Obesity and pregnancy weight gain....?

"Everything online seems to indicate I should gain..."

Except the really recent stuff -- a new study came out saying otherwise:

"Obese pregnant women can avoid weight gain or even lose some weight without harming their babies, a small study suggests.

In fact, researchers found, obese women who maintained their weight or shed pounds during pregnancy were more likely to have a normal-weight newborn than those who gained pregnancy pounds."

http://www.lifescancanada.com/english/section_reut...

Good luck. Stay off the scale if you feel like it. It is really not that much of a predictor of problems or lack thereof.

I gave birth on June 26th. I was also obese by medical standards. Throughout my entire pregnancy I only gained 15 lbs. I ate just like I always did for the first 5 months and hadn't gained any weight. Then I got diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes and had to start eating the 6 small meals a day. I lost 5 lbs. that month. It was the last few months when I gained all the weight and I think at least 5 lbs of it was water weight. (I did swell up quite a lot in the last 3 weeks or so.) My boy weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was perfectly healthy. (I also delivered 2 weeks early.) Within a week of delivery I was 15 lbs. below my pre-pregnancy weight. I did everything I was supposed to do...as it sounds like you are doing. Don't worry about the weight...if you are eating healthy...and the baby is healthy...you are doing what you need to be doing.

I find it very normal that a bigger woman has an easier time not gaining much weight. The thing is, you WILL gain the necessary weight of the baby, placenta, and extra fluids (that 15lbs you mentioned), but if you already have excess stores of energy and nutrition, your body won't go into overdrive trying to pack on the pounds like an underweight woman's would. It sounds like the weight you have gained at this point is all baby (who weighs a little less than 2lbs right now) and amniotic fluid. This is most likely nothing to worry about. I am a bigger girl...not obese, but definitely overweight...and I had gained about 8lbs at 25 weeks. I am now 34 weeks and have gained a total of 13lbs (the pounds pack on a bit easier in the 3rd trimester because baby gains 1/4-1/2 pound a week!). As long as you're taking vitamins and eating properly, which it sounds like you are, the only effect of gaining around 15lbs will be that you have little or no weight to lose after the birth. Good luck, and it sounds like you're doing a great job!

I have always been overweight, and was certainly medically obese for two of three pregnancies, the last one being twins. I always lost or maintained weight for the first two trimesters, and then gained between 16 - 25 lbs in the third (again, the last pregnancy was twins, so it was quite different). I always attributed the "flatness" to healthier eating - - I always stopped eating fast food and was diligent about eating well, so I was losing (fat) while gaining (baby & fluid/volume). My doctor was always happy with the development of the fetus, so we knew the lack of weight gain was not a problem. Your uterus is being measured at each visit, so your doctor is aware of the baby's growth. That is a better indicator than the scale; it would not be a good idea to gain weight just for the sake of making the numbers on the scale go up.

Eating well, exercising, taking your supplements, and avoiding alcohol/drugs/smoking are the most proactive things you can do to ensure a healthy child. Your doctor should be your most trusted advisor right now.

I just know from my wife ( she's by no means obese, but a little more weighted), that her weight rapidly increased during the first 3 months. She then found a book online called Pregancy without pounds. She said it helped a bit, but she also had to train off some pounds after pregnancy nevertheless. I don't know how much influence the tips from the book had. Anyways, if you want to have a look at it, you can find it here:

http://www.bighypnosis.com/pregpounds.html

I am not plus size, but you should watch what you eat. In pregnancy, a woman should gain between 25-35 pounds. Also, if you breastfeed, you will lose all of that weight, plus some. Trust me, I've only been breast feeding for a month and I've already lost over 12 pounds!

I am overweight and I will have completed my 20th week tomorrow and starting on my 21st... :D Anyways I have lost 14 pounds since I have become pregnant. I was worried about that because I eat like crazy but I have stopped drinking the soda I used to drink, so I asked the dr. about it and he told me as long as my stomach is growing then there is nothing to worry about. To my knowledge I haven't gain any weight during the pregnancy. I go back Monday so I will know for sure I have lost or gained. I wouldn't worry about it if I was you. If you are really concerned about it ask your dr.

I am about 12 weeks and have lost weight so far. My doctor seems unconcerned about this though. I think everyone is different, and if your doctor hasn't said anything about your weight I am sure you are ok. Have you had an ultra sound? If so they should know if your baby is growing correctly which is the main thing. As long as the baby is healthy and you are not underweight or unhealthy I think there would be nothing to worry about.

You should ideally gain about 20 lbs. Most of that is from baby, placenta, fluids. maternal fat, breasts, etc. That should be the minimum but you don't say exactly how much you weigh compared to how tall you are. Hope this helps!

With my first child i gained 15 pounds with my second i lost 40. My doctor told me not to worry about it aslong as i was eating right . i have to healthy boys.