weight gain: need encouragement

junebugsam · December 2012

I am 26 weeks pregnant and just had my appt. I was SHOCKED to find out I have gained 25 lbs!! I was 5'4, 135 lbs before pregancy. I don't understand this. I walk 2 miles 4-5 times a week. I keep my snacks healthy, though I do indulge more than pre-pregancy (but I hear of women who indulge MUCH more than I, and they seem to be on track with weight gain??) My dr. said this was where she was hoping I would end at, but if I am eating healthy and exercising, then my metabolism is just responding differently. She said to try and end up at 40 lbs gain.I have 14 more weeks to go and I am so afraid I am going to end up gaining like 60 lbs!

p.s.- I have had my gestational screening and it looked great. My blood pressure is always normal.

ezavage · December 2012

I'm in same situation (approx same height/weight) and the doctor made the comment to me at my last visit to "not eat that extra piece of cake". I feel like I do splurge a little but am mostly healthy and get a lot of exercise//walking at work. I did buy summer sander's prenatal workout video to try to keep semi-in shape. Hopefully they will have better things to say at the next check-up.

ashaw82 · December 2012

I'm in the same boat, 26 weeks, 5'10 and I have gained 30 lbs!!! At my last appointment my doctor didn't mention anything about my weight but wrote in my chart that I have had "excessive weight gain". I was crushed!!! My husband and I are vegan so we eat very healthy. I have splurged a little with the sweets around the holidays because everyone loves to feed the pregnant woman, but I do not feel like I have gained that much and everyone comments on how small I still am. I think this just goes to show every pregnancy is different. I'm going to say no to sweets for the rest of the pregnancy (the best I can) and continue to live a healthy lifestyle. Hopefully we can get back to our pre-pregnancy weight quickly after baby comes.

bahramewe17 · December 2012

I hear you! I was on track until the last appointment, when I learned I managed to put on 10 lbs in one month! Oops. I also think I've been eating decently, but I did have a jump in appetite this past month. I was feeling very self conscious about it, until I talked to my sisters who, it turns out all surpassed the recommended weight gain range and had no trouble at all losing it after the baby was out and nursing. It's difficult to do when we're so used to keeping track of our weight, but I am going to try to accept that my body knows what it needs better than some chart in a book. As long as you're eating mostly healthy things and only eating when you're hungry, now isn't the time to skimp.

DollyFive · December 2012

I am definitely in the same boat, but you have a few inches on me. At 5'2'', I started at 124 lbs. I am now 25 weeks and 20 lbs. heavier. Like you, I've been active and conscientious of my diet. Maybe it's how we're built or what our babies need? I'm not sure. I'm guessing, given your healthy condition, you'll lose your weight quickly! In the meantime, don't be too hard on yourself. After all, you're growing a baby!!! :-) Good luck!

lulu775 · December 2012

I say no worries as long as you stick to healthy habits. I've eaten right and walk all day at work. I still got gestational diabetes. I've only gained 12 lbs at 26 wks but look huge. I've even had people not only ask but actually argue with me that I look I'm having twins or I look ready to pop now rather than March. So I say again. NO WORRIES.

whacker · January 2013

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BPHayner21 · January 2013

I am 26 weeks with my second daughter and I have only gained about 10 pounds! Im not sure if that is ok or not....I have a dr appt in the next couple of days. When I first became pregnant with my second baby I lost almost 17 pounds in the first couple of months. But with my first daughter I gained 5 pounds and had stretch marks before I even knew I was pregnant!!! And I gained a good 45 pounds with her!

Becs4f · January 2013

I too am 5'4" and just weighed in this month gaining 10 lbs just in the last month, totally 25 lbs. I was soo upset, my Dr was very understanding and just said...if this is the worst thing that happens during your pregnancy than that's great...lol. I gained a total of 25 lbs with my last pregnancy, so to still have 14 weeks to go this time has me a little worried. But trying to not think about it too much. Good Luck!

LAnnTaylor · January 2013

I'm glad to see this post because I am the same way. I'm 5'4 and about the same weight. I have gained 6 pounds in the past month. With my first pregnancy I gained about 45 pounds and lost it all no problem. I went back and looked at the calendar I kept with my first and I am gaining the same way now as I did then. As long as your eating healthy you are fine. I think if you are smaller to start out with then you need to gain extra weight for your baby to be healthy.

pamela0522 · February 2013

don't forget that water-weight is rapid and weighs a lot. With my first child I went from 145 to 198 during pregnancy. When I delivered, I only weighed 154. All in all, I only gained 10 pounds. The same happened with my second child, so I expect this one to be the same. Just keep in mind, all of the water your body retains, before thinking that something is wrong. Hope this helps. Smile

bellerina84 · February 2013

Same here. Height 5 '4 starting weight 138 and I'm 26 weeks w/ a weight gain of 22 pounds. My doc wasn't concerned at all when I asked about it. I eat healthy and exercise 3 to 4 times a week. I've indulged slightly more than pre pregnancy but nothing excessive or over the top. Not sure why I'm gaining so much.

KellenHi21 · March 2013

ashaw82:
I'm in the same boat, 26 weeks, 5'10 and I have gained 30 lbs!!!nbsp; At my last appointment my doctor didn't mention anything about my weight but wrote in my chart that I have had "excessive weight gain".nbsp; I was crushed!!!nbsp; My husband and I are vegan so we eat very healthy.nbsp; I have splurged a little with the sweets around the holidays because everyone loves to feed the pregnant woman, but I do not feel like I have gained that much and everyone comments on how small I still am.nbsp; I think this just goes to show every pregnancy is different.nbsp; I'm going to say no to sweets for the rest of the pregnancy the best I can and continue to live a healthy lifestyle.nbsp; Hopefully we can get back to our prepregnancy weight quickly after baby comes.

I'm in the same boat, 5'11" and up 30lbs...

mamamagy25 · March 2013

Don't worry!! Last month when my Dr. cautioned me on my 9 pound weight gain (in one month) was shocked and a bit sad. I felt I was eating healthy and staying active-how could this happen and would it continue??!! My Dr. explained that the recommended weight gain parameters are partly meant as a guideline in order to facilitate easier weight loss after birth. As long as you and the baby are healthy-keep up the good work! This is no time for dieting! I did cut out some of the empty calories like ranch and swapped the ice cream for frozen yogurt. We spend a lifetime it seems being weight conscious and dieting so it is a difficult to change our perspective now that we are eating with a purpose-growing a baby!

prettyprincessjellybean · March 2013

I started out at 4'11 weighing 104. I was soooo sick and gained no weight in the first trimester. Then I ate good when I was able. I'm 31 weeks now and weigh 136! The baby's weight was about 3.3 lbs at my 29 week ultrasound. I'm guessing that what you would normally gain from eating slightly more or from sweets ect. Doubles because of pregnancy hormones. It must. I feel so crappy :

prettyprincessjellybean · March 2013

pamela0522:
don't forget that waterweight is rapid and weighs a lot.nbsp; With my first child I went from 145 to 198 during pregnancy.nbsp; When I delivered, I only weighed 154.nbsp; All in all, I only gained 10 pounds.nbsp; The same happened with my second child, so I expect this one to be the same.nbsp; Just keep in mind, all of the water your body retains, before thinking that something is wrong.nbsp; Hope this helps. [:]

My mother had this same experience. She lost like all of the weight very quick about 50 lbs because of all the fluids. Thanks for posting, I hope that's what all this sudden weight is!

Hdressler · April 2013

I am 26 weeks with my second son. I am 5'2" and started at 108lb (about the same point as with my first son). With my first, I gained a total of about 45lb through just under 40 weeks (I was 4 days early), about 1lb/week for most of the pregnancy, a little more at the end (water weight, etc). With my second now, I have gained 24-25lb at 26.5 weeks, right on track with what I gained first time around. Although both times the Dr recommended about 25-35lb weight gain, I managed to lose it all (except a few lb) with my first and hope to do the same with my second. I breastfed my first, which helped with the weight loss immensely (although this was not the main reason for doing so, more for benefits to the baby). I recommend to everyone to try to breastfeed... it's best for baby, and if you are worried about losing the baby weight, this can only help.

PS, due to how exhausted I was first time around, I all but quit exercising, and have never really picked it back up unfortunately (other than keeping up with my now 4-year-old). So very little exercise with either pregnancy (although I don't recommend this, and would MUCH rather have time to fit in some more exercise), and definately too much indulging in ice cream and other sweets. Just make sure you are still getting in all the good health guidelines you need to maintain your health and that of your new baby! It will also leave a little less desire to indulge

Good luck!

acrazydaisy · April 2013

I feel like such a pig compared to everyone else here!! I *wish* I was a lanky 5'10" or 5'11! Then, the weight I've gained so far wouldn't look like anything on me! I'm only 5'2", started pregnancy around 115 lbs. and at my 24w/6d OB appointment, I weighed in at 152.5 lbs!! That's a weight gain of 37.5 lbs. ALREADY! And I still have at least 11 weeks to go! (I'm 26 weeks today.) Ugh! : ( When I gave birth to my first son (this one's a boy, too) at 32w/3d, I remember weighing myself the day my water spontaneously broke when I was in my room on the high-risk floor for observation (there was a doctor's scale in the corner of my room) and I weighed 165 lbs. at 32w/1d after starting out that pregnancy at just 105 lbs! I had gained 60 lbs. already at 32w/1d! Imagine how much I'd have weighed at full-term! Scary! I breastfed but it still took me 3 years to really buckle down and get serious about losing the weight. Breastfeeding did NOT cause me to lose weight. : ( (All breastfeeding really does is cause the uterus to get back to it's pre-pregnancy size by making it contract as you're breastfeeding.) I had to start working out for 2 hours a day, 6 days a week with serious dieting and Alli to get rid of that darn weight! I hope this time it's easier to lose the weight! I'm really trying hard not to indulge too much. If I have sweets, it's usually fruit.

acrazydaisy · April 2013

I feel like such a pig compared to everyone else here!! I *wish* I was a lanky 5'10" or 5'11! Then, the weight I've gained so far wouldn't look like anything on me! I'm only 5'2", started pregnancy around 115 lbs. and at my 24w/6d OB appointment, I weighed in at 152.5 lbs!! That's a weight gain of 37.5 lbs. ALREADY! And I still have at least 11 weeks to go! (I'm 26 weeks today.) Ugh! : ( When I gave birth to my first son (this one's a boy, too) at 32w/3d, I remember weighing myself the day my water spontaneously broke when I was in my room on the high-risk floor for observation (there was a doctor's scale in the corner of my room) and I weighed 165 lbs. at 32w/1d after starting out that pregnancy at just 105 lbs! I had gained 60 lbs. already at 32w/1d! Imagine how much I'd have weighed at full-term! Scary! I breastfed but it still took me 3 years to really buckle down and get serious about losing the weight. Breastfeeding did NOT cause me to lose weight. : ( (All breastfeeding really does is cause the uterus to get back to it's pre-pregnancy size by making it contract as you're breastfeeding.) I had to start working out for 2 hours a day, 6 days a week with serious dieting and Alli to get rid of that darn weight! I hope this time it's easier to lose the weight! I'm really trying hard not to indulge too much. If I have sweets, it's usually fruit.

iselapena88 · April 2013

I feel you on this one. I went to my 23 week appointment and gained 14 lbs in only 5 weeks!!! This really shocked me considering my eating habits have not really changed. I, like yourself, eat well and could not believe it. This put me at 33 lbs gained in 23 weeks :-/ I am now 26 weeks and am hoping that when I go back the weight gain has slowed down. I am retaining a TON of water so I hope that is some of the weight gain. Don't feel bad you are not alone :-D

memMB372 · April 2013

Me too! I'm 5'4 and was in the 136ish range when I got pregnant and within the first 3 months I put on 15 lbs. I wasn't feeling great and melted cheese always sounded good. Since that point I've been using a calorie calculator for my height plus 300 extra calories a day for baby and exersising a few times a week. At this point I am still up 25 lbs. Overall I feel pretty okay and don't think I look terrible.. but it doesn't help when co-workers make comments like, "are you sure you aren't having twins?" or "you're only 6 months! you're going to be huge!" gggrrrrrrr. I think we all sound normal and healthy on here!

AmyDee · April 2013

The WORST thing you can do right now is go on a diet! My instructor talked about this at the birth classes I go to, and how the number they give every woman to gain is bogus. Every book/doctor says 25-35lbs, but how does it make sense that someone who's 4'11" and someone who's 5'11" should gain the same amount? Someone who is at a healthy weight pre-pregancy shouldn't have to gain as much weight as someone who was less or more? Every woman's different and every baby is different. I'm 5'7" and 140 PP, and gained 20lbs at 26 weeks and it looks like I swallowed a soccer ball. I still have a waist (from behind)! I eat right (not prefect), exercise (not perfect), and at every check up both he and I are perfectly healthy. It sounds like you have a VERY healthy lifestyle and your baby is healthy too. Eat up, don't torture yourself with guilt, and if your doctor's giving you a hard time about it, tell him to have a big bite of a STFU sandwich! They used to tell women not to gain any weight and what happened was malnourished babies and sick mamas. FEED YOUR BABY AND BE FABULOUS!

AmyDee · April 2013

"my body knows what it needs better than some chart in a book"

PREACH IT!

asikdar80 · April 2013

I totally agree and appreciate your post, 510 extra pounds isn't going to harm anyone!

bahramewe17:
I hear you! nbsp;I was on track until the last appointment, when I learned I managed to put on 10 lbs in one month! nbsp;Oops. nbsp;I also think I've been eating decently, but I did have a jump in appetite this past month. nbsp;I was feeling very self conscious about it, until I talked to my sisters who, it turns out all surpassed the recommended weight gain range and had no trouble at all losing it after the baby was out and nursing. nbsp;It's difficult to do when we're so used to keeping track of our weight, but I am going to try to accept that my body knows what it needs better than some chart in a book. nbsp;As long as you're eating mostly healthy things and only eating when you're hungry, now isn't the time to skimp. nbsp;

seattlesparrow92 · April 2013

I am in exactly the same situation as yourself, except I am 25 weeks pregnant and a couple of days...I'm 5'4" and pre-pregnancy I weighed around 140/145 pounds...I weighed in last week at my 24 week appointment and found out I'd gained 10 pounds in one month!!

I have been eating the same as I have been throughout my whole pregnancy, I take my dog out walks and walk to the majority of my doctor appointments. I was shocked, upset and concerned about this sudden amount of rapid weight gain. The nurse weighing me initially stated her concern over the amount of weight gained, whereas my actual OB/GYN wasn't concerned at all, and explained that this happens with many women, and sometimes...if your a more active person, or a person with not as much body fat, your body can sometimes go through weight fluctuations and growth spurts.

I'm paranoid now, and am starting swimming this week. (I was a prior competitive swimmer a few years ago) The only thing I can try to do for this is at least try to exercise, and work out some of the kinks of my body, I'm hoping next month, I won't weigh in anywhere near that amount!

Andrea621 · May 2013

After my morning sickness finally ended, I was shocked to see how quickly I gained weight, especially since I walk regularly and thought I was eating fairly healthfully. My doctor was a little surprised too.

Here's what I did and I am much happier now. I joined a website called, BabyFit.com. It's all about pregnancy nutrition. Let me emphasize that it is NOT about dieting and losing weight while you are pregnant. I started tracking what I was eating and adjusted my settings to also track sodium (a killer for me), calcium, and iron. It encourages you to have a healthy range of calories and nutrients everyday. It also has a community feel which reminds me of theBump. Overall, it helped me feel in control of my eating. Also, I was shocked to see how much sodium I was taking in. I started paying close attention to that and I am so much less swollen now than I was three weeks ago. By the way, I have no affiliation with this website and it's totally free--I'm just sharing something that has helped me a lot. )

lauraeagaba · May 2013

i know how you feel. I am 26 and have gained about that much and have been exercising and eating really well, save the occasional splurge. I pack high protein and high fiber lunches and stay away from most sugar. What I had to realize is that I am not in control of my body, it is doing things now that it has never done before and that i don't understand. The best we can do is be healthy and mindful and trust that our bodies will know what to do once baby is born and we have to figure out how to get back to normal. You are NOT alone!

veggievet · May 2013

My butt is so large now, I have to go buy a larger size and is resembling cottage cheese. I eat fairly well just not able to exercise like I used to and eat more, always hungry. Girl you are not alone.

veggievet · May 2013

Ashwa83 I am also vegan and have gained some extra pounds too. Hang in there.

ElKatBee · May 2013

Me too! 5'10", and already gained 30lbs, also managed to pack on 10lbs in the last month. It's tough, as somebody said, "everybody loves to feed the pregnant woman", if I refuse dessert it's reason for mass panic! I'm going to take and be comforted by the advice onhere: eat fairly healthy, stay as active as you can, and as long as my baby's healthy, I'll be happy!

Anarion · June 2013

So good to read this. 5'9 and I've gained all that I should (plus a few) 33lbs. BUT I haven't put any on in the last three weeks. It's like my body just decided to do it all at once and then wait. Now to hope that the rest of the time is spent only gaining actual BABY weight.

Bbmum16 · June 2013

I'm in the same boat. I'm 5'4" and prepregnancy weight of 110. Which is slightly underweight. But I'm 26 weeks today and have gained a little over 30lbs. I'm mainly worried about trying to lose it later on. I didn't get morning sickness so I started putting on weight immediately and my doctor has been concerned since my first appointment. I hope to lose it quickly. But I've also talked to people who have told me to ignore the doc and indulge. So I'm slightly confused, this being my first child.

kajola · June 2013

I am having the opposite worries. I am 5' 7", started out at 151 lbs, lost a few because of morning sickness and now am 156 lbs. So, total weight gain is about 8 lbs. I just had my doctors visit last week and he didn't seem concerned about my weight. I try to make healthy eating choices, but also don't deny myself anything I really want. Don't have a set exercise program, except for taking our puppy for her daily walks. I am wondering if anyone else has had little weight gain at this point in the pregnancy. I feel like I should have gained more seeing what others have gained, but at the same time my baby is checking up as healthy.

chrislawson · July 2013

Don't take it real hard. I feel like doctors put more stress into our lives when they say were gaining too much weight, This gives you an idea on where most of the extra weight goes/comes from. Hope this helps you feel a bit better. Doctors need to be a little more sensitive around this time of our lives

Baby: 8 pounds
Placenta: 2-3 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2-3 pounds
Breast tissue: 2-3 pounds
Blood supply: 4 pounds
Stored fat for delivery and breastfeeding: 5-9 pounds
Larger uterus: 2-5 pounds
Total: 25-35 pounds

ChristinaCochran · July 2013

I'm 26 weeks and have only gained 8 lbs. My doctor says I shouldn't be worried, but could stand to put on a few more pounds. No worries; it sounds like you're in the clear so long as you're eating apx. every 3 hours.

hoffman00 · July 2013

Each pregnancy is different - don't fret about it too much. if you plan on breastfeeding afterwards, you'll loose a lot of that. My first pregnancy, at 26 wks, I gained 35 lbs, my second, at 26 wks I was at 20, and this time around, I'm at 15. No worries - it will come off, and it's all worth it in the end!!!

CrystalMS2011 · July 2013

I"m 26 weeks and 5'10, I went to my checkup last week and learned I've already gained 34bls. the Doc said that maximum gain should be between 15-30lbs. This seems totally unreasonable, especially since I'm so tall. I have asked a bunch of girlfriends on mine, who by the way are way shorter than me and then gained around 40/50 lbs with their babies. I"m trying to not worry to much and do the best I can to be healthy. But the doctor definitely didn't have a great bedside manner or say anything else to me other than your gaining to much weight.

ave1012 · December 2013

This is my second pregnancy and I am actually 2 lbs less than I was at this point in my first. HOWEVER I am huge and have had several people tell me so. It definitely makes me feel better about my size when they do.

I am embarrassed to tell people my due date because I can seen in their faces their disbelief. If you are eating healthy and maintaining healthy lifestyle I would not worry. My friend gained 60 lbs during her pregnancy. At one point her MD even sent to a nutritionist, who said that she was very healthy in her eating. I think that sometimes it really has to deal with how your hormones are reacting to changes in your body.

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