weight gain question...? « Back to Group Discussions

[lovingthis]

Goodness,

 I thought I would be the last person to want to ask anyone else about this kind of thing, but I am out of my territory here. This is my fourth baby, probably my second worst case of "morning sickness." As well all know, it is actually all day sickness, nd mine tends to peak at night. The first 4 months of this pregnancy were extremely stressful, with little time or energy to eat right, and most of my atual throwing up coming late at night while trying to wrap up homework and lesson plans.

Strangely though, I didn't actually lose any weight, like I have with all of my other pregnancies in the beginning. I just didn't gain anything at first. Then I basically "caught up" overnight, at about 20 weeks. 

With my other pregnancies, I have gained right around 25 lbs, from the weight that I lost to. I am nervous because my weight gain this time is about 3-4 lbs more than where I was with the others, but I am eating the same way, not overdoing it. I really looked at what I was eating, and I can honestly say, the weight gain confuses me. Instead of the normal lb a week, I think I am putting on 2-3 easily, no matter what I do,eat, throw-up.

I am only concerned because being of small stature, I know that the more I gain, the more uncomfortable I will be, and I am already having a lot of issues with my back. Baby seems large and is measuring large ( and I know my dates are 100% accurate), but i know that baby cannot account fr that much extra weight gain. I just guess that I (wrongly) assumed that pregnancy number four would seem routine, after what I am realizing was 3 nearly identical pregnancies ( 1 boy and 2 girls, so there goes the wives tales...)...I am just nervous.is it just that I am older this time around? My metabolism is changing? As of this morning, I am up about 20 lbs ( 26 weeks), and pretty sure that even my midwives won't be able to ignore that one.....

Sorry, this seems more like a rant thatn a question, but has anyone else ever had this ? I eat very healthy and just can't understand why my weight gain seems so out of control with this pregnancy.

[rozziemama]

Hi mama. As someone who gained about 50+ lbs in my first pregnancy, and now at 26 weeks is at 26 lbs of weight gain, I can't relate to the concern, I can only offer my experience which is that it seems to be the way my body reacts to pregnancy.

I eat really well. Yes, I certainly indulge more in desserts while pregnant, but I really don't think I overdo it, and, frankly,

I think for me, it's a lot of water. I get pretty bloated just with PMS.  SO pregnancy is like an extreme PMS> and my boobs, man, I think they account for like 10 lbs themselves! (haha, well, kind of seriously)

Both of these pregnancies my doctors haven't blinked an eye at the weight gain. I make sarcastic comments every time I step on the scale, and they laugh, but they really don't seem worried. So, I don't know - I guess it's not anything to worry about?

[rozziemama]

also maybe should add I am 5'5" and ~ 135 lbs pre-pregnancy weight. Kind of average to small build.

[cristeen]

20 lbs of weight gain is not something to be stressing over, and if your MW starts having issues with it, then you either need to set her straight or find another one. 

If you were approaching 40 or 50 lbs, I could understand the concern, but 20 lbs just isn't one.  I lost 14 lbs in the first 2 days pp, between DS' weight and the placenta, water, blood, etc. 

That being said, yes, you are older.  Yes, every pregnancy is different.  Yes, your metabolism has probably changed a bit.  If you are really concerned about it, I would start with a food diary.  Write down everything you put in your mouth along with times and approximate amounts (eyeball it, you don't need to break out the measuring cups or anything).  Do that for a week, along with documenting before and after weight.  Then you can take that to your MW or post it on here and we can try to help you troubleshoot it.

I will say though that right now you are at the stage of pregnancy when your blood volume is doubling, so you would expect to see a weight increase at this point just because of that. 

Also, do you have any swelling?  I would expect a fair bit of water weight seeing that kind of gain. 

I also just feel the need to point out that this is my 3rd pregnancy and this one is SOOOO different from the previous two.  I had no early m/s, it didn't set in until the 2nd trimester, whereas with DS I had all day low grade nausea until 36 weeks and with DS1 I literally couldn't eat anything until 12 weeks.  And at 24ish weeks I am physically bigger in the belly than I was at 9 mos with DS.  I don't weigh more, I'm just carrying very differently.  The first two weren't the same, but they were very similar, so this one has been a completely different experience for me. 

HTH

[janellody]

I would love to be at 20 pounds, I am around 45-50 right now...lol.  And i don't feel like I pig out, either.  I don't think you need to stress about 20, that is right int he normal range from what I hear.

[shastalily]

Rozzie sounds a lot like me.  I'm 5'4 and was in the 130s pre-pregnancy.  I've always gained around 50 lbs with each of my pregnancies (this is my 4th).  I even have pretty bad m/s the first 3-4 months with throwing up sometimes several times a day.  I gain even during the first trimester despite that.  It's just how my body does pregnancy.  I don't like it but it is what it is.  I've gained about 33 lbs at 28 weeks so it looks like I'll gain the same this time too.  It takes awhile, but I have lost all the weight after pregnancies and I expect to get to the walking and other exercising this summer to hopefully give it a good kick start.  Thank goodness for spring babies and nice summer weather to get outside.  :-)  BTW, my midwives have never said anything about my weight gain.

[rozziemama]

I think this is key: that no doctor or midwife appears concerned about our weight gain. Its a steady - if significant! -= climb....

Mostly, it's just alarming to stand on that scale and see how much weight you've gained when you're not over eating or doing anything particularly different from other pregnant women! But like shatalily, I also manage to lose it.  I definitely am in the 9 months on, 9 months (maybe 12...) off camp - I was pretty insecure about it the first pregnancy, but this time around, I'm not worried.  I kind of like it.

Except, I didn't exactly appreciate the woman yesterday who shouted "Any Day Now!" to me as I left work last night... I was like, "nope, three more months, thanks for asking..."   So, being bigger perhaps does lead to more unsolicited commentary.  But I am not (nor are doctors/midwives) worried about my health, which is what really matters!
 

Originally Posted by shastalily  BTW, my midwives have never said anything about my weight gain.

[lightheartedmom]

Originally Posted by rozziemama 

I think this is key: that no doctor or midwife appears concerned about our weight gain. Its a steady - if significant! -= climb....
Mostly, it's just alarming to stand on that scale and see how much weight you've gained when you're not over eating or doing anything particularly different from other pregnant women! But like shatalily, I also manage to lose it.  I definitely am in the 9 months on, 9 months (maybe 12...) off camp - I was pretty insecure about it the first pregnancy, but this time around, I'm not worried.  I kind of like it.
Except, I didn't exactly appreciate the woman yesterday who shouted "Any Day Now!" to me as I left work last night... I was like, "nope, three more months, thanks for asking..."   So, being bigger perhaps does lead to more unsolicited commentary.  But I am not (nor are doctors/midwives) worried about my health, which is what really matters!

 

I haven't gained as much this time around but my prev. pregnancies, 25lbs by 25 weeks was completely normal for me...I gained 40 with one and 50 with the other), but my mw stressed when we talked about nutrition that as far as her and the midwives she practices with are concerned - they care very little about how much weight you gain, as long as you're eating healthy foods. If you're eating lots of fried foods, ice cream, empty calorie type stuff (gently nudges the pan of slutty brownies out of view ;-) ), then gaining 60lbs is probably not good..but if you're eating a balanced diet with lots of good protein and fat sources, fiber, whole grains (am I the only one who hates that phrase now that it's been co-opted by companies like general mills?)...they're really not concerned how much you gain.

Like Rozzie said...a consistent, steady climb is okay. Sudden, unexplained jolts are more worrisome.
I know (believe me..I SO KNOW) how discouraging it is to be witness to your body packing on those pounds and feel as if it's totally out of your control...but, as long as you're feeding your body with good food, try to not be too hard on yourself.

[lovingthis]

Thank you so much everyone !!! I had just been musing to my husband, that I wondered if this was the point in pregnancy when blood volume really picked up....it would make so much sense ! Not being very tall, any weight gain is quite obvious, and despite the faster gain, I just don't feel as squishy ( anywhere but my belly) as I did with my last two pregnancies. So the blood volume makes a lot of sense- as would a big increase in amniotic fluid.

 It has slowed down this week, and I feel much less our of my element. It just cracks me up that no matter how many pregnancies you experience, there can always be something to mark this one as different. It's really making me realize just how much more alike than different my first three pregnancies were.....which makes me curious about how much different my birth wil be with this one too :D All three of my babies spontatneously showed up at 38 weeks ( 38, 38+1, 38+2, not in that order)..... I have a feeling if I go over 38 weeks this time, I will havea  better idea of what it feels like to see your due date come and go :D

Again, thank you all so much.

[lovingthis]

And just to clairify, I wasn't saying that 20 is a lot...I was saying that at this point in the pregnancy (26weeks) it seems like a lot for me. In my past pregnancies I have gained  2+/- 25 lbs by 38 weeks, nearly identical gain pattern, regardless of the differences in my diet and exercise. So for my personal pregnancy pattern ( just like many of you mentioned) I felt nervous. Things seem to be mellowing out now, and the mention of the increase in blood/fluid volume at tis point makes an infinite amount of sense.....and I think this baby just wants to break the mold a bit.It's just so suprising to feel....suprised...by anything with theis fourth baby :D