Do you think too much emphasis is put on weight....?

Question

Do you think too much emphasis is put on weight gain during pregnancy I just read an interesting article that says in Europe women are only weighed @ the start & finish of their pregnancy

I also read another article that states In general, women who restrict their calories during pregnancy tend to be more affluent and educated, according to a study by the American Dietetic Association. They are also more anxious, stressed and "less uplifted about their pregnancies."

Obesity is highest in America even with all the pressure put on diets & weight etc.

I was very fit before becoming preg & ate very well (I still do eat pretty well & keep active) But im entering my third trimester & all this pressure being put on weight is driving me crazy!!! Esp since I know thats when the pounds start to come on more quickly ( I have 12-14 weeks left)

What were your experiences pre, post, & during preg with weight, being comfortable with it or not etc? Thanks

Answer 1

i am 35 weeks 6days and from pre pregnancy weight till now i have gained 25 pounds but the first about 7 months i only gained like 8 pounds then i had gained about 10 pounds in one month and since that i have gained between one and two pounds a week but this is also the time in your pregnancy when that baby is putting on her weight. I don't really care how much i gained but if things keep going how they are i will have gained about 30 pounds so that really isnt bad. I think i would start to worry if gained more than 50 pounds just because i think the more weight you gain the harder it is to lose it all after the baby is born. But who cares as long as you have a healthy happy baby that's all that matter right?

Answer 2

Well there is pressure to gain the  "right amount of weight" in my opinion.  People don't want you to gain too much and they say something.  Then if you don't seem to being gaining enough then they make comments too.

I had 9 months of morning sickness with my first child (I am currently 7 weeks with my second) and I had a terrible time gaining weight.  I have always been pretty skinny to begin with (5'4 108 pounds) so I have always been teased a bit about my weight.  And after I reached my 30's the teasing got worse especially from co-workers.  My doctor never put me on any medicines to help my morning sickness because I was always gaining the absolute minimum at each appointment.  I had co-worker and people from church and even nurses make comments on my weight.  Some of the comments were downright rude and cruel.  I can't image what they said behind my back.  And all the time I was wishing my morning sickness would end and that I could gain a little more weight.

So there is too much emphasis on weight-  At both ends of the spectrum.

Answer 3

i honestly think obesity in America is highest because there is not enough emphasis on balanced diets, weight management and exercise.  Have you read the article that 86% of adult americans may be overweight or obese by 2030?  that's scary....

anyway, that really doesn't have anything to do with weight control during pregnancy...perhaps women in europe are not weighed at every visit as we are here because they don't share similar weight statistics.  When I got pregnant in January, I could probably stand to lose 10 pounds - blame it on the first couple of years of marriage and holiday weight.  My doctor really wanted me to target around 25 pounds of weight gain while i was pregnant and at 32 weeks, I've gained 24 pounds....not terrible, but I do feel a little disapointed.  I'm not stressed out about, but I'm grateful for those monthly updates because it keeps me in check.  without them, i think I could easily put diet to the wayside and just blow up.  

I think keeping the weight gain controlled is just healthier for you and your baby and will be much easier to lose after birth.  I don't think anyone wants to be struggling with their weight AND minding a newborn at the same time.  Don't enter your last trimester thinking you're going to gain and gain...I've actually gained less weight in the last 8 weeks, then I did the first 8 weeks of pregnancy when most people gain nothing.  I'm not going to make my 25 pound target, but my new target is 1/2 pound a week and then i should only go over about 3 pounds...Best of luck in your last trimester...

Answer 4

It is very important to gain weight during your pregnancy. Just think of all the things that add up....a 7lb baby, amniotic fluid, increase of blood, increase of water, and fat. I say a 30 pound gain is neccesary for a healthy pregnancy, at least 30 pounds at that. I am young and fit and in my first pregnancy, so it is hard for me to think of gaining 30 pounds, but it is critical to the health of your baby

Answer 5

I live in Australia and I must say there is huge pressure on women to look "perfect" and thin here. I am 40+weeks pregnant and have put on 35lbs-16kgs during my pregnancy, I eat fairly well, exercise regularly and was average weight pre-pregnancy. My midwife has only weighed me once at 12 weeks and hasnt weighed me since, she says there is no need to. I dont think here in Australia weight is that much of an issue during pregnancy but it is definitely an issue otherwise.

(BTW Australia is officially the "fattest" country in the world, Not the USA)

Answer 6

I know Dr say gain between 25-35 lbs but I haven't met anyone myself that stayed in that range.  I gained 40 lbs in my 1st pregnancy, and this time I am already at 36 lbs and have 9 weeks left.  I figure it's no ones place to judge my weight gain other than me & my Dr.  My Dr is not concerned at all.  My husband says I'm all belly.  I know I lost the 40 lbs with my daughter before, so I know I can do it again.  Don't feel too pressured.  Just eat healthy & remember you are growing a beautiful baby inside of you.  

Answer 7

I'm in Canada, where they weigh you each time you're in to make sure that baby and mom are growing enough. After the 5 month mark, I've told them not to tell me the weight (as they weigh in kilograms and I only know weights in pounds/ounces). I used to be a bigger girl and it started to drive me nuts until I figured out how to avoid this - they don't tell me how much I weigh, and I don't have to worry about it!

I've asked my doctor to tell me if I'm gaining to much, or if baby is getting too big - and she's assured me each time (without telling me the numbers) that I'm measuring perfectly and growing as I should, along with baby.

I think that in some cases, way too much info is given period without us having to know it - giving us something else to freak out and worry about. I see people posting their 'levels' of this and that online, stressing out if it's okay and what it means - when really they just need to be told that "Hey, everything is going great, go home and don't worry about it all. I will tell you when to worry." My doctor has told me when ever she has found things that might be a concern, and told me what it was, why she was and what we'll do to make sure it's okay.

I'm with you on that people stress out way too much about the weight when the focus should be on are they HEALTHY? Some people use pregnancy as a chance to eat anything and everything in a most unhealthy manner, and some use it to try to somehow prove they've got control over their bodies and end up robbing themselves and baby of good health and for themselves, a good pregnancy. It's really too bad.

I've lost 55 pounds years ago, and I know that it will take some time and healthy eating/living to lose it again after this, but the health of my baby is way more important than worrying about every pound I gain in the meantime. It's so much nicer to simply not know that number, and once it's over I'll just work it off until I feel like being weighed again and told!

It will be nice to have my body back and be able to exercise again, and it will be great to have kiddo in the stroller coming along for the ride. I'm hoping to teach my kid how to stay fit and healthy - no better way to do that than by example!

:) Good luck and don't worry about what you gain - you're staying active and eating well and that's ALL you need to worry about! Maybe ask your doctor/nurse not to tell you your weight either and then it's not even a concern!

Answer 8

No, not at all.  The emphasis for women who weigh too much and who focus too much on how they look so they try to not gain weight.  Both can put the baby at risk.  

If a pregnant woman who was in shape is not gaining weight, it could signal that the baby is suffering from malnutrition.  The mother also must lay down maternal fat layers to help during delivery, recovery and breastfeeding, if she does so.  

The fact is that when the baby is born, you immediately lose 10-15 pounds because of the placenta, baby and fluid.  Most women who were in shape prior to pregnancy easily go back to it after pregnancy if they return to their same lifestyle habits.

I completely understand why it would bother you, but I would turn my focus solely onto making sure that you are gaining what you need to and not worry about it.  The last thing you want to do is to unknowingly be eating too little and cause any sort of problems with the baby.  That would be horrible and much worse than gaining 10-20 pounds extra that you didn't need to.

Answer 9

Going into pregnancy I didn't have any expectations about weight gain. I knew it was going to happen, so took it like that. I'm 7 months and one week and gained 12lbs. My eating in the 3rd trimester has been atrocious! I'm a junk food junkie, and got to knock it off. I haven't hit the 150lbs mark yet, and now keeping my fingers crossed that I don't hit the 160lbs mark for the entire pregnancy.