Weight gain in pregnancy. Help!

[KitKat1985]

Hello all.

Hope everyone is well. :)

Just wanted to ask a really cheeky question about how much weight you've gained so far? I've just come back from a fortnights holiday this weekend and was a bit shocked when I finally plucked up the courage to get on the scales this morning. I've gained 13 pounds in total this pregnancy, and 7 pounds of which has gone on in the past 3 weeks (when I last weighed myself), and so clearly went a tad overboard on holiday! I'm 18+1 at the moment so not even halfway yet!

I guess I just want to get some idea of how much is 'average' to have gained by this point. I know in the grand scheme of things the weight gain isn't that important as long as me and baby are well (which we are), but I have to be honest and say I've had a lot of eating disordered issues in the past (I've been both very overweight and very underweight in the past) and although I've managed well and been a healthy weight for several years now pre-pregnancy - BMI of 24 pre-pregnancy, I guess I'm just finding it a bit harder than I thought I would to deal with the weight gain and my body changing, probably because it all feels a bit out of my control. If I could get some idea of what was a 'normal' amount of weight gain at each point in pregnancy was at least I know roughly what I should weigh, which I think I would find helpful.

Many thanks! x

[KatraAllandra]

I weighed myself this morning for the first time in weeks, I'm only 29+3 and I've put on exactly 3 stones from my pre-pregnancy weight. I know it is far too much but I'm struggling to know what to do - I'm hungry all the time and feel nauseous if I don't eat. I try to snack on fruit but I'm obviously eating way too much.

[Hobby2014]

I'm interested in this too. I've put on a stone since my first scan at 12 weeks on the 13th jan. I'm now 25 weeks.

[eurochick]

I'd put on about 12 pounds by 18 weeks (10lbs of that by 10 weeks!).

[EyelinerQueen]

I'm 26 weeks and have put on just under a stone.

Today I tried on and am wearing my pre-pregnancy skinny jeans and am feeling very smug that they still fit .

I am determined not to pile it on and give myself even more to shift post-baby.

[Darksideofthemoon88]

I'm 32 weeks and have put on 15 pounds. I think that is the low side of normal - but not boasting as I still feel the size of a house! I think a total weight gain of 2-2.5 stone is considered 'ideal', but plenty of people seem to put on more than this.

[KitKat1985]

Hey, thanks for the replies so far, I know it's quite a personal question to have asked!

It seems weight gain seems to vary quite a bit from your replies so far. My pregnancy book also says that 2-2.5 stone of weight gain is about normal during your whole pregnancy (if you are in the normal BMI category pre-pregnancy, and obviously gain a bit more / less if you are in the underweight / overweight categories respectively), but I'm not quite sure if that is supposed to go on gradually during your whole pregnancy, (in which case my weight gain is about average); or if people normally put most of it on in the last trimester for example?

I know in the grand scheme of things that as long as Mum and Baby are both healthy and doing well then the weight gain isn't the most important of things, but at the same time don't want to have loads of weight to shift after baby is born either.

[MrsMonkeyBear]

I was 6st 6lb pre preg. Now 13 weeks on im 7st 8lb. I'm not too worried at the moment as I was underweight before and have been told to aim to gain 3-3st7lbs by the end. If I put on more so be it. I'm enjoying my food at the moment!!

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

Pregnancy weight gain calculator

[KitKat1985]

Thanks for the link stillnofuckingeyedeer - that helps clarify quite a bit. According to tool am a little bit heavier than what I should be for 18 weeks (damn holiday weight-gain ), so will try and make weight gain a bit more gradual from now on.

If anyone is wondering, the tool seems to suggest that although a little bit of weight may be gained in the first trimester (say 1-4 pounds), from the start of the second trimester most people start to gradually put on weight until the end of their pregnancy (so for me for example, it basically looks like putting on a pound a week from week 13 onwards is about average).

[Kellsbelles83]

I'm 16 weeks tomorrow and I've lost a Ib since my 12 week scan. Saying that, With my daughter, I gained nearly 5 stone. I'm tall but only weighed 9 stone before I got pregnant. This pregnancy, I had horrible sickness and I'm still nauseous so finding eating difficult. I think as long as you're keeping healthy and active (as much as possible), then try not to worry too much :)

[Torfhinn]

Pre-pregnancy, I was slightly underweight and never put on weight regardless if what I did. I'm now 39 weeks and have put on over 2 stone. Although it has been alarming to see my body changing so dramatically, I feel reassured that my body has 'taken control' during this pregnancy and is doing what it is supposed to/needs to to be healthy. Also, I put in weight in fits and starts - sometimes 2lbs a week for a few weeks, then no weight change for several weeks. I would encourage you to relax about weight gain and not restrict your diet, and try to trust in your body. Hope this helps x

[Pregnantagain7]

Im pregnant with my fourth and I've always put on more than I should usually between 3 and 4 stone but it always comes off afterwards so I really wouldn't worry also I find that I might not gain anything for say five weeks then I'll gain 3 llbs in a week. I'm usually quite healthy but pregnancy does something very strange to me I want to eat things I would never normally eat today I found my mouth watering at all the pies and pasties in a bakery as a walked past I could seriously have eaten about five it was only because I was in a hurry that I didn't! :)

[eepie]

I am 29 weeks and so far have gained 22lbs - around 1.5 stone. Haven't been excessively eating - small portions - and didn't eat much at all in 1st trimester but I have definitely not been holding back on desserts, milk, yoghurt, ice creams etc when I feel like I want them. Cheese too. And houmous. All quite calorific and fatty things. I feel massive but this article/geeking out made me feel better: www.babycentre.co.uk/a554810/weight-gain-in-pregnancy -- I added up everything they said you put on during pregnancy due to fluid, placenta, amniotic fluid, uterus, breasts, fat for breastfeeding etc (although I made my baby 3lbs rather than 7.3lbs in my calculations - that's what was estimated at her growth scan this week, and estimated the amniotic fluid and placenta at 1lb each) and my total was 21.9 - and I've put on 22lbs ...so I am telling myself that my weight gain is perfect !! Even though I feel massive and look much heavier (THIGHS oh my god) - - my body is doing exactly what it needs for my baby and for breastfeeding. And I know the feeling of it bothering you more than you thought it would....I'm feeling the pressure for sure to be 'all baby' and have a 'neat bump' and look glamorous during pregnancy but all too often I have caught myself standing in the street, huge bump, no make-up, stuffing an apple danish into my face whilst staring into space completely away with the fairies....and then found myself thinking....OH FUCK IT I'M PREGNANT I DON'T CARE ! Don't worry - what will be will be...and personally, before I was pregnant, I always liked seeing pregnant women who looked like they were eating well (if you know what I mean) rather than ones who looked like they were starving ! It put a smile on my face to see a pregnant woman enjoying her food, carrying a bit extra weight - it felt normal and fruitful and natural to me to be a little rounder all over whilst carrying a baby ! :)

[Pregnantagain7]

Oh and I'm 14 weeks and have gained half a stone.

[loopylou52]

I'm 36 weeks and have put on about 1.5 stone (from being the high end of the ideal weight range to begin with). I was quite pleased with that but baby is measuring small so actually I wouldn't have minded having put more on! For a while I tracked my weight every two weeks against one of those online calculators but I found I didn't follow the expected pattern - I didn't put much on at all until about 16 weeks, then put on most of it during the rest of the second trimester and it slowed down loads in the third trimester. So don't worry too much if you're not in the range it says at a given point.

[mrsnec]

16+2. Pre pregnancy bmi of 26. Not gained an ounce yet. Sickness getting a little better and I'm extremely relaxed about what I'm eating. Expecting to balloon overnight!

[DownstairsMixUp]

I didn't gain anything for ages then it just shot up in the second trimester! I started at 9 stone 9, I'm 20 weeks now and 10 stone 5lbs!

[sleepingdragon]

I gained almost 8kg between my first appointment with the GP at 6 weeks and my 12 week booking in appointment with the midwife (although I still think the scales must have been wrong)! I am now 30 weeks, and have gained another 5kg, most of that in the last few weeks. So 13kg/2 stone in total so far.

[Darksideofthemoon88]

If it helps at all, OP, I'm not gaining any more now in the middle of the third trimester than I was earlier on. I don't think I gained any weight at all until about 17 weeks (well, I lost 5 pounds due to HG and put that back on so I was my normal weight again), and then put on about 7 pounds between then and about 24 weeks, and then steadied out again. I don't think weight gain has to be uniform or at a certain time - we're all different

[scrufhead]

lost half a stone and I'm 21 weeks :/ I have had HG though!! and even though I've lost weight I'm blathered in stretch marks all along my hips and butt :(:(

[Cariad007]

Put on 11lb in total, baby was 8lb 5oz despite measuring small for dates earlier on.

[firsttimemummy2109]

I had a BMI of 30> pre pregnancy and I haven't gained any weight at all. I was told at my booking appointment by a very snooty midwife that I would DEFINITELY get GD and I would DEFINITELY have a bigger than average baby and I would DEFINITELY have to be induced early because of all this. Now at 38 weeks, I haven't got GD, the baby is average on the growth chart and I have no need to be induced early. I wish I could see that midwife again and tell her that! I felt like I was being really judged about my size.

[Jcb77]

34+ weeks, starting BMI 23. Put on 2lb from starting weight. Had hyperemesis for 26 weeks, lost 16lb in the first 26 weeks and still not finding eating a bundle of laughs - food disinterest rather than frank nausea for most of it though, which is better. Baby spot on 50th centile for growth though and it's definitely me that's shrunk (rings too big, bit gaunt but improving) rather than LO. Consultant doesn't seem to fussed but it is a worry. Am doing what I can and eat loads of cheese and chocolate, but...... Any tips?

[KitKat1985]

Wow, definitely a lot of variation in the weight gain. I definitely seem to have put on a lot compared to a lot of you ladies! My sympathies though to all of you with HG, must be horrendous. xx

[LightTripper]

I'm another one who lost weight because of sickness in the first trimester, but have gained very steadily during the second and third. I was a bit surprised, thought my weight gain would be more at the end, but it's actually pretty much a straight line. Don't know if that is normal. Midwives seem reasonably happy.