Pregnancy weight gain.......some are gaining too much
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Here's why excessive weight gain in pregnancy is a valid concern for ALL.
Babies are growing too big and needing caesarians to be removed.
We could not have thrived as a species if this was normal.
I used to work in a big office. 6 women were pregnant, 5 had caesarians.
It is not the only reason caesarians are more common(pain killers are a big reason too), but it is one reason.
Actually, over time, populations heights and sizes have grown, which in general means that the sizes of babies has grown. Men are about 2" taller on average than they were 100 years ago and women even more so. My first DD was 10lb5oz and born at 41 weeks and ended up be c-section because her head was over 15" around, nothing to do with her weight. Maternal fatness or thinness really has no bearing on the circumference of a baby's head. Rather, it has more to do with genetics. My DH and I are both "larger framed" people and have proportionately large heads. My 10 lb "oversized" newborn is now a 62 lb "oversized" 6 year old who is 52" tall - about 4 years ahead of the growth curve on height and 3 years ahead on weight. She actually weighs less than the average 52" tall average 10 year old but is still "big'.
Our species would have survived just fine without c-sections as "survival of the fittest" would be in play. The people built for bearing children would continue bearing children and pass on their "good" genese and those not built for it would probably die in child birth, thus eliminating the "weak" ones.
^^This
and: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2012/03/28/cesarean-sections-in-the-u-s-the-trouble-with-assembling-evidence-from-data/
A lot of pregnancies that would not have gone to term before can now end in successful birth. Maternal death rates are down and birth death rates are down.0 -
I see a lot of people in public doing things that I think they shouldn't. I don't understand why you had to come here and complain about it. Everyone here has already made a decision that they want to be healthy so pardon the cliche but you are preaching to the choir. I think it's very negative and just snarky that you feel the need to come here and broadcast that you saw fat people in public and they are PREGNANT.
You are not their doctor. You are not their spouse or their family so why don't you mind your own business? Find somewhere else to gossip. Find something constructive to do.0 -
I gained 40lbs with my son. I didn't gain anything with my daughter. My pregnancy cravings with my son were awful and I was on bed rest for weeks so not getting exercise. Saying this, we had NO complications (apart from cord around the neck, which is common) and minor tearing. My daughters cravings were much more basic (raisins?!) and I was able to move around a lot more. Again, no complications, but I was still registering as 'obese' because I hadn't lost the weight from having my son.
What I note here is that you're seeing the women for the first time? So they were likely overweight before they got pregnant. I think it's wrong to assume they just decided they could eat more because they were pregnant.0 -
There have been numerous studies and articles and reports about pregnant women gaining too much weight. I'd like to think most of them know what the recommendations are. Probably a large number of those women you observed were overweight to begin with, as others have said. And it is possible to gain "too much" weight while pregnant while working hard to keep it in check. Furthermore, pregnancy does such crazy things to your body that hunger or cravings can be impossibly strong even though your body doesn't NEED the calories at that moment. There is too much going on to simplify it as women deciding that now that they're pregnant they feel they can eat for two or just let themselves go.
Also, the extra calorie needs actually climb as the pregnancy progresses. You don't really need anything additional in the first trimester, 100-200 extra in the second, and 200-300 in the third. For example, I was advised to gain 11-20 lbs, ate 1500 calories (which is where I maintain my weight) in my first, 1650 in my second, and 1800 in my third. It was a difficult battle some days. I gained 17 lbs and had a healthy 7lb 6oz (spot on average) baby, so luckily it worked for me. The really hard part is dropping down from being able to eat so much back to pre-pregnancy levels, especially while sleep-deprived and not focusing on yourself. Something else to keep in mind about these women you were "not judging."0 -
I find using a BMI chart to tell you how much weight you "should" or "shouldn't" gain is a crock of S**t.... If you look at my profile... I am def not big and def not tiny.. I am an average girl.. Toned and healthy... However my BMI still tells me im obese... You cant base being healthy off a number on the scale, with a "standard" chart.
This is the type of stuff that makes people having body issues and eating disorders.
I am 23 and a half week prego and have gained 17 pounds.. its all in my belly! I eat healthy still work out but am gaining weight. I have a thyroid issues and am on meds and was told the weight would come on more then likely and no matter what I did it wouldn't matter...
My doc is not concerned at all becuase my over all health is perfect....
Like other posters have said you dont know someones situation going into or coming out of their pregnancies...
I understand your giving your opinion but EACH AND EVERY person is different...0 -
I agree. With my first child, i had that mindset. That i could eat anything and everything i wanted. I ended up gaining 60 pounds, Ending up at 250. With my second i had a much better mindset and went half way without gaining a pound. Only gained 30 pounds and its off at 6 months pp. Its better to be careful. !!0
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Completely agree.
Breastfeeding too. Women have this idea that they have to ten times more when nursing. Instead they should be eating healthy and within reason.
It's also dangerous for the baby if their mother's are overweight!!
Erm, excuse me for pointing this out, but I'm overweight and look after my 3 month old son. He's not in ANY danger...... Unless I sit on him.
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Who cares? Leave women alone. If they wanna gain 200 lbs it's not your business.0
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How something is read and perceived can totally set some off! Lol, and some wonder why husbands don't want to "just talk?":laugh:But a man with a wife and kids who trains women wanting to lose baby weight can't talk about it because "it's none of his business..." Being perceived as harsh in his wording doesn't make his observation any less true.
If some took offense, I would say that's not the intent of the thread. I made and observation and assumption. Could my assumption been wrong? Probably. But it could also be right.
I think I'm very attuned to how frustrating it is for moms trying not only to run their household, but also working on trying to get some semblance of themselves before they had children. I hear about it on a daily basis. Many are very emotional and unconfident about themselves with the extra weight gain and my purpose starting the thread was to help inform mothers to be that they don't need to eat for two (this backed up by actual information from medical research and doctors at my hospital).
Hopefully a mom to be will read this and take consideration into getting more education about getting pregnant and the amount of weight gain one should expect (as stated by medical journals).
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
You can't guarantee that all of the weight gained is purely fat or from calories. As an example....I gained 51 and 54 lbs with my 2 kids. However....within 2 weeks of giving birth both times, I lost 35 lbs of that because when I was PG, my body pretty much absorbed every oz of water I drank. I retained SO much water, that I was on the edge of pre-eclempsia both times. So in essence, I only really gained 15 - 20 lbs with each kid.
PG women gain weight for a variety of reasons. Yes some eat too much. Others don't but can't help it. Don't make generalizations if you don't know the story.0 -
Hey now, I did fine until I was stuck at home eating whatever my mother in law cooked for me as I didn't get much of a choice. I had an extra 7lbs of fluid in my womb and made for killer back pain that had me getting a massage 2 or more times a week so I could stand a few hours a day and thusly made it hard to get my own food.
Unfortunately the food that a pakastani family feeds you is filled with fat and sodium (which in Pakistan they can more easily burn off what they eat and consume more water more often from what my exhusbands family told me).
I went from 120 to about 145-150 and then when it came to home time I went from that 145-150 up to 207. That was in 2 months, I was devastated. So believe me, it wasn't what I wanted and it killed me to let it happen, the heaviest I had ever weighted and I fought hard to change my body and help my ex-husbands family make healthier choices and use far less oils and fat in their foods.
So I sucked at pregnancy weight but I know for sure that I wouldn't ever let it happen again.
Edit: I also had gained another 7 lbs after giving birth, I don't entirely know why but the lack of sleep and not having a proper diet down pat with the family after birth probably had something to do with it.0 -
Ok for one, every pregnancy is different... one woman could gain nothing the first and then 80 pounds the next.
I personally only gained 11 pounds... mostly because I didn't eat... I didn't want to eat as I wasn't hungry and food just didn't sound good to me at all... I sustained mostly on ensure drinks and vitamins.... I also was already 30 pounds overweight prepregnancy (I was working towards taking it off)... then I gained it all back even though I was eating healthy (as I was breastfeeding and wanted the best nutrition for both of us) because of the mini-pill...
Not all pregnancies are created equal... With that said, I KNOW how much extra I should be eating should I get pregnant again and will adhere to that and if I gain extra weight, I gain extra weight and that is between me, my family and my OB... no one else.0 -
Completely agree.
Breastfeeding too. Women have this idea that they have to ten times more when nursing. Instead they should be eating healthy and within reason.
It's also dangerous for the baby if their mother's are overweight!!
BS. I am on the cusp of obesity and overweight (though I am actively working in the healthier direction).... and my 2 year old is healthy, active, and safe... she has been in the 20-25 percentile for her weight her entire life thus far and eats primarily fruits and vegetables (she prefers it to all else... to the point that I am having to find ways to sneak protein into her diet)... it wouldn't surprise me if she ends up being a vegetarian simply because she doesn't like meat. She also perfers to be outside playing and exploring than being inside any day of the week.
Like the other poster said, I am only a danger to my child if I sit on her.
edited for spelling errors.0 -
When i was pregnant, i ate like a oinker!! I lost 54lbs prior to getting pregnant(for my own reasons, not because i had to to get pregnant) but i would say i gained all of it back and it brought friends!! So i thought,"I'm pregnant, i can live off of pizza, ramen noodles, and mcdonalds! (that was the only thing i wanted the first trimester, but i have lost 67 lbs since i had my son, and I'm the smallest I've ever been.. Still got lots to lose, but word of advice, what u eat now will come back to "bite " u in the butt later. Literally0
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for the record, my doc told me 150-200 calories on top of my maintenance calories.
It really depends where you are starting from.0 -
Actually, being pregnant does't burn all that many calories, you shouldn't eat for two, you should just have an extra snack or two. Nursing burns more!
On the other hand, the OP has no idea how many of those women were overweight to start with.0 -
Yes, many women gain too much weight. Myself included. I gained 80,85 & 50 lbs with my pregnancies. The 50 lbs took the longest to come off! I ate like a a fratboy and did absolutely no exercise. The only one I hurt was myself! My babies were completely healthy, though one was chunky. The biggest two were born at home. 7lbs 3 oz, 9 lbs 6 lbs, and 8 lbs 10 oz.
Edit: Breastfeeding (especially past one year in our case) has burned a lot of calories.0 -
Completely agree.
Breastfeeding too. Women have this idea that they have to ten times more when nursing. Instead they should be eating healthy and within reason.
It's also dangerous for the baby if their mother's are overweight!!
BS. I am on the cusp of obesity and overweight (though I am actively working in the healthier direction).... and my 2 year old is healthy, active, and safe... she has been in the 20-25 percentile for her weight her entire life thus far and eats primarily fruits and vegetables (she prefers it to all else... so the point that I am having to find ways to sneak protien into her diet)... it would surprise me if she ends up being a vegetarian simply because she doesn't like meat. She also perfers to be outside playing and exploring than being inside any day of the week.
Like the other poster said, I am only a danger to my child if I sit on her.
I completely agree with you! I was very large and have struggled with my weight since my daughters birth for sure and she is the skinniest thing ever and makes great healthy choices on her own because I still teach her what is healthy. I even eat healthy I just haven't always had the best circumstances with my body as some others do or have.0 -
Completely agree.
Breastfeeding too. Women have this idea that they have to ten times more when nursing. Instead they should be eating healthy and within reason.
It's also dangerous for the baby if their mother's are overweight!!
BS. I am on the cusp of obesity and overweight (though I am actively working in the healthier direction).... and my 2 year old is healthy, active, and safe... she has been in the 20-25 percentile for her weight her entire life thus far and eats primarily fruits and vegetables (she prefers it to all else... to the point that I am having to find ways to sneak protein into her diet)... it wouldn't surprise me if she ends up being a vegetarian simply because she doesn't like meat. She also perfers to be outside playing and exploring than being inside any day of the week.
Like the other poster said, I am only a danger to my child if I sit on her.
edited for spelling errors.
That is my youngest son too! Between my 2 children, they have a totally balanced diet - one eats meat and starches all he can and the other eats all the fruits and veggies!0 -
My first son: I gained 90 total pounds. When my weight started shooting up, doc put me on restricted diet and a specific exercise program. I was not/nor did I develop, gestational diabetes. Healthy 7 pound 2.4 ounce baby, born 3 weeks early because he decided wanted to see the world.
My second son: I gained 80 total pounds. Same diet and exercise to start with, then I developed hypOtension. Ended up out of work, still on a specific diet, and a gentle exercise program. No diabetes either. Healthy 7 pound 10 ounce baby, also born 3 weeks early because he decided he also wanted to see the world.
If I have more, i undoubtedly will end up gaining the same weight, or close to it. Not by choice, but because my body wants that much while pregnant, and nothin is stoppin what my body decides to do.0 -
That is my youngest son too! Between my 2 children, they have a totally balanced diet - one eats meat and starches all he can and the other eats all the fruits and veggies!
Best answer on here yet! LOL0 -
I gained about 45 lbs. with my recent pregnancy. At my highest, I was 185 lbs., but four months post-partum, I'm down to 152 lbs. I did have a c-section and was induced for three days because of my baby's health issues. He weighed about eight lbs. A c-section leaves you with a pouch which I'm trying to lose. The rest of my waist has gone back to my pre-pregnancy look. I'd like advice just how to lose this pouch.0
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You're right. I'm speculating that the weight gain happened due to pregnancy probably because most doctors don't recommend that females BMI's be too high before getting pregnant. And take solace that I'm not "judging" any of them, it's just what I observed and made an assumption on. Being in the fitness industry, being judgy of overweight/obese people would spell failure as a career since they are the ones who usually need our help.I would think the pregnant ladies on this site are trying to have a healthy weight gain during pregnancy hence the reason for being on this site, and want to nourish their child in the most healhful of ways. 300kcals additional especially during second and third trimester is the current recommendation.
Might also be that some of these heavy ladies had actually been heavy prepregnancy and only gained the 11-25lb recommendation for overweight or obese preprego BMI. I suspect you wouldnt really know what their actual weight gain was compared to their starting pre-pregnancy weight. I guess if you had seen me in that OB room you would have judge me "as eating for two" even though I was very conscious during my pregnancy about the weight that would be safe for me to gain and the nutrients I needed to create a healthy baby.
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Just an observation about your observation. :P Yes doctors recommend not getting pregnant while overweight, but that doesn't mean people listen.
I have a lot of health problems (lupus for starters) so my husband and I have been working for 2 years to get healthy enough to get pregnant. But when I told my doctor what we were doing he was really surprised. He said generally people get pregnant first, then ask the doctor what he/she thinks.
I do think your post is right on in terms of what pregnant women should strive for (not eating for two, only eating 300 more calories than normal) but I don't see this going well because you're a man. Good luck :flowerforyou:
Sometimes it just happens though... how many times have women gotten pregnant while on birth control? Personally, I didn't think I was going to get pregnant as quickly as I did... I thought I would be able to lose some weight before getting pregnant even after getting off of birth control (which I thought would also help lose wieght as my weight typically stagnants while on it)... the reason I thought this was because of my irregular cycles prior to being on birth control. This time around I know that would not be the case and I know what I need to do in the meantime.0 -
I wish someone had told me this 11 years ago. 4 kids later I am 165lbs at 5'5".
With my 1st child I started out at 120lbs. Within in 3 months I had puked myself down to 100. By the time I could eat again I was STARVED! I ended up at 180 the day my son was born. They had to induce me because my B/P was so high and I had a stroke in my eyes during labor.
With my second child I was more aware of my weight gain and only gained 30lbs...BUT...I hadn't lot much from the first one. So I ended up at 180lbs the day she was born. Not 6 months later, Whoops! I was pregnant again. I was bound and determined not to gain too much since I had no time to lose anything from the 2nd. I only gained 19lbs but again ended up at 179lbs the day she was born. During her birth a nerve in my left leg was damaged and I lost feeling in my left leg for over a year.
I finally get sensation back in my leg and start working out. I get to around 145-150lbs (down from 178). I start feeling crappy and stop working out and start eating "comfort foods again". By the time I go to the Doctors it turns out I am 15 weeks pregnant. Cool I figure, I'll keep working out and eating well and all will be well. WRONG! 4 weeks after finding out I am pregnant my water springs a leak and I has a subcorionic hemorrhage. I am in the hospital on bed rest on and off the rest of my pregnancy. I weigh 196 the day my 4th is born. I get down to 180 by the day I go home.
I wish I knew then what I know now.0 -
So I was at Kaiser today for my DD's standard checkup at 8 years old. While I was waiting in the lobby (DW was in with DD and doctor), I saw several mothers with new babies who were very overweight. I'm not talking 40lbs, but in the realm of 80lbs and higher.
A lot of my clientele are females who are losing baby weight, but all of them are only trying to lose 25llbs-35lbs. This should be the normal amount a female should be gaining when pregnant.
To moms to be: you aren't eating for two. Your nutrition should be much better, but realistically, calories shouldn't really exceed more than 300-350 calories per day on average. It's not a free for all to eat everything. Trust that more you gain, the harder it will be to take off and if that weight doesn't come off, then chances are HIGH that you will end up that weight the majority of your life.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
How very nice of you to appoint yourself the judge of female weight gain. Yes, sometimes moms gain more weight than they should. Sometimes dads do too. For that matter sometimes random people with no medical reason whatsoever gain weight. Does that mean all of them are doomed to carry that weight for the rest of their life? I am going to have to go with NO WAY!
I have had 8 pregnancies in the past 8 years. 2 miscarriages, 5 single births and 1 twin pregnancy. I gained 80 with my first baby. I gain on average between 40-50 with each pregnancy.I don't subscribe to the eat for 2 thing. I don't go crazy with the food. I try to make sure I up the fruits and veggies. Each time I hit a certain mark on the scale. If I weigh less at the beginning on the pregnancy, I inevitably still hit that mark. It is the way my body does pregnancy. All of my babies have been very healthy. With my twins, I gained 50 which would be closer to what the acceptable weight gain would be. I did the same type of thing with them that I did with the others. I was also so sick for the first half of the pregnancy that I didn't gain anything because it wouldn't stay down. Although I did work at eating a little more for them once food did stay down. If you add all the baby weight that I have gained from the 7 children I have, I gained over 275 pounds. Fastforward to today. I weigh less than when I started having children. Hmmm.... Imagine that? I guess not all of us (especially those who choose to work on it) aren't going to have to live with all that extra weight.
It is nice to know that as I am going to the doctor that some jerk is going to be judging the rest of my life by a single day. Thanks.:huh:0 -
This "jerk" is the same guy who assists many females in reducing that gain. As I iterated earlier, an observation isn't judging. If I judged overweight/obese people with a bad view, then I why would want to try to help them as a career? Working in a Wellness Center (it's a gym attached to a hospital) I am involved with people with myriad of health issues (cancer, reconstructive surgery, gastric bypass, heart patients etc.) and carrying a judgmental attitude towards bad health would mean failure.It is nice to know that as I am going to the doctor that some jerk is going to be judging the rest of my life by a single day. Thanks.:huh:
I did mention that I was being assumptive (since I had no information on any of their histories), but my statements aren't condoning.................some are perceiving it that way.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Sometimes this excessive weight gain cannot be helped. I know several people that gained tremendous amounts during pregnancy and lost it right away after baby was born. There is no hard and fast formula for how much someone gains during a pregnancy. I was fortunate to have only gained 19 lbs for each of my two pregnancy's and the week before I delivered I lost 7= net gain 12 pounds.
Babies were almost 9#, and 5#. My mother on the other hand gained at least 45 pounds with each of 4 pregnancies but like me lost weight the week before delivery...no explanation for genetics. Pregnant women should eat healthy and not go overboard on the food just because they are pregnant....they should also NEVER restrict calories because of an unexplained weight gain--always consult your doctor for everything.0 -
It is nice to know that as I am going to the doctor that some jerk is going to be judging the rest of my life by a single day. Thanks.:huh:
I've got a news flash for you. You're being judged every time you see other people. Not just fat people are judged. We make judgments about every person we see and if you say you don't, you're lying. We categorize people by age, sex, color, height, weight, whether we find them attractive, habits, clothing, etc.0 -
I love when men nag about **** that has nothing to do with them.
had that thought myself. The level of offense I've managed to take from this whole thread though is beyond the pale. There is a serious message that somehow you are not a good person or will be a bad parent just because you either started out fat when you got pregnant or gained too much weight while pregnant.0 -
But...... what if I FEEL like I'm having triplets? Can I eat for 4 then? Even after the ultrasound confirms it's just the one? Because... you never know?0
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