Does this seem like bad advice to you (re restricting weight gain) - Page 2

[crunchy_mommy]

I gained at least 40lbs with DS. For some bizarre reason, that caused my doc to write "poor weight gain during pregnancy" on my records. Sounds like the exact opposite of what you're being told. I don't get it.

I believe in listening to your body, and that if 97% of the food you are eating is healthy (and you were a healthy weight to being with) you should not restrict your calories! To me, that's just crazy.

I am vegan (and was vegan throughout my pregnancy with DS) and he was born at 7lbs 1oz. Had an IV so the 'real' weight may have even been a bit lower. Anecdotal evidence, obviously, but he was nowhere near a 'big baby'!

[scottishmommy]

Originally Posted by Katie8681 

Scottishmommy, your prepregnant BMI was 17.6!!!  That is solidly underweight, and so you ideally will gain up to 40lbs in pregnancy, according to current guidelines (and I seriously doubt an "extra" 5-10 would kill you).  I don't understand your midwife's logic at all.

I know! Doesn't it seem crazy? This is why I'm so stunned. I'm such a skinny person (when not pregnant!). I feel like this midwife just glanced at my chart and saw a huge weight gain and freaked out. She didn't look at me, she didn't look at my prepregnant BMI, she didn't take anytime to assess the situation and just launched into lecture mode. It makes me really uncomfortable. I'm going to start looking into different practices.

[Kindermama]

Wow, I would just ignore her advice and follow your body's cues. I was 125lb/5'7" when I got pregnant with my first. I gained 75lbs and she was 7lbs 4oz (I was young and believed I was supposed to "eat for two" the whole pregancy!). With my second, I started at 138 and gained 40lbs. DD #2 was 7lbs 2 oz. With my third, I started at 148 (8 mos postpartum) and gained 45lbs and DD #3 was 6lbs15oz. I weighed 143lbs by the time she was a couple of months old. So, that can't be the case for all woman because my weight gain never brought on big babies. 

So far, I'm 4 weeks pregnant and I've gained 5lbs in the last 10 days. No joke! It's mostly bloating/constipation but I do see some new fat. I can't stop eating! I'm thinking the same thing---I need to cut out sugars and refined flour products and eat more protein. 

[APToddlerMama]

That is ridiculous.  I am also thin (not quite as thin as you even) and I gained 40 pounds with DS who was a 6 lb baby. I have already gained 6 pounds in this pregnancy and I am only 8 weeks pregnant. I figure I need it.  I also had no trouble losing the weight.  Ignore her!  You will be fine.  You have already shown that.

[treeoflife3]

yeah, if anything, you need to gain more weight than average since you started out quite small.  Even if the small weight is totally normal for you and not unhealthy (and based on the fact that you have always been so light, I assume it is in fact exactly what your body needs) you'll still need a bit extra for another human inside you.  Definitely ignore her and just continue to be healthy... and definitely look into other practices like you are considering if this is just one more thing to make you uncomfortable.

As far as I am concerned, weight gain should only be discussed in the cases where there is clearly an issue (such as someone with known body image issues/eating disorders is not gaining at all or someone who is clearly gaining a lot from eating a crap diet.)  beyond that, just a discussion on good foods to eat and a reminder to primarily eat the good stuff should be the only 'weight' talk that is addressed.  I hate the 'recommendations' because you really don't have any control at all if you are eating what you need to feel comfortably full, eating nutritious foods for the most part, and getting the amount of exercise that doesn't stress your body.  Making a full human being is hard work and requires a lot from the body... some people do it better with a whole lotta extra cushioning.

[Abraisme]

I'm in the same boat..  I'm normally thin, still breastfeeding my toddler and STARVING TO DEATH!  I've already gained 12lbs at 11 weeks and I don't see what I can do about it.  I'm not going to feel awful and not eat, I'm just not going to.  Luckily my midwives have never said anything about my previous weight gain and they seem to think that it's perfectly reasonable to gain 45-50lbs in pregnancy.  Also, I've know many, many people that have gained 45lb++ while pregnant and had small (6lbs) to mid sized (8lbs) babies.  I really don't think it has anything to do with the size of the baby.  Sometimes I'm so confused by what our medical professionals tell us..  I'm sorry for the poor advice and if I was you I'd do what feels right.  I eat, because I assume that my body needs the calories and extra fat to nurse my babies. 

[Abraisme]

I agree, look for a new midwife.  My midwives took the time to get to know me (I'm using the same midwives that I used for my DD) and made their statements based on what I needed.  There is someone out there for you that's a better fit, I'm sure of it.
 

Originally Posted by scottishmommy 

Originally Posted by Katie8681 

Scottishmommy, your prepregnant BMI was 17.6!!!  That is solidly underweight, and so you ideally will gain up to 40lbs in pregnancy, according to current guidelines (and I seriously doubt an "extra" 5-10 would kill you).  I don't understand your midwife's logic at all.

I know! Doesn't it seem crazy? This is why I'm so stunned. I'm such a skinny person (when not pregnant!). I feel like this midwife just glanced at my chart and saw a huge weight gain and freaked out. She didn't look at me, she didn't look at my prepregnant BMI, she didn't take anytime to assess the situation and just launched into lecture mode. It makes me really uncomfortable. I'm going to start looking into different practices.

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by treeoflife3 
As far as I am concerned, weight gain should only be discussed in the cases where there is clearly an issue (such as someone with known body image issues/eating disorders is not gaining at all or someone who is clearly gaining a lot from eating a crap diet.)  beyond that, just a discussion on good foods to eat and a reminder to primarily eat the good stuff should be the only 'weight' talk that is addressed. 

I fired the CNM that was freaking out on me about my weight gain (well, lack there of) and hired a CPM (at 37 weeks even!).  She didn't weigh me once.  She said that weight gain was not a good indicator of much of anything so she didn't see a reason to do it.  If you cannot or do not want to work things out with this practitioner, definitely find someone else if there are other choices available!
 

[KempsMama]

Originally Posted by scottishmommy 

Originally Posted by Katie8681 

Scottishmommy, your prepregnant BMI was 17.6!!!  That is solidly underweight, and so you ideally will gain up to 40lbs in pregnancy, according to current guidelines (and I seriously doubt an "extra" 5-10 would kill you).  I don't understand your midwife's logic at all.

I know! Doesn't it seem crazy? This is why I'm so stunned. I'm such a skinny person (when not pregnant!). I feel like this midwife just glanced at my chart and saw a huge weight gain and freaked out. She didn't look at me, she didn't look at my prepregnant BMI, she didn't take anytime to assess the situation and just launched into lecture mode. It makes me really uncomfortable. I'm going to start looking into different practices.

This is a huge problem with today's medical community.  It's why my EBF baby has been called "obese" and then nearly diagnosed FTT when he started thinning out-because the doctor looks at the charts and numbers and not at my kid. 

[sosurreal09]

ummm...I gained 96lbs with DD and she was 8lbs 6 oz....

[Marissamom]

with my first pregnancy I was vegetarian, I started at 5'3"/101lbs. I gained 40lbs and gave birth to a 6lb 10oz baby girl at 38+5. lost all the weight by 3 months PP

with my second I was vegetarian to start, but started eating meat in the first trimester. I was still nursing DD. again started at just over 100 lbs. I gained 50 lbs and gave birth to a 8lb 9oz baby boy at 41+3. only problem giving birth to my "big" baby other than a slight sticky shoulder, that my midwife was able to unstick in one contraction (though the shoulder did click for a week or two)

I think the high weight gain=big baby thing is only true when caused by gestational diabetes or a high sugar intake. as long as you aren't overdoing the simple carbs and are getting enough protien and fat, you should be fine. and I would totally think about switching care providers. 

[scottishmommy]

Thank you ladies for all your awesome support! Well, I hate to admit it, but after a week of very careful eating, I've realized that I have been eating way more sugar than I was before I got pregnant. This is mostly because a little sugar spike in the morning seems to settle my stomach. So, I've made some changes. I was eating a little tub of yogurt with a store bought granola. Even though they are both from a health concious store, they are obviously loaded with sugar. I could give you a lot of examples of the little ways I was eating a ton of sugar. I was also consuming more starches than usual as well. I think this is why I ballooned up so quickly. My body is not used to eating high glycemic index foods!
Lately I've been eating plain yogurt with no sugar added frozen berries, for breakfast, and hearty vegetarian chili for lunch etc. I'm trying to really up my beans and leafy greens as well. Anyways, fingers crossed that I can get to the bottom of this weight gain. If I still but on a ton, at least I'll know it was unavoidable!