Natural Birth and weight gain question

workmm01 · July 2014

Hello, I think this might be my first question on this board. I'm 31 and this is my first baby. I'm due this Friday Aug 1st! I've been planning on a natural birth and trying to be prepared. One concern I have is that I've gained more weight than my doctor or I wanted me to. I have had a healthy diet, but it's hard to resist cravings! I've also stayed active so even though I'm over the recommended 35lbs gained I still plan on trying to go all natural. I need some reassurance that it can be done though! Please if you gained more weight than you wanted to and were still able to have a natural birth, let me know! Thanks in advance!

marriedinaugust · July 2014

Um, I gained 65lbs. I'm 5'8" and started at 130lbs. I never had morning sickness, was hungry all the time and worked out until 38 weeks. My midwife thinks my body just needed the weight. I had an all natural hospital birth that went rather quickly for DS being posterior. Labored for 5 hours at home, got to the hospital and was only 2cm, 4hrs later I was 10cm. Pushed for 2 hours with my waters intact while the nurse helped turn the baby. When he was ready to go my midwife popped my water and he came right out. 11 hours start to finish and DS was only 7lbs 9oz. It took me a year to drop the weight but I wasn't actively trying. I wish I hadn't gained that much but it is what it is. Have confidence, you will do great!

sschwege · July 2014

I don't think your weight gain has much influence on how much your baby gains. With both of mine I gained less than 30lb and DD was 7lb15oz and DS was 8lb12oz. I had DS out in 2 pushes, fat squishes, I wouldn't worry!

catsinawindow · July 2014

I gained more than I was supposed to (I think around 40 lbs, I was supposed to gain less than 25 bc I was overweight to begin with). I just had a beautiful, quick natural birth 6 weeks ago.

barista411 · July 2014

I gained about 50lbs with both of my pregnancies. My midwife never seemed concerned about my weight gain. I had two beautiful natural births and two beautiful healthy babies.

Good luck!

lexxctpx · July 2014

Hey August bud. Just wanted to note that although I'm also a FTM, I've gained 45 pounds from 130 and 5'4" (39 weeks today). My OB is very pleased with my weight gain. If you start out pretty lean, as a PP alluded to, you're generally expected to put on more weight. As long as it's gained steadily and from keeping a balanced diet, and you stay active, you're good to go.

Keep in mind too that some of the final weight you put on is fluid, and it fluctuates pretty frequently. I was told +/- 5 pounds on any given day (or even weighing from morning to evening).

Also it seems plain to see now that weight has no effect on a natural birth, as PPs have illustrated.

Not long now!! Let's do it!!!

mb314 · July 2014

workmm01 said:

more weight than you wanted to and were still able to have a natural birth, let me know! Thanks in advance!

I gained about 40 with DS and had an uncomplicated natural birth. I think being active is extremely important and a better indicator than how much weight you've gained. If your body is used to being active, it will be better prepared to delivery a baby . If you're due in August, you probably wont have gained more than 40 or 45 pounds, and that seems reasonable to me. Good luck!

workmm01 · July 2014

Thank you guys! I've gained about 45 and my doctor has been hard on me all 9 months! They always kinda shake my confidence at every appointment, but I feel good! Thanks for the encouragement!

Milo5181 · July 2014

Pregnant women gain weight in all areas not just the baby. I gained 45 lbs last time and my son was 6lbs12, so I know the extra weight was in my legs and butt and arms and face. My midwives knew as well, my fundal height was always right on track. Your doctor should know that and if he is concerned about baby's size, he needs to send you in for a scan so you can know better, instead of thinking it's attributable to your weight gain.

BLH2014 · July 2014

I'm just a lurker and a FTM with no personal experience, but my mom had all four of us naturally, and she gained anywhere from 60-80 pounds with every single pregnancy. I don't see any reason you can't do it!

MsMacual · July 2014

You can do it! I gained between 60-70 lbs with my first-he was 8lb 1oz and I delivered without drugs. I was 115ish before I got pregnant and was somewhere in the 170 range when I delivered. I lost all of the weight over about a 6 month period. I'm on track to gain about the same with my second.

rachelkongsore@hotmail.com · July 2014

My SIL gained 55+ with each of her three children (normal-low weight prepregnancy) and she had natural waterborths with all three!

MuchlyGen · July 2014

I gained 50lbs with each of my previous pregnancies.

I had two natural, wonderful home births.

Baby #1 was 8lbs 7oz, baby #2 was 8lbs 1oz - both actually a little smaller than I expected, as my family tends to make 9lbs+ babies!

Robi1 · August 2014

I gained over 50 pounds, started at 110 was over 160 at the time of her birth, and she was early and only 5 lbs... but my natural labor was totally fine and I never worried about my weight affecting my labor. Went home 4 hours after she was born, lost all the weight in 6 months. Like a PP said, most of my weight was gained in areas other than belly/baby - that's just how I gained weight, in my legs, hips, butt, arms, boobs, face, etc. I actually measured a few weeks small the whole pregnancy and people often told me my bump looked small.

I hope to gain less this time around, but I that's just for my own personal comfort and not having to go through losing it again, not because I think it was unhealthy. If it happens again, despite fairly good diet and exercise habits, then I guess it's just meant to be.

SCMomma · August 2014

I gained 45 with my first, starting off at 100. It was a lot of weight for me despite eating heathy and being active. Everyone's body reacts differently to pregnancy and weight is just another factor. I had a great birth, and my baby was just under six pounds.

jennypolkadots · August 2014

You absolutely can still go natural! Some women just need to gain more weight during pregnancy, no matter if they have stuck with a healthy diet and exercised the whole time. If you are eating healthy (not just for weight, but also because of GS and Preeclampsia, etc.) then that is what matters.

Want a personalized experience?

Natural Birth and weight gain question

Re: Natural Birth and weight gain question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards