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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think pregnancy doesn't automatically make you fat?

120 replies

CailinDana · 31/01/2013 20:36

It doesn't make me fat. The baby comes out and I'm the same as I ever was, except with more stretch marks and looser tummy muscles.

I can't be the only one, yet it seems to be an accepted thing that you're going to have "baby weight" to lose after pregnancy.

AIBU to think that plenty of women just eat a normal amount while pregnant and don't have any weight to lose once the baby is born?

OP posts:

PickledInAPearTree · 31/01/2013 20:37

Probably yes everyone is different. I certainly put on a dress size, whilst eating a normal amount.

Id say you were rather fortunate.

lyrasdaemo · 31/01/2013 20:39

Didn't make me fat, am still size eight just carrying the weight on the boobs as ebf...

deleted203 · 31/01/2013 20:40

I had the same experience as you with DCs in my 20s Cailin. Had baby (having put about 3 stone on) and was back in ordinary clothes (size 10/12) 3 weeks later. Had babies in my 30s....particularly late 30s and struggled to shift the last stone or so in weight. Could be I just stuffed my face more - or could be I was older and the weight didn't drop off so easily!

PacificDogwood · 31/01/2013 20:40

Pregnancy makes me eat even more chocolate, ergo makes me fat .

At least I have insight into my condition...

Going up a dress size is more to do with your shape remaining changed after delivery, rather than weight gain, I'd say, Pickled.

We all need a good excuse explanation for overindulging IMO.

HumphreyCobbler · 31/01/2013 20:40

My appetite rages out of control when I am pregnant - if I don't eat every hour then I throw up yellow bile. I get fat because I eat more than I do when I am not pregnant, so I see what you mean.

I cannot change this though, there is no amount of willpower that will stop me eating lots of toast at this time. So I end up with weight to lose at the end of it.

snowmummy · 31/01/2013 20:40

Lucky you. I have never been big, til pregnancy and then I had baby weight to lose. It took two years after each baby to properly shift it.

Original poster

CailinDana · 31/01/2013 20:40

Pickled, could that have been due to change in body shape rather than actual weight?

OP posts:

LST · 31/01/2013 20:41

I weighed 9lb less a week after gave birth than when I was ttc...

FlouncingMintyy · 31/01/2013 20:42

Obviously there are some exceptions but most women gain more than just the weight of baby + amniotic fluid + placenta. I think the guidelines are that up to 25lb is perfectly ok and healthy? So if you do gain that amount then yes you are going to have weight to lose afterwards.

MolotovCocktail · 31/01/2013 20:42

Yes, you're lucky, as was I after DD1.

I was quite lucky after DD2, also, but rather than bouncing back into shape within 4 weeks, it took a few months an only now after 9 months and walking my arse off do I feel much more my pre-pg self.

I defo have wider hips. I'm no bigger anywhere else but need one size bigger on my bottom half I don't mind, though, I'd rather have my babies than a teeny body anyway :)

HumphreyCobbler · 31/01/2013 20:43

I am deeply jealous of women who stay thin when pregnant. I really wish I did, it is a pain to put on so much weight and I feel a massive urge to shift it as soon as possible afterwards.

PickledInAPearTree · 31/01/2013 20:43

Id say I naturally went back to my normal size within 9 months, I am pregnant again and I have not grown as much but I am not eating any differently.

I have changed shape a bit too but it hasn't made much difference to me. Just a bit looser on the tummy.

Its hard to say when you have the bump though. I thought I was pretty svelte last time until I saw some photos!

PickledInAPearTree · 31/01/2013 20:44

My bum is bigger it keeps trying to escape from my trousers.

HumphreyCobbler · 31/01/2013 20:44

OTOH I don't have a single stretch mark

TheCountessOlenska · 31/01/2013 20:45

First pregnancy - back in my normal size jeans straight away. Actually went down another size after that (think it was the breastfeeding).

I've put on more weight this pregnancy (less exercise, craving sugar) so I doubt the same will happen again but I agree - it's not automatic that you get fat.

smile4me · 31/01/2013 20:45

I think your body naturally increases your fat stores in preparation for BF... kinda like making sure there's something to feed baby on after birth. So there's pretty much always a bit to lose, and definitely no abdo muscles! But you're right that it can be minimal

PickledInAPearTree · 31/01/2013 20:46

I stayed in maternity clothes about 6 weeks, then down to one size more, then down to normal size. Pain in the arse as I had to buy clothes in the middle size.

PacificDogwood · 31/01/2013 20:47

I had all my DCs in my late 30s/early 40s and much as I found the pregnancies and deliveries easy enough, I don't think that my body 'bounced' back just as nicely as some of the younger mums I am friends with. Biology can be a bitch!
But no stretchmarks here either (other than the ones I got on my outer thighs during puberty )

Original poster

CailinDana · 31/01/2013 20:47

Is wanting to eat more a pregnancy thing and I've just never had it? If anything pregnancy puts me off food and I have to make sure I eat enough. I just wonder if the idea of "baby weight" sends out the message that motherhood=losing your youth and figure when it doesn't necessarily mean that at all. It seems to me that the accepted idea that you'll be fat after pregnancy is just another way of making women anxious about something that should be a source of pride.

OP posts:

timidviper · 31/01/2013 20:47

Pregnancy didn't make me fat but, oddly, I went up 3 stone in 3 months while breastfeeding with each child.

ENormaSnob · 31/01/2013 20:48

Nah it's not pregnancy that makes me fat it's the inability to curb the enormous appetite it gives me

Grumpla · 31/01/2013 20:49

If you have SPD and can't walk for the last five months you tend to get a bit porky, in my experience

Don't think I actually consumed any more calories - a few more slices of cake but a lot less wine! - but that kind of inactivity compared to usually walking everywhere meant I put on 2 stone in my second pregnancy.

Original poster

CailinDana · 31/01/2013 20:51

Grumpla - that's totally understandable - any lack of mobility is going to cause weight gain.

OP posts:

PickledInAPearTree · 31/01/2013 20:51

I think its quite accepted now that you dont need to eat for two - I think its a good excuse sometimes to kick back a bit and that could be it.

The weight is not something that has ever bothered me, Ive seen endless people have babies and be all back to normal within a few months Ive never worried about it at all.

ENormaSnob · 31/01/2013 20:51

No stretch marks here either and am 31weeks with dc4.

Likely to be an above 9lb baby too.

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