Is it possible to lose weight in the 2nd and 3rd trimester?

[Anotherusernamechange3000]

And has anyone managed to do it?

I’m almost 13 weeks and I’ve gained a stone and I’m horrified. This takes my BMI to 31. I’m due to see a consultant in 2 weeks due to my weight so I want to lose a half stone by then so my BMI is under 30.

Then I want to try and lose 1-2lbs a week until about 20 weeks and then just be super careful.

Is this possible and has anyone actually done it?

I’ve also enquiries about pregnancy yoga, pregnancy fitness, pregnancy Pilates and I’ll be going swimming with my OH twice a week. I already do about 30+ mins of walking a day

From all I've read, that's a very bad idea. Your bmi really isn't the same calculation as when you're not pregnant. Just plan to gain less weight.

Eg my sister was had a bmi of 34 at the start of pregnancy and managed to keep weight gain to about 5 pounds by the end.

What?

Surely planning to gain less weight would still involve some sort of diet thought?

I’m still baffled as to how I’ve managed to gain half a stone in a week tbh

My friend did Slimming World, she was considerably lighter after baby was born. She wasn't wildly focused on her weight was just trying to be active and eat really healthily with the odd treat.

Hi Shoofly, that’s reassuring thanks!

I’ll take a look into slimming world

My BMI was over 30 with DS my nausea was so bad I could only manage little bits of food each day. I lost 2 stone by 20 week scan midwife said she was happy if I lost weight and encouraged me but predominantly the nausea restricted what I ate. I gained very little by the end of the pregnancy but after 20 weeks I personally didn't try to lose any more just lots of walking. Get advice from your midwife or the consultant.

I've lost 0.5lbs this week, and I'm second trimester, but I've lost 10lb overall.

I think you need to aim not to gain, rather than to lose.

Slimming World do a pregnancy diet plan - it focuses on not gaining (which effectively means losing as your baby grows) but you usually have to have agreement from your doctor/ midwife to start.

BMI is not used on pregnant ladies except at the first booking in appointment. Due to all the changes going on in your body it's not possible to get an accurate reading.

If you're gaining weight very quickly, it's worth asking for a gestational diabetes test.

I lost weight when pregnant with dd2. It was due to a breveament. I looked awful.

Better off trying to be active and healthy.

You don't need to 'diet' (which suggests a time-limited drastic change) you need to make long term, sustainable changes that you'll stick to after pregnancy. Just try making small changes everyday such as a slightly smaller portion, swapping one unhealthy snack for fruit. Then the next week a bit smaller portions and swap out 2 snacks. If you drink calories then try reducing that.

They don’t calculate your BMI when you’re pregnant, otherwise every woman would be morbidly obese when they gave birth and everyone high risk consultant care. Your BMI goes from your weight at booking in and doesn’t change.

I lost weight due to hyperemesis so it is physically possible (though wasn't healthy or intentional).
I don't think you should be focusing on scales or bmi though.

There's no harm in eating healthily but don't reduce your portion sizes or let yourself be hungry. So for example cut out chocolate and sweets but don't try to reduce calories by cutting carbs drastically etc.
Just healthy meals and snacks, and if possible a slight increase in walking as light excersise should help your health but don't focus on scales as they won't reflect accurately your weight gain/loss as you don't know the weight of the baby, fluids, placenta and increase in breast size that is natural and healthy in pregnancy.

I think its much easier to lose weight post pregnancy than during usually too. If you breastfeed that will take a portion of calories, you'll likely be pushing a buggy round a fair bit and if baby is anything like my DC3 I spend a good 30-60 minutes minimum a night pacing the living room or stood steeping from foot to foot holding him to convince him to sleep!

Pottering if that’s the case why did they ask for my weight & calculate my BMI at my booking appointment and today at my 12 week scan (although turns out I’m almost 13 weeks)

I hadn’t put very much weight on but after being diagnosed with GD, I didn’t put anything else on in my 2nd/3rd trimester.

The limit on carbs and increase in protein did it. I didn’t actually miss sugar but being limited to a handful of carbs really was not fun. Even eating wholewheat pasta would send my sugar levels through the roof!

Anotherusernamechange3000

They do it at booking in as that's the closest to pre-pregnancy they can get.

They do it at your scan for the nuchal translucency/ downs testing, your weight makes up part of the algorithm used to come up with the chance outcome it isn't recorded elsewhere except on the nt test application.

Don't worry too much, I gained 3 stone (not including the weight of the baby, placenta etc - from pre conception to 2 weeks pp) - I was absolutely ravenous and incredibly stressed during my pregnancy. I lost the first stone and a half in the first couple of months and the rest is gradually dropping off. Breastfeeding helps, as does walking everywhere with a pram/baby in a carrier.

I follow a slimming world pregnancy group on Facebook, lots of women have had losses during pregnancy or just controlled their weight.
As long as your midwife is happy then there is no problem following a healthy eating plan and you may well either lose weight or see your gains be very few and fair between.
Slimming world is effectively just ditching all
Processed crap from your diet and eating lots of fresh food. They do restrict some food groups like dairy and bread and I don’t
Think you should restrict yourself - just make healthy choices and keep an eye on the treats.
Exercise will also help! Make sure your midwife and consultant are ok with any plans though!
Best of luck

I'm at slimming world and I've got a form for my midwife to sign to agree that she's ok with me attending the classes (SWs way to cover themselves). I won't be given any advice from the consultant about my weight whether I gain or lose or stay the same. I'm 13 weeks now and have so far gained 2.5lb, my aim is to not gain more than 28lb in total.

OP, I'd gained about a Stone first trimester too.

In fact, I just gain weight during pregnancy full stop. I gained 5 stone in my first. Slightly less with second and I'm on for at least 3 stone currently (27 weeks).

BUT I eat healthily. I have a healthy balanced diet, I don't eat too much junk and I have 3 meals a day. I just have bigger portions than before I was pregnant as I'm simply more hungry. Please don't deprive your body of what it needs in an attempt to lose weight while pregnant. As long as you are eating a healthy, balanced diet and not loading up on junk food you will be fine! And you will lose it all afterwards! I have each time. Pleas don't beat yourself up, I know it's hard x

I know someone who's currently pregnant and has been doing slimming world. She's due in 4 weeks and has managed to lose almost a stone.

if that’s the case why did they ask for my weight & calculate my BMI at my booking appointment and today at my 12 week scan (although turns out I’m almost 13 weeks)

The algorithm they use to caluculate your triple test probability needs your weight. Your weight doesn’t affect the chances of a chromosomal abnormality (so dont panic!) but they must have your weight to calibrate the blood results. That weight they took that day is just used for that.

Your weight at booking is the weight they will use for stuff like consultant care.

Do not start dieting to lose weight - by all means eat healthily but it's not a good thing to lose weight for the sake of it while pregnant. I’ve developed gallstones from losing weight and vomiting due to hyperemesis. It’s painful and miserable.

Thanks all.

I weighed myself this morning and I’m 5lb lighter although I know you weigh less first thing in the morning

What actually happens if you have a high BMI? Do I have to have extra appointments. I don’t want to be forced into having a birth with forceps or something. I’m so desperate to lose weight. I really didn’t want to be an obese mum

Most women put weight on during pregnancy. You’re not scaled on the usual BMI stuff during pregnancy becausebits meaningless - your blood volume will increase by 50% - that alone is a couple of kg. Then uterus, breast tissue, baby, placenta. That’s not ‘you’ it’s foetal tissues and support structures.

You WILL lose an absolute load at birth.

I lost, at a guess: 3kg of baby, 0.5kg placenta, 2l and thus 2kg of blood. So almost a stone there for starters just getting the baby out.

Then I peed about 6l of water out (had a catheter and am fairly nosy so watched the volumes over 24h) . God alone knows where that came from. That’s almost another stone.

Then your body starts to reduce the uterus size and change back after birth.

I came out of hospital lighter than I was at booking.

Incidentally the only times I was weighed was: booking, 12 week scan and before my section for anaesthesia.

If your BMI was under 30 when you were booked in there’s no route where a few extra lbs puts you into a different path. Eat healthily, but don’t try to lose weight.

Talk to your MW about your concerns.

I haven't been weighed since my booking appointnent at 9 weeks currently 20+4. I gave had my dating, anomaly, consultant appointment at 16 weeks and seen my midwife on Tuesday and haven't been weighed once.

I am under consultant care and just means extra scans (currently got growth scan booked at 30 weeks) and some extra midwife appointments (they seeing me every 4 weeks).

I just seeing it as more times to see my boy and hear his heart beat.