Don't Understand Weight Gain in Pregnancy

[QS88]

I'm having trouble understanding how much weight I'm supposed to be gaining in this pregnancy. I thought the recommended amount (in a perfect world) was about 2-5lbs in the first 12 weeks, then 1-2lbs a week for the next 28 weeks? As I started out with a BMI of 26.2 (9lbs overweight), I thought I'd try to stick to 1 pound a week, but this still totals 30lbs over the course of the whole pregnancy (2 + 28 x 1). I was feeling okay about this. Although I gained 5lbs in the first trimester, which wasn't ideal (but let myself off due to no morning sickness, IVF meds and gym / pool being shut), have been averaging 1lb a week since. Have just read though that overweight women are only supposed to gain 15-25lbs over the whole pregnancy?? As such, does the rule of gaining 1lb per week in 2nd and 3rd trimesters not apply to me? Should I be aiming for less? Am so confused

As gaining 1lb a week would take a person up to 32 / 34ish lbs.

You are overthinking this to the max.

Just eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full.
Your weight gain will be a natural progression of that process.

I really wouldn't worry yourself over it. Everyone is different. I'm on my third pregnancy and honestly have no idea how much weight I gained in any of them. Stick to a well balanced diet, get some gentle exercise and you will be fine.

Honestly don’t worry about it, you’re growing a baby! As long as you eat reasonably healthy and take some gentle exercise you’ll be fine . You’ll also find you have weeks where you seem to balloon and then weeks where you’ll worry you aren’t growing/gaining weight!

The weight at the end of the pregnancy is the weight of the baby, you can’t control that.
Different people put on different amounts, I looked massive but only pretty much put in the weight of baby plus placenta and waters. Within very short time was back to pre pg weight.

At the beginning it looked like I put on a fair bit but it was all bloat and disappeared again.

The main thing to worry about is growth of baby and your own BP.

Unless you know you are eating too much then stop worrying. You only need 200 calories approx more a day (most of us already eat too much) so eat healthily, do low impact exercise and relax

I really think it's largely out of your control. Don't stress, as long as your not massively overeating you'll lose it again. It's all hormone related.

I am in the same weight category and yes 15 - 25 pound is the recommended weight gain for overweight ladies. That equates to about 2/3 pound per week after 1st trimester. If you go on to the pampers website they have this thing that calculates roughly where you should be with weight gain individualised to your BMI pre-pregnancy. Just google 'recommended weight gain in pregnancy' and the pampers website is the first one that comes up.

I find this has given me a good indication as to whether I am on track. E.g. for me in week 29 it says weight gain should be between 9.3 - 16.6 lbs.

I like to keep track of my weight gain as I've had weight issues in the past and it can easily get a bit out of control! But again, if you've put on more than the recommended amount I wouldnt fret about it too much as I'm sure itll come off again once you've had baby. Can just be a useful guide rather than a strict regime.

Hi all, thank-you for all the replies they are very helpful. I'm a first time mum and it's not that I'm worried about looking big, it's more the stuff on NHS website about "dangers of gaining too much weight", but I will try to relax Just keen to do as much "right" as I can manage. @UrsulaSings thank-you that sounds like a great resource I will definately look into, if only to give a rough guide.