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October 2011 Moms
Article: Is Skinny While Pregnant Unrealistic?
Interesting article that I'm sure we can all relate to in one way or another.
https://moms.today.com/_news/2011/07/28/7184564-is-skinny-while-pregnant-a-goal-or-unrealistic-trend
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Article: Is Skinny While Pregnant Unrealistic?
Boo, it is blocked at work. Can you give me a summary?
To fair, I think I realized the other day I do feel skinny while pregnant. I know this seems odd...but I think this is becuase my stomach is tight right? If it was this big and squisy it would seem like fat, but since it is tight I just think muscle. Therefore I feel skinny ha ha. OR at least that is what I tell myself.
The skinny-while-pregnant trend has hit some women who strive for barely-there bumps and are obsessed with a post-baby body, pronto.
That some maternity clothing sites sell size zeros, and women are fed a mythic notion that they can be skinny while pregnant, has some experts concerned.
?It absolutely can have a devastating effect on a woman who is very highly conscious about her weight,? says psychotherapist Robi Ludwig. ?At its extreme, onlookers have created a buzzword for the trend: Mommy-rexia. Though not a medical diagnosis, doctors say if taken too far gaining too few pregnancy pounds can also be bad for the baby.?Babies whose growth are restricted at birth can be at an increased risk of developing long-term developmental issues, says Dr. Rebecca Brightman, a New York City ob-gyn.
Ultimately, unrealistic weight-reduction expectations give lots of new moms the baby blues.So what do you do if you're desperate to get back into those skinny jeans? Relax.Doctors stress that a normal weight woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy and expect to lose it a year after giving birth.
This is how I feel. I also have lost weight in other places (face & arms) so I feel like the rest of me looks better too.
ETA: It also bothers me that apparently 56% of people are "horrified" and think a pregnant woman who isn't big needs to eat more. If some people say they eat healthy/don't over do it and get big/gain a lot because "that's what their body needs" isn't it possible the reverse could be true and others just don't gain as much because their body doesn't need it?
I saw the teaser for this on the Today show before I left for work today. I'm glad you posted the article.
I agree with pp - those who are skinny while pregnant are often people who are naturally thin begin with (please see my UO from last Thursday). Yes, I wear a size 2 in maternity clothes, but I've been a size 2 my entire adult life. I'm certainly eating plenty, gaining weight and my doctor is not concerned.
As far as celebrity post partum weight loss goes, we need to remember a few things. 1. Many celebrities have a tummy tuck while they are in for their c-sections. 2. These woman have private chefs and trainers whipping them into immediate shape while nannies watch their newborns. 3. It is their job to look perfect. What could you do with your body if that was all you had to worry about for 4-6 weeks. Holding celebrities up as role models for post baby bodies is unrealistic.
Burned by the Bear
Starving yourself during pregnancy in hopes of losing all the weight 2 weeks after giving birth is totally different than being naturally thin and unable to gain rapidly, despite constant eating.
I've been thin my entire life, and pregnancy is no exception. The only area where I'm gaining and getting visibly bigger is in my stomach area, where the baby is growing. Not everyone gains all over while pg and many women lose the weight quickly after birth, it's just how they are. Just because some of us don't have giant baby bumps or weight gain all over, it doesn't mean we are unhealthy or our baby is not developing properly.
Unfortunately, articles like this make people give thin pregnant women the side-eye and the stupid comments about how we are starving our babies are bound to follow.
My takeaway from the article was, like all things propogated by the media, that a dangerous example to set for women is that they SHOULD be skinny while pregnant. At least to the point that some women might TRY TO GET or STAY skinny when their bodies are trying to do otherwise.
While I agree that holding celebrities up as role models is unrealistic, I'm sure there are girls/women who think "If Heidi can be skinny and pregnant and have a healthy baby, so can I"
I assume that a person's body does what it needs to in order to maintain a healthy pregnancy. For some people it's a pretty large weight gain, for others, not so much.
What we don't want to have happen is create a generation of women who think they need to remain skinny while pregnant.
I think the poll at the bottom of that article is a joke! Why do pregnant women need to eat a lot?? Why is it that pregnant women are expected to get so big during pregnancy??
I don't think most people would look at me right now and think I'm 6 months pregnant but I think there are a lot of things that factor into it. I have a very long torso which really helps make my belly look round and small. I've also put a lot of effort into eating very healthy during my pregnancy so I've only gained 10lbs to date but my dr said that is perfect. I've been very fortunate that all my weight gain has been in my stomach and boobs so I can still wear all my regular pants with a belly band. I've had so many friends whose hips and thighs have gotten much bigger during pregnancy so it makes them look a lot bigger. All women carry different and not everyone should be expected to look huge!
I think this article makes some good points but I take issue with the fact that they are dissing people for being a size 0 in maternity clothes. If you are a 0 before hand, you will remain a maternity 0. should we all be a large? are we all the same size? that is lame.
however, I do think that, especially in the beginning, it was hard to gain the weight, but like kari said, the harder my stomach becomes the easier it is to deal with.
I also didnt like that the article said I should gain between 25-35lbs when I have already gained 20 lbs at 6 months. and, truly, 90% of my weight is in my stomach. And I dont eat that much more than I ever did before. Probably 2 extra cookies per day vs before. (sometimes carrots - sometimes cookies)
If you emphasize on staying healthy during pregnancy - eating nutritious things, taking the time to relax, keeping a healthy mental outlook - I think that's all that matters. In all honestly, I do miss being able to wear whatever I want but that's more from a shopping perspective than wanting to look like Gisele 10 minutes after birth. Celebrities are paid to promote the image of glamor and perfection. It's not realistic. Unless you have a 24/7 nanny, unlimited funds to spend on a personal trainer, chef, and plastic surgeon, and an upcoming Vogue shoot, you're probably going to look like you just had a baby after you've just had a baby.
Why normal people look to celebrities as an example for how ANYTHING should be, I have no idea.
This article reminded me of Kendra - watching that show after she had the baby she had a photo shoot in a bikini. She totally hadn't lost all of the baby weight and still had a pooch and everything. They just posed her right and then wrote an article about how she lost all of her baby weight. So don't believe all those post pregnancy pictures you see of celebrities. They have the same issues we all do. Magazines just help them out.
I have actually felt pretty good most of this pregnancy. I still have my normal insecurities (I hate my arms) but other than that I haven't put on too much weight, about 15lbs now which was supposed to be my max according to the nurse at my doctors office. I actually feel that some of the stress of baby weight comes from the doctors too. You are overweight and should only gain 15lbs. You put that on someone who is 4 weeks pregnant and they are going to stress about the weight gain. Personally I think they should leave you alone until there is a problem with your weight!
Make a pregnancy ticker
Good for you! I think you have a very healthy perspective. Your Dr. would tell you if you needed to do something differently.
Make a pregnancy ticker