To ask about weight gain when pregnant - and how to control it?

[StepAwayFromGoogle]

I am 20 weeks pregnant with my second child and I am MASSIVE. I don't remember being this huge with DD and we've just found out we're having another girl so it's definitely not a sex thing.

I had hyperemesis with both this pregnancy and DD but much better controlled with this one so only lost half a stone (as opposed to one and a half with DD). With both, as soon as I was able to eat normally again my body clung to the weight. I still feel a bit nauseous most of the time and find fruit and anything sugary makes me feel sicker and am eating a lot of carbs but am sure I did with DD.

I went swimming with DD and OH yesterday and couldn't believe how I looked. I nearly cried. My arse has widened, flattened, sunk and pushed my thighs out. My legs are like tree-trunks and I've got cellulite down to my calves. My calves, FFS! Even my arms are enormous.

Any advice? Words of wisdom? Reassurance that this happened to you and all resolved itself after birth?! Any would be appreciated!

[Moanyoldcow]

How much weight have you actually gained? Could a lot be water retention? It varies so much and it's so hard.

I put on 3.5 stone with my first but lost it all in about a month - so much was water retention I was shocked.

Concentrate on eating things that nourish you and make you feel well and healthy abd worry about weight loss once baby is here.

[lloveroftobleone]

I gained 5 stones with my dd and was an eating machine. No food in the world could fill me up and I recall the utter horror when I realised post birth that I really looked as I did.

It came off, slowly but surely and when I had my booking appointment with my second pregnancy, sixteen months after my first, I weighed three pounds more than at my first booking appointment.

Then I gained another five stones....

I do wish I hadn't, as I sit here breastfeeding my six month old with boobs down to my knees, but console myself that it should come off again hopefully, albeit leaving my silhouette somewhat worse for wear.

That's what spanx and a bloody good bra are for.

I wouldn't recommend it, worries about things like gestational diabetes for example, but it wasn't the absolute horror I had anticipated a few days post partum.

[StepAwayFromGoogle]

@Moanyoldcow - I think I've put on about 2 stone . I often look 'better' in the morning so hoping that might mean some of it is water retention?

I just couldn't get over how awful I looked at swimming. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. Am trying to eat healthily and move as much as I can so think that's all I can do? Just got to hope it goes when baby arrives.

@lloveroftobleone - breastfeeding is meant to be the magic ingredient for weight loss so let's hope that works!