What did/do your OB's want you to gain?

Baby0322 · December 2011

I'm having a hard time believing this but my OB wants me to gain 50-60 for the entire pregnancy. They are very pushy about this. I'm 12 weeks and have gained 6 ILbs so far. I had to see another ob in my group last week and she tells me, "we will need you to gain 23 pounds in the next 4 weeks". WTH? I see MY ob in 4 weeks. That seems like way to much in 4 weeks. I will only be 16 weeks by then. I'm curious what your ob's are telling you. I will not get to see MFM until February.

AlwaysSunny925 · December 2011

OB told me at least 40. Then he said I can stand to gain more than 40. By 20 weeks I gained 20, and by 23 it was 30.

snoangel79 · December 2011

37-50. I am going for the gold though. I had started gaining weight at 15 weeks though, I had horrid M/S with a ton of vomiting and was only able to keep my weight steady. I am at 22lbs gain now and my doctor is very happy with this.

Baby0322 · December 2011

She told me by 16 weeks a total of 30 ILbs. This just seems so fast and unhealthy to me. I thought maybe she got mixed up and thought I was farther then I was since she is not my regular ob?

angelfire02 · December 2011

I think it partially depends on how big you were pre-pregnancy? If you were overweight to begin with then they don't want you to gain as much, as if you were underweight. I had an appt with my high risk ob on Tuesday and she said I hadn't gained any weight at 15 weeks, but she wasn't worried. I am not that big (size 10-12, 5 ft 11 in. tall pre-pregnancy) She also told me to enjoy that number now because it will only go up from here.

I think the most important thing is what you are eating and making sure it is mostly healthy stuff.

ninjabridemom · December 2011

They say that gaining about 20lbs by 20wks sets you up well for the rest of your pregnancy. And multiples moms who gain more have higher-weight babies -- bringing them closer to "normal" weights.

I am supposed to gain 40lbs. So far I've gained 20.

Baby0322 · December 2011

ninjabridemom:

They say that gaining about 20lbs by 20wks sets you up well for the rest of your pregnancy. And multiples moms who gain more have higher-weight babies -- bringing them closer to "normal" weights.

I am supposed to gain 40lbs. So far I've gained 20.

This makes since and of course I want whats best for them. I think maybe it's a little hard to "swallow" right now. lol

ninjabridemom · December 2011

I totally get it. It was overwhelming at first to think of the 20 by 20.

By 15wks I'd gained less than 10lbs, so I was freaking out. But it all came on, lol, and the boys are measuring ahead.

I don't really focus as much on the number now that I hit that first goal. It will come on. I eat pretty healthy and try to stay active (walking and yoga), and so far I'm all belly, so....it's working for me. It will for you, too!!

lnle · December 2011

60-70 pounds for triplets. I gained about 60.

LoveTravel · December 2011

My OB never gave me a set goal of weight to gain...he just said to keep doing what I was doing- I ended up gaining 40 lbs once I delivered.

starburst210 · December 2011

i was so sick first trimester and i am only up about 2 lbs ....finally up which is huge for me....but i can't see gaining 20 lbs in 1 month. my docs aren't giving me weight goals...they just keep telling me to EAT...so guess what i do!! and now that i am feeling better it's quite fun! i only gained 17 lbs when i was pregnant with my daughter due to my early MS last time also so i am not going to make myself sick and stuff my face but i will just enjoy foods that i like (while being healthy) and not be afraid to eat a little extra...!!! i have no doubt it will pack itself on somewhere!!

esp with all the cookies and pizza i am eating!!!

2boys+twins · December 2011

My Dr. said 20lbs by 20 weeks and 30lbs by 28 weeks and overall around 50-55lbs. I was a normal BMI before getting pregnant :-) I am 24w4d today and am up 12-13lbs and have been doing protein shakes twice a day per my ob's request due to my lack of weight gain....I had not gained anything until 20+ weeks. My babies were also measuring 34% which is a little smaller than he wanted.

Breezy8407 · December 2011

Mine didn't give me a number. I asked and she said I was doing fine. I was up 15 at 17 weeks. She said she only gets concerned about the numbers if you are losing or gaining too much.

tootlebug · December 2011

honestly the frank statement that you need to gain a ton of weight to have healthy "normal" babies is just not true. it depends on the person obviously and their pre-existing conditions (if any).

im 22 1/2 weeks with twins and ive gained a total of 7--8 pounds. my pre-pregnancy weight was 126 and im 5'7. i lost 6 in the first tri bc of bad m/s. but those 6 came back quickly bc i simply couldnt eat. once i reached my pre-preg weight, it's been about 1 pound a week, sometimes 2, sometimes none. my MFM is not concerned AT ALL. and, both babies were measuring really good at my 21 week ultrasound. weight-wise,one was in the 50th percentile, the other in the 75th. my MFM told me to aim for 2200-2500 calories a day and that to look to gain around 35, maybe 40 pounds. now, one thing i have noticed, is that first time moms who are pregnant with twins, seem to get more pressure to gain more weight. ive already had a successful, non-eventful pregnancy and i know that is dictating some of the advice from the OB and MFMs. im also able to workout regularly and at my 21 week ultrasound my cervical length was 5cm.

finallyreilly · December 2011

My OB wanted me to gain 35lbs. I made it to 25. I lost a lot in the beginning with morning sickness and with having GD, I wasn't able to easily gain at the end because of the diet I had to follow.

ninjabridemom · December 2011

Dr Luke, main chicka in the multiples world, says to gain more. But I found her research lacking (she only cited her own research, which is not right).

THEN

Someone here posted about this article: https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/01/us-twin-pregnancy-idUSTRE7A04NQ20111101

tootlebug · December 2011

ninjabridemom:

Dr Luke, main chicka in the multiples world, says to gain more. But I found her research lacking (she only cited her own research, which is not right).

THEN

Someone here posted about this article: https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/01/us-twin-pregnancy-idUSTRE7A04NQ20111101

her research is lacking and my MFM said she isnt even a physician (which i knew) ...he found her book borderline ridiculous. he said he went to one of her seminars just to see what she had to say, which i give him credit for, and by the time it was time to ask questions, she answered one and just took off.

starburst210 · December 2011

tootlebug:
honestly the frank statement that you need to gain a ton of weight to have healthy "normal" babies is just not true. it depends on the person obviously and their pre-existing conditions (if any).

im 22 1/2 weeks with twins and ive gained a total of 7--8 pounds. my pre-pregnancy weight was 126 and im 5'7. i lost 6 in the first tri bc of bad m/s. but those 6 came back quickly bc i simply couldnt eat. once i reached my pre-preg weight, it's been about 1 pound a week, sometimes 2, sometimes none. my MFM is not concerned AT ALL. and, both babies were measuring really good at my 21 week ultrasound. weight-wise,one was in the 50th percentile, the other in the 75th. my MFM told me to aim for 2200-2500 calories a day and that to look to gain around 35, maybe 40 pounds. now, one thing i have noticed, is that first time moms who are pregnant with twins, seem to get more pressure to gain more weight. ive already had a successful, non-eventful pregnancy and i know that is dictating some of the advice from the OB and MFMs. im also able to workout regularly and at my 21 week ultrasound my cervical length was 5cm.

i agree with this post! b/c i already had another child and didn't gain a ton of weight that time and it was completely uneventful they haven't even mentioned weight to me...my daughter weighed 7 lbs 1 oz at 41 weeks and i gained less than 20 lbs.... my MS just prevented me from gaining a ton of weight....there was nothing i could do ..i am also 5 feet tall and small to begin with!!

b/c my docs don't' discuss weight and just tell me to keep eating....i don't even think about it..i am just eating what i want, when i want it and trying to avoid eating things that may make me nauseous:) until someone tells me my babies are too small, i will start to worry....!

ninjabridemom · December 2011

tootlebug:
ninjabridemom:

Dr Luke, main chicka in the multiples world, says to gain more. But I found her research lacking (she only cited her own research, which is not right).

THEN

Someone here posted about this article: https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/01/us-twin-pregnancy-idUSTRE7A04NQ20111101

her research is lacking and my MFM said she isnt even a physician (which i knew) ...he found her book borderline ridiculous. he said he went to one of her seminars just to see what she had to say, which i give him credit for, and by the time it was time to ask questions, she answered one and just took off.

I think it's best to follow doctor's orders, with your own research included. I agree her book was borderline ridiculous. But if you look at the Reuters article, it summarizes a study that does back up her own research. The original study was printed in an OBGYN publication.

But how you approach it will probably work for you! Again, at this point, I'm much less concerned w/ gain at this point, b/c most of it will be what the babies, etc., put on. That 20lbs was only in my growing growing belly, so I'm not worried about losing it and the subsequent weight at all. (And for reference, I was at a normal BMI -- size 6 -- 5'6").

Additionally -- I'm not surprised to find that Dr Luke is a tool, lol!

Mrs. Alice · December 2011

Mine never discussed weight much with me. She just said about 40-45 lbs total. Dr. Luke's book says 20 lbs by 20 weeks. Your OBs rec seems off.

tootlebug · December 2011

ninjabridemom:
tootlebug:
ninjabridemom:

Dr Luke, main chicka in the multiples world, says to gain more. But I found her research lacking (she only cited her own research, which is not right).

THEN

Someone here posted about this article: https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/01/us-twin-pregnancy-idUSTRE7A04NQ20111101

her research is lacking and my MFM said she isnt even a physician (which i knew) ...he found her book borderline ridiculous. he said he went to one of her seminars just to see what she had to say, which i give him credit for, and by the time it was time to ask questions, she answered one and just took off.

I think it's best to follow doctor's orders, with your own research included. I agree her book was borderline ridiculous. But if you look at the Reuters article, it summarizes a study that does back up her own research. The original study was printed in an OBGYN publication.

But how you approach it will probably work for you! Again, at this point, I'm much less concerned w/ gain at this point, b/c most of it will be what the babies, etc., put on. That 20lbs was only in my growing growing belly, so I'm not worried about losing it and the subsequent weight at all. (And for reference, I was at a normal BMI -- size 6 -- 5'6").

Additionally -- I'm not surprised to find that Dr Luke is a tool, lol!

yeah, i mean it is interesting, but it is just one article and it even says that it hasnt done all the needed research. i guess i just know several twin moms IRL that didnt gain a ton of weight and their babies werent "small" - they were just fine. and just to clarify, my MFM thought that the dietary portion of the book was lacking. we didnt discuss the rest of it, but i found the rest of it somewhat informative. and i liked the recipes in the back.

ninjabridemom · December 2011

It's a good first-pass book -- IMO. But there is more thorough information out there for people who want it.

The recipes were a bonus.

tootlebug · December 2011

ninjabridemom:

It's a good first-pass book -- IMO. But there is more thorough information out there for people who want it.

The recipes were a bonus.

we are really close btw....im 22w3days ; )

macchiatto · December 2011

Dr. Luke never claims to be an MD; she does have a doctorate though and is an obstetrics professor:

Johns Hopkins University, ScD, Maternal & Child Health, 1991
Baltimore, Maryland
Thesis: The Association Between Maternal Weight Gain and the Birthweight of Twins

https://www.drbarbaraluke.com/aboutdrluke.aspx

The main reason she cites her own studies is because so few others have done research on issues like weight gain specifically in multiple pregnancies. One OB that I saw recommended 30-35 lbs with twins but had no studies to back that up. (And I started out in the lower half of the normal weight range.) I followed Luke's recs in general and had two healthy full-term babies so I certainly have no complaints! (And yes, you can't go by anecdotal evidence but in my case her guidelines certainly didn't seem to hurt.)

And then there's this:

https://blog.mlive.com/right_fit/2009/08/msu_professor_helps_update_wei.html

ninjabridemom · December 2011

tootlebug:
ninjabridemom:

It's a good first-pass book -- IMO. But there is more thorough information out there for people who want it.

The recipes were a bonus.

we are really close btw....im 22w3days ; )

Yay!!

emschott · December 2011

My MFM said I should gain about 50 lbs. So far I am up 35-40. (Depends on if you count the weight that I lost being sick first tri.) At 20 weeks I bet I was only up 12-15 lbs.... can't remember. I didn't gain much until I started drinking 2 Boost protein shakes a day. Since I have started that, my smaller baby climbed every other week from the 12th to 18th to 26th to 32nd percentile. It definitely seems to be helping! Maybe she would be catching up faster even if I wasn't drinking it, I don't know.

As for Dr. Luke's book- I read it, and panicked at first. Especially since I couldn't keep up with her weight gain recommendations. Then I started comparing her vitamin regimen to my own, and I asked my MFM about it. He pretty much rolled his eyes and said that my regular pre-natal and DHA were fine. One thing my pre-natal doesn't have that her book recommends is magnesium. My MFM told me I couldn't possibly take enough magnesium to prevent pre-term labor, like the book suggests. He said you need quantities only hospitals can dispense, apparently. I do still look at the weight gain charts for the babies.

violaplayer · December 2011

Honestly? This is why I didn't get too caught up in the number. Eat healthy and take care of yourself. As long as the babies are growing well, no worries.

starburst210 · December 2011

ViolaPlayer:
Honestly? This is why I didn't get too caught up in the number. Eat healthy and take care of yourself. As long as the babies are growing well, no worries.

Amen:)

tootlebug · December 2011

ViolaPlayer:

Honestly? This is why I didn't get too caught up in the number. Eat healthy and take care of yourself. As long as the babies are growing well, no worries.

definitely. some people might just need to gain more to assist in the growth of their babies. others, like me, dont seem to need to, for whatever reason. and, as i previously stated, ive noticed that there seems to be a lot more pressure to gain when it's first time moms who are having twins. i feel like my OB practice/MFM would be more "on" me about it, if i havent already had a successful, non-eventful pregnancy previously (and only gained 17 pounds doing so and had a healthy, 7lb exactly baby at 39 weeks). the reason i feel this way is bc a couple girls who went to the same practice, who were first time moms with twins, received some different weight gain advice than i did. so i really do feel like it is specific to the individual. i just dont like to see others posters getting "beat up" (and that's not what's happening in this post) for not gaining the recommended weight "according to Dr. Lukes". it isnt the weight gain bible for multiples for everyone. for some people, perhaps it is. for others, it is not.

mommyof4boys · December 2011

Mine wouldn't give me a number. I had severe HEG with a zofran pump, reglan, zantac, and home iv therapy. I ended up gaining a total of 10 pound with my twins not for a lack of trying. I was so sick! My twins were 8 weeks early and 4 pounds/3 pounds 8 oz.

starburst210 · December 2011

tootlebug:
ViolaPlayer:

Honestly? This is why I didn't get too caught up in the number. Eat healthy and take care of yourself. As long as the babies are growing well, no worries.

definitely. some people might just need to gain more to assist in the growth of their babies. others, like me, dont seem to need to, for whatever reason. and, as i previously stated, ive noticed that there seems to be a lot more pressure to gain when it's first time moms who are having twins. i feel like my OB practice/MFM would be more "on" me about it, if i havent already had a successful, non-eventful pregnancy previously (and only gained 17 pounds doing so and had a healthy, 7lb exactly baby at 39 weeks). the reason i feel this way is bc a couple girls who went to the same practice, who were first time moms with twins, received some different weight gain advice than i did. so i really do feel like it is specific to the individual. i just dont like to see others posters getting "beat up" (and that's not what's happening in this post) for not gaining the recommended weight "according to Dr. Lukes". it isnt the weight gain bible for multiples for everyone. for some people, perhaps it is. for others, it is not.

sounds like ur last pregnancy was just like mine!! 17 lbs at 41 weeks and 7 lb 1 oz baby!! maybe that's why my MFM docs and i are not so caught up in the weight!!

AmyJoy728 · December 2011

My OB said 35 lbs. As of 23 weeks I had gained 22 lbs. I am 5'2 and started out with extra weight. I have a feeling if I keep gaining as I have been I will pass the 35lb mark though.

srh08.05.06 · December 2011

Mine said 35-45 lbs. I ended up gaining 50, but she was not concerned I went a little over. I had fairly large babies.

gringa78 · December 2011

My OB never gave me a number. I read Dr. Luke's book though and gained the 20 by 20. It seemed overwhelming, but all I did was add in a few more small meals a day and never let myself get too hungry. Before, I would skip lunch, put off eating, etc. and I just make eating a priority now. I bring fruit and granola bars with me everywhere and if I get hungry out and about, I pick up a sandwich. I have focused on eating cottage cheese, eggs, cheese, fruit, whole grains, more meat, and started drinking DD's whole milk in crereal and coffee instead of skim.

Jen0204 · December 2011

My OB originally told me 45-50 pounds. However, I was overweight (size 16) pre-pregnancy and to date have only put on about 15 pounds. The girls have measured right on track the whole pregnancy, as have my stomach measurements. My H was concerned that I wasn't going by her original guidelines and she said that as long as the babies are gong fine there is absolutely no reason for me to gain that extra weight. My MFM agreed. If you were average weight - or especially if you were underweight - prior to getting pregnant then I would try to gain more, but otherwise I would really question your OB strongly on this when you see her. Also, definitely don't deprive yourself. Eat a good, balanced diet, and whenever you're hungry just eat something. If you're doing that and the babies are growing well, why gain more?

Rangergal9 · December 2011

I was overweight to start with so they didn't want me gaining more than 40lbs. I ended up only gaining 28lbs by my delivery day. I ate healthy and made sure I didn't eat junk (like I had when I was pg with my older DD). I had a great pregnancy and my girls were great weights (6.10 and 7lbs).

j&j508 · December 2011

OB said 30, I did 20 by 20 and ended up gaining 60 by the end, had babies at 37w4d and they were 5lb15oz and 6lb3oz, totally healthy. I focused not on the number but on eating well and LOTS of protein (I lived on cottage cheese and greek yogurt). It fell right off within 4 weeks of having the kids. I think growing and gaining the right way is most important, and I totally credit that with my kids birth weights and the weight coming off. I was also cautious at the end not to push myself, and that plus work letting me work from home is totally what kept me pregnant as long as I was.

everam01 · December 2011

No more than 50, no less than 40.

I gained 55, but the boys were really big (15 1/2 lbs combined) so they were perfectly fine with it.

Mrs_MBed · December 2011

I haven't been told a specific amount, nor has either my OB or MFM commented on my weight gain so far (I'm up about 25 lbs at this point). So I'm just eating when I'm hungry - which is almost all the time.

The 50-60 lbs is what I read in the Dr. Luke book. I think that 23 lbs in 4 wks is a little excessive though...

regenab · December 2011

I was told to keep it between 40-55 lbs total. I was also told to shoot for 25lbs. by 25 weeks. I had bad morning sickness and really didn't gain a lot until after 16 weeks. And I was 26lbs. up by 25 weeks. I gained a total of 45lbs. by 36 weeks when I delivered. I think 50-60 is doable and completely normal for multiple pregancy, but I am shocked they are telling you they want to you gain that much. I am thinking they are pushing to gain as much as you can in the beginning because that helps the babies to be bigger in case they are born early, hence the 25lbs. by 25 weeks rule.

You will start picking up more in the next month I am sure. I didn't do anything special to gain weight after the morning sickness ended, accept, I didn't limit myself. I had a big bowl of chocolate icecream every night for dessert and ate a little debbie brownie each day, I love those things and that was the only time I didn't feel guilty about eating them.

Terrier95 · December 2011

I'm 8 weeks with twins, and have only seen my RE so far (we did IVF). My first OB appt is Jan. 5th. I'm 5'2" and was a little overweight when I got pregnant (140 lbs). So far, though, I've gained 6-7. I've had two weeks of m/s, no vomiting, but the only way to keep from feeling nauseous was to have little snacks every 2-3 hours and the only things that appealed to me were carbs and fruit. I don't care so much about the gain overall, except no one at work knows yet so I just feel fat and that my clothes don't fit. I'm using rubber bands to button my pants and will be getting some bella bands this weekend. Maternity pants will be getting hemmed ASAP. Mainly I just wish I could wear a sign that says "I'm pregnant (with twins!), not just fat!"

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