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18 weeks no weight gain - is it normal

11 replies

summermum · 28/07/2005 16:06

I am 18 weeks pregnant today and to date have only gained 4 lbs. I am getting very worried over this, typicall midwife/GP says wait till scan (this is still 3 weeks away). When i had my last midwife appointment 3 weeks ago she did say the height of my fundus was short, it was 2 cm less than the number of weeks it should have been. This is my third child and with both the others I had gained more weight by now, with my second child I had put on 10lbs by this stage. I am eating very well, enjoying to many biscuits I would say. has anyone else had this problem with lack of weight gain and did everything turn out fine. I think I have felt the baby move allready and at last check up the heartbeat was fine. Help, Am i paranoid or is this usual when you are running around after a young one allready. I long to look pregnant and not just at that slightly chunky podgy stage I have been stuck at for months now.

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flamesparrow · 28/07/2005 16:08

Have you felt any flutterings yet?

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Rachey1969 · 28/07/2005 16:22

I don't think you should worry about weight gain especially running around the other two. You're not supposed to put on any weight gain at all in the first trimester (although I always do!). Also that measuring with a tape measure is totally inaccurate (esp at only 15 wks)- depends how good your stomach muscle tone is and how the baby is lying. I have never had a scan be accurate on weight - my dd (3rd) was scanned in labour and they said she would be 8 1/2 lb - a couple of hours later she was 9lb 2! If you have felt baby move and the heartbeat is fine all should be well.

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mummyhill · 28/07/2005 16:24

This is my second pregnancy and I lost weight a lot of durring this pregnancy i am now 33/40 and weigh 300gramms more than i did at the start of my pregnancy, I ate healthily through out and am measuring a couple of cm short but movements are fine and heart rate has been great all the way through. Try not to worry as the stress is not good for you. Good luck with your scan and let us know how you get on.

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summermum · 28/07/2005 16:27

thnak you so far, it is comforting to hear from rachey 1969 that she had a similar situation, i know i am still early on (18 wks now) but normally as soon as the test is confirmed my stomach trebles in size, must be the first time I have complained about not gaining weight, as my DH says us women are never happy with what we have.

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Tabs · 28/07/2005 16:35

Hi Summersun. According to the standard leaflet that my local hospital send out, you should aim to gain 5 lbs in the first 20 weeks, and then 20 lbs from then on (ie 1 lb a week). Sounds like you're spot on target, so well done!

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summermum · 28/07/2005 16:39

cheers tabs, according to the daft books i have read they all have said I should be gaining 1lb per week from 12/13 weeks, the 4lb i have gained was put on right at the start and none since. I am glad there are more realistic leaflets out there, guess i just need to look forward to piling on 20lbs in the next 20 or so weeks, guess on the bright side - less gain now means less to lose in the end. I have felt movement aswell so all is probably well but it is hard not too worrry.

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jessicaandbumpsmummy · 28/07/2005 16:44

dont worry about the measuring side of it either... my mw measured me a couple of weeks ago and said there is a 3cm leway (sp?) I was measuring spot on but that was the first time i had been measured and i was 26 weeks! I measured small - always 2-3cm lower than average with Jess all the way through, and didnt have extra scans or anything.

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sweetkitty · 28/07/2005 16:44

I'm 16 weeks today and so far have only gained 2-3lbs my appetite has been no existent so far but I'm sure it will be back with a vengence soon. Had check up today am growing well and heartbeats ok.

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RedZuleika · 28/07/2005 16:50

I too hadn't put on that much at the point you're now at. I gained 2lbs when I first became pregnant (1lb on each breast... ), then nothing for ages. Suddenly at 20+ weeks I put on half a stone virtually overnight. I think this was partly because lots of foods made me feel ill, so I was largely eating vegetables and pulses and not drinking any alcohol. I think I've now gained about 20 pounds at 32 weeks - but it doesn't seem to bear any relation to how much I've been eating. The midwife seems to think that peanut is the right size for dates.

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Chuffed · 28/07/2005 16:56

15 +4 today and have actually lost a couple of pounds depending on whose scales I stand on. In fact I had to take off my wedding rings through my pregnancy as they were 'too' big. The measuring thing happened with dd too, I always measured small by cm right through to 36wks.
Everyone was worried about it but a midwife once said that the baby takes what it needs starving women in Africa give birth to healthy(ish) babies so just carry on baby seems healthy.
I have a definate pregnancy bump but it hasn't gone on anywhere else. It is hard not to do but don't worry.

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summermum · 28/07/2005 16:57

redzuelika - sounds about right, I reckon i will wake up one morning and look like the side off a bus, it will serve me right for complaining. I suppose I am lucky as I am eating like a horse and have no idea where it is going. my minute weight gain so far seems to be on both breasts (yeehaa) and a small spare tyre (boohoo)