Of course I knew it was healthy to gain weight, but after working so hard to lose the 70 lbs in 2006 – 2007, I found it surprisingly emotional to cross into familiar territory on my bathroom scale as the numbers steadily crept up month after month. In my ideal world I had hoped to only go up the recommended 25 – 35 pounds… oooh how the scale must’ve scoffed when at 33 weeks pregnant I blew past the 35lb mark.
Even though I wasn’t allowed to attend Weight Watchers meetings or be on program while pregnant, I could’ve been more careful about what I ate. Did I really need those frequent stops for chocolate frosty shakes at Wendy’s? Was it necessary to have two bowls of cereal every morning? Could I have kept up some semblance of a workout routine?
So, I made some mistakes. I indulged a bit too often and got kind of lazy… but who doesn’t when they’re pregnant? Okay, yes, there are a handful of crazy women who manage to do everything right, but I should’ve known I wouldn’t be one of the chosen few. Food is a huge temptation for me, and when I don’t have a clear focus or goal it’s really easy for me to get off track and shrug off my healthy conscious in favor for dipping Oreos in a big glass of milk. MmmMmm.
The problem is now I have to deal with the consequences. So what exactly was the damage? FORTY NINE POUNDS. Now I’m especially grateful that I went into labor 3 days early because at the rate I was going I probably would’ve hit the 50 pound mark by then.
What does all that translate to in real numbers?
Weight Watchers goal: 112 lbs (& where I’d been hovering before getting pregnant)
Final weight before giving birth: 161 lbs
The craziest thing was when I got home from the hospital … I was so excited to see the numbers drop and was shocked when I got on the scale and found I was 10 pounds heavier, weighing in at 171 lbs (only a few pounds short of my all-time heaviest weight!).
So how does one go about actually gaining weight from having a baby? Oh the magic of a c-section. I was so full of fluid that my legs constantly ached that first week & I even found it difficult at times to walk because my feet would fall asleep as soon as I stopped moving. I was weepy enough from my failed homebirth, breastfeeding woes, and c-section pain… when I saw the 170′s that first day home from the hospital I completely lost it – tears flowed out right there in the bathroom.
Thankfully I’ve pulled myself together since then and have seen a big shift in the numbers (consistently dropping bit by bit each week – which I’ll share more of in another post).
In the meantime, here’s a slideshow of the c-section itself – photos taken by Nick & Dr. Koch:
7 Responses to “Pregnancy Weight Gain”
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June 6th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
beautiful baby boy and you look good, the weight will take care of itself because you are the Queen of WW and know how to do it right plus there’s the need for extra calories for breastfeeding – but man, you guys look happy Congrats!
June 5th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Hey, I have emailed you through babycenter. Anyways, sometimes I feel like I feel the SAME thing you are when it comes to mommyhood, our failed homebirth wishes, breastfeeding issues etc….Your 3 week video, that SO could be me saying all that stuff haha :)
I just wanted to write real quick about your recent post concerning your weight.
I lost 30lbs or so last year. I got down to 140lbs, which I haven’t weighed since 6th grade and was a size 8. Which honestly I can’t remember a time in my life when I WASN’T a size 12. I felt liberated by my skinny self….then I go and get knocked up :)
I gained a freaking 80lbs. Mainly because I am an emotional eater. I currently weigh 4lbs more than my biggest weight EVER (193lbs). I feel your pain girl. I hate looking in the mirror and I feel like I’m in a fat suit.
I have three weeks until I can start WW again. I feel like I’m back at square one. The good thing is breastfeeding is AWESOME and I have already lost 40lbs :)
Only 40 more to go, haha.
btw – your c section pics broke my heart. i guess because I SO badly wanted my birth to be at the birthing center, and intimate and I ended up in the hospital with forceps and having my baby practically ripped out of me…….I just hope when we are brave enough to have our second babies our bodies get into gear and let us birth at home :)
Keep your chin up girl!!!
June 4th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Hey Esther,
I’m very familiar with your story and have been following your blog for some time. I just recently (within the last month) got serious about losing the baby weight. My son is 6 months old (almost 7) and I can’t use the excuse any more. I am so glad breastfeeding is going well! That will certainly help with the weight loss!
I am 5’2 and weighed 124 before baby. I gained 60 pounds! WHat?! Yes, 60. I didn’t even start gaining until I was about 15-17 weeks and did a slow trickle for a while until the last two months. Anyways, I know you’ve lost it before-you’ve got the drive and the breastfeeding will only help. I lost 45 pounds by breastfeeding and the last 5 have come off with diet and exercise. My goal is 120 but only because I had gained the four pounds in the year before and am running a half marathon. Really, I don’t need a number. I just want my jeans to fit. The number helps me to keep going. I am determined to do this. I’ve never had to watch what I ate before and have always been an exerciser. Unfortunately all that changes during my pregnancy, but hey healthy living and fitness are a journey, right?
I’m enjoying reading what everyone has been commenting so far. I hope we can all encourage each other. Hubby and I are already talking about number 2, but I’d really like to lose all the weight and keep it off for a while before we try again.
I’ve paid for the online weight watchers membership, but have been using fit day instead. I can’t wrap my head around points. I know, that’s idiodic. I’m not trying. Anyways, YOU CAN DO IT! All of us can :) I know you know that. Post one of your skinny pics on the fridge next to a before pic and remember how precious that little one your holding is.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Michelle: I totally get what you’re saying. :) Personally I don’t buy much of the food they make – I’ve talked to the folks behind WW’s food & even they say it’s not meant to be eaten all the time because vegetables & non-processed foods are so much healthier. I think you’re right that the ‘why’ isn’t focused on as much as it could be… and my guesstimate is that most people who join probably have somewhere between 15 – 50 lbs to lose. I was pretty lucky because there were several people in my meetings who had lost a lot more than that which gave me a lot of motivation… although there wasn’t a special support system for those of us who had more to lose – a great idea though! For me the mental part is always the toughest too… it takes willpower to implement the food plan & having a leader who gets that definitely makes the meetings meaningful – which is just another reason you’d make a fabulous leader!
June 1st, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Esther,
Ok, I was going to write and say ‘you can do it’. Because you have and you will. However, this post is going to be a bit longer..because you have your hands in the actual WW pot whereas we’re simple minnions on the program.
1. I have successfully :( gained over 30 lbs in the past 5 months. Binge eating..due to emotional entanglements from childhood. I have gotten over it. My naturopath wants me to be at 155lbs..currently at around 193. That’s 40lbs. GOD GOOD. I’ve already lost 100lbs, 120lbs at my lowest..and now I have to lose another 40? Are you kidding me.
I AM DOING IT!
2. I love WW. It’s simple, user friendly etc. However I have two problems with it:
2a: The food they create is crap. It is pumped PUMPED full of artifical sweetners, etc. It’s disgusting and horrible for your body.
2b: They don’t address the issues of why we eat our food. I think that they do, somewhat. However, trying to untangle the real issues that some people who need to lose tons of weight come..I don’t think it catered for. A house wife coming in to lose 10-15lbs is a heck of a lot different than someone who needs to lose 100lbs. I think that it needs to be addressed. Throwing out members who have become prego is also a little bit of abandonment..do they provide materials for you?
I do love WW. However, they market themselves as a lifestyle change organisation..and I think that sometimes they fail at giving people, members, the wear-with-all to overcome the big gains, the post-prego ‘let down’ when you see the scale, etc. Weight isn’t about food..mostly..it’s a mental state which is fed by food.
Just some ramblings. I am not stopping WW. If and when i become a leader, I will hopefully try and address those issues. My WW leader lost 20kg, 40lbs, while breast feeding :) Happy lactating.
May 31st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Esther,
For what it’s worth, I find your honesty in sharing your experiences both with Weight Watchers and with the birth of your baby boy extremely inspiring.
I have a somewhat similar story to yours. I joined Weight Watchers in May of 2008. By February of 2009, I had lost over 20 pounds and kept it off. I realize 20 pounds doesn’t sound like alot to some, but to me – it was the difference between having some confidence versus having almost zilch. Granted, by February of the year, even after the 20-something lb weight loss, I was still “overweight” at 158 lbs. However, I had the gusto and the intention of continuing to work hard and get down to my goal weight of 144.
Oh how plans shift! My husband and I found out we were expecting on March 5th – so that puts me at 18 weeks along this week. And, while we are extremely excited, I find myself seriously struggling with body image and self confidence nowadays. Those 20-some lbs I lost? 15 of them have already found their way back onto my body. And I’ve just now started showing a bit.
I too realize that I need to gain weight for this baby in order to have a healthy pregnancy. However, I look at all the “healthy” weight gain estimates that are thrown at me and want to cry. Although I haven’t been perfect by any means, I really do feel that I’ve been eating very healthily so far and I walk every single day for at least 30 minutes. I just feel like alot of this weight gain is out of my control. It’s depressing =/
I could really use a Weight Watchers buddy to talk to/help me through some of this – so if you ever feel like chatting let me know. I have so many questions for you that I’d love to ask….
Jude is absolutely adorable and I think you are looking fabulous! Keep us updated on your new life and let me know if you’re ever available by email. Take care!
May 31st, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I have the same fears as you did.
Over the past year, I’ve lost 60 lbs (after being overweight for practically my entire life) and while I’m not planning on getting pregnant anytime soon there’s that thought in the back of my mind about how to deal with the weight gain that will accompany it once I am. I worry that I won’t be able to have the same success twice.
I wish you luck on reaching your goal weight again :)
Oh, and Jude is adorable!