weight gain after preg?

[5thtymachrm]

Okay, I am seriously irritated with my weight gain. I spent 33 weeks on bedrest and lost 20+lbs during the pregnancy. Baby comes out at 37 weeks and now I have gained over 20lbs!![:0] ARGH!! I thought I could lose weight after the baby and it turns out that I must be gaining all the weight I should have during the pregnancy. Nothing fits and I'm getting fatter every day!! I am so mad[:(!]. and depressed[:(], I hate being overweight. My BP is rising, I was just at my doc's yesterday and not only did my weight go up another 6lbs from last month, my BP was 160/106!(I do have a kidney infx so that brings it up a bit) But come on, i thought I was done with all this stuff. Indy is 3months old now. My doc said she is wanting to put me back on the Atenolol, but I already take 3 daily meds for chronic issues and that not including the asthma meds I use during the allergy season. I feel like I'm 70 yrs old! HELP!
did anyone else have these problems?[?]

Elizabeth
11/20/03 Indigo E. (born with no PE @ 37 weeks, 5lbs 13oz) (Pg Issues:33 weeks of bedrest!, PIH(atenolol),hyperemesis, hypothyroidism, cancer remission, asthma, 8cm blood clot @3wks)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/i/indigopage/
11/17/95 m/c @14wks
1/97 m/c @3wks
2/98 m/c @5wks
8/02 m/c @3wks

[mada]

I am so sorry about this Elizabeth....Jeez, just when you think your done dealing with bp issues!! Ughh!! Do you know off hand anything that could have contributed to the weight gain? Sometimes when your nursing (well at least me anyway) I always felt hungry and ate more when I was nursing then I did when I was prego!! So, It took forever for me to lose weight...Hang in there, spring is coming and then you can be outside more and walk more and that always helps[:)]

Mada Harpster

Sam 6-29-00 36weeks P.E.
Ben 11-03-01 No P.E.

[paljane8]

Elizabeth, ask your doc what side affects are associated with the meds you are taking. I know with some (antidrepessants for example) they cause weight gain.

Nancy Eastwood
Moderator/WA State Co-Coordinator

ds-8yrs, dd-7yrs
Scott-4yrs (PE)
Janie-5/12/03 (PIH, oligo and low blood flow)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/4/4lbs/

[deerhart]

I wasn't on any meds after being pregnant with my first and gained about 15 lbs on top of what I gained during pregnancy. I never lost the lbs I put on while pregnant.
Nothing worked, dieting, exercise, lowering calories etc..

In fact nothing worked until I had my second baby, then I lost about 20lbs and lost all the weight I gained during the pregnancy after I had him (so I was 20lbs lighter), then 9 months later the lbs just started slipping away and I have lost 35 lbs since last August (I am 65 lbs lighter then what I was before having my second child).

We don't know why I couldn't lose any weight (I also had extremely relaxed stomach muscles whihc nothing would tighten, but was significantly tighter after the 2nd baby) except that it may have been a hormonal issue or maybe something to do with the PE/Mag Sulf they put me on (I keep finding out that alot of people in my family are allergic to sulfa/sulfur).

I forgot but have they checked your thyroid at all?
Erin

Moderator - First Time Moms, Parents of Preemies
Missouri State Coordinator
Mommy to Alex and Mason

[5thtymachrm]

Yes, My thyroid has been checked, I already take levoxyl for a hypo(low)thyroid condition which caused a huge weight gain about 3 mon before I got prego last year. They have been playing with my dosage since I was 22 weeks along. She rechecked it again this week along with some other blood work due to the kidney issues this week. I was taking lexapro for the PPD but decided to stop last week because I was having daily migraine symptoms and just couldn't take it another day. I was reading that it can make you more hungry. I'd say my biggest downfall has been chocolate. Never in my life have I wanted chocolate so badly. I have been eating a symphony bar every day just about since Indy was born[:I]. I never even liked chocolate before that. Now I crave it so badly I feel as though I could pull all my hair out unless I get some[:)]is that just terrible? My other eating habits are pretty good, I am being as healthy as I can since I know so much was robbed from my body during pregnancy. I have even managed to take vitamins every single day(a total feat for me). Oh, and I'm not nursing so no excuses there[:(]. I just can't imagine gaining all this weight from chocolate. And, its either chocolate or back to smoking(never around baby of course), one bad habit or the other I just need some sort of outlet I think.

I have always been the most controlled person I know, and here I am still swinging out of control. I want to exercise but don't want to take the baby out in the pouring rain and driving winds. What else am I supposed to do? I just don't have the drive for it yet, to workout inside the house. I miss going to the gym and working out but I have no one to watch Indy.

Elizabeth
11/20/03 Indigo E. (born with no PE @ 37 weeks, 5lbs 13oz) (Pg Issues:33 weeks of bedrest!, PIH(atenolol),hyperemesis, hypothyroidism, cancer remission, asthma, 8cm blood clot @3wks)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/i/indigopage/
11/17/95 m/c @14wks
1/97 m/c @3wks
2/98 m/c @5wks
8/02 m/c @3wks

[taras mom]

Chocolate: the love that dare not speak its name.[;)]

Stubborn weight gain sucks. I'm sure you lost a lot of muscle during your bedrest, so until you can build it back, your metabolism is going to be lower. Also, you just stopped taking the PPD meds, so maybe you just need to wait for your appetite to go down.

Hang in there!

PS: Did you give up caffeine during pregnancy? Maybe it's the caffeine in the chocolate that's calling to you. See if skim-milk cocoa takes care of your cravings; it's much less fattening.

Carol (38)
DH Bill (40)
Tara Mairichi
12/7-12/9, 2002
The Mightiest Little Angel

[5thtymachrm]

yes, I had to give up caffeine because of the high pulse. I was a quadshot mocha w/mint skim milk drinker before I was prego. Boy do I miss my mocha's, just too pricey now. I am going to work on dropping my choc.habit while on vacation and start all new when I come home. I have been doing great with the water drinking finally. I think I was rebelling after pg because I was drinking a gallon or more a day of water back then. I am down to just one glass of something else a day(juice, soda, or milk) and then around 10-12 big glasses of ice water. My dh has agreed to look into buying a treadmill for me[:D] That is the only thing I use at the gym anyways. Might as well just own one ourselves than give away all that money to the gym. Not to mention I can make a million excuses not to go there[:D] If I have the treadmill here I can just hop on for a half hour a couple times a day while Indy is sleeping.

Gotta run...baby fussing...[:D]

Elizabeth
11/20/03 Indigo E. (born with no PE @ 37 weeks, 5lbs 13oz) (Pg Issues:33 weeks of bedrest!, PIH(atenolol),hyperemesis, hypothyroidism, cancer remission, asthma, 8cm blood clot @3wks)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/i/indigopage/
11/17/95 m/c @14wks
1/97 m/c @3wks
2/98 m/c @5wks
8/02 m/c @3wks

[kim]

Elizabeth,

YES, I had the same problem. It was AWFUL.... I started pg at 156, dropped down to 130 because of the hg. At delivery, I weighed 170 (all fluid), when I left the hospital, I weighed 158. I was put on Lexapro and Labetalol right after delivery and two months later, I weighed 180. I was so disgusted with myself. After all the * I had been through, now I just felt icky. And, I was walking daily, eating right, no thyroid problem... About 5 months later, the labetalol quit working, and I was placed on another med. And, by my daughter's first birthday, I was FINALLY wearing my pre-pg clothes again. Now, at 15 mos pp, I am 10 pounds less than I was pre-pg and I haven't worked out (besides chasing Ainsley). I am 5'7", so I don't really want to lose any more weight, but the whole thing is so strange.
It could be just the effects of PPD. I really think it was for me. Plus, after 8 months of hyperemesis, my metabolism had to be completely messed up. I really think it took an entire year for my body to figure out what it was doing. (And, still have bp issues [}:)]).
Anyways.. Just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone and it is completely frustrating!! If your doc wants you on bp meds, you may want to look into something that doesn't slow the metabolism down further (like a beta blocker does).
Take care!!

Kim
Texas Chapter Coordinator

Ainsley 11/26/02-36 Weeks Preeclampsia
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ainsleyk/

[5thtymachrm]

Kim,
oh thank god, nice to know someone else went through the same thing[:)]. I can't remember but is atenolol a beta blocker? I think I am going to ask to go back to the cardiologist. We found out that my brother had a massive stroke at 35(2yrs ago). I have one other brother who also had a massive stroke at 35(6yrs ago). I am only going on 28 next month but I have had some serious damage done to my arteries(notching). I don't want to be on a BP med that would slow my metabolism anymore. I was also thinking the same thing about the hyperemesis slowing my metabolism way down and then I was able to eat again(even though healthy amounts)after Indy came. I think my body is storing all of its fat.[:p] You know, I never had a full ECG taken, I had those monitors they gave me to try and catch my arrythmia but I got irritated with the machines and just returned them and never followed up with the cardiologist about it. It would be nice to know if I have had a TIA or something in the past. I have had many episodes of heart attack symptoms but passed them all off because I just feel to young to have these issues already.

I have been setting up all of my f/u appts for all the different specialties over the next few months. I feel like I should be 70yrs old. I'm seeing a new oncologist at the end of March,a back specialist for cortisone injections in my back, an endocrinologist for the thyroid, cardiologist for the heart, and now either a urologist or nephrologist because my kidney issues are all coming back again. I have no idea what we would do if we didn't have such great insurance[:D] I have this list of medical issues that I want solved or at least under better control, so I'm going at this all in a nice orderly fashion and hopefully by the end of the year I will be in much better shape.[:D] My goal for 2004 is to get very healthy and lose as much weight as possible within my healthy guidelines. I really would like to have another baby[:I] in the next 2-3 years I think, but can't do that until most of my medical issues are resolved or very well undercontrol[:)]

Elizabeth
11/20/03 Indigo E. (born with no PE @ 37 weeks, 5lbs 13oz) (Pg Issues:33 weeks of bedrest!, PIH(atenolol),hyperemesis, hypothyroidism, cancer remission, asthma, 8cm blood clot @3wks)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/i/indigopage/
11/17/95 m/c @14wks
1/97 m/c @3wks
2/98 m/c @5wks
8/02 m/c @3wks

[taras mom]

For extra weight-bearing, you could do the treadmill with little Indy in a baby sling!

Carol (38)
DH Bill (40)
Tara Mairichi
12/7-12/9, 2002
The Mightiest Little Angel