weight gain after miscarriage?

[mumtoaandj]

i had a miscarriage exaclty a month ago and since then have put on nearly a stone. i have had really bad tummy ache and water infections but for the past 2 days have felt more like my old self but i am piling on weight. i was only about 7-8 weeks pregnant when i miscarried. is this weight gain normal- i havent eaten more actually have watched what i have eaten.

[purple84]

Sorry for your loss.
I would phone ur GP and ask, cause that is a lot of weight gain in such a small time.
x

[WhatDreamsMayCome]

I'm also sorry for your loss mumtoaandj.

I have been in a similar situation; before mc, I could just forgo a few indulgences and my weight would return to what I wanted it to be but since it happened, it's been a struggle! I think that with a full term pregnancy, at least breast feeding burns up some calories but with mc it's as though the rug has been pulled from under us at great speed and our bodies don't know what to do. It feels as though my body is saying 'Ooh, no, we're keeping this fat for the next baby' but I don't want to begin another pregnancy at this weight.

I would suggest logging onto a website like fitnesspal (or one of the others) where you can enter every food you're eating each day (you have to be honest!) and you can see whether you are eating more than you thought you were. I think you may be like me however and if you were quite a controlled eater before, you know whether your metabolism has slowed or you are simply eating more. It's taken me 7 months to shift half a stone as I can't bear dieting and prefer to do things slowly so it stays off but still have another 11 pounds to go. More exercise is the way to go, I suppose.

Another thing to explore is whether your thyroid is slightly hypo and slowing your metabolism (google post partum hypo thyroid for further info and symptoms) It is quite common for the thyroid to be odd after being pregnant, it's a shame that they don't make those who have had a mc more aware of this, as if we aren't bewildered enough. If you decide to get this tested, ask your GP for a vitamin D test too (particularly if you have dark skin) as a deficiency can cause weight gain. Thirdly, you could ask for a hormone profile to be done - PCOS may be playing a part - are your periods regular?

This is what I will be doing to check that something is not out of whack.

[mumtoaandj]

thankyou- i have spent the week being really good not lost anything but thankfully not gained. my stomach seems podgier and my face rounder. i have an appointment with my doctor next week, i'll ask about my throid.something is not right,

[WhatDreamsMayCome]

You're welcome. I know that round face look! I quite enjoyed looking 'Victorian'! Just wish the fat in the face would stay and the body would lose it! I think that if the facial swelling is excessive however, it may be related to the thyroid. Other symptoms include hair loss and feeling cold all the time.

This may all be too much information but have you tried basal temperature charting? Essentially, charting your temperature on waking (without any movement) with a digital thermometer. If your temperature is persistently low throughout your cycle, it is another indicator of a poorly functioning thyroid. Mine has been 37C and above recently which is fine but nearer to the m/c, it was 36.17, which is thought to be in low thyroid territory, IIRC.

Did you have a scan after your loss? I did so, however on forth AF, it was heavier than usual and a tiny bit of something was passed, about the size of a drawing pin with a very distinctive shape, no idea what it was but after that the weight loss began. Apologies if this sounds cryptic.

[mumtoaandj]

i am really feeling the cold particularly in my hands and arms in the evening, then i cant seem to warm up. I will find a thermometer that works and see what it says. No i have not had a scan and have much tummy complaints since the miscarriage and water infections, it has been a real pain and to be honest i am sick of the doctors i was there nearly every day the week before last. i am still awaiting my first period, maybe that will resolve everything.
thank you

[WhatDreamsMayCome]

It's early days if you haven't had your first period yet, things should get better after that. I understand that you must be sick of going to the doctor if you have been there so much but it is curious that they haven't scanned you - how are they certain that everything has passed? Are they just going on pregnancy tests and HCG levels?
You could always call your local EPU at the hospital and ask whether you should have had one.

Regarding your tummy, I had constipation after mc and a bloated belly and this is probably connected with hormones and the organs resettling their position. Much of what applies to post partum problems also applies to those of us who have had a mc so have a look at any info on 'post partum issues' as it is often reassuring to see what others are experiencing.

If you are still concerned with the weight gain, I would mention it to the GP, if you really don't feel you can go there again so soon again, the only other option is to be referred or pay privately to go to a mc clinic where they will give you lots of one to one attention and run an array of tests. There are costs to consider but it all depends on how much it is concerning you and what you feel comfortable with.

Hope it all goes well for you, mumtoaandj.

[Yemenite]

Hi - I had a m/c at 11 weeks and since then I have put on half a stone and I have no idea how. I haven't gained weight for years - with my first baby I gained about a stone which came off by 3 months post-birth. It's like my body still thinks it's pregnant. I have an appointment on weds with my gynae to check that everything is ok (I had a D&C to speed things along) so will ask about the weight gain.

[WhatDreamsMayCome]

Sorry for your loss, Yemenite. I'm the same, I put on more weight after the m/c than I did during the three months of pregnancy.

The only clue about this is that my vitamin D levels have fallen significantly. I've upped the dosage and they've fallen another 4ng. It's very frustrating. I don't think that it just be the blood loss that has caused this, it's puzzling.

In the past, I could just skip the odd treat and my weight would fall but it's now a struggle. I feel very underwhelmed by everything and don't feel motivated to do anything, which is unusual for me.

Would you update us with what the gynae says, if you feel comfortable with doing so?

Hope that mumtoaandj is ok, too.

[Yemenite]

Hi WDMC - yes of course I will let you know what he says. I have read a bit about it on the internet (highly reliable!!) and it says that until your next period begins, your body still thinks it is pregnant and holds on to the brown fat stores for breastfeeding. I don't know if this is true but it may explain.
I am also on psychiatric Medication which MAY be making me fat but I don't feel that I am eating any differently at all.

[WhatDreamsMayCome]

Thanks, Yementine, it would be great to get some professional input.

I'm about 8 periods past the m/c so I don't think I can blame it on breastfeeding stores any more, unfortunately. I have fat stores everywhere! It probably does explain what the majority of weight gain is related to after m/c however.

Don't have any personal experience of psychiatric medications but I have certainly read and heard accounts of them causing weight gain. There was a medical programme on Radio Four a while back about it, may still be on their archives to listen to. If you weren't on the mediation before the pregnancy, it would be difficult to determine whether the weight gain is being caused by was the meds or related to m/c. Perhaps your gynae can do some blood profiles for thyroid, hormones, vitamins, etc.? You would at least, then have a starting point for future comparison.

Good luck for your apt on Wednesday.

[WhatDreamsMayCome]

Meant to say, Yemenite, not Yementine, sorry.

[Yemenite]

Thank you WDMC (and I'm quite liking Yementine!). I am quite slim normally and only 5 foot 1 which means that every single pound I put on really shows. I have been about 7 and a half stone for the past few years, only gaining then taking off again when I was pregnant the first time. This pregnancy made me really hungry and I gained about 4 pounds up until the 11 week mark when I miscarried. I then started the medication so it's hard to tell what is what. Anyway I have a psych apt also on weds and will be discussing this weight gain. So I will update you on both.

[mumtoaandj]

i posted the original thingy- my weight continues to increase but today have had blood tests for thyroid and kidney problems-also querying my adrenal gland? god knows but the last thing i want is to look more pregnant after a mc. Yemenite i have since my mc increased my dose of amitryptiline so maybe it is that?

[Yemenite]

Hi - just back from the gynae who basically said that an increase in appetite and weight gain in the first trimester is normal but once miscarried, the body goes back to pretty much the same as it was before quite fast. Any subsequent weight gain could be subconscious comfort eating after the trauma. He also said that the meds I take could have something to do with it. It's awful isn't it, because after 9 months of pregnancy you have a baby and people expect you to be over your natural weight. After a miscarriage you don't have your baby and you are STILL overweight...

[WhatDreamsMayCome]

Thanks for the update, Yemenite. Tell me about it. Oh well, at least I won't be feeling the cold this Winter.

Interesting about the adrenal.Keep us in the loop with the results, mumtoaandj!

[birdofthenorth]

I put on heaps of weight after my second miscarriage -same as you, at least a stone in a month. Yes I was comfort eating but not to that extent, so it must have been hormonal. It settled down after 6 weeks or so.

I'm sorry for the loss of your little one.

[Conundrum12345]

Found this thread and wondering if anyone had any updated information. Weight has been puling on since my medical management and my eating is back to pre pregnancy levels. Could it be down to hormones?

[Claire73698]

Just reading this thread now following my mc and can relate to the bloated feeling and not sure how long this will last x x