Excessive weight gain

I have just fallen pregnant for the third time and worried about excess weight gain.

I am normally 62 Kilos and 174cm ... so a relatively average BMI. In my first pregnancy I gained just over 30 kilos. My ob didnt seem phased. Second pregnancy 27 kilo weight gain. Appart from being extremely uncomfortable I am aware this can cause health problems for the growing baby and for me .

I am now living in Europe and have another Ob and she is certain its because my fluid intake (combined with pregnancy hormones) was too high during pregnancy. My diet is not significantly different during pregnancy and never put on weight other then in pregnancy. She has now told me no more then 1.5L of liquids per day - this includes things such as yogurt, fruit, milk etc. This is not as easy as it sounds. My ob is certain I will only gain 13 kilos this time :lol: Well I hope so.

I have never heard of being put on a liquid restriction like this before. Has anyone else? Does anyone think accessive weight gain in pregnancy can be put down to access fluid intake´in pregancy?? My ob is in her 60's and is on the list of top 10 Obstetritions in Austria??? Obviousely she is experianced but rather old fashioned (but lovely) and could she just be telling me an old wives tale???

Any ideas would be appreciated :)

Hun TBH that sounds kinda crazy to me. I've never ever heard of fluid restriction and I would be really cautious of it. Some ladies just put on more weight. I don't eat much more when pregnant, exercise and live a healthy lifestyle and each time I've put on at least 20kgs. There is nothing I can do to prevent it, it's just the way my body is when pregnant. I'd seriously consider ignoring her advice, as I said it sounds extreme and I'd think dangerous. Make sure you eat plenty of heathy fruits, vegetables, lean protein and wholegrains. Drink lots of water gentle exercise and if you pit on weight then so be it.

HTH
Spring xx

Thanks Spring for keeping me feeling sane! Yes I thought the idea of limiting fluids sounded rather extreme too! Her goal of me putting on 13 kilos (although wouldnt mind) instead of 30 sounds a little unattainable. I have been watching how much I drink but not limiting it.

Trust your instincts, I find I need more fluids when pregnant just make sure you don't feel thirsty all the time. If you limit your intake you may end up with more fluid retention as your body could store more.

Glad you're a bit skepitcal....sounds a bit odd to me.

From the other end of the scale, I only ever put on 8-10kg during preg but I have a degree of kidney failure and drink at least 3L of water per day to keep my kidneys flushed out then there's all the milk I drink for heartburn plus the occasional cup of tea/softdrink and all the regular food.

That's a very odd theory....

that sounds counter productive and even dangerous. I would be going for a second and third opinion before even cosidering following this advice. The average person needs 2lt of fliud each day as a minimum to ward of dehydration and fluid retention. Pregnant and breastfeeding women often need more.

Unless you have another underlying medical condition such as a heart problem then I can’t see why you would be put on a fluid intake restriction. If you were drinking a very large amount of fluid (5 litres a day) I could understand her telling you to cut down but I think 1.5 litres is a little too restrictive.

I tend to agree that the restriction on fluids doesn't sound right as we are supposed to drink 2 litres of water a day, generally... and I know I have more then that... I was into Milk a lot in my first pregnancy and my OB limited my milk intake to 1 litre a day :lol: but nothing else :)

I have spoken to a couple of other Austrian Mammas and they think its crazy too (I thought it maybe this was common advice in Austria??)

Maybe ill try contacting my Australian Ob and ask her advice too? But its probably just my bodies way of dealing with pregnancy - too put on +++++kilos. In one way I had hoped is was just a small lifestyle factor that I could improve on... but Im not sure :think:

Thanks ladies for you advice X

Did you lose your pg weight in your previous pg's? If you did, then I would thing it is just the way your body copes with being pg, and puts on more weight than is usually 'average'. I wouldn't worry about your weight gain and if you're healthy and baby is healthy, then just do what you normally do. I don't hink fluid intake would make alot of difference other than you possibly being dehydrated if you drink too little. I tend to drink alot in pg, just today I've had about 1.5lt plain water, 3 cups of tea, and a glass of milk already. I expect I'll have a hot choc or coffee later plus a drink of juice or something at dinner time.....wow that's alot!! lol

Yes its amazing how quickly fluid intake adds up.

I did lose the weight after the pregnancy - but each time took 1.5 years :) Unfortunately couldnt breastfeed long due to severe cases of mastidis (spelling???) 4 times each resulting in hospitalisation... such an over supply of milk - expressing approx 1 litre from each side :( Okay this could be a whole new thread LOL

Sorry Alan forgot thank you too :redface: Okay now Im going to drink my Roibos tea... without guilt!

X

Everyone is different.

I eat whatever I feel like eating whenever I feel like eating it (pregnant or not) and gained 25kg in pregnancy #1, 20kg in #2 and 15kg so far in #3 (5 weeks to go). The weight discrepancy with the first two was just from my starting weight - 48kg the first time and 55kg the second - I ended up at much the same weight. 48kg for me puts me in the 'severely underweight' category so my body knew what to do.

You'd be insane to actively try and LIMIT your weight gain IMHO, if you feel hungry, eat!

Mamma how is your weight gain going any better or worse?

Well I havnt been limiting my drinks really. Just sticking to water, tea, milk. No sugary drinks - or very minimal. Its really hard to tell if Its helping - I have put on about 1.5 kilos at 14 weeks. But this trimester will be a good indicater as that is when I have loaded on weight - around 20 kilos in the second trimester is what I have put on in the past :(

sounds ok to me :) Especially if you're an appropriate weight to begin with and then lose it again after.

BTW - far out at your milk production. you should have quads!

I know crazy about the milk thingo! I wouldnt mind producing a little less this time around LOL ;)

Maybe milk production and weight gain are linked?

I've gained 20kg now (am almost 39 weeks) and I'm quite the dairy cow too when breastfeeding. Makes the weight fall off and saves on formula, can't complain really :)

LOL ... I think you could be right! Ohhhh How I hope I can breast feed for longer this time! Congrats - you're almost at the end of your pregnancy - all the best!