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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
toadstool
member
If your baby was 9lbs+ at birth, question for you
toadstool
member
I am 5'5" and was 121 lbs pre-preg. I gained 32 lbs during pregnancy, and my DD ended up being 9lbs 1oz. I asked my ob if it was true that the next baby would most likely be larger, and he said no because with my next one they would be watching my calorie consumption and aim for less weight gain.
He had warned me early on in my pregnancy to watch my weight. I was put on bedrest at 30 weeks due to PTL, and he didn't mention anymore about the weight(I figured because I couldn't exercise). I did not have GD or anything.
After I had DD they weighed me and I lost 20lbs just from giving birth. The rest of the weight came off fairly easy, and now I am carrying an extra 3 1/2 lbs, but I am still bfing so I know some of it is in the breasts, since I am still up 3 cup sizes.
I guess I just didn't think my weight gain was that bad. My dad was a very large baby(12lbs!) and my mom had 10.5, and an 8.5lb babies, so I guess I just thought it was genetics, not my weight gain that did it.
Am I in denial here? Is that a reasonable weight gain?
If you don't mind sharing, how big was your baby and how much did you gain?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: If your baby was 9lbs+ at birth, question for you
Yes, that was a very reasonable weight gain. They say a woman who is of average weight should gain between 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. You were within that range. I'm a little curious why your doctor would 'watch your calorie consumption and aim for less weight gain next time.'
With that said, I gained 50 pounds and had a 9 pound, 2 ounce baby. I lost most of the weight immediately and am now 5 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight; like you I am breastfeeding and know the last few pounds may not come off until DS is weaned.
My doc wasn't concerned about my weight gain because she knew by various ultrasounds that DS was constantly measuring large and my amniotic fluid index was very high (28); both of those factors accounted for a lot of weight. She tested me twice for GD and both 1-hour tests came back negative...in fact, nowhere near the range where they would have to do a 3-hour test. I ended up with a c/s and asked her about future pregnancies and she mentioned that normally the second is larger than the first.
Wow, that was a lot of rambling. Haha. Hope you got the answers you were looking for
Genetics did not play a role with my LO. I was 6.4 and DH was 6.7 at birth. My LO was 8.6 and I gained 28 lbs.
IMy height is 5.5 and I started out at 128lbs and was 156lbs the day before the delivery.
I am BF and now am 126lbs at 4months out today.
I do not think your gain was unreasonable.
You need to find a new doctor before having another baby. I mean it, that doctor sounds ridiculous!
I have gained 50lbs with both of my pregnancies. My first DD was 8lb 11oz and my second was 9lbs 2oz. I lost all of the weight plus some after my first and I am almost back down to my pre-pregnancy weight this time (I am normally a size 6 right now I am an 8). I certainly gained a little more than I should have but my doctors never told me I needed to watch my calorie count.
From my understanding you gained the perfect amount of weight. I think 30 pounds is what is recommended. Sounds like big babies run in your family. I have big babies and I like it that way. Personally, I would rather have a large baby than a tiny one.
What the heck? I don't see why your doctor was freaking out.
I am 5'3 and was 118lbs pre-pregnancy. I was 178lbs the day I had my daughter. I have been floating a little above and below 120lbs for over a month now. My doctor was definitely not happy with my weight gain, but honestly didn't give me that hard of a time. When my water broke I literally went from looking super pregnant to like I did at 3-4 months along. I would think as long as you're only gaining in the belly (that is the only place I did), your OB/GYN wouldn't be so concerned.
Aquarian Mommmy Blog
I feel this way!
Mine was 9 even. I gained a lot. About 65-70. I honestly don't think that my baby was big b/c of what I gained. I've known moms that gained well under the recommended amount, and had huge babies, and those that gained what I did -- actually even knew of one that gained 98 lb -- and had average size or small babies. GD will play a role, and gaining a lot (I think) can increase your risk of developing GD, which results in big babies...so, in that sense, gaining over the recommended amount can affect size. Since you did not have GD, then that's not a factor, and your weight gain was w/in the normal range. I wouldn't say your OB is a bad doctor or anything. Some doctors have strong opinions about certain things. One of my OBs (the alternate one for me) was so so anal about my BP and my other OB was very relaxed about it. Some OBs think it's ok to lose weight during pg and others are happy to see you get to the higher end (35 lb) of the rec weight gain. I wonder what your OB would say about HUGE babies - like over 20 lbs? What, did mom gain like 200 lbs to have that happen? Nah, it's genetics, and thank God for c-sections :-)
Actually, I didn't have a c-section. I had my last ultrasound at 30 wks and the baby was around 3.5lbs then. I asked the ob for a size guess, and based on my tummy measurement he guessed 7.5lbs 2 days before her birth. As she was coming out he said that she looked big. I had a hard time delivering her. She was very bruised and beat up when we finally got her out. Poor baby.
Oh, I meant for the really HUGE babies. I think there was one born recently somewhere around 23 lbs. I would die just thinking about pushing that out.
I vaginally delivered, too. She had an above average head circumference of 14.5in. I have to say I would proud to have that large of a baby and be a FTM and push her out
We did it!
I know, it does make you feel kinda proud. Although everyone assumes that I had to have a c-section. When I correct them, a lot of times I get a weird look.
DS1 was born 6 weeks premature because of Pre-E and weighed 4lbs 8 oz. During that pregnancy I initially lost 15 lbs but gained it back plus 15.
With DS2 I initially lost 20 lbs but gain it back plus 10....so both pregnancies were in the 30 lbs weight gain range. DS2 weighed 9lbs 4 oz and was 22 inches long. Now DH and I are tall with me at 5'7" and him at 6'. I was a 7lb baby at birth...I don't know about DH.
Your weight gain was completly average.
I know when I tell people DS2 was a 9lb baby I get a "look" and the "oh, gestational diabeties?" To which I answer that I didnt have GD and just ended up with a big baby. Which I figured I would when at a 30 ultrasound they estimated him at 5 lbs!
My doctor never said one thing against my weight gain in either of my pregnancy's and I admit I'm overweight and I've heard other overweight moms say their OB's told them to stay closer to a 15 lbs weight gain. But my OB wasn't concerned.
I am 5'8" and was 128 pre-preg. I gained 35 lbs and had a 7.8 oz baby. I'm at about 132 right now, but expect to lose a few more lbs.
Your weight gain was just fine. Don't worry about it at all!
Your weight gain was perfect and your dr sounds like a moron. He wants you to gain less than 30lbs? That is silly if you are of normal weight to begin with. And why does he think a 9.1 lb baby is bad and should not be repeated? I think you should look into a different doctor.
I was 138 pre-preg and gained exactly 30lbs during my pregnancy ending at 168. My baby was a big and perfect 9.8lbs
I am 5'9 and 130 lbs before pregnancy. I gained 60 pounds..my baby was 10lbs 2oz.
I was a little too skinny before getting pregnant, but 60 lbs that I gained is a lot, not 32. I think you did great.
My doctor kept telling me to watch my weight during pregnancy, but it was what it was. As far as having a big baby, as a FTM that helped me alot, because I wasnt scared to hold and bathe him, he wasnt going to break.
My doctor said the second one might be bigger, but who cares..as long as they are healthy, I dont care how big or small they are.
I still have 25 lbs more to lose, but I haven t even tried to lose what I lost.
agreeing with the new doctor! i am 5'2" and 120 lbs pre-pregnancy. i gained 34 lbs and my ob said it was "textbook" as well as my belly measurements. we had NO idea how big DD would be - 8lb, 15 oz / 22 in. that's a very big baby for someone my size! i wasn't a tiny baby either and MH is 6'3"..........i won't be cutting calories next pregnancy! she was a nice healthy size and i'm sure the next will be around the same.
you did NOT gain too much weight! btw, my friend who just had her baby gained 60 lbs and had a little peanut baby. i don't think weight gain is only factor on baby size.
Umm your doctor is a moron. My first 8lbs 13 ounces - I gained 24 lbs with that pregnancy and my pre preg weight was 110 and I am 5' 1". My second 9lbs 10 ounces - I gained 26 pounds and I was 115lbs before I got pregant the second time.
Oh and your weight gain was perfectly normal.
I didn't read all the other replies, but my daughter was only 7.5 lbs and I gained 40. And my dr wasn't the slightest bit concerned. My pregnancy and delivery went smoothly, and I've lost almost 50 lbs since delivering her.
I would be really hesitant about any dr who was that worried about me gaining only 30 lbs, especially when you were at such a low weight to begin with.
I gained 45 pounds with both of my children and my first was 9lbs5oz and my second was 13lbs! I was tested for gestational diabetes both during the pregnancies (and then also by a special blood test they did after I had my second) and was found to not have it. I just have big babies! I asked my OB about whether I would need to be on a specific diet if I chose to become pregnant again and she said it won't make a difference and that my weight gain was not the problem. Most of the women in my family have big babies.
And, yes, thank goodness for c-sections
Sarah
I had to read this post out of curiosity, even though my situation is almost the total opposite from yours. For what it's worth, I gained 50 pounds with my pregnancy and had a baby with severe IUGR (never explained, even after tons of testing), born at just over 4 pounds. They kept telling me during the last several weeks to eat more, eat more, eat more, like it was my fault the baby wasn't growing. After having her, I am definitely not convinced that mom's weight gain has a whole lot to do with how big baby is.
I had 2 babies over 9 pounds. I hold a ton of fluid at the end of pregnancy. I gained 50 plus pounds with both.
DS 1 was 9 lbs. 10 oz.
DS 2 was 9 lbs. 12 oz.
With DS I was back in regular clothes in 8 weeks.
This time - I'm 4 months out still in maternity pants. I'm up 10 pounds. It sucks, but I'm 3 years older now too.
Totally reasonable. I think your doctor is a bit of a crazypants.