Did you / are you putting on loads more weight than average?

[ArialAnna]

I’m 26 weeks pregnant, 5ft 1 and have already put on 16kgs (35lbs) and look massive! :-(. I started out at 8 stone so had a healthy BMI of 21. At my 24 week GP appointment a couple of weeks ago, the GP said my bump was measuring at 27 weeks. I think I did overeat in my first trimester as I was snacking a lot to ward off feelings of sickness, but since then I’ve been eating my normal amounts and making an effort to try and be more healthy as well. I walk a reasonable amount during the week just walking to and from public transport etc (over the 30 minutes a day they recommend), and I normally do at least one longer 2 hour+ walk at the weekend. But other than that I’m not doing much exercise.

I don’t feel like my arms, legs or bum have got any bigger though – it looks like it’s all in the bump. Overall I don’t feel unhealthy but I am getting a little worried about it, and I’m not sure what to do about it as you’re not supposed to diet when pregnant. Any advice / suggestions? And is / was anyone in a similar situation?

[sianihedgehog]

I put on nearly 2 stone in the first trimester and then nothing else for the entire pregnancy. I was terribly worried about the weight gain, but actually I really struggled to fit in enough food to keep my weight up at the end, and was below my pre pregnancy weight very soon after birth. I would trust your body.

[WilliamHerschel]

I put on 4 stone in my pregnancy but my bump always measured small so the weight was sort of spread everywhere else. I was a bit underweight when I first got pregnant though. I ate what I felt like in between bouts of morning sickness (and what I craved was mostly junk). I had very bad pain in my legs, pelvis and back during pregnancy and struggled to walk even short distances so went from being very active to not active at all, which I'm sure didn't help with the weight gain! Although psychologically I found getting bigger a bit upsetting having always been small, I didn't worry about it affecting the baby or pregnancy, or do anything to lose weight while pregnant. My baby was healthy and I naturally went back to my old size within a few months after giving birth.

I think unless the doctors/midwives bring it up as an area of concern I wouldn't worry too much. Sorry I don't know if any of my post is helpful! I'm trying to be reassuring but feel like I'm doing a bad job of it!

[elmo1980]

If your gp/midwife wasn't worried then I would get too stressed about it. As long as are eating healthily and getting some exercise I don't see what else you can do except go with it and deal with it once baby is here.

Having said that I'm worried about gestational diabetes as I can't stop eating cakes so not following my own advice here. I have 25 mw appt next week so will no doubt get told off!

[ArialAnna]

Thanks guys, it's good to know Will that you went back to normal after putting on 4 stone! When I saw the GP she wasn't overly concerned but suggested I get a scan to get it checked out. But when I rang the hospital to book it they said they don't do scans for large bumps unless the gestational diabetes test comes back positive (my results showed no sign of it luckily). Guess that must mean it's pretty common and nothing to worry about, fingers crossed!

[IckleWicklePumperNickle]

I put on a lot of weight with both mine.

[Slave2thecat]

I was thinking of starting a similar thread. 34 weeks and Im starting to feel big, my bump is measuring big now. my problem is poor diet - I can't stop eating. I get light headed if I don't eat. I'm eating lots of crap. I've put on 14 kgs - my bmi was 23 so reasonably ok before I got pregnant. I don't know how to stop eating crap though :(

[Newmum90]

Wow we have the same height and had the same starting BMI and i was exactly the same. Piled on weight at the beginning but was eating to fend off the sickness. For me it honestly did level out come the end of the 2nd trimester so dont panic too much - just try to stay healthy and active!

[Slothlikesundays]

Like William I had terrible back and pelvic problems. I put on 4 st. 8 weeks postpartum I have lost just over two and have two more to loose. It's made me a bit fed up but I know I'll get back to "normal" eventually

[notinagreatplace]

This is just anecdote but almost all of my friends/family who were on the slim side at the beginning of their pregnancies (say BMI 23 and below) put on a lot more weight than you're recommended to. But they also all lost it fairly quickly after pregnancy as well.

[MoonlightMojitos]

I am so worried about piling it on. I was a size 10 and bmi 21.5 healthy. I'm only 6 weeks but for the last week I've been feeling so sick and eating is the only thing that helps. I'm scared to weigh myself as I know I've added a few lbs already, jeans are so tight today not helped by the bloat! Today I've eaten...
Massive bowl of crunchy nut
2 boxes raisins
2 oranges
A boiled egg
Some brazil nuts
2 packets of crisps
Bolognese for lunch
A chocolate brownie
And now I'm cooking dinner :(

I'm trying not to worry though as long as baby is healthy and hoping to start exercise again once the exhaustion has gone!

Op if you feel like it's mostly gone on your bump then I really wouldn't worry, I'm sure you look lovely and will lose it very easily after!

[carmenta]

I worried last time about how much weight I was putting on. I was constantly starving in the first trimester, I ate about 5 meals a day. From a starting BMI of about 21 I put on 4 stone. It came off afterwards though, a lot came off quite quickly and the rest within a year or so.

This time around I'm not paying much attention but I think I've put on nearly 3 stone at 35 weeks. I couldn't care less!

[Dixiechick17]

I was 7stone 10lbs pre pregnancy, I put on just over four stone, now 16 months post pregnancy I am 8 stone 5lbs which I dropped to within 6 months.

[catmombaby16]

I too was really worried.

I was a big girl at 5ft 8 size 16/18 when I got pregnant and booking in bmi was 38.4 all I got was you're overweight/high risk/there will be issues. I was even referred to a dietician who told me I wasn't allowed to put on more than 14/21lbs the entire pregnancy!

It scared me/ Lots of pressure.

I'm 34wks now and weigh less than I did at booking in (bmi 38.1) I've been craving fruit and veg and I'm guessing the no wine/prosecco has helped!

My point is enjoy it, don't feel pressured like I did/do and not enjoy the odd treat!

[Nimisha]

I put on four stones in my first pregnancy but lost it all and a bit more afterwards although the last half a stone didn't go until after I finished breastfeeding.

I didn't diet afterwards because I was breastfeeding, just tried not to eat too much junk and did some Zumba.

I really enjoyed my food in my pregnancy, especially sweet stuff but interestingly the cravings disappeared when I gave birth.

[crayfish]

I put on 4 stone with DS and was still 3 stone overweight for a while after birth. I had a bmi of 19 before pregnancy so was very slim. I just ate everything in sight when I was pregnant so it was completely my own fault.

I was quite shocked with the weight gain and a bit depressed about it, but by the time DS was 10 months old I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight. That didn't happen by magic, I had to work hard, but it was reasonably doable and I felt a million times better.