My Weight and Pregnancy...
I am small - I am not sure what I weigh, probably under 45 kg. I used to have anorexia, but not anymore. I am physically very healthy, besides the hypoglycemia, which I developed from the anorexia.
My concern is, that I want to get pregnant next year. I know that it is a while off, but I am worried that I am too small? My Mum was very small, probably the same size as me, and she had to have IVF treatment.
If my weight does need to be addressed, I already eat really well, and I am not sure what else I could do about my weight, without stuffing my gob full of cake! I am allergic to nuts, and I already eat lots of avocado, flaxseed oil and olive oil.
Any knowledge or opinions on this matter?
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
LOL Korn - I just saw what you wrote about my name :D
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
are your periods regular Banana? i have read that having a low weight can affect the body's fertility and cause your periods to stop.
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Are you changing your name, luv?
You can certainly use more calories, Banana. In order to know how many, I would need to know your weight, height and activity level. That being said, I have seen young teens who weighed 85 pounds become pregnant and give birth to healthy (but small) babies.
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
I have been on birth control for 6 years and have always had 'periods' - since I have been well nouriished and free of any ED, these periods have become notoriously painful and heavier, so I am thinking that they are genuine.
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Quote:
ConsciousCuisine
Are you changing your name, luv?
You can certainly use more calories, Banana. In order to know how many, I would need to know your weight, height and activity level. That being said, I have seen young teens who weighed 85 pounds become pregnant and give birth to healthy (but small) babies.
BTW, I am not changing my name :p
I am 162cm tall, I weigh probably 43kg, give or take a couple of kilos, and I walk my dog every day for around 1/2 hour. I work as a check out chick at a supermarket 3 days per week. Other then that I don't really exercise :o
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Lots of tiny women concieve.
The clues come from your cycle as to whether or not things are working well, and if you're worried, get an ovulation kit now and see if you're doing it.
Of course, there are still a ton of other factors, like having a womb with an inhospitable ph, your partner's fertility etc that that crop up without you even knowing, so even if the test works, don't count your, er, babies before they're hatched.
The fertility of your mother is also not necessarily linked to yours.
My mother hasn't had half the problems I have, instead, hers were fewer but worse, and it was actually going vegan that sorted my cycle out, and therefore, my ovulation.
If you are not ovulating you can just be given medication to help with that, and there are also certain foods that help promote ovulation, even carrots, and if you look online you'll find a ton of stuff about herbs that help. There are lots of positive reports out there about supplements and teas.
Caffiene has a MASSIVELY bad effect on fertility. That's your demon to avoid.
That and ibruprofen.
If you're not ovulating, try herbal and diet routes beofre thinking about IVF, as it's still a problem that needs to be sorted, as whether or not you want children, it shows your body is lacking something.
Good luck!
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
My boyfriend is concerned that if I miscarry I will blame myself for being too skinny and I will get depressed - which will lead to more weight loss....
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Worrying about miscarriage can cause miscarriage!
Miscarriage happens in one in three pregnancies, often before the mother knows she was ever pregnant, and it's most commonly due to a serious defect or serious deficiancy.
Although, babies are tough and will take from your body before they suffer. There used to be an old saying about how each baby costs a tooth, as women way back would lose their teeth from calcium defiencies. if you eat enough vitamins your baby will not suffer. Look at all the women who live off McD's, smoke and drink and still manage to give birth. Their children may have problems they needn't have, but many of them survive.
Stress is a huge factor in fertility health and preganacy.
Do some yoga, get a zen garden, anything you want to relax.
Babies, and ovaries, hate stress hormones.
I knew a woman who tried for a baby for five years, so they adopted a child. A year later she was prenant with triplets, just because she'd stopped fretting all the time.
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Quote:
Banana
BTW, I am not changing my name :p
I am 162cm tall, I weigh probably 43kg, give or take a couple of kilos, and I walk my dog every day for around 1/2 hour. I work as a check out chick at a supermarket 3 days per week. Other then that I don't really exercise :o
Keeping in mind that everyone's body type and composition is unique, you are likely underweight and eating too few calories. This could negatively impact your chances of conceiving and sustaining a viable pregnancy (or it could not!).
According to US standards, which are by no means individualized, you could beas much as 15-20 pounds underweight. People who are in that category conceive and give birth everyday! Is it ideal? Perhaps not.
I feel a bigger concern would be getting off the hormone-altering medication you take and allowing for your body to reinstate and then regulate your own natural rhythms for itself. Sometimes women have difficulty conceiving after extended birth control use, sometimes they don't.
Your babies will be GORGEOUS, Banana! :)
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Thanks for all your input everyone. I will take these considerations on board. I just am not sure how to pack in more calories without stuffing myself. Oh well :D Shame, I have to eat cake :D
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Make sure you eat foods high in folic acid now as well. Birth defects can be prevented by the intake of folic acid during and before pregnancy. Foods like spinach, beans, fortified orange juice, dark leafy greens.
Good luck to you, banana :D
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Congrats Banana! What exciting news!
Have you talked to a Dr or midwife about this? Now is the time to start prenatal vitamins and stop taking the pill in preperation.
I think as long as you are ovulating and healthy, weight is not as important as if you are eating enough and eating healthy. But I could be wrong...
Find a midwife/Dr and talk to them about it. you are very smart planning a year ahead, and if they think you should gain weight, maybe adding some extra pasta or beans to your diet for calories would help. They are very calorie dense, as is oil, but you said you try to eat that. I would focus on extra calories, not just extra fat.
If you have trouble eating, there is always juice. that is loaded with calories and for the most part very healthy.
Maybe you could see a nutritionist who specializes in such things?
Have you seen this website -> www.vegfamily.com It is all about vegan pregnancy/rasiing a vegan family and has a lot of resources. Plus, you can post your vegan pregnancy/birth stories for others to read, which I find very helpful to alleviate my worries (not that I am pregnant, but hopefully will be one day). I believe feline01's birth story is on there.
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
I had an anorexic colleague who conceived *while* having anorexia, and although the midwife had predicted a complicated birth, it all went fine.
Victoria Beckham is also really skinny and had three healthy kids!
A healthy, normal weight is obviously the best but I guess, when it comes to having a baby, too light is better than too heavy.
Did you discuss this with your GP?
LittleTigercub
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Quote:
littleTigercub
A healthy, normal weight is obviously the best but I guess, when it comes to having a baby, too light is better than too heavy.
LittleTigercub
As a Doula and licensed Holistic Health Practitioner who specializes in working with pregnant women and families, I am just curious as to your source for this ^^ about being underweight being 'better' than being 'too heavy' for a healthy baby and pregnancy. :)
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Do you disagree?
littleTigercub
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
I have done VERY little work nursing-wise with pregnant women, but a fair amount in gynae, and both underweight and overweight are bad.
However, from the baby's point of view, underweight mothers tend to have babies of lower birth weight, so for the baby it's better, although the overweight mothers seem to often take longer to get back to full mobility and fitness.
Underweight mothers set off alarm bells with midwives as it can be a sign of malnutrition complications, but a chubby mummy will attract little attention, as a little preganacy flab is normal.
The human body often stop both overweight and underweight women from conceiving, but this is much more common in underweight women.
None of these are set in stone and there are exceptions to every rule.
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I thought I couldn't have children due to irregular periods etc and talk of polycyistic ovaries blah blah. Also we weren't really into the idea of having children. Then one day to my partner, at the time, and my surprise I found out I was pregnant. Shock and horror followed by wow this is amazing!!
But sadly, I lost her due to being born too premature, which at the time I was told was due to me not being able to carry a child to full term without a stitch (nothing to do with wieght, diet etc..). Have to say she made me realise how much I wanted to be a mum :0)
Then I fell pregnant again really quickly, and after having a stitch in my cervix <OUCH!!> I gave birth to Lewis in October 1998, at a healthy 8 lbs and 3 ozs, adored by to very proud vegan parents. A happy healthy life time vegan since the day he was concieved :0)
And now I am preggers again with my new partner, this time they haven't put a stitch in, as they aren't convinced that was the problem the first time around. Scary times at the moment as I am always aware of what happened with my first baby but I have regular checkups and so far so good :0) at 23 weeks :0)
So I guess what I am trying to say here is that don't ever give up on the idea of becoming pregnant, especially when you have had past health problems. Just try to be emotionally and physically healthy, and see what happens :0) every person is different and every pregnancy is different :0)
Good luck Banana - may you be blessed :0)
Love and light
Xxxx Stormy xxxX
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
Quote:
Nivvie
Worrying about miscarriage can cause miscarriage!
Miscarriage happens in one in three pregnancies, often before the mother knows she was ever pregnant, and it's most commonly due to a serious defect or serious deficiancy.
Although, babies are tough and will take from your body before they suffer. There used to be an old saying about how each baby costs a tooth, as women way back would lose their teeth from calcium defiencies. if you eat enough vitamins your baby will not suffer. Look at all the women who live off McD's, smoke and drink and still manage to give birth. Their children may have problems they needn't have, but many of them survive.
Stress is a huge factor in fertility health and preganacy.
Do some yoga, get a zen garden, anything you want to relax.
Babies, and ovaries, hate stress hormones.
I knew a woman who tried for a baby for five years, so they adopted a child. A year later she was prenant with triplets, just because she'd stopped fretting all the time.
Nivvie, can a woman have a miscarriage and not know??? that's a genuine q, by the way. I just wondered??
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...
I am not a healthcare practicioner, but I was always told that most women will experience 1 miscarriage in their lifetime they don't know about. It just happens very early and comes across as a heavy period, or sometimes no signs at all.
Re: My Weight and Pregnancy...