Re: weight gain pregnancy -advice/experiences

[brokeoutinsong]

Hi all,

Just wanted to ask what your experience of gaining weight during pregnancy was ? I was weighed for the first time today at 28 weeks and had the shock of my life - I have put on about 2 stone 8 lbs already.
I was in a healthy BMI range before I got pregnant. I have had quite a difficult pregnancy we had a scare early on and my asthma has deteriorated so I haven't been able to exercise as much as I normally would have. I have also indulged the odd chocolate bar or two/pringles.

Is this something I should be concerned about ? My bump is measured at 28cm. I am going to try and be a bit more mindful about what I am eating.

Those who have given birth before, how long did it take you to lose the pregnancy weight ?

Feeling quite deflated at the moment. It is my first baby and I am so over the moon to be pregnant and know how lucky I am ... I am just finding it really difficult to adjust to all of these changes. My bump feel so big, I have my first set of stretch marks .. I am struggling to breathe. I really do appreciate I am so fortunate I just do not feel like myself and I am so nervous about what state I will be in once I have given birth.

Thanks

If you were a healthy weight before, then 2 stone 8 doesn't seem that unreasonable to me at 28 weeks. I've put on 2 stone (I'm 36 weeks) but I was slightly overweight before pregnancy - I think they do say that the less you weighed before pregnancy, often the more you may notice yourself putting on.

Equally 2 bars of chocolate a day or 1 bar and some crisps doesn't seem that bad to me - I have gestational diabetes and still have 2 small bars of very dark choc (so lower sugar) each day or occasionally 1 bar and a bag of low fat crisps/ or 1 scoop of ice cream instead. As long as you are having that as well as healthier food (perhaps as a "treat" after a healthy meal as I do to prevent getting a blood sugar high), I can't see a problem?

I can only think it must be that you are struggling to exercise as much as you used to (I'm the same due to pelvic pain) - or perhaps you are eating at odd times now? I've found since I've had to fast for about 12 hours to get a good morning blood sugar, my pregnancy weight gain has slowed down - I think I was eating too late at night in earlier pregnancy.

You might also find it slows down naturally - anecdotally I've read that some people seem to gain more weight in the 2nd trimester than they do in the 3rd? (unlike what you'd expect).

Probably not what you want to hear but I gained about 7lb by 23 weeks? I then got severe PGP and couldn't move and by 39 weeks I had gained 3.5 stone together.

I had postnatal PGP too so still couldn't exercise and I'm no way near as active as I was before. I haven't returned to work yet though. I've still got 2 stone to lose 14 months later because I've not been that strict on myself to lose it.

That being said, everyone is different. You might find you lose it really quickly or you might need to work to lose it, it doesn't matter. Enjoy your baby, you have plenty of time to worry about weight afterwards

I put on about 2/2.5 stone during my pregnancy and was a BMI of 23 so normal range. I was fairly disciplined as I wanted to eat healthily for the baby as well as not put on too much weight as I've only got to then lose it afterwards again.

That said I did still enjoy takeaways and Indians etc but just all in moderation.

I walked loads with the pram when the baby was born so lost the weight after about 4/5 months. I also found BF helps but that's a personal choice.

If you are concerned about the weight gain then just try to make more healthier decisions for the next few months. Best of luck and congratulations x

I'd put on about 10lbs by 28 weeks and was healthy size before. I also spend my pregnancies living off doughnuts and cake so think you have probably gained a bit too much.

Everyone is different though I think maybe you should just try to stay active and not worry too much. Walking is good- nothing too high impact unless you already do it.

28cm at 28 weeks is on course- thats the height of your uterus so not really an indicator of weight.

I was a healthy weight before my first pregnancy, low BMI and I put in four stone, I was on bed rest from 31 weeks so that didn't help. I dropped 1.5 stone in the first ten days, three stone by the time DD was three months and the rest slowly after that.

Pregnant again and definitely more.mindful of what I'm eating this time in case I get put on bed rest again 🙈

Everyone is different, loads of people put on 3/4 stone throughout the pregnancy. It depends on the type of person you are and weight before pregnancy. I gain weight easily and have to work hard to keep it off and I’ve gained about 2.5 stone at 31 weeks. Midwife isn’t concerned.

Honestly yes that would concern me. But I have some issues surrounding food and weight gain as it is.

I am 29 weeks and have put 8lb on. I think a lot of pregnant women take the 'eating for two' thing too far and consequently end up huge. In my mind it's just not necessary.

I have equally had a very difficult pregnancy, with ligament pain and PGP as well as fibromyalgia yet I have continued to exercise (walking, swimming, pilates and horse riding). I think sometimes you just need to push through and crack on...

I put on 8lbs through my pregnancies both times. Not a stealth boast - I didn't exercise and ate my usual diet which isn't great but not awful. I don't think it's in your control thay much to be honest. I'd focus on making sure you eat enough vitamins etc but other than that L, eat as much as you need to be satisfied and focus on loosing weight when you think you want to later, whether that be 3 months or 3 years later.

I gained 3 stone during my first pregnancy.I had a BMI of 19. Took around 10 months to get back to my pre pregnancy weight.
Gained 2 stone during 2nd pregnancy.DC2 was actually a heavier baby.Can't remember how much weight I gained by 28 weeks as my DC are now adults with family of their own.

Everyone is different and the judgey comment from one poster above isn't helpful especially when you said you have an ED.

As someone who has been underweight and is currently overweight, and has been overweight more then underweight I know what an ED is (extremel diet/ exercise or binge eating) and it's not for anyone to judge someone else.

I'm 31 weeks and I've put on 1,5 stone
I was very small to start with. What did the MW say, was the weight gain in a reasonable range?

I feel like I've put on too much weight my face is really full I'm surprised how much I've put on (btw)

I wouldn't worry too much OP, I don't think it's entirely within our control for many people.

I have friends who have gained loads and friends who just had a bump...no rhyme nor reason why as they are all healthy people.

I am wondering how much I will put on. I'm not sure where I started from as I found out I was pregnant on NYE, so never ended up doing my usual diet to get rid of Christmas weight. I was weighed at my booking appointment so know where I am now - was pretty disappointed as my BMI was quite high and they've booked me in for the GD test. I wasn't really expecting it as although I know I am quite heavy I am only "medium" to look at, size 12/14...so it's been a bit of an eye-opener.

I just think it's one of those things and all we can do is try to eat healthily through pregnancy and then tell ourselves we'll do what we can to get back on track once the baby is here. Don't beat yourself up x

Most people put on at least two stone and not gaining much isn't always a good sign. All but a few kg of mine dropped off in the first few weeks after birth so I think the actual fat gain was not much at all. Once your body has recovered you can start your usual exercise again if you want to, and resume your normal healthy eating habits, and your body will soon adjust back to it's normal state.

Everyone is different, I have put on 2 1/4 stone at 25 weeks so prob by time 28 weeks about same as you.

Don’t worry about it now, I am the same breathless struggling to exercise, and just trying to be kind to myself.

Deal with it after and think of all the summer walking out with the pram xxx

In my first pregnancy I gained 6 (yes 6!!!) stone. Was a healthy bmi when I fell pregnant and didn't go nuts with food. It was mainly fluid, as by 2 weeks pp I had lost 4 of those 6st

Sadly the last 2 stone took me a couple of years to shift and now I'm sat here feeding dc2 and I need to lose those 2 stone again. Interestingly, I didn't put on anywhere near the same amount of weight with this pregnancy!

I didn't seem to put on much weight during pregnancy except on my bump, so once baby was born I was back in my regular clothes within a week or two.

She was born early though so I never made it to late third trimester.

I’ve put on 3 and a half stone at 33 weeks. I’ve got twins on board, but still! I had a normal BMI pre pregnancy, and I’d just got married so I was on the slim side of normal for me.
I put nothing on in the first 12 weeks, about a stone and a half up until 22 weeks, then the rest this last 10 weeks.
I have a tendency towards disordered eating and I found it incredibly hard at first watching my body change and putting weight on. I then stopped weighing myself and concentrated on trying to do whatever made me feel well.
I got weighed in the hospital last week and saw the number and was briefly horrified, but I’ve had to just decide to deal with it when the babies are here.
A friend of mine with a singleton came out of hospital 2st lighter than she went in when she gave birth to her baby, everyone’s different. Try not to worry too much.

I was also a healthy bmi pre pregnancy (22) and out in about 2 stone by the end.
I didn’t feel particularly big until the last month though, DD was 8lbs though.
I lost the bulk of thd weight initially very quickly, but then put in about 1.5 stone, a mixture of reasons, not being as active, breastfeeding a lot, appetite increased. I eventually lost it all, slow and steady about 15/16 months post birth.

A lot of the weight gain is out of your control. Unless you’re chowing down on crap food constantly, most of this weight is extra fluid, the weight of the baby, extra blood volume, mammary tissue, placenta, water weight etc.
The weight you lose isn’t just the baby, it’s all the other weight combined that reduces once you give birth.
What you’re left with may be extra “food” weight, if you’ve been eating more generally speaking, or it will be a combination of food and mammary weight etc.

I was overweight and put on 10lbs total. I had gestational diabetes though so had to be strict about treats /exercise and would have gained more otherwise. Back to normal weight about two weeks after the birth I think.

Honestly if you're eating healthily (small treats included!) I wouldn't bother weighing yourself if it stresses you out. Everyone is different and so much can be baby, placenta, blood, breast tissue etc.

I only put on a stone in my first pregnancy, though I had quite bad morning sickness in first trimester so had lost quite a bit then. I'm 30 weeks this time around and I've put on nearly 2 and a half stone. I'm eating healthier than ever
(Since before baby was conceived) no sickness in first trimester this time though. I'm not worried although I feel huge.

I'm 37+5 with less than a week until my elcs. I've put on 2 stone (bmi 20 to start with). Already mentally calculating how much I'll lose on the day!

32 weeks and only 2.5-3lbs up. But I lost a lot due to HG so have gained that back plus 2-3 extra and am gaining by the week mainly now but also still being sick. I stress about baby though with not putting on much and gaining it all in the last few weeks and getting stretch marks.

Hi
how did you get on? I’m currently16 weeks and have gained1.5 stone. Feeling deflated about how much I have gained.