Questions about second pregnancies

[Melinda]

I'm just wondering........

For those of you who retained a lot of fluid during your first PG, did it happen to you again during your second PG? As a result, did you gain more/less weight than your first PG? Did the fluid retention/weight gain start earlier in your second PG?

I'm having a panic as already being overweight, gaining a lot of weight isn't good! With my first PG, I gained 17.5kg but it was almost entirely fluid thankfully. This PG I seem to have already gained weight something shocking - something like 7kg (first PG I gained nothing at all during the first trimester!)!! I'm only 15w!!! Strange considering I have had seriously bad nausea and not eating a great deal.

I know everyone will tell me not to analyse my weight, but I'm a very self-conscious person and am feeling very down about it.........obviously I am not going to be doing any dieting or the like whilst PG.

[Phteven]

I gained heaps of fluid again during my second pregnancy. I think that it must have happened earlier than in my first but I'm not sure because it was only after Imran was born and it all drained away that I realised how puffy I had been. I had assumed that alot of it was fat.
I never weighed myself so I'm not sure if I gained more weight or not.

[BellyBelly]

Some tips for fluid retention I have collected:

* Aim to eat at least one meal of FRESH diuretic vegetables daily, i.e. plenty of celery, cucumber, lettuce and other green leafy things
* Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to ensure your kidneys are getting a good flush out
* Avoid tea, coffee or juices, ideally none at all
* Recline for half hour each afternoon in a lateral position (left side best unless it's uncomfortable on that side)
* Drink dandelion tea - see a naturopath or herbalist
* Swimming for exercise
* Reflexology
* Lymphatic drainage massage
* Make sure there is enough vitamin B6, magnesium and vitamin E in your diet
* Eat small amounts of parsley in your food
* Mandarin and grapefruit essential oils may help when massaged into the legs and ankles.

[Kirsty77]

Don't worry Melinda I gained 4 kgs in the first 10wks and now I reweighed myself and have lost 2 kgs of it already. The preggie body is certainly a strange one! First pregnancy I lost weight first tri and only gained a little weight but at the end I was massive and was carrying heaps of fluid too!This time I'm so much bigger and am so embarrassed as I look about 6 months pregnant and am only 3 months!Eeekkk!I'm guessing I'm gonna be huge to as I already am.I'm really self conscious about it this time round.Not sure why as last time I was so proud of my body.

[Melinda]

Thanks for that Chloe!

And thanks for the tips Kelly! I'll be sure to pay attention to those!

[BellyBelly]

No worries - good excuse for a massage eh?!

[Melinda]

Ooooh yes! I could use one of those! Thanks again!