Weight gain, not the usual post...

laubeth87 · May 2010

I've been seeing several doctors in the gyno practice that i go to only because i take whoever is available at the time i can go. I've seen 4 doctors so far and today at my 29wk appointment the new doctor i saw told me that i gained too much weight and need to max out at what i've gained (40lbs). This is the first doctor out of all 4 that has said anything about my weight gain. I eat healthy food, but i also eat a lot of junk on top of that. She told me that i should be getting no more than 300 extra calories a day and to record everything that i'm eating. Has anyone else been "talked to" about their weight gain? I have had no complications with my pregnancy, i don't look overweight, my BP is perfect, i feel like she was just being rude.

raecate · May 2010

I often wonder why some OB's obsess over weight and others don't. Mine never has - I've had no GD or BP issues with this or my last pregnancy so that seems to be the important thing like you said. I know I have gained more than recommended, but again my OB doesn't seem to think it's an issue. I would take it with a grain of salt especially since the other docs have never mentioned it.

cearleyjay · May 2010

i think she was just being rude. in my experience and people ive talked to your body is going to gain what it wants, especially if your being healthy about it. with my DD i gained A LOT of weight. i ended up having high BP at the end, but she is happy and healthy. this pregnancy i have only gained 39 pounds. which is a little over half of what i did last time. i wouldnt worry about it. i personally think it is none of their buisness. i HATE it when people say things about my weight.

gasper · May 2010

40 lbs. is generally towards the limit of what should be gained in a normal pregnancy, considering you have 10 more weeks to go the doctor may have just been giving you sound advice. Though admittedly without a good "bedside" manner. In the last trimester you should gain @ 1/2 to 1 lb a week normally and if you do that you'll put on over 50lbs total, which is generally considered too much. But every body type is different and so is every pregnancy. With all of my pregnancies I don't start gaining until 2nd trimester then gain real fast, then in third trimester it backs off and by the end my weight gain is always in the 30 to 35 lb range. Also, if you are excercising you may be adding some muscle which wieghs more than fat. Look at your overall activity level and body type. Gaining 50 lbs isn't necesarily going to be a huge problem but it may be harder to lose it after the baby is born. Talk to the next doctor about your concerns and see what they say.

teach2183 · May 2010

Keep in mind that whatever you gain you'll need to lose. My OB suggested at one point that I keep a food log, mostly as a way to cut out the junk. But then never brought it up again because my gains slowed. FWIW, I gained 50lbs w/ DD and then lost 60lbs in her first year. The 300 extra calories/day is true.

kirkette · May 2010

I don't know that the OB was being rude.

I think the OB was just a concerned and giving you his/ her expert advice.

anvloveskme · May 2010

It's hard to say - were you underweight, normal, or overweight to begin with? I was chunky (sz 14) to begin with - so I thinnk my Dr. would not be happy with 40 lbs on me at 29 weeks. Did you gain a lot between your last two appointments and maybe that is the reason he brought it up?

opheliacantswim · May 2010

If your doc's bedside manner was crummy, then it was rude. Otherwise, I don't think the topic itself was rude--my doc and I have talked about weight upon occasion. He just considers it part of the "deal" of pregnancy, the same way he talks to me about taking an iron supplement. ::shrug::

MrsBalletStar05 · May 2010

Ok, sorry I couldn't get past you saying the Dr. was rude. How so? Stating their opinion to you is not rude. Did he/she do it in a condescending way? Did they belittle you or call you a name? While you might not have agreed with what he/she said, that doesn't make the Dr. "rude". That is the wrong word.

The Dr. probably has a good reason for his/her concerns. If you do not understand why he/she told you to stop gaining, you should ask them. I personally don't know what the complications may or may not be due to gaining X-amount of weight, but I wouldn't think they'd just tell you to start keeping track for no good reason. I doubt they told you that to be mean.

MommyTori1 · May 2010

I have (unfortunately) gained 45 pounds so far and I have not been talk to about it. I'm not concerned about losing the weight so I'm happy they haven't made me feel guilty about it.

Tulips21 · May 2010

My doc is really strict about my weight. But to be honest I kind of like it because it helps motivate me to not gain too much.

The other day was at my appt. and the doctor was upset because I had gained 4lbs in 3 weeks. I told him I felt I was retaining water (which it turns out I was so he cut me some slack). But to give you an idea, I have gained between 30-32lbs at 37 weeks (with edema) which is pretty reasonable- but is at the top end of the healthy range 25-35lbs. But like they say whatever you gain you have to lose as well. Also weight gain is very hard on your body... something to keep in mind.

MrsBraun · May 2010

I think it totally depends on your doc, whether or not they are concerned. I don't think the OB was that out in left field by giving a "warning" about a 40 lbs weight gain at 29 weeks...not like you've gained an extreme amount, but I can see how certain OB's would consider this concerning...maybe his approach just wasn't the best.

That being said, I'm so happy that my midwives could care less about weight - they don't weigh me and they don't ask me what I've gained (I'm sure they would if I had GD, or if they noticed an major change in body size between appts!)

laubeth87 · May 2010

Yes she was rude. I didn't get into that in my OP because i didn't think it was necessary. The first thing she said when she sat down and went over my records was "i can see we have an issue here". I asked her what she was referring to and she said "do you remember the book you received at your first visit? There is a section on nutrition that you should read over." She didn't bother asking me what my diet was like or whether or not the other doctors had talked to me about this yet. She never told me why i shouldn't gain anymore weight, she just said "we like people to gain no more than 35lbs during their entire pregnancy". I hate it when doctors group all patients together, i'm not the same as everyone else.

opheliacantswim · May 2010

laubeth87:
Yes she was rude. I didn't get into that in my OP because i didn't think it was necessary. The first thing she said when she sat down and went over my records was "i can see we have an issue here". I asked her what she was referring to and she said "do you remember the book you received at your first visit? There is a section on nutrition that you should read over." She didn't bother asking me what my diet was like or whether or not the other doctors had talked to me about this yet. She never told me why i shouldn't gain anymore weight, she just said "we like people to gain no more than 35lbs during their entire pregnancy". I hate it when doctors group all patients together, i'm not the same as everyone else.

Okay, that would have rubbed me the wrong way, too. That sounds pretty snarky and condescending. Blech. Maybe you won't have to see her again.

jcthomas1281 · May 2010

Not the greatest way to approach it, but she has a point. Gaining weight too fast can lead to GD and other complications from what I have been told. 300 extra calories/day per child is the common factor. I would keep her advice in mind for now and bring it up with the next doctor you see. Maybe you can request not to see that doc anymore?

Chickpea2010 · May 2010

I start with my new midwife on Wednesday and I'm scared that she's going to talk to me about my weight. My old one always told me I was on track and to keep doing what I've been doing, but as you have pointed out, different practitioners say different things.

I just hope that if she does, she does it in a nicer way than your doctor did. That would have upset me.

punkfiction_v.3 · May 2010

it sounds like good advice.

delg23 · May 2010

2 appointments ago I got a talken to about my weight. Yesterdays appointment I brought it up w/ a different doctor and she didn't seem to think it was a big deal. I too get annoyed there is this standard range for people in general when there can be so many factors that affect it.I'd watch myself for the next 10 weeks but as the doctor yesterday said "DO NOT DIET".

dek73 · May 2010

I have been struggling with the same thing. I have now gain 40 pounds. I am close to 35 weeks pregnant. Last month I 2 pounds for every one pound I was suppose to gain. All it means is that I am eating a little extra food. My doctor does not seem to be to worried about. He says I am doing fine. He is also a doctor who have been practicing for years and has seem a lot so he may be on the liberal side. My blood pressure is fine and you said yours is to. I would just try to say away from sugar. Good luck

winterOT · May 2010

My doc is almost the extreme opposite...I want a middle ground! I only gained 16lbs with DS, then did great losing those pounds, but it all back on and then some when I quit nursing ;( I'm now 4 years older and up about 20-25 lbs from 'wedding weight'. I have gained about 20 so far by 33 weeks. My Dr did remind me that he's looking at close to a pound a week until I deliver. I agree with pp that stated that your body will do what it does! I have done NOTHING differently with this pregnancy, if nothing else I am probably more active so I'm trying to not get worked up about it (hopefully its just more motivation for me for this summer!!)

thumper57 · May 2010

Well you admit that you are eating alot of junk. in addition to plenty of healthy foods. That extra junk is probably not doing you any favors and is not necessarily going to the baby if you are already getting enough nutrition for your healthy foods.

She does sound like she was rude about it and I would be upset as well. It could have been more tactful, but I think she has a valid point.

BlondeBeachBride08 · May 2010

I'd be worried if I had gained 40lbs at 29 weeks. I know everyone is different but gaining weight that fast can be really hard on your body and you want to be in the best shape you can when you deliver. It sounds like there is room for modification in your current diet.

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