Anyone struggling to gain?

[RoadWorkAhead]

GOt any tips on how to gain fast? So far this pregnancy I'm on the positive side by about 5 lbs. total, and thats depending on the time of day. My midwife is willing to fudge a bit, but apparently you have to gain 12 lbs. to not be assessed ??? I can HB either way, but the dr. that "supervises" their practice would have to see me and probably want an US to determine baby size if I dont gain 12 lbs. total.....Which isn't a big deal if this girl hangs on for a while, but if she decides to come sooner than later, I'm not going to make it. So I'm trying to "bulk up" in a healthy way (while fighting 3rd tri. nausea) and I'm not doing any good....I haven't gained a lb. in 7 days.....Help!

[meggles]

I'm not really gaining anymore, either. I think it is very common this late in the game to not gain, or to even lose a few pounds. Still, I am lighter first thing in the morning than I am at the end of the day. Maybe you or they could weigh you in the evening? I've found the "difference" to be as much as 3-4 lbs.

[milkmommie]

Can't help with any gaining advice, sorry. But I've only gained 6lbs at 37 weeks. My MW doesn't report to any OB officially so we're okay. She says as long as I'm measuring on dates (I am) and baby's heart tones sound good (they do), that she's not worried about the weight gain.
I definately see a difference between weighing in the morn and in the evening. I have seen a whole 5lb difference! Maybe there's some way you can get your next appt at the end of the day?
I worried a lot at first because I'm used to gaining in the 30 to 40 lb range. But, my whole idea around the home birth this time was my new found trust in my body so.....
Good luck, I hope the Dr. doesn't give you too much trouble.

[RoadWorkAhead]

I'm more worried about getting it done before I deliver as he seems to be pretty good and HB friendly. I think its a state of Fla. thing, not just a Dr. thing in this case. And that weight is midday to afternoon (the beginning weight was an early AM weight)....I might stretch a lb. out of a night weigh but thats it...and she's already bluffed it by 2 lbs. I do it myself, but I feel wrong lying to someone who has to trust me....Oh well. Maybe I'll magically gain some between now and Friday

[sophmama]

• Cheesecake
• add sour cream, butter, olive oil, mayonaise, & heavy cream to everything you can imagine
• Pasta
• ice cream
• whole milk yogurt
• avacados
• nuts

Basically read labels and don't waste any meals on low calorie, low fat foods. I have a hard time gaining weight normally and am constantly looking for new high fat, weight gainer foods.

I drink an extra 700 calorie shake often to keep my weight up, made with berries, ice cream, heavy cream, and whole milk yogurt. I also make 450 calorie grilled sandwiches with whole wheat bread, lunch meat (can be your own dinner meats sliced up), cheese, tomato, and 2 tbsp. of mayonaise inside and olive oil on the outside of the bread on the grill.

I eat almost 150-200 grams of fat a day often. 90+ grams of protien and 2500+ calories. I have gained weight this pregnancy, but it is very hard fought to get the food in.

[momma2be]

Well, when I went for my last appointment, I had gained too much weight and they were kinda freaking out on me (I have GD) . . . turns out the coat I was wearing when I got weighed was 5 pounds by itself! Maybe you could layer a little? Put a few barbells in your pocket?

[velveeta]

momma2be! You are hilarious. I was thinking of that too!

Sophmama had some great food ideas -- they sound delicious, too!

I wish they would just be more accepting of you. It is so hard dealing with the nausea -- mine has *just* subsided (gee, and after only 8 and a half months!), so I know how hard that can be.

How are you looking and feeling? Do *you* think Baby is a good size?

[JJ'sMom]

Also, load up on water before you head in to the appointmant to be weighed. You'll pee it all out about an hour later......

[pbreffe]

Hmm... I have never heard of that... I started at 175 went down to 167 and am only up to 169 so far... so technically I have gained only two pounds after morning sicknes...

My midwife doesn't care because the baby is growing just fine...

If I would told to gain weight I would probably eat cookies, ice cream and cheese... Things like that.

[RoadWorkAhead]

I'll definitely be bulking up on the clothing and the water. I was overweight to begin with and am happy with not gaining as the baby is a good size and the weight I have lost has been in a healthy way. The problem is getting my body to agree to eat the high fat foods....crazy as it sounds, I want salad and fruit and thats about it. I'm making myself add what I can and I decided to call tomorrow and just set the appt. with the Dr. in case. BUt in the meantime, I'll be looking for lots of layers LOL

[Fay]

I've had some trouble gaining, but for different reasons...I'm on thyroid medication that keeps me pretty skinny. I switched from lowfat milk to high fat milk, and drink plenty of it...with butter cookies. I eat burritos with lots of cheese and fresh guacamole. Spaghetti with meat sauce and plenty of Parmesan. Lots of nuts. Olive oil on everything. I lost weight at my last appointment.

Definitely wear heavy clothing and drink a lot of fluids before your official weigh-in.

[sophmama]

Wear ankle weights under your pant legs. Not so many pounds as to make them suspicious, but enough to look like you've gained a few pounds.

[Shazer]

If you eat a diet of all or mostly fat, I guarantee you will not gain any weight. In fact, going on a 'fat fast' where virtually all carbohydrates are limited, can jump start people to lose weight quickly because fats are very filling and you cannot over-indulge in them. Therefore to attempt to gain weight, you must eat lots of calories and combine foods so that you're not just eating fats, protein, or carbs alone. Definently eat full fat foods because natural animal and plant fats contain lots of necessary nutrients for you and baby and the right natural fats are wonderful foods. Have a lot of high quality proteins. Eat whole or sprouted grains with lots of butter, peanut butter, cheese, or meats. Eat fruit but back it with protein and fat. Because of the nausea, it is probably tempting to stick to empty carbs. Always back up carbs with protein and fat. And lastly, try to eat many small meals during the day. That should help stem the nausea.

[Shenandoah]

Go get yourself one of those water bras. Have you seen them? Instead of pads they have little water bags in the cups. I can't imagine who would buy one on purpose because they weigh like 5 pounds. :

[Electra375]

I wish I could just hand you some of my weight (I've got oh, 50lbs extra on me!!!)

Depending on what is going on with you even carbohydrates might not be a good thing. It is try that a low carb, high fat diet can jump start weight loss; but in the same instance if you are intolerant to grains, loading up on crackers and bread could cause you to loose weight as well.

If you were skinny to being with, I can see the worry. But if you were like me 50lbs over weight to start and only gained a little -- big deal! My big deal is that I was 50lbs over weight to start and have added 50lbs or more to myself...

With morning sickness I ate to try and feel better, I was having low blood sugar issues. I ate Italian Ice lemon flavor, full/ real no HFCS ginger ale, Gluten free crackers, my whole grain whole wheat no HFCS bread with PB& J made me ill for hours, so I went gluten free like my son (for the most part).

I think you might just have to resort to wearing those excercise ankle weights under your pants, wear the water bra, fill you bladder, add some coins taped down the sides of your pants!

I have no idea why weight gain or loss is such a big issue for the OBs. Every woman is different, every pregnancy is different, what is normal for you, is not normal for me. In parts of French speaking Africa a full-term woman only measures to US standard at 32 or 33 weeks.

[meggles]

Originally Posted by sophmama

Wear ankle weights under your pant legs. Not so many pounds as to make them suspicious, but enough to look like you've gained a few pounds.

This is a really smart idea. You don't actually have to gain the weight (and apparently your body doesn't want to, anyway) and you still get what you want out of the situation.

[janerose]

Yeah, I also havn't gained a lot. Although I guess if you count the 25 lb I lost during the first 5 months I'm up a bit more than my chart shows.

Anyway, my midwife is also not concerned. Is your fundal height measuring on date? Are you healthy otherwise? Your midwife doesn't sound concerned, so I wouldn't be either.

Frankly, I'd go with the wearing lots of heavy layers & putting some weights in my pockets. You should be able to "gain" a fair amount without making anyone suspicious. At my 36 wk appt I'd lost a pound, then yesterday at my 37 wk appt I was up 4 lbs, so it really *can* change a lot from week to week.

Good luck!

Holly

[RoadWorkAhead]

I'm hoping it won't matter as DD may be making an entrance tomorrow...But if she doesn't, I decided just to fudge it for the MWs sake. She's not there when I weigh in and as much as I hate lying, I hate trying to gain weight when I struggle when not pg to lose or not gain

[milkmommie]

Originally Posted by Kierdan'sMom

I hate trying to gain weight when I struggle when not pg to lose or not gain

Just had to say..... :

[RoadWorkAhead]

Yay! My MWs agreed that making me gain was crazy and so I'm going to go to their office for the next appt. and they'll consult with the OB just in case he wants to see me, but they said the baby is great size and my iron levels are decent and they aren't worried about it and I shouldn't worry either. SO back to my regulalry scheduled healthy diet it is =)