. told me that I should still gain about 25 lbs. even being over weight to start out with. However, I don't see that happening at this point, even though I'm sure I have no idea what could happen. Baby is still measuring on the big side and is healthy so thats all that really matters, although I would love to come out of this pregnancy losing a little weight in the end.

Want a personalized experience?

Serious question about weight gain

Re: Serious question about weight gain

Where does all the extra weight go?

Where does all the extra weight go?

Where does all the extra weight go?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards