[VernDern]

So I've lost 50 lbs on my journey so far and had a nice surprise when I got home from vacation this week. I took the test(s) and sure enough Im pregnant. I've been to the doctor to confirm and Im about 8 weeks along. I'm pretty much freaking out and in shock but am finally calming down after a few days.

I just thought I would pop in and share my news and beg for any advise for a first time mommy!!!! lol I'm feeling VERY overwhelmed and things are happening so quickly.
I also wanted to ask from some of the other plus-size ladies when everyone started showing and how much weight I should gain over the pregnancy from personal experience. Also, about the calorie range I should try and stick to? I was averaging 1300 before so Im kinda looking forward to something higher! lol
Im SOOO glad I've lost 50 lbs before this but I definitely dont want to gain it all back.

Thanks in advance!
~Veronica

[jahjah1223]

Good luck and congrats!!! my advice to you is enjoy it!

I lost 30 pounds before pregnancy and got to a normal BMI i now gained those 30 and another 2 on top! but im not sweating it!

[glenlorie]

You should add around 500 cals for baby. When I was pregnant with my first son I was 180lbs, I gained 20 lbs and lost it all a few weeks after he was born. With my second son, I gained almost 100lbs, I was put on bed rest (hospital bedrest) and it was horrible. I just started losing the weight from baby 2 (about 10 lbs) and I am now pregnant with my third, and last, child. I am 260 (yes, didn't lose much from baby 2) and my dr has adviced me to gain no more than 11 lbs. With all my babies, I started showing at the begining of the 4th month (that other ppl could actually tell), but I felt changes before that, like a hard ball in my tummy, etc...

Congrats on the new baby on the way and for losing 50 lbs!!! I hope this helped a little! If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me. Best wishes sweetpea!!!

[mom4life]

Congratulations!!! I've been counting calories during pregnancy. I was 10 lbs from my goal before getting the surprise that I was pregnant. lol
My best advice after my last 3 kiddos where I ate nothing but carbs and was hungry all the time (gained 60+ lbs each), I would say to focus more on protein to sustain you longer. I've been doing that with this pregnancy and I've been able to stick to my calories without going over due to hunger. I've been fine.
Good luck, hope you have an enjoyable pregnancy!

[Gale02]

Congratulations!

Everything I've read and that my Dr told me says to add no calories during the first trimester, then add 200-300 per day for your second and third. Make sure you're taking a good prenatal and DHA supplement (the DHA especially if you don't eat much fish.)

Above all, enjoy being pregnant! It doesn't last long and is such an awesome time.

[VernDern]

Thanks ladies!
I'm probably going to wait until I go to the doctor and see what they recommend as far as calories. I've been bad though and have been eating pretty freely so I'm probably a few hundred up from my 1300. I've even lost a few pounds that I gained back on vacation so I guess I'm okay.

I went out and got a good prenatal vitamin with the dha and folic acid so thats good.

I guess for now Im going to wait patiently for my first sonogram! Im so excited. It was such a shock this week the find out but it's definitely starting to set in that Im really going to be a mommy!

Lorie, my sister only gained 11 pounds with her second! I think she said she started out at about 255 and then lost 10 lbs in her first trimester from morning sickness and such and then gained that back eventually with an extra 11. So I guess overall she really gained 21. I hope I get that lucky...minus the nausea! lol

[Arctic Mama]

1800-2000 a day is a good amount for someone at your weight to maintain at during pregnancy. You may even continue to lose some weight with that amount, but it is enough to get extra protein and a good assortment of nutrients with no need to fear an excess pregnancy gain beyond what your body metabolically needs to put on. Congratulations and good luck!