Gained soooo much weight last time...

[MrsTC]

...and I think I'm headed there again really quickly. I am normally tall (well, still tall when pregnant..duh, preg brain) and thin, so the shocking amount of weight I gain supposedly doesn't look bad...not that I think any amount of weight gained by a pregnant momma looks bad...but anyway, last time I gained almost 60 pounds. I remember I'd gained 5 by the time I saw my midwife for the first time at 12 weeks. And during the second tri, easily 2 pounds a week. I quit keeping track after I hit 50 pounds weight gain, but that was at 34 weeks, and I went to 40.5...and I know I got huger each day.

I just get so HUNGRY!!! I'm already eating all the time, can't seem to eat or drink enough...I have to get up to eat at night or I can't sleep.

Anyone else? And for btdt moms, is weight gain pretty much the same for each pregnancy? Should I even try to keep it down (at the expense of my misery)?

T

[Arwyn]

I vote no, don't even try. If you're eating well (mostly healthy foods, following your appetite), you're moving well, and you feel more or less well, then whatever amount of weight you gain is "right" for that pregnancy.

I'm eating near constantly - I doubt I'll be one of those women who loses weight in the first trimester. But I don't track my weight, either - it's all about which foods I eat (only one two-day episode of ice cream binging so far! ) and how I feel, so going by that, I'm doing pretty well.

[amj'smommy]

I gained 65lbs with dd, 45lbs with ds#1 and 42lbs with ds#2. I am 5'10. With my first (dd) I was underweight but still that 65lbs was a shock. I did have no problems taking the weight off but this time I am hoping to keep the weight gain around 35lbs, but I won't deny myself any treats... just make sure I'm also eating healthy.

[audeesmom]

I gained 58 lbs and loved every bite! 2 1/2 yrs later its all gone. I don't know anyone who can survive on only 25lb weight gain and who knows, with baby #2, I might not be hungry later on...naw...I'll be hungry! btw, nursing seems to have taken the weight off!

[o4smommy]

I also gained fast & furiously with my 1st, 30 lbs total, didnt lose not even 1 gained 10 more in fact. So now that I am pregnant with my second, Im trying really hard to keep things in check. Health reasons, I suffered from gest diabetes and preterm labor with my ds. dont want to go thru that again...women who are overweight are also at risk for high blood pressure which is really dangerous during pregnancy. Theyre are a few things I have done, cut out all sodas & coffee. If I eat out. I now split my meal with someone. (restaurant portions are crazy). and I make sure that I have a fruit smoothie and a big salad each day, then Ill eat within reason of normal foods after that if im still hungry. I also cut out processed sugars. I guess I should be thankful because for now my mnorning sickness is keeping my appetite in check. I still waiting for the energy to exercise! Good luck!

[sparkprincess]

I agree to eat healthy and exercise.

I'm 5ft and gained almost 60lbs last time. It looked terrible and I felt like people were judging me. But I wasn't eating junk food and I exercised almost every day? I am hoping to gain less this time around though - we'll see!

[Llyra]

With DD, I stopped watching the scale at 70 lbs. Part of the problem is that I have a heart condition; past around 25 weeks I really can't do any exercise, because the extra blood volume of pregnancy is such a burden on my heart. So I'm sitting around all the time-- what else am I going to do but eat? The extra weight of course is an added burden on my heart, which limits my activity even more, and it turns into a vicious cycle.

Then I think about the fact that I did nothing special postpartum, and yet all the weight slid off on its own within about 10 months. Slowly, gradually, but it did. So maybe my body genuinely needed that extra weight? I ate good food, no junk. Hmmm... could be.

I say if you're basically healthy and not terribly overweight to begin with, you should eat when you're hungry and never mind the scale. Stick to good foods, try and stay active, don't eat for the wrong reasons like comfort, and that's all you can do.

I, however, have made up my mind to gain less this time, but that's because I'm hoping that by reducing the burden on my heart I'll be more likely to succeed in VBACing. That's different.