Comments on: Pregnancy Weight Gain Takes Its Toll

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:32:45 +0000

Yikes, don’t tell me that I have to wait 8 more weeks! I am about 19 weeks pregnant. As it turns out (lucky we did an ultrasound) my “gestational age” was about a week behind what I thought it was, and I am starting to feel now that I “look” pregnant (at least, I feel like I can fool people who already know I’m pregnant into thinking “oh that stomach must be because she’s pregnant”).

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:29:24 +0000

One thing I really like about my midwife experience is that she lets me weight myself, which means I don’t have to stand there feeling judged while someone records my weight. At the end of my session I head toward the bathroom, step on the scale, pee on the stick, and tell her the results. We’re constantly working on nutrition but I never feel judged by her!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:27:23 +0000

You most definitely aren’t. My husband by the way, thinks you look GREAT pregnant. Maybe even better than you did before you were knocked up (not in a bad way of course!). I think pregnancy just suits you very well!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:24:01 +0000

I wish I knew why I was gaining so fast in the beginning, but I’m at almost 28 weeks now and my pace seem to have slowed (finally!). I have heard that there are women who gain quickly in the beginning and then slow down toward the end (although usually it is the opposite). Maybe I am one of them?

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:21:03 +0000

Emily, are you feeling like you look pregnant yet? 27 weeks in and I FINALLY feel like I’m getting there.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:50:58 +0000

I am so glad you wrote this! I too gained weight in college and lost it and find now that I am 17 weeks pregnant, going through these changes is hard. I don’t feel like “myself.” I also struggle with being so happy that I am pregnant, but also so unhappy some days with I look and feel. I am trying to stay positive and just exercise as I did before.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:04:26 +0000

Activity really helps you feel better about yourself, even if it doesn’t change the weight gain. All you need is a 20 minute walk outside each day. For what it’s worth, I’m genetically predisposed to look like a stuffed turkey when I get pregnant. I won’t be one of those cute skinny girls with a belly bump.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:09:19 +0000

I know it must be frustrating, but try to hang in there! (Although, I find you to be a gorgeous pregnant woman-look at that glow!) Before you know it, you’ll be chasing around a little one and the weight is going to fall off!

By: JessicaMayBe

JessicaMayBe — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:01:50 +0000

Totally

Getting a desk job and a husband definitely didn’t help the weight department either.

By: JessicaMayBe

JessicaMayBe — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:46 +0000

We’re currently trying the Fertility Awareness Method which includes taking my daily waking temperature at the same time every morning, checking cervical fluid and position, and using condoms PLUS diaphragm and spermicide during possibly fertile days. I’m at the beginning of our second month with it. So far I LOVE being off birth control and have a lot more energy and feel like stressed out, but I HATE HATE HATE condoms and it’s a burden on our sex life. I’m hoping we get used to condoms, or I may consider a pregesterone-only pill (mini-pill). We’ll see.

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:31 +0000

I like the new statement “the pill itself does not cause weight gain in most people.” We can agree on that Blanket statements in either direction would be overgeneralizing.

By: JessicaMayBe

JessicaMayBe — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:57:21 +0000

According to every dr I’ve seen, and the ones I work yes… yes it can cause weight gain, but usually about 5-10 pills and then you level off. I switched a few times, and gained both times I switched. I’m also sensitive to meds and gained weight when I went on a beta blocker for 6 months. But one thing the pill CAN do is make you more lethargic. Since I’ve been off of it for 1.5 months I am taking a lot less naps, I have energy, and I’m starting to lose weight very slowly. Everyone is different; some people’s bodies respond very strongly to medication. I’m one of those people. When I was on a triphasic pill (generic Ortho Tri-Cylcen Lo) my anxiety went through the roof and I started having panic attacks multiple times a week out of the blue. My blood pressure was averaging 145/90, and even beta blockers didn’t kick it down enough, so I had to go off of birth control for a few months. I went on Yaz after that but did not want to worry about having a blood clot. I know a number of ladies who have had clots for Yaz and one family friend who was a year younger than me that died from a blood clot.

So it’s not really possible to make blanket statements like “the pill itself does not cause weight gain.” Maybe “the pill itself does not cause weight gain in most people.”

Don’t want to split hairs, I’ve just had personal troubles with this.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:47:26 +0000

Jenna, I just remembered this and laughed to myself… and thought I’d share. I had the funniest roommate (she was the easiest person to live with too!) that was so excited to have children and “get fat” one day! It was hilarious because she was totally looking forward to having a mom belly and turning soft. =) She wanted to be able to give soft hugs to her babies and eventually her grandbabies.

I think most of us grow up with these media-imposed ideas of being a “MILF” when our child-bearing days come. We have all the kids we want to have (whether 1 or 7) and still look like a teenager. Obviously, that doesn’t often line up with biology, although it does sometimes happen. It’s definitely a set-up for heartbreak though. Every one’s body is different and it is often hard coming to terms with the many ways our bodies “evolve” with time, even in pregnancy. I know I felt a lot of the same things and Chris would often “comfort” me with comments of “encouragement” like, “You’re growing a baby, of course … is happening.” They weren’t very encouraging or comforting. =]

You look better than you realize!

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:31:37 +0000

So true Erin! Also remember that our body shape naturally changes as we get out of our teens, early twenties, to late twenties. Even if your weight is the same as you were at 16, your body is not going to look like that of a 16 year old.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:15:58 +0000

I decided to digest your post for a few days before I commented. This sucks! I’m sorry you feel so guilty. Guilty for putting on the weight at a pace you feel is too fast, guilty for not liking your body, guilty for feeling guilty instead of being blissfully happy… I feel guilty too often and I’m trying to shake it, and I hope you can too. You are beautiful inside and out. You are doing a great job being a wife, a mother, and being Jenna. What you are experiencing is very normal and this too shall pass. Hugs!

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:10:35 +0000

This may be controversial, but the pill itself does not cause weight gain, eating more does (and/or exercising less). Yes, some people see an increase in boob size, but I seriously doubt Jessica gained 25lbs of boob (not that she claimed that). Some people claim the pill increases their appetite (resulting in weight gain) but a lot of people go on the pill when they start a relationship. And a lot of people gain weight when they get into a relationship. And work out less once they are in a relationship. And so maybe the weight gain isn’t due to the pill.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:51:49 +0000

It has a lot to do with which pill you are on. I lost weight on a monophasic pill but gained weight, got irritable, and got debilitating headaches and depression when they switched me back to the triphasic. You might want to look into that.

By: Kristin

Kristin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:26:54 +0000

I’ve been discussing birth control with the husband for several months now. I want off, b/c I’m tired of the weight gain, and the extra anxiety (whole other story) it’s caused. I’ve been on it for 2.5 years now, and I’m convinced that’s where my extra 10 pounds came from! My mom keeps telling me that the weight will come off when I’m off the pill. I hope that’s the case. /

By: JessicaMayBe

JessicaMayBe — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:32:12 +0000

Kristin — ME TOO!!! When I met my husband I was about 130 pounds, we got married a year later after we met, and I was about 140 pounds when we married. We’ve been married for over two years and I’ve been on birth control for that whole time (save the past month and half) and I’m up to 155!!!!! That’s 25 POUNDS heavier than when we first met. I want babies but I do not want to lose this body which I still daily struggle with loving… and that’s just birth control and “marriage-tummy.” Yuck.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:22:14 +0000

I’m so glad you shared your experience with hanging onto your weight until you stopped breast feeding. Like everything else, every body responds differently in similar situations and a LOT of women don’t have their weight melt away when they nurse!