First Pregnancy Questions

You are totally normal. Its very common to gain more weight than average in the beginning. I did and my midwife told me that if I continued to do so at that rate I would gain 80 lbs. I ended up gaining 24. Don't drink too much juice, watch your unhealthy fat intake, excersize moderately, and just enjoy the most wonderful experience of your life!!! The fatigue will pass, just rest and read lots of fun books.

Hi L.
Before I found out I was pregnant at 39, I slept all the time. In fact, I fell asleep as soon as I sat down. I thought there was something terribly wrong with me. Finally(long story) I found out I was pregnant. In fact I was pregnant with twins. A common situation for those who find themselves over 35 and pregnant.
What is the OB saying?
By twelve weeks, I was waddling, and there was no hiding I was pregnant. Don't exactly remember 8 weeks, but I had a pot belly at 6 weeks when I actually found out I was pregnant, with what the OB said was an empty pregnancy. Surprise at 10 weeks, the ultrasound showed twins.
All Good things come from the Lord and OB wisdom is a good thing. Tell the OB your concerns.
God bless you
Let us know what is happening.
K. === married 38 years --- adult children --- 37, coach; 33, lawyer; and twins 18, in college

All very normal as far as I am concerned. I am 7 wks with number 2 and I am just as tired this time as with the 1st. I try to go for a walk every day whether I feel like it or not and I always feel better after. It is so funny that you mention the weight gain. I got on the scale this morning because I was wondering what I had put on since my jeans were tight in the rear and legs - in fact I lost a pound. I remember this happened with my first your body weight shifts. Don't worry about it. In about 4 more weeks you will start to feel great again - as soon as the first trimester is over. Good luck and enjoy your pregancy.

Hi L.-

I know you already have 22 responses, but I thought I would chime in too. I am on baby No 2 right now and being exhausted during that first 8 to 12 weeks was the norm for me... even this time! I found I needed to call in backup a few times to ensure that my 2 year old daughter would not be "alone" while I was passed out for an hour! I think being soooo tired the second time was more nerve wracking since I knew someone else was counting on me.

I would suggest resting as often as your body needs it.

At the same time, I would try to get some light exercise in (as it sounds like you might have started doing). Lunch time is a good opportunity since you need to stay awake for work any way. This will help with both the tired and any "weight" concerns you are having.

With my first pregnancy, I packed on the weight very quickly and ended up with 50 pounds despite daily walks and monitoring my food intake. I know that sounds like a huge amount of weight but, ultimately, this was what my body and baby needed. My glucose, BP and other parameters were all inline with "normal" stats and that was what the doctors wanted so ignoring the weight issue, I was okay.

Try to relax. Try to find the time for yourself. (I always liked my prenatal massages. Mmmmmm!) And make sure you ask LOTS of questions. This is only the first of many I am sure you'll have! :) Welcome to the club! Congrats!

~C.

It's totally normal to gain weight in your butt and your legs. As your pregnancy progresses and your belly gets real big, the other weight gain won't seem so dramatic.
Yes, it's also normal to be very very fatigued during the first 3 months. Somewhere in the 4 month your energy will come back. For some women, it's a huge surge of energy for others (like me) you just realize that you are not quite so sleepy and tired anymore.
Definately do the yoga! it really helps you to feel more comfortable as you get bigger the baby is weighing you down. it helps with back pain, and makes you aware of your posture and finding positions which are comfortable for you to rest in. Don't worry if you don't start the yoga in the 1st trimester, just start whenever your enrgy level comes back. The yoga is also SUPER helpful for labor and delivery, they have some poses, which really help.
I'm now 14 wks pregnant with #2, and just started doing the yoga video at home again, and I had forgotten how useful it is and how much better I feel every time after i've done it.

good luck!

Oh yes... it is totally normal for your behind to grow in early, mid and late pregnancy... happens to a lot of women, even my skinny little size 2 friend... she got pregnant and then, boom, her bum nearly doubled in size. My big thing is that all of us women think about it as "gaining weight" as in fat, but we forget that our body is nearly doubling it's blood volume! We lay down something like 50% more blood vessels to get all this new blood through our body to get nutrients to us and our growning babies. Of course our skin will have to stretch to accommodate this! To get rid of all the excess blood volume I acquired after the birth of my baby, I had the most intense night sweats for 3.5 weeks... my clothes were totally soaked through every night... that is what confirmed with me that much of the weight that I had gained during my pregnancy, indeed, was not fat. That being said, the fat is good too, and many women burn off much of that just by breastfeeding. Don't be too concerned L. when you see all of the changes that happen to your body, and there will be many. I thought that I would never be able to get my hips into my pre-pregnancy pants again but, after a few months, I could. Your body is right on track... Congratulations! A.

Congratulations! Being a first time mom myself, I can relate to what you are going through. I can tell you from my experience and advice given to me that your weight gain is normal. Your body is getting prepared to carry your little bundle of joy. During my pregnancy I gained normal weight, but felt swollen and tired during the first two trimesters. By the 3rd trimester I had more energy and though I gained about 35lbs I looked and felt better than before. My advise is to make sure you start your prenatal care, if you haven’t done so and speak with your doctor about every concern you have – he/she should understand your situation and hopefully will guide you and give you peace of mind. My tiredness ended up being a lack of iron due to pregnancy and all it took was a prescribed vitamin supplement. Always go to your prenatal appointments and get your required bloodwork – it’s very important so that your doctor can monitor your progress and if there is something off with you – it can be addressed. I know my biggest concern was the health of my baby and thought anything can happen to me, but I had to take care of my self for my baby lives though me.

Though you were a very active person pre-pregnancy – don’t worry and don’t get frustrated you will get their again, but just not at the same level – remember you are carrying another living thing within you and it takes a lot of energy from you. Just try to eat healthy, take your prenatal vitamins, and for now listen to your body. If you have energy to do your prenatal yoga do so – if you feel like resting do so. Enjoy your pregnancy – it might seem like forever now, but it does go by so fast. FYI! Be prepared for more interesting things to happen to your body – don’t worry it will all be OK! I know that now – I worried of the unknown!
Hope this helps!

Me too! This is my 3rd (same for all) and almost every woman I knows their body changes that early and many gain or shift wt.! Esp the more pregnancies you have. I do actually feel better when I can get some exercise in, but it is so hard to be able to. Try allowing yourself a nap and still try to do some of the exercises you are familiar with.

Congrats!

It sounds like you dropped your activity level and are putting on weight that is not pregnancy related. It happens to many of us. The tired stage usually passes. If you are concerned about the weight gain cut the calories to meet your activity level. Best wishes.

It is completely normal!! Your belly will get very big and be prepared that everywhere else will get at least a little bigger. I started getting bigger right away too! I was in good shape (gym and pilates daily) but could not start working out again until the 2nd and 1st half of 3rd trimester (2nd half of 3rd trimester-too tired again). I was just tooooo tired. I would come home from work, sleep, eat dinner, and then go back to sleep everyday for the first trimester. I also bought prenatal yoga and only did it a few times. I liked yoga on the wii fit better and good old walking. Good luck and feel well!!

Different people gain it differently and the first few months is exhausting, you get a little break and then the last months can be exhausting again. I wasn't a fan of the prenatal yoga, I could barely even pick my legs up but I did keep doing the elliptical machine and treadmill. Don't stress about it though - just make sure you are eating healthy, exercising mildly and taking care of yourself and your baby. Your body is going to go through A LOT. Its all about health right now, not looks.

Totally normal! I was the same. Gained about 10 lbs the first trimester, but just 30 overall. Couldn't start exercisng untl about week 16, because i was so low-energy, but then i did yoga lke a fiend, walked a lot, went to the gym sometimes....felt great to the end. good luck! i am also 8 weeks along now.

anything is normal.
why don't you discuss with you ob

Hi L.,
Congrats on your pregnancy! At weeks, you have really only been pregnant for 6 weeks and it's too soon to be putting on weight that's pregnancy related. It sounds like you were a very active person physically and the exhaustion is causing you to curtain your activities, so you may be experiencing weight gain from this, just as anyone who stops their exercise routines for a month and a half would put on weight, pregnant or not.
Good luck and I hope you're feeling more perky soon! That fatigue can be overwhelming.

L.,

Congratulations on becoming pregnant!

You are unique. Anything could happen. :)

I couldn't wear my everyday pants after 3 weeks.

I was TIRED the whole time, but really wiped the first 4.5 months. It was, coincidentally, the period that my body decided food wasn't such a great idea. I ate anyway, but I used to *LOVE* food.

For the Yoga, do it anyway. Just try. you will feel better as the days go on - even if you only get to a sitting position in front of the TV - you are still benefiting - from the music (baby) and attention to yourself.

Once you start nesting, you'll find more enthusiasm. Just don't plan on painting the baby's room the month before you're due.

Are you taking prenatal vitamins? Are you spreading them out during the day (instead of taking them all at once?) Are you eating anyway? Are you drinking all your water (remember, you have to have enough to flush YOUR body, your baby's bod, AND keep you hydrated now that it is summer.

Good luck, and let me know how you do with this. :)
M.

Yes, all normal. Have a happy healthy pg!

Hi L.- The first trimester of my pregnancy was the most exhausting. I, too, was extremely active before I got pregnant, but the first few months just wiped me out. My advice is to relax--this is the only time in your life when you have a good reason to just vedge. Your body is MAKING A BABY- the most incredible miracle of life...so that explains the loss of energy. For me, it was almost clockwork- when I started my 2nd trimester, my energy came back and I was able to go to the gym again and be a lot more active. Best of luck!!!

You can totally give yourself a break about the excercising. You have your whole life to do it. I am currently in my first pregnancy too and had the same feeling. I am currently 19 weeks and its incredible how much your energy will change after you hit 12 weeks. I had no desire to do anything physical at all in the beginning. Honor what your body is telling you. It may not look it but because on the inside there is so much going on, you get tired and you think you haven't done a thing. Prenatal yoga has been a huge help for me so I encourage you to start after 12 weeks and see how you feel. Good luck!

L.,
Everything you are feeling is normal. Every woman is different and as for me, I gained my weight towards the end of my pregnancy. It sounds like you are gaining it in the beginning. As for being motivated, you are going to feel tired alot and want to take naps often. I especially felt this way in the beginning, before I was even showing. Take those naps, your body is hard at work creating your child! Hope you have a smooth pregnancy!

Drink some water, take a nap and enjoy the changes (and don't forget to write them down for your little one to read some day). I remember being so tired I couldn't move at 10 weeks and telling my mom it was because my heart was pumping for two - we laugh about that now, because it turned out I was pumping for 3! I was in maternity clothes at 11 weeks and carried my twins to over 39 weeks. Good luck and turn the yoga video back on in the 2nd trimester!

Hi, L.

You sound like me when I became pregnant for the first time: 36 years old, no problems conceiving, great health, very active and in great shape. I'm guessing you're also very slim due to all that activity (my pre-pregnancy weight was 104 lbs.). Pregnancy weight goes on everywhere, and if you're particularly slim it'll show up quickly in places you didn't expect. Don't worry about it; just focus on keeping yourself healthy and active throughout your pregnancy and the weight will melt right off afterward, especially if you nurse.

Working out in the first trimester is easier said than done but it'll do wonders for your fatigue. Give it another week and try easing yourself into an exercise routine, even if it's just a ten-minute walk around the neighborhood. I was too exhausted to exercise in the first weeks, but finally mustered the energy to do a low-impact aerobics class one night after work when I was about ten weeks along. I felt wonderful afterward and worked out regularly after that right up until two weeks before my due date when I felt too tired and bloated. Some of the benefits of prenatal exercise: it staves off fatigue, keeps pregnancy weight gain under control, conditions your body for the stress of labor and keeps it conditioned it for post-partum recovery. The weight will come right off without even trying.

Need an example? As a result of exercising three times a week throughout my entire pregnancy, I gained a total of 35 lbs. and had lost 31 lbs. by the time I returned to work after maternity leave eight weeks later. I was back into my pre-pregnancy dress size in time to wear my bridesmaid's dress for my sister-in-law's wedding five months later.

Congratulations and best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy.

It is very normal. Just the body adjusting to the new one being on board. Body will look to adjust itself in a few weeks. Enjoy the rest while you can get it. The weight gain in the areas are normal as well.

Very normal, all is ok. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

First congratulations, second this is normal. Your boby will be changing everyday and probably not all in the ways you would expect. I was investing in maternity clothes by about 11 weeks with my first. The fatigue will let up, your body is working very hard helping your baby grow right now. I once was told it's like climing a mountain everyday just being preganant. Do your best to try to stay active it is the best for you and your baby. I dragged myself to the gym 3 or 4 days a week until 4 weeks before delivery and now am soo glad I did. Emotionaly it helps equalize everything and defiantly help get thing back in order postpardom. Good luck to you and again congrats!