[tayndrewsmama]

<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=100758" target="_blank">Pregnancy Weight Gain: New Guidelines</a><br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">May 28, 2009 -- Pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant? Then you need to know about new guidelines on how much weight to gain during pregnancy.<br><br>
Those new guidelines were issued today by an Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee of doctors, nutrition experts, and public health researchers.<br><br>
It's the first time the IOM has issued pregnancy weight guidelines since 1990, and in the past 19 years, America's obesity boom has only grown.</td>
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[Talula Fairie]

That is such crap. No way could I, as a just barely in the obese category (like if I lost 5 lbs I'd just be 'overweight') only gain 20 lbs without restricting. I generally gain like 25ish. I think I am up 16 lbs so far, at 29 weeks.<br><br>
I dunno, I just think it's so stupid to put a number on how much you are supposed to gain. Everyone is different! My body always gained the right amount of weight...I always lost it within 5 months post partum.

 

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

As someone who's just barely "obese" I too find these things ridiculous. See, if you break it down, "fat" women (as someone who was 10 pounds shy of "obese" at a size 8, I'm defining fat as size 6 or up) are expected to lose weight during pregnancy.<br><br>
Fetus= 7-10 pounds<br>
amniotic fluid = ~2 pounds<br>
placenta = ~2 pounds<br>
50% increase in blood =1/2 pound<br>
other fluid retention = 4+ pounds<br>
uterine growth = ~2 pounds<br>
boob growth =~1-5 pounds (for the truly "blessed")<br><br>
Add this up and you have:<br><br>
18.5-25.5 pounds. And we're not even talking about increasing fat stores for breastfeeding here. So that means a pregnant "obese" woman needs to lose 5-10 pounds in herself over the course of a pregnancy in order to have the "appropriate" weight gain.<br><br>
And, as an "obese" woman who sews and thus knows her measurements, I've gained 4 inches in the bust, 13 in the waist, .5 in the hips and 0 in the thighs. In short, I've put on no bulk that's not explicitly pregnancy related (meaning I have not increased my fat stores at all, aside from the boobage), and I'm up 25-30 pounds at 40 weeks. I can still close my pre-prego pants (we won't say they fit because the waistline is all screwy due to my ginormo belly) and yet I've gained too much weight?<br><br>
There are reasons why I spend a lot of time talking about fat acceptance. The idea that I should starve myself WHILE PREGNANT is indeed one of them.

 

[texaspeach]

how are these new guidelines any different than the 1990 suggestion?<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;"># Underweight: Gain 28-40 pounds<br>
# Normal weight: Gain 25-35 pounds<br>
# Overweight: Gain 15-25 pounds<br>
# Obese: Gain 11-20 pounds</td>
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I'm pretty sure the suggestion for "average" (which I prefer to NORMAL) weight women was 25-35, and women weighing more than average were encouraged to gain less, women weighing less than average encouraged to gain more.<br><br>
I don't think pregnancy weight gain is a one-size fits all thing. I have been encouraged to gain on the lower end of the weight guidelines because I am significantly overweight/borderline obese according to BMI, and also very short (the IOM suggests that very short women gain less than their taller counterparts regardless of starting weight). I think guidelines are good to use as guidelines, but not to be applied as hard and fast rules. I also find it interesting that the focus of the article is gaining "too much" weight, when in the past it seems like the focus was on encouraging ENOUGH weight gain (because restricted weight gain has been linked to pre-term birth among other things). Now the focus appears to have shifted to the 'dangers' of a macrosomic baby.<br><br>
eta: from the summary of the IOM 1990 <a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=1451" target="_blank">publication</a>:<br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">Weight-for-Height Category kg 1b<br>
Low (BMI < 19.8) 12.5–18 28–40<br>
Normal (BMI of 19.8 to 26.0) 11.5–16 25–35<br>
Highc (BMI > 26.0 to 29.0) 7–11.5 15–25</td>
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The difference appears that they added a category for obese women. And they are now using the cutoffs for BMI used by the WHO (previously, they were using BMI cutoff points from a metlife insurance table!) ETAagain: they also seem to have changed their tune about weight gain guidelines for very short women and no longer suggest that very short women gain toward the lower end of the scale - I'm going to bring this up to my mw.

 

[fawnanddoe]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Talula Fairie</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/13907527"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I dunno, I just think it's so stupid to put a number on how much you are supposed to gain. Everyone is different! My body always gained the right amount of weight</div>
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Agreed!<br><br>
I think it's absolutely silly to tell women how much they can or cannot gain while they are pregnant. Everyone is different, if you are eating healthy then your body will gain what your body needs to gain. I have gained almost 35 pounds this pregnancy, I am just about 37 weeks pregnant. My body needed to gain that much, and I am far from overweight. My friend gained just about 40 lbs., she lost 20 lbs. within one week of giving birth!

 

[Talula Fairie]

You'd have to be pretty short to be in the obese category at a size 8, and I hardly think anyone over a size 6 is fat. Size greatly depends on height, for instance, someone who's 6' tall can be a normal weight for their height and wear a size 14, but someone who's 5' tall would probably be obese by a size 10.<br><br>
I wear a size 16 at 5'4". I believe 179 was obese for my height/frame; prior to getting pregnant, I was 185-190. When I was a size 6 I weighed about 115. When I was a size 8 I weighed 125, well within normal weight limits (114 to 145 is the range for my height). I thought I was pretty thin at a size 6...

 

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

I'm 5'3". When I weighed 155 I wore a size 8. You do the math. And before you even think that, as someone who sews, I'm a stickler for fit and I keep my measurements up to date. When I say I was a size 8 I don't mean that I was squeezing myself into pants that were 2 sizes too small, but that I was a true size 8. (And, for the record, I was a size 4/26.5 inch waist at 135ish, or the upper end of "normal/healthy," 5-10 pounds shy of being "overweight").<br><br>
Now, as I have kept up with my measurements for the past few years and throughout pregnancy, I've noticed that a lot of clothing manufacturers have narrowed down their sizes. So, at Old Navy I was a 12 pre-pregnancy but using the exact same measurements I'd be a 14-16. Last summer, immediately pre-pregnancy I was buying size 12 from JCPenney. Same measurements I'd be a size 16.

 

[GoldmanBaby09]

I think it is pretty amazing how much emphasis is put on pregnancy weight in this country. I was reading another post not too long ago in another forum, and a couple of mamas from the UK were saying that they don't even really weigh you during pregnancy there! God forbid you miss a weigh in at an appt here. I also met a woman at a La Leche meeting who was put on a 1500 calorie restrictive diet for suspected GD when she was pregnant with TWINS! Is it just me, or is it reprehensible to put pregnant women on diets? Your body is growing another whole person, for goodness sake!

 

[Talula Fairie]

155 at 5'3" is not in the obese category. That's a BMI of 27.5, obese would be 30 or greater. 27.5 is actually in the middle/lower end of "overweight."<br><br>
Also, this is why BMI is a load of crap...you probably had a higher amount of muscle to have those measurements at that weight.<br><br>
Mainly I just think it's a huge fallacy to say "anyone over x size is fat." It's just not true.

 

[Norasmomma]

The BMI is a bunch of BS, I was just talking to my younger sister who is graduating as a nutritionist right now. The whole BMI thing is a sham, it fits a very small part of the population. Currently there are changes happening in how to measure a persons true weight. What she is learning and has learned is based more on bone structures, and muscle masses. The BMI is s highly flawed way to measure. This is coming from a young woman who is physically fit and extremely tiny, but her BMI puts her as "overweight". My sister probably weighs 120lbs soaking wet.<br><br>
I got this info because at WIc recently I was told my DD(who is almost 3) is now potentially going to have weight issues because she is the 90th percentile for weight and the 75th for ehight, which puts her the 100th percentile overall. She has been on the same growth curve her whole life, so IDK why all the sudden it is so pressing for me to get a preschoolers BMI down.<br><br>
I have gained 5 lbs this pregnancy and am 23 weeks, I gained much more with DD by this time, but I also still had not lost that last 10 lbs. I think that if you are making healthy choices and eating what makes you feel good that should be more than a number.<br><br>
I am really starting to hate our societies emphasis on weight, the good <i>and</i> the bad....it's really starting to piss me off.

 

[Talula Fairie]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Norasmomma</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/13908144"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">The BMI is a bunch of BS, I was just talking to my younger sister who is graduating as a nutritionist right now. The whole BMI thing is a sham, it fits a very small part of the population. Currently there are changes happening in how to measure a persons true weight. What she is learning and has learned is based more on bone structures, and muscle masses. The BMI is s highly flawed way to measure. This is coming from a young woman who is physically fit and extremely tiny, but her BMI puts her as "overweight". My sister probably weighs 120lbs soaking wet.<br><br>
I got this info because at WIc recently I was told my DD(who is almost 3) is now potentially going to have weight issues because she is the 90th percentile for weight and the 75th for ehight, which puts her the 100th percentile overall. She has been on the same growth curve her whole life, so IDK why all the sudden it is so pressing for me to get a preschoolers BMI down.<br><br>
I have gained 5 lbs this pregnancy and am 23 weeks, I gained much more with DD by this time, but I also still had not lost that last 10 lbs. I think that if you are making healthy choices and eating what makes you feel good that should be more than a number.<br><br>
I am really starting to hate our societies emphasis on weight, the good <i>and</i> the bad....it's really starting to piss me off.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that">:

 

[Shell_Ell]

I think the change is with the "obese" section. When I had my first son I went to a freestanding birth center that limited weight gain to "up to 15 lbs" for women with BMI over 31. I think mine was 33. It was terrible. I know I wasn't meeting my nutritional needs and it caused unnessecary stress at every single appointment.<br><br>
With my second (and with this one) my midwife does not keep track. But she and her apprentice both have encouraged me to keep my mind off of the scale and keep eating well and meeting my needs. I'm trying my best, but it's hard to erase that which has been ingrained in your head. I think pregnancy weight gain, especially for those with eating/weight issues can be an incredibly personal and emotional process.

 

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

TalulaFairy: pre-pregnancy I weighed 175ish and had a BMI of 31, and wore a size 12 jeans. It was when I was 155 and a size 8 that I was 15 pounds shy of being "obese."<br><br>
Another fun thing is I have butt-length thick curly hair. $5 says if I cut my hair to chin-length I'd lose at least 5 pounds. Which would put me at just barely every so slightly obese, instead of definitely obese. Ah, the joys of body tissue.

 

[Talula Fairie]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>sunflwrmoonbeam</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/13908340"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">TalulaFairy: pre-pregnancy I weighed 175ish and had a BMI of 31, and wore a size 12 jeans. It was when I was 155 and a size 8 that I was 15 pounds shy of being "obese."<br><br>
Another fun thing is I have butt-length thick curly hair. $5 says if I cut my hair to chin-length I'd lose at least 5 pounds. Which would put me at just barely every so slightly obese, instead of definitely obese. Ah, the joys of body tissue.</div>
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That wasn't the impression I got from your posts though, it said originally, unless I misread, that you were obese (I didn't see the 'almost' part, either that's an edit or I missed it) at a size 8 and considered anything above a 6 to be fat. Obesity and being overweight greatly depends on muscle mass, body frame, and height...not weight, BMI, or a specific clothing size. And 15 lbs is a lot of weight when you're only 5'3". I know for me at 5'4" it's a nearly two size difference. I don't think you were very close to obese at 155. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shrug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shrug"><br><br>
That aside, as a totally OT point: weight is actually a pretty poor indicator of health. What your diet is like and how much you exercise has way more impact on overall health than just weight itself. Add pregnancy to that and I think it's fair to say that a pregnant woman who gained 40 lbs eating whole grains, veggies, fruit and lean protien is probably healthier than a woman who gained it by eating too much high fat/high sugar junk food.

 

[guestmama9916]

I swell so much (thanks to PIH/pre-e) that its impossible to know really how much I gain is fat and how much is baby and how much is just fluid retention until after the baby is born. I think I'll just listen to my OB who always says I'm doing great. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

I did say "almost obese" at a size 8 and "obese" at a size 12. Considering our society popularly defines fat as BMI over 26, judging by billboards, doctors, news reports, etc. etc. etc. and you can't judge someone's weight by their body size, I do say that anything over a size 6 is "fat" because I was considered fat at a size 8.<br><br>
And no, 15 pounds is not a lot of weight on a 5'3" frame. When people say they need to lose 10 or 15 pounds, they want to be a little firmer, not radically alter their body shape. Heck, my boobs are estimated to weight 8 pounds by themselves and my hair 5. There's 13 pounds right there that have nothing to do with my girth.<br><br>
And here's an obese woman (myself) at 33 weeks pregnant: <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3474839502_d0a86e498e.jpg?v=0" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/...6e498e.jpg?v=0</a><br><br>
Aren't I disgusting? (tongue VERY firmly in cheek)

 

[Mizelenius]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>sunflwrmoonbeam</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/13908445"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><br>
And here's an obese woman (myself) at 33 weeks pregnant: <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3474839502_d0a86e498e.jpg?v=0" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/...6e498e.jpg?v=0</a><br><br>
Aren't I disgusting? (tongue VERY firmly in cheek)</div>
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Where's the obese woman? Is this like that "Where's Waldo?" game?

 

[octobermoon]

size 6= fat?? thanks.

 

[BMG580]

I have started each pregnancy with a BMI of 20 and gained over 40lbs. with each pregnancy. I gained 48lbs. with my DD and 43lbs. with my DS. I ate mostly nutrient dense whole foods and I ate when I was hungry. With my DS I nursed my DD part of the way through the pregnancy so maybe that is why I ended up 5lbs. lower of overall gain. I am nursing my DS in this pregnancy and at 8 weeks pregnant I have gained 5lbs. already. I am not overeating.<br><br>
I think these healthy weight guidelines are just that. Some of us aren't going to fit into the recommended weight gain allowances. I lost all the baby weight after each pregnancy so this time I am seriously just not worrying about it at all.

 

[sg784]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Mizelenius</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/13908554"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Where's the obese woman? Is this like that "Where's Waldo?" game?</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">