Question for those having baby number 2, 3 or more...

[runnermum]

hi there belly belly ladies,
I know many of you will say 'don't worry'... but as much as I cannot wait to have our 2nd baby, I am getting a anxious about weight gain and trying to cope with my increasing size. This I know stems from being athletic and used to being light and energetic and in a sport that requires you to be light (triathon and long distance running are my passions).

I am putting on a bit more weight than I did with my first...at 22 weeks I have put on 7.2kgs and from my records with my first at this stage I put on 6kgs.....but I feel heavier too. I know, I know, this is not a lot of difference, but please understand that I don't have any others to talk to about this, and I am not used to being this size that it is effecting my confidence and self esteem a bit. Yes, I am bit obsessive, but also cannot wait to get into triathlon racing again - I miss it!!

My problem is I need to eat less biscuits and cakes and peanut butter and chocolate!! It is my diet that is probably the cause of the extra bit of weight as I am still out there running, swimming, yoga and weights.

Sorry for raving.......but needed to say this to someone!! thanks for your understanding in advance. and yes, I know it will be all worth it when that beautiful baby comes, and a litle brother or sister for my son.

[Nai]

Although I am not light like you I also enjoy being fit and doing triathlons - I did my first Olympic distance when DD was 9 months old.

With DD I ended up putting on 18kg (however I had already lost 10kg by the time I left hospital). This time I wanted to put on less but I think I have already put on more - 6kg at the 18 weeks mark. I had very different symptoms this time with m/s and had to eat constantly for the first 13 weeks so as not to vomit or pass out.

I am trying to slow it down now but not sure if that will work. The only thing that I am clinging to is that running around after a toddler and a baby will keep me pretty active and hopefully i will drop the weight after the birth.

[Netix]

RM, I am not an athletic person at all, but am very slim, usually a size 10 in pants, and 12 in a top (only because I have 'freakishly long monkey arms'). With bub #1 I didn't put ANY weight on at all (it may have had something to do with the fact I was vomiting all the time), and now with number 2, the baby belly came much earlier (well, I am sure it was much earlier), and the Man says that I have put a bit of weight on in general. For example, my upper arms are a bit bigger, and he said I look healthier in the face, whereas with number 1, I just looked like I needed a good feed. I wouldn't have noticed any difference in my arms, had he have not said anything the other day. I don't think I weigh much more than this time in my first pg, but I certainly do feel heavier, so I know what you mean there.

When I have spoken to other mums (at playgroup and music) who have several kiddies each, they have all said that we tend to put weight on quicker with the second and subsequent bubs, and all not to worry.

Whilst I feel pretty good (not vomiting in this pg anything like the first, thank goodness!), I do feel a little self conscious.

Given that you are very much into your fitness, I have no doubt that you will very quickly return to your once svelte self, and self confidence will once again return.

I won't say to not eat any junk food, because that would just be very silly of me. I know I can't do without sometimes. I would just suggest to setting a limit. For example, if I eat potato chips, I can't stop myself eating a whole large bag (pg or not), but just one or two of the lunchbox size packets will usually suffice. If I still want more, I have some water to drink, and the feeling for that particular food is forgotten. Maybe put one or two biscuits, or a slice (not a big slice) of cake on a plate, and have it with a cup of tea (normal tea/herbal/whatever rocks your boat), sitting at the table. Don't get up from the table until the tea is all gone (if you make a small pot of tea, about 2 cups worth, it will make you sit there longer). Enjoy the moment and the sweets, and when you get up, hopefully the feeling of wanting more 'junk food' will be gone.

I hope this might help you feel a bit better about yourself. And don't worry, a lot of us feel similar or the same.

[Deltadawn]

Runnermum - Your post sounds very much like me. I was a swimmer for 14 years but I did give it up 8 years ago but have prided myself on somewhat keeping my swimmers physique. I put on 18kg with DS ad lost it without even trying after the birth and was back to my 63kg starting weight within 6 weeks of having him. Your metabolism is obviously very good so I think your body will look after itself after the birth.

Good luck and hope everything goes well.

[Trillian]

I put on 24 kg with my first pg and 27 with my second. I put it down to me simply eating a lot more crap than I did with my first, even though I was more active when pg with my second becuase of chasing after a todler. I think in one month I put on 7kg and My Dr said 'diabetes' and I said 'chocolate'. I cut out all the junk for the following month and didn't gain any weight at all.

If you are that concerned about it, go and see a dietician to come up with a healthy eating plan for you to try to minimalise the weight you gain this pg and keep as active as you can. Obviously there are factors which are beyond your control - the amount of fluid you are carrying which can vary HEAPS with each pg - but you know if you are eating well and exercising as much as you can, that once the baby is born you wont have all the 'extra' to lose as well as general pg-related weight.

[Mumma2three]

You sound similar to me. I am sooo healthy and then I get pregnant and eat rubbish (along with healthy...I just EAT). Anyway with DD2 I put on 10 kilos in first 16 weeks, and low and behold the exact same thing this time!! My OB said it's fine as he thinks Im underweight normally, but I will say, just enjoy. With both my pregnancies so far, once I had bub I was back to my pre preg weight within 3 weeks (bizarre since I put on 15kilos in the pregnancy)> That's another thing, my weight gain slowed down from about 20 weeks. So most of my weight was early on.
But I am finding with all three pregnancies, Im putting on the same amount of weight (ALOT). I too really don't like it, Im very self conscious and to be honest I feel like covering up all the time and not being in public alot. Most people Im sure would say I look fine, but I HATE feeling like this. The only light at the end of the tunnel (and this excludes my beautiful bub, I am talking purely weight wise) is that I know I'll lose it. Doesn't matter how long it takes, once bub is born you can concentrate on it then. xoxoxo

[runnermum]

Thanks sooo much ladies - you have all made me feel a little better - I was worried I would just get the response -'don't worry about it'. Seeing someone about my diet is a good idea - but in reality, I do eat VERY well, it is just that i also have bad snacks like homemade biscuits and cakes and chocolate. I don't eat chips/crisps/fried food or take away meals.

So I need a plan like you say Netix - eat one bit of chocolate and have this with a big mug of herbal tea which I like. I must also snack more on fruit, i love fruit.

It is strange that I am SO motivated to continue to run, cycle, swim, yoga, weights throughout my pregnancies yet NOT as motivated to snack on healthier food !!

Today I went for a 2 hour mountain bike ride - mostly on gravel/dirt tracks - not very technical really, but heaps of fun. Basically it is a subsitute for running for 2-3 hours like i did pre-pregnancy. Now I only go for maximum 70min runs which will quickly shorten as I head towards my 3rd trimester soon.

Being due in January means I have about 10 months to get ready for the 2009/2010 triathlon season - I hope!!

Anyway, thanks ladies, you have given me heaps of motivated to snack better, good for me and good for bubba too.

Tonydayl - wow - good on ya for getting back into shape so quickly - I was back to about 60kgs very quickly, but that last 1-2kgs took me a little longer - I found that it dropped after I finished breastfeeding my boy at 14months.

[PinkPalace]

i lived on jnk food this time lol.
I have put on 14kg in the first 28 weeks of this preg and aout 1kg since.

I go back to less than my original weight after 6 months of BF #1 so i am not too worried.
I think that is why i did them close together - as i didnt want to get fit and gorgeous to get fat again.. rather work on it after both kids if that makes sense

when preg its about your bub not you. so dont stress so much about it *hugs*

[Netix]

Fruit! Of course! Have a cut up piece of fruit on the plate too with your naughty snack and tea.

There isn't anything wrong with having a bit of junk food now and again. I think that when we 'really really want something naughty' like chips (for example) that our bodies are telling us that we need something (nourishing) from that food that we know we can get. Ie, from chips, some sodium. Craving lots of milk (I do sometimes), calcium. Enjoy everything, but in moderation.

I was also underweight before bub1, and dropped to even further underweight whilst bf, and even after I finish bf (then got pg straight away ), so who knows what I'll be after this one!