Weight gain etc

I just wanted some advice re. the issues of weight gain during pregnancy etc.

My husband and I have decided to start trying for a baby. I am currently carrying some weight - and I have expressed concerns to my husband re. this - more in terms of putting on more weight during pregnancy and then possibly having difficulties losing it afterwards.

I would probably prefer to try to lose some kilos before falling pregnant - but my questions are

If I don't, will I find it hard it lose weight post-pregnancy?
Will I have more loose skin if I do lose weight post-pregnancy?
Is it possible to tone up etc during pregnancy - I do realise that I won't lose weight - but more to prevent any huge weight gains?

Just wondering if anyone else has had this concern and what they did. Thanks

I lost quite a bit of weight before this pg. I think it is a great thing to do. Gets your body into top shape to be carrying a bub - the healthier you are at the begininning, the easier it should be. That said though, I wouldn't do anything extreme - a sensible diet & some exercise. And of course, once you are pg, don't worry too much. You will gain weight, but if you are sensible it may not be much. Some heavier people even lose body fat while pg! So as the baby grows - they shrink!

All the best with it.

Hi,
I had gained weight before falling pg and are considered in the obese category. I have only gained 6 kilos (am now 40 wks pg) and this was mainly in the first trimester when I was eating whatever I liked. I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes in the 2nd Trimester and have managed to control it through diet & exercise (not having to go on insulin). By exercise I am only talking about a 20 minute walk every day before lunch and when I was working (6 wks ago) the odd game of table tennis (social). I haven't toned up but have kept my weight down. Diet consisted of monitoring sugar and fat due to the diabetes (although the last couple of weeks I have been slack).
A gf of mine bought the preggie bellies DVD and she is happy with it.
I am confident that once I have the bub that I will lose most of the weight I have gained so far as bubs should weigh 3-4 kgs, plus the weight of the placenta, fluid etc......
If you do lose some weight before actively ttc, this will enhance your chances of falling pg.
Good luck!

Hi Katiegirl

I weighed 74kg when I got pregnant which along with my height of 166cm is considered either overweight or obese (can't remember which) on the BMI scale.

At 34 weeks pregnant I now weigh 76kg which I'm delighted with.

Basically, the extra weight I was carrying was down to big meals out and accompanying alcohol. Neither of which I've done during my pregnancy, I've just eaten sensibly; lots of fresh stuff and no major 'oh, but I'm pregnant' pigouts. I had every intention of uppng my exercise too but I've been told to rest because of back problems! So because my calorie intake has gone down (not through dieting, just by eating sensibly which is what I should have been doing anyway), I've barely put on any weight.

The most sensible thing I've read about weight gain in pregnancy is that if you're skinny/underweight your body will 'need' to put on more than if you're overweight to start with.

I think, for most people (myself included) there's definite reasons why we're overweight. We're consuming too many calories with either the wrong types of food ie. fatty junk, too much food or too much alcohol. Or a combination of all those!

I know a lot of people say don't worry about the weight, you'll lose it all afterwards but really if we're overweight to start with and then put on a lot of pregnancy weight, it's going to be an uphill battle.

So to answer your question - yes it is possible to lose or at least maintain your weight during pregnancy BUT it depends on why that weight's there in the first place. Like I said before, if you go from eating lots of calories to just what you're meant to eat, then chances are you will lose/maintain your weight.

But all the better if you can lose it before because as you know, carrying extra weight can interfere with fertility.

Hope that helps and sorry I couldn't answer your questions re loose skin etc.

Fiona

Hi Katiegirl,

I am/ was overwieght when I was pg (DD is now 11wks old). I was really worried about weight gain during pg. I had wanted to loose weight (about 10 kg) before getting pg, but fell pg sooner than I expected to and didn't end up loosing any. I put on 10kg- almost a steady 1kg a month pretty much. It was quite hard for me to walk any distance once I was about 34 weeks pg- I used to walk to work from the bus stop, but had to start driving and we are on the third floor of an apartment block too, so three flights of stairs every day too....
I was absolutely petrified that I'd keep the weight on after Lily was born, but in the end I was actually 2kg's lighter than pre- pg! Though I have now put that back on :( .
As for the extra skin etc... I have some on my tummy and I hate it. I don't think it will be budging with weight loss either, and I also have heaps of stretch marks which I think, if I was smaller would have been less.
If you are worried about this sort of thing I would say yes try to lose weight before pg, because your body stretches sooo much to accomodate bubs (most women do anyway!!) that there will usually be some sort of permanent changes to your body. If you can prevent it, then you will be better off in the long run. Besides the health benefits you'll get anyway, it will be easier for you during pg too, as well as after and better for bubs too...
Hope that helps!!
Kellie.

HI there,

I weighted 95kg at the start of my PG (i'm 181cm, so that was a healthy END of PG weight, and there i was at the start...) but i only gained 6kg in total, all in the last 4-6 weeks. I now weight about 75-79kg (never weigh myself), and yes, i really DO have a lot of loose skin everywhere, but hopefully this'll go with time, and it did mean that losing fat as i gained baby meant i only added a few stretchmarks (i already had a bunch from being porky).

BFing helped me lose weight (doesn't for everyone) and though i ate what i wanted during PG, i was more motivated to eat healthier foods and i found i could't eat such big portions with a big baby in there. I swam 1k every week until term, walked 4 miles a day to and from work until 34 weeks and then about 2 miles a day around my local park until birth. I even did that walk in labour! LOL.

I think so long as one keeps active and eats mainly sensibly it's not a huge worry being a little heavy when you concieve.

ETA - sorry o/t - Kellie your DD Lily is GORGEOUS! OMG, so beautiful....oh getting broody again....

Bec

Thanks Hoobly, we think so!! Esme looks like one very cheeky monkey in your ticker photo!! ;)

Thanks everyone. I think the solution is to try and shift a few kgs now and then just trying to stay healthy during the pregnancy. Glad to hear that others have to think about this stuff too!