Safe Weight Loss Whilst Pregnant?

[PengThePenguin]

Hello All,

I'm just looking for a bit of advice re safe weight loss whilst pregnant. I am currently expecting my third child in as many years and I have put on a considerable amount of weight.

My first DC was sadly stillborn at full term in May 2017, and I had gained a little bit of weight but not enough to put me in the "overweight" BMI category. I probably didn't take the best care of myself following this, however my weight didn't return to a pre-pregnancy weight. I think I was around the 11/12 stone mark.

I then got pregnant with dc2 who was born, happy and healthy in July last year (2018). Again, my weight had increased and I probably at this point weighed between 12 and 13 stone.

Now I am pregnant with our third child, I am approximately 9 weeks and I have been trying to lose some weight prior to this pregnancy but I hadn't really shifted much.

As things are now, I have been doing gentle exercise for the last two weeks and trying to eat healthily. I weighed myself this morning and I'm apparently 13 stone exactly.

I haven't lost any weight during the two weeks and I'm feeling a bit disheartened but equally I know it could be to do with the pregnancy.

I just wondered if anyone had any previous experience of weight loss during pregnancy and how to go about this safely.

I don't want to put the baby at risk from either dieting or being overweight, I feel a bit stuck to be honest.

Any advice is welcome and thanks in advance.

Oh, if it makes any difference, I'm 5ft 7in, 13 stone, which makes me in the overweight BMI category

[Spam88]

I think slimming world is considered safe to follow during pregnancy?

[PengThePenguin]

Thank you Spam, I will look into this. Have you used Slimming world?

[AwkwardAsAllGetout]

I second the slimming world recommendation. I’m on dc4 and started out with similar stats to you and decided that I wanted to be proactive and not let my weight run away with me like it had in my previous pregnancies. I joined up when I was about 10 weeks. I’m now 30 weeks and have gained 11 pounds, the majority of that in the last six weeks or so. I’m happy with that as it genuinely does seem ‘all bump’. I haven’t gone hungry and I’m not the only pregnant woman there. For me it’s been about making better choices, eating lots more vegetables and resetting my appetite after dreadful morning sickness. I also feel positive that any weight I’m left with after the birth will be much easier to get rid of as I’m already following the plan and know what I’m doing. My midwifes been fine with my going to SW too. I’m really glad I joined when I did as I have dreadful hip and back pain and my mobility has started to be really limited. I dread to think how much worse that would be with any excess weight gain

[Seniorschoolmum]

Perhaps your target should be to stay the same weight as you progress through pregnancy. That represents a more gentle weight loss and not setting yourself up to fail.

Congratulations

[PengThePenguin]

Thanks both, that's really helpful and an interesting insight into slimming world.

I've been lucky so far in that I haven't had any sickness with this pregnancy (yet). My first two I really suffered with it.

Interesting point about aiming to maintain the weight rather than lose. I seem to have done that so far so perhaps that's a more attainable goal?

I think I'll definitely look into slimming world, it sounds like it's been really helpful for you @AwkwardAsAllGetout