finally caved and bought some maternity clothes...(vent)

sammyk12 · December 2011

and it almost brought me to tears. Not in the good "wow, I have a little person growing inside me" way, but in the "I feel huge and will I ever fit into my clothes again" way. I know I should welcome this weight gain because its all for a much greater good, but yet I find myself FREAKING out that my clothes are tighter.

I am 5-8lbs overweight as it is, and just as I was getting into a good workout routine and starting to get my diet on track, I found out I was expecting. My mother is one of six sisters who are ALL overweight-obese. They were all thin-average before having children, and after that it all just went downhill. I am so terrified that that is part of my genetics and taking the baby weight off may not be as simple as exercising and eating well.

This is my first baby, and I'm sure these are normal 1st timer fears, but am wondering how to shake them and welcome the seriously expanding waist line. After reading all of this stuff that said you probably won't be showing until 16ish weeks, I'm feeling like this is WWAYY too soon for me to be needing to buy maternity stuff. I know a lot of it is bloat, but the bloat is so regular that I might as well call it a bump. Just a soft bump

Anyone else feel this way? Thanks for letting me vent Tongue Tied I havent' told any of my friends that have become mothers yet abour the baby (we are waiting til the end of the 1st tri) so I feel like I dont have anyone else to listen. Thanks!!

brideofscowboy · December 2011

Smile You're so normal. I have similar fears and this is #2 for me.

Bad news? You will get a belly and you will gain weight. Good news? You can lose it. Make healthy food choices and exercise now, that way you won't gain too much excessive weight. After baby comes? Give yourself a little time before you worry too much about what's left.

With DS I ate pretty well throughout my pregnancy but didn't exercise. By the time I was done nursing and ready to start working out again (c/s), DS was 8 months old. I lost ALL the weight I gained plus an additional 10 lbs. It is doable.

This time around? I'm trying to make healthy food choices and hoping to start working out again soon. lol

Fryjack2 · December 2011

I think your fears are totally normal. It may take some hard work and a lot of smart food decisions, but you can most likely go back to your old size.

I may get flamed for this, but if you still aren't happy with how you look after that stuff, there's always plastic surgery. A tummy tuck might hep you feel better about yourself if you still aren't in a good place. I don't view it any differently (besides the surgery risks obviously) than getting your hair dyed or teeth whitened to look and feel good.

But nothing beats eating well and exercising to feel healthy and good.

sammyk12 · December 2011

brideofscowboy:

You're so normal. I have similar fears and this is #2 for me.

For some reason I read this and breathed an immediate sight of relief. Oh to feel "normal" :-) Thanks so much for the sweet words ladies! I haven't worked out since I was around 7 weeks, so now I'm feelin like I really need to get my rear in gear moving into Tri-2 and have less fear about miscarrying.

richards897 · December 2011

I had finally dropped down to a size 14 and was about to drop to a size 12 when I found out I was pregnant and I swear I cried earlier this week when I couldn't fit my size 14's. I haven't bought maternity clothes yet but did have to go back up to the size I had to work so hard to get out of...

tsuredraider · December 2011

I felt bad when I bought maternity clothes at 11w, but I was down to wearing windpants and yoga pants to class (I refuse to wear sweatpants to class!) and realized it was something I had to do for my comfort and so I wasn't squeezing the baby trying to fit into pants I had no business wearing!

I did manage to squeeze into a pre-pregnancy shirt today, but it's long. I had a feeling it would go over my belly!

MissButters · December 2011

I'm right there with you! I was about 15 pounds overweight (gained in the past year and I attribute some of it to going off the pill - my weight ballooned like 8 pounds the month after). Just remember you're not alone! All I can suggest is try to focus one eating healthy for you and the baby, and maybe that will help limit the amount of weight that will be gained.

Also, when all these babies are here, I'm so up for having a fitness/lose the baby weight challenge. I think group motivation and support will work wonders!

Pancake227 · December 2011

Sammyk12 we're due the same day! I'm having my first also. Maternity clothes are in my near future. My NT is Thursday and I'm pushing myself until after then. Right now I only fit into two pairs of work pants - and by fit I mean barely. My husband washed my only pair of jeans that used to fit yesterday and now those don't fit either - ugh. I thought about a belly band but I'm not sure I'll like it. Anyway, don't feel bad nature is taking it's course and you can definitely bounce back. It sounds like your family history is motivating in itself to keep you exercising and eating healthy. I agree with the pp that said once you feel the baby move you'll change your thought process. Smile!

robinbirdaz · December 2011

Hi OP, I had the same fears as you with my first pregancy. My mom is obese and always blamed it on her pregnancy with me, saying she could never lose the baby weight. Truth is she never tried. 30 years later, and she still claims that I am the reason she is overweight! I made the concious decision to eat well and do yoga 2x per week with my first baby. I gained 30 lbs with her. She is now 13 months, and I am 10 weeks pregnant. I started off this second pregnancy 4 lbs lighter than my first! Just stay active, eat well and you shouldnt have any trouble. FWIW, I am 5' 2" and 140 lbs. Not a stick figure, but a healthy size. Got up to about 175with my first pregnancy. Good luck!

rebbieW · December 2011

I had these same fears as my maternal aunts (and mother) are all overweight and my mom never lost the 30 she gained with me. Or, rather, she's lost and regained the same 30 lbs. countless times.

My own experience is (logically) that the more you gain during pregnancy, the more difficult it will be to reattain your pre-pregnancy weight. I gained 31 lbs. with #1, 24 lbs. with #2 and 15 lbs. with #3. What I discovered is that the more carbs you eat, the worse it is, pure and simple. My doctor supports this conclusion....

So, if you'd like, you can make some simple eliminations and substitutions to help you be more healthy. Drop the sugar, refined flour, rice, corn and juice. There is no nutritive value in any of these and you will be doing your body, your pregnancy and (most importantly) your baby a huge favor. Oh, and don't be afraid of meat and fat as long as your carb count is relatively low...this ups your protein and keeps you full and satisfied. Focus on green veggies, meat, eggs, full-fat dairy products, nuts, berries and melons, etc.

ChrisG121 · December 2011

I have the same fears to!! I was not overweight at the time I became pregnant; however, I have always struggled with my weight going up and down and I continue to have body image issues....I look at my future weight gain as a blessing b/c I have a little baby growing inside of me and I will try my hardest to make good food decisions and continue to be as active as I can by working out at the gym doing some cardio, which I was doing prior to becoming pregnant....

unaveragejane · December 2011

I am struggling with this, as well. Pre-pregnancy, I was barely fitting into 6's and resisting going into 8's b/c I wanted to lose the weight instead of going up a size. I also don't want to end up having weight issues like my mom. Last week, I finally caved in and started wore a pair of maternity pants to work because I just didn't have any regular pants that fit left in my closet. (I am afraid of Belly Bands b/c I move A LOT at work and am terrified that my pants will fall down in front of my students.) I know that I'm eating too many carbs, but at this point, I'll eat whatever I can keep down. (My very healthy, protein-rich omelette didn't stick long this morning, but my pizza dinner is settling pretty well.) Thankfully, I have been able to keep fruit on my stomach pretty well, and I'm starting to crave salad. My energy is also starting to come back, so I anticipate being able to use my new prenatal workout DVD's. A friend also made me feel a lot better when she reminded me that being due in June is great because the weather will be perfect for walking outside with baby. I think we all (myself included) are beating ourselves up over this, and we all need to give ourselves a little grace. If nothing else, at least if we are a little fluffy that is all the more cushion to protect our precious cargo .

SweetT94 · December 2011

rebbie:

Drop the sugar, refined flour, rice, corn and juice. There is no nutritive value in any of these and you will be doing your body, your pregnancy and (most importantly) your baby a huge favor. Oh, and don't be afraid of meat and fat as long as your carb count is relatively low...this ups your protein and keeps you full and satisfied. Focus on green veggies, meat, eggs, full-fat dairy products, nuts, berries and melons, etc.

This exactly.

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