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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Putting weight on in pregnancy.

50 replies

NoTeaForMe · 31/08/2010 11:31

Hi,

I just got back from my 34 week appointment. Up until now I have only been weighed at my very first appointment (I was 9 weeks then) and not since. Today I saw the Dr as the midwife was fully booked, he asked me if my weight gain has been steady and I said that as far as I know it has, but I have not weighed myself. So he weighed me and I have put on 2 and a half stone roughly. I asked if this was OK, he just said "mmmm" , then when I asked if he thought I had put too much on or not enough, he said perhaps a little too much.......

Does this seem a lot to you? I am a little upset as I really felt/feel that I have not put on a lot of weight since being pregnant, My bump is a good size but other than that I don't feel that my body has got much bigger and changed at all. He then said perhaps it is fluid retention......

Tell me I'm not fat.....!!

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leawesty · 31/08/2010 11:49

your not fat, what an arse your doctor is!

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 31/08/2010 11:59

Bump!

OP posts:

PYT · 31/08/2010 12:00

Eh? I thought anything from 1.5 to 4 stone gain was 'normal' (by 40 weeks).

Your doc is a dickbrain.

notyummy · 31/08/2010 12:01

Depends on your size/height really?

Generally the broad guidelines are 1 to 1 1/2 stone gain if you were already overweight, 2 to 2 1/2 if you were a healthy weight, and 3 to 3 1/2 if you were underweight. These are at full term. Also, if you are 5 ft 11, then 2 stone wont be such a strain to carry around - if you are 5ft, then it might be.

Overall, you haven't gained mammoth amounts - I am sure there are loads of people on here who will know of people who gained 4/5 stones during pregnancy. That said, you did ask the doc a direct question and he gave you an honest answer - perhaps it could have better phrased though?

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 31/08/2010 12:06

I'm around 5ft 10in if that makes a difference, have gone from 11st6 (which is up until now the biggest I have been) to 13st10 ish.

I know I asked him the question and I did want the answer - guess it just wasn't the answer I wanted or expected and now feel a bit sad that I am fat and there is nothing I can do about it!

OP posts:

MrsLevinson · 31/08/2010 12:08

You are definitely not fat!! Agree he is an arse! I put on over 3 stone in my last pregnancy and the same with this one (37 weeks) - it all comes off afterwards. I think pregnancy is the one time you shouldn't worry about your weight, as long as you are healthy.

comtessa · 31/08/2010 12:08

What an idiot your Dr is. He could at least have talked to you about healthy guidelines etc rather than just hmming at you.
If it's any consolation, I'm 27 weeks and have gained a little over 2st. I don't look fat - although I can see that I've gained fat on my upper thighs and upper arms. I don't look pregnant from the back and I still have an almost-waist. All you can do is eat healthily and exercise within your comfort zone. You'll only know AFTER your baby's born how much weight you've gained, IYSWIM, as opposed to how much weight you're carrying with regard to fluid, baby, placenta, boobs etc. In the meantime, just concentrate on taking care of yourself and your unborn.

MrsLevinson · 31/08/2010 12:09

Ask your midwife next time you see her and she'll probably say you're fine.

comtessa · 31/08/2010 12:10

PS I'm 5'8, size 12 and 11st 3lbs pre-pregnancy. Now size 12 maternity clothes and 13st 9lbs.

PYT · 31/08/2010 12:10

I gained 4 stone with my first pregnancy. I wasn't overweight to start with and am also tall (5'11). Midwives didn't bat an eyelid at my weight gain.

I gained 2 stone second time around and again, nothing was said to me.

He sounds out of touch.

FetchezLaVache · 31/08/2010 12:10

Your doc is an arse and you are not fat. Please don't worry about this, it's a perfectly acceptable weight gain and you will almost certainly put more on over the next 6 weeks or so! I put 3 stone on (and I'm only 5'4"!) so at your height, you have absolutely no need to worry.

notyummy · 31/08/2010 12:15

Please don't call yourself fat - you are not.

But there is some control you have over it - not to try and diet, but to make yourself feel that you are healthy as you can be. All you can do is exercise regularly (depending on how much you were used to doing before you got pregnant), and make a conscious effort to only eat slightly more than you were before (300 cals in final trimester I think?)

If you are doing that, then your body is obviously doing what it needs to do to grow your baby.

I am 5ft 10 and put on 2 1/2 stone full term - but everyone is different. I didn't worry about what I ate, but exercised regularly and my body just seemed to do what it needed to do. It was all gone by around 5 months - again, without dieting.

(Am not naturally a skinny minnny btw - healthy 10/12 and around 10 1/2 stone.)

HollyFP · 31/08/2010 12:27

I am 5'3 and I put on 15 kilos (1st pregnancy). I am now a size bigger post-birth than I was, but like everyone says it will all come off in the first few months, esp if you bf.

I have totally accepted this is who I am, at least for now...there are more important things for me to worry about atm! (Even if I can't fit into most of my clothes still

You are defo not fat. That was unhelpful of your doc.

japhrimel · 31/08/2010 12:50

This might help:

www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/physicalhealth/weightgain/

If your BMI pre-pregnancy was healthy (18.5-24.9) then your total weight gain should be 25-35lb.

2 1/2 stone is 35lb.

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 31/08/2010 12:53

So I've put on what I should have put on for the whole pregnancy by 34 weeks......?

OP posts:

LadySanders · 31/08/2010 12:55

i put on 3 stone with first preg, 2.5 stone with second, and 1.5 with third. After delivery of each baby, I was left with half a stone to lose. So given how tall you are, I really don't think your weight gain is unusual or going to present you with any problems unless you go crazy with the chocolate in the next few weeks

Muggle1978 · 31/08/2010 12:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

notyummy · 31/08/2010 12:59

OP - yes you have put it on by this stage, but with only 6 weeks to go hopefully you wont put on more than 1/2 stone, which only puts you 7 lbs over in terms of overall weight gain. Yes, not absolutely ideal, but not something to really stress about - just try and be healthy as you can I guess, without unduely cutting back on anything.

ThatDamnDog · 31/08/2010 13:08

I've put on well over 2 stone so far - I'm 5'3" and was overweight to start with, and I'm nearly 37 weeks.

I am really swollen though, and you will be properly amazed by how much fluid goes a couple of weeks after the birth. So don't worry too much. Like everything - moderation!

Saying that I have eaten 3 KitKat Chunkies and am halfway through a bottle of Lucozade this morning - just really tired comfort eating, although I admit it does sound like I'm testing myself to see whather it's possible to give myself GD

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 31/08/2010 13:26

I really don't eat badly, I always watch what I eat and I definately have not been eating for 2!! From the back you can't really tell I am pregnant, my boobs are much bigger and my bump is measuring the right size. I don't think I have really put much weight on anywhere else. I will definately check this through with the midwife when I see her in 2 weeks.

OP posts:

ClarasMummy · 31/08/2010 13:32

Your Doctor sounds like a tool.

I put on 3 stone when pregnant with my first, although to be honest I was on bed rest for the last few weeks and I sort of stuffed my face out of sheer boredom.

Currently 21 weeks pregnant with my second and am trying harder not put to much more weight on but at the end of the day enjoying my pregnancy is more important to me than stressing over weight to much. I do fully intend to lose the excess when this little guy is born though.

MadameG · 31/08/2010 13:43

You don't need to worry about this at all. I've read all over mumsnet about women putting on anything up to 5 stone with their pregnancies (there is another thread on this very board today, have a look), and that's not because they're troughing down on chocolate, it can just be the way your body goes.

I understand the worry about the weight in the final trimester when you're at your biggest- I'm in week 36 and have gained 1st 10lbs (I'm 5'4). I keep thinking 'oh god, I hope this comes off', but the thing is, after several weeks post-birth you will have lost all the baby fluids and you'll be much closer to your original weight. Everybody has a little to lose afterwards, but thats normal. It just takes a few months.

Everyone is different weight-gain wise, and your dr is an idiot for not talking to you about it more. Your weight gain is totally normal!

redbird79 · 31/08/2010 14:22

There's a reason the midwives etc don't bother weighing you much throughout pregnancy- they are simply not as concerned about weight gain as they were say 20 years ago when they used to recommend women only put on a stone or so. As long as you are eating well and feeling (reasonably) healthy I wouldn't worry about it.
Please don't worry about what your GP said- mine actually said to me 'I don't know how women go through pregnancy, all the things that can go wrong would frighten me to death'. I was eight weeks pregnant with my first so verey anxious as it was; the guy was knobhead- as yours sounds too!

notyummy · 31/08/2010 14:25

Redbird - NICE have just reissued the guidelines on weight gain in pregnancy to GPs, so I think you will find that there is actually a lot more interest from both GPs and midwives on weight gain. This is due to the huge increase in GD due to overweight mothers. BUT - this amount of weight gain shouldn't really be setting alarm bells ringing (it's hardly 4/5 stone is it?) - perhaps a more tactful comment like 'you are towards the upper end of a healthy amount of weight gain - but not long to go now' would have been more appropriate!

japhrimel · 31/08/2010 15:19

redbird79 - they stopped weighing pregnant women when it was realised that maternal weight gain was no indicator of baby growth & regular weigh-ins stressed Mums out. But as notyummy said there are now guidelines on weight gain in pregnancy because so many women put on too much and GD is more of an issue.

NoTeaForMe - I really wouldn't worry about it. Your weight gain is at the upper end of what is healthy for your BMI, but it may be a sign of excess fluid retention as the doctor said. They should've explained it more for you and not left you worrying!

If you're trying to eat healthily, staying as active as possible and aren't putting on weight on your arms/legs then I wouldn't worry about it at all.

And anyway, all you can now do is try to eat healthily for the rest of the pregnancy - you can't diet!

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