Embarrassed and low at weight gain.

[Sastra]

I'm 22 weeks and have gained 25lbs. I'm just mortified. I feel I look disgusting and I'm so embarrassed. I try to eat healthily but it's clearly not working. I'm going to be left huge after the birth. So so miserable.

I know the feeling, I'm 22weeks too,.feel like I've put on loads but not weighing myself. Remember lots of it is baby, increased blood volume, water retention. And it's bound to come off afterwards, I plan to do lots of walking with the buggy and baby, breastfeeding helps, eating healthily will help.

How was your weight before pregnancy? If it was quite low then it may be that your body has decided it needs the extra weight to feed the baby, now and after the birth (i.e. breastfeeding). If that's the case you are likely to see a lot of it come off if you breastfeed and the rest soon after that.

Please don't feel miserable or embarrassed, you are not disgusting, you are pregnant and you are supposed to have put on some weight.

My BMI was 22 pre-pregnancy. I ate healthily and used to run. I still suffer with nausea, which means I need to eat regularly, and I can't run any more.

I know you've got to put some on but this seems like far too much. I'm worried I'll be obese once the baby's born.

Stay off the scales.

There's no way of differentiating between baby, placenta, increased blood volume, water, amniotic fluid, essential fat put down by pregnant women to sustain them through labour and breastfeeding, and good old cake retention.

You are pregnant. You are meant to gain weight. Eat sensibly and exercise a bit if you can. Worry about getting it off afterwards

I thought that might be the case re your BMI.

My mum was very slim before she had me - BMI probably about 20 or so. She put on half her own body weight with me - not unhealthy eating, just eating what she felt she needed to. It was all gone within a year through breastfeeding and walking around with me in a buggy (no Beyonce style miracle diets/workouts).

Honestly, as long as you are eating when your body tells you to, and you are eating fairly healthy stuff, then trust that your body knows what it's doing and it needs that food.

Can you go for walks rather than running? Takes more time of course.

Some people just tend to gain lots first half or so then it may slow down.

Are you considerably less active? What's your diet like? You might be able to make some simple changes. Have you thought about swimming?

My first pregnancy I went from 8.7 stone to about 11 . I was a walking food monster, I had always been careful about my weight and just ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I was also broke, living away from home for the first time so bought cheap, bad foods and had to make do. Afterwards I found it hard to get active, was exhausted. Eventually I joined a gym with a crèche, did 4 mornings a week at classes. Felt great.

Second time I was quite sick at beginning so ate whatever I fancied, then craved Lollies and crisps. I didn't put on as much.

This time I have totally craved fruit, loads of it. I weighed myself at about 11 weeks and had put on 8lbs. I was gutted as I'd been working out loads, seeing a personal trainer and looked the best I had in years. I was so scared of mc in first trimester I totally stopped all activities, and I'm sure this is why I gained. I am now 20 weeks, haven't weighed myself since but feel like I've not put on as much as I have before. I am more active with my job, and the fruit craving is better than crisps that's for sure!

However, I think as long as your being healthy just enjoy being pregnant. If I fancy something, I'll have it. I'm walking most evenings with the other 2 and I'll worry about the rest after the baby is born.

Don't be so hard on yourself OP.

Ask to see a dietician when you next meet your MW or make a fresh appointment to see her to ask.

I put on far too much weight, could not breastfeed and it was a horrid depressing nightmare losing the weight. I was on a massive diet for 18 months. It is frankly bollocks that the weight just falls off for many women.

I had thought that a normal weight gain was 20-30 lbs over the full term so I think you should ask for medical advice. Sorry if it's not the advice you expect.

I was about 10lbs overweight when I became pregnant with DC3. I am 34 weeks and have put on four stone!
Everyone keeps saying it is just bump, and my bump is absolutely massive...but what can I do?
I was the same for both previous pregnancies and lost the weight after. Don't beat yourself up, we're all made differently.

Sorry, should have also said that I had big babies, but had them naturally, very active births with no stitches or anything!
Breast fed DS2 no problem too.

I put on quite a bit of weight in 1st tri (didn't weigh myself but could tell from clothes) as was sick and had to eat through it. Hardly any gain in 2nd tri when sickness went and quite steady now 3rd tri. I keep being told (in a nice way) how compact I look and I was BMI 25 pre preg. Size 12 and 5'8.

Don't worry, you either need it or it will even out :)

I've come looking for threads like this because I'm 19 weeks and was a bit shocked to learn this morning that I've put on 21 lbs, although perhaps I should have guessed as I look enormous. I have eaten anything I want whenever I want and am now feeling slightly regretful of how indulgent I've been.

That said, I do think your body tells you what it needs and so if you're very hungry and having cravings for chips and mayo it's probably for a good reason. Most people have told me that you really lose a lot of weight during breast feeding and I don't know many people who didn't lose their baby weight - at least after the first one. Plus if you were a healthy active person before the pregnancy, chances are you will be after which will help shift the load.

Finally, there really are more important things to worry about than what we look like at the moment - I'd try not to think about it too much and divert yourself into thinking about the amazing stuff your body is doing. Be proud of that and sod what you look like for the time being. You can get back to being you-shaped once this crazy journey is over.

yeah i've put on loads too. only 24 weeks!! having twins and been on bedrest for a month so seriously stacking it on due to lack of movement (and a few too many biscuits, but hey what can you do when you have to stay on the sofa all day, every day!!)

i reckon we'll lose it when the our babies come and we're breastfeeding, running around, etc.

That's what i'm tellling myself anyway!!!

I guess there is a middle ground. I hate to think of people worrying constantly throughout their pregnancy about how much they have put on, when they should be excited about their new baby. Having said that, unless there is a very good reason (illness/SPD etc) there is no reason not to remain as active as possible. Frankly, it is easier now than it will be when the baby is born. So don't obsess about everything you put in your mouth - but don't eat extra either. You really don't need to. You were obviously a healthy weight before, so stick to what you were eating then and do as much exercise as you can manage. It really is a lot easier not completely letting yourself go and having to try and deal with a whole load extra weight when exhausted with a baby. We need to put weight on, but with a healthy weight to start with 2/3 stone is about as much as necessary.

Your weight gain might slow down later on. My Mum suffered with terrible ms so ate loads & gained loads in the first 2 trimesters but barely gained during the third, then lost LOADS at the birth, despite me weighing a mere 6lb 6oz. It was a lot of water retention etc.

With my DD I stayed quite slim early on (had slight nausea) but ended up gaining about 18kg with my little 6lb 5oz baby. I lost it through breastfeeding, returning to my pre-pg weight within a few months.

This time I feel like I slowed really early on, seemed to gain LOADS straight away but then I had ms. It seems to have slowed a bit, despite being about 3-4 wks bigger than I was with DD but I don't seem to weigh that much more. I got a bit down about it at first, I guess because I looked pg so quickly, without being able to tell people iyswim. Now I feel a bit happier about it, especially as I've ceased craving the bad stuff too, so whilst eating a LOT it isn't all junk anymore.

I figure I lost it with my DD despite not being that active with her afterwards, & with luck, this time I'll breastfeed again AND have to run around after a toddler, so I'll not properly exercise but I'll move a lot.

I expect you'll find you get back to your healthier eating habits etc and maybe be able to exercise a bit so find your body getting back to 'normal' (if there is such a thing post-baby) quite soon.