Weight Gain - first vs. subsequent children?

[Anonymous]

I am 25 weeks pregnant and just went to the doctor today. I have gained 23 pounds so far - but only gained 27 total in my first pregnancy.

I am panicking! I don't feel like I am eating differently, but also don't feel like I'm experiencing swelling. My old maternity clothes fit fine.

What could be happening?

[Anonymous]

I was gaining more with my second pregnancy too, without eating differently. (Well, the fact that my morning sickness was much worse with #1 probably had something to do with it, plus being 2 years older). At 24 weeks I went on a low carb diet to avoid getting GD, but got it anyway . . . but, being on that diet kept my total weight gain down to 25 lbs. It was super hard because I craved chocolate and ice cream like nobody's business, but now that I'm 6 weeks postpartum and still can't fit into my fat jeans, I'm glad I didn't gain any more than I did. Do you think it's possible that you have GD? I think that might have been what was causing my rapid weight gain (that and the Ben & Jerry's .

[Anonymous]

It could be that the weight gain is happening differently, more front-loaded this time. With my first the weight gain was pretty even, but with my second the gain was mostly in the 2nd trimester. The last month or two I didn't put on any weight - to the point my Dr asked if I was eating. The nearly 9-lb child I ended up with would suggest I was eating just fine.

[Anonymous]

I gained a lot with my first two pregnancies, but I was living in a foreign country that didn't have good beef or vegetables, so I scarfed down McDonald's QP w/Cheese every day (for the iron, I guess). With my current pregnancy (I'm 32 weeks), I have only gained about 3 lbs so far, but I was a little bit heavy to begin with - in contrast to my last pregnancies, I am craving NOTHING, since I live in the land of plenty!

[Anonymous]

I gained over 55lbs with my first. So far in my second I've gained only 12 pounds and I'm almost 7 months along. For me, chasing a toddler and working out regularly (something I didn't do last time) are what's keeping the excess weight off.

[Anonymous]

I gained over 50 with the first and only 20 with the second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was gaining more with my second pregnancy too, without eating differently. (Well, the fact that my morning sickness was much worse with #1 probably had something to do with it, plus being 2 years older). At 24 weeks I went on a low carb diet to avoid getting GD, but got it anyway . . . but, being on that diet kept my total weight gain down to 25 lbs. It was super hard because I craved chocolate and ice cream like nobody's business, but now that I'm 6 weeks postpartum and still can't fit into my fat jeans, I'm glad I didn't gain any more than I did. Do you think it's possible that you have GD? I think that might have been what was causing my rapid weight gain (that and the Ben & Jerry's .

Op here, thanks for all the comments. I started this pregnancy and the last at normal weight (not overweight) - I'm not sure if that affects my chances for GD. I am supposed to take the GD test at my next visit, in a month.

I had been gaining very gradually, then at yesterday's visit learned I had put on 10 pounds in a month! That's never happened before.