Curvy expecting mamas... STM advice? kinda long

LoveMoose85 · August 2013

Okay so I'm just gonna throw this discussion out there and it can take off where it goes....I'm a little on the heavy side right now. I have yo-yo'ed my whole life. In fact I was trying to loose the weight again before getting pregnant because I wanted to be as healthy as I could be and it just didn't happen that way. So before I got pregnant I was 170 and I'm 5'4. Wearing a size 12, and now it's up to a 14. I keep hearing that the norm is to gain that 25-30 pounds, which I'm perfectly fine with. But I've also heard that if you are overweight to begin with you really only need to gain 10 or so? Curvy ladies, how much weight did you actually gain?

Two other topics I want to touch on: Bump watch. Everyone is saying they can see bloat or possibly even a bump at this point. I just feel fat, and I feel it is going to be aawwwhile before I see any difference, My stomach started out big, and it seems so far off that I will ever actually look pregnant as opposed to just big. How did your bodies change? When did you get a distinct bump and did you ever finally feel pregnant with belly and not just fat? I know this redundant and there have been a lot of posts talking about bump watch, but I feel all those ladies are tiny little things where it is easier to tell.

Other topic Labor/Delivery: Was it harder for you? Did you have complications, Major back pain? I know I could be much worse off, but I'm really scared that being overweight and then gaining a lot more is going to make this much harder on me and the baby.

I know this is kinda long, and might seem insensitive, but I really would love some real advice...I know everyone on this bored is not 120 with the perfect little bump, come on!

my1stbabyat23 · August 2013

I'm 5'5 187lbs and the doctor told me I better loose weight! as for as my bump I have nothing yet. No idea when will I start showing.

MrsS81112 · August 2013

I'm following. I went from a Size 14 around 175 pounds down to 135 pounds size 8-10. After meeting my husband I gained all of the weight back plus some. I had just started actively going to the gym again and with a goal to lose weight before getting pregnant. (2 weeks later, I got my BFP) So obviously, I never had the chance to lose weight. I'm continuing Zumba and Swimming to hope to not gain as much weight as I would without. I'm anxious to see how much I gain, yes the chart says to only gain 10 pounds, but is that even possible? My sister was probably about 170 before she got pregnant with her first and she gained like 25 pounds I believe.

So anyway, I'm following this post to see what STM's say!

hisbeautyalways · August 2013

I'm "obese" - I'm 5'4" and started this pregnancy at 240 (currently in the 230's), started last pregnancy at 250. I got up to 275 at delivery and guess what? Within that week, all the weight I gained was gone. Baby was 8+lbs, placenta, water... all of that adds weight. All of my weight gain with that pregnancy was baby, placenta, water...

My weight didn't have any negative effect on labor/delivery, or pregnancy at all. I delivered at 39 weeks, 2 days, and would have been totally happy to stay pregnant longer. I only had normal pregnancy pains/discomforts.

Have no fear.

dannie2011 · August 2013

I can give you a comparison between my weight with my first and the youngest for labour and delivery between the two. My first I was 18 I'm 5'10" weighed 110 lbs. I went up to 170lbs, you could barely tell I was pregnant till the end. Labour and delivery was fast about 2 1/2 hours I was very lucky. I went natural I hate needles more then pain.

The youngest she's 2 I started out with my weight at 168lbs I had no different labour or delivery but she was number 5 but still 14yrs between the two younger kids. I only gained 20lbs and I just ate normal. Now with the last one I did have a belly but it wasn't a baby belly I had a gut plain and simple.

Now this last baby I'm starting at 181lbs my OB did not tell me what weight, I'm just going to try and be active not over eat and snack on the little bit of healthy foods I will eat.

I can see a bump but it pretty much is so low only I can tell the rest is my fatness. I know I'm not majorly over weight but I figured I would tell you how it was for me.

erind0213 · August 2013

Im obese and 5ft 8in...size 22. With my first I gained 50lbs..my ob didn't stress about gain.

I think I expected the worse and ended up ok. I also have a hypoactive thyroid so that doesnt help.

I did not end up with gestational diabetes or high blood pressure and had mi imal swelling at the end.

Labor was 13 hours and I was induced due to my water leaking at 39 weeks 6 day. It wasnt rough till the last or 2 and I pushed dd out in 20 minutes.

So if your overall health is good you should be fine. I will say I am trying to gai less this time as I started up a bit more then last time.

LoveMoose85 · August 2013

Thank you all! This is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm just scared because I have had such bad back pain already and have got a lot of negitive comments (from close family) saying that my weight is a factor, it's only gonna get worse and I have a tough road ahead. So this helps a lot!

BethRN1987 · August 2013

I'm a first time mom also- 5'2 and started at 184lbs. I'm currently at 180 and haven't had any MS. I'm curious what my weight is going to do.

I have PCOS and started putting weight in like crazy about 4 years ago for no good reason ( diet and exercise hadn't changed) I went from the 130 to 160 and now 180. I'm hoping pregnancy will " reset" my crazy hormones. Ha unrealistic but a girl can hope.

cdnmomma · August 2013

I'm 36 ftm 5'3" and started at 160 lbs. I have gained 12 lbs so far and counting. I've had bad n&v so I've been eating horribly, mostly carbs and have not made it to work for two months let alone the gym. That being said I felt like I looked pregnant at 8 weeks along. It was and still is mostly bloat. When I stand besides my best friend who is 6 months along I look like I'm further along than she does. It's embarrassing. When perfect strangers ask me I tell then I'm further along...it seems to be easier for me and for them. I am really really hoping that the n&v will subside and I will be able to not only be more active but also eat better. I have at times had lower back pain already. I was worried that it was because I was overweight to begin with but my dr said it is the hormone relaxin and that it she experienced it early on and she is tiny. Sounds made up but I'm gonna take her word for it :P I'm also worries about how much weight overall I will gain and how or if I will ever lose it afterwards. I guess we shall see.

LoveMoose85 · August 2013

bethclosen said:

I'm a first time mom also- 5'2 and started at 184lbs. I'm currently at 180 and haven't had any MS. I'm curious what my weight is going to do. I have PCOS and started putting weight in like crazy about 4 years ago for no good reason ( diet and exercise hadn't changed) I went from the 130 to 160 and now 180. I'm hoping pregnancy will " reset" my crazy hormones. Ha unrealistic but a girl can hope.

I can't even imagine what it would be like to not have control like that..I know how frustrating it is trying to loose weight even when you do see results! Wishing you a healthy pregnancy and that your hormones give you a break as well!

springbaby03 · August 2013

@AlexaWinston I think many women are having back pain its from ligaments stretching i dont think it has anything to do with your weight. A hot rice or corn pack helps a lot.
HUGE eyeroll at your family for saying things like that to you...not very supportive and none of their business.

I only gained 1 lb with my first born, but I started at 190 and 5ft3"

farmfanatik · September 2013

I'm 5'4 and weighed 183lbs when I got pregnant with DS. I had just lost 28lbs (weight watchers ftw!) and was planning on losing more but we got pregnant quicker than expected. I gained 50+ during the pregnancy, I'm not sure exactly what the final number was. The doctor never said to much about it, my blood pressure and everything else they check was always fine.

I want to say my bump started showing around 16 weeks. I had no complications with either the pregnancy or labor. I did experience a lot of back pain, but I went med-free so things were pretty intense. DS was 10lbs 2oz which helped me drop a lot of weight right off the bat, lol. The last 15lbs were the hardest and it took me over a year to get to my pre-pregnancy weight. Not that I was trying that hard to be perfectly honest.

And I am back to square 1. I weighed 183lbs when I got pregnant with this LO. I'm going to try pretty hard not to gain 50lbs again, mostly because I also want to avoid another 10lb baby and eventually I would like to see 160lbs on the scale again. A girl can dream right?

jazzyexpo · September 2013

I'm way overweight. Size 20/22 5'9". I had lost 40lbs last year, but gained it back from my ectopic (being depressed). With dd and last year the dr told me to aim for about 15lb weight gain. With dd I gained 29 and 2 weeks after she was born 22lbs were gone. This time she didn't say anything. She seemed more concerned that I had lost a few pounds this trimester. I'm still going to aim for 15. I do have a weightless plan for when baby comes though.

As for a bump, I'm so bloated right now. I've been wearing my maternity pants and it looks like a bump, but it's bloat. It won't be actual uterus til later. My uterus is above my pubic bone about halfway to my belly button, but I'm too thick there to tell.

As far as labor, I never experienced it. Dd was breech and had a csection. No help there.

BrideNamedMeg · September 2013

I'm 5'4'' and was just under 160 when I got pregnant, I had been down below 150, but I gained almost 10lbs when we were TTC - it's the only time I really stress eat! I was probably 153ish when I got pregnant with DS and I had no complications and he was born at home. My midwife was very comfortable with my weight gain (about 25 lbs).

I honestly can't imagine only gaining 10-15 during a pregnancy...the baby and placenta practically weigh more than that, plus your blood volume goes up by like 50%, which probably accounts for 4-5lbs. I try to make good food choices when I feel up to it and will be really focusing on getting down to a healthy weight after this LO is born. With DS especially, I had such a hard time losing because I knew we were going to have another one and that I'd just gain it all back!

I had back pain with both of my kids and I don't think it had anything to do with weight. I was well into a "normal" weight range when I had DD and my back still killed towards the end! That's pretty typical.

As far as bumps go, for my first two I didn't show until I was around 19 weeks. I definitely had a bump before that, but I don't think it looked like a pregnant bump, just that I was gaining weight. This time around, my belly is definitely more "bumpish" even though I'm still too early to be truly showing.

LadyTyler · September 2013

As probably the obsesiest in this neighborhood, I can really tell you: its okay. I was 290 at conception with Nate, and 310 exactly at birth. No GD, no blood pressure problems and I don't think I had any more discomforts than your average pregnant woman. I never looked pregnant though. Immediately postpartum, I was down about 2lbs from conception, which was nice. Breastfeeding while it worked for me also helped lose a bit more weight. None of the OBs in my practice worry about their obese patients unless they have actual health problems. Everyone was really reassuring about my weight gain and accommodating with finding me a gown that fitted and such. Don't feel like all doctors agree that your weight is a big issue.

My only real issue was the breastfeeding. My breasts are very large and I never found a position and hold that worked for us.

angelsnight · September 2013

I only made it to 22 weeks last time, but I had gained 4 pounds, I was doing really well on my GD diet so I don't think I would have gained more than my 15 or so pounds that my doctor said was my goal to not go over.

I think a bump when you're overweight depends on your body type. I've seen women who were basically an apple shape (large all over) before pregnancy, once pregnant you couldn't really tell, they maybe looked a little bigger, but not necessarily so that a stranger would guess they were pregnant.

I tend to carry the majority of my weight in my tummy and boobs. So when not pregnant, or not showing I already look about 4-5 months pregnant but I'm obviously not since my tummy is soft and well, fat. However last time, when I started to "show" my tummy went from flabby fat tummy, to rounder, hard baby belly. Despite being overweight, I actually felt really cute once I looked pregnant. I also felt like since it was now ok that my tummy was sticking out, it made the rest of me look smaller in comparison. I'm actually really excited to start showing again so I can stop just feeling fat.

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Curvy expecting mamas... STM advice? kinda long

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