Weight Gain and Pregnancy

[Kim1989]

I read that if a person is normal weight for their hight before pregnancy, they should gain around 25-35 pounds with a pregnancy. ok well im 23 weeks and at 20 pounds already. i dont want to gain all that much because it would be harder for me to loose, but is it really possible to gain only 15 pounds (more) with a pregnnacy (i would expect a LOT more)? would me only gaining 35 pounds be really all that good for the baby?

[peekawho]

Gaining 35 pounds total would be a great and admirable goal.  Many women gain more than that, but that's what you should shoot for if you were a normal height and weight before pregnancy.

Don't starve yourself, but do watch your weight.  

[Kim1989]

alight. ill try and eat better to then.. thanks

[Crritter]

Aw, don't stress about the weight.  It will come off after baby, especially since you are young.  Peek always has great advice.  You probably will gain more now since baby will be getting big rapidly from here on out.  I didn't gain till into the 5th month each time, but when I did I gained back the 15+ lbs. I lost to start and then some.  The weight was gone within a week of having baby.  Just be careful and watch what you eat to an extent.  Try to eat healthy when you can, but do indulge in some cravings once in awhile.  My Dr. would let me know how I was doing, up too much, not enough...she was tough.  Anyway, 35 lbs. is within the recommended range.  It feels like more when you get a big ol belly.  Mine came around the 6th month.  Go enjoy that baby in your belly!

[Nicole624]

Girl I gained 55lbs while pregnant! My dr. didnt care as long as I was gaining!

[peekawho]

Nicole, I'm sure your doctor did care, but did a poor job of communicating it to you.  Excessive weight gain can be associated with a higher risk pregnancy, higher rates of gestational diabetes, of pregnancy induced hypertension, of high birth weight babies, and a higher incidence of C/Section.
Not to mention having to lose that much more weight afterwards.  

[pertykitty]

remember we only need 300 calories more a day and that isnt much.  while i am not perfect, i know from experience how gaining too much can cause issues.  besides that not everyone drops it that fast.   some do, lucky girls and others have to struggle.  do you want that? larger women can have issues with breastfeeding and its just darn uncomfortable.  we dont need to eat for 2, enjoy some treats now and then, but dont make it your daily routine.  i have many friends that have developed gestational diabetes, and one that developed insulin dependant after the baby was born, its not a fun thing to live with.  just be careful, pregnancy is hard enough!

[projectbaby]

SO far I have gained 5 lbs... I am 15 weeks....not really sure how much you are supposed to gain....
Jacquie

[orphanannie59]

I have also gained about 5 pounds and am 15 weeks, but I started out being clinically obese (although everyone I know would disagree, but the scales don't lie).  I have read that I need to gain only 15 to 20, and that is my goal.  The nurses tell me not to worry about my weight, but I am already flirting with gestational diabetes and don't want to harm my baby. My age is against me also.  My tastebuds are not cooperating with me, but I still try not to indulge in high calorie meals except maybe once a week (mexican is my fav).  I am trying really hard to stay as healthy as I can so I can enjoy the pregnancy and not be worried about all the health issues I could have avoided because of the weight.

[Nicole624]

She never mentioned anything to me. She always said things look great. I Dont think she should try to gain only a certain amount. I dropped the weight right away, and my baby is really healthy.

[kris123]

When by 20 weeks I had gained 23pounds. All said and done it was a total of 53pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ryan will be 19weeks and I have lost 43pounds.  I have 10 to go.  I am not breastfeeding, just eating less, and jogging every other day and lifting some weights.

[peekawho]

Nicole, just because something bad didn't happen to you doesn't make it right to tell people to ignore the guidelines that are decided upon by the medical community that are backed by research and experience.  

I used to put my kids to sleep on their stomachs (back in my day, that's what everyone did).  Nothing bad happened to them.  So should I tell people to ignore the Back to Sleep guidelines, just because nothing happened to my children?  My grandmother smoked 2 packs a day of unfiltered cigarettes every day of her life until she was 94.  Because she didn't get lung cancer, does that make it wise to tell people its ok to smoke?  

I'm not trying to be mean.  There are guides to help women have a safe and healthy pregnancy, and if possible, they should be followed.  They are there for a reason.  I'm glad that it was easy for you to get back to a healthy and good weight, and that you didn't have any weight related complications.  But many women are not as lucky as you, and it is a disservice to tell them to gain all the weight they want.

[have 2 kids]

My Dr's (had 2) both told me to gain between 25-35 lbs.  I gained exactly 35 with my 1st pregnancy.
The weight did NOT come off easily.   With my son I gained 20 lbs. -I tried gaining more the Dr's were very concerned but it just didn't happen.  I never lost the last 10 pounds.      I think if you are eating healthy, not giving in too much to cravings then there isn't much else you can do.

[Kim1989]

i eat mostly healthy, i do love the cravings though. before pregnancy my weight has always gone up 5 gone down 5 etc.  and i find the same things going on now. but im around 150 rather than 130.

thanks ladies for the advice and whatnot. 25-35 is healthy for a normal weight woman to gain during pregnancy so i think i will be fine if i stay around that.

thanks everyone.

[Crritter]

Peek, my Dr. is tough on weight for those exact reasons.  Each pregnancy