weight question

[lena_girl]

I am 24 weeks pregnant with my 2nd. I just had my 24 wk appointment and so far I have gained 9 lbs. I haven't had problems with ms this time (I did with my first) and I feel like I eat a lot. I do eat a lot of veggies and healthy food, but I also still have a pretty good sweet tooth. I guess I just don't understand why I haven't gained as much this time. I started out small too (I am pre-pg size 4) so it's not like I already had a lot extra. My total weight gain in #1 was 28lbs. I am worried that I am not gaining enough for the health of the baby. I mean I don't want to go binge on ice cream all day, but should I be trying to eat more calories? I know I eat over 2300 already.

Anyway, anyone else not gaining much? My doctor doesn't seem at all concerned, but could it affect the baby? Perhaps I am just being nuerotic (hey, I AM pg.!)

[SamuraiEarthMama]

it sounds like you're doing just fine. if the baby's growth is OK, then i wouldn't worry. remember, at this point, your baby is only about 1.5 lbs!

i did lose some weight with m/s, and right now i'm about 25 weeks and at my prepregnancy weight. my baby is actually measuring a little bit big, and i know i'm well within normal ranges.

the first and second trimester gains aren't really a big deal. it's that third trimester, where the baby is storing resources that it will need when it's out here on its own... you also want to be sure you're drinking enough water, eating enough protein, and getting enough iron (so you can grow all that nice amniotic fluid, uterine muscle, and extra blood that you'll need to deliver safely).

is your blood pressure doing OK? not too low? no dizziness? sleeping OK? if yes on all those, then i bet you're doing a great job growing a beautiful little baby!

if you are still getting a nagging little voice in your head, maybe get some protein powder and slam down a shake once a day (doesn't have to be ice cream... go for yogurt, frozen bananas and peaches, milk or rice/soy milk), and treat yourself to some avocados or other yummy, nutritious snacks!

good luck!

katje

[lena_girl]

Thankyou. I guess I should also add why I am concerned about my weight. My son was born at the 50th percentile for weight, but dropped to the 3rd over a few months. He is still in the 3rd percentile. He meets the "technical" description for failure to thrive. Our doctor never diagnosed him with that, however, because he is strong and smart and thriving just fine anyway. I have heard that the amount of weight gained during the first two trimesters have an impact on birthweight. I am just worried that if this baby is born even smaller, she might have an ever tougher time with wieght gain. I really do eat everything I should, and more. Lots of protein, veggies, plenty fruit. Perhaps I could eat more whole grains. Bread has just not tasted as good to me in this preg.

I guess this probably doesn't seem that big of a deal, but I am truly worried about my weight impacting my baby's weight.

[SamuraiEarthMama]

congratulations... it sounds like you have a fantastic doctor!

i had one baby, my dd, who didn't gain much at all once she was born. when she did start gaining, it was soooo sloooowww... she was around 18 lbs when she was nearly 2 years old! i mean it... super dinky. and i never worried about her... she was healthy, and while she wasn't huge, she was well-proportioned, advanced in her abilities, super smart (started talking and walking before she turned 1).

i think some babies just burn up calories faster than others. in fact, describing your own difficulty with gaining weight, it sounds like perfect sense that your baby wouldn't be much of a porker, either.

please forget those growth charts! if you breastfed, then they don't apply to you anyway... they're for those artificially fed babies. don't look at statistics and numbers... look at your baby and how s/he's doing, or at your beautiful blossoming belly and notice how you are feeling. do you have energy? do you feel alert? are you craving good things (mostly!)? then try to celebrate your pregnancy and don't stress on what anyone else thinks.

your pregnancy, and your baby, will grow according to their own special needs and situations. it sounds like your caregiver knows this, though maybe he could do a better job of reassuring you that your body is doing exactly what it needs to do... just like all the millions of mommas in your ancestry that have done just the same thing!

take care and enjoy your lil bean!

katje

[ketilave]

For them to have a mean someone has to be below the 50%. Aren't you lucky your Dr. isn't being trouble. I had to switch because my Dr. said my kids weren't growing fast enough even though they exceeded their milestones. And both kids are in 40% - they are proportionate to their not so big parents. My Dr. told me to fatten up DD with meat (7 months) or they were going to start running tests on her! I was so furious.

I was told your 2nd trimester is when you grow your placenta and that helps indicate how big a baby you will grow. Just eat and the great fruit and veg that are available and listen to any protein cravings. I lost a lot of weight with m/s and am also just back a pre/postpreg weight. I'm about as far along as Katje too. I only gain 25 - 30 lbs and then I really only gain my weight in 6 and 7 months. Everyone is different.

[lena_girl]

Thank you ladies.

I know that my body knows what it's doing, but sometimes it's nice to reassured of that, kwim? I don't really have anyone around me who feels that way.

My son's doctor is great. We were very lucky because we are military and get stuck with the luck of the draw.

[naturegirl]

lena_girl, we sound much alike on the weight front. I was also a size 2-4 pre-pregnancy and I am pretty tall 5"8" so I was also underweight. I am now 23 weeks and have only gained about 10 lbs. I think, as the others have stated, that as long as we are eating well, baby is growing/measuring fine and we are feeling good, we shouldn't worry too much. Plus the stress can be more harmful than the weight issue, IYKWIM?

I am sure everything will be fine. Sounds like you are doing a good job!

Cheryl

[~*~MamaJava~*~]

So we're on the same page! I keep worrying about this babe. With my last I had only gained like 5lbs by this point (23 wks) but I was soo sick. And he was kicking around like crazy, so I knew he was fine. This time, I've gained 7lbs. No m/s, and the quietest baby ever. But my doc and the nurse both tell me I don't need to worry, tall girls seem to nourish the baby just off of their own weight for awhile, or so they say. I wasn't overweight either, just normalish, size 10. I've been eating fairly well. My big problem is that my appetite is pathetic when I'm pg. It's actually smaller than normal, and I have to make myself eat more. What's with that eh?