Pregnancy and Weight Loss

Updated on December 06, 2015
J.B. asks from Marrero, LA
13 answers

Hey mamas,
Well it has offically started, my wave of pregnancy questions!! You would think that as this is baby 3, I would have figured all this stuff out by now! But well this baby sort of snuk up on us.... Anyway, my question is, is it alright to be losing weight while pregnant? Now of course, I have never, and will never diet while pregnant, totally ridiculous. But, the thing is I am good 50lbs overweight, thank the Lord I am tall!! So it is so important to me not put on any weight beyond what is necessary for my little one. I have only known I am prego a few days and I just made a decision to drop any junk food and to eat six times, ie breakfast, little snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. I have been drinking tons of water, bc I am so thirsty!! For my snacks I have only had fruit or a little popcorn or maybe a piece of toast very lightly buttered. I plan on adding things to the snack list like nuts, cottage cheese, yogurt etc. But mostly relying on fruit as my main snack. I should have been doing this before getting pregs! But in just a few days, I have dropped like 2lbs. I am eating, just minus the bad stuff. I am not counting calories or measuring portions or anything silly like that. So as long as I eat plenty of nutritious food to sustain myself and baby, will it be ok if I do lose? My doctor told me last time that it was perfectly fine if I just maintained or only gained like 15lbs, and I was only about 20lbs overweight at that time. So as you can see I picked up a few more with my second pregnancy. I haven't gained anything since having my little man who is now 13 months, but I haven't lost anything other than the initial baby weight loss after birth. I just don't feel I have the physical strength to handle more weight! So anyway, if anyone has thoughts or experience in this area it would be so helpful...thanks :D

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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

with my dd I lost about 28lbs then gained it back with all of the fluid that I so lovingly retained plus gained another 15lbs my doc was not concerned. I was having trouble eating nad keeping food down for all of my pregnancy. three weeks after giving birth I was 9lbs less than when I got preggers. My ob told me not to worry that the baby was still getting all of the nuteriants from the fat and what food I could keep down. She had said that their was a study done about being pregnant and restricted/starvation from the holocoust (sp) and from 3rd world countries and found that mothers still had normal birth weight babies and cognative function. My duaghter was almost 7lbs and was three weeks early. gl and congrats

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A.C.

answers from Houston on

I was overweight (at least 50 pounds) when I got pregnant and lost 20 pounds during the first trimester. I wasn't trying to lose weight, and I wasn't puking so much, but I just lost all desire for anything sweet/carbs. I was eating a ton of lean protein and vegetables...and cheese. I got plenty of calories and fat, but still lost weight. I was quite active walking and doing Jazzercise, so I am sure that contributed as well.

I did eventually gain those 20 back through my pregnancy (a bunch of that was amniotic fluid and water retention); so on the day I went into labor, I weighed half a pound more than the day I got my first positive pregnancy test. Between the water weight and breastfeeding, I was down close to 30 pounds a month after giving birth to a 6lbs. 7oz. daughter.

My midwife was never concerned since I was healthy and my pregnancy developed normally. At the same time I was pregnant, my midwife attended another overweight woman who gave birth naturally to TWINS and only gained 15 pounds. The babies were 6 and 7 pounds each...so she essentially only gained the weight of the babies.

As long as you aren't TRYING to lose weight...just be as healthy as you can, I don't think any doctor can reasonably expect you to not lose some weight if you're already starting with some reserves.

2 moms found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I was underweight to begin with (Yet I only ate/eat junk food, drank/drink only pop, and sat/sit on my butt all day long unless at work). So when I got pregnant I decided to try to eat healthier, cut out the pop, and go to the gym once a week.

I went from 115lbs to 105lbs within the first 3 months(I'm 5'7", so kinda on the taller side). I didn't have any morning sickness, so I knew it was from my new healthier life style.

In the end I gave up on the healthiness (Which I am NOT encouraging you to do, I'm just saying that it is what I did), got up to 140lbs by the time I went into labor, had a healthy baby boy, and was back down to 120lbs when I walked out of the hospital.

I think that since you say you are already 50lbs overweight, if you lost a few pounds in the beginning of the pregnancy because of healthier choices but then gained the appropriate amount of baby weight later in the pregnancy... You will be fine.

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L.P.

answers from Pittsfield on

I would think that if you're cutting junk and sugary stuff, that would help. You might want to consider seeing a nutrionist (not because you don't know the difference between healthy food and junk). My son's pedi recommended I take my son because he was underweight and a really picky eater. She was really good at coming up with ideas I hadn't thought of before. Maybe a nutritionist could give you some ideas of things you can have so you don't wind up feeling deprived.

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J.T.

answers from College Station on

I was over weight with my first 2 and lost weight with both of them. They were born big and healthy. My Dr. was not concerned and I did start to gain with my 1st once I got to 8 months or so. My 2nd was a premie, so I didn't gain any wt from him. Just as I started to gain, he was born. He was 6# at 34 weeks! I kinda glad he didn't go full term...

Just make sure you are taking your vitamins, eating properly and seeing your Dr. and everything should be fine :)

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P.W.

answers from Lexington on

I lost 8 lbs with my first baby. It wasn't on purpose, some was due to morning sickness/all day sickness, but was happening and the doctor became concerned.
If you are losing because you're now eating more healthy, which it seems is the case, I wouldn't worry about it yet. Just remember that you are supposed to do the best for the baby, there will always be time to lose weight later on.

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M.F.

answers from Youngstown on

I have always read that it is a big no no to lose weight while prego. Just keep doing what your doing and exercise and you may not lose weight BUT you may not gain anymore either. You don't want to take any nutrients away from the baby.

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K.W.

answers from Youngstown on

I too am overweight and am on my 3rd pregnancy. With my first I lost 10 pounds in the first trimester from being so sick. I only gained 5 of it back and was 5 pounds less at delivery than I had been pre-pregnancy. With my second I didn't lose any but gained only 12 pounds total. Now I am 18 weeks with #3 and I lost 9 pounds but have gained 4 of it back. I think as long as you are eating healthy and drinking lots of water then your body will do what it needs to do to keep your baby going. My doctor has never been concerned with my weight during pregnancy. If you are worried just ask your doctor.

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T.R.

answers from Tulsa on

check out the website babyfit.com It has a nutrition tracker that allows you to track the amount of food you're eating and nutrition values of each. It also has the ability to plan out your week of meals to make sure you're getting the foods and calories needed to keep baby heathly.

I found this after having my son and used it during the time I was breastfeeding. I loved it and plan to go back to it if I get pregnant again. I gained 55 lbs with my pregnancy (lost 70lbs after YAY) and don't want to repeat that!!

Good Luck and Congrats on the new one!!

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D.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

Talk to the doctor. I lost weight while pregnant because I had gesttional diabetes. I lost about 9 pounds and then stayed the same weight the rest of the pregnancy. You may have only lost water weight. If you have had morning sickness then you will loose a few more pounds. I am glad you are thinking of the baby and eating healthy. You could also go see the nutritionist.Good luck

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J.S.

answers from Austin on

I'm also on baby #3 and I lost a good 5 or 6 pounds in the first 15 weeks. I was pretty sick for about 20 weeks. My doctor had no issue with it because the baby is still growing big & strong. I also try to eat healthy whenever possible. Don't worry about scale numbers, worry about health for you & your baby.

P.M.

answers from Tampa on

I lost 8 pounds the first 2 months then regained my normal (overweight) weight and have stayed at that - I'm 5 months along now. I am not actively dieting, but I am definitely watching my intake and eating only the bare minimum of healthy foods so I do not gain much - if any weight.

If you go to an OB - they will be all over you and place you in high risk... which is what happened my first time around and it created a traumatic birth for me. This time I went with a Midwife who is watching my intake with me, ensuring I'm not skimping on nutrients to keep my weight stable. She is encouraging and helpful - knowing I started off overweight, and wants me and baby to be healthy during this pregnancy.

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J.W.

answers from Columbus on

I`ve 2 babies and used mummy magic tea after both preg...
so I perfectly maintained my weight through this. It`s great!!!!

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