Weight gain

kzawisl · January 2012

I know this gets asked a lot, but I am on my phone and having trouble searching. I am having a hard time gaining weight. I'm almost 17w and have gained 8 lbs. I just started drinking Ensure and tracking my calories more closely, but the bottom line is I can't force myself to eat any more!!

I am 5 ft tall and have always had a small appetite (not that that translated into being skinny, though). I was about 125 before I got pregnant, and am 133 now. Advice? Thanks in advance.

smcgervey · January 2012

It took me awhile to start gaining weight as well. When I found out that I was having twins I was a bit shocked because I had gained only a few lbs. by week 14 - and I wasn't throwing food up. I felt the same way about packing in 600 extra calories - I just didn't have the room for it!

What helped me is knowing that EVERYONE gains weight differently during pregnancy and until your doctor expresses concern....you shouldn't either. I think 8 lbs is about allI I gained by 17wks - and my doc. was not concerned at all. In this second trimester I have made up for the weight I didn't gain early on......even though my abdomen was huuuge. As long as you are not packing in empty calories (like cookies and ice-cream.....which I totally do sometimes then your babies will get what they need.

allisonmarie22 · January 2012

kzawisl:
I know this gets asked a lot, but I am on my phone and having trouble searching. I am having a hard time gaining weight. I'm almost 17w and have gained 8 lbs. I just started drinking Ensure and tracking my calories more closely, but the bottom line is I can't force myself to eat any more!! I am 5 ft tall and have always had a small appetite (not that that translated into being skinny, though). I was about 125 before I got pregnant, and am 133 now. Advice? Thanks in advance.

Tongue Tied

Wow, I must be a cow...I was 170 at 5'3" when I got pregnant! Anyway...I had gained 17 pounds at 21 weeks. I forced myself to eat for the first 20 weeks to pack on those pounds early on, but now that my eating has gone back to a more normal amount I find that I'm gaining a pound or less a week.

1krazykitty · January 2012

dont worry! I didnt start gaining weight until almost the thrid tri, dh forced me to drink a glass of milk with a scoop of protein powder otherwise I probably wouldnt have gained anything. My boys were born at 36w and weighted 5lb11oz &5lb10oz

tootlebug · January 2012

..why would you be forcing yourself so hard? because you read a book by dr. lukes? ; ) talk to your MFM (if you are going to one) if you are worried.

im a little over 28 weeks and ive gained between 12-13 pounds. my starting weight was 126 and im 5'7. my babies are growing very well and look great. there is no one formula for weight gain that applies to everyone. everyone is different. that goes for a singleton pregnancy and multiple pregnancy.

GypsyEsq · January 2012

Is your doctor concerned about your weight gain? If not, and you're also comfortable with your doctor's care, don't worry about it. People do gain differently and while many people believe putting on weight early with twins (and more) helps with birth size and baby health I know just as many MoMs who gained nothing, very little, or lost in their first tri and had healthy babies. Do your best, eat when you're hungry, choose things that you can eat and that are good for you, and the the weight will come.

kzawisl · January 2012

Thanks for being so rational, you all. I am slowly climbing down out of the crazy tree with all my snacks in tow.

GypsyEsq · January 2012

Duplicate reply - sorry

13pickle · January 2012

you eat healthy and balanced meals, be sure to have extra protein and when you can snack add that in, the weight will come, i didn't start gaining till about 18 weeks, do'nt let dr. lukes book stress you out.

starburst210 · January 2012

hey i was in a similar boat...i gained about 8 lbs at 17 weeks as well....in the past few weeks i have been adding them on...i gained about 13 lbs at 21 weeks....so it's slowly going up...my doc and i had a chat and she thought this was completely fine b/c my belly was measuring where it should be and she said everyone gains at different times and rates. you WILL gain:) so just eat healthy stuff for the babies:)

melissaRW27 · February 2012

I was very concerned about weight gain as well. Prepregnancy I was 5'4 and 112 pounds, and had recently been having a hard time keeping weight on. I had gained about 5 pounds by 13 weeks and really thought it wasn't enough. My MFM was not concerned, his opinion was " As long as the babies are gaining appropriately, I dont' care how much weight you gain." But knowing my history of difficulty gaining weight, I knew that if I didn't make a big effort would not get enough nutrition to feed my babies (I'm having triplets). I met with a nutritionist at 13 weeks, which was really helpful. She made a few suggestions that were easy to add in and made reaching 2700 to 3000 calories a day much more manageable. I switched from drinking only water, to adding 2 glasses of soymilk and 1 glass of orange juice a day (extra calcium and protein), when I stir fry vegetables or make rice I now add an extra tablespoon of vegetable oil (extra calories and fat), if I have a bagel I slather is with peanut butter instead of just coat it, I eat every 2-3 hours and never too much at once (if i eat too much in one sitting I find I'm too full to eat for many many hours and end up eating less calories throughout the day). In addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I bring 2 oz of sliced cheddar cheese with crackers for an afternoon snack at work, 1 yogurt and fruit for a mid morning snack, a protein bar for a randon snack throughout the day or during a car ride, I also keep mixed nuts and dried fruit at work and occasionally eat a few pieces.

Anyways, I have gained almost 20 pounds now and I'm at 18 weeks. I'm very pleased with this amount. I am all belly (and boobs), I don't think I've gained an ounce anywhere else, my arms, legs, and face are still thin, so I feel like all the food is really going towards stretching my belly and the babies.

The other girls are right though, that everyone gains differently and needs to gain a different amount. Listen to your body and do what feels right. Good Luck!!

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