Worried about putting on too much weight too early...

[JBrd]

I just 12 weeks pg now, but my weight has rocketed. The problem is that the only thing that keeps the sickness at bay for me is eating, and not just a little soup or some salad, it has to be carbs. If I don't eat something substantial at least every 2 hours, I get sick - and believe me, I've tried!

I've never been super-slim to start with (used to be a size 14), but now most of my trousers have become extremely uncomfortable, up to the point that I don't want to/can't wear them anymore! Even my largest pair of jeans is now very tight, and there is no sign of the sickness getting less. On the contrary, at the moment it's worse than ever.

I had hoped that by now, the sickness would start disappearing, but I know that sometimes it doesnt.
I'm exercising at the gym regularly (2-3 times per week for 1-2 hours), but with the amount of food that I'm eating, it's never going to be enough.
I'm starting to get worried about health risks for the baby and myself, wondering if I should call the midwife for adive.
Has anyone had similar problems?

How much have you put on? Tbh by 12 weeks you are probably needing maternity clothes, or certainly leggings and dress combos rather than your normal trousers.

I think you are being to hard on yourself, your weight will balance out over the pregnancy. Once you feel less sick then you'll be able to eat more normally again.

I'd also suggest getting into maternity trousers or at least stretchy stuff. I was in maternity jeans by 9 weeks.

Are you putting on weight all over or is it mostly around your boobs & tum? Have you actually weighed yourself? Your metabolism can change when you get pregnant - mine did - so you may not be putting on as much as you would with that calorie intake when not pregnant.

Morning sickness often goes around week 14, when the placenta kicks in fully. So just because it's bad now, doesn't mean it'll last long. Mine got worse and then just went.

I thought I'd put on loads as I was also continually eating carbs in the 1st trimester, but once the MS eased (week 14 for me) I started carving fruit and healthy foods instead. And now at 33 weeks, my weight gain is on the low side of what is good given my pre-pregnancy BMI. I've actually dropped a dress size in maternity trousers!

If you're staying active, I'd just do what you have to do to get through the sickness TBH and deal with it afterwards - it may not be a problem at all.

I was continually eating carbs in the first trimester and managed absolutely no exercise, but am amazed that I have only put on 4lbs. That said, I am 13 weeks and only my biggest pre-pregnancy jeans and trousers fit and putting on the maternity trousers that a friend lent me last weekend was just the nicest feeling - I never thought I'd be so happy having an elasticated waist!

I was nailing the carbs up to about 13 weeks - put on about 10 pounds of weight really quickly and was so worried that I was going to get like a beast by due date! Also didn't do any exercise during this time as had pretty much constant on-off bleeding and didn't want to risk it.

However, since then I have been swimming regularly, cut down the carbs as felt better and I've only put on about a stone (am now 36+1), which is pretty healthy and overall weight gain so far of 1 stone 10 pounds just balanced itself out.

Don't worry too much - the sickness will alleviate and carb cravings will go. Just do whatever makes you feel better - everyone is different. Some people pile it on at the end, some at the beginning.

I'm not an expert, but I suggest you just go with your instincts (and appetite) on this one (within reason)

I live on the continent where they are VERY strict about weight gain during pregnancy and my gynaecologist was nagging me because I put on 10kg in first trimester.

(My hero of a dh kept getting up at 4am in the morning to make me ham and cheese sandwiches because I was so starving ALL the time and couldn't get through the night without food!)

But, apart from the last week or so, I didn't really put any extra weight on and so all the medics calmed down (I was super slim too at the start). So don't worry - everyone's weight gain pattern is different - if you are exercising and you feel healthy I would just stick with what works for you.

I don't really know what I was pre-pg...I suspect around 55kg and now at 16 weeks I'm 58kg and have been eating practically nothing but chocolate for about 3 months. I bet you've not put on as much as you think you have.

I put on about 10lbs in the first trimester and was so shocked at myself but I think my body needed it as my BMI was 18 pre pregnancy. Everyone puts on weight at different rates and you sound as if you're being really good by going to the gym still.

Please don't worry as when the m/s goes (and it will, hang on in there!) you'll find your body starts to crave healthier stuff (I can't get enough of cox's apples at the moment!).

Just concentrate on you and your baby and don't worry about weight.

I find this tool very useful as it takes into account your pre-pregnancy BMI. The lower your pre-pregnancy BMI, the more you should healthily put on in pregnancy (and vice versa).
www.gurgle.com/tools/pregnancy_weight_gain_calendar/default.aspx

you may not have put on as much as you think..I've been pretty bloated in the first trimester so even though I lost about half a stone I couldn't get in normal trousers comfortably and went straight to maternity trousers at about nine weeks. I'm now 16 weeks and the bloating seems to have gone down (for now!) and I'm wearing pre-pregnancy jeans today.

Even if it is weight that you're putting on, you're excercising which is healthy and I'm sure it will even out.

Thanks all for your kind comments and for sharing the experiences, that's made me feel a lot better! I've just weighed myself, I've put on 9kg, urgh... I really hope it'll slow down soon (it'll be hell to lose all that after the baby has arrived!). As long as the flipping sickness stops, it's driving me crazy.

I think I'm panicking because I am not used to not being in control over my body - it's my first time being pg, and half the time I'm thinking what the hell is going on here :0

The other thing to take into consideration is that the amount of exercise you're doing may be causing your cravings for carbs. Now I am in no way saying you should stop exercising! But sometimes people can find that exercise makes them really hungry - and they end up eating more than what they're burning off.

Now you totally can't worry about that when you're pregnant, as you shouldn't diet, and you should just be doing whatever you can to keep that sickness at bay. (plus, as all the others have said, your body probably knows what you need.) But perhaps you could take your gym sessions a little easier? A 2 hour session is pretty full on - you could always change it to a couple of 45 minute sessions. You may find this helps with both your levels of sickness and the amount of food you require to keep sickness at bay?

But whatever happens - don't judge yourself. I know it's really easy to say, but it's important to keep on reminding yourself that you don't need to be perfect and look like this ideal "size 8 with a perfect little bump". None of us look like that. I sure as heck don't. I figure it's going to be a much more enjoyable 9 months if I can learn to love my new/changing body sooner rather than later. It's not always easy though (and I'm totally having a fat day today)...

buttercup - that's probably right, but I have already drastically reduced the intensity of my gym sessions. I know 2hr sounds long, but that only once a week when I do 2 classes back to back, one of which is Pilates, the other a weights class. All my instructors know I'm pregnant and have give me good advice, I'm taking it easy and have lowered all my weights. I also sometimes do some gentle cardio on the crosstrainer or bike, no more than 20min
I'm just so glad that I can go to the gym again, I couldn't face it inthe first few weeks. But now I actually feel better after exercising!
I think you're all right, I just have to take it in stride that I'll never be one of those women who stay looking completely normal apart from having a basketball strapped to their belly :)

ihave the totaly opposite problem, and its really bugging me, im 16 weeks and pre pregnancy i was around 57kg, so my weight gain should leave me around 60kg by now, but actually i have gone down to 50kg, im eating quite alot too, but as soon as i put a pound on its gone just as fast.
JBRD, i was like you with my last pregnancy i only wanted to eat carbs and i could have eaten every min of the day i put on nearly 4 stone by the end, midwifes said i was healthy though and it all came off naturally after the birth. i would say to you dont beat your self up about it, your pregnant and every womans weight gain is different plus by the time 40 weeks comes your weight may stabalise its self out :)

Am quite relieved that I'm not the only one out there! Have decided to ignore the fact that I'm only 12 weeks and go shopping for maternity trousers this week!

I am 13 weeks and have been eating a lot more than usual, but have put on only 1 pound, however, my body shape has definitely changed and a lot of clothes are too tight around the waste... My pre-pregnancy BMI was 17. Not sure how much weight per week I should be putting on during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters... I read a couple of pregnancy books and many websites, and it seems that the rule of thumb is eating 200-300 calories more than pre-pregnancy... Do many people stick to this rule?

lilly13 - there is no way in hell that I could stick with that rule! I need to eat every 2 hours, and it needs to be something substantial, i.e. with carbs (unfortunately). Trying to stick to 'good' carbs with low GI, as this was what I was used to doing pre-pregnancy, but my God, pasta and pizza have never tasted so good. My fondness of cheese has also (again, unfortunately) increased, sigh.

I did a little experiment the other day, trying to have a pre-preg-like day in terms of food/eating, but had to stop because I was getting sooooo sick, no chance.

Now I'm hoping that the sickness stops soon and my weight gain evens out a bit. I'm currently wearing all things stretchy in my wardrobe, and there aren't many!

JBrd, I totally hear you about carbs! I also tend to eat a lot more carbs than I used to. The strangest thing is that I crave mostly raw foods aka fruits and veggies and loads of lemon water. I also need to munch on something every 2 hours. I found nibbling on almonds very good for beating hunger and providing high nutrients/vitamins. I try to keep a food diary to manage calorie intake, otherwise I find it is very easy to lose track of what I eat, because I am munching so often... Don't worry about it too much, though. I think it will all even out eventually!

I don't think you should be worried at all, i'm having the opposite problem and in 16weeks haven't managed to gain any weight at all, now my doctor has given me 3weeks to put on as much weight as I can, certainly no mention of an upper limit to that weight gain! I think as long as you are exercising and trying to stay well you'll be fine.

There can't be any hard and fast rules about this. The 200-300 calories extra thing wouldn't work for me. At 25 + 4 I've put on more weight than I'm supposed to, despite the fact that I'm eating less than I did pre-pregnancy. I really believe my digestion has slowed down massively because of the baby. Even when I was vomiting 12 times a day in the first trimester and found eating difficult I gained weight for most of that period.

(But I'm also doing a lot less walking and exercising now because my bump is huge for my stature. I just look like a blob. )

You are only supposed to need 200-300 extra calories during the final trimester.

last time with DS3 I put on a stone in first 3 months but then only another half stone for rest of pg, I felt wide after 1st trimester but it evened out & I ended up with a neat bump didnt need maternity clothes just went up 1-2 sizes. So there is plenty of time for things to settle down for you.

I have been so rough this time (baby no 4), I can't face any of my usual healthy food & I'm not training at all either so no doubt I will have put weight on. I can definately see baby bump starting already at 10 weeks but am steering clear of scales etc. Don't forget you have loads of extra fluid on board at the moment with the extra blood volume.