Get Pregnant Now? - Even with the Extra Weight? or Should I Wait?

Updated on August 19, 2009
S.R. asks from McKinney, TX
9 answers

I know this is going to have to be ultimately our decision :), I am just wanting your thoughts. My husband and I are thinking about trying to get pregnant with our 2nd child. Our daughter Emma will be 3 in October, and I really didn't want our children to be much more than 2 or 2.5 years apart, so I've been ready for another baby for awhile. :) I have definitely had baby-fever... and ALL of our friends are having babies!

However, I was working and finishing college. I will be graduating with my teaching degree in December of this year, so getting pregnant now, timewise, would be ideal. I am not counting on having a teaching position in the spring (just because that is rare), but our baby would be due in May or June, meaning I would be home for the summer, and not have to go back to work until the baby was 3 months old. (Much better than the 8 weeks I had home with Emma!)

Also, my husband did not have health insurance with his previous job (we paid for our own - couldn't afford maternity), and we just got it... there is no waiting period on getting pregnant so now, insurance-wise, we can have another baby!

So everything seems to fit together... except my weight. I was wanting to lose about 20 - 30 lbs when I got pregnant with Emma (I was 150), then I gained 28 during my pregnancy, and haven't lost ANY of it (she's almost 3)! So, I really wanted to lose 50 - 60 lbs. before getting pregnant again... which obviously hasn't happened. My concern is that getting pregnant now will risk me reaching 200 lbs (or close to it!) and that just makes me want to be sick!!!

So, what do you think? Should I hold off on getting pregnant until I've lost the weight? But I know that could be a year! Or is there a possibility that I could gain very little with this next pregnancy and just have to work hard on losing it when my baby is born?

What would you do???

Thank you!
S.

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So What Happened?

thank you for all your advice and support! :) we have decided to go ahead and try to add to our family now. the timing is great and the age difference would be great (3.5 years). and honestly... that 50 - 60 lbs. puts me back in a size 2... haha, which may not even be possible after having a baby (i know my bone structure changed)! so... i would be really happy losing 30 lbs. at least... more obviously would make me more happy, but 30 would make me great and healthy! i think i still have a skewed perception of my body. and when i look at pics from when i was only 30 lbs. lighter, i look really amazing! so... it's not as unattainable as i thought. :)

i'm just hoping to only gain a tiny bit with the next baby... and just try to eat the best things possible for both our bodies. :)

hopefully we will meet a new addition in may or june!

More Answers

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

I say GO FOR IT!!! My story: My normal weight is around 135-140 pounds, but I became fat and lazy when I got married. I weighed 172 pounds when I got pregnant. I gained a moderate amount of "real weight" and A LOT of water weight. I weighed 217 pounds on the day I gave birth and lost 30 pounds within 2 days. I was down to my pre-pregnancy weight within a month without any effort. Since then, I began working out and eating right and am in the best shape of my life. I am a fit 135 pounds and feel great. My son is 2 1/2.

Bottom line (IMO) is that you go for it, UNLESS your doctor advises against it. Begin exercising and eating right while you try to get pregnant, and continue doing so throughout your pregnancy. Then, you will hopefully have the momentum to lose any extra weight you need to once the baby is born.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

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S.L.

answers from Dallas on

Is it that important to have kids this close together?
If you truly are 50-60 lbs from your ideal weight,
then I'd put it off atleast till you lose half of it.
And yes get your doc's opinion!

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T.R.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like the perfect time and if the Dr. was OK with it, I say go for it. My kids are 2.5 or so years apart each and it's worked out great for us. I never got my weight down since the first pregnancy and we knew we wanted 4, so I just told myself to eat as healthy as I can (which just naturally happened when I was pregnant) and not worry about the weight. I mean it would be different I suppose if it meant being severely overweight, but I just stayed plump.

I figured worrying about the weight was pointless till we were done with having children... it's just a yo yo situation till then. I mean being preg, breastfeeding, being preg again.... feels like my body isn't my own. I am going to buckle down on a program after I'm done with breastfeeding my last little guy next summer. Till then... carpe diem!

Good luck and you guys will know what to do and when the time is right... trust your instincts!

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S.W.

answers from Washington DC on

This def a decision only you can make. But from my experience my son is 7 months old. I am 4.5 lbs away from my pre-preggers weight(I gained 40 lbs) and I am now trying to lose the extra 10 lbs I had on before I got pregnant. I of course wouldn't change anything about getting pregnany when I did, I absolutely adore my son. But from the struggles I am having with losing weight...working out whenever I can fit it in 5 days a week, dieting etc. I will DEF wait until I am at my ideal weight before starting on # 2.

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S.

answers from Dallas on

It is totally your decision, but I would get started on making that baby! I am pregnant with my first(due any day now) and I was overwieght when I got pregant, but being pregnant encouraged me to start eating better and going for walks everyday for the health of the baby. I only gained about 5 pound during the first seven months of pregnancy and have since gained more because of water retention and a complete weakness for ice cream:) You may gain a little weight from the pregnancy, but having another incentive to eat healthy and excercise may help you keep those habits after the baby is born and then, between two kids, the weight will probably just fall off you! If you start eating healthy now, it will only help get you pregnant and who knows how long it may take to actually get pregnant, so I say, the sooner the better! But it is ultimately your body and our choice, so good luck to you and your family!

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

i was in the same situation, at pretty much the same weight you are. i was very worried about going over 200 i definitely did not want that to happen...i was so sick the first few months that i lost a lot of weight & now i haven't even put back on what i lost & i am 9months pregnant. to me i couldn't wait to get the weight off because honestly it is a very big struggle for me to lose & who knows how long that will take. there is a weight watchers program for pregnant & breastfeeding mothers if you don't think you can control what you are eating, but i just tried to not over indulge & not eat a lot of fried stuff and carbs.

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M.S.

answers from Dallas on

Ok my situation is a bit different. I weighted OVER 200lbs when I got pregnant. I gained 32 lbs with my daughter. She is now 20 months old and I have lost 75 lbs and I'm still losing it. I know I've only had one and that with a 2nd pregnancy it's more difficult but I just wanted to let you know that it can be done. And no, I'm not doing anything differently than I was before I got pregnant. I'm not working out or dieting. Just taking care of baby, working, taking care of the house and, starting next Tuesday, going back to school. Good luck! Like you said it is ultimately your decision...

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

My son will be 4 in Oct and I still am 15-20lbs overweight. I think you should go for it and just eat really healthy during your pregnancy.

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K.C.

answers from Dallas on

I had my kiddos really close together (14.5 months apart in age) thinking that I could just lose all the weight when I was done with kids. Well, my youngest is 15 months now and I'm just now back to my pre-pregnancy weight with her...and still have 12 more pounds to lose from the first pregnancy. I would definitely get rid of your pregnancy weight before trying for another.

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