Body Image While Pregnant :(

First of all congratulations on losing all the weight. I think if you lost it before, you've proven it to yourself that you can do it. In the meantime, just make sure you eat only the healthy stuff. Just look forward to the precious new person that will come into your life. To your baby and others that love you, you will always be beautiful. I know that is so corny but it is true. Then after that baby is born, you can work on losing that weight again.

I popped my buttons at 6 weeks with my 2nd baby! You don't have to sacrifice nutrition to have a low weight gain while pregnant. You only need between 2100 and 2400 calories a day and you can still exercise, even if it is just walking. Just make sure you are choosing healthy foods.

I have also battled my weight my whole life, varying from 167 (starving myself) to 265 (after first baby) and back down to 190... ish. Personally, I love the way I look when I'm pregnant because it's the only time in my life that I don't feel like I have to walk around with my stomach sucked in. :-)

Oh S.! We can all understand your concern about your body, esp. when you've had such a negative experince about weight in your life. People can be very mean, and it just takes a certain look to make you feel awful when you're overweight. But you've been pregnant before, and you know it's different. At least that's been my experience. I got over 200 in both of my pregnancies, but I LOVED being pregnant because everywhere I went people would look at me and just smile. I never had so many people look at me so warmly and happily. That's what makes pregnant women feel that "beautiful" feeling. It actually sucked a little when the baby came and all the attention went to her and I was just left with the aftermath. Still, the most important thing now is to give your baby the strongest and healthiest body you can while s/he grows inside you. S/He'll have that body for the rest of his/her life and it all begins with you. Enjoy your second pregnancy and be kind to yourself.

With my last pregnancy, I started out overweight and with high blood pressure. I knew I was going to have to do a MUCH better job of taking care of myself than ever before, or I was going to run into some MAJOR problems. I did a lot of research, looking into foods that were high protein but low fat. I learned new ways to cooking. I ate better/healthier snacks. WAY increased my water intake and took walks, went to the pool, and walked on the treadmill. None of this was done in excess, just a bit at a time. And as it ended up, I only gained 8 3/4 pounds for the entire pregnancy -- and my daughter was 8 1/2 pounds at birth! I ended up lighter than I started out!

But please understand -- I was not starving or crash dieting; I was changing and IMPROVING the way I normally ate, and the net effect was a healthier, lighter ME. PLEASE only make healthy changes, especially during pregnancy!!

I have had 4 children and I can say that the babies got bigger, not me. These ladies are right about fruits and veggies and exercise. Also, with the carbs (such as rice and pasta), make sure they're whole grain because these are complex carbs instead of simple carbs and they will make you feel fuller faster and longer. Also, fruit has it's own sugars, so adding sugared drinks and sweets will only make it worse. Use the internet for healthy snacks according to what you like to eat and Good Luck!

First, congratulations on such an amazing weight-loss. That is no small fete!

Now, please, please, please talk to your OB about this. Your dr. should be able to guide you and coach you in eating a healthy diet that will be great for your baby and will help to keep you from gaining too much weight during pregnancy. Also, your OB should be able to help you figure out how much weight is appropriate for YOU to gain, as it can be different for different women, depending on starting weight, etc.

Weight can be such a battle for women, especially after having one or more babies. I hope things work out for you!

B.

you get alot larger with the 2nd, and start showing alot faster. As for the weight gain thing...Make sure you are eating lots of fruit and veggies. These have tons of nutrients and not many calories. I once read to make every bite count for the baby. That really helped me to make sure I wasn't eating junk that would make me gain weight. With both my kids I did this and didn't really gain weight. Yes, the scale went up, but after my 1st child was born I had actually lost 15lb, and with my 2nd, I had only gained 5lb. I know it's hard with cravings and all, but it is possible. Also, workouts are key to keeping the weight off. I did alot of walking the mall!!

I had lost 30 lbs before getting pregnant with my son about 7 years ago and managed a healthy gain of a bit less than that(I don't remember the exact number.) Talk to your doctor about your concerns and meet with a nutritionist. They should be able to help you stick to foods with maximum nutritional value and help control your weight gain. Good luck and congratulations!

It's something I think that all pregnant woment go through, and I know I still felt it many months after having my daughter. I was 124 pre-preggo and was 160 by the time my c-section came around. Luckily, breastfeeding (I think) contributed to my weightloss because I didn't really workout, and I'm back to my pre-prego weight, but I've just started back into a workout routine and my daughter is 1 & 1/2. I think it's important to not only eat properly, but make sure that you do atleast take walks or do prenatal exercises, you'll feel better, you're pregnancy will be better as will your delivery. I'm sure if you simply stick to fruits, veggies, whole grains, & lean meats, that by its self will help. And a plus, you'll be setting an example for your children and you'll already have a healthy habit post-pregnancy. And you want to ensure that you're at your healthiest for your children. Just remember, pregnancy is beautiful and you're beautiful.

You're singing my song. I weighed 160 when I got pregnant the first time, and was a good 200 pounds when I gave birth. I only lost 20 of the baby-weight and am now pregnant again at 185 pounds! Ick!

So far, here is what I have noticed: my clothes are getting tighter faster. However, I've been keeping track of my weight, and like you, it's not gaining that fast. From what I have read, women often start to show earlier on the second pregnancy than they did during the first because their ab muscles are not what they were for the first pregnancy. So feeling that your pants are tight is perfectly normal.

Secondly, I have joined a gym and am doing low-impact workouts. I am also signing up for a prenatal swim class. Look around in your area and see if there are any pregnancy-oriented fitness options around.

Finally, I am watching what I eat a lot more carefully this time around. Right now, I don't need to eat for two, I just need to eat well. When I get the urge to overeat, I make sure I'm eating raw veggies and fruits instead of the ice cream I really sort of want. ^_^ I don't know if this will hold out indefinitely, but I think at least until the 3rd trimester, my baby really needs nutrients more than anything. My OB agrees, and states that because I am overweight, I do not need to gain as much this pregnancy to healthily support this baby so long as I am eating a balanced diet.

I wish you the best of luck.

On the one hand, dieting while pregnant is not a good idea. On the other hand, making sure that what you eat while pregnant is as healthy and nutritious as possible (cutting out junk food, soda, etc) is a great idea. (I craved Chinese food with lots of broccoli in it when I was pregnant.) You can also try to keep up a healthy exercise routine (walking, swimming, cycling) as long you are able and your Dr says it's alright. You are going to gain some weight, but you are not fat. You are pregnant!

I haven't read the other responses, but wanted to share that when I was 2 weeks preg wiht my daughter, my clothes were already tighter. With her, I was so sick I didn't start to gain weight at all until I was about 30 weeks. (I was also 50 lbs heavier than when I got preg with my son). All my clothes were getting tight, but it was because my body was shifting so much. I think it might be harder for those of us who have struggled with weight to see ourselves when we're heavy, just b/c it is such a struggle. I know losing all that weight couldn't have been easy, and it can be hard to all of a sudden see all that hard work gone. Try to exercise and eat right and take care of you and the baby during the pregnancy, and worry about the weight issue later. Also, check into hypothyroidism if you haven't already (search it online at WebMD and MayoClinic, and if you have some of the symptoms and haven't been checked before, get checked). I still have to work EXTREMELY hard to get weight off, but being diagnosed and taking my pill everyday has changed my outlook a lot. Good luck!

Just remember you are a 'baby house' so that is special in itself..you are doing your baby a favor by housing and feeding her - I loved being pregnant because that is an 'excuse' to gain weight without feeling badly about it. Just be nutritious and the baby will take most of the calories....i have not had many weight issues, but in my experience, I ate healthy foods and only gained 28 lbs with my baby and lost all of it in the first month after she was born - i may be blessed with a good metabolism or something, but I also don't eat a lot of fast food or fatty foods...watch my sodium intake and take vitamins, etc. I don't drink sodas with tons of sugar, etc and hardly ever have desserts - I may splurge on some fat free or sugar free ice cream though! So i think it's all about healthy living...and not being a couch potato...take walks, clean the house, or whatever you have time for and hopefully you will be able to gain the right amount for baby and lose it after your little one is born. Being pregnant is definitely a selfless act - you are sharing your entire body with another person - it's a very intimate experience and that is one of the miracles of a bond between mother and baby....don't lose sight of that by being consumed with a negative body image...have a sense of humor about it and worry about losing the weight later. :)

body image.. please
you are PREGNANT
you are NOT supposed to be able to see your feet
you are supposed to gain weight while you are pregnant
if you think you feel big now, just wait a few more months
of course your clothes are going to feel tight on you, its called
water retention. dark place of weight gain, would you rather not eat at all
through your pregnancy and have serious complications and maybe your baby will survive and maybe it wont. toss out your scales and threatened to moon the next person who calls you heavy
K. h.

Hi there,

You don't need to gain 45 pounds in your pregnancy, you should gain between 20-30 lbs and that is good for your baby.
I gained so much weight durning my 1st preg and it was sooo hard to shed, I was looking good at a happy weight of 145 when I got preg with my 2nd, i was also on bedrest. i didn'nt induldge into everything with my 2nd, I gained 25 lbs during the preg. I nursed both kids, I actually saw the results of the nursing with my 2nd. I lost 35 lbs in the 1st 2 months. But watch what you do, eating and exercising, I gain it all back because I didn't watch, I kept eating for a nursing mom. Now I am 20 lbs over and I hate it. I got an elliptical, so now I need to start a better diet and excersize program. You have to be preactive on order not to keep the weight on.
Hope this helps!
God Bless!

I agree with the post from busymom that you start to show earlier with each pregnancy but don't agree with the statement that you get a lot larger , for some people that may be true but for me I gained less and had a smaller bump with each pregnancy (have had 3). Obviously you can't go without food because the baby needs to take goodness in order to grow healthily , what you can do though is make sure you eat good food , snack on fruits and veggies , eat meals that are filling and will satisfy you hunger wise without being loaded with calories that are from fat. You don't need to eat for 2 (even though you may feel like it some times). If you have time try and get a little exercise in (a walk is good). The bloated feeling you have at the moment is normal and it will soon pass , I'm not sure why that bloated feeling happens but yes I remember it being very uncomfortable but by week 8 or 9 it had subsided.

Congratulations!

Congratulations on both losing so much weight AND having a new little one on the way. From reading your story, it could have almost been mine...except from the weight loss standpoint. I've had 3 children and with each of them, my belly "got in the way" sooner for every one. By the time I was pregnant with my 3rd, I had an 11 month old at home going throught the "drop and watch mommy pick up" stage. I got so tired by 3 weeks of hearing myself make noise while bending down to pick up whatever I needed so I went back to my maternity shorts. That felt so wonderful but I was only 3 weeks pg! I also dealt with the fact that my husband was not attracted to me while I was pregnant so it really did a mental job to me. Fortunately, I was able to eat mini meals, lots of salads and fruits, so even though I was gaining weight, you could still see weight coming off of me and going to my belly. Even with my 2nd where I gained 27 lbs (gained 3 with first and 12-15 with 3rd), you could see my face getting slimmer and all of it going to my belly. Upon each delivery, even though it took 2-3 days, I lost a minimum of 20lbs with more following within the first few weeks.

Hopefully you may be able to follow some good nutritional guidelines for pregnancy and keep the cravings at bay so you can do some of the same things I was able to. Above all, you must stay healthy for the sake of the baby and as hard as it may be, it is only a short amout of time i the grand scheme of things it it doesn't work the way you are hoping. Best of luck to you with both the weight isues and that new little being growing inside of you =)

I was 210# for about 12 yrs... I got laid-off last July & since lost about 35#. I have started gaining back the weight I lost, but I'm also due in July - so I guess it is expected. My belly is sticking out & is already about to my breast (I have a size DD - so my belly isn't small). It is all ready starting to get in the way & I don't think I will be able to "hide" being pregnant if I wanted to.

I can understand your fear! But you are right you shouldn't sacrifice nutrition for the sake of the baby. If you eat healthy (try not to eat the sweets & high calorie foods) you may not gain the 45# that you did with the first... eventhough I am a big as I am, I have only gained back about 2# of what I lost. I do know that I will gain back more, but should loose it shortly after the baby is born & the nursing will help me to loose some more of it.

As for the clothes... I run around in plaid pj pants when I'm home because everything else is to uncomfertable to wear to long and I didn't buy new clothes when I lost the 35# - didn't have the $ to. Your belly may not be growing yet, but it is hardening... which will make your pants feel tight.

I feel for you & hope you find a peace in your situation. Also, congratz on the little one & losing so much 7 years ago & keeping it off!!!

What I loved about being pregnant was that my belly was all baby, all of my fat rolls had smoothed out! I actually never felt skinnier, even though I was 50 pounds heavier.

as for getting heavy and sacrificing nutrition, I would say to just make sure to eat healthy, eat healthy snacks, and make sure not to fall into the trap of "well, I'm pregnant, I'll just have onion rings and milkshakes from Sonic."

Good luck on the Body Image, it's a hard one to get past, but pregnant ladies are gorgeous and in the end you get an amazing baby! :-)

Second pregnancies are different from the first. The first is usually a calorie free for all..."I'm eating for two" mentality. My first pregnancy I started at 235lbs gained 35lbs and my son weighed 6lbs 6oz. My second (which I had to wear maternity clothes a lot sooner too) I started at 250lbs and gained 18lbs my son weighed 8lbs 13oz. The difference with my second is I ate healthier,walked and limited sweets and fast food to a treat. Talk to your OB and/or ask for a referral to a nutritionist. You can safely navigate this pregnancy without gaining 45lbs. Congrats and good luck.

I think everyone goes through that "fat" or "feeling fat period" at the beginning of the pregnancy. It doesn't last long though and soon you will have a gorgeous pregnant body......I miss that. That is when I feel the prettiest! Just accept the fact that it is part of being a mommy. I even went so far as to wear a bikini after the birth of my first daughter....the stretch marks on my tummy were a part of the new me.

But yes....hang in there, because I remember feeling that way when my regular clothes were not fitting the same but I wasn't big enough for maternity clothes. All the extra plumpness building up in your body is for your baby.

I was checking out sparkpeople.com and they have a sister site called babyfit.com for moms who are pregnant and breastfeeding. Might want to check it out.

I only have one child but it's my understanding that it's pretty common to fill out more quickly with subsequent pregnancies because your body is going to revert to what it feels it was meant to do, which is make babies :) My weight gain was under control and I didn't think my diet was *too* bad but I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and had to make changes to what I ate and when I ate it. Once I made those changes, I gained less than 5 more pounds for the remainder of the pregnancy. I won't say it was fun or an exciting diet, but mama and baby are both healthy. I am not a medical person so please take my advice with a grain of salt, but I can say that the biggest lessons I learned were that my blood sugar was okay after eating almost any sandwich as a wrap instead of it being on bread; eat something as soon as you get up and every 3 hours; and if you feel full, you probably ate too much. Talk to your doctor and see if following a diet such as the one for diabetes would work for you. I hope this helps!