Does what you eat effect babies weight?

[clacko]

Might be a stupid question but does what you eat effect baby's weight? Or does baby just take what nutrients it needs?

Does someone who craves fatty foods more likely to have a bigger baby than someone who eats salads all the way through?

 

[RaspberryK]

It can do, I know those with gestational diabetes can have big babies. .. but then also mil had severe morning sickness throughout with dh and he was over 8 5lb.
Xx

 

[pinkribbon]

Yes and no I think, as previous poster said those with GD have to be really careful. Obviously eating bad food all the time can't be good either but I think indulging in cravings is okay for most people

 

[Gizzyy]

I eat like a pig but baby's measuring small so I don't know

 

[mmMlm]

It didn't for me - DD#1 I craved cake & brownies (along with fruit) all the time. She was smaller than DD#2 who I ate less sweets with.

 

[Sour_Skittle]

Your baby only absorbs what it needs.

Like in those countries that are malnurited (sp?) tend to still have chunky healthy babies. My midwife liked to refers to babies like leeches. They will get the nutrients they need, even if that means taking it from mommy.

I eat like a cow unfortunately and both pregnancies my babies have been 7 lbs.

I think size of baby is hereditary/what mom is capable of carrying and of course things like GD can affect size..

 

[babylove x]

Yes it does, there is research, but its important to also keep in mind that many other things play a role as well. For example, my gramma is 100% japanese, tiny and eats well, somehow my dad still made it to 10 ib 3 !!!!!!

 

[Mrs Dragonfly]

Yes it does, there is research, but its important to also keep in mind that many other things play a role as well. For example, my gramma is 100% japanese, tiny and eats well, somehow my dad still made it to 10 ib 3 !!!!!!

Oh don't say that, my bil was a 10 pounder as well. Omg.

I think there are so many factors that contribute to baby's weight, although we should be somewhat careful on not eating too much bad food - not just for baby's sake but for our own too since they're not the only ones growing

 

[psychnurse23]

I lost 70 lbs in my last pregnancy and my little boy was 9 lbs 11.5oz at 3 days over. He well and truly took what he needed from me and is thee picture of health since he was born.

 

[ParisJeTadore]

Yes it does, there is research, but its important to also keep in mind that many other things play a role as well. For example, my gramma is 100% japanese, tiny and eats well, somehow my dad still made it to 10 ib 3 !!!!!!

To the OP, great question! I have often wondered this too...

I can relate (although thank goodness my son wasn't a 10 pounder ) I am tiny, was told repeatedly by my doctor and even nurses that my baby would be small and LO was well over 8 pounds! I ate extremely healthy during my pregnancy and it didn't seem to make a difference so the comment about babies being like leeches seems accurate

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Id say no unless you have GD


See so many HG suffers have 9lb + babies after only losing weight you do wonder why.

Ive never ate well and had 7lb 11oz baby.

 

[RaspberryK]

I had a 10lb baby girls don't worry I'm still alive and up for round two! Xx

 

[MamaLa]

Heard babies weights are influenced by the father's weight at birth and Of Course Other factors Like GD

 

[CaptainMummy]

I have always eaten terribly (ie. waaaay too much junk) and so far have had an 8lb 14oz chubby newborn baby and an 8lb 1oz long beanpole newborn.
I was 8lb 7oz at birth (and my 4 siblings were all 8+ lbs) and my OH was 10lb 10oz and his 6 siblings were all above 8lbs too (his mum was/is diabetic though.)

I doubt I would have a small baby anyway, even if I did eat healthy! It is amazing how different my 2 daughters body shapes were as newborns though, considering I was exactly the same durig both pregnancies. I have no idea what I will get this time!

 

[Nikko88]

There is a mixture of genetics and environment that goes into determining baby weight. The baby will take all the glucose you give it. This becomes a problem during GD because the mother's blood has way more glucose in it. The baby takes the glucose and uses it to grow and store as fat.

The paternally imprinted genes favor development of a big baby while the mother's imprinted genes favor limiting baby growth.

 

[Unexpected212]

I eat a lot and my son was 7pounds11oz and this one is looking to be around the same

 

[Buttercup84]

I didn't eat well at all when I was pregnant with my dd, just didn't feel like much of anything and even went off chocolate which I normally love, but she was 9lbs 4oz so she obviously grew just fine!

 

[Fallacy]

I don't think so...I think it is mostly genetics. I gained like 40 lbs last pregnancy and had a 6 lb baby. Predicted the same this time around though I'm doing well about my weight.

 

[Laurhilou]

Im not sure. I ate absolutely awfully last time, I ate so much fatty foods, and constantly pigged out.. i had a 10 lb 2oz baby.. this time round, I tried to eat healthily and drank so much water etc, and baby was estimated at 2lbs at 22 week... So I doubt my theory was going to work lol. Who knows... x