Weight gain at 26 weeks

[HappyAsEyeAm]

I weighed myself for the first time in a few months this morning. I have gained 1 stone 5 lbs. I have a small frame, am 5 foot 1 inch tall and before I got pregnant had a BMI of 22/23 weighed about 8 stone 5 lbs. I haven't been eating great in that I eat healthy things like fruit and veg and fish and whatever, and then I eat chocolate and cake and the like on top. Not good, I know!

Is this a massive weight gain?

It doesn't seem there is a 'right' amount of weight to gain and that doesn't sound massive at all to me. If you are following your hunger and not hugely over-eating, then your weight gain will be right for you (you need about the equivalent of an extra tuna sandwich on top of your normal intake from the second tri onwards, I was told).

I was also BMI of 22 when I conceived. At 31 weeks I've gained about 1 stone 7lbs, on course for a 2 stone gain by the end if it slows down a bit towards the end (and if I keep off the cake ). A bit above average but the midwives are so unbothered they don't even weigh me. I was a slightly worried about it as I thought it was piling on too fast but it seems to have evened out again - people reckon there are growth spurts.

If you don't feel you 'need' the chocs and cakes you could cut them out, or replace them with something more nutritrious (a banana, yoghurt, handful of nuts) but then when else can you enjoy a good slab of cake and not worry that your jeans are tight? Your tummy is meant to be getting bigger

There's a reason women aren't routinely weighed during pregnancy - its pointless (unless you're clearly gaining MASSES of weight) - how can you tell what is baby, placenta, amniotic fluid and increased blood volume from what is the necessary fat reserve women gain to get them through birth and breast feeding?

You can't!

You're gaining weight, that's good. Now put the scales away until it's time to think about losing any remaining post-baby weight

Thanks for the advice ladies - growth spurts hadn't occurred to me and its not good to compare.

I think my concern stems from the fact that when I had my first baby five years ago, it took me ages to lose the weight I'd gained (maybe two years or so) and I am really hoping that it won't take me as long this time. I got depressed about feeling so overweight and not looking as I wanted to look, and it really got me down.

This time round, I seem to be eating loads (and eating badly sometimes), but I don't have the willpower to stop, and its concerning me as I don't want to feel as awful as I did after my first baby.

Hi,

I am now 25 weeks and 1 day and have gained 1st 5 lbs (Although I needed to gain about 5lbs according to the MW and consultant) so from 9st 9lbs to 11st 1lbs.

What makes me giggle is the MW at the hospital weighed me on the 7th December and I weighed 11st then (did not allow for the jeans, jumper dress and boots combo, which was a massive 6lbs) I have no doubt the MW will question my lack of weight gain. I get a feeling Baby Harry isn't going to be a big baby.

HappyAsEyeAm try not to worry too much as it can drive you loopy. xx

Hi OP. I will be 25 weeks tomorrow and according to the scales this morning I have gained 1st 2lb. I too am 5'1" but was a lot heavier than you pre-pregnancy (10 1/2 stone).

I understand your worries, it seems a lot when you're small but I'm trying not to let it bother me as it's all in a good cause.

I have gained 2ld and I am 26 weeks but I was already overweight and it seems that in every pregnancy I have gained less and less (this is my 5th) - the baby is growing well and I am fine so a not going to worry about it. Nor should you, as long as you are well and the baby is well that is all that counts.

Im 26wks and have gained around 5lbs. Am 5'9, and a size 12, BMI of 23/24 pre-preg.

Ive had very little appetite throughout pregnancy, and have to make a concious effort to eat at all. :(

Im a similar size/weight to you OP. I gained 1 stone 4lbs by 22 weeks & had a huge bump compared to others! The baby was on the 97th percentile at 20 week scan.

Not gained any weight for 7 weeks now but still eating the same etc. I seem to have 'normalised' bump wise too & the baby isn't feeling as big. Guess he was having a growth spurt!

I think i'll have put on 2 stone in total by the end.