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2nd Trimester
mochalattemama
member
Excessive weight gain?
mochalattemama
member
Unfortunately, my physician moved midway through my pregnancy and at my last visit I saw another woman in her (now previous) practice.
She had never seen me before and said I should speak with a nutritionist due to my excessive weight gain. I don't deny that it seems abnormal that I have gained 22 pounds during my pregnancy at only 26 weeks. Especially considering the fact that I had not gained any weight for the first three months, so it is sudden and uncomfortable.
What bothered me was that she seemed insistent that it was related to my diet. This is upsetting as I am very health conscious and exercise along with nutrition has been a priority during my pregnancy. I felt insulted because though I described my meals and portions to her, she had not entertained any other reason for this sudden weight gain as if to imply that I was lying. The fact is, I visibly do not seem to be gaining very much weight aside from in my breast, belly and I am having extreme swelling of my ankles and feet. I did not get a chance to address this because my appointment essentially consisted of "Hi, nice to meet you. You're fat. Bye!"
I, too, am a health care professional and my colleagues are all in agreement that I appear healthy and my diet is far from poor. I am just concerned with my excessive weight gain as I cannot pinpoint an origin and that doctor is obviously not of any help.
Did this happen during your pregnancies? Thanks!
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Re: Excessive weight gain?
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This exactly, I'm 5'1", 20 weeks and have gained 20lbs. Glad I'm not alone!
OP, we all gain at different rates and at different times so I wouldn't worry about it, especially since your original doctor wasn't worried. Just like this poster said, on your frame, I'm sure it isn't nearly as noticeable or probably even a concern. Especially if you are doing what you can to be healthy, that is really what is important.
I too just had this talk with my doctor this week. I am 25 weeks and I am beginning to feel like humpty dumpty. I had really bad HG up to week 23. Throwing up all day all night. I was down 14 lbs in the first 16 weeks. From week 16-20, I was up 4lbs. From week 20-25 I am up 20-25lbs depending what time of day I weigh myself. I am very short (5'0), have a thicker build, and really huge boobs, but have always been considered normal weight.
I am really feeling uncomfortable, and have noticed a difference in my breathing. I did bring it up to my doctor, knowing it would be an issue at my last apt. He was always concerned about my lack of weight gain, now he is concerned with my excessive weight gain in such a short time span. He told me pregnant girls like to eat hamburgers, ice cream and pizza and that I just need to cut back. Ok I admit I do give in to some of my cravings, but I don't do it in excess, and I do have a healthy diet. So I know this has nothing to do with it.
I just he would send me for some tests to maybe figure out what it is. I have hypothyroidism, so my levels could be low, and I have yet to do my GD testing.
Ahhh sooo frustrating. I never imagined feeling this uncomfortable and self conscious so early on.
I feel you! I was 5'9 and 135, suuuper healh concious here, no junk food at all during this pregnancy! I think we all have different body types, I am now 175 at 27 weeks, which is crazy! My legs, arms etc look exactly the same but my belly is huge. My doctor is amazing and says I look very healthy at my weight. I think that some of us carry more water weight or something. When I eat meals, I usually eat the regular amount I ate before getting pregnant and then eat a giant spinach salad with a a vinigarette dressing to help curve my hunger, I've cut out juice for the moment and drink only 1%milk and water... I of course eat tons of fruit/veggies. I couldn't figure out why I was still gaining so much either, I go on regular hikes in the forest near my hosue and work long hours on my feet all day (leaving no time to eat in-between meals)... I seriously advise you stop worrying about it and don't worry about what that woman thinks! If you know you're eating well and exercising that's all that matters.
Keep an eye on the extra swelling though, that could be a sign of a bigger problem! Worst comes to worst, try and switch your doctor!
I was freaking out about weight gain too...I went from 5'4" 127lbs pre pregnancy to 147lbs by week 18!!!
What's even worse is that I'm normally around 120, but I gained a little extra during the holidays, then shortly after found out I was pregnant, and had a tough time with fatigue in my first trimester so I wasn't able to exercise as much as I would have liked.
I'm now at week 22, and weigh 150, so it seems like my weight is at least evening out a bit. Now that I'm able to exercise more, this seems to be helping. I'm sure most people just gain weight differently throughout pregnancy. Most of my weight is belly and boobs anyway (I went from a C to a DDD!). It might be worth it to get a second opinion.
Hopefully the weight gain slows down.
Maybe see the nutritionist anyways? It can't hurt, and you may even learn something. I say this regardless of whether your weight gain is excessive or not. Keep a log of everything you eat (and time of day) for a week, fluid consumption, too, and bring that with you to the (nutritionist) appointment. The nutritionist then reports back to your doc that you are fine. Maybe that is what your doc is wanting to see before she pursues other options for your weight gain, if there is truly something wrong with it.
Just playing devil's advocate over here
Looking at the wide range of people experiences it seems there is no norm as everyone is different.
This is my first pregnancy, I'm 5'3 and was 161lbs per-pregnancy which, according to my BMI is over weight. At week 8 I had lost 7lbs due to severe morning sickness. By week 12 I had gained that weight back and now at 15 weeks I've put on another 7lbs putting me at 168lbs. I'm hoping not to gain anymore than another 14lbs max.
I'm 5'2 and started this pregnancy at 114 lbs with a somewhat athletic build. I wasn't stick skinny and have visible muscle tone. I didn't gain much the first visit or 2 but the last 2 visits I gained 4 lbs and 5 lbs so I am up maybe 12-15 lbs at 20 weeks. I really didn't think much of it but then my doctor told me to be more conscientious of my weight. I was completely caught off guard on that one. I don't eat a lot of food, and didn't pre-pregnancy either. I haven't been working out other than a lot of walking (I live in NYC). She told me I need to go to the gym and do a more intense workout and to watch what I eat. I don't really eat that unhealthy, the only thing I can think is that I eat a lot of carbs. I appreciate her warning which was basically listen you're going to be far more unhappy than me in September if you keep up this pace of weight gain. It just killed my confidence. On one hand I have all these people saying you're so tiny for 20 weeks and I can still button my jeans though it's getting uncomfortable now, and then the doctor basically says I'm gaining too much. I'm trying to be more aware of what I"m eating. I limit my sweets (which I've been craving) more now than I did before and I'm trying to cut back on carbs a bit too. Everyone says it doesnt look like I've gained weight anywhere but my belly and even that is not that big so I'm just so confused on the situation.
I do feel better seeing there are others in my position so it seems to be somewhat normal. Hopefully we all slow down a bit and maybe we just gain now and won't gain as much later