Weight Restrictions during pregnancy?

[chessie]

Anyone here have/had strict weight restrictions from there doctors during a pregnancy?

Had broken my pelvis years ago, causes issues with the pins if I gain too much weight, I get massive hip/back pain. Doctor is saying if I get pregnant, need to limit the weight gain to around 20 lbs.

Not sure how that would go honestly- figured ask you ladies if anyone else had experienced these troubles- and what you did to keep the weight down. Currently I work out daily and run with my dogs.

[chessie]

May 15, 2012 10:13:51 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

This concerns me, since pregnancy weight gain can be hard to predict/control (outside of sheer excess obviously). Have you talked to your OB (or even an MFM) about this?

Actually have..my OB says its possible not to gain a lot depending on your lifestyle, continue same work outs, eat healthy, etc. But that is her concern as well- you just don't know how the pelvis will shift with a child growing inside you, which can cause different weight gain on everyone..(have a tipped uterus from this lovely experience now as well.) I have a small frame to begin with.

[karinothing]

May 15, 2012 10:17:24 GMT -5 chessie said:

May 15, 2012 10:13:51 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

This concerns me, since pregnancy weight gain can be hard to predict/control (outside of sheer excess obviously). Have you talked to your OB (or even an MFM) about this?

Actually have..my OB says its possible not to gain a lot depending on your lifestyle, continue same work outs, eat healthy, etc. But that is her concern as well- you just don't know how the pelvis will shift with a child growing inside you, which can cause different weight gain on everyone..(have a tipped uterus from this lovely experience now as well.) I have a small frame to begin with.

To be honest, I think it would be hard too. I counted my calories, ate healthy, worked out every day for an hour, did yoga once a week and still gained 40 lbs The baby was under 6lbs so I can't blame him!

Do you (or your doctors) know that if you worked out during pregnancy that this would help strengthen your body (even if you gained over 20lbs). I know you can also get pelvic support belts.

[ijack]

I think that can be really hard to control your weight regardless of your habits. Some women do all the "right" things and gain more weight than recommended (like Kari).

[h]

I agree that pregnancy weight gain is hard to control or predict. I have plenty of friends who did all the "right" things and still gained 40+ pounds. I didn't work out at all or watch what I ate and still had a hard time putting on enough weight not to raise concerns (and my mom was the same way). There are certainly people who put on 20 pounds or less when pregnant, but I am not convinced there is much you can do to make sure you are one of them.

[Willis Jackson]

That was the weight gain recommendation when our grandmothers were pregnant, but they smoked and ate nothing but cottage cheese and grapefruit.

Could you meet with a dietitian?

[chessie]

May 15, 2012 12:14:02 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

That was the weight gain recommendation when our grandmothers were pregnant, but they smoked and ate nothing but cottage cheese and grapefruit.

Could you meet with a dietitian?

My grandmother said the same thing, I think she said she gained maybe 10lbs? The doctor would yell at her, tell her to do whatever she could to loose that weight.

Looking into a dietitian as we speak. At this point I weigh around 120, my mom when she had me, started off at 90 and gained 60 lbs+- mind u she ate whatever around her and didn't exercise. So I don't have a fair comparison.

[chessie]

May 15, 2012 10:20:32 GMT -5 karinothing said:

May 15, 2012 10:17:24 GMT -5 chessie said:

Actually have..my OB says its possible not to gain a lot depending on your lifestyle, continue same work outs, eat healthy, etc. But that is her concern as well- you just don't know how the pelvis will shift with a child growing inside you, which can cause different weight gain on everyone..(have a tipped uterus from this lovely experience now as well.) I have a small frame to begin with.

To be honest, I think it would be hard too. I counted my calories, ate healthy, worked out every day for an hour, did yoga once a week and still gained 40 lbs The baby was under 6lbs so I can't blame him!

Do you (or your doctors) know that if you worked out during pregnancy that this would help strengthen your body (even if you gained over 20lbs). I know you can also get pelvic support belts.

I recall using the support belts after I first broke my pelvis- should look into that. Lots of strengthening exercises to make sure my body strengthens for carrying process- doctor is not concerned with delivery since a c-section would be the only option.

[liveintheville]

I had gestational diabetes with both pregnancies so I was on a diet to control it. The result was I didn't gain very much during pregnancy. I sat down with a nutritionist and learned to count carbs etc.

[megs193]

I think that it could be possible if you met with a dietician and counted calories. My last pregnancy I paid no attention to what I ate and I gained 40 pounds. This pregnancy I have been trying to make better choices. I still splurge on occassion but not every single day like my last one. I have gained 19 pounds at 32 weeks and am hoping to gain 25 pounds the entire time (my OB recommended 25-35). I have heard that there are people who gain too much weight no matter what but for me it is definitely something I seem to have some control over.

[Deleted]

I only gained 20 pounds w/ my first and 15 pounds w/ my twins. I also had hyperemesis gravidarum and was hospitalized multiple times so I definitely don't recommend that route.

[chessie]

I am quite skeptical myself since it takes me in all my efforts to keep myself at my current weight. I will have to check out the local boards- see if anyone can recommend anyone in my area to get more questions answered. Thanks everyone for your incite. Lots of items I didn't even consider.

[laurasean]

I only gained 13 pounds but my prepegnancy eating was not the best. I lost 30 pounds within a week of giving birth so my healthier eating habits caused me to get fitter while pregnant.

[bunch]

I agree that id look for a new dr. There's a difference between gain in moderation and stay under 140.

[tardyfortheparty]

I think working with a dietician would be very helpful in this situation. I had an experience like some of the PP and kept a very healthy lifestyle during pregnancy but still gained more than the guidelines say you should.

[SusanBAnthony]

I was careful about what I ate (lots of salads, not too many carbs) with my first, and ran and did yoga through the whole pg. I gained about 28 lbs. of course I had an occasional treat but let's be realistic, you aren't going to eat 100% perfect for 9 months! With dd I gained over 50 and the difference in weight gain was due to eating like crap and not exercising. So I do believe that you have a lot of control over how much you gain. That said if you are at a healthy weight now, it will be darn hard to keep the weight gain to 20.

[ijack]

If you have pins in your pelvis how does that effect in opening and expanding as you get further along?

[chessie]

May 15, 2012 20:49:04 GMT -5 ijack said:

If you have pins in your pelvis how does that effect in opening and expanding as you get further along?

My pelvis won't open just as simple as that, and that's fine, but I'm more concerned with how it will impact me and during when I'm later in my pregnancy and having to carry the extra weight without any give in my pelvis.

We figured we check this out before we switch gears and definitely 100% look into adoption. We aren't about to go into some life threatening situation for me and not willing to risk anything. If we cant, another dog on the horizon then for now anyway.

[ijack]

I would definitely visit a MFM or maybe an ortho who specializes in pg women. A friend of mine just tore her pubic symphasis while pg and her whole pelvis basically collapsed (with the baby wedged in there), it's been a pretty tough road for her.

[chessie]

May 16, 2012 19:11:07 GMT -5 ijack said:

I would definitely visit a MFM or maybe an ortho who specializes in pg women. A friend of mine just tore her pubic emphasis while pg and her whole pelvis basically collapsed (with the baby wedged in there), it's been a pretty tough road for her.

That sounds incredible painful and so dangerous. I talked to my regular MD the other day- she had said there is a way to keep your weight in check to watch calories, up your daily activity. But like others have said you don't know what will happen with the pelvis floor area- even if I can keep up with my daily routines. I know people that actually lost weight during pregnancy, but since I am pretty petite, I am sure be hard to even do that.