Gone from a size 12 to now almost a size 16 after second pregnancy. Is this normal?!

[Biosblbay]

I gave birth almost 8 weeks ago to my baby girl, however this is not my first pregnancy/ birth, I had my son back in 2022. Going by pictures and from what I can remember with him I bounced back so well and I didn’t put on any weight at all really, I was still a size 12 after having my son so nothing changed, however this time round is a totally different story! I gained weight during the pregnancy with my daughter, I seem to have now gone up 2 dress sizes being almost comfortable in size 16s!!!

I have my first night out with a few friends this coming Saturday, as nothing fits me I have had to order lots of new outfits to try on. I received my order yesterday and even the size 14s and waist 32 jeans are too tight for me! I have had to now order some more things but in sizes 16 or 34 waist and I feel like crying! I just don’t understand how I have got so big from this pregnancy!

I have joined the gym because I am so down by it and most certainly have lost all of my confidence that I refuse to go out now until I have lost some more weight.

I just want to know from others, is 8 weeks still early days? I feel like I can no longer blame it on baby weight as I am almost 2 months PP, is this just my size now and have to work hard to loose it or will some of this weight still be from baby and will naturally drop off? I just feel so s**t about it. I can’t believe in 11 months I’ve gone up almost 2 dress sizes!

It can take a long time to lose the baby weight, and yes 8 weeks is early days, but yeah I’m afraid it’s diet, and the weight gain is due to excess food and drink consumption, all very normal when tired and hormones all over the place.

Did you breast feed before? And are you breast feeding now? I know with breast feeding your uterus contracts back to original size quicker. I know your feeling less confident but you have to remember your body went through alot. I hope you feel more happy and comfortable with time and I'm sure weight will change with more time 🩷

Yes 8 weeks is early days, it's normal.

8 weeks very early days! I think your body does change, mine has in the second pregnancy.

Like you I put on lots of weight in both pregnancies but my second one, my slimmed down body is different. My tum and bum are always large so although I weigh under 9 stone I still need large sizes!

Luckily I can hide my bum/tum with high waisted trousers / leggings but I've thrown out all my slim dresses even though they should fit!

I always read that so I’m sure it’s true but with both of mine I breastfed for about a year but I never actually went back to my normal size until I stopped breastfeeding, it defo made me to retain weight

Do you think you look like you've put on weight or are you just looking at the number on the scales?
I ask because I'm in the same boat. I had my baby 7 weeks ago and didn't look like I put on any weight during pregnancy, I just grew a bump. After baby arrived I lost the bump really quickly but now none of my clothes fit, not even pants. Before pregnancy I was a size 6 and now I'm a 10 (a very snug 10!) except i don't look like I've gained any weight anywhere! Apparently it's because your rib cage expands and hips widen during pregnancy, so it's physically impossible for some women to get back into their pre-pregnancy clothes

Hi lovely,

I was a size 8 when I got pregnant and put on 4 stone. I don’t know what size I was as I just carried on wearing my stretch maternity stuff 😂 but I was definitely not a size 8! It took me about 14 months to lose all the weight, the last half a stone came off once I stopped breastfeeding. I really don’t believe that BF helps you lose weight if anything it made my body cling to fat especially on my upper body. 8 weeks is way too early to beating yourself up about this!

I also gained 4st in my second pregnancy. First was easy, only gained about 1.5st and lost most of it a month after. Second time around i was still 2 st overweight when my child was almost 2. I had to go on a very strict diet and exercise plan to get back in shape. And even now 8 years later i gain weight much faster than i used to.

I'm almost 10 weeks postpartum EBF and definitely felt the strong contractions in the first few weeks and although I still have a lot of excess skin round my belly I feel like my belly has mostly returned to pre-pregnancy size.

I’m in the same boat and it’s depressing.

put on 10lb with my first child but this time in 2st up 😱

it’s not diet - it’s hormones. I’ll stop breastfeeding at 6 months this time (went to 15 months with DC1) so I can drop the weight

8 weeks is so early! Don’t worry, if you are breastfeeding this really helps the weight to fall off, though it’s true your body needs to hold onto some fat to make the milk. Your body has added the fat to fuel the breastfeeding! Week 8 is also very early to be in the gym. Your body will still have a lot of relaxin, which is produced to help you give birth. The relaxin can lead you to have injuries very easily, and then you might be out of any kind of exercise for months. Also have your abdominal muscles checked, if you have rectus diastasis this will need to be addressed before you start working out. My personal trainer wouldn’t train me for 6 months, and even then did a lot of Pilates and postural work with me first to ensure everything was aligned and as it should be before moving onto harder work outs. Go for walks every day, rest and recover. Birth is a huge event for your body to go through. As long as you eat healthily you will lose a lot of the weight by the 6 month mark. It took me a year to get back to my pre-2nd-baby weight, but I was 75% there after 6 months. I breastfed for 3 years, so it is possible to lose all the weight while still breastfeeding.

No-one expects you to be tiny straight after giving birth! Most women wear soft and stretchy maternity clothes for a good while after birth.

I went up two dress sizes after having my daughter. It’s the largest I’ve ever been and I hated looking in the mirror. I remember trying on some jeans in Next and just crying in the changing room.

It took me just over a year to regain my pre-pregnancy size.

Be kind to yourself! Eight weeks is no time at all.

I have weighed three and a half stone heavier after each pregnancy - and lost it by a year. Honestly I can't imagine being the same size straight after!

I started as a UK size 6-8 before this pregnancy, I'm now 3 months postpartum and a size 12-14. I'm predicting I'll be back at pre preg size by about a year pp, as that's what happened before (without dieting or watching my weight).

So... you've gained less than me! And you're still very early days.

8 weeks is early days, yes. It also depends on how much weight you put on during pregnancy - from my experience of giving birth 3 times to average weight babies, a baby with all gear (placenta, extra fluids in your body, enlarged uterus) is about 8-9 kilos. Everything on top of that is extra fat, some of which is needed for breastfeeding (about 3 kilos). If you put on more than that it might be harder to lose.
It also depends on whether you exercised in pregnancy. If you did it’s much easier to get back to exercising and back into shape.
The last thing is how quickly your uterus normally contracts. I had painful contractions for approximately a week after each birth and they were worse in each pregnancy, then my uterus tends to shrink back really quickly - this is an individual thing and likely outside your control although breastfeeding definitely helps.

OP - ignore the “breastfeeding definitely helps” brigade. It only serves to make women like us feel shit. (And don’t even get me started on the “have you tried doing some exercise?” head tilt twats)

breastfeeding does help for SOME women (as it burns lots of calories) but for OTHER women, it makes you retain significant fat due to hormones.

if you’re eating normally and exercising somewhat, the it’s hormones. The weight will likely drop off when you stop breastfeeding.

also, look into post-partum thyroidism. Could be worth getting your thyroid function checked.

Breastfeeding mum here with my first and I’ve got up to 14/16 was 12/14 before. I feel your pain <3 I’m finding recovery soooo slow and my body has changed completely!!
although breastfeeding helps with uterus contracting and that makes you look ‘slimmer’
I think we forget how much we need to eat to breastfeed- you are feeding a human! And your body and your appetite really doesn’t care what size you are, it’s wanting to ensure you have reserves to feed your baby and ensure your own health. Be kind to yourself, 8 weeks is absolutely nothing in terms of recovery. Of course be mindful of what snacks you are reaching for - I find carrots and hummus a good one for example otherwise I’d be snacking on chocolate 24/7!!!

Eight weeks is still extremely early, especially after a second pregnancy. What you’re describing is very common, even if it feels shocking when you compare it to last time.

A lot of what you’re seeing right now isn’t ‘weight’ in the way we usually think about it. Hormones, fluid retention, how your core and pelvis are functioning, and how your body is holding itself all play a role, and those things take months, not weeks, to settle.

Second pregnancies often change bodies differently too. It doesn’t mean this is your new permanent size, and it definitely doesn’t mean you’ve failed or done anything wrong.

If you can, I’d really try to be kind to yourself about this night out. Buying clothes that fit your body now isn’t giving up – it’s just getting through this phase with less stress. There’s plenty of time later to think about fitness and changes, once your body has had more chance to recover.

For me, nothing really shifted until much later, once I stopped rushing it and focused on gentle recovery rather than weight loss. Happy to share more if useful.