Weight and Pregancies

I was quite overweight, but healthy, when I got pregnant. I ate very well and continued to exercise and stay active. I never had problems with gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia or any of those potential dangers. I only gained 17 pounds and it was all baby. The rest of my body shrank actually! They say that the more you weigh initially, the less you need to gain when pregnant. While, if you are underweight, you need to gain more. I had a healthy, albeit small (5lbs9oz) baby boy and lost the weight within two weeks of delivery. If you are worried about excess weight and pregnancy there is a wonderful book called "Big, Beautiful & Pregnant" by Cornelia Van Der Ziel. It has wonderful advice of how to get through a pregnancy healthfully and things to watch out for. The regular pregnancy books I found to be just plain scary, while this was comforting.

Hi P.,
Weight plays a role of course, but more importantly your health determines the effect on the baby. If you are overweight, yes that can be harmful, like said, gestational diabetes is possbile. On the other side, being underweight means baby takes from mama and mama loses...therefore baby loses in the end. Remember baby comes first.

If you are pregnant and think you need to lose weight, now is not the time to "diet". And if you need to gain weight, well now is the time to eat well. Whatever your situation, mama needs to feed herself the best right now. Creating a "healthy eating plan" is a great first step. But then you need to look at what vitamins, minerals and nutrients you are missing in your diet. And no, one of those "prenatal vitamins" is NOT ENOUGH.

So not knowing your situation, it is hard to say. Just know this... "baking your baby" for 9 months is one of the most demanding, most important jobs you will ever have. You have done the right thing by asking. ASK ASK ASK.

If you want more direct answers to your specific situation, please feel free to connect with me.

B.
Family Wellness Coach

poor nutrition for mom and baby
stress
low birth weights, low milk supply, smaller abilical chord
gestational diabetes

Your question is vague. Are you referring to how much you weigh? As is overweight or underweight? Or are you referring to how much the baby gains and should weigh?

I had an OB who said if you gained too much weight, it just was more strain on your body, could make a bigger baby, put you out of shape and made delivery more difficult and then left you with excess weight afterwards. He watched my weight like a hawk, I dreaded stepping on the scale. But, in the end I was grateful - I gained 18 pounds with the first and only about 25 with the second and third. The baby and I were both healthy and had no problems.

Everyone is different, so talk to your dr.

Hi P.,
I lost twenty pounds during my pregnancy. I could not keep anything down, it was a throw up mess all the seven months.Unfortunately I've gotten back to my old weight :(

I liked especially what Valerie and Barbilee said...I am of average weight (on the smaller side than larger)...for my first I gained only 12 lbs. total (9+ months), doctors were worried I didn't gain enough..she was healthy @ 7.14 oz. My second pregnancy I gained 14 lbs. total (9+ months), and he was 8. 2 1/2oz...very healthy also, and #3 & #4 (twins) I gained a TOTAL of 20 lbs. (8 1/2 months), and they were 5.6 and 6.6 oz. both very healthy...so, as you can see, it can vary for every person. I did NOT eat for 2 or 3 (extras) as some women use the opportunity of pregnancy to "pork-out". Pregnancy is the time to eat and stay healthy! Which is what I tried to do (except for the occasional cravings...ugh). Yes, the less you gain the easier it is to lose the weight afterward...I always left the hospital in my street clothes and all my weight was gone within 2 weeks. Doctors always tried to get me to eat more, but I was in control and ate normally and healthy. The baby or babies will take what they need and you get the leftovers! Healthy babies is what we all aim for and all four of mine are now 22, 19, and my twins are nearly 17, healthy, happy and WELL. Hope this helps.

Hello P.. There is effect, as in cause and effect, and then there is affect. I'm not sure which one you are referring to, so I'll answer as if you posed the question twice. lol I believe that there is no effect (as in weight, under or over does not result in any one thing) on the baby, regarding weight. An affect (influence) of weight during pregnancy can be a slue of things, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, etc. There really is not a cut and dry answer, as each individual mother is different, as is each pregnancy and child. The rule of thumb is, eat nutritiously whether you are underweight, overweight, or just right!, get plenty of rest, no heavy lifting, stay hydrated, stay away from caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol (and drugs, naturally), don't miss your OB appointments/tests/etc..., and enjoy the pregnancy. I hope this helps :)

I don't think they have come to any specific conclusions on this topic. However, if you are overweight and you are consuming too much food you are more than likely setting yourself up for a large baby and you for gestational diabetes... not to mention I was told the delivery has a higher chance of complications and it is more difficult for you to push.

If you are on the other end of the spectrum and you don't eat enough then you are not giving the baby the necessary nutrients for development. Remember that your body is designed to feed and nourish the baby FIRST... you get the leftovers.

I would be happy to speak more specifically with you and even help you set up a meal regiment that will be good for you and peanut! :)

www.HolisticWellnessAndNutrition.webs.com

J.