Weight Gain for Petite Women

Beekohead0414 · January 2014

Hi, my doc told me yesterday that at 28weeks I've already reached the 'optimal' weight gain for a petite woman (I'm 5'1 and have gained 25lbs). She said if I gain much more, that I'll have a higher risk of not being able to deliver vaginally b/c of how big baby will be. Tell me how am I suppose to NOT gain weight for another 12 weeks when all I want to do is eat! Anyway...has anyone ever been told this before? Were you able to drastically slow down your weight gain? I feel like this is impossibe! Any advise is appreciated...

TheAnalyticalMommy · January 2014

Wow! I've never heard that one before. With my first I gained 35 lbs and delivered vaginally, and now with my second, I've gained about 35 lbs again and my dr. (a different one) isn't worried at all and shares my preference for a vaginal birth.

Beekohead0414 · January 2014

Are you a petite woman? I feel like my dr totally sprung this on me, considering my weight gain is still in the 'average' range for 28 weeks. Wish she would have told me sooner that 25lbs was the max!! I would have skipped some of those hot fudge sundeas/brownies/cake/etc!!

gobbo1985 · January 2014

Don't worry about it. Eat healthy and and try to be active a few days a week. Even if it's just walking. I'm 5'4 and I'm 37 weeks on Friday, I've gained 40lbs. I plan on having a natural birth and my doctor isn't worried. When I first met my doctor she told me the optimal weight for someone my size and height is 20lbs. I laughed on her face

she said she had to tell me that and just eat healthy. I've been eating healthy and I go to the gym once a week only. But I walk around the mall and clean the house a lot.

You have to think you are growing a baby who needs you to gain weight so they are healthy

Don't let your doctor make you feel bad.

As some women gain all there weight in the beginning and it slows down in the end. I didn't start gaining weight till I was about 22 weeks and bam!

halfthetree · January 2014

Your doctor is being a jerk. 25 lbs is fine, so long as you are eating healthy and not getting swollen or gaining over 2lbs a week or something crazy like that.
I gained 60lbs with my son, this babe only 15, so really it varies from person to person, and even baby to baby. Don't stress!

SuperMom17 · January 2014

Bull. I am 5' and like 100 lbs, have gained 35. Gained more than 35-40 with my first two, both were healthy, normal, etc. DD was 8 lbs 5 oz, DS was 8 lbs 8 oz. You are fine, your doctor however is an idiot.

mcgeeva · January 2014

All of that is a bs. I may be 5'9 and slender (started at 125 but I am super short waisted and gained 40 my last pregnancy and it was all in my belly. None of that has ZERO to do with delivery. If your obese that is a different story. I can tell you even now I have already gained 40 at 32 weeks (yes I wish it was less but I had a few bad weeks) and I see 7 different doctors in my practice. I ask every time and my doctors said I am 100% perfectly fine and right on track. Only the one doctor who is 5 foot told me I shouldn't eat carbs etc but again that is one doctor in my practice so her advice means nothing to me. Just keep eating. The weight will come off with a little work. If you were tiny to begin with you can gain extra. But again everyone has their own views on weight gain and pregnancy.

mcgeeva · January 2014

I should also say weight does not equal size of baby so that is also false if they are getting at that. My coworker and my mothers sister gained 50 with their pregnancy and are only 5'1 amd 5'2 and both delivered vaginally.

Beekohead0414 · January 2014

Thank you SO much everyone for your advice -- it is incredibly helpful and makes me feel so much better. My doctor also suggested that I stay away from carbs, but that is definitely not something I can achieve (I would always feel hungry!) LOL Thanks mamas

mcgeeva · January 2014

Here is the thing with carbs..I have cut back some..but I don't have GD so it's not like that is the reason to cut back on them. You can make healthier choices but at the end of the day everyone gains differently. I should also add DS was 6 pounds 9 oz.

futuremrswinfree · January 2014

I ask not to know what my weight is or how much I have gained so far. My doctor/ nurses are merciful. As long as the baby is healthy and I am healthy, I'll work it out and put it all back together in yoga class later. I gained 40+ lbs with my 1st and was so worried about "that number" that I didn't focus on staying healthy for my baby.

Ashleypixie · January 2014

I'm 5'3" and normally 100lbs. I gained 10 when I went off BC and so far another 25lbs. I'm right on track with where you are at 28 weeks, plus 10! I'm not thrilled about it but I gained 60lbs with my first and 40lbs with my second and no issues delivering vaginally or with losing it later! Not that I know more than your doctor but I'm pretty certain that you have to start out rather large and gain a massive amount of weight before that becomes a problem. I know women who have gained 100lbs and had normal sized babies. Besides, you may find that you eat far less than you did in your first trimesters. All I did was stuff my face and now I am so big that I'm rarely hungry and haven't put on any weight in a month. I anticipate the rest of my weight gain will be baby. You'll probably see the same thing, so take what your dr says in stride.

rexgirl06 · January 2014

I am 5"2 and was at a healthy weight before pregnancy. I've gained 50 pounds (36W) and my doctor has said nothing about those kinds of concerns. My sister gained 60 with her first and delivered just fine. I try not to gorge on ice cream and soda and try and eat healthier snacks than cookies/sweets etc. Your body will just do it's thing. Weight gain does not always mean the baby will be a guiness book world record weight baby.

Lots of other factors.

TheAnalyticalMommy · January 2014

Sorry for tue delayed reply.. yep im petite. 5'3 on a good day and statyed at 105 lbs

ksmontei · January 2014

I am 5'2" and on the low end of normal for BMI (18). I weighed 103lbs pre-pregnancy. I find it odd that your doctor told you that because you're petite you should gain LESS weight. My doctor told me the exact opposite. Because I am petite she told me that I should aim for the higher end of the normal weight gain range (about 35lbs). I really, really wouldn't worry.

LGajek · January 2014

Along with all the other ladies, I don't believe that's good advice from your doc. The baby alone is gaining 1/2 pound a week. Just make sure you're eating healthy so you and baby stay healthy. I am also petite and started at a normal weight. I've gained almost 25 pounds (31w) and my dr's say that's great. Based on what the books say, third trimester women should gain about a pound a week

NBA0703 · January 2014

I am 5'2" and started out at 138... and I was up to 183 today.. Soo I am up 45 pounds already... and my midwife hasn't said anything.. I asked her if she thinks it is too much and she said "well I haven't even looked at it, what was it?" She didn't seem concerned. I am pregnant with twins but still I shouldn't gain a ton.. But I don't eat a lot or eat a lot of bad foods.. I have just stopped working out and counting calories. I work in Labor and Delivery and help deliver babies to moms that are overweight.. This has nothing to do with how you are going to deliver. If you have Gestational Diabetes sometimes the baby may be to big and they check weights with ultrasounds (which isn't always accurate either). I have a couple friends that gained around 60 pounds with a singleton and have had vaginal deliveries each time!!

Jecca07 · January 2014

I am 5'4 and gained 40 lbs with my first. She weighed 6lbs 12oz at birth (39.5 weeks). So, you know, NOT a big baby. This time I've gained 30 lbs. and it's really unlikely this baby will be big. 25 lbs is an unrealistic weight goal unless you were extremely overweight prepregnancy.

Beekohead0414 · January 2014

Thank you so much everyone for your advice. I'm definitely questioning my dr now! I was not overweight pre-pregnancy (130lbs) and was in the healthy BMI range, so it did come as a shock to me that my dr is limiting my weight gain to 25lbs. I don't plan on 'dieting' by any means, just going to try and eat a bit more healthy and bump up my exericse a bit. Definitely not as worried about this as I was before!! Thank you!

ufsandra85 · January 2014

i have never heard that. I am 5 2 and i was 125-130 before i got pregnant. I have gained about 55 pounds and my doctor said that is ok and i am healthy and that is all that matters

AngelinaMichael9042015 · January 2014

Beekohead0414 said:

Are you a petite woman? I feel like my dr totally sprung this on me, considering my weight gain is still in the 'average' range for 28 weeks. Wish she would have told me sooner that 25lbs was the max!! I would have skipped some of those hot fudge sundeas/brownies/cake/etc!!

I was watching the documentary 'the business of being born,' the other day and they talk all about this. They explain that many women use pregnancy as an excuse to gain a ton of weight-- this whole 'eating for two" mentality. In actuality, you only need 300 calories above your regular daily intake. You might want to lay off the crap food. Our bodies are not garbage cans. While weight gain is needed, it's unhealthy to go overboard. Crap, look at Jessica Simpson and her baby weight gain. She said in a interview recently that she "just ate whatever she wanted" when pregnant. Now, she's a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers. Sad.

mcgeeva · January 2014

AngelinaMichael9042015 said:

Beekohead0414 said:

Are you a petite woman? I feel like my dr totally sprung this on me, considering my weight gain is still in the 'average' range for 28 weeks. Wish she would have told me sooner that 25lbs was the max!! I would have skipped some of those hot fudge sundeas/brownies/cake/etc!!
I was watching the documentary 'the business of being born,' the other day and they talk all about this. They explain that many women use pregnancy as an excuse to gain a ton of weight-- this whole 'eating for two" mentality. In actuality, you only need 300 calories above your regular daily intake. You might want to lay off the crap food. Our bodies are not garbage cans. While weight gain is needed, it's unhealthy to go overboard. Crap, look at Jessica Simpson and her baby weight gain. She said in a interview recently that she "just ate whatever she wanted" when pregnant. Now, she's a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers. Sad.

Shoot I would take her being "sad" for millions of dollars to be a spokeswoman!

gateship · January 2014

I am 5"2" (1/2"- I really like that 1/2" lol) and quite petite...so far I have gained 36 lbs and I am nearing the end of my 39th week. My doctor didn't ever say against my weight gain and has been very happy with how things have been going. Eating healthy is definitely a good idea for both you and baby but don't beat yourself up for eating a hot fudge sunday now and again!

Is there another doctor in your practice that you can talk to about this? I would want to get another option if I were you. Good luck!

runningyogimama · February 2014

AngelinaMichael9042015 said:

Beekohead0414 said:

Are you a petite woman? I feel like my dr totally sprung this on me, considering my weight gain is still in the 'average' range for 28 weeks. Wish she would have told me sooner that 25lbs was the max!! I would have skipped some of those hot fudge sundeas/brownies/cake/etc!!

I was watching the documentary 'the business of being born,' the other day and they talk all about this. They explain that many women use pregnancy as an excuse to gain a ton of weight-- this whole 'eating for two" mentality. In actuality, you only need 300 calories above your regular daily intake. You might want to lay off the crap food. Our bodies are not garbage cans. While weight gain is needed, it's unhealthy to go overboard. Crap, look at Jessica Simpson and her baby weight gain. She said in a interview recently that she "just ate whatever she wanted" when pregnant. Now, she's a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers. Sad.

You should tell my body, which is constantly starving, no matter what I eat or how much protein, that I only need an extra 300 calories per day. Because I read that with my first pregnancy, and my body still wouldn't listen/cooperate with that.

I think it's sad that Jessica Simpson was publicly fat shamed for gaining weight while pregnant. The audacity of her, gasp!

I'm a healthy, fit (petite) person. I gained (and lost) 50+ lbs with my first pregnancy. All of the women in my family are petite and easily gain a lot of weight while pregnant.

maelic · February 2014

Maybe we should quit shaming women for gaining weight, ever, rather than admonishing them not to eat for two.

awc1986 · February 2014

AngelinaMichael9042015 said:

Beekohead0414 said:

Are you a petite woman? I feel like my dr totally sprung this on me, considering my weight gain is still in the 'average' range for 28 weeks. Wish she would have told me sooner that 25lbs was the max!! I would have skipped some of those hot fudge sundeas/brownies/cake/etc!!

I was watching the documentary 'the business of being born,' the other day and they talk all about this. They explain that many women use pregnancy as an excuse to gain a ton of weight-- this whole 'eating for two" mentality. In actuality, you only need 300 calories above your regular daily intake. You might want to lay off the crap food. Our bodies are not garbage cans. While weight gain is needed, it's unhealthy to go overboard. Crap, look at Jessica Simpson and her baby weight gain. She said in a interview recently that she "just ate whatever she wanted" when pregnant. Now, she's a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers. Sad.

How is it sad? She has 2 beautiful children and she's lost the weight. I'm pretty sure she enjoyed putting it on too. There's definitely a judgey whiff about this post.

OP, as long as you're not eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's a day then your body will gain what it needs to.

erogosin · February 2014

I gained about 27 pounds by week 26 or 27. I'm 5'3". The doctor told me I'd gained too much. Between 26 and 31 I gained a single pound. The doctor told me I'd gained too much. ???? I think they're just super obsessed with numbers. I have fine blood pressure, little swelling in feet, no pain, no signs of complications, and no gestational diabetes. They haven't told me I can't deliver vaginally. Maybe you can change doctors??

HobokensFury · February 2014

On the flip side I'm 4"11 and have only gained 6 pounds. I was concerned that I haven't gained enough but my dr. says there are so many factors that determine what's a "healthy" weight gain during pregnancy not to worry about it.

homediva · February 2014

I'm 5-1 and gained over 50lb with my son. I lost it all (with the help of ww). This time around I'm 30 weeks and have lost track. Just eat healthy and don't worry about the numbers. Neither of my OBs were ever concerned with my weight gain. I'm not either.

MrsNash07 · February 2014

I would say not to worry about it. I'm petite as well. I started out at 115 pounds and I'm 5'2". So far I've gained 39 pounds already and I'm 32 weeks by tomorrow. I feel bad about it....but I shouldn't. My doctor said he would let me know if he needs me to go on a diet. Right now, he has not said anything. He said my baby girl is good and I'm doing good after having gallbladder removal surgery and stones removes last month.

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