Reduce the stress in pregnancy

Trust in the design

It seems that my generation is hyper focused on weight gain during pregnancy. Why does it matter how much weight one puts on when every body is different and does this thing called “pregnancy” uniquely. To some, the 25-30 pound rule works for their body type, whereas others need to put on more or less depending on their starting weight. Interestingly enough, we do not all require the same weight gain. Who’s to know how much your body specifically needs and at what point your body should put it on? I’ve had friends lose 15 pounds in the first two trimesters and then gain 40 in the last. Some steadily gain throughout the months and then others hardly put anything on at all till the last couple months.  This brings me to my theme- why stress over the weight, just trust your body and the way God designed it to be.

I’d say I’m average in the weight department and 25-30 pounds would probably be a good start to gain during a pregnancy. However, when I got pregnant I decided right off that bat that I would not find out how much weight I’ve gained throughout the pregnancy. I knew it would stress me out and make me feel like I was “doing pregnancy wrong” if I crept up past that dreadful 30 pound mark too soon. Instead of stressing myself out I decided to take the back seat and let my body decided what it needed. I drank water like a fish, and ate when I was hungry. I focused on healthy eating and not stressing over a cookie or the number on a scale. Each doctor visit, I’d stand on the scale and look at the wall. They would record the number in my chart and we’d move on. I might hear, “right on track”, or “two pounds this week”. Awesome! I knew that if something was wrong or if my weight was getting out of control due to a medical condition (like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes) the nurses would catch on and we’d deal with it.

I was asked on several occasions by curious friends how much I’ve gained- to which I’d answer, “I don’t know, I don’t keep track.” Some seemed shocked at my answer-as though it’s the most important part in tracking a pregnancy. Let me tell you a secret-it’s not! Now, let’s get something straight. I’m not saying to go around eating for two, taking no prisoners, and throwing nutrition out the window. That’s not good for you or your baby. I simply ate when I was hungry and made sure to be intentional about getting fruits and veggies in my diet each day. If I had pancakes for breakfast with syrup and bacon, I’d eat an apple and peanut butter for my snack. I ate plenty of good fats and didn’t feel remorse if I had a cookie with my lunch. I found that when I wasn’t stressed about my weight gain I was able to be more confident in how my body was changing. This brings me to a whole new point.

Your body changes during pregnancy and it’s not going to be flattering to your own eyes. Things stretch, get wider, fat accumulates, and your skin changes. When you look in the mirror and see these changes and then multiply that with the stress caused by thinking you’re gaining too much weight- you’re going to be overwhelmed. My non-pregnant-self is fairly weight conscious and when I feel like I’m too heavy or needing to get “back in shape”, I go at it like my life depends on it. I’m competitive, it’s my nature. BUT, when you’re pregnant you have to go easy with your body, it’s already doing a lot of things, and it doesn’t need to be “getting into shape” too. Pregnancy is not the time to get fit- it’s the time to trust your body and let it do its thing. These physical changes can take a toll on your pride and self-image. Do yourself a favor and let go of the obsession with weight gain. It’s not good for you or your baby to stress about it. You will gain weight AND it will be okay. Focus on being healthy by not stressing the unimportant things. Be intentional about your nutrition, and let your body put on the weight it needs to and where it needs to. Exercise is important but not with the intention of losing weight or keeping your “gained amount” under 30 pounds. Exercise to feel good and get your blood moving. Be healthy, not skinny. Let’s be nice to ourselves and each other and stop stressing or talking about pregnancy weight. 

On a side note: I did find out my ending pregnancy weight for my own medical records and to compare future pregnancies with. 

I gained 15 pounds more than what is suggested for my body weight and I feel good!