Conference moira::parenting_v3

    I always think the way you are carrying depends on baby's
    position and your bone structures.  When I was pregnant with
    my second, a good friend of mine was also pregnant.  Our due
    dates were only 10 days apart.  But she looked twice as big
    as I was.  During her whole pregnancy, she had people telling
    her that she will have a big baby.  She ended up with a 7 lbs
    boy, which is just average.  She did gain over 40 lbs though.
    Therefore, if you are big it doesn't mean that you will have a big
    baby.
    
    Enjoy your pregnancy!
    
    Wendy

    I do not think you should worry. I believe women "react" to pregnancy
    very differently. My usual weight is around 115 and I gained more than
    50 pounds during my first pregnancy and could not bend enough to see my
    knees for the last two months - it was a huge tummy, but my daughter was 
    born 7lb 7oz - average and I lost all my extra weight in 3 months. With
    the second one it took about 6 months although I gained less, apprx 40lb.
    So enjoy yourself, it is a very happy time, and may I wish you best
    of luck.  

    I didn't find out I was having twins untill I was 4 months pregnant
    through ultrasound.  I don't know if they would be able to really tell
    anything at 7 weeks.  And I didn't have a big belly, I had an ENORMOUS
    BELLY.  I remember towards the end there, I couldn't even go out to
    a restaurant and sit in one of those booths, no matter how I tried,
    my stomach was in the way.
    
    I couldn't even tell you how much weight I gained, must have been over
    40 pounds (at least it felt like it).  The twins weighed 6.6 and 6.13
    and I was back down to my regular size by the time they were 1 month
    old.
    
    

    You should see my wife! Yes, it is our fourth child, but she looks like
    she is about 7 mos. pregnant at 12.5 weeks. she carried big and all in
    front very early with all of them. First wieghed 7 lbs 2 oz, second was
    8 lbs. even and third was 8 lbs. 15 oz. (but she was diabetic with that
    one, which could account for the extra weight). We have agood friend
    who had a small, barely 6 lb. full term baby, who went for her
    pregnancy test in maternity clothes, looking very obviously pregnant! I
    would not worry in the least. Some women seem to carry the baby totally
    inside the pelvic cavity, and never look too big. Others carry
    everything right out front, and look pregnant right form the start.
    It's just how your body is built and reacts to pregnancy. (Btw, my wife
    gains almost no weight with her pregnancies, but grows huge
    anyway...most she gained was 13 lbs with our daughter, and 8 of those
    were in the last week when she became pre-eclampsic!).
    
    Remember, the baby doens't need to be big for you to be big....there is
    a largely swollen uterus, lots of extra fluid, etc., that make up much
    of the wieght, and take up much of the space.
    
    --dave--

    I gained over 50 pounds with my first and she only weighed 5 lbs 13 oz
    (exactly what I weighed) and my sister did the same thing.  I am very
    forutnate/unfortunate that I don't gain weight easily, she was born
    Aug 19, 1982 and on Labor Day the same year I was wearing shorts from 2
    summers before!  I had to buy new tops because my bust was so large -
    why didn't they stay that way?!

    Another factor is how large and strong your uterus is.  It's
    basically just a big muscle, and some women have bulkier muscles
    there than other women do.  I get very large -- into maternity
    clothes by about 8 weeks and with the second one even had to buy
    some larger clothes at the very end to accomodate the HUGE stomach
    out in front -- but the kids have been 6 lbs. 15 oz, 8 lbs 8 oz,
    and 7 lbs. 12 oz. 
    
    Also, your build and your posture influence how large your stomach
    seems.  And if you've been pregnant before, you'll tend to get
    larger because the uterus has had a chance to enlarge before --
    sort of like it knows what it's doing this time so it does it more
    quickly.
    
    David's babysitter got very large very early and was convinced she
    was having twins.  She was so huge at 7 months that I didn't see
    how she could possibly last until term.  But she didn't seem to
    get any larger those last couple of months.  
    
    And a neighbor who's a tiny little thing who looked about six
    months pregnant the day she went into the hospital at two weeks
    overdue had an almost-ten-pound girl.  So you can't tell by
    looking.
    
    --bonnie

    My sister-in-law and I were both pregnant at the same time,only she was
    8 weeks ahead of me. She gained over 40 lbs. and i gained 36 lbs. She
    delivered a 7 lb. 7. oz baby, and I delivered an 8 lb 1/2 oz baby.
    her belly was HUGE, mine was average. So, there's proof that the bigger
    you are, doesn't mean the bigger the baby! Everyone told her that she
    would also have a big baby. But it proved wrong. Doctors told me that i
    would deliver a baby close to 9 pounds. Thank god they were wrong!!
    
    
    
    
    sandy

    Boy, these replies are sure releiving!!!  I hope I don't have to
    deliver an enormous child!  Reading these replies makes me feel SOOOOO
    much better.  I guess chances are the baby will be average size? Eh?
    
    Thanks a bunch,
    
    Melissa  :^)
    
    

    Melissa,  When I was pregnant with my son, I was all belly and very
    huge, and was pretty big by my 5th month.  I only gained 20 lbs, but my 
    son weighed 9 lbs, 7 oz and I have the stretch marks to prove it, he
    was delivered naturaly with no medication.
    
    Liz

Slight rathole here...

On the local news Monday night, they had a story about a woman in Houston who
was in labor for 3 hours and vaginally delivered a 13 lb, 15 oz. baby! Wow!
The baby was so big that the hospital didn't have any clothes that fit.
A relative went to a store and bought some 9-months old baby clothes.  Before
the baby went home a few days later, it had gained a few ounces and was over
14 lbs.

Now you know why we say, "EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas" :-)

Bob

I also had a huge belly with my first child, and gained
50+ lbs.  Rayna was 8lbs. 10 ozs.  With Rayna, I
didn't start showing until 1/2 way through the 5th.
month -- then I got huge (as if to make up for
5 months of not even a small belly bulge!).

Currently, I'm 13 weeks pregnant with my second child
and I'm protruding already!  I hope to combat the "big
belly" syndrome by controlling my weight gain as much
as is humanly possible (this seems to be beyond my control
to some extent, though I've gotten some good tips from
the book "What to Eat When You're Expecting").

Lesley

    Lesley,
    
    I have the Book "What to Expect When You're Expecting", Is the book you
    have by the same author?  There's a good diet plan in the book I have,
    too.
    
    Mel  :^)

            <<< Note 547.0 by USCTR1::MPELHAM "I was born READY" >>>
                         -< Does BIG BELLY=BIG BABY? >-

>>and my bust line has increased 6 inches!!! 

Fine, Mel, I hate you!!!!  :-).  Just kiddin', but boy did I want to grow
and I didn't at all with either pregnancy!!

Liz

    Hey Liz,
    
    I went from a 34B to a 40C!!!!  I plan on nursing (if I can), it looks
    like I'll have no trouble in that department!  Maybe I won't be so
    flat-chested when this whole ordeal is over?
    
    Mel :^)

    Hi Mel.  Welcome back.  Better watch it with those flat-chested
    remarks.  Those of us who wore (or wear) A cups before pregnancy will
    get very depressed (just kidding).  
    
    I'm 23 1/2 weeks now and have gained 26 pounds.  My doctor hasn't
    scolded me yet, although he did tell me in the beginning that I
    shouldn't gain more than 30.  That only leaves me with 4 pounds that I
    can gain in the last 3 1/2 months.  Oops.  
    
    And hopefully, I won't have a huge baby either or it's a C-section for
    me.  Dr. said my pelvis is average size and as long as I don't have a 9
    pounder, I should be able to have a vaginal delivery.  Luckily, my
    husband and I are both small (I started off at 5'5" and 100 pounds,
    hubby is 5'8", 160 pounds.
    
    Take care.
    
    Nancy

    re .10: my father was a 14lb baby at birth; my grandmother's fifth, and 
    LAST child.
    
    re .12: yes, I do believe they are from the same author, (although I
    don't have the "what to eat.." a friend of mine has -- I picked up
    "What to Expect during the First Year" -- also same author.) All great
    books.
    
    re .14: last week I finally gave in and was fitted for a maternity bra.
    my 36D was crushing my rib cage, and since I DO enjoy breathing....8-)
    well, the person who fitted my went by her criteria that at 4.5 months
    the thing should still be loose, so, I ended up with a 40F!!! (thank
    goodness it still IS loose!). 
    
    Here's praying that it STAYS loose....
    
    Monica
     
    

re .12: 

Mel, yes "What to Eat When You're Expecting" is 
by the same author as "What to Expect When You're 
Expecting" and "What to Expect the First Year".  I highly 
recommend this book.  It gives a number of recipes, 
tips on eating well and keeping your daily calorie count 
low, and lots of information about environmental hazards 
(this part I found a little frightening).
    
Good Luck!

	re: .16

	Just wait, you're not done yet!  I wore a 34D before Katie. Just before 
she was born, I was fitted with a 36F (had to special order it.)  That was
supposed to give me the extra cup of room that they reccomend.  By the time 
my milk came in, I was in a 36G!  (Also special ordered.)  

	For those who did not get to experience the "joy" of humongous boobs,
let me tell you that you are not missing a thing!  Not only did I have to 
special order the bras but they cost *$30* a piece!  All the weight is hell on 
your back.  It was next to impossible to find clothes that fit.  I was never 
comfortable without a bra, and if I DID dare go without one, I had to "hold" 
myself while going down stairs to avoid giving myself a black eye.:-)  Aerobics?
jogging???  It is to laugh!

	Sign me 
		relieved to be a 32D

			Tracey   

    Yeah, and when they fill up they get so fat the baby has trouble
    latching on, so he's only sucking on the very tip, and boy does
    that hurt . . .
    
    --bonnie

    Oh great, something else to look forward to!  8-)
    
    (yes, I know about stairs and aerobics..."I can't jump around
    miss, they'll rip off!")
    
    At this point I only laugh when someone politely asks me whether
    I intend to breast feed.....
    
    Monica
    

    My Goodness ladies!!!!  I can't believe the sizes out there***
    
    And I thought I had the inches around the bustline??!!  Hhmmm, I wonder
    how much bigger they'll get?  I'm already going for my second bra this
    weekend (only my 20th week)!  
    
    Still at 12lbs though, but boy, what a BIG belly I have!  I'm so
    excited to have this baby......  I can't wait to meet him/her face to face
    
    Thanks for the info on the author/books.....I'll have to check 'em out.
    
    Mel ^))
    

    And don't forget what wonderful shape your in when you stop nursing.
    I hate to say it but there's not much left of me. 
    
    

    Hi Mel,
    
    I had my baby 25th Oct.  I was really big, and I delt like
    there was no space left inskde me by the end, I could
    hardly breath!!  The Doctor was telling me to expect a
    10lb ++ baby, but infact she was just 8lbs.  But there was
    ALOT of fluid, vast amounts - so I guess that was what it
    was all about.
    
    So I think the answer is that, yes you might be carrying a
    big one, but it could be due to other factors!!
    
    Cheers and good luck!
    Sarah

    Thanks you all - authors of the last several notes!  The reading has
    been witty and entertaining, and given me a good laugh this Friday
    afternoon!
    
    Now to the woman whose grandmother gave birth to a 14 lbs. baby... NO
    WONDER IT WAS HER LAST ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, Monica, yeah you, the 40F, just FORGET trying to get another 
DBMS answer out of me when Brenda is off on holiday!!!

Liz :-). you better believe I'm just kidding!

I had a huge belly; people starting asking me when I was
6 months pregnant if I was due any day!  I also gained
a lot of weight -- 42 pounds and was afraid I was going
to have a huge baby.  But like a lot of other noters, my
fears were unrealized.  Michelle weighed in at 7 pounds
exactly.

Another nice surprise was that all that weight dropped
off easily within the first 3 months due to nursing.

As far as the breasts go, after nursing for 6 months
mine are now back to how they were before but I don't
even recognize them they are so small!  I even asked my
husband if they were this small before and he said yes!
Oh dear, I did like them better when they were big (and
I'm sure he did too).  I had a real figure!

Kyra