Hyperemesis & Weight gain

[alice93]

Hey,
I have had hyperemesis since I was 6/7 weeks (I'm 16weeks tomorrow). Although its going, and I can keep my food down now, I am still not putting on much weight. Is this bad? I read on wikipedia that putting on less than 7kg during pregnancy can be bad for the baby. I've put on 100g. I have a low BMI naturally, I had a BMI of 19.0 before pregnancy. I just can't seem to eat anything that makes me put on weight - especially now I can't eat my favourite cheeses :(
Advice? How has anyone else coped with putting weight for your baby? Or has your baby been effected by your limited weight gain?
xx

Hi alice I am afraid I can't help much as I am in the same boat. I had severe sickness and really struggling to gain weight now that it has stopped. I lost about 10lbs in the first trimester with severe morning sickness.

I have a bmi of 22 and quite petite before pregnancy. Trying to eat mac Donald's and more puddings after dinner in the evening to put a few pounds on but it's a very slow climb on the scale. Midwife said not to worry and I should see more weight gain after 17/18w.

Btw I am also 16w tomorrow

Ah we have the same due date then! :) (7th January right?)
I struggle to do unhealthy foods and puddings because I live with my parents during the summer (I'm a student), and my mum is a super health freak, who only really eats salads and serves everyone small portions. I've had words with her, that I need to eat more, but she won't change the family meals for me. And puddings are fruit. And then during the day at work, when I have the oppotunity to eat those oh so lovely unhealthy school meals (i work at a school) i feel too sick to stomach anything! Catch 22.
Hopefully I'll start gaining soon!

I weighed myself on the day I got my BFP as I was excited to watch my weight go up, I weighed 9st 4lb. Hyperemesis kicked in around 6 weeks and I dropped down to 8st.

I'm 18 weeks now and still weigh less than 9st (only by a pound or two tho). I'm just starting to show so I'm not overly worried and my weight is creeping back up. Hopefully all will be well at the scan.

Hi,

I had hyperemesis from week 4 through to week 20, and still being sick a few times per week at 29 weeks. This is my second pregnancy with hyperemesis.

So from my pre pregnancy weight (64kg) my gain so far is 2kg. In my first pregnancy I only put on 4kg ish (baby was 3.3kg of that weight). I lost a lot during the sickness phase I worried throughout but the midwife reassured me that the baby will take what it needs from you so not to worry too much.

If you are concerned then speak to your midwife they can refer you onto various professionals who can advise on diet through hyperemesis.

Hope that helps

Alice,

I think you have 2 seperate issues. the first is that you were borderline underweight pre-pregnancy, so ideally you should be putting on more weight than a person of average weight. Of course, you can't change that you have Hyperemesis and if you can't eat, then you can't

The second issue is your mum. A diet of salads and fruit is not adequate for an underweight pregnant woman. Of course you should be eating healthily and this would include salad and fruit, but also a lot more calorie dense things. Think avocado, peanut butter and yes, unrefined carbs. Does your mum have an eating disorder of some sort that makes her unrealistic about weight? Is she annoyed with you getting pregnant? She sounds controlling and like she is not interested in meeting your an your babies needs. Have you discussed this with her?

I think you need to learn to stand up for yourself and your child. You are going to be a mother soon and be responsible for somebody else's life. So at the end of the day you are responsible for what you are eating, not your mum. If you have difficulties with this, approach the midwife, there will be people who can help you.

I am currently on my second Hyperemesis pregnancy and while it's not a big deal to lose weight to begin with, because you simply can't help it, your situation sounds like you are able to eat sometimes, so it is important you maximise nutrition then.

I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I saw my midwife today and she said I shouldn't worry at the moment.
My mum isn't like that at all, she just has to cook for 6 people every night and makes it clear she won't make 6 meals, she already often makes 2-3 different types as my young siblings are too fussy to eat a salad, (and I'm too fussy to eat a child's meal!)

I've had five children and have put on around 7lbs for each pregnancy regardless of whether or not I had hyperemesis (I had it with three of them) All my children weighed more than 7lb and all were healthy and I was in the lovely position of fitting in pre pregnancy size ten clothes before I left hospital. I really wouldn't worry tbh with one of my babies I lived on milky ways and pickled onion crisps because they were the only things that I could keep down.