1st trimester and weight loss

So this is probably a silly question, but I am overweight, borderline obese and I am going to have a baby in February. Last week I began swimming with my 4 year old everyday in an effort to lose weight. I found out Tuesday I am pregnant. I know swimming is the best exercise you can do, so I am not gonna stop, but I am concerned about weight loss while being pregnant. I have read that you are only supposed to gain 15-20 lbs if overweight and having a baby, but how bad would it be if I end up toning and losing weight especially during the first trimester?

Please discuss this with your Dr/ob (whoever you see), but I think that as long as you are eating properly, and excercising, a little bit of weight loss will be fine.

Just make sure you eat GOOD FOOD, maintain a sensible calorie load for your current size, and keep excercising.

Congratulations on the pregnancy!

I've never been overweight before a pregnancy, but my friend was and I sepcifically remember her Dr telling her it is NEVER safe or healthy to lose while pregnant, no  matter how obese one may be. 

You can lose weight if you are starting to eat healthier. It is just the natural process of not eating fattening foods. Eating more nutritously can help. I know plenty of people who were overweight/obese and started to lose weight because they started to eat more nutritous foods, veggies, fruits and less McDonalds and fried foods.

I was 190+ lbs when I got pregnant with my second daughter.  With the permission of my MD I joined wt watchers.  I gained 8 lbs during my pregnancy.  After the birth of my daughter.  I weighed before I went home and had lost 20 lbs!  I ate healthy foods and did gentle exercises.  I worked until the day she was born.

I strongly advise you to go by the advise of your MD

love, Karen

I think the general recommendation for overweight pregnant women is to avoid restricting calories and dieting, but I actually lost weight during my first trimesters (both pregnancies) without any effort simply due to 1) Nausea and 2) nothing tasted good except the freshest, healthiest foods. 

The idea of eating a salami sandwich made me hurl, but I was the terror of the watermelon patch, and no salad bar was safe from me.

You should talk to your doctor for sure, but I think you'll find that if you simply eat a very healthy diet during your pregnancy, you won't gain much, and may even weigh slightly less post-partum than you do now.

Healthy, fresh foods. I know that is right. I did nothing but scarf down carrots, tomatoes, olives, pickles and celery all day saturday. Hamburgers disgust me right now along with any "fried" chicken , blek!

I have a visit with the OB on Thursday at 1:30p.m. to confirm and to ask about diet, exercise... yadda, yadda. The good thing is it is the same dr. I used when I had my first, so he knows the complications of my last pregnancy.

My first baby I was 198lbs when I "got" pregnant. I gained *65lbs* with him, had toxemia/preeclampsia and he with c-sectioned three weeks early and came out jaundiced. It was the worst pregnancy. My flesh was so swollen and glossy I "looked" ill. if some one pushed on my skin, it left an indentation for 15 minutes. I am determined NOT to let that happen this pregnancy.

I lost 35lbs after the pregnancy, but still weighed more than when I got pregnant and "never"  lost it. Now around 220lbs. I am REALLY concerned. It is why I am determined to lose some this time and eat healthier.

I am really glad there is a support group here. I can't really talk to friends about all of this. Or husbands who cringe at the idea of the last experience. It helps to get info from others. I'll keep everyone informed about how things develop.

Thanks,

Jennifer

so im nosy-- how did the dr appt go?

Congratulations, Jennifer!!!

I was 226 lbs when I got pregnant with my first and only. I was told by my OBGYN to gain weight anyway. I had morning sickness throughout the pregnancy (though it was not so bad throughout as in the first three months) and had a really hard time eating some days (could eat only white foods -- potatoes, rice, crackers, for a while and only if I didn't see or smell them before putting 'em in my mouth). I gained 14 pounds total until a week or so before my son was born, and then gained 6 pounds BAM! All water.

So I gained 20; I went home from the hospital 31 pounds lighter (and was in my regular [extra wide] jeans the day I got home).

The baby and support system (amniotic fluid! placenta! etc.) weigh about 20 pounds, is I think how the rationale goes for even obese women (such as moi) to gain weight during pregnancy.

I went to the dr on thursday and he said I am 6 1/2 weeks (7 weeks now). I asked him about weight gain and he said he has actually had women gain "no" weight and still have an 8lb 5 oz baby. He said swimming and this site was great for what I needed. Regarding previous horrors, he said nobody knows what causes preeclampsia or toxemia, but it normally does not happen the second go around. I will have to have another c-section because apparently labor is bad after having a c-section previously. I have been keeping a tally on what I eat, even if it is not ALL the best foods for me. That is the most important thing right? Finding the routine boogaboos and omitting them.

According to my scale and the doc's scale since june 9th I have lost 2 lbs.

That whole "once a c-section, always a c-section" is a bunch of BS.  That's insurance companies covering their collective butts, and Doctors scheduling births at their convenience.  I had a successful VBAC, as did several of my friends.  The thing was, we had to fight for them.  We all had doctors trying to schedule c-sections for us, and we educated ourselves, and found caring, informed, ethical doctors and midwives to help us.

You may be fine with the C-section, in which case, ignore above rant.  If not, try reading any of Henci Goer's books. 

My doctor told me that losing weight and being pregnant don't go hand in hand.  I am not pregnant, nor have I ever been pregnant, but I want to be pregnant and I want to lose weight.  If you are not consuming enough calories throughout the day as recommended for your weight and body type, then your baby will "steal" valuable nutrients from you (your muscles, bones, etc).  Thus, the reason for many women can get bad teeth etc. during pregnancy... the baby will get what it needs one way or another.  Just something to think about.  Talk to your OB.

I had my baby in april, I started at 160 a size 12 and a day before i had my daughter weighed in at 237. two weeks after givng birth I weighed in at 207...I am 192 right now. POint is that I enjoyd my pregnacy...dont worry too much about your weight right now...just focus on eating right and dont stop swimming.....i did not have any energy to swim..or anything else for that matter...I slept alot....so just enjoy ur self I miss being pregnant believe or not!

the swimming and healthy eating are the best things for you and your baby-keep it up. :)

another plus to watching what you eat is that you can keep a close eye on your sodium intake. I had to watch mine with all my pregnancies, as I had hypertension as well. that way you know you'll have done every thing YOU can to avoid the complications you had with your first.;)

thanks,

You are all very supportive. I understand about the "sleepy" part of pregnancy. I have been very sleepy lately. We went camping this weekend and boy! I was really exhausted the whole weekend. Thanks again everyone. As for the c-section. I think I will go ahead with it, mainly because I really like the doctor I have been working with. He delivered my first and is very thorough.

Nebtanhai,

Given a choice, I most definitely would choose a c-section -- especially if the scar is already there!!

Avoid the hours of pain!!  Avoid the permanent loss of bladder control!!

To me it's a no-brainer.  Screw nature.  :)

HI nebtanhai

Seems we are in the same boat. I think I am due in Feb. I have not gotten to the Drs yet (in 2 weeks). I am 5'9 235 pounds. This is my 1st preg and I am totally freaked out about being a big fat cow pregnant girl. I am going to try and eat the same healthy foods I eat now (as I eat a hersheys bar :-P ). I am overweight due to non activity. So I figure if I get active IE join a pool, walk ALOT, bike ride, maybe do 5pd arm weights (i need strength to hold the baby) Then I wont neccesarily "lose" weight but I will maybe drop some butt waist and thigh cellulite. Which will help a lot with not having to buy maternity clothes. If I can get those areas smaller then I can wear my "fat" clothes as maternity clothes. I had planned on losing weight before getting pregnant but it didnt work out that way. OH WELL... I have not gotten morning sickness YET. I am probably around 6 weeks along. I have not gotten cravings yet either (I seem to be having the opposite effect...I used to have insane cravings for everything when not pregnant now I dont really have any). I am so embarressed to go to the Dr and have to have her weigh me. She will think I am a horrible person to not have been able to have more control over my health. I totally let myself down. The thing is right before I got pregnant I had started to exercise. I tokk this great amazing 4 mile walk. It felt awesome...only one way was down a steep hill the other way was up the hill. 3 days later I felt my muscle pop and I had ripped my calf muscle and couldnt walk for 3 weeks and gained back all plus the weight I had lost that month. That really stunk.

Maybe we can be baby buddies. I dont really have anyone to talk to about all the things to expect while being pregnant. I have all the books but not the same as real life experience.

GOOD LUCK!

phaila

It is OK to gain little or no weight during pregnancy if you are obese (BMI over 30).  The most important thing to do is to eat healthy, nutrition packed foods.  Your BMR increases by only 300 calories per day for pregnancy.  However, yours and your baby's nutrition needs almost double.  Therefore, high calorie, low nutrition foods (such as sodas, desserts, candy, etc.) need to be eliminated from your eating habits.  I think it is funny that other people experienced the meat loathing like I did during the first half of my pregnancy.  I had a hard time driving by McDonalds without getting nauseated.  I couldn't look or smell red meat.  I didn't care to eat chicken either, but it didn't get me nauseated.  I ate fruits, vegetables, salads, and milk products.  The only indulgance I did was Haggen Daz ice cream every once in a while.

As far as exercise, it is not recommended to start a strenuous exercise program if this is not your normal routine.  Your swimming sound great and I would encourage you to continue.  Unfortunately, for phaila, she wasn't already exercising.  However, light walking wouldn't hurt.  The key for both of you is to select your food choices carefully.  Good luck to both of you.  Keep us posted.

I started a weight loss program and had lost about 15 pounds when I found out I was pregnant with my third child.  With the first two, I gained 40 pounds each pregnancy, but with my last I only gained 19.  After he was born my body was definitely lighter than when he was created.  My key was paying very close attention to my body and eating only when hungry and stopping when full.  I tried not to focus on food so much.  I wasn't sick, but I did have cravings--and gave in every time, in moderation.  Too bad he's six now and I weigh just as much as I did when I was nine months pregnant with him.  Two weeks so far on the diet/exercise plan.  This site is very helpful.

Ahh, dont screw nature or it will screw you!

It's beautiful. It's why we were made so strong! I have never had a baby so of course my input is not that valid but I say stick to what your doctor says. However! I know for a fact (best friends mother) that the c-section myth is false. She had a c-section for her oldest and then the younger two (my best friend included) were both natural births. Do what feels right to you, and talk to many other Doctors (sorry guys, especially a woman!) and see what they say about whether you can birth naturally or not. I know, I've heard many times (from my mother....she has no bladder control because of moi, sorry mom!) it's painful!!! but...hey we were born to do this!