OB told me to only gain 20 lbs - WHAT??

JenWhite123 · February 2011

I go to a practice w/ 7 OB's. The OB I saw yesterday told me to only gain 20 lbs total my entire pregnancy (I was 130, 5'6" prior to becoming pregnant, so far I have maintained my pre-pg weight). I was shocked that she suggested such a low gain!

I spoke to a friend who saw the same OB (she was my same size before pregnancy and only gained 11 lbs during pregnancy!! ) That OB was not at all concerned about her low weight gain.

I'm just shocked that this OB recommends/condones such low weight gains.

MrsMiller1002 · February 2011

Mine only recommends 20-30. I don't want to gain much over that anyway! ahah

kbk84 · February 2011

To be honest, I think that's ridiculous. You will gain what your body needs to gain. If you eat healthy and remain active, your body will do what is necessary to grow a healthy baby.

atack · February 2011

JenWhite123:
I go to a practice w/ 7 OB's. The OB I saw yesterday told me to only gain 20 lbs total my entire pregnancy (I was 130, 5'6" prior to becoming pregnant, so far I have maintained my pre-pg weight). I was shocked that she suggested such a low gain!

I spoke to a friend who saw the same OB (she was my same size before pregnancy and only gained 11 lbs during pregnancy!! ) That OB was not at all concerned about her low weight gain.

I'm just shocked that this OB recommends/condones such low weight gains.

Almost me exactly. I have gained 7 so far. that is INSANE! I can't imagine just 20 lbs - I mean I hope so, but I doubt it.

ohfour · February 2011

I think anywhere from 15-25lbs is considered the "normal" weight gain during pregnancy. I would consider anything under that low.

amdraza · February 2011

The only time that I heard a target of 20 lbs. was for someone that was overweight to begin with (which you obviously aren't).

That doesn't sound right to me. Only gaining 11 lbs (for someone that wasn't over weight) seems way too low, given that you gain more than that in fluids and baby.

I'd be happy if I didn't gain more than 35, and I am a little heavier than you to start with.

Megs8500 · February 2011

My OB said anywhere from 25-35lbs is what she recommends and I am over weight to begin with.

20 seems really low to me, I guess each body type is different but 20lbs just sounds on the lower end to me.

I wouldnt focus on what they suggest and just do what your body is asking and needing.

SarahRuthG · February 2011

kbk84:

To be honest, I think that's ridiculous. You will gain what your body needs to gain. If you eat healthy and remain active, your body will do what is necessary to grow a healthy baby.

I agree 100%! If you sit on the couch and eat ice cream every nght you are going to over gain, but healthy eating and an active lifestyle you should be fine.

I have already gained 8 pounds (gained that early probably from only being able to eat mac and cheese for 3 weeks. I have only gained 1 of those pounds in the last 2 weeks). Last week at my appointment my Doctor said I am exactly where I should be for weight gain. At my nurse appointment she said not to worry about counting pounds, eat well and be active, and I would be fine.

somethingscookin · February 2011

My ob recommended between 20-25 pounds. I've gained 7 so far 5 in the beginning and 2 within the past 2 weeks. I have my 16w appt on Monday so we will see what he says then. I have been eating pretty crappy I'm not gonna lie I eat what I want when I want and have been to tired to exercise. But this week I started really watching my diet and will continue to do so until LO pops out!

[Deleted User] · February 2011

I'm slim/medium to start with and my OB said I should gain a max of 25lbs.

brobbins05 · February 2011

I was overweight to start with and my doc actually said I could continue losing weight (I was doing WW) as long as the baby grows, it doesn't matter. I was pretty surprised. I think that everyone's really different and as long as the baby's healthy, it seems to vary widely!

BK33 · February 2011

I have already gained half of that! my appetite hasn't increased at all and I am a dance instructor so I am always active. I agree with PP your body is going to do what it needs to do to enusre that baby is healthy. I wouldn't give it to much thought. My BFF is due any day now and has gained 35 lbs. She looks great!

MissLMS · February 2011

My OB told me anywhere from 25 to 35 pounds is normal for a person of average weight.

With DD I gained 35 pounds. This time around, I'm hoping to stick to 20-25.

MorgansMommy1 · February 2011

I am 5'7 and 215 and my OB wants me to gain in between 15 and 20. With my DD I gained 37 and kept about 10 of on after her. My BMI with this pregnancy bumped me from just being "overweight" to being "obese" which is why the low wt gain. A healthy gain for a healthy sized individual is around 25-30.

Pretty much, the smaller you are the more they want you to gain and the bigger they are, the less.

But I am happy to report that as of my appt on tuesday I have lost 7 lbs, and yes I AM eating. Just being a little more careful of WHAT and HOW MUCH I eat. :P

sunnydaisy · February 2011

That does seem slightly low of a recommendation for an "average" size woman, but not extremely low. It surprises me she didn't give you a range for an appropriate gain, like 20-30lbs or whatever, and that she had no concern for your friend's 11lb weight gain. 11lbs can be a "normal" gain for some women, but it isn't very common. I'd think the doctor would be monitoring to ensure the baby & mom were both still healthy with that limited gain, but I don't know any of her circumstances. For example, was that 11lbs over her start weight after losing 20+ from extreme m/s?

As with anything else, I'd use it as a guideline and not pressure myself to use that as an absolute max weight gain. Everyone is different. One woman can have a healthy pg gaining 60lbs while another woman can be just as healthy with a 15lb gain. The other doctors in your practice might all have different recommendations too. The weight gain recommendations aren't an exact science. They're just guidelines for the "normal/average" woman's pg.

Personally, I gained 38lbs with all 3 of my other children. It was like that was my magic number. I'm shooting for less this time, because I'm overweight to begin with. As long as I'm taking good care of my body though, I'm not going to stress myself out if I gain 38 again.

LJR 84 · February 2011

kbk84:

To be honest, I think that's ridiculous. You will gain what your body needs to gain. If you eat healthy and remain active, your body will do what is necessary to grow a healthy baby.

I totally agree with this. As long as your within the healthy weight range, who cares how much you do or don't gain? 20lbs doesn't seem like much, considering the weight you started at.

littlepoppyseed · February 2011

I'm usually 5'8" and 120ish - and my ob told me that I should gain 30-35. I gained 35 with DS, and that felt perfect to me. Our bodies are all unique, and the key is to just take care of yourself and your baby throughout the pregnancy - eat right, stay active, and don't focus on a number! You'll be just fine if you gain more than 20!

TanyaKM · February 2011

I think the problem these days is that so many women are gaining too much weight -- or starting pregnancy so overweight already. It seems to me that 20-30 pounds is pretty standard, although I agree with other posters that she should have given you a range.

snoopy3319 · February 2011

I was told I should only gain 10. I'm about 5'6" and 200 to start the pregnancy. I laughed and was like okay. I'm all muscle from playing a lot of soccer and volleyball in college, followed by weight lifting and regular exercise after. Some of that muscle has disappeared for sure, but they don't seem to take your weight into account with that. I think I'll eat what doesn't make me puke and hope the baby comes out healthy. I'll worry about the weight gain if I'm super uncomfortable and after the baby comes.

Susan&Skip · February 2011

i'm 5'2" and 120lbs ppw. My dr with ds said to gain between 25-35.. i like i hit 30 and i felt good. you have to do what's right for you and your body.

jfgates05 · February 2011

My OB told me only 20 also!! (I started at 5'8" 135 lbs.) But then he said, "If you gain more than 40, we're going to have to have a talk!" So I took it to mean that he just SAID 20 in hopes that I wouldn't go overboard. Later on he said that if I gained 30 he wouldn't complain. So who really knows?!?!

megd06 · February 2011

I'm also 130 pre-pg, and 5'6"-5'7"...with DS I gained exactly 25, and lost it all--so far I've gained 2-3 lbs, and my m/w told me to shoot for not gaining more than 25. I think 15-25 is conisdered the norm, alhthough I know of women delivering healthy 6-7 lb babies and only gaining 10lbs.

Themetastic · February 2011

kbk84:
To be honest, I think that's ridiculous. You will gain what your body needs to gain. If you eat healthy and remain active, your body will do what is necessary to grow a healthy baby.

this

When my cousin was pregnant, her first OB told her he only wanted her to gain 15 pounds. She knew that didn't seem right and ended up switching to another OB. so, one of the first questions I asked my OB was what was his views on weight gain. He told me everyone is different, so as long as you don't get GD or lose too much weight you a

Skibunny07 · February 2011

snoopy3319:
I was told I should only gain 10. I'm about 5'6" and 200 to start the pregnancy. I laughed and was like okay. I'm all muscle from playing a lot of soccer and volleyball in college, followed by weight lifting and regular exercise after. Some of that muscle has disappeared for sure, but they don't seem to take your weight into account with that. I think I'll eat what doesn't make me puke and hope the baby comes out healthy. I'll worry about the weight gain if I'm super uncomfortable and after the baby comes.

This is what drives me crazy about BMI and why i don't really buy too much into it. It doens't take into account body type. I'm 5'1" and was 177 pre-pregnancy and a size 12-14 in pants. Yes I was definetely over weight and the heaviest I've ever been but I was still active, I ran, I worked out, I just wasn't focusing too much on losing weight. I've always been an athlete and always been super muscular so I'm bound to be heavier then the BMI scale. According to that I should be be between 100-125 pounds. This is just no feasible for me. The last time I was that weight was in the 9th grade before I really developed. I think a healthy weight for me would be abour 140-145 but even that is considered overweight.

Because of my weight my doc told me to only gain 15 pounds. I didn't think that was possible at first but I"m almost 17 weeks and I still haven't gained any weight so it may be!

MrsMiller1002 · February 2011

TanyaKM:
I think the problem these days is that so many women are gaining too much weight -- or starting pregnancy so overweight already. It seems to me that 20-30 pounds is pretty standard, although I agree with other posters that she should have given you a range.

I agree

Temp782982187506089 · February 2011

Mine told me 20 as well, but she believes there is a correlation with big babies and weight gain. I only gained 30 pounds, but DS was 2+ weeks early weighing over 8 pounds and I had a ROUGH delivery. A different OB in the same practice was surprised when I mentioned the 20# mark and said 25 - 35 is their rec. I will be happy if I can do 30 again, I have eaten pretty crappy, but so far only gained 1.

browniechic · February 2011

kbk84:

To be honest, I think that's ridiculous. You will gain what your body needs to gain. If you eat healthy and remain active, your body will do what is necessary to grow a healthy baby.

I agree with this. With DD the dr estimated I would gain about 25lbs based on my diet and exercise regimen. I gained 56lbs. I had a lot of swelling and pre-e. Unfortunately, your body is not your own. I agree with PP "eat healthy and remain active". This time the weight gain is very different. I want to gain but I hope not 56lbs!

BetsyDavis · February 2011

I didn't gain anything with DD until 34 weeks when I developed pree and even then it was only like 8 to 10 lbs in water weight from swelling. This baby my doctor said he wouldn't be surprised if I gained 15 to 20. My office doesn't give recommendations. They say every woman and pregnancy is different and they don't want you to stress over the scale since so much can affect it like clothes what time of day. They just tell you to eat healthy stay active and to not stuff your face.

Duckieer · February 2011

Normal weight gain for an average weight person (not over weight or obese) is 25-35 pounds. If you are over weight then that decreases. I'm clinically "obese" and my ob told me only to gain 5-10 lbs. How's that for a low number??

angiek1 · February 2011

I'm in your shoes on weight and that i've gained a lb so far, but my doc told me the same thing. She said that I should really stay between 15-25 mark.

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