Too much weight gain

[mizznicole]

Well, made it through first trimester morning sickness THANK GOD -

but unfortunately gained 10 lbs. Eating was my way to deal with the nausea! Because I am short NOTHING in my wardrobe fits anymore! It's so absolutely frustrating. I know weight gain is healthy, etc. However it's not baby weight but just stuff going to all my problem areas. I struggle to keep my weight in the mid 130's normally. I guess that I got rid of all my bigger clothes. Not a single dress fits me, even the one I bought 2 weeks ago.

I do have some maternity wear, but am facing the fact that I need to buy almost a whole new wardrobe for now.

But more than that - do you think exercising will help keep excess weight away? Is there anything I can/should do? I know, just eat healthy. If I wasn't so HUNGRY all the time...

I gained 50 lbs with DS1 and just don't want to go there again.

[MaerynPearl]

exercising is SO good for you and baby!

even a mile walk per day is better than nothing, and the more that you can add to that the better.

Of course you will want to avoid certain activities (like tackle football) that could cause direct blunt trauma to your abdomen but for the most part exercise is really really good for pregnant women!

[~Demeter~]

10 pounds is still within the normal/healthy range of weight gain in the first trimester. I wouldn't worry too much about it, try to eat healthy and keep active.

[at_the_hip]

Some of us do gain more and as long as your diet is mostly healthy, I wouldn't worry about it! Adding exercise like walking or yoga is never a bad thing either!

That being said, many women don't even get seen or weighed by a healthcare provider until the end of the first tri anyway...it can be so variable depending on morning sickness.

It is my very UNprofessional opinion that first trimester gain doesn't count. Yes that is my story and I am sticking to it...just like any cake eaten on my birthday is calorie free.

[mizznicole]

I know it's normal, but it's really frustrating that I have nothing to wear! My go-to shorts are now too small. Forget about jeans. I'm down to 3 skirts.

I wouldn't mind if it was due to baby bump...but it's not. Just expanding hips.

[kavamamakava]

I gained 70 lbs with my first, 55 with my 2nd and 50 with my 3rd. I wasn't concerned because it really seemed that my body needed to do that. And most of it came off within 2 weeks of the birth except for the last 20 lbs. That went away slower. I didn't have high blood pressure or swelling (except with the first) or any other health problems from the weight. I'm 5'4" and my non-pregnant weight is around 145. I did start off at 125 with my first though. I really think you should eat if you're hungry. Maybe try adding more protein to see if you get hungry less frequently. But eat every 2 hours if you need to even if it's very small portions. If you are hungry then your metabolism is working and you need to keep giving your body food so that your metabolism doesn't think you are starving. It will help keep your weight healthy and balanced if you eat when hungry

And exercise is definitely a good thing. Better physical shape and strength means more muscle preparedness and stamina for labor.

[Chloe'sMama]

I am exercising very regularly and it seems I am gaining the same as I did with DD. I think our bodies will gain what we need to and eating right and moderate exercise can only help create the healthiest baby!

Get some super comfy clothes that will grow with you (yoga pants, exercise pants etc.) I have tons of those and have worn them since my first trimester and they will work until the end!

[aikigypsy]

I gained 10 lbs in the first trimester with DD. Had a total weight gain of about 45 lbs, lost all but 15 of it within a couple of weeks, and was back to pre-pregnancy weight before 9 months postpartum. I had started at about 140. Your weight gain sounds normal to me.

[Magali]

I am gaining as much weight this time as I did last time . Last time i still ate all my healthy foods...but I added too much junk in there too lol. Coupled with it being winter and waaaay to icy to go for walks (fell once and got scared to go out again), I gained 55 pounds. So this time it is summer and I am walking about 40 mins on most days and eating healthy minus (most) of the junk. And I am still gaining as much week for week as last time. So I am just going to keep doing what I am doing and not worry too much about the scale. One way or another I am pretty sure I will be huge by the end of this pregnancy. Much to my Dr.s horror I declined getting weighed in at her clinic. I am just loosly keeping track of my weight at home and putting more stock into doing what I know makes me feel healthy, and accepting the fact that I am expanding.

[micah_mae_]

Originally Posted by ~Demeter~

10 pounds is still within the normal/healthy range of weight gain in the first trimester. I wouldn't worry too much about it, try to eat healthy and keep active.

How much is an actual healthy amount to gain per trimester? I'm worried about this as I gained 70 lbs with DS and he was 10.5 lbs. I'm aiming for less weight gain, more average sized baby and easier time getting weight off post partum.
I'm 19 weeks and I've gained 12 lbs..but I'm worried it'll pack on later in the 3rd trimester.

ETA: Omg, OP I'm so sorry I hijacked your thread it was unintentional!

[BlackSheepPDX]

Your weight gains sounds completely within normal limits for the first trimester. Remember that our bodies act VERY differently with second plus pregnancies, and despite minimal weight gain, our shapes change MUCH faster.

My first pregnancy I gained 35 pounds total, and my pattern of weight gain has been virtually identical in this, my second, of about a pound a week throughout. HOWEVER, in my first pregnancy I didn't even consider maternity clothes until nearly 20 weeks, getting along with unuttoned pants and belly bands until then without a second thought, despite a 20 pound weight gain by then. THIS TIME? I was uncomfortable and couldn't fit my pants within the first 8-10 weeks. Before I'd even gained *5* pounds.

SO, yes, exercise and healthy choices are a great idea no matter what, but at the same time, remember that weight and shape do not necessarily go hand in hand with the weird and wonderful pregnant body.

[~Demeter~]

Originally Posted by micah_mae_

How much is an actual healthy amount to gain per trimester? I'm worried about this as I gained 70 lbs with DS and he was 10.5 lbs. I'm aiming for less weight gain, more average sized baby and easier time getting weight off post partum.
I'm 19 weeks and I've gained 12 lbs..but I'm worried it'll pack on later in the 3rd trimester.

ETA: Omg, OP I'm so sorry I hijacked your thread it was unintentional!

I'm not sure the limits for each tri. I only know that 10 is the higher end of normal in the first tri because I am on WIC and the woman going off of the lowest possible weight I could be (because I didn't know if I started this pregnancy 120-125) and I was 130 at their appointment, told me that while I had gained 10 pounds I was within the higher end of normal range.

It really irks me that WIC places such an emphasis on weight gain. First of all, their diet requirements encourage people to gain more weight. Grains right now aren't filling me up... I'm pretty much only craving protein this time around. Second, they told me (going off a formula fed growth chart) that my daughter was in the lower spectrum for her weight chart... and I said, Yeah.. that's not a breastfed chart, is it?? She stammered No.

I personally think you're body will gain what it needs. If you eat healthy and try to stay active that's the best start you can give your baby. Don't obsess over every pound and bite of food you eat. Don't deny yourself things you enjoy, try and eat them in moderation. Our bodies are meant to change during this time, we're meant to be rounder, softer, fuller... all of the extra does serve a purpose later for baby.

[MaerynPearl]

According to my doctor (because I am supposed to be watching my weight gain at home, at my midwifes request, rather than through the doctors office) it is not worrisome unless I were to suddenly put on 5 pounds in one week.

Of course, if they were watching my weight gain they would question 10 pounds in the first trimester but ONLY because I get so sick the first (and half of the second) tri that I can barely even keep down water most days.

[~Demeter~]

Oh.. meant to add, I gained 50-60 with each of my pregnancies thus far. I started off a fair bit lighter with my first 4 than I did this time, maybe I'll get lucky and won't gain so much this time around or maybe my body requires 50 pounds for pregnancy.

[~Demeter~]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

According to my doctor (because I am supposed to be watching my weight gain at home, at my midwifes request, rather than through the doctors office) it is not worrisome unless I were to suddenly put on 5 pounds in one week.

Of course, if they were watching my weight gain they would question 10 pounds in the first trimester but ONLY because I get so sick the first (and half of the second) tri that I can barely even keep down water most days.

There is a period for some women around the 6ish month mark that many women put on 10+ pounds a month... it's not necessarily what they are doing or not doing that causes this, but I know many a doctor/midwife getting upset over it.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by ~Demeter~

There is a period for some women around the 6ish month mark that many women put on 10+ pounds a month... it's not necessarily what they are doing or not doing that causes this, but I know many a doctor/midwife getting upset over it.

I did that right about now myself (am 25 weeks tomorrow)

luckily the gain stayed around 2 pounds per week so I dont have to report it to my doctor (as I said I only have to tell her if I hit 5 in a week) but it brought me back up to my prepregnancy weight from having dropped a bunch the first tri!

[momasana]

I seem to gain about a pound a week (plus a little extra during the 5th and 6th month) throughout the whole pregnancy. It shows up in my face, my rear, my legs, and THEN my belly. I eat well and exercise regularly, so I trust that my body just does what it is supposed to do.

Pregnancy weight gain is different for every woman and it can be so frustrating when others give you grief about it. One thing that I found helpful was to keep a food and exercise log. It helps me keep track of any pitfalls, plus it's a great back-up if you have an OB or MW who gives you trouble for your weight gain. I got grief in my first pregnancy from a midwife who said I was gaining too much. I showed her my food/exercise log and asked her to please give me some suggestions on what I should be doing differently. She couldn't really give me any suggestions because what I was doing was right. She did say I should not eat fruit as a snack, but I wasn't about to give up my apple-a-day habit or my post workout banana.

[MonP'titBoudain]

I'm sorry this is stressing you out so much mama! It's rough when you can't find anything to fit much less feel confident in. With my first I put on 60 pounds and came out the other side with a completely different body shape. I also gain weight when nursing for the first 4 months or so, then maintain that weight til about 12 mos pp and only then does it slowly begin to come off. I really understand the frustration! With my second and now my third pregnancies, I've gained til I reach a similar end weight. However, with each pregnancy, my pants have fit differently more immediately. With #1, I was in regular pants til around 20 weeks. With #2, I was in maternity pants by about 14 weeks. This time, I was in maternity pants by 8 weeks. Be forgiving to your body. It may be as simple as round # 2 and the differences in already having a mother's shape (fuller hips, more rounded figure) rather than coming from a pre-motherhood shape.

[new york momma]

Two words-
Celery Sticks

I have a very big appetite and always want to eat large quantities. Each week I clean and chop a whole bunch of celery sticks and store them in a tupperware container for the week. When I feel like snacking, I start chewing on those celery sticks-sometimes 6 or 7 of them in one sitting. Initially I paired them with a little peanut butter but now I like them plain too. I'll eat one cookie and six celery sticks and not feel like eating a second cookie.

Red pepper strips work well too and keep for a week in tupperware.

Just a thought

[new york momma]

Beverage choices can make a big caloric difference too.
Just another thought