Weight loss during pregnancy?

Ally

Nicki wrote:

Although it isn't recommended to try to diet while pregnant, some women will naturally lose weight. Its right to bring this to the attention of the professionals, but if they aren't worried, there is no sense in mum-to-be making herself anxious over this.

My concern is that I feel more anxious about baby's and her health in relation to her drastic weight loss ... and mum-to-be is "ok" "very happy to be fitting into her old clothes".

Astonsmummy .... you said what I was thinking deep down. At first it was morning sickness that stopped her eating properly, then people started with comments "oh you've lost weight" at first she never told anyone (excluding her mum and dad, me & O/H) about her pregnancy, she told others when she got to 2nd trimester, and she said she was "enjoying it that people were noticing the weight loss" .... my concern was at the time that she did not push this with her GP/MW far enough to get an opinion as to whether it was ok or not. And now, they give her a lecture about it, but didn't tell her what she should be doing:rolleyes:

I had a long chat with her today, trying to explain the good foods she needs to eat ... I had explained to her about what happens in each trimester to baby and explained that baby will be doing most of the growing now and she needs to keep her energy levels up. It just doesn't seem to make her think that maybe she does need more food/calories.

I am concerned that she may develop some form of eating disorder ... or may have already. She always used to go straight to food when she is down/needed comfort. Long story but she went from a size 8 to 18+ in a couple of years (as a result of bad eating habits) and she got to a point where she was really down after a guy had made a seriously nasty comment to her (nothing to do ith her weight) and that knocked her big time! She was always getting offers from guys and this stopped when she got larger too, which she found hard to deal with as she was used to the attention.

I don't think I can be subtle when it's something that concerns me/feel passionate about I either blurt it out, or by some miracle, keep my mouth shut. I don't know what else I can do

Ally

Nicki wrote:

OK - I hadn't picked up on the fact that it was deliberate, though reading what has been posted again, it may still not be as deliberate as everyone thinks. If she had morning sickness and couldn't eat in first two trimesters, she would have lost weight, and it can be difficult to eat large volumes in third trimester anyway, because your tummy is getting squeezed by baby (and her tummy will also have shrunk because of weight loss). It also sounds like the marriage may be a bit rocky if dad to be is not being very supportive of pregnancy so this could also be affecting her appetite. The best diet ever remark could be a light hearted way of deflecting questions about the weight loss if she isn't ready to talk about her problems and is not necessarily a sign she is deliberately putting baby at risk.

I would be pushing the little and often message to her, as a way of getting more food into her. This should also help with the fainting and low blood sugar problems. Maybe if you see her regularly, you could arrange to have her round to you for meals or go out together for a meal when you meet, so at least you know on those occasions she is eating well?

It is my and O/H's opinion that it may be deliberate, that is what we feel from knowing her for such a long time. I am not trying to get her to eat large volumes just try and eat as much as my little toddler does, like you said .. little and often. Have explained to her that her stomach would have shrunk etc. Re: the marriage, I don't even want to go there :rolleyes:

I honestly do not think she is deliberately putting baby at risk, I just think her judgement is clouded ... if that makes sense it's like she's so happy with her weight loss, baby is kicking so carry on, everything is fine ...!

Now the last bit you mention about being there when she eats. I make sure I cook/buy her a good meal when I visit. And I have to say, she devoured the food, faster then my lot It was weird, 'cos it just didn't add up, it was like watching someone that hadn't eaten for days.

happygal_3

When i was pg with DD1 i lost 1 stone through morning sickness inthe first 4 motnhs. I also found some smells put me off food and lived of toddler sized portions of food - it used to get me down when people commented on it. DD was born weighing 7lb 7 nad is now a strapping 4 year old.

I passed out a lot because i had low blood pressure, after a lie down and a glass of water i was fine.

Ally

happygal wrote:

When i was pg with DD1 i lost 1 stone through morning sickness inthe first 4 motnhs. I also found some smells put me off food and lived of toddler sized portions of food - it used to get me down when people commented on it. DD was born weighing 7lb 7 nad is now a strapping 4 year old.

I passed out a lot because i had low blood pressure, after a lie down and a glass of water i was fine.

She has lost half that in 2 weeks, I am hoping that it can be controlled and baby continues to do well and mum-to-be has energy to do things.

Can I ask, how many meals did you have a day?

iwanttosave_2

Ally, it is normal to loose weight in the last trimester (I didnt read OP earlier) obviously the body is working a lot lot harder to work to cop with all the extra weight, blood, functions that is going on thus burning loads and loads of calories.

Mums also eat a lot less because the tummy is all squished up, I couldnt eat more than half a small bowl of cereal otherwise I would throw it back up because I had over stuffed myself. The most I ever ate in one sitting the last 4 months was 2 yorkshire puddings, 2 small slices of turkey and a squidge of stuffing at xmas, and then I was forcing it into me.

Ally

Thanks guys .... I'm gonna try and chill out and stop worrying so much

happygal_3

Ally, I ate three meals a day, I remeber my dh begging me to eat because he was worried but i just couldn't. However after DD was born i was back to normal and gained the weight i lost.

lil_me

I lost loads of weight when I was pregnant as I got really bad morning sickness from when I got up on a morning until after I went to bed I would still be up, for ages. I thought it would stop after a little while but I had it until I was about 7 months pregnant. I had to make sure was taking supplements to help as I kept nothing down. Would be worth having a word with midwife if you're concerned.

[Deleted User]

Firstly you sound like a very caring and supportive mate, albeit a little too much which makes you susceptible to being taken advantage of. My thoughts are your mate is doing this when she should be having these conversations with her husband/family. How come she can readily phone you and not them?

I am nearly 34 weeks pregnant and my weight has been cause for concern. Up until a month ago, I gained only 3 lbs in total and then lost that in two weeks. I reckon it was fluctuation as by my next weigh in it was magically back on again. However being borderline underweight/healthy pre-conception I realised I was losing weight as my baby was gaining. My GP said once he was born I would probably lose up to a stone, which may inhibit my plans to breastfeed and cause me to not be strong enough for labour. I have no reserves.

Due to a threatened premature labour and lack of weight gain I am under a dietician and my work have told me to go sick until my mat leave kicks in. It is now my responsibility to be LESS active and to EAT more high calorie foods. We have switched to full fat milk, more cheese and spread and regular 3 meals/3 snacks a day. I can't say this is easy as some days I feel I have no room to eat with a wriggling baby, but I REALLY want to breastfeed him and to do that i've been told to gain up to a stone, if I can.

I am also taking pregnacare. I think its time your friend started to help herself. Enlist friends help to keep her going, but she needs to start getting realistic as to how she is going to continue if this is all she is eating. I wonder if she is on the verge of an eating disorder, she likes the weight loss and now is scared to eat? As anyone will tell you pregnancy is not the time to be dieting.

If she will make an appointment to see her MW or GP then that's excellent, but she needs to be honest. I fail to see how you can forget to tell your partner/mum or whoever that you have an appointment when you seem to know all about them. Is she scared of something? If I "forgot" to tell my DF about appointments or scans etc, he would have been most put out. Some of them he hasn't attended due to work and them being routine, but the important ones he does and wants to be there for. Do you know what her husbands thoughts on this are?

It doesn't seem right to me or add up..........

Don't forget you have your family and life to run around after too, be a mate but let her family do their share.

nearlyrich

I split with my ex when I was 29 weeks PG, I stopped eating, couldn't face food it just made me sick. I lost weight but DD was born 8lb 11oz and she was fine, I was thinner than I have ever been as an adult after she was delivered. Even 20 years ago they could do 2 weekly scans to check the baby's weight, I also had a problem with starting in labour at 31 weeks and spent 7 weeks in hospital for bed rest where the food was awful.

I hope your friend is OK but don't worry too much as another poster says the baby gets it's share of the goodies.