Weight gain in pregnancy. Help!

[KitKat1985]

Hello all.

Hope everyone is well. :)

Just wanted to ask a really cheeky question about how much weight you've gained so far? I've just come back from a fortnights holiday this weekend and was a bit shocked when I finally plucked up the courage to get on the scales this morning. I've gained 13 pounds in total this pregnancy, and 7 pounds of which has gone on in the past 3 weeks (when I last weighed myself), and so clearly went a tad overboard on holiday! I'm 18+1 at the moment so not even halfway yet!

I guess I just want to get some idea of how much is 'average' to have gained by this point. I know in the grand scheme of things the weight gain isn't that important as long as me and baby are well (which we are), but I have to be honest and say I've had a lot of eating disordered issues in the past (I've been both very overweight and very underweight in the past) and although I've managed well and been a healthy weight for several years now pre-pregnancy - BMI of 24 pre-pregnancy, I guess I'm just finding it a bit harder than I thought I would to deal with the weight gain and my body changing, probably because it all feels a bit out of my control. If I could get some idea of what was a 'normal' amount of weight gain at each point in pregnancy was at least I know roughly what I should weigh, which I think I would find helpful.

Many thanks! x

I was going to post because I'm a bit worried about my weight gain. I'm 24 weeks and have gained nearly 20 lbs which is over what it should be. I was also just under BMI of 24 pre-pregnancy. I had nausea which lasted until 16 weeks which was only alleviated by constantly eating carbs! I'm trying to slow down the weight gain because my last baby was over 10 lbs and I want to avoid another big baby - but some women do tend to retain weight during pregnancy.

First pregnancy:
1st trimester - gained 2kg
2nd trimester - gained 8kg
3rd trimester - gained 1kg

Was worried about how little I gained in the 3rd but midwife said they look at overall gain.

2nd pregnant - am 37 weeks and so far have gained a bit more than 11kg. But more in the 3rd trimester than last time.

1st pregnancy 5 st
2nd pregnancy 4.5 st
3rd pregnancy 2st 4ish at 34 weeks

I find the last few weeks hardest as there's really little else to do but eat. However this baby will be delivered 3 weeks earlier than first two and that should save me at least half a stone!

Oops.

Make that 2st 6!

I was considered pretty little with a very neat bump last pregnancy (got lots of comments about how I looked about 20 weeks at term) - and clothes fitted everywhere except bump and boobs - I was still wearing lots of my normal clothes full term - I still put on 2.5 stone!

So this time I am just not going to weigh myself.

I know lots of people who put on 4 st in pregnancy. And lots of them lost it easily. Lots of the time it is fluid as well as baby, fat, etc.

One of those things I don't think you have that much control over. You can try and eat healthy (well after the first trimester anyway) and keep active. If you make the effort it should come off ok afterwards, however much you put on. (Might take a year though.)

I'm 23 weeks and have put on exactly a stone. I was 9 st and 5'5 to start with and pretty slim and fit I guess. I'm not doing as much exercise now but my eating habits haven't changed much; I'm eating healthier if anything. I'm wearing a mix of maternity stuff and my normal clothes which are a 10 although just bought a 12 top. Everyone keeps telling me how neat and small I look and I certainly don't feel massive so maybe weight isn't a great thing to go by? My boobs are huge now though so I'm sure there's half a stone right there!

Pre-pregnancy bmi of 29, so I have been careful not to go mad on the chocolate and have put on almost a stone. I'm now 24 weeks. I don't feel too fat though, if that makes sense. It feels like all the weight is bump so I'm not too worried.

I'm 12 weeks and I haven't gained anything yet, but I don't have the sort of body type that lays down fat, at my scan my BMI actually makes me underweight but midwife wasn't concerned, she said as long as I've no history of eating disorders (I haven't) and I eat a healthy balance diet it's not an issue.

I've put on exactly a stone and I'm 28 weeks.
I'd gained half a stone by 20 weeks.
I seem to have gained it all on my bump though, I look no different from the back but think my bump looks huge! Though the doctor measured my bump for the first time at 27 weeks and it measured more like 26.
Other than my booking in appointment, the midwife has never checked my weight, asked about it, measured my bump or commented on my size.
As long as I end up within the average weight gain spectrum I'm not going to worry too much

I'm 36 weeks and have put on about 3kg, despite eating like a horse and with cravings for cheese!
I'm so surprised, I honestly thought I was going to explode everywhere, but it seems the old wives tale of boys being all bump has been quite accurate!

I'm 21 weeks and have put on about 12-13 lbs. I didn't have any morning sickness at all in the first trimester and put on 3-4 lbs. Since then it's just been a steady ~1 lb/week gain.

My pregnancy book also says 2-2.5 stone gain over is normal, but the NHS website says women who gain 1.5-2 stone are likely to have fewer complications. At this rate I will exceed that, but on the whole I am eating normal amounts and pretty healthily, so just letting my body do what it wants to do!

Most of my weight gain was in first 20 weeks. I've put on around 3.5 stone (now 37 weeks), that's about 1/4 of my pre-pregnancy weight. My BMI was 30 at booking appt. MW weighed me at routine 36 week appt and was unconcerned by the gain. My Mum even commented "how slim you've stayed", and she's often the first to criticise. I lost 5 stone before becoming pregnant and I've not regained it all, I'm definitely "thinner" than when I was this weight previously - obviously cos mostly bump& boobs. I was worrying but I'm not now. Lots of people including MW/HCP have said as long as everyone's healthy not to worry.

I'm 19+6 and I lost 13lbs between BFP an 12 week scan. Varied between days of sickness so bad that I whatever I ate never stayed in me, and feeling sick but not being sick I couldn't eat. But have put 8lbs back on now. Was shocked at how little as my belly has ballooned. With my eldest who was born at 32 weeks I had put on 3 stone at delivery!!

Saying that, I was 12stone 12lbs at BFP and in the obese weight category (only just, BMI of 30.2) so probably a good idea I haven't put too much on x

So yeah, am now 5lbs under my BFP weight at 19+6 x

I gained 3.5 stones when I was pregnant last year. Dd is now nearly 8 months and my weight is back to normal. Breastfeeding is the best diet ever, the weight has fallen off with no effort what so ever. Apparently feeding uses up 500 calories a day, the equivalent of a 45 min run! Just to reassure you that it doesn't matter what you gain, eat whatever you need. I ate a tub of ice cream every day in the last fortnight I was so miserable with spd! Just relax and enjoy your pregnancy xx

You could be me - bmi was 24 before pg, this is dc2 and I haven't weighed myself this time (17 wks now) because I always gain more than supposed to in the first bit - I think it's partly pregnancy excitement. I lost 35 lb within 3 months post birth last time so I'm not ruining my life worrying about it this time. I try and make sure I'm eating the right things (as well as the wrong ones).

Thank you for all of the replies and reassuring comments. To be fair I think the main reason my weight has shot up the past 3 weeks is holiday weight, as I was doing okay before then. Now that I'm back to work and eating on the run all the time (I work in nursing) I'm hoping the weight gain will slow down a bit. I would never diet when pregnant of let myself go hungry (not least because it makes me feel sick) but I will try to ease off the sugary snacks a bit, as I'm sure they're not particularly good for me or baby anyway (but they taste so nice)! xxx

I gained 1 and a half stone during my first pregnancy and was scrutinised very closely by my doctor - was in an Asian country where they follow your weight very closely during pregnancy.

I have since moved to another Asian country and am pregnant again. I forgot what a focus my weight would be. At my appointment at 14 weeks she (my doctor) discovered I had gained 4lbs over 3 weeks. She must have mentioned it/told me off around 10 times. It was very embarrassing in front of my husband!

I have just been on holiday for two weeks and dread to think what she will say when I go back in 2 weeks time.

I am 27 weeks and have so far gained about 7lbs, although 4lbs are in the last two weeks. Have been eating loads but have been running around after my 4 year old. With dd1 I gained 4 stone! So don't want to gain this much this time around. However with dd1 I was 8 stone before I fell pregnant and this time was 10 stone when I fell pregnant, would like to go back to 8 1/2- 9 stone after baby so will probably have the same to lose as I did with dd1. I don't think I have eaten any less this time around, but I must just be a lot busier!

Hey kit kat

I am 21 weeks and I have put on 1.5 stone. I'm still exercising regularly- and although I was no saint at all eating wise for first trimester I'm being very healthy now and careful to avoid going too crazy weight gain wise.

Please don't worry- speak to your midwife if you want reassurance, but everyone gains differently. My boobs have gone from a c to a dd so that's got to account for something! (I hope!)

People tell me I haven't put in in my face or backside etc...hope it stays like this. Everyone is different though- please don't worry.

I know how hard it is to not compare though- I was the worst one ever for worrying about internet averages! Ignore it and concentrate on your pregnancy.

X

Best advice is to try not to stress about it. Also you have to remember that you can't compare with other peoples weight gains (or lack of weight gains) unless they were a similar height and starting weight and build to you.
Eg - a 14 stone person who says 'I

Sorry - who only puts on 2 stone is different to an 8 stone person who only puts on 2 stone. Same as an 8 stone person can put on 3.5 stone and probably shift it quite easily, but that won't be the case for a 15 stone person.
I was 9 stone pre preg, 5 ft 6
Day of delivery I was 12 stone
3 weeks later I was 11 stone
3 months later I was 10 and a quarter stone
Baby is now 7 mths and I am still 10 and a quarter, however am still bf'ing and eating roughly 12,000 calories a day without gaining so I will deal with the last bit when I stop bf and have to return to normal diet.