Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Hello A. D,

Yes, you're in luck, we do exist. I am D. Peña, a certified personal trainer specializing in pre/postnatal fitness. I'd be happy to help you. Please contact me if you'd like my assistance. Thank you.

D. P., LMT, CPT
Licensed Massage Therapist
Certified Personal Trainer
###-###-####
email: ____@____.com

I think that you are doing fine. 30 pounds is a reasonable goal. You are right on track. When you are pregnant everything swells and/or spreads out. Most everything eventually goes back to normal. Keep eating healthy and you will be fine.

Hi A.,
I am a doula and childbirth educatoe so I teach this alot! I TOTALY the weight loss aspect of your concern. But think like this:
The food you put in your body is the building blocks of your childs health.
Yes, you need to gain weight, but its not all WEIGHT. Your placenta will weigh approx 1-2lbs, 2lbs in amniotic fluid, 7-10 pounds of baby and your blood volume expands by 50% by the end of your pregnancy. You will rpobably keep a bit of extra water weight as well which will dissipate over the first few weeks post partum.

What you need to focus on is putting good, healthy and nutritious food into your body to grow a healthy baby AND healthy mom. A baby will take from you all the nutrients he/she needs and leave you depleted so while your nutrition is imperative for baby, its even more so for YOU!

You only need about 300 calories a day more than you were eating before. That could be an extra yogurt and 1/2 peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread. Try to get in 80grams of good protein a day as well. Protien grows baby brains, give him/her a good start!

My favorite resource is theo www.blueribbonbaby.org this is the Dr. Tom Brewer diet for pregnancy. He tells you up front that you will gain 30-40 pounds on his diet, but you need to remember that fat storage is also necessary for breastfeeding. And biologically we are programmed to keep a bit of fat on our thighs and be-hiney because our ancient ancesstors would have needed that fat to help their milk ome in in a time that good food was scarce.

If you just eat whole, nutritious, mostley unprocessed foods and meats, you will do fine and your pregnancy weight will be much easier to loose, especially if you breastfeed than of you grow a baby on junk and fast food.

Take good care of your body & Baby!

K.
Certified Birth Doula
Lamaze Childbirth Educator

I was in the same exact situation. I had been overweight, found out I was pre-diabetic, went low carb, lost 80 pounds, finally liked my body for the first time, and got pregnant. I had been trying to get pregnant, so it was worth the weight gain, but I was still frustrated to lose the part of myself that felt like a sexy woman. It became a mom, and that didn't feel so bad either. I don't know if this happened with other people, but when I gained my weight for pregnancy, which ended up being about 35 pounds, after I had my daughter, I could not lose anything. I have been breastfeeding, and my doctor told me that in women who have gone through dramatic weight loss, their bodies can hold on to the weight while breastfeeding to make sure it keeps up the milk supply. I've been breastfeeding for a little over a year, dieting and exercising the whole time and I have not lost a pound of my pregnancy weight. I have not gained any either though. It was the most worthwhile experience of my life, and I wouldn't change it for anything, but I've had to resign myself that lipo may be in my future. Good luck.

You are fine. Weight distribution is always different from person to person and even pregnancy to pregnancy of the same person. You'll be slowly expansing all over and may even have a few weeks of rapid gain. Just look at your overall progress and follow your doctor's recommendations. Congratulations!

If you are 21 weeks and can still get your pre pregnancy jeans over your big toe, then you're doing fine! I was overweight when I got pregnant with my first, so I only gained about 10 lbs. my whole pregnancy, but had a healthy 7.5 lb. baby girl and lost 20 lbs. almost immediately after delivery. The other 10 or so, I had to work at, but was able to get down to nearly the weight I was when I got married and kept it off for 2 years. I am now pregnant with my 2nd and am 17 weeks along and I already had to get some maternity pants. You tend to expand a little more quickly the second time around.

Bottom line is, all people and pregnancies are different. You aren't going to fit in your pre pregnancy jeans forever, so buy yourself something comfortable for Christmas and just be sure you're eating healthy. Your doctor will let you know if you are gaining too much weight, so just relax and enjoy your pregnancy! Worry about losing it later once you have a healthy child. Congratulations!

Just try to let it go...so easy to say - so hard to do. I really understand your concerns about losing your battle, but you will have time to lose it. You seem to be aware of what you are eating...just be healthy, you're growing a new human being, afterall! :)
Just a thought, does Ricky Lake have any blogs or books, since she has gone through these struggles as well?
Hang in there...try to enjoy these weeks that your new friend is IN your tummy as much as possible! My first delivery nurse spoke such words of wisdom," your goal is to have a healthy baby, period." (she said "period" :))

I am not really sure...but I would 1st talk to your doctor. My docotor didn't tell me what to or not to eat. She didn't want me to gain more than 25 lbs. I gained 70 and am still fighting it off....7 years later. If I could go back in time...I would eat no more than 2000 cal. a day...but eat all day long....that way you wouldn't feel hungry and you are still eating....but WRITE everything down....even gum! 5 cal adds up!

I still need to lose that last 30 lbs! And it is hard!!!

Good luck to you and may God bless you!

Wow! You still fit in your pre-pregnancy jeans at 21 weeks!!!!! I'm 25 weeks, and I got into maternity clothes at 8 weeks! And I've already outgrown the small maternity clothes and am into mediums, and now they are getting tight! I was 20 lbs overweight when I got pregnant, and I lost five lbs in the first trimester, and was finally 5 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight at my six month checkup.

Most of my weight gain is in my bum, hips, and thighs and boobs. And I feel like my belly is so much bigger this pregnancy. I gained the weight all over my body last time too but it quickly came off when I breastfed my daughter for a year. Then my husband introduced me to an internet computer game, and the weight came back on, plus I wasn't eating healthy.

Growing a baby can be hard work and is also h*** o* the body. I understand how hard it can be to not focus on the weight. So I don't step on the scale at all while I'm pregnant except for at the midwife's office. She's not worried about by lack of weight gain, since I was overweight to begin with. She's encouraging exercise and healthy eating, and the baby will grow more in the third trimester, which is when I gain most of my weight.

Congratulations to you!

Well first of all. . . congratulations on losing weight! I had my first daughter five years ago. At the time I was 5'6 and weighed 110 pounds. Right before I had my daughter I weighed 127 pounds. I put all of my weight on my thighs and bum! I don't think you should be concerned at all. After I had my daughter I weighed 5 pounds more than usual; again it was mainly in my thigh/butt area. But I quickly went back to normal. You should be fine!

From what doctors say-as long as you eat like you normally would (that is stop eating when you are full-you obviously have to eat more with a baby in your tummy) you should be fine.

Good luck!

Hi A.,
I totally agree with Angela E.s post- GOod luck to you with your pregnancy. I saw many posts stating that after birth if you breastfeed your weight would come off faster- I know for many women that is the case, for me it was not. My body held on to the extra fat stores until I quit nursing. But then it came off as I was exercising and eating right as well. WE are all different, but I know that if you focus on taking care of yourself and your child everything else will fall into place... no need to obsess. I also know what it is like to be overweight and had to recover from an eating disorder, and with God's help I did. Take care and best wishes!

Yup

I gained 19 pounds with my first two babies and I still had a little tightness in things. Just buy the next size up and don't worry about it.

Our bodies do this because when you start nursing it will draw on you to nourish your baby. It will give as much to the baby as possible to keep him/her going. So don't worry about it at all. I gained 21 pounds with the last baby and ti was more the shape than the weight that did me in. I did not excercise at all afterwards till he was about 1 so the weight was gone but the flabby muscles just sat there. :-(

So keep doing what you are doing and don't worry. But after you have the baby and he is about 2 months old you can start excercising again to tighten up those muscles and redefine your shape. ;-)

As your pregnancy progresses, your body will naturally begin the process of preparing for the birth through the hips. The pregnancy waddle, as it is infamously known, is not just because women gain too much weight.

IMO, this is normal.

Blessings,
C.

It would be silly for me to restate everything already said but I want to tell you to enjoy your big PREGNANT Belly! It's your child in there and be proud for that!
If I ever thought I had a big belly before, this is totally not the same. Don't equate pregnancy weight with your usual thoughts for weight gain. It is not the same :o) And another thing I found shocking was when I thought about gaining 30 lbs, it didn't seem like that big of a deal but when you add that to your real weight - that's a lot! Again, I had to change that mindset and remember the reason for the weight gain!
You will probably gain some extra poundage in the rear and thighs but if you eat RIGHT and some exercise, you'll be fine.
I feel as huge as a barn right now - my baby is coming any day now and I do love this big ole belly -- for now. In a few weeks, it is back to serious business and working off those pounds on the legs and butt.

Yes totally normal to gain in those places and have them feel tight there!

I personally was overweight when I got pregnant with my daughter and again this time around. My Dr advised me on both occasions to gain between 20-25 pounds was fine. I gained 16 with my daughter (who was 9pds 11 oz) and am on track to gain around the same this time. You only need an extra 500 calories, as long as they are good calories. Try to focus on making healthy choices and you will be fine. I was losing weight when I got pregnant both times so I know it can be hard to change your mindset and surrender to the changes in your body.

Stop obsessing! The average pregnancy gain is one week per week of pregnancy (40 lbs total). It is basically 9 months up and 9 months down if you work on it. I'm 6 months post pregnancy in which I gained 38 lbs. I have 10 more to lose. The other thing you have to remember is that after pregnancy if you plan to breastfeed, the pounds will come off faster.

Good luck and really get a grip. It's about the health of your baby, not your pre-jeans. And I hate to tell you this, but you may never fit in those again. The shape of my body is totally different now. I have a butt that was never there before.

:)

Yes, your hips will actually widen during pregnancy as the cartilage loosens to ease the delivery. If you think about it, it makes alot of sense. It took me several years after the birth of my second child for my hips to return to pre-pregnancy width, but they do. So, you may well be a size larger for quite some time post-pregnancy. The other place you'll typically gain is in the breasts. If you're gaining too much in the tummy area (e.g., love handles are increasing), that's the time to worry. Weight gain during pregnancy is also highly variable - the most important thing to keep in mind is that eating empty calories (e.g., Oreos) while pregnant is just as bad as eating them while not pregnant (there's no magic about being able to eat what you want while pregnant). I learned that the hard way and the extra 10 pounds I gained with my first didn't go away until my second was almost 7.

I was so glad to read your post. I am an overweight, pregnant mama, and I was so happy to be on a diet plan that was working for me, when I found out that I was pregnant! I was actually terrified, because I thought that this was going to be disastrous for me and the baby, but this pregnancy has been far healthier and easier than the first two! I do hope, however, that I can resume what I was doing before I got pregnant and get back on track to losing weight. I don't know if this will make you feel better, but I had not gained more than about 5 pounds for this pregnancy up until a couple of weeks ago. I am almost 7 months along right now. My doctor did make a comment that I had gained a significant amount of weight between that visit and the previous, but said that as long as I was gaining for medical reasons and not from overeating, then everything was going to be fine. He also said that from what he could see in my blood work, that I was not overeating. Of course, after having been on a diet, I feel like I'm eating like a cow, but I can take heart in knowing that this will be over soon and I can get back on track. I've never heard of a preggo fitness expert, but your doctor should be expert enough. He or she can put you on a diet if necessary, and can advise you on what exercises to do or not. When I first started off this pregnancy, I was going swimming at least three times per week, walking, and teaching baton twirling classes. I have gradually cut back that schedule and am just resting/working whenever I feel up to it. Most of my exericise right now is just housework, but even that has to be done carefully in the final months.

Your weight gain is great! And yes, your behind and thighs and everything else will get larger during pregnancy. Mostly because of extra fluids and blood flow. I just cant believe you can still wear your prepregnancy clothes!! I go to maternity by 12 weeks. I would definately ask your doctor. You want that baby to be healthy!!

As long as your doctor says you're on track I wouldn't obsess about it, and for heavens sake put away the pre-preggo jeans and quit torturing yourself! Everyone gains weight differently and carries it differently when pregnant, sometimes even from one pregnancy to another. With my son I gained over 40 pounds, and had lost 30 of it within a week of delivery - it was mostly water weight since I swelled up like a balloon the last two months. With my daughter I gained 20 pounds total, but it didn't come off nearly as fast.

Eat healthy, exercise, and enjoy your pregnancy!

Congratulations on your weight loss, and your new healthy lifestyle. I was also concerned about gaining too much, but in my case I am on the smaller side and was scared to have a big baby and need a c-section. I tried to eat healthy and drink lots of water. When I was out and got hungry I would get subway. I ended up gaining 20 pounds. My goal was to gain no more than 25. But I think more than my diet it was because I stayed really busy and active throughout my pregnancy. I played with my dogs, went on walks, I worked at a child care center and playing, taking care of, and picking up those kids was a work out, and didn't just sit around. I think this also helped with my sleeping because I was so tired from my day I slept so soundly at night. It was the best thing I ever did because after I had my son (7lbs,7oz n he was 2 wks early) I bounced right back, I felt great, like the next day. The weight came off in a week, but I know nursing did/is helping. It did take about 5+ months for my cloths to fit again though. Just remember to eat healthy and try to stay active, and try not to worry about the weight gain, I only got weighed at the doc's office cause I had to. It will come off. Oh and about working out I think most excerises are safe as long as you don't lay on your back or run out breath. My husband is a personal trainer but the work outs he tried to give me didn't feel right, I would just rather go for a walk. So just listen to your body it knows best.

It is perfectly normal!! Our bodies naturally put on "fat stores" during pregnancy- there is not much you can do to prevent it except starve yourself (not good for you or baby.) As long as you are sticking with HEALTHY food choices, staying in your desired calorie range for a pregnant woman, and exercising regularly- I would not fret too much! You are obviously VERY motivated, which is a good thing- however, you don't want to be SO hung up about the normal pregnancy weight gain that you don't enjoy this time with your baby. I did use a workout DVD that was specifically for pregnant women- perhaps that would help you as you get farther along and it becomes harder to do your usual workout routine.

I'm just in awe that you are 21 weeks along and still able to get your pre-preg. pants above your knees!!!! I gained 60 pounds with my first two pregnancies and 30 pounds with my last- and with decent eating habits and regular exercise I am only 5 pounds away from my first pre-preg. weight (my youngest is 9 months old.) I have to admit, it is not all where it used to be (LOL), and I need to work on my muscle tone- but I figure that isn't bad for 3 kids AND getting older as well!

Good luck with your pregnancy and your first precious baby! P.

P.

OOHHH BOY....well like some of the others have stated "get over it" you're going to put on weight and if you watch your weight and obsess over it you're not prividing enough attention to the real situation "a baby growing and needing nutrients". you are ABSOLUTLY going to put on weight in places you never thought you would, if you take in a lot of sodium, you're going to bloat like a whale. But hey guess what, in MOST cases, after you give birth to that baby, the water weight goes away almost immidiatly, and like someone stated, it took you 9 months to put on the weight, its going to take at least 9 to take it off, (unless you were blessed with awsome genes, which from what you stated about being obese and or heavy throughout your entire life, you dont have good genes).
So let go of the fact you ARE GOING TO PUT ON WEIGHT, and remember that its ALL for that baby, and that if your dr. tells you that you are doing well and the baby is doing well, then you have nothing to worry about.

It is normal for your body to undergo these changes, try to embrace these changes and enjoy this time being pregnant, continue to eat healthy and excercise moderately. As a postpartum doula, many clients are concerned of how there bodies have changed and whether they will ever be back to their prepregnancy condition. Do not be overly anxious. I would like to encourage you to breastfeed, its great for the baby and it also helps mom to loose weight.

My mom can always tell I am prg from my hhips and butt, before I even tell her, lol! I have gained 50 lbs with eac of my babies and I always lose it after, matter of fact, I only have 5 lbs to lose and she is 3 months old, so I think I am doing really well.

Enjoy your pg, eat healthy and have a wonderful time, you can always lose weight after baby comes and congrats!

I can empathize with you as far as the weight gain is concerned. Yes, it's normal for your thighs and abdominal area to grow without exceptional weight gain.. it's just the way it goes... post pregnancy you can do exercises to reduce the size of your thighs by taking baby for daily rides around the neighborhood or mall (depending on weather) to get exercise..

That's what I did and it worked!!

J.

Oh sweetie -

1-YES! It is totally normal. Your butt, thights, breasts and belly will all add fat supplies to help you replace blood loss postpartum AND have enough energy to feed the baby.

2-You are focusing in the wrong direction. Totally and completely. The question you should be asking is NOT "How much should I gain?" It is "WHAT am I eating?"

Check out the website blueribbonbaby.org and follow a GOOD pregnancy diet.

And then stop getting on the scale. At all. Don't do it again. Ever. Your doctor will expect you to at prenatal check ups and that's fine - just close your eyes and don't ask. It doesn't matter. It. Does. Not. Matter. One. Bit.

THe best thing to control pregnancy weight is to breastfeed. Your body adds the weight expecting to breastfeed. Nurse your child immediately and exclusively and you will not only decrease your risk of breast cancer but you will also burn more calories nursing a baby than you burned extra being pregnant. True!

Take care darling - check out that website and stop obsessing.

A. - Certified Childbirth Educator

P.S. To the poster who mentioned her doctor telling her not to gain more than 25 pounds....that is VERY outdated thinking. If this was a recent occurance I would find a new doctor who was more in touch with the evidence that has proven otherwise. For most women a weight gain of less than 25 pounds would be very unhealthy and leave them depleted of vital nutrients. The doctor who said this was either saying this many years ago or is so stuck in his routine from school training decades ago he can't provide evidence based care. That whole "25 pounds" thing is a myth and research has shown that.

Hi April--congratulations on your pregnancy and your attention to health issues as related to nutrition. Your current weight gain sounds great--and what you need to focus on is what you are feeding your baby. Fruits & veggies, with low fat protiens are what you are aiming for. My advise is stop looking at the scale, and concentrate on good nutrition. Don't eat anything you don't need (junk food), and don't be too quick to pass up something you REALLY want (chocolate cake--one piece). I tell my girls--you and me don't want your baby looking like a french fry! That means low weight gain, but bad food choices.
thanks, Kathy

You are fine, you are half way there and 13 pounds is not bad. Remember, as long as you eat healthy (keep away from the sugary stuff and eat fruits and veggies) you should be fine. Each person's body responds differently to being pregnant. Your body has expanded to accomadate the baby inside. The stomach area has to stretch for baby to grow jeans will feel tight from the pressure inside (baby). Also, you may notice your shoes may not fit the same as before because of the weight baby puts on the body. Don't starve yourself, do walk for exercise daily if possible about a mile a day around your neighborhood. Take your prenatal vitamins and enjoy the experience of the pregnancy. Get the book Pregancy and Childbirth it will explain where you are in your pregnancy and what the baby looks like in size. This newer version is great I had an old paperback one (30 years back) and it answered many questions I had while being pregnant out of the country. Don't ever feel you are taking steps backward creating life. YOu may find that you become more creative in your life in arts and other things. You will do fine. S.

Wed, Dec. 26, 2007

Dear A.,

When I was pregnant with my son, who is now grown, my doc told me to "major on" lean protein foods, and also on salads.

I have to watch my own weight these days to manage some health issues. It sounds like you have a challenge - but NOT an immpossible one. Here's what I believe: if you concentrate on WHAT you eat, moreso than on HOW MUCH you eat, you will do better than the old calorie-counting thing. Talk to your doctor, and research healthy foods. If you eat the right foods, your appetite is likely to normalize.

For me, I WATCH FATS, EAT FIBER, and stay away from foods that cause me to feel sick, or have unnatural cravings. It works.

It may be a journey, but you can take care of yourself, and have a healthy baby.

God Bless you for reaching out,
- M.

You will gain some fat...can't be avoided. Your hips are actually "loosening" in preparation for childbirth, which is why they are getting wider. You will probably retain some fluid, too...maybe a lot toward the end. You're half-way there. Keep making healthy choices for meals, and don't worry so much right now. You had the discipline to lose the weight before, you will do it again. Your baby is depending completely on you right now...stay healthy! You absolutely cannot diet during pregnancy, unless you become diabetic, and even then you have to eat enough of the right calories for yours and your baby's health. At 21 weeks, you've done great not to need maternity clothes, but it's time to surrender now. It's OK. Let it go. You will swell and grow in places you never knew you had, and your body will change, some changes will be long-lasting. The joy of motherhood! Enjoy your pregnancy and celebrate it for what it is...a miracle growing inside you! Oh, and drink your water! :o)

Hi A.,

Congratulations on the baby and your weight loss. Good for you. I gained 40 lbs, but I never really had a weight problem pre or post baby, so I don't know the particular issues for you. But, I do eat very healthily and I wanted to tell you a couple of things you may already know, but so many people don't seem to.

Don't eat or drink anything with high fructose corn syrup, enriched wheat (it should be whole wheat or whole grain), processed foods (make it yourself from scratch) and don't drink sodas ever, diet or otherwise - it's even better to eat an orange rather than drink OJ.

Do eat high protein, low fat meats like chicken and 95% fat free ground beef, etc. And of course, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I have a hard time making myself eat them, but they are always good when I do and I always feel so much better. And don't put creamy dressings on them like ranch - that stuff will kill ya. I use balsamic vinegre and olive oil or a vinagrette (not creamy). I have to admit that I did eat ranch dressing on my salads while pregnant though - oops, but I don't in my regular life!!

You sound like you are really taking care of yourself and your baby. I agree with a previous post: Focus on healthy and everything will naturally follow ie, healthy baby and healthy you.

good luck!

Congrats on the upcoming baby! And yes, totally normal to have your hips, butt, breasts, thighs expand. I was in maternity clothes at 5 weeks because my hips "opened up". Also, keep in mind that most clothes are made to fit one body type. The only maternity jeans that were comfortable to me were the ones at Target. Also, depending on how you carry determines what clothes will/won't fit. I could only wear the pants that went over the belly during the first and second trimester. After that, he got too big, and I couldn't stand ANYTHING on my belly! Keep in mind too that if you breastfeed, you will drop the weight. I gained 30-35 pounds during my pregnancy, had a 9lb 4 oz baby (I'm 5 foot 3) and have lost 50-55 lbs to date (he's 7 1/2 mo old). I would highly recommend cutting out dairy and soy after the baby's born, that will really help you loose the weight (I had to because my son's allergic). Enjoy the holiday season cause next year, things will be way different with a little one!!!

Hi A.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy and your weight loss achievements thus far!! I am a physical therapist specializing in women's health in San Antonio, and I also teach Fit Mamas Prenatal Exercise 3 days a week. I do highly recommend this for you as I will talk with you in depth about your goals, etc. and make a plan and modify exercises for your ability level. Please see my website at
www.fitmamassa.com for details, and I would be glad to speak with you further via E-mail or phone at your convenience.

Congratulations again!!

Best Regards,

C. Cox, PT
###-###-#### cell
____@____.com
www.fitmamassa.com

Hi - I am about 32 weeks pregnant myself (with my second child). Congratulations on the weight loss - that's quite an accomplishment done without any help. I have heard that there are pregnancy fitness trainers, but don't know of any. I remember noticing my clothes were too tight right around the middle of the second trimester. I was concerned about the same thing as I quit smoking right before my pregnancy, which causes extra hunger and weight gain. I've gained about 25 pounds so far, and I'm pretty sure that the weight gain in the second trimester is supposed to be about 1 pound a week, so until 40 weeks that will add about 8 pounds for me (I was hoping for no more than 30 too, but I think I'll be ok if I only gain 33). I don't think you are gaining too much weight yet. Some advice that I was given, might help you to feel you are staying on track, is to make sure that you are constantly eating all day (yes, really!), BUT never eat a full meal. You will be forced to do this as the baby gets bigger and crowds your stomach. I had some trouble in the beginning because I would constantly snack all day, but then still try to fit in 3 normal size meals a day - and then I got the advice (from my mother) to not eat full meals. So now, I eat probably a child size portion when I eat a meal, but will snack on something about every 2 hours. It took some getting used to, but it think it helped me alot to keep from gaining to much weight. Also, when you do have your baby, breastfeeding will boost your metabolism. So if you are planning to breastfeed that will help you (some) to lose the baby weight. Hopefully that helps you - good luck!