Anyone else who needs support with weight control during pregnancy??

[peanutter]

yup. is the dietician standard there?

and is it standard to have so many appointments? it looks like I'll have to go in every 2 weeks

[EsJay]

hi ladies i need to join in here. prior to last pg i had lost 20kg which put me at about 12kg overweight, but i gained 28.9kg while pregnant (mostly 1st & 2nd tri) have since lost this weight and back to where i started. had my last weigh in at weight watchers tonight and have put on 0.8kg in 2 weeks, at that rate im looking at at roughly 20kg for full term pregnancy. no, i say no. How this has happened i dont know as i have been really good the last fortnight, for god sake i was following ww arrrgggghhh!

i'll go back and read a bit to get to know you all and hope to be able to help each other out with a bit of motivation and tips

[The[cookie]Doctor]

yup. is the dietician standard there?

and is it standard to have so many appointments? it looks like I'll have to go in every 2 weeks

I got referred to the dietician as well as my BMI is over 40 (yet most people I know wouldn't believe that I look 'that' fat / overweight ... I guess I must carry it semi-proportionately).
I felt a bit ripped off about it because they didn't bother to discuss with me if I understood my weight issues etc beforehand, just that they needed to refer me. I was a bit annoyed about it but I guess the referring Ob / Mid can't 'know' everything.

In my case, my first (and only) appointment with the dietician went like this...
"Why are you here / did you request it / did they force you etc?"
I replied that although it wasn't offered as optional I understood my weight was of concern and was happy to partake in the appointment.
For ME, I was able to say - I "know" the things I am supposed to do, I am just not good at committing to doing them - and she said that is most people's problem.
Then we basically talked about things to avoid - lollies, chocs, ice cream, sweets etc. Balacing your intake at meal times, reducing portion sizes, drinking water.
All stuff i know but not good at putting into practice... lucky DH had gotten off his butt and decided he was in the mindframe to lose weight as well and we had already started a good routine etc. And i had already lost weight during pregnancy so she didnt see a need to make another appointment.

I had the opportunity to explain that i put the weight and developed bad habits from PND etc.
I dont know how many dieticians they have but mine was lovely and in no way judgemental or unapproachable and it was really refreshing.

With the appointments, I am not sure how they do it as my first one wasn't until 23 weeks.
Then i had one at 26, 29, 33 (actually ended up being 34), then 36 is the next one.
I also had to have an appt with the anesthetist which i thought was to guage dosage requirements etc to be on your file for if required in labour but all
the guy i saw talked about was pain relief options - totally pointless.

Sorry to be a bit OT everyone

[peanutter]

thanks for the info, dragoncookie

[misty]

Dragoncookie - it is interesting to read about your experience with the dietician and the referral. I understand you about not looking as big as you BMI as well. I am the same. I carry my weight well, so although people might look at me and think "oh she is a little overweight" or "she could probably do to loose a few kgs". Most people are shocked IF I tell them just how high my BMI actually is. And then they usually launch into a spiel about how BMI is a load of rubbish - which I don't believe. I KNOW I carry my extra weight well, but i also know how I look and feel at a healthy BMI. I don't want to be in denial about my weight, denial about my size is one of the reasons I let myself get so big the first time round, and I wasn't happy with my weight or myself. (Not that I want people telling me I look like a hippo either...)

Jen82 - hello. Good to have you here. I am another Weight Watcher. One of the hardest things to get your head around with being pregnant is that even when you are trying to minimize or control your weight gain, it IS going to happen and it IS OK: and there will likely be no apparent logic to it. You may be fabulously behaved one week and gain 3kgs, and then terrible for then next two weeks and somehow loose 500g. Are you attending meetings? Or are you doing it online? Or at home? If you are at meetings you will have to let your leader know about your pregnancy (they can hold you membership for 12months for you to return 6 weeks after bubs is born) as you will no longer be able to attend meetings and weigh in whilst pregnant. I always tell my pregnant members to take their program material along to their midwife or Ob and ask them to refer you to a dietician who can then tailor the plan to you specifically throughout your pregnancy - as what you will need to consum at different stages will be very different to the basic program. I have been following ProPoints (more often then not ) through out this entire pregnancy. It is a fantastic program to follow in pregnancy, much better then the old points program simply because you can eat as much fruit and vege as you want - so you will never go hungry. (and I certainly get more hungry whilst pregnant).


Well, I have been going well - although tonight I blew out a bit. A friend asked me to go to the movies with some other people (we saw "the Help"; great movie) So I had a small popcorn whilst there and some bikkies on the way home. But oh well - I rarely ever go out, and although I went a little over, I didn't pig out. Just not looking forward to weighing in at maternity tomorrow afternoon. Lets hope with all that salt on the popcorn I don't retain too much fluid.

[EsJay]

i have gone back through some of the thread and i am just gobsmacked that a pregnant woman is told she's fat and will be denied care at a hospital. i cant believe there are limits on these things, this was never even brought up with my first pg and my ob never weighed me once, i asked at the first appt when she didnt weigh me and she said i dont have a set of scales, there is enough pressure on a pregnant woman without weighing her in and tut tutting at her every appt, so as long as you eat healthy i dont care what you weigh. i wonder if she'll be the same this time. i just seriously cant believe that has been put on you girls, im so sorry, i mean i know some of us need a reminder that we're not eating for 2, but there are tactful ways to do this and obviously some caregivers need a few lessons in this area. I would be super peeved if this was said to me.
i think a dietician is a great way to get some good advice, dh is currently waiting for an appt with our local dietician due to his high bp and weight issues so i will have a look through the stuff he brings home and see if i can go along with it just adding some extra fruit and veg for myself, or if i feel i need some help tailoring it, will ask for a referral.
misty i was going to meetings, i told her im pg yesterday so it was my final weigh in. it may be my final final weigh in, i actually dont like the pro points and havent lost a thing since it came in, so im not sure i will go back. but i will spend my pregnancy reading through the material just for some inspiration and to see if maybe i could give it another go once bub arrives. I didnt know they could hold your membership, its never been offered either time ive left for pregnancy.

have been super good today fruit for breaky, salad for lunch, dried apricots for snacks and im going out for anniversary dinner with dh tonight and planning on getting a salad, hope my will power stays with me cos they do awesome wood fired pizzzas where we're going lol

goodluck girls, hope your all doing well

[Cranky Kitten]

I must say, my Dr was pretty good about it when talking about my weight with me. He simply said hey look, it's not ideal and you're probably already aware of that, but here's the possible issues we'll need to be careful of. I get weighed at each appointment, but the midwife at my Obs rooms is really awesome, she's very encouraging rather than being negative about it. But then, that could be due to the fact that so far I have yet to gain back what I lost in the first trimester and I'm at 32 weeks already.

I haven't been referred to a dietician or anything, just have been trying to reduce my portion sizes (easy seeing as there's no room in there anyway, bub's taking it all) and make healthier choices plus get a bit more exercise. I might look into something a bit more formal once bub is born as I've realised over the last few months how unhappy my size is making me.

[misty]

My appointment today went well. I weighed in 1kg less this week then last week! So I was right about just retaining alot of fluid last week. Very happy. Especially as I have had a couple of induglences this week.

[peanutter]

nicely done, misty

[Lolpigs]

I'm going to be starting calorie counting again today, 32 weeks and I seem to have put on alot of weight on my thighs, arms and butt becuase of the baby. Not happy I have to buy some scales and figure out what my weight is now, beucase I just did measurements to track my weight before the baby was born and I was about a 14. All my fault however, I've indulged a bit too much over the last few months and been lazy so its come back to bite me.

My OB has never once mentioned my weight but I'm going to try and stop it getting out of control. I had my weight to where I was happy with it before the baby too sigh. Typical!

Is 1700 calories enough a day while pregnant?

[misty]

Lolpigs - Your energy intake in the third trimester is likely to be around what it should be if you were breastfeeding. It will depend on your age, weight and height as to how much you will actually need to consume. Unfortunately I have never counted calories - so have no idea how many you should be eating. I count ProPoints - which are a different kettle of fish altogether. Are you able to get into a dietician to ask them how many calories you should be consuming? There are some good websites out there to help figure these things out. There is one I have been visiting (it also has a forum attached to it), it is an american? or UK? site called "Babyfit". If you google that you should be able to find it. (sorry it is against forum guidlines to post a link to this site I am pretty sure - but it is - babyfit (dot) sparklepeople (dot) com ). The have a free food tracker and other tools, specificall geared towards pregnancy nutrition.

Edited to add:
Just looked at my nutrition tracker on Babyfit and it says 'I' should be consuming between 2360-2660 calories per day. It also outlined how much protien, calcium, etc, it should contain.

[misty]

Well, this weekend was a COMPLETE and UTTER write off.
On friday night we had cheesy pizza and pasta for dinner. Yummy but very very high in ProPoints.
Saturday, my sister had my DD, so we got mum to babysit the boys and DH and I went out to the movies (yes, with chips and other junk food), plus mum had been cooking all day, so I 'sampled' alot of it.
And then on sunday, it was my baby shower (which was why my mum had been cooking) - so I had all her homemade baked goods: macaroons, cheesecake, scones, gingerbread loaf with butter, rock cakes, etc.... lots of yummy induldgent stuff.

So, I had a great weekend, which resulted in a very bad weekend foodwise!

But that's alright. Back on track (again ) today. I see my ob on thursday, so have 4 days to undo the damage of the last three days - by eating healthy, and cutting out the junk food and salty processed foods.

[misty]

Well, I am very dissapointed today.
I had an ob appointment this morning and have apparently gained 3kgs in one week! It would mostly be fluid, as I have swollen up like a Balloon this morning - but it is still disapointing. I only have 1.4kgs leyway left before I reach that dreaded BMI cut off that I am supposed to stay under.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

I think its crap misty, the BMI cut off should be based on your pre-pregnancy weight!!!
Especially if you are carrying fluid, its a bit unfair to say that oh you have put on 3kg when its fluid weight.
That sucks

[Lolpigs]

Lolpigs - Your energy intake in the third trimester is likely to be around what it should be if you were breastfeeding. It will depend on your age, weight and height as to how much you will actually need to consume. Unfortunately I have never counted calories - so have no idea how many you should be eating. I count ProPoints - which are a different kettle of fish altogether. Are you able to get into a dietician to ask them how many calories you should be consuming? There are some good websites out there to help figure these things out. There is one I have been visiting (it also has a forum attached to it), it is an american? or UK? site called "Babyfit". If you google that you should be able to find it. (sorry it is against forum guidlines to post a link to this site I am pretty sure - but it is - babyfit (dot) sparklepeople (dot) com ). The have a free food tracker and other tools, specificall geared towards pregnancy nutrition.

Edited to add:
Just looked at my nutrition tracker on Babyfit and it says 'I' should be consuming between 2360-2660 calories per day. It also outlined how much protien, calcium, etc, it should contain.

Thanks Misty. I mention the weight gain to my OB who said "really" but that was it LOL. He's not concerned in the slightest. Was more worried last appt making sure I didn't have preeclampsia which is a good thing LOL

Perhaps its just me not happy I'm suddenly putting on all the baby weight now? I feel like I have tree stump arms and legs with a potato in the middle. My husband tells me to stop worrying about it, and that I just "look pregnant".

[EsJay]

well i got weighed at the gp yesterday and have put on 3kg in 10days. omg. i have been really good foodwise and not had any softdrinks or anything plus i walked 4 days in that time i just dont get it. so im pushing myself more on the treadmill and cutting back the amounts of the good foods im eating. i was already hungry all the time, lastnight and today is just hell. i used babyfit and it said i should be eating 3030cals a day, that doesnt sound right to me. i have been eating just over half that a day and have put on all this weight. having a big boohoo day here! mainly cos im sooooo hungry.

misty i hope things all go well for the next couple of weeks, at least you only have a little while for that 1.4kg. maybe you will even get a nice surprise at your next appt and the fluid has eased off. That would be nice.

lolpigs im sure you do just look pregnant. i found everything got massive in the last trimester, but the actual weight gain was the least of the whole pregnancy.

[misty]

Hello everyone,
Just letting you know I won't be visiting this thread anymore.
I am 38weeks tomorrow, and have given myself permission to stop thinking about and stressing about my food intake. I am still mostly eating healthy foods, but I am not tracking it anymore and I am not counting anything - just listening to my hunger signals and 'mostly' keeping the treats in moderation. I am giving myself permission to stop thinking about my food for the next couple of weeks until i have bubs, and the first few weeks after I have had her. I will worry about it again when I am ready to actually start loosing weight.

I wish you all the best.

[Cranky Kitten]

Completely understandable Misty - wishing you all the best and thanks for the support. We're nearly there!!