Weight Gain..Too much?

Shannon526 · July 2011

I just had my 24 week appt. today... I had to drink that sugary glucose drink to test for GD.. wasn't as bad as I thought!

Anywho.. my doctor weighed me and as of today I've gained about 11-12 pounds. I'm 24 wks 5 days. I thought that my weight gain was right on track, but she said that I should be watching what I'm eating because I've gained almost 5 pounds since my last appt 1 month ago. I was in the normal weight range for my height prior getting pregnant, and I thought that meant it was safe to gain 25-30 pounds total.

Has anyone else had issues with what their doctor has told them regarding weight gain? Or am I mistaken about how much weight is too much?

Just looking for some friendly advice or input :-)

preppymama · July 2011

that's funny because i've gained about 20 lbs so far & my midwife had no issue w/ the weight gain itself, just with the fact that i happened to gain 7 of those lbs in the last 5 weeks.

i work out daily & generally eat well (i have less self-control when it comes to sweets now that i'm pregnant, though! i'll admit that), so i don't know that they were too worried about it happening once, but if i keep gaining that much every month, obvi that's not right.

i'm actually upping my fitness regiment (i used to walk/run 3 miles a day and now i'm doing 5) and even though i did not have GD w/ baby #1 and hopefully don't have it with this one, i'm starting a sort of modified version of the GD diet...basically following those principles but not being super duper strict. example: not limiting fruits like you would have to on the actual GD diet. definitely working harder on cutting out baked goods!

i've heard that the GD diet really helps keep weight in check, so that's what my motivating factor is. if i gain weight, i want it to be the right weight.

InfamousQBert · July 2011

if your other numbers look good and the baby is healthy, don't stress about your weight. one of the worst things you can do is restrict your calorie intake while pregnant. i hate that so many doctors focus on the scale number instead of the overall picture. everything i've read says that weight gain tends to spike in the 2nd tri.

everyone's body and every pregnancy is different. like i said, if you don't have any other indicators for problems (like your GD test comes back all right and your BP is fine, etc), try not to worry about it.

2-Step · July 2011

Wow if 11 pounds at 24 weeks is bad then I will be in trouble! I've gained 15 so far. Last pregnancy I can't remember where I was at this point, but I did end up gaining 45 total and losing most of it very quickly. My doctor warned me once when I was heading into 3rd tri that weight is going to start coming on quickly so I needed to watch it, but he never gave me a serious talk about weight or anything. I would say at 11-12 pounds you are doing great!

2-Step · July 2011

Oh and I found it was totally normal for me to have a week or two where I would gain 5-7 pounds and then not gain a pound for a month. I think spurts are normal so as long as you don't steadily gain every week like that then I wouldnt stress. I gained 5 pounds in one week and haven't gained any in the last two.

preppymama · July 2011

i was at a normal weight w/ first baby and started at a healthy weight w/ this one as well. i gained 45 with my first LO and am on track to gain around that this time. i lost it all the first time and know i could lose it all again but i really want to make sure that the weight i put on is healthy weight! if i have to gain 45 lbs for a healthy pregnancy, then so be it, but it better be a healthy 45 lbs, not a 45 lbs chock-full of sugar!

Shannon526 · July 2011

Reading all this advice and personal stories has made me feel a lot better! Thanks fellow moms :-)

I think my major downfall is the fact that I absolutely loveeee chocolate.. or anything that has chocolate in/on it! haha .. but I have always been like that, even before getting pregnant.. and it never seemed to make me gain weight.. maybe it's finally catching up with me! :-0 My blood pressure is very good .. and hopefully the GD test will come back fine... I've heard that no news is good news so fingers crossed!

Thanks again for your stories and support it's nice to know there are other moms out there who are on my side!

mabst196 · July 2011

No, that is a great amout of weight to have gained for a normal pre-pregnancy weight. I think I've gained like 22 lbs which is ok too. Btwn weeks 21-25 is supposedly when you gain alot of weight. I gained like 7-8 with DD during that time and about 5 during that time frame this time. Don't worry about it.

jessicacmiel · July 2011

That is normal! 1 pound a week would equal 4 pounds in a month so you are one pound more than you should be.....That shouldnt be an issue!!!

melvolcom · July 2011

The only advice I can give you is, don't stress! With my DD I stressed out about my weight to the point where the last 6 weeks were spent in NST because my blood pressure would shoot up prior to getting weighed. It will all come off, trust me. On another note, if it does start to stress you out, you can tell them you don't want to see your weight. I gained 60 pounds with my DD, I went from 130 to 190. All our bodies are different and we all gain weight differently. At this point with my DD I had already gained 20+ pounds, this time around I am at 10. Just do what's best for you and the baby.

brewcitybride · July 2011

There have been many, many discussions about this same post. You'll find them all if you cruise back and just take a peek through the postings.

My opinion- your weight is fine. Your doc is crazy. Everybody's weight gain timeframe is different (one month I gained zero, one month I gained 9 pounds, all total I gained 30, perfectly healthy).

My doc doesn't even touch on weight in terms of what is too much, etc. She tells me to eat healthy, exercise, rest, and let the body do it's job. That is why she is my doc!

baby3ob · July 2011

i've gained 13 lbs at 20 weeks and im petite. i think your dr. is probably concerned that you've gained most of it within the last few weeks. Although i'm also on track, my dr. said that i need to aim to gain 1/2 lb per week to stay consistent.

waiting4Baby00 · July 2011

I only put on one pound inthe first trimester. In the last 7 weeks I put on 10lbs. The doctor didn't say anything to me at my appointment yesterday that this was high. I weigh myself everyday and have noticed my weightgain comes in suprts. I will put on three pounds in a week and then no weight for the next two.

I really think its out of our control to come extent. I am not letting it worry me as long as I am sticking within the 25-35 lbs range.

ColoradoAlly · July 2011

I would not be happy with my dr. if I was you. Trying to regulate a pregnant woman's weight so rigorously is crazy, in my opinion. Everyone gains at different times and rates. Also, what you've said you've gained total is not very much at all! Your dr. should know that in the second tri it's very common to gain 2 pounds per week; I'd be a bit worried with my dr.'s lack of knowledge.

StacieJane · July 2011

My mom is a health nut, never eats sugar or fast food and never has. With her first pregnancy (me), she gained 20lbs. With her second only a year later, she gained 40lbs. Her doctor asked her if she was eating Oreos and ice cream every night, and she was horrified. She ate healthy and exercised during both pregnancies. Just proof that your body has to do what your body has to do!

airmansgirlamy · July 2011

I've gained 37 pounds. I'm 27w tomorrow...My OB hasn't said a word...My weight gain has slowed lately, but I'm still gaining...Aidan is healthy, and growing the way he should be, so I don't see a problem with it.

browneyedgoil · July 2011

i've gained 15 so far & i'm 18 weeks. i don't eat junk so i don't know why i've gained so much. i feel like i've been eating very healthy for the baby.

DawnJM25 · July 2011

As long as you are taking care of yourself and not over-indulging in bad foods all the time, don't worry about weight gain. Just eat healthy and try to exercise, and drink plenty of water. I'm surprised your doc would make such a big deal over 5 pounds. Drinking a bottle of water or eating a meal before you weigh in can alter your weight by a couple of pounds. Every body is different and gains weight at different points in the pregnancy. Stress isn't good for the baby- I'm sure you are doing great!!

cecilyandgautam · July 2011

You're 24, almost 25 weeks pregnant, which means that you should be gaining about 1 lb/week. From weeks 0-20, a good weight gain is anywhere from 2-3 to 10 lbs for some one who started out at a health weight. From week 20 onwards, you should be gaining 1 lb/week so having gained 5 in 4 weeks is fine, in my non-MD opinion. I would seek out a second opinion because if you're just 1 lb over 1lb/week rule than I don't see why your Dr would even bother commenting on it if you started out at a healthy weight and you're not putting yourself at risk for gestational diabetes.

My doc said that since I started out a healthy weight (BMI of 21/22) and since I'm eating well while pregnant (mostly protein, fresh fruits, whole grains, etc), I should try to gain at least 30 but if I gain 40, don't worry about it. I've never been overweight so he's not worried about a few extra pounds. Although, right now I'm just trying to keep pace for the 30 pound mark, doubt I'll have the hunger to reach 40, but it's nice to know I don't have to worry about it if I'm a few over.

Seek a 2nd opinion. I think your doc made a strange passing comment without taking all your factors into consideration.

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