Measuring Small due to Nursing??

[blessed_mama]

Hi all,

I am due 7/7/08 and went in for my check up with my midwife on Wed. She measured me and I'm measuring 15 and I'm 18 weeks. I've only gained 4 pounds. I've never had a problem gaining weight in my pregnancies before (this is my third). I've also never nursed this far into my pregnancy before either. Do any of you have experiences like this?? Did you always measure small or just not gain that much while nursing during your pregnancy? I eat every three hours, but I do eat healthy stuff-no junk food, no sugar (most of the time).Anyway, just wondering if this is normal when nursing through a pregnancy?

[Khourtniey]

Could be.. Could be the position of the baby and placenta.. I wouldnt really worry about it.

[sunnymw]

I'm also nursing and have just finally gained 1 lb this past month. I measured 13-14 when I was 16 but the MW was not concerned.

LOL, let me see if I can measure myself

I was always right on the mark first pg, ate like a pig, gained 70 lbs... this time around I'm eating like a HEALTHY pig, lol.

[~Megan~]

I wouldn't worry so much about how you measure, its not exact.

I've not gained weight this time either but I think its because I'm overweight to start with.

[wendy1221]

Jake was nursing a lot more often than Liam is now when I was pregnant with Liam. I had no trouble gaining weight when I was pregnant w/ Liam. Liam only nurses before bed and sometimes when he wakes up. I don't think I have any milk at all anymore, maybe a tiny bit, not enough to be using up a lot of calories. I have not been gaining weight this time either. I think it has more to do with being more overweight than I was in my previous pregnancies than it does w/ nursing.

[blessed_mama]

Thanks for the posts. I'm not too concerned at this point. I usually gain more during the end of my second trimester. I started all my pregnancies at my ideal weight, but I've never nursed this far or much during my other pregnancies, so I'm guessing that has a lot to do with it. I just want to make sure the new baby is getting everything it needs and is growing well. Have any of you heard of anyone having IUGR because of nursing? I've always heard the body gives the new baby everything it needs first, so I hope that's true.

[Khourtniey]

I have NEVER heard of IUGR from nursing.

[madiesmommy]

I think if your midwife thought it were a problem, she would have told you so and had you go for an ultrasound or other testing. Since she did not, you must be fine. My doc won't even measure me until the 3rd tri because of the major discrepencies in early pregnancy, and then the measurements are only for comparison purposes, not to pinpoint if I am right on target. I bet that is why she is using measurements, and that you should not worry!

You are doing a great thing by continuing to nurse and I've NEVER heard of a baby born small or having problems because of a nursing mother.

[minka]

It's the same with me. I didn't nurse through my previous pregnancy, and I gained arround 30lbs each pg. Till now (18th w) I've only gained 2 lbs (in the previous 2 pg, I was allready at 8lbs). I guess it is due to nursing. My OB is giving me a bit of a hard time because of the nursing, she talked aboiu IUGR. But I kind of don't belive it, since I'm sure, that the body takes care of the fetus first.
And btw, I'm feeling much better this pg and I'm sure it's got a lot to do with a small weight gain.

[aprilibarra]

i actually lost weight, about ten lbs andam starting to get some back, butonly i think cause my uterus and baby are growing. i think its kind of cool, when i'm nursing alone i can't lose anything.

[Red Sonja]

I haven't been measured yet this pregnancy, but nursing never really caused me to measure off during my pregnancy with DD. I did gain less weight (~15 lbs less), but I was also eating a lot healthier and didn't spend 6 weeks on bedrest doing nothing but eat. DS nursed all through my pregnancy with DD and she was born a healthy, chubby 10 lbs so she definitely got enough nutrients!