pre pregnancy pooch - can it affect how you 'measure' during pregnancy??

2127 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by zuzunel09, Apr 10, 2009

128375

Discussion Starter · Apr 7, 2009

I have a non-pregnancy tummy normally. If I'm really bloated one might wonder if I'm pregnant.LOL!

This will be my first. I know its a dumb question. But do health care providers factor in your initial tummy size in determining if you're measuring too big?

Also, if you had a lil tummy did you ever get back to your original tummy size or was it harder to get back. I'm worried I'll end up with a lot of loose skin since I already have a pooch going on.

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Talula Fairie

· #2 · Apr 7, 2009

I had a major pooch and I measured small at 12 weeks but then 2 weeks ahead a 16 weeks (I did wonder if my belly fat had something to do with that).

My tummy never really recovered after having kids. I had a bigger pooch after #1 and an even bigger one after #2. It never went away completely, even with exercise and weight loss. I don't have a lot of loose skin, though. Just extra fat

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128375

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 7, 2009

Thanks TF.. you always seem to have an honest, reassuring, informative no nonsense answer. I LOVE THAT!

Talula Fairie

· #4 · Apr 7, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by preciousstone

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Thanks TF.. you always seem to have an honest, reassuring, informative no nonsense answer. I LOVE THAT!

I aim to please

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Talula Fairie

· #5 · Apr 7, 2009

Also, here is me pre-baby at a size 14-16 (I'd like that body back, plz! Even at a size 14 I had a flatish stomach. You can't really tell that there is some pooch becuase I'm wearing black but there was a tiny bit, really only visible if I was sitting).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ndsayphoto.jpg

here is me after baby #1 (6 months pp)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/11/13...957aa3c7_o.jpg

after baby #2 (maybe 7 or so weeks pp)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/50/15...acc2bcf9_o.jpg

after losing a ton of weight (size 10, about 10 months PP)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/4...97855aaa_o.jpg

after gaining some back and just prior to this pregnancy (size 16):
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/...7b991b6f_o.jpg

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MangoMommy

· #6 · Apr 7, 2009

When your provider measures you, they are measuring the fundus, the top of the uterus, so belly fluff doesn't really factor in. Your uterus is harder than the fluff/poochy part of your belly, LOL. I started out w/a pooch this time and I'll let you know this summer how it works out for me!

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LiamsMommy

· #7 · Apr 7, 2009

I have a body almost identical to Talula. I acutally gained a little weight (from 14 up to 16) when I weaned ds at age 3. I worked really hard to get back to a 14. Now preggers again. Bf'ing definitely helps the weight come off and stay off.

Talula Fairie

· #8 · Apr 7, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiamsMommy

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I have a body almost identical to Talula. I acutally gained a little weight (from 14 up to 16) when I weaned ds at age 3. I worked really hard to get back to a 14. Now preggers again. Bf'ing definitely helps the weight come off and stay off.

:

I gained around the time #2 weaned, but I also took a medication that is notorious for weight gain, so most of it came from that (40 lbs!

)

I suspect I'll be back into my 14s around the time this baby is 5 or so months old. But, alas, my tummy will never be flat again.

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dawncayden

· #9 · Apr 7, 2009

Yeah, the MW's press in quite hard to find the fundus, so I don't think they are measuring the fat or extra skin.

I went from a pre pregnancy size of about a 9, to about a 14 post partum. (I had gained 50lbs with the pregnancy) It took me a year to get to about an 11, but that was me doing nothing exercise-wise, just breastfeeding.

sunflwrmoonbeam

· #10 · Apr 7, 2009

I have pretty significant pooch and nope, there was no noticeable effect on how I measure. I've been dead on for most of pregnancy.

LiamsMommy

· #11 · Apr 7, 2009

I couldn't dig up any pics that were before ds. I didn't go digital until after then.
Here is me about 2 weeks pp
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/thestork.jpg

1 year pp
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...is/pics008.jpg

Almost 2 years pp
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...is/pics345.jpg

just over 4 years pp and about 1 year after weaning (friends baby I am holding)
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...69f52f22c3.jpg

Me in Jan 2008 after working hard at losing weight at sz 14
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...7e152fdd07.jpg

this was just in january 5 1/2 years PP just before getting pg now a 16
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...omspics183.jpg

Boy I do great job of hiding my tummy in every pic! Definitely a self conscious area for me.

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WeasleyMum

· #12 · Apr 7, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by MangoMommy

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When your provider measures you, they are measuring the fundus, the top of the uterus, so belly fluff doesn't really factor in. Your uterus is harder than the fluff/poochy part of your belly, LOL. I started out w/a pooch this time and I'll let you know this summer how it works out for me!

:

I have a bit of a poochy belly too, and the docs really kind of dig in to find the uterus. Fat and/or skin doesn't seem to measure into the equation at all. FWIW, all of my measurements have been "on track" so far.

I really wouldn't worry about it!

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4

kcparker

· #13 · Apr 7, 2009

I had a little tummy chub before pregnancy, but breastfeeding made my stomach flatter than it's been since I was in my mid-twenties. It took about a year to get back into pre-preg. pants, but then by 14 or 15 months, they were loose on me. So I will quote my son on this one, "Nurse! Nurse!"

darcytrue

· #14 · Apr 7, 2009

No, it shouldn't affect it. The doctor or midwife can tell where your uterus is when they feel your lower abdomen area. The OB checked me last time I was in and could tell I was right on track at 11 weeks at that time. I too have a pooch and that pooch keeps getting higher and higher as my uterus grows, lol. I look real pregnant when I let my tummy relax but when I suck it in I can tell where the baby is actually growing at.

128375

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 8, 2009

thanks ladies.. this was soo helpful!

zuzunel09

· #16 · Apr 10, 2009

"Belly fluff"! I love that. I had plenty. I even lost 20lbs for my wedding in October and my fluff was still going strong. So even though I know I'm showing at 21 weeks, I still think I just look fat. I have an upper tummy and a lower tummy as opposed to the cute round basketball you see in the media.

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