I'm really stressed out that I've gained so much weight already... I'm only 5'2 and I've already gained like 40 pounds... I still have 6-8 weeks to go! Is it too late to start eating better? How much weight do I need to gain these last few weeks? I never used to worry about it much bc in the beginning I wasn't gaining any weight at all... in fact I lost like 10 pounds, but the last time I went in for an apt on of my doctors made a comment on how much weight I've gained. He kind of made a joke about it being after the holidays, telling me I had to stop eating so many leftovers... and that kinda put me over the edge. I had just been thinking about making a healthy baby, not about my weight.... I also ran into one of my mothers friends... who is a nurse on labor and delivery (go figure)... who made a comment that my face had just gotten so round and "pregnant" looking. Thanks a lot, that's just what I wanted to hear. *grrr* will it hurt the baby if i try to eat less and not put on so much towards the end?
YES! You can hurt the babe if you restrict your diet. Follow the Brewer Diet: http://nutrition.birthingnaturally.net/brewerslideshow/brewerdiet_files/frame.htm It's the best diet to maintain the weight that you are meant to have on your frame during pregnancy (every momma is different and some, maybe you included, need to gain more weight than others). Nursing will help take off the weight, and you'll have a healthy baby on top of it all! Dieting is a no-no in pregnancy.
I know telling you not to worry about your weight won't really have much effect... or at least it didn't for me! I gained about 40 pounds with my pregnancy... went from 157 to 199 and 3/4 pounds (i kept it under 200!! hhaha). Towards the end, I gained 9 pounds in 2 weeks! I hadn't thought it possiable to gain that much weight in a week! Toward the end everyone seems to remark about how big you are... one man told me I looked like an elephant. I poked him in his beer gut and said "I am having a baby, whats your excuse??" His wife almost died laughing! Just tell the insensitive arses to bugger off. Hang in there!!! Don't restrict your diet! Look at it this way... 15 pounds is probably water. The baby will probably be at least 6 pounds, right? So, thats over 20 pounds of baby stuff. That means you only gained 20 pounds of non-baby weight... and some of that is probably in your breasts. So... you maybe gained 15 pounds. lol... Its creative math, but its true and it helped me to feel better about myself! p.s here is a pic of me 2 weeks before I had my son... hope it makes you feel better!!!
Everyone gets a "pregnant" round face, its ok. You'll be bloated until the end. I didn't worry or panic... I just ate my fruits, veggies, soy and lean meats and in moderation... no 2-3-or 4 servings or binge eating unless I really was hungry. That eating two servings (one for you and one for baby) is a lie, you really don't need a whole other adult portion for baby! You do sometimes need a little more but spread it out between good foods. Maybe your emotionally eating? Try to see if you can tell the difference. Almost all doctors offices have a nutritionist, see if yours does and if you can talk to her/him. I had one all of my pregnancies and they helped me see emotional and good eating and what to actually eat. and moderate exersize is ok too! Take some walks, maybe even walk slowly on a treadmill, do some arm free-weights, you'll get a boost of energy and that can help alot. Right now (even though its hard, I know) just focus on getting alot of the good stuff in you and not whatever number comes up on the scale. The last month (so you don't panic) you gain a pound a week because baby is growing so fast. Hope you feel better.
I gained almost thirty kilos (lotsa pounds...someone American help me as we are metric here!). I was underwight really to start with though I had always been one of those people to eat everything in sight but still be skinny. I was also on bed rest for 7 months so that did not help. I myself did not find that breastfeeding got rid of those unwanted kilos however it did get rid of some however I feel this may have as much been due to finally being able to move around again. It has taken me three years of going to the gym and watching what I ate (once I stopped breastfeeding) to get back to a weight I am comfortable within my own skin with. As far as I figure eat healthy and take care of yours and your babies health first whilst you are pregnant and then if you are not happy or comfy with your weight at some ranndom point in the future after birth you can be really proactive about it then without running any risks. Take care and good luck! stephanie
It's NEVER too late to eat better! I'm not a big fan of the Brewer Diet, there is way too many animal proteins and fats for my taste, and it tends to grow very big, fat babies. Dr. Brewer, bless him, did most of his research in poor, inner-city communities where the women benefitted greatly from cheap, easily obtainable sources of protein. (I believe the WIC supplements for pregnant women are based on his research) However, if you have no financial problems preventing you from purchasing adequate food, then you are much better off NOT adding all that animal fat to your diet. I recommend my ladies eat a whole foods diet, limiting (or eliminating) simple carbs and sugars, for example, NO white bread, pasta, rice, potatoes....only whole grains. The bread I recommend is Ezekial bread, which is made from sprouted grains and is delicious high quality protein, loads of fresh veggies, the darker in color the better!, sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes, brown rice, fruit instead of fruit juice (juice is pure sugar and makes little fat babies too) cook and season with olive oil (as much as you want), real butter, not margarine, some fish (once or twice a week) a little cheese, cottage cheese is a good option, free-range eggs are excellent, and you can eat them as much as you'd like, raw, unsalted nuts and nut butters, slow cooking oatmeal, un-sweetened yogurt or kefir,; basically, if it comes from a box or can, has a long shelf life, or doesn't require cooking, don't eat it. Water should always be your beverage of choice, anything else (milk, juice) should be considered a food. If you eat well, you can eat to hunger and not worry about weight gain, you will naturally gain slowly and have a nice 7-8 pound baby. Many fluffy moms who improve their diet during pregnancy can actually lose weight, and still have lovely 8 pounders. I have also discovered that eating a whole foods diet really helps with a woman's tissue integrity, helping to prevent tears during birth, and the ladies who maintain a whole foods lifestyle have very little problems with hypertension or gestational diabetes. Remember that 35 pounds of weight gain is just for the baby alone; if you break it down, it goes like this; 7-8.5 pounds of baby 2 pounds of placenta 2 pounds amniotic fluid 2 pounds breast tissue 3 pounds increased blood volume 4-5 pounds retained water 2.5 pounds expanded uterus 8-10 pounds of stored fat needed for energy during labor, to intitiate lactation. If you began pregnancy underweight, you should gain at least 40-45 pounds, if you began pregnancy overweight, you can healthfully gain 15-20. I always recommend that pregnant and nursing women carry a small cooler around with them, with a fruit, some cheese (those low-fat string cheeses or snack sized cottage cheese cups are great to stick in your cooler), some whole grain crackers, some raw nuts and bottled water and keep it in their car for those "I gotta eat something RIGHT NOW!" moments, it helps keep you out of the fast food drive through and maintains your blood sugars so your not tempted to binge on carbs. I like my ladies to snack on something every hour or so, not much, just a handful of something healthy.
thanks everyone. i do feel better... I'm just trying to eat healthier overall and I think it will make a big difference in how I feel. I never have any energy and I always feel kinda crappy. I know Im not getting enough iron or protein, so Ive been really trying to boost those areas lately and I can already feel the difference. I just get so stuck on unhealthy fattening convenience foods that don't have any good nutrients. I'm so lazy. but i'm working on it....
I'm 5'2 just lik you and I went from 140 to 200 or close to there. I went down to 170 and have been stuck there for a year and a half. grrr. I ate really well, besides all the coke slurpees (which I craved like MAD)...had those not been a factor, I think both Leane and I would been a bit smaller, lol (she was 9 lbs 3 oz). Just eat right, and try to stay moderately active. That was another mistake I made. Although I tried to do quite a bit of walking by the 7th month and on, I spent a LOT of time on the couch when I shoulda been going for daily walks and staying much more active.
I'm also 5'2 and have already gained a lot more weight than i would like... but now i'm on bedrest because I was in the hospital twice this past week having contractions, and im only 32 weeks. So ive been a nervous wreck.... and it seems like worrying so much about my weight was silly bc the most important thing is just having a healthy baby. the lack of activity isnt going to help the weight problem but it just doesnt seem so important anymore. I know I'll lose most of it after.. I also have CRAZY cravings for all sorts of comfort foods. Mashed potatoes with lots of butter and lots of pastas with creamy creamy sauces... mmm... and before i was pregnant I never like sweets, now I can't get enough ice cream or cookies... Its nuts. lol... i'm also trying to eat healthier though...
I'm 5'2" and went from 118 to 185 pounds. My doc wasnt worried. I was eating well and very active so we just went with the flow. DD just turned 1 and I'm hovering at 140....I'm blaming that on my huge boobs....milk is heavy! LOL
