Underweight during pregnancy

[Madratlady]

I've always been very slim (although I eat well and don't exactly avoid junk food), I think it's genetic because my mum was the same till she'd had 2 babies. At my booking in appointment I was weighed and told that because I was underweight I'd probably need extra scans towards the end of the pregnancy to monitor the baby.

I've tried to eat more to put weight on but I haven't really felt like eating more than usual. At the 12 week scan i hadn't put any weight at all on.

Should I be worried? Is my weight going to put my baby at risk? My mum was underweight when she had me and I was born at 35 weeks and was very small, i'm not sure if that was because of her weight.

What weight are you?

7st6, BMI is 17.9 according to the NHS calculator thing. I know I'm only a bit underweight, hardly anorexicly thin but I just wondered if it was likely to be a problem.

Im nearly 14 weeks & I've not put any weight on. When are you meant to start putting weight on?
Im only a size 8 normally.

I would concentrate on eating well & sensibly, if i were you, rather then your actual weight. Take a multi vitamin if your diet isn't great.

With one of my dc i only weighed 9.5 stone when i had her, she was small but perfect.

Important nearly 15 weeks...can't count now!!

I am 5 foot 9 and weighed 9 stone before pregnant, very healthy eater and lots of exercise. Am now almost 30 weeks and have struggled to put on weight, despite eating a lot.

We had a small worry a few weeks ago when the baby was measuring small but now it is back on track. I've put on under a stone have hardly any bump, at 26 weeks no one knew I was pregnant, some people still have not realised.

It all varies, if you were slim and healthy you may not put on that much. If they are going to scan you regularly that could be good as if the baby is small and it's a placental issue they will spot it, they've been checking me every two weeks.

Had a BMI of 17.5 when I got pregnant and means I have to have consultant and midwife care but the dr at last appointment at 16 weeks was very laid back about it. As you have to have extra growth scans but they did say me to they aren't really concerned and it seems I am naturally slim and not as a result of an eating disorder. Seems if you are just naturally slim then it is a precaution more than a massive concern. Hopefully carries on like this.

As long as you keep eating healthily I'm sure you'll have nothing to worry about. A simple switch of eating full fat instead of reduced fat foods helped my very slender friend satisfy the midwife and her baby was born just a few days early at about 7lbs. Congrats on your pregnancy.

Assuming you're eating properly and not over-exercising I wouldn't worry. Don't stuff yourself but focus on getting good nutritious foods. I'd switch to full-fat everything (milk, cheese, yogurt etc) both for the extra calories but also low-fat food stuffs tend to have more sugar and other unnecessaries in them. But otherwise, eat according to hunger: I believe that your body will tell you what it needs.

Obese women have small babies and skinny women have large ones (look at Kate Middleton - she was underweight before getting pregnant and her baby wasn't small).

Thanks everyone I won't worry then. I eat reasonably healthily most of the time but do have treats when I fancy it. I'll just carry on as I am for now.

I've only put on 1 stone by 32 weeks, but baby's measuring the right size. I asked my midwife about my lack of weight gain, and she said that as long as mum and baby are happy and healthy then they don't use weight gain as a measure anymore.

I would recommend a pregnancy multivitamin though, just to ensure you are getting everything you need. And a few Krispy kremes. They're also nutricious... honest.