Any other moms with HUGE appetites and lots of weight gain? - Page 5

[montessorimama1]

Originally Posted by contactmaya 

Anyone know more about the milk and big babies connection?

Don't quote me, and I have no scientific sources, but logically it just makes perfect sense that milk would cause big babies because a) it's full of growth hormones that are given to cows to produce more milk in less time, and b) even if you buy organic milk, that milk is produced by the COW to grow a CALF... which is a *little* bigger than a human baby.  Formula also makes for bigger babies than breast milk... There are studies that have shown a relationship between cow milk consumption and early puberty, and I bet if we do some online research the link between milk and big babies will show up, too (although the dairy industry has probably done their best to hide the info).

[contactmaya]

That makes plenty of sense. The only problem is, that i bet the average pregnant woman consumes a certain amount of milk, yet has an average  size baby, about 7lbs more or less. (i havent researched this, its just my general impression)

OTOH, i had an 8lb baby and   then a 9lb baby,  and i  really dont  use milk much. My above post is exceptional for me which is why i talked about it. I mean, how much milk consumption would it take to significantly increase the birth weight of your baby? I'd rather not have to avoid dairy altogether.

I wonder how safe it would be to use soy instead....
 

Originally Posted by montessorimama1 

Don't quote me, and I have no scientific sources, but logically it just makes perfect sense that milk would cause big babies because a) it's full of growth hormones that are given to cows to produce more milk in less time, and b) even if you buy organic milk, that milk is produced by the COW to grow a CALF... which is a *little* bigger than a human baby.  Formula also makes for bigger babies than breast milk... There are studies that have shown a relationship between cow milk consumption and early puberty, and I bet if we do some online research the link between milk and big babies will show up, too (although the dairy industry has probably done their best to hide the info).

[montessorimama1]

Regarding soy, my m/w warned me against it (as a milk substitute, although soy products like tofu and miso in moderation are OK) because soy acts as a phytoestrogen and if you chug it every day as you would cow's milk, you can throw your hormonal balance off whack.  I drink unsweetened vanilla almond milk, which is fortified with more calcium and vitamins/minerals than cow's milk, but it doesn't have protein.  You just have to get your protein intake elsewhere...

[HardCoreMom]

another vote for unsweetened almond milk!  it's been great for my heartburn, too, for some strange reason.

[writinglove]

Oatmilk is a great alternative to milk/soy, and it is loaded with vitamins. (Recommended by my naturopath). However, I'm totally on cow's milk this pregnancy. My body wants it, so I am giving it.

[element2012]

I would think that it's very likely that cow milk contributes to a large baby.  As others have said, cow milk is to grow a little tiny calf into a cow.  So hopefully mine will not be as huge as it feels now, as I hardly take any dairy (hemp milk=yummmmm). 

Applejax your name has now given me such a craving for the cereal too!  Thanks a lot, lol!

I'm able to put away such shameful amounts of food right now.  I don't weigh myself often, but I know the weight gain is picking up.  My bump is getting HUGE though!  I am 33.5 weeks and I feel like it looks like I'm at least 35+ weeks.  I had never even considered having a big baby, because I was a small newborn and so was DH... but this bump is making me reconsider that!

[applejax]

I'm able to drink a gallon of nonfat/skim/0% milk in almost a week and that's JUST from consuming it with cereal. I drank milk with my first all the time and she came our 7lbs so I don't know if the "big baby" thing happens to everyone. This last month Iv been packing on the lbs but sense they say this is the time the baby is fattening up I figure thats part of the gain..Tomorrow Im 36 weeks.

[MidwifeErika]

I hope no one minds if I crash this discussion because the milk and size thing interests me. I think there are a few issues at play with dairy. One is that dairy products tend to be very high in sugar (yogurts and ice creams and such) or very high in fats (cheese and ice cream) and even plain milk has a decent amount of sugar in the form of lactose. If someone had diabetes (gestational or otherwise) this could certainly be an issue. Or if their diet is high in sugars and carbs then the milk on top of that is only adding more. Or if the woman's diet is already just one of super high calories then the milk is adding quite a bit on top of that in comparison to water drinking. I don't really trust those bovine growth hormones either.

However, the argument that cow milk growing big calves and therefor making for huge fetuses doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Mostly because the milk is not going directly to the baby (as it does with formula or breastmilk). It is going through the mother's body first and being completely digested and low fat dairy products tend to be associated with weight loss and maintaining a healthier weight. It would seem to me that if milk was going to grow a huge fetus because it is designed to grow a huge calf, then the mother who is consuming the milk with also grow very large based on her milk consumption prior to it beginning to grow a huge baby.

Just my non-scientific thoughts on the subject. I would love to see some studies done on this topic in the future though because it is something that tends to be said. Well, in one breath the birth community will often tell women that milk makes for too big of babies and then often promote the Brewer diet in the next breath, which has quite a bit of milk :) I would be curious to see if it REALLY causes big babies or if there are many other factors that play into it.

[AfricanQueen99]

I don't know...I grow big babies (8.2 and 8.12) and haven't had a glass of milk since I was about five years old.  Nothing against it I just don't like the taste, but will use it in cooking and whatnot.

[cedarwoman]

Anyone going up and down with water weight lately? I'm gaining and losing about 5lbs these last few days. Getting pretty tired of the cankles look (or the ever-sexy double calf when I take my socks off)

[juneboymum]

This is a very interesting discussion!  However, I also have some questions about the rational behind cow's milk and big babies.  First of all, cow's milk is never actually fed to dairy cows or calves (calves are immediately separated from mom and given artificial colostrum and formula so that all the milk can go to market ~ sad, but true).  Therefore, how is cow's milk intended to grow big calves?  Dairy cows are also put on a 3 month dry period before calving so they are not even being milked at that time.  Secondly, a little calf growing into a big cow is not any different than a little baby growing into a big adult human....just on a different scale.  Newborn calf = 80-100lbs  Adult cow (Holsteins) = 1800-2000 lbs.  Newborn infant 6-10 lbs  Human adult = 100-200 lbs.  Thirdly - growth hormone...while I do not think this is good for human consumption (and we drink organic/no GH dairy), I would think that a pregnant woman would have to drink and incredible amount of milk for this to make a difference in 9 months.  As far as the argument that dairy initiates early puberty in adolescents...it has more to do with overall plane of nutrition.  Obese children are the ones that tend to have early puberty issues.  The early puberty seen in Americans very closely correlates with obesity rates/caloric intake over the past 20+ years.  I don't think dairy is necessarily being consumed that much more.  With any other mammal, especially ruminants (cows, sheep, goats), if fertility is an issue the first thing you do in increase the plane of nutrition (caloric intake).  Some very lean/thin women have fertility issues are are advised to put on some weight.

While I don't have any specific studies to site, I did do a lot of dairy work before switching to only small animal work and we had many discussions regarding growth hormone and pubery while in school.  I do not agree with many of the practices involved in the dairy industry nor do I think that cow's milk is for everyone.  My family has always consumed a lot of milk (I personally LOVE it), however, I have no problem with people who do not drink it and do not believe that cow's milk was ever intended for human consumption.  It's true that humans are the only ones that consume the milk of another species.  We mainly drink organic/hormone free milk b/c there are many more hormones that dairy cows are injected with...not just growth hormone...and I don't want myself or my family exposed to it over the course of our lives.

Again, with no specific studies to back this up, my overall opinion of why some people grow big babies is more along the lines of family genetics and possibly overall diet or other medical issues during pregnancy.  I have consumed a huge amount of milk/dairy, yet I had a 7 1/2 lb baby at 42 weeks.  I was also a late bloomer as far as pubery is concerned...and drank tons of  non-organic whole milk until I was in my 20's ~ however, I was also a very lean kid.  Just my 2 cents.  I'd love to see some studies that actually address this issue and pregnancy.

[maptome]

Anyone else starting to worry about macrosomia unrelated to cow milk (I'm lactose intolerant)?  I'm 36 weeks and already +33 lbs, and still gaining.  Last baby, I gained 40 lbs, and she was 9lbs 6oz.  I gained up through 42 weeks, which my midwife says is unusual.   I'm not convinced that my weight gain caused her high birth weight, considering my husband was born at 11 lbs.

Up until this point, I haven't really cared about the weight gain because previously, I lost 20lbs the day after giving birth and the rest of the weight by 6 weeks postpartum.   But I don't want to have to push out another giant baby if I can help it.

[contactmaya]

Again, with no specific studies to back this up, my overall opinion of why some people grow big babies is more along the lines of family genetics and possibly overall diet or other medical issues during pregnancy.  I have consumed a huge amount of milk/dairy, yet I had a 7 1/2 lb baby at 42 weeks.  I was also a late bloomer as far as pubery is concerned...and drank tons of  non-organic whole milk until I was in my 20's ~ however, I was also a very lean kid.  Just my 2 cents.  I'd love to see some studies that actually address this issue and pregnancy.

TThats very interesting. You make me remember that growing up, i was a big milk drinker, and also had late puberty (15).

AAs an adult, i find milk a bit distasteful, and dont drink much of it when not pregnant. I avoid it in my coffee too. But strangely, once pregnant, i have this renewed ability to

didigest and appreciate it. However, i would probably go through much less than half a gallon in a week. 
 

[contactmaya]

Again, with no specific studies to back this up, my overall opinion of why some people grow big babies is more along the lines of family genetics and possibly overall diet or other medical issues during pregnancy.  I have consumed a huge amount of milk/dairy, yet I had a 7 1/2 lb baby at 42 weeks.  I was also a late bloomer as far as pubery is concerned...and drank tons of  non-organic whole milk until I was in my 20's ~ however, I was also a very lean kid.  Just my 2 cents.  I'd love to see some studies that actually address this issue and pregnancy.

Thats very interesting. You make me remember that growing up, i was a big milk drinker, and also had late puberty (15).

As an adult, i find milk a bit distasteful, and dont drink much of it when not pregnant. I avoid it in my coffee too. But strangely, once pregnant, i have this renewed ability to digest and appreciate it. However, i would probably go through much less than half a gallon in a week. 

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by maptome 

Anyone else starting to worry about macrosomia unrelated to cow milk (I'm lactose intolerant)?  I'm 36 weeks and already +33 lbs, and still gaining.  Last baby, I gained 40 lbs, and she was 9lbs 6oz.  I gained up through 42 weeks, which my midwife says is unusual.   I'm not convinced that my weight gain caused her high birth weight, considering my husband was born at 11 lbs.

Up until this point, I haven't really cared about the weight gain because previously, I lost 20lbs the day after giving birth and the rest of the weight by 6 weeks postpartum.   But I don't want to have to push out another giant baby if I can help it.

I'm worried about it because the last baby was 9 pounds (which shocked everyone, especially tiny 5'1 small boned me). The thing is...I can't just stop eating or start "dieting". I'm too damned hungry. Already thinking this will be another big baby

[Celticqueen]

Interesting what people are saying about the dairy correlation...I'll ask my midwife about it next appointment. I would say that I consume more dairy than any other food group, which is now making me wonder if that's a reason my babies are big. Never even heard of this befrore

[Devaskyla]

I'm not sure if it's true, but I've heard that the problem isn't dairy, so much as calcium. Makes sense to me, my biggest baby was the one I practically lived on Tums for.

[themomadance]

My midwife told me that if I have milk to make sure it's whole milk.  I think skim milk and 2% can mess with your blood sugar more than whole milk does - the fats in the milk keep things from spiking - It would makes sense that the increased blood sugars could lead to bigger babies, I still eat 1% cottage cheese though - it seems like a great protein source without tons of calories.  I probably should be having whole cottage cheese too, just eating it less often!  OH WELL!

I enjoy milk with cereal, (organic hormone free) but I'm personally not craving giant glasses or anything.  

[Kaitlyn811]

I'm feeling awful about myself. Went for my 37 week appointment, I gained 10 pounds in two weeks! WTH!? I guess it can kind of make sense..since my family/I are poor so I don't get to eat all the good stuff. I eat a lot of processed carbs - also because I am..well was..on the go a lot with school and work. I feel awful..my weight gain overall is astronomical and I'm continuing to gain! How is this happening? Now I fear having a huge child. A big baby will lead to an obese child/adult. Poo. Just poo. 

[AfricanQueen99]

Originally Posted by Kaitlyn811 

. A big baby will lead to an obese child/adult. Poo. Just poo. 

That's not true.  My kids have both been 100%/100% since birth.  You know what a 100/100 five year old looks like?  Long and lean.  Same with my son.  You would never look at either of my kids and see an ounce of fat.  Big babies aren't a bad thing.  And you gaining weight doesn't put them at a disadvantage for life.  I promise.

Edited by AfricanQueen99 - 12/15/11 at 10:51am