First time posting on here
. This is my first baby and I'm 32 years old. I have a question about something my Dr. said at my last appointment. At my last apt. I was 25 weeks and had gained 10 pounds total. I started out at a healthy weight and BMI of 23 and had only gained 5 pounds up until my last appointment then I put on 5 pounds in a month. I knew I hadn't been exercising as much because I've just been tired and busy with work etc. I've always been very active I was a runner before pregnancy and have continued to exercise some and walk and run. He told me 5 pounds was a lot and they only wanted women to gain 15 pounds total. I told him my eating habits hadn't really changed and he told me pregnant women should eat less. I was shocked. I'd never heard this. He also said the more weight you gain the bigger the baby and the harder labor is to get the baby out. He said it can cause problems with the baby's shoulders etc. I was really upset when I left. I've always struggled with my body image and had a hard time during this pregnancy getting used to the fact I'm going to gain weight. I thought I was doing really well but he made me feel horrible. I'm afraid it's too late too switch Doctors now. We live in a rural area and there are only 2 OBGYN's in our area and they are both in the same office. I hate questioning the Doctor but his advice just seemed wrong to me. Just thought someone else out there might have some advice.
Re: Is Dr. Wrong?
I believe those are very old school beliefs and he has not started to abide by the new guidelines.
https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/aboutpregweightgain.html
For women who were a normal weight before pregnancy with a BMI of 18.5-24.9 the recommended weight gain guideline is 25-35 pounds.
I have never heard this before.
Before DD, I was a cheerleader and very active and healthy. I probably gained 40-45 LBS my entire prgnancy. Me and Baby were completely healthy throughout the pregnancy, my OB. never said anything to me about the weight, I didn't have GD and my labour was fine. DD was 7 LBS 8 OZ and is a perfectly healthy 2 year old now.
Sorry, but IMO, I think your Dr. is crazy.
I'm going to say your doctor is probably right. I don't know what the right answer is here b/c I don't know your history or your starting weight but your doctor does so I would assume he is giving you his advice based on those factors. every pregnancy is different. My doctor wants me to gain around 30 lbs but I am very small to begin with.
the eating less thing has me scratching my head. you are not suppose to eat for two though. you are only suppose to add a couple hundred calories to your diet.
First, his advice is old school. However, he likely was focusing on a 5 pound gain in 1 month vs total amount gained. It's a matter of perspective. Even though your weight gain is fine now, it obviously wouldn't be good for you to keep up a 5 pound a month gain. But that's making a big assumption and most doctors expect that you'll have some higher months and some that are more even.
All that said, if you don't switch doctors, don't be afraid to A) ignore "advice" he gives that you know/feel is incorrect or flat out tell him that you've done your research and are comfortable with the decisions you're making. It's not like he can make you adhere to his outdated information. Doctors are smart, yes. But they also have opinions that aren't always based in medical fact. This goes for your pediatrician, too. Never be afraid to do your own research and weigh that against any discussions you have with the doctor.
Your weight gain doesn't mean too much about how much baby will weigh. My mom only gained 6lbs her entire pregnancy with me, and I was 8lbs something.
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15 lbs max it what OB's recommend seriously overweight people gain, or not go over. So, ummm, not you! I fall into the not over 15 lb category, and I don't know if it's like this for all overweight women or just me, but I eat whatever I want, and I don't pack on lbs in pregnancy because my metabolism is running a lot higher. If you're eating right and being active, and you've gained 10 lbs, then your body needs that weight.
Now, most women put on the majority of their baby weight in the third trimester, so maybe he is worried a lot more weight will be gained then, but telling you no more than 15 lbs for the whole pregnancy isn't right. Telling you pg women should eat less is a big fallacy. You are suppose to be taking in 300 more calories I believe. Also, five lbs in one month, a chunk of that could be water retention or a big poop. I yo yo all over the place with my weight, as much as 6 lbs, just from water and bowel movements. I don't know where you are, but it's hotter than hell right now, and I've definitely been retaining water these past couple of weeks.
This. Time to find a new doctor. If those are his views on pregnancy, imagine what would happen during L&D...?
He is cray-cray, and I'd run for my life. [He was right about the extra weight, as in, over the amount recommended, can cause a harder, more difficult labor.] But you can gain 70 pounds and still have a normal sized baby. I gained 70 and my son was 7.7. I've also met women who only gained 20-25 lbs and had almost 8 pound babies. It really just depends. I'm annoyed that he made such a blanket statement.
This. How old is your Dr?
Kendall, 1/1/13
I am about your height, 5'8", and started out at about 135. I'm currently 146 so I have gained about 11 pounds at 21 weeks. Everyone in my OB's office has said that my weight gain is right on target and it is quite clear that there is more than just body fat accounting for this weight. It does sound like your doctor is using an older model and while it is good for OBs to counsel on healthy eating and exercise in pregnancy, for him to make this amount into a big deal when you're healthy, it is a bit concerning. I wouldn't say that this would be enough for me to switch (especially if there are not many choices in your area) unless he seems to use an older model in other aspects of his practice which you can ask him about directly, or ask his staff or other moms who have delivered with him.
Go to the next town over? I'd be willing to drive further for an OB I was comfortable with, that didn't patronize his patients. That's ridiculous and positively uncalled for. *** him. Seriously.
Chances are, not every single OB in your town believes the same. I'd look for a younger doctor in hopes of having one that has correct, updated information re: pregnancy and women.
As a practicing physican, he should be continuing to be up on the times and studies/research/different, proven information given in his field. Period.
Would you want a firefighter/paramedic who went to school in the 80's (with different car seat regulations) to advise parents on how to properly install a car seat without ever retaining and advising of the new guidelines?
This. How far are you from the next town? If that is not an option I would definitely look into the other doctor at the practice OR, if you are able to ignore his comments on your weight, have a very in depth conversation about what he thinks about delivery - I have a feeling he will disregard what you think so you need to be prepared for what he is going to tell you that you "have" to do.
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His advice is just wrong. I believe at a normal BMI, you are expected to gain 25-30lbs or so. It would be expected that you should try to only gain 15-20 if you had been overweight begin with.
If you are overeating beyond belief and gain much more than 25-30, then yes, you may have a bigger baby, or you may just have more weight to lose afterwards.
For reference, I gained 35lbs with my DS, he was 9lbs 2oz, and yes it took me a little longer than I would have liked to take off those last 5 lbs or so.
But also, my MIL gained 60lbs with my DH, and he was only 8lbs.
Personally, I keep track of my weight and try to eat healthy, to attempt to stay within the 25-30lb range. I don't worry about it for the sake of trying to modify what weight my baby ends up being, as baby will weigh whatever he/she will weigh, big or small. I try to pay a little attention (but don't stress) just so that I don't have tons of unnecessary weight on my body, as my body is going through enough already and added weight won't help. But, I do allow myself to indulge in treats here and there, and I don't exercise at all (unless you count chasing a 3-year old around).
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What I have learned is that weight gain is subjective
I have been to 3 different drs in my practice and all 3 have a different opinion.
The first dr said to only gain 15 lbs (i'm overweight)
the 2nd dr said not to gain anything
The 3rd dr (who I saw today) was not at all concerned that I gained 8 lbs this month although I hadn't gained a pound up to this point
She did say that most women have one month that they gain much more and this was probably my month
I personally would start seeing the other doctor. I have never heard of a woman eating less during her pregnancy
I would have stopped going to him after this statement. I'm 33 and got pregnant the on the first try after 15 years on the pill. I would try to find someone else who makes you comfortable and doesn't make you feel bad about yourself. Good luck!
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He sounds like an idiot. When's the last time he passed a baby out of his perineal area and had to carry it for 9 months, with all the hormonal changed?
Doctor doesn't mean smart, it means they had the means to pay for medical school and the perseverence to get through it. I'm a nurse, I work with many idiots that have an MD or a DO after their names.
Btw, I stupidly gained 60 lbs(poor food choices) my first pregnancy and ds was 7 lbs 11 oz and healthy. I gained 25 with dd and she was 7 lb 3 oz. Essentially the same given that ds was a boy(pretty sure boy's are slightly heavier/larger as long as all other factors are similar/same).
Good luck! Make sure you find a dr you are comfortable with, this is an important time in your life. Even if that means going a little further away.
Like everyone already said, your weight sounds perfectly normal. My OB told me it is normal to gain about 1 lb a week after 1st tri. With my first, I ended up gaining over 50 lbs and she still wasn't too concerned about it. I had some of that weight left and have only gained about 7 lbs this time. Everyone and every pregnancy is different. If you are eating healthy and feel good about your choices, then don't let what your dr said get to you. And do not eat less than normal.
When is your next appt? Hope it goes better.
W : 01.11.13
#3 : due 11.02.15
I don't think it will effect how easy/hard it is to get the baby out. However, my OB did say that the more active and in shape you are and stay during pregnancy, the easier everything will be.
A doctor is only a human, just like you or me, with a medical education. Doctor's are required to maintain that education. Thus he is failing to fulfill the requirements of his station, and consequently, is not a good doctor. As a human, just like you or me, he has opinions. If he is running his practice based on an outdated education and opinions you disagree with and find offensive what are paying him for? Time to find a new doctor. It will be worth the drive.
You absolutely should inform them of why you are not willing to see this OB in the future. Do not lie. If he is failing to maintain his education, and therefore giving his patients unacceptable care, they need to be aware of that! What are you scared of?