Pregnant - not gaining weight as I should be - AIBU to worry

[Apregnantworrier]

was slim / normal to start with.

I packed on the pounds in first trimester as eating was the only thing that helped with feeling sick but so me then (now 25 weeks) the weight gain has really slowed. I think I’m supposed to be gaining 1 pound a week but I’m really not. Has anyone else had this?

I am eating much healthier now I don’t feel unwell / hungover but I assumed it steadily increase. Have gained 10 pounds overall but the majority of that was before 14 weeks.

baby looked good at 20 week scan and I can feel them moving etc.

You don't need to gain much at all in pregnancy if you begin at a healthy BMI, I gained 12lb the first time and 14lb the second time.

If you're overweight, try to keep gain to a minimum.

If you were underweight to begin with then you should speak to your midwife about appropriate weight gain.

I lost 3 stone in my pregnancy (due to sickness). My starting BMI was about 22/23 so I was a normal weight and didn't have loads to lose.
Baby was fine (weighed 8lb at birth). Don't worry.

I was overweight before pregnancy and actually lost weight while pregnant. Baby was born healthy and 8 pounds.

With my first I was exactly the same weight at the end of the pregnancy as I was at the beginning. I then lost weight (baby was 7lb 12oz) by giving birth. So as long as the baby is gaining weight and you are well don't be worried. Please speak to your midwife or consultant.

Why do you think you need to gain weight? Unless you rapidly lose or gain weight, it really isn't a big cause for concern

@Season0fTheWitch because unless you’re overweight to start work, normal and healthy pregnancies seem to involve weight gain - baby, blood and placenta etc.

@SleepingisanArt Thank you - am waiting for a callback!

I'm 32 weeks and have gained 14lb so far which is nothing compared to my first pregnancy. She's measuring on the 91st centile though so I'm not worried.

You don't gain a pound a week until at least 36 weeks, unless you're eating massive amounts

I gained 11 lbs in my last pregnancy. Baby weighed 8lbs.

Fwiw I gained 16lbs with DD1 and 3lbs with DD2- both completely healthy

I wouldn’t worry. I gained a stone and a half in first pregnancy but only ten pounds in second. I went up to ten stone when 9 months preg the second time- baby was totally fine. No one was concerned. They measure your bump so as long as bump is measuring as it should they don’t seem to worry about your weight too much

I didn't gain anything until around 18 weeks or so, and then it gradually picked up from there. Gained 40lbs from my starting weight, now at 38 weeks (the majority after 30 weeks). No concerns at all from my midwife

With my 2nd pregnancy, I ended up being the same weight at the beginning and end of my pregnancy. I lost weight during the pregnancy but the baby grew fine. I think after baby was born I was about 20lbs lighter and he was born 7lbs. I think for me, I was alot more active with the 2nd pregnancy, running around after our toddler. I felt much better in the 2nd pregnancy compared to the first so it's not necessarily a bad thing. If you are concerned speak to your midwife though.

@Apregnantworrier FWIW, with my first pregnancy, I didn't gain an OUNCE until I hit week 30. I shit you not. The doctor reckoned the baby was draining the energy from me. Second pregnancy - started gaining it at week 26. So yeah, not that odd to not gain weight for many MONTHS!

@cavily1806 were you slim to start with?

im just basing my 1 pound a week on what the NHS website says for my BMI in 2nd 3rd trimester!

Thank you all the reassuring experience? I am my user name

Why do you think you need to pack on the pounds? I think I gained about a stone and a half by the end, I was skinny to start with. I gave birth and pretty much lost it all. You shouldn't be piling on pounds, that isn't healthy. My children were all 8-9 pounds too.

I think your initial weight gain was through diet rather than baby

baby even at 20 weeks is tiny

I hid my pregnancy completely until 24 weeks and I’m normal size 12

most people don’t show properly til after 20 weeks unless tiny tiny or over eating

@IveDroppedMiBiscuitInMiBrew i definitely did not say I thought I should be piling on the pounds!

I’d say 10lb at 20 weeks is a lot tbh so wouldn’t worry - you’re probs catching up to the weight to added stress the start

it’s 30+ that you really start filling out

25 not 20

@Watapalava I’m probably a UK 4 and am showing now at 25 weeks but only in tight clothes. Maternity jeans and jumpers hide it well!

@Watapalava ok thank you!

If your uk 4 then you likely over ate initially and so now hitting a kind of pause whilst baby catches up

i think a lot do similar

I never put on more than seven pounds in pregnancy because of horrendous sickness. Babies all weighed more than seven pounds. Babies take what they need from their mothers regardless as to what they manage to keep down IME