Ridiculous weight gain at 28 weeks - feeling rubbish

[mrs87]

I knew I'd gained a fair bit of weight, I was expecting to as my weight fluctuates anyway prior to pregnancy, and close family members gained hugely when pregnant. But I don't keep scales in the house anymore so I hadn't been keeping track - so my last "weigh in" was at my 8 week booking appointment, which was my last face to face midwife appointment before my 28 week one! But I've been in denial/ignorant bliss about it since.

So when I was weighed this week it was quite a shock to see that I've gained around 2 stone since 8 weeks pregnant.

I know this isn't just baby weight - a combination of pregnancy and lockdown has meant I've eaten pretty much what I want, when I want - I'm getting lots of fruit and vegetables etc at meals, but snacking has been really bad and I've let myself have treats every day.

I love my bump, but hate seeing everywhere else that the weight has gone - particularly face, arms and legs and looking back to my 'bump selfies' about 6 weeks ago I looked pretty good, and now I just look like Jabba the Hut. I wasn't very slim before which doesn't help.

I don't know whether to try and do anything at this stage, or just accept that this is how it's going to be for the next 10/11 weeks and figure it all out afterwards. I think I'm just a bit worried about how much more I'm going to gain in this last trimester. I'm already waddling

Sorry for the waffle (mmm, waffles), any reassurance/telling off welcomed...

Thank you!

I'm 29 weeks now BTW!

Why don't you have a scale? It might be a good idea to track your weight during pregnancy to make sure everything's on track (Most pregnancy apps have a weight tracking option).

Have you mentioned this to your midwife or doc? Maybe your weight gain is completely normal?

If it's not don't worry, just replace junk snacks & refined carbs with healthier options (nuts, fresh fruit and peanut butter etc).

Oh OP, I can totally sympathise. In my first pregnancy I had terrible sickness until the third trimester, when I absolutely ballooned. I went from having gained next to nothing to 3 and a half stone! I felt terrible! If it's any consolation, the first stone comes off without even really thinking about it after delivery. I don't think that you should diet or be overly concerned now. You may well find you're the opposite to me and hardly gain in the third trimester so it will balance out. Don't feel bad!

I put on about 2.5 stone in my last pregnancy, I lost half of that after the birth and then really struggled to lose the rest... until I stopped breastfeeding when it just fell off me and I ended up weighing less than I'd started.

So this pregnancy I'm not gonna worry as much. These are such unusual times and the snacks are helping me get through lockdown. Be kind to yourself.

Thanks all.

@carlablack I have been on diets on and off the past 5 years - I did Slimming World and got to my "target weight" for my wedding in 2018, and then after the wedding just didn't want to count or measure or be obsessive about anything anymore. So I got rid of my scales! I'd gained a fair bit back by the time I fell pregnant.

I don't want to stress about it too much but at the same time I don't want my DH taking photos of me at the moment as I just look like a whale! Plus I feel like gaining much more is going to make my SPD so much worse.

Fingers crossed like PPs said the weight gain might slow down for the last bit. I'll definitely try to be mindful of the snacks/junk!

Don’t stress too much. It’s done! A good chunk of it is going to be baby and extras (I put on three stone in my last pregnancy and literally lost half of that over two days following the birth!) Lots of it will be water and bloating too.

Losing weight in pregnancy is definitely not recommended so just try and be a bit more careful from now on I guess. Oh and don’t be too hard on yourself. Lots of people gain a fair amount of weight in pregnancy, as long as health wise you’re okay then just take it carefully from now on.

I’m only 16 weeks and trying to do the pregnancy version of Slimming World, it’s really helped keep me eating healthily without losing weight so that’s been good.

Good luck! Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy!

Exactly the same here (30 weeks pregnant). This is a surprise pregnancy and I hadn't yet lost any of the weight I'd put on last pregnancy. My New Year's resolution was go back to slimming world but instead I got a positive pregnancy test. I was determined to put nothing but baby weight on this time but then lockdown struck...I'm trying not to obsess over it and will get back on track after baby is born.

If it helps I put on 4 stone in pregnancy, I ballooned everywhere, three stone did come off within five months and the last stone in the years after, everyone is different with weight gain in pregnancy, try not to be too hard on yourself

Don't stress about it, because if you plan to breastfeed, you're gonna need every pound as breastfeeding makes you lose about 500 calories a day!

Still, check in with your doctor so that you know you're not in the danger zone for gestational diabetes.

Gained 3.5 stone in both pregnancies (currently 39 weeks now), lost it the first time and ready to lose it again ☺️

I'm 26 weeks pregnant and already put on 30lb so you're not alone!
Mine is mostly bump, but my ass, thighs and arms have ballooned immensely!
I'm still only a size 12 (thank god!) started off a size 10 and I imagine I'll gain another 15-20lb before I'm done and be a very well rounded size 14-16 I reckon.
You're so not alone! It's also reassuring to me to see others peoples weight gain is similar to mine as I thought I was huge for how far gone I am! 😬

You are definitely not alone. I just weighed myself today, I am +8kg (approx 17 lbs) at 21 weeks from my pre-pregnancy weight, which is more than what it should be according to those calculators that take into consideration your starting BMI etc. And yes, the bump is not the only thing I've grown, it's the thighs, the ass, the double chin, the works. I am going to try to cut out junk from now on (was partial to a cookie or two in the 1st and 2nd trimester..), but not sure I can increase exercise as I just do not have the energy to get through the day, let alone do workouts.