please satisfy my curiosity with WEIGHT GAIN DURING PREGNANCY

[notsoslimnow]

hi all, i was 11 stone before becoming pregnant (im 5 ft 7)and am now 38+2 and after weighing myself the other day im now 14 stone(thought i was a tad less actually) . i spoke to a family member the other day who thought it was discracefull to be so heavy during pregnancy.to be honest i was very shocked by that reaction as i have had a fab, healthy pregnancy bp perfect etc.so my question is does anyone else around 38 weeks want to share their weight with me and make me feel a bit more normal again!!!? i really dont believe im too heavy as i have always weighed a little heavier iyswim...at 11 stone i was a size 10. sorry for the rant...but also im pretty sure you retain water, have increased blood volume not to mention baby,placenta etc when pregnant so i think 3 stone is ok????

[Puppster]

I gained about 3 stone as well - got to just under 13, I reckon 2.5 - 3 is about average. As always on these things people always have an opinion, but if you feel good, that's all that matters

[tinkhasanactivebean]

i gained 3 stone with dd
it varies from person to person

[TheProvincialLady]

3 stone is perfectly normal and ok - what kind of a nasty person would tell you it is 'disgraceful' to be any weight in pregnancy? Of course it is not all fat, there is a baby in there FGS and a placenta and waters, extra blood etc as you say.

FWIW I put on about 3 stone with my last pregnancy, which is a much bigger jump when you are not even 7 stone to begin with! And it pretty much all melted away without any effort on my part afterwards.

Some people thrive on making others feel bad - my stepfather (normally lovely) is quite fat and he enjoyed making fat jokes to me, and afterwards told me I would never get my figure back if I had a cleaner. I know it is all about his insecurities and nothing to do with me - I am sure it is the same for your family member.

[Madigan]

I weighed just about the same as you before and during my 1st pregnancy. Was told by doctor that the weight gain was perfectly healthy and normal. Baby was 8lbs 4oz, and I lost most of the weight 9 months after the birth.
So DO NOT WORRY. You have put on a perfectly normal amount of weight.

[ajm200]

There are definate recommendations on weight gain in pregnancy for America that is based on your BMI at conception.

Underweight (BMI under 19.8) 28-40 Pounds
Normal weight (BMI 19.8 - 26.0) 25-35 Pounds
Overweight (BMI 26.0 - 29.0) 15-25 Pounds
Obese (BMI over 29.0) 15 Pounds

With DS I gained loads about 30lbs and had loads of complications. Pre-eclampsia, SPD and ended up on crutches as I couldn't walk for pain

This time I've been really poorly but it isn't pregnancy related. Have gained very little at 34 weeks but baby is growing fine and I feel much healthier pregnancy wise. I started out at 76kg and the heaviest i reached was 80 but lost most of that again - was 78kg last time I checked about a week ago.

[Twiglett]

I put on 4.5 stone with first pregnancy .. and lost 2.5 stone with birth and first week of fluids then another stone with breastfeeding

[ajm200]

Sorry DS managed to post that before I'd finished.

There are no weight gain guidelines int he UK and I think it is far more sensible. Ultimately, it is about a healthy diet, how you feel and how your baby is growing so don't let anyone judge you. Do what feels right for you.

[ajm200]

Even by the American standard, your weight gain is about right so ignore everyone and relax.

[ellideb]

Hi I wouldn't worry at all about what your family member said, very rude and ill-informed in my opinion

I weighed 10 st 7 lbs and am 5 ft 5.5 ins before I became pregnant, I am 39 weeks now and when I weighed myself about a fortnight ago the needle nearly pointed to 14 st. I was shocked and slightly dismayed that I had put on so much weight, however i have only gone up one dress size so I'm imagining it is mostly baby, fluid, blood, placenta etc. The midwife thinks I am going to have a med-large baby. My blood pressure has been great throughout and apart from horrible strech marks, I have been very healthy. You can check out my bump on my profile! Please don't worry, the 'ideal' and the reality are often worlds apart for most women, you are growing a baby, don't let a little bit of weight take anything away from this amazing fact.

[notsoslimnow]

oh thankyou all so much for that.its nice to know im not just 'deluded' about thinking im ok! i have 2 dogs too and walk them every day for 3/4 miles so im still very active even now.i think she upset me more as im planning a home water birth and she remarked that she was shocked they would 'let' someone who weighed as much as i do at the moment have a hwb! my midwife however weighed me at my booking appointment and hasnt since, so i presumed weighed was not of the greatest importance if healthy in all other ways. i guess i just feel so unattractive,big and stretched at the moment that a comment like that hurts more.
oops,meant disgracefull in first post

[Tapster]

I put on 3 stone with my DD but only 8 stone to begin with. 2 weeks after giving birth to a 9lb 1oz baby I had lost 2 stone. By six months BFing and never dieting I had half a stone to lose. I lost all the weight by the time she was 10 months old without trying. Don't worry. My SIL only put on over a stone with her pregnancy but she was overweight before hand and she didn't lose any and put on more weight post birth. You sound very active don't worry. Good luck with your home birth.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Nobody has ever mentioned my weight gain during this pregnancy - I started at 10.5 stone, weighed 2 days ago and I am 14 st 11!!!!!!! So have put on almost 4.5 stone. (am now 39+5 so hopefully I won't push that 15 stone mark!!) I plan to drop at least 1.5 stone overnight when the baby is born (hopeful emoticon) and cannot wait to get out there walking plus breastfeeding should get rid of a bit more.

Who gives a goddam crap how much weight you put on. I have friends who weighed more than I do now before they got pregnant and they, and babies, were fine.

[LoveActually]

Too much pressure is put on mum-to-bes to keep slim. Weight gain helped me get pregnant, I was 59kgs (5'8") at the beginning of the year and got pg whne I was 61kgs. I'm now 69kgs at 23 weeks and I have decided I don't care! If you read most of the threads you can see that most of us were unable to eat very much in first few weeks anyway. I think we are programmed to put on weight whatever! It's all for the baby. x

[Divvy]

I put on 2 stone, most of it was baby!

[lauraloola]

How rude! You are carrying a baby and all the other stuff that comes with that. You are lucky, I put on about 5 stone!! Chocolate chip cookies were my main food group for the last 5 months

[OneBoyOneGirl]

I too was 11 stone before my first, and then weighed in at 14 stone 2 the day before DD was born, and went back to 11 stone within 3 weeks!

DS however, i gained 3 stone and one year on have lost nothing

[notsoslimnow]

wow, even more of you letting me know im quite normal..THANKYOU! from my point of view i stopped smoking as soon as i fell pregnant and havent had a drop of alcohol BUT i admit i have had a big appetite throughout and have induldged in extra portions here and there just thought if there was ever a time when i could it was when pregnant!?!

[OneBoyOneGirl]

Well done on stopping smoking - i too did this with DD, uncanny - we could be twins

[notsoslimnow]

oneboyonegirl..thanks for that! it is hard isnt it! may i ask how you found continuing not smoking after the birth?

[lauraloola]

I stopped smoking as soon as I found out I was pregnant with dd. I smoked about 20 a day and loved it.

Dd is now 3 months old and I have just started missing it. I know I would never smoke as I hate the thought of dd being near a smoker and wouldnt hold for fear of passing on the fumes.

I miss the habit more then anything. I just think about what it might do to dd and her health and how much money I am saving now.

I did have a drag of a cigerette when I was about 34 weeks pregnant as I was very stressed - It was so weird and I hated it.

You will be fine. You wont have time to think about it to start with and will be very protective of your lo that you wont do it anyway x

[OneBoyOneGirl]

It was easy for me tbh, after three months of not smoking, it didn't bother me at all. I read too many alot of scary stories when pg about smoking and one said that a baby being held by a smoker who has just smoked is just as harmful as being around someone actually smoking iyswim? Probably total rubbish, i dont know, but after reading it i just didn't want to smoke again.

I must admit, there is the odd moment when i watch something on tv and someone lights up when i think i want one, but the thought doesn't last long.

Good Luck

[OLIVIASMAMA]

I was 11 stone (same as you - 5 ft 7 and about a size 10 / 12 so a little bit bigger than you actually) prior to getting preggie and was 15 sone on the day I went into hospital to be induced. I had a 7.5 lb DD who was totally healthy as was I all the way through pregnancy - so don't worry at all about your weight so long as you feel good and are healthy.

The only thing that I have found is that it's hard to get off afterwards. DD is 1 at the end of the month and I still have 2 stone to lose!

[OneBoyOneGirl]

I am also 5ft 7 - but am very envious now as at 11 stone i was a size 12-14 (more 14). Isn't it strange Sorry, pointless.

[notsoslimnow]

yes its so odd as my mum is 5ft7 13stone and a size 20!!! so strange weight isnt it? although dont know if anyone else is the same but i feel like i totally swollen upm with water tetention too,cant even get my wedding ring on!