Monday, October 17, 2011

Big news!

On Thursday, Shimon and I went to a doctor's appointment. This is the first appointment that has been able to work for Shimon, which was really nice. Our goal on Thursday: find out the gender of our baby!

In Japan, weight gain is taken very seriously with the recommended gain being only 10kg (22lbs). In the US, the recommended weight gain is between 25 and 35 pounds (or 11.5kg and 15kg). It still strikes me as rather uncompromising to expect every woman, regardless of body shape, overall health, etc. to gain the exact same amount of weight.

I had gained nearly 2kgs (over 4lbs) since my September check up. And this is with limiting what I eat, but still indulging a little bit. Well, it looks like I am changing my eating habits (and starving at the same time!!). Once I get the hang of it, I should be fine. The worst part of this news is that Japanese docs seem to like to use the "scare" technique when getting women and their partners to conform to the weight standards they have set. While I was in the other room the doctor explained all of the "dangers" of gaining too much weight and that if I kept going as I was going.... well, you get the picture. He freaked Shimon out completely.

Then we went next door for the ultrasound... Shimon had never seen one (it was his first visit with me!) and had never heard the babies heartbeat - two firsts!! And then the doctor told us the big news... we're having a boy! Shimon was SO surprised (I was too, but I think he was more surprised)! We had started discussing names and had come to a consensus on girls' names... but we hadn't really tackled boys names yet.

Well, now begins the big naming decision. Luckily we have a few months left, but still... it's going to be a bit of a struggle (more on that in a future post!).

7 comments:

Em said...

Please tell Shimon that I gained 40 pounds when pregnant with Sierra (maybe it was just 38) and not only do I have a healthy, intelligent 3-year-old now, I have also lost all the weight gained and some more. You have nothing to worry about, my dear.

Em said...

Oh! One more thing! That is so dirty that the doctor told all of that to Shimon while you were out of the room. That is so dirty. I would have been pissed.

Jaime said...

I agree with Em - not cool of the doctor. I'm sure you'll be fine! :)

Anonymous said...

Alisha don't even worry about how much weight you gain okay sweetie! Seriously! I gained 35lbs with Zack and 40 with Derek. They were both big healthy boys but not overly big, Zack was just under 9lbs and Derek was just over.
I'm sure your not smoking, drinking, doing drugs or cramming nothing but junk food in your mouth so you WILL BE FINE!! Don't let the doctors stress you out.
I am SUPER excited to hear you're having a boy! Shimon and you will have such a fun time with him! Can't wait to hear names once you have an idea, that was a daunting task! Is your mom super excited? I can imagine she is! Is she coming to Japan to meet her grandson after he's born?!
No stresses, just enjoy your self, keep being a healthy prego and no worries about silly doctors! Reminds me of how my doctor swore girls my size only have 6 or 7lb babies, HA, yeah right!
:-)-
Niki

Alisha said...

Thanks guys for the support!! An the funny thing is that I walk every day... and not moseying pace... I walk fast! But somehow that doesn't account for enough (in the mind of the doc). I'm doing better trying to at least monitor what I eat and not eating convenient (i.e. convenience store) food as much. If I still gain more than I'm supposed before next appointment, I'm not going to be too upset. :-)

Anonymous said...

I think if I was preggers in Japan I would just ignore what the doctor says about weight gain!!!

Suzanne said...

I just want to chime in that you should not worry about your weight (and I am also pissed, like Em, about this doctor). If you are walking and not eating crap you will be just fine. Pregnancy can be so anxiety-producing, you are healthy, don't worry!