Is gaining too much weight in pregnancy bad for mum or baby?

[Worriedmum97]

Got pregnant at 54kg (19 BMI), now at 29 weeks I’m 70kg already and I think with water retention and baby putting on more weight weight gain is only going to accelerate. With my first 2 kids I stopped checking weight after 70kg, but it was in the last few weeks not 29w. Asked endocrinologist who I saw this week because of my pre existing pcos and hypothyroid, he said whatever weight I gain is fine as my GTT results from 16w and 28w are normal. So as long as I can get back to 54kg after pregnancy he wouldn’t be worried. With my 2 previous pregnancies I had no issues with getting back to normal as my babies would only sleep in moving prams so I had to walk for hours and the rest of the day I would breastfeed them for hours. I don’t eat much more than usual and usually my weight is very stable no matter how much I eat/how little I exercise. What are the risks of putting on too much? Should I try to exercise more/eat less? Thanks

I use to gain quite a bit in third trimester. But after birth I lose all of it in a week or so. I assumed it's water retention. Now on my fourth baby.

With my first I was weighted at every doctor appointment ( other country) so I knew I gained quite some weight. From second onwards I decided not to weight myself as it makes me anxious. I don't even have a scale at home.

I got pregnant weighing around 70kgs (im 5ft 6in and a weightlifter, my weight was closely managed for competition reasons). Im now 30 weeks and weigh 84ish kgs. Im not particularly worried about it, I dont look like ive put on too much 'fat', ive put on weight before and can tell what that looks like on certain parts of my body. I think its all baby and fluid.

I wouldnt worry too much, each pregnancy is different.

From what you write, your doctor isn't worried about your weight gain. A BMI of 19 is "underweight" (hate BMI though, just mentioning it as a reference point!), so you might just need a little more? Your GTT is normal, and as far as I'm aware, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure are the main risks associated with weight gain. If you're really worried about this, could you talk to your midwife? Even if there's nothing "wrong" with your gain, it might be good to have a chat about your worries? I just had one with mine because I managed to freak myself out with google-ing, it really helped a lot.

Well your pre-pregnancy BMI is right at the low end of normal so I wouldn’t worry too much about gaining weight.