Loosing Weight When Pregnant

Updated on February 07, 2009
T.F. asks from Eugene, OR
18 answers

My husband and I are kindof trying to have another baby. I am about 220, I would like to be below 200 eventually. I'm just curious if there were any momma's out there that have gotten pregnant either gained very little or were able to loose some weight when pregnant. I'm just afraid that I will gain to much and not be able to loose the weight and have to work even harder than I already am to regain control of my weight. With my son - I started out with being 211 and ended up being 233 at the end of my pregnancy. I was fortunate with my son that I only craved healthy things rather than sugars and fattening things. Should I be to terribly concerned or just let it go and just go with the flow? Thanks....T.

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for the wonderful advice. I'm so glad that I asked. What I didn't say though is that I have recently started back on my olyptical machine 3 times a week to get a little exercise. I also don't believe in "Dieting" either, I prefer lifestyle changes. I try to eat healthier if I can. If I do get pregnant this month then I will start walking more and get myself a little more active. I will definately talk with my ob as well. I live in the country and our driveway alone is about 1/2 mile long, so I could walk that daily. I am just afraid of gaining over 35 pounds. But it sounds like that I can still maintain a good healthy lifestyle and have a baby without the whole gaining huge amount of weight. Thank you ladies for giving me the support and fretting over what if. T.

Featured Answers

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

Yes, I did just that. I ate well but watched what I ate and rewarded myself with something I really liked to eat once a week. I walked 1/2 mile to work and the same home five days a week. As my belly got bigger the walk was slower but it really helped. At the end of my pregnancy I was svelt.

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B.Y.

answers from Seattle on

I was 135 the day I got pregnant with my first child and 210 the day I delivered.
With my second I was around 200, and I think 220 when I delivered (that was 20 years ago). It seamed that when ever I got down to 200 I would get pregnant again.
I would loose weight, and the DR would freak.
I found that when I was expecting I would eat healthier.
With my last daughter I found a midwife that allowed me loose the weight without getting mad at me. All that she asked is that I would eat healthy, which I did.
I don't know if this helps.
But I can also tell you that my daughter is not quite 180, when she was expecting her baby. She had issues with trying to find a DR. that would take her, and not consider her high risk.
B.

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N.M.

answers from Medford on

Hi, I lost 30 lbs while pregnant due to the great attention that I put into my diet. That weight stayed off.

It sounds to me like your weight is more related to stress than to what you eat. Are you sure it is a good time for a baby w/the structure of your life as it is? How soon will you be able to spend more time w/the family?

I highly recommend the Eat Right for Your Type Diet. It was very helpful to me.

Also, getting enough time outside, walking with your family and some time to be still. If you are going going going you can't ever get a handled on being present and alive, this causes stress.

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J.A.

answers from Seattle on

I was around 200 when I got pregnant with my third child. Because I was already overweight, my doctor recommended that I only gain between 15-20 pounds. That allows for plenty of nutrients for the growing baby (and you), amniotic fluid, the baby, the placenta, breast tissue growth and only about 5 pounds of maternal fat stores (for breastfeeding). I ended up gaining around 23 pounds because I had severe swelling towards the end, but I'm so glad I didn't gain 30-40 pounds like I did with my other two children.

I didn't obsess about my weight. I just tried to be as healthy as I could be. I ate healthy foods in moderation, took a daily walk, got plenty of rest (which helps with cravings. Tired people sometimes eat more to make up for lack of energy), drank plenty of water and took my vitamin.

You shouldn't try to lose weight while pregnant. No doctor would recommend that. A small amount of weight loss during the 1st trimester because of morning sickness is normal and a couple of pounds lost around your due date is normal too. But I've never heard of a doctor advocating weight loss during pregnancy.

My son is now 7 months old and I'm currently 18 pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant with him, so having another baby won't stop you from reaching your goal if you're committed. Good luck to you!

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Well, I am sure I don't have to say this, but I will anyways... you REALLY should start loosing weight, before you are pregnant.
Being overweight puts you at heightened risk for all kinds of pregnancy complications from preeclampsia to gestational diabetes and statistically babies of obese women face a higher infant mortality.
Talk to your doctor and get started on a healthy nutrition plan and exercise NOW and get a good start into your pregnancy.

That said, 'step off soapbox', you can loose weight, or not gain any weight when pregnant. My sister is about your size and didn't gain any weight during her last pregnancy, so she ended up weighing less than before - but since she never made a change to her overall eating habits, the pounds came back pretty fast....

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T.S.

answers from Yakima on

T.,
I have a friend who is due in May with her first child. She was close to 300 pounds at the start of pregancy and has lost a tad over 30 pounds since finding out. Under the care of her OB gyn, who has told her not to diet, but eat healthy foods. They sent her to a nutritionist and she's done well as is her baby. So I'd say that it is possible to lose weight while pregnant as long as you do it with your doctors care.

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J.R.

answers from Seattle on

i actually weighed less after delivering my son than I did when I started the pregnancy, so I guess that is considered negative weight loss - I gained weight during the pregnancy (and he was big - 8.13), but once he came out (and all the other stuff), I was down by about 15 pounds.

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E.K.

answers from Portland on

I started both my pregnancies at about 200-220. With my 1st I actually lost weight during the whole time. I did nothing to loose weight, it just so happened not much tasted good to me (junkfood wise) salads and milk never tasted sooooo good. With my second I had a appetite, but still only gained 7 lbs and left the hospital weighing less than my pre pregnancy weight. I wish I could say it stayed off, but I can't.

E.

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A.B.

answers from Spokane on

I have a friend who ended up unintentionally losing weight during her pregnancy because she changed her eating habits during pregnancy. She was not a healthy eater prior to pregnancy and decided to change for the health of her baby. She ate whole grains, brown rice, fruits and veggies along with her lean meats. She didn't eat anything sweet for the most part. I wouldn't intentionally try to lose weight as the baby needs the vitamins and nutrients, but making good choices can sure help, along with short walks if your body is already used to that. Good luck!! and know that you CAN get it off later--it just takes determination!! and persistance!!

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A.D.

answers from Portland on

actually, a lot of my overweight friends gained very little weight when they were pregnant, and 3 of them actually lost weight (2 of them went on to have healthy little babies, the third friend is due any day now).

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A.T.

answers from Portland on

Gaining 20 lbs your first pregnacy is hardly any wieght. You really want to make sure you don't try to lose weight or diet while your pregnant. If you are concerned, I would try to lose it before you become pregnant or after. Nursing is really the best way I found to lose weight afterwards. And if you avoid fats during pregnancy, it's actually not good for the baby & can reduce your milk supply as well. I understand not wanting to get too big, but I think you have to think about loosing weight either before or after you are pregnant & not nursing. I would go to your doctor & get a few tests (like thyroid checked) to make sure you don't have another condition going on that is making it hard for you to maintain a healthy weight. And I never looked at the scale when they weighed me at the doctors so I was less focused on weight gain. good luck!

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A.E.

answers from Medford on

Hey T.!!!!

I gained 70 pounds when I was pregnant with my son, he is now 3.5 and I am still trying to lose the weight. However, I have a daughter who is almost a year old and in the beginning of my pregnancy with her I lost almost 10 pounds, so overall I only ended up gaining 16 and lost it immediately. I would recommend that you start going to the gym or working out at home before you get prego, so that you can continue while you are prego. Thats what I did, because I told myself that I would not gain that much weight again. It worked, I worked out almost my entire pregnancy and not only did it help me feel better during, but my labor was superfast (she was born 11 minutes after my water broke and that was holding back waiting for the doc) and I lost all the weight I gained with her plus some as soon as she was born. I tell you it was much easier with her than it was with my son. I still have some weight to lose but it is coming off easier this time than it did last time. I hope that this helps and I am not just rambling on to you. Good luck!!!!

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H.O.

answers from Anchorage on

My suggestion to you is to become an expert walker. If you don't have a dog, see if you can borrow someone else's for several months. Its a great way to push you to get out and do what's best for your body. It will help so many things.including strengthening your hip joints and things that tend to get "slippery" during pregnancy. This is something that doing it through food will be tough so you just maintain a healthy diet, make sure you are exercising. We got our 8yr old dog while I was pregnant with my second and I made it my responsibility to walk him when he was a pup. He's still around, and he was a big help when it was icy in the winter time..he tried so hard not to let me fall. Gives you company, security and a whole new social group. (dog walkers are all over and would be easy to find a walking partner.) Of course get a dog you can handle. Don't get a husky if you can only handle a Pomeranian..but be prepared to walk that dog every day..as is good for it and you! (Also dogs are great "grow up companions" for babies if they are prepared for it. I suggest getting one old enough that it is house trained already.

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M.L.

answers from Anchorage on

With watching what I ate (not so much what but how much) and my Dr's constant reminders and encouragement during my pregnancy I only gained 25 lbs while pregnant with my daughter and lost all but a few pounds on the operating table due to it all being baby and water :)

Where I worked was TERRIBLE when it came to snack/lunch time too.The company I worked with had a Holiday Gas Station, a Hostess Bakery and Mexican Restuarant at the end of the mall...lol...each very temping in thier own ways.Mexican place I tried to always have a taco salad or something along those lines, bought small healthier snacks from the bakery or gas station.I became good friends with some of the ladies at the bakery and they would show me new healthier stuff that came in to encourage me to stay away from what I REALLY REALLY wanted.lol

Stayed as active as I could considering my daughter always laying on the nerves in my hips causing them to give out and even tried some yoga, specially once I had to stop working.After having my daughter I lost the 25 lbs and then some but then after having a really tough time at the c-section I so badly didn't want and was forced into by an on-call Dr I gained it and then some back.Today I wiegh about the same as u do, which is also about where I started my pregnancy BUT my clothes are getting big...so although the scale isn't really moving much having to buy smaller sized clothes is a good sign that something is working-yay! Running after a 2.5 yr old most of the day and then running around the school kitchen I work in also helps.

Good luck.

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L.L.

answers from Seattle on

I would start by making some healthy habits that you can maintain through pregnancy - healthy foods in healthy portions and daily low impact excersise. These things are good for your baby and will effect your weight.

I am still on my first pregnancy, but I started it about 50# over wieght. During my first and second trimesters, I was working 2 jobs and in school and therefore eating way to much for convenience and not for health and I gained weight. Now I have cut back on my other obligations and started water aerobics for 30 minutes per day (MD approved) and have been losing weight during my 3rd trimester, however the doc says the baby is still growing fine. So I think I will have net gain for this pregnancy, but if I had started it with some healthier habits then I most likely wouldn't.

My plan is to continue my healthy habits after the pregnancy and get closer to my goal weight before getting pregnant with number two. I try to keep my focus on the fact that I am forming healtthy habits for life and therefore the weight CAN'T stick around forever, and try to not focus on what the scale says while I am pregnant. My midwife actually recommends not weighing myself and just focusing on healthy eating, but I have a hard time not knowing.

Good Luck!

Lucy

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A.L.

answers from Medford on

T.,

Whatever you do, do not try to lose weight while your pregnant, it can affect the child growing inside of you. I have always been afraid of the weight gain when I'm pregnant, with both of my daughters I gained 50+ pounds, but my babies were healthy. I'm not going to lie, losing the weight is difficult but it can be done. I've lost 50 lbs since last November. It takes awhile, but as long as you stick to it you can get if off. But never be on a diet while pregnant. That's not to say you should go out and eat like crazy, but you should eat enough to nourish your baby.Hope this helps.

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N.W.

answers from Eugene on

Except for my first pregnancy where I lost ten pounds and then gained twenty, I have either lost 5 pounds or gained less than ten pounds for each of the other four pregnancies. I have been more active with each pregnancy. Mostly I just walk with my other kids throughout the pregnancy. My last child is 2 1/2 weeks old and I am currently 23 pounds less than I was at the time I first became pregnant so it is very possible to lose or gain little during a pregnancy.

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D.M.

answers from Anchorage on

My sister in law gained 5 lbs when she got pregnant, had an 8 lb baby. She is kind of a bigger girl. The way she did it was exercise. If you do some walking every day and other low-impact(I'm an x-fitness instructor) exercises not only will labor be easier but healing will be faster.

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