Weight gain guidelines when carrying multiples?

Question

I am reading "When You're Expecting Twins,  Triplets, or Quads" by Dr. Barbara Luke and she suggests gaining a considerable amount of weight to ensure the babies are heavy enough at birth (even if delivered early) to stay out of the NICU. I was almost on board when I read her encourage eating Snickers, fast food and prosciutto with melon - isn't prosciutto considered a deli meat at risk of transmitting Listeria?

I'm just not sure how much to gain,  when to gain and how much my extra 11 lb/27 BMI plays a factor. I'm focusing on high quality nutrients and eating when I am hungry (5-6 meals a day).

Have any of you been referred to a specialist with experience in multiples? What have you been told?

Answer

Thanks for the feedback, ladies. This is one of 3 books I have on deck,  reading as much as possible so I can make educated decisions.

Did any of you go to a doctor who has expertise in multiples? I live in a remote location where there aren't any such specialists but am curious since it was recommended in this book.

Answer

I read 36-50 pound weight gain with twins is recommended but it all depends on what your pre-pregnancy weight was, I'm tall but am a little overweight, so I should hopefully only gain maybe  around 30ish pounds, but I've been having severe morning sickness with a lack of appetite, I'm currently down 9 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight and I can't even eat a full meal anymore, I fill up very quickly and won't be hungry for a while afterwards, unless my doctor is concerned, I'm not gonna worry too much

Answer

I've gained just under 30lbs with these twins and I'm being induced this week. One is estimated at almost 8lbs the other 6 1/2lbs. Even though I'm tall and had a high BMI pre pregnancy, my doctors were never concerned with my weight gain. They were more concerned with how I ate and made sure I was informed about a balanced diet. (I still indulged in doughnuts and cake though... Shhhhh)

Answer

NICU isnt just based in weight...it is gestational age at birth etc 
For multiples there isnt a set weight to gain or not to gain. I have gained about 30 lbs with my twins and its all in my tummy. Good luck

Answer

Neither my doctor nor the nurse thru my insurance echoed Dr. Lukes recommendation.  My doc said I will gain plenty of the weight at the end.  I actually have tapered off the last few weeks (31 weeks today and at +35 lbs total).  I too had terrible morning sickness, but I focused on esti ng lots of protein as Dr Luke suggested during 2nd trimester and both kiddos are measuring at 58th percentile!   I think it's quality over quantity of food for sure!

Answer

I missed that part about eating fast food and snickers! From what I gathered from the book is eat a lot of protein and balance it with a carb, and stick to healthy foods. My doctor didn't recommend gaining the 25 pounds by 20 weeks like the book does, but I figured if the weight is from healthy foods then it's definitely not going to hurt me or the babies. I tried gaining a fair amount of weight in the beginning because I was so sick that I didn't gain much weight at all in the first trimester. I was able to gain the weight by eating tons of protein through a bunch of small meals throughout the day. My thoughts are that if gaining this weight makes the babies bigger and healthier when they are born then it's totally worth it. I can already tell that I'm not going to be able to put on as much weight later in the pregnancy because I already can't eat as much as I used to.

Answer

I've gained43 with my twins and I'm due in a few weeks Dr says they will b @ 4pounds each starting weight was 103 now146 feeling big but good

Weight gain guidelines when carrying multiples?

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