BTDT Moms who were overweight

MrandMrsFireFighter · January 2013

Hi BTDT moms. TIA for all the help!

I'm 5'2" and started this pregnancy at 191 lbs. Due to eating healthier and lack of happy hours, I've lost about 6 lbs so far, at 11w5d. I forgot to ask my dr at my 8 week appt about weight loss/gain. I think I fall into the 'obese' category but I carry my weight very well and am muscular. I have the typical PCOS apple shape, where I carry the majority of my weight in my stomach.

That being said, dr google says 11-20 lbs would be appropriate for me to gain, and I'm wondering if this rang true for you. Is this what was recommended to you, and if so, what was your actual gain? When did you put on the majority of your weight? Did you aim for an extra 300 calories a day in 2nd & 3rd trimesters?

Thank you! Obviously I need to talk to my doctor about this, but I was looking for real-life experiences. I've always struggled with staying at a healthy weight, but it somehow seems easier now that I'm pregnant? Which is kind of strange.

PrimRoseMama · January 2013

I am 5'5 and started this pregnancy at 185 lbs.

The doctor says about 20 lbs would be ideal, but last time I gained about 25 to 30 so he expects me to do the same this time around.

He did not advise me to lose weight but to be mindful of my eating habits and exercise. If I do happen to lose some weight he's not too concerned as long as I don't make it a goal. Your situation may be different from mine.

I have an aversion to sweets (as opposed to a craving like last time) so that might help as well. Though salty can make you gain as well.

I say eat healthy, get your exercise in and let the chips fall where they may.

bobcee · January 2013

I am 5'4" and started my last pregnancy (and this one) around 190 lbs. Last time I gained 30 lbs and my doc never said anything about my weight gain one way or the other. I had a very healthy and easy pregnancy and labor with no complications so I think that is what is most important. I think it's great that you're eating well and doing all you can to gain a healthy amount, but I wouldn't obsess about it. Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.

bobcee · January 2013

Oh and to answer the other part of your question, I didn't gain any weight until I was 16 weeks last time, then I gained three pounds and gained about a pound a week pretty steadily from there on out.

MrandMrsFireFighter · January 2013

PrimRoseMama:
I am 5'5 and started this pregnancy at 185 lbs.
The doctor says about 20 lbs would be ideal, but last time I gained about 25 to 30 so he expects me to do the same this time around.
He did not advise me to lose weight but to be mindful of my eating habits and exercise. If I do happen to lose some weight he's not too concerned as long as I don't make it a goal. Your situation may be different from mine.
I have an aversion to sweets (as opposed to a craving like last time) so that might help as well. Though salty can make you gain as well.
I say eat healthy, get your exercise in and let the chips fall where they may.

I've got the salty craving too, although I've never been a big sweets person, more savory. I think my BMI falls higher than yours would have been, but I'm still nervous about gaining an unhealthy amount. Because of PCOS & being pre-type 2 diabetes in the past I'm worried about GD & a giant baby!

Melgor78 · January 2013

My dr advused that I not gain more than 20lb with my first. That's about how much I did

but it wasn't til near the end. I think as long as you slowly gain weight and eat as heathly as you can you should be fine.

erineliza311 · January 2013

I am 5'8" and about 240. For my first I only gained 12lbs, most in the last tri and left the hospital lighter than my pre-preg weight.

With my second I gained about 25, but I had pre-Eclampsia and was pumped with tons of fluids during my 36 hour induced labor. I literally had melons for feet (could not even wear flip flops!) when visiting DS at Children's. After eating a lot of watermelon and cucumbers, the water weight came off and I ended up with only 5 extra pounds.

So far with this one I have maybe gained a pound? I also lost 40 lbs in the two years before conceiving. I have no cravings for chocolate or sweets. Only things like chicken,steak and salmon (whic could get expensive quickly!).

Just try to eat as healthy as you can, exercise if you can (I did not) and things should go well!

luvmyducks · January 2013

I'm not obese, but overweight. I only wanted to gain 15lbs with DD but my OB said 30 to 35. My jaw hit the floor and I said no way! I said 15, he said 25, I said 15, he said at least 20. I gained 25. I didn't gain anything until 16w and then pretty much gained 1lb per week. I think a couple of the weeks towards the end I gained 2lbs. I for sure did not deprive myself. I just didn't have much of an appetite while pg.

This time I have fluctuated between gaining 2 to 4 lbs so far. Not sure where I will end up. I started 5 lbs heavier than I did with DD.

Stina2012 · January 2013

I'm 5'7" and started this pregnancy at 195. I'm 201 right now so gained 6 in the first trimester. I quit smoking last year and that packed on about 10 lbs.

My OB has said nothing to me about weight but I'm hoping to gain only 15-20lbs. No clue if that's reasonable.

sparkymcgeee · January 2013

I'm 5'6 and the last pregnancy I started at 203. I lost weight throughout and finally started putting some back on during third tri. I weighed 203 when I was admitted. I left at about 180.
This time I started at 230 because I put on weight when I had my gallbladder removed. I've lost about 15.
My doctor yells at me every appointment about this. She wants me to gain between 10 and 15. I can't. I eat. I was even on bedrest last time and I didn't gain. Your body will do what it will do and as long as you and baby are healthy then that's what should matter.

Cakey15 · January 2013

I am also 5'2". With my last pregnancy I started at 185-190ish, and started out losing weight (Though I had no morning sickness, just nausea that kept me from wanting anything but McDonald's) I think I was 176ish by my second trimester. I started putting on weight after that though and ended up gaining almost 40lbs. I cant remember for sure, but I think when I went in to have DS my weight was about 225. I lost almost all of what I had gained in the two months following. Also, I didn't try to watch my intake, I didn't count the extra calories, and I didn't purposely exercise much.

I have a sister with PCOS and we have some of the same symptoms, so I was planning on getting tested for it when I found out I was pregnant. But since PCOS is partially from a hormone imbalance I asked a dr (not my doctor, she was on vacation) last time if it was possible that getting pregnant helped balance some of the weird levels that cause the weight gain....and he brushed me off and practically called me stupid :P

MrandMrsFireFighter · January 2013

Thank you for all your responses!

I am also eager to hear what my Dr will say.

Kitten80 · January 2013

My first pregnancy I believe I began around 160 lbs (maybe a little less?) and I'm 5'2". The docs I see said 25 - 30. I gained a little 1st, more 2nd, and a lot end of 2nd/beginning of 3rd (and then leveled off or lost a few). I gained 60 lbs -and I ate very well, exercised, and worked with kids for speech therapy and often did ball bouncing, jumping, busy play with them. I was pretty upset, but my doc reviewed what I was doing and said not to worry, I was doing it right. They also pushed around my ankles to show me that I was Really swollen and carrying tons of water weight. I lost all but 15 lbs in the first 6 weeks and all but 7 lbs by 3 months. By his year I was down to 150ish.

My second pregnancy I was determined I would not gain that muuch. Ha! I gained back my recent 15 lbs lost as soon as I got too sick to exercise even though I wasn't eating much. I gained pretty much the same the rest of the pregnancy - I think a little more weight, a little less water weight, but I was still swollen. I platued at about + 20 after baby was born - I would lose 10 & then gain it back. Docs said until I stopped bfing it would probably stick since that was prior experience.

this time I haven't seen doc yet. Guessing they will again say 25 or less. I have managed to stay the same first tri, so hopefully my weight gain will be slow and low

OSUJaydee · January 2013

I'm 5'7" and was 240 at the start of my last pregnancy. I did not see any weight gain until the last month and it was about 10 lbs. I left the hospital at 230 and was down to 220 a few weeks after birth. I did not exercise much aside from a walk a few times a week and ate like I normally do.

My doctor never mentioned anything about my weight, probably because it stayed so steady throughout.

I started this pregnancy at 240 and am down to 235. I haven't changed my eating habits, I just think for some reason pregnancy speeds up my slow metabolism. I am trying to take more brisk walks or do a low impact workout DVD most days.

Your best bet is to just try to eat healthy and squeeze a walk in when you can and try not to worry too much about the weight!

Carrie3102 · January 2013

jennuinne:

This is my first. I'm 5'2" and started around 260. Even though I haven't had much appetite the first couple months, I gained weight. I was told as few as 15 pounds would be OK and I was referred to a nutristionist (still need to make appt.). I don't have PCOS and my blood pressure and blood sugar are healthy/normal levels. Now that I'm starting to feel better, I plan to be more aware of what I'm eating and try to slowly start exercising again.

I'm 5'7" and was 255 when I found out I was pg w/dd. I ended up at about 273. My doctor never said a word. When I freaked out about being 270, she said why? you're fine, no GD, healthy baby, healthy mom... so I was pretty PO'd when the midwife I had to see this time for my first apt work up said, "we'll need to watch your weight, only 5-10 lbs" I said, well this is exactly where I started with DD and Dr. said I was fine at 273 with LO1. It kind of irked me and I was contemplating using her instead of an OB this time, but not if I'm going to be hounded about weight unnecessarily. My weight is a major stress for me.

Stina2012 · January 2013

Also just want to say thanks as well for everyone sharing. I feel worried, and sometimes bad, that I won't be that cute little stick preggers who looks like they ate a basketball and that's about it! Not that there is anything wrong with that...just that I do not look like that. I appreciate hearing that I'm not the only one!

aichandaich · January 2013

5'8" here. I started out at 182 lbs and have lost 14 lbs through a combination of stress, the stomach flu and constant morning sickness. Since the weight loss was through really unhealthy means, my midwife put me on Zofran.

With DD, I lost 8 lbs due to m/s in the beginning but more than made up for it in the end

Don't know if that helps at all but I'm glad you will be talking to the doctor about it... Good luck!

Eta-details about weight gain 45 lbs... Midwife wasn't worried but I was well below my avg weight because of previous weight loss from my wedding

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