Normal weight gain

[Holiday16]

Hi, I am currently 20 weeks pregnant. I weighed myself yesterday and I have out on 4kg which seems an awful lot when I'm only half way through and baby should only weight 300g ish according to my pregnancy apps.

Is this normal or have I put on too much and need to exercise more and maybe not eat so much?

Thanks x

I weighed myself around 20 weeks and had put on similar and was mortified thinking it was too much. had my bump measured a couple of days ago and fully on track for healthy size so a lot calmer now. I don't think it's just baby that adds the weight but also the fluid and I'm my case my boobs as they have grown quite a bit!

There’s some weight calculators for pregnancy weight gain, but really you should be advised by your midwife. I didn’t gain weight due to sickness and everyone panicked me about it.

If you’re worried then light exercise and eating healthier (if you’ve upped your snacking) will help. Think it’s only the final few months you need 300 extra calories.

Congratulations and good luck

4kg doesn't sound much. I'd put on a stone by 20 weeks, so more like 6.5kg - midwife unbothered. She didn't even need to check, I was just interested to weigh myself.

The NHS doesn't have a recommended weight gain anymore, as everyone is so different. I believe in the states they estimate 25-35 pounds as pretty standard in pregnancy.

It's not just the weight of the baby - it's also the baby, amniotic fluid, the placenta, extra blood, extra breast tissue, fat stores for breastfeeding...

You sound fine.

This is a good guide - www.calculator.net/pregnancy-weight-gain-calculator.html

Don't forget it's not just baby that adds to the weight. It's baby, fluids and placenta. That and an increased blood volume, it all adds up.

I've put on a stone and a half at 15 weeks and my midwife isn't concerned! But i haven't gained in the last 4-5 weeks, I did that at the beginning.

The recommended by 26 weeks is around 18 pounds, according to the official charts, so 4kg at 20 is actually under what you should have put on if you were to gain steadily. But everyone gains differently, some more early on and then less later or vice versa.

I'm about 4 weeks behind you and am about 2.5-3kg heavier than before (depends how well my digestive system is behaving) so you're probably ok ( Natural Cycles app tells be I'm on target). Tbh I think most of mine is due to boobs - I'm used to being athletically flat chested and have had to go out and buy new bras 😭.

I've put on half a stone and I'm only 7 weeks.! I out on 3 stone with dd and ds.

I also gained 4 kg at 20 weeks, 5 if you count the fact I actually lost a kilo in the first trimester so basically put on 5 in the space of 6 weeks which also seemed a lot to me! I was told to just keep it under control and walk more but am now doing pilates and swimming once a week and trying to eat as healthy as possible. Agree with the other ladies that it is a healthy weight gain and we are growing babies in there so hopefully it's all normal :-)

Depends on your start weight. If you are obese to begin with you shouldn’t gain any weight at all throughout the pregnancy - by eating the maintenance calories for your start weight. That means you effectively lose weight as you get heavier (and baby’s weight replaces it). Recommended weight gain charts only apply up to an overweight BMI.

@Teddybear45 thankyou ladies for the advice! I was a normal BMI before my pregnancy - not underweight but not overweight. So I'm hoping it is normal

I have my next midwife appointment next month so will double check then! But thanks again for all your help x