Weight gain in pregnancy

[CJones11]

I am concerned about my weight I this pregnancy. I am much heavier than first time around and I feel so down about it. I am 3lbs away from being the weight I was at full term with my son and I'm only 20 weeks now.

I really want to minimise weight gain and would love support in this. I lost a lot of weight doing slimming world before so will probably try to follow those principles again.
Tips, advice, and even your own stories would help 😇

Hey just following for similar! First pregnancy but high BMI which am trying to keep an eye on... just feel huge!!

Lost a stone with SW before we conceived but have gained 16lbs in 20wks now 🙈🙈

@LC84
Are you having the diabetes test? This is my biggest worry right now!

I know some will say it's normal to gain weight while pregnant but I feel out of control. All I want is carbs and crisps and I'm constantly tired 😔
When are you due?

@CJones11 you could think about trying to cut the carbs as if you had GD - it might ward it off from you actually developing it? I was being hassled about my Hb1Ac reading (I'm over 40 so they test that) as I'd been eating way too many carbs to try and combat sickness/nausea and couldn't move let alone exercise because I felt so ill. Once I was medicated for the nausea and able to eat again, I started to really prioritise protein and fats and drop carbs (although not completely - but prioritise wholemeal and staying away from white ones). It sorted my blood glucose level out and I've actually lost a little bit of weight too (not overall, but I'm now tracking the weight gain curve that I was on with my first pregnancy where I started off 2kg lighter).

Protein and fats might also help with you not feeling so tired too as you don't burn through them as quickly as you do carbs.

@Weathergirl1
I eat wholemeal instead of white anyway but I definitely need to cut down on carbs. I try my best with protein as a vegetarian but obviously can't snack on packet meats etc as some do. I've always loved pasta, potatos, rice etc and it seems to be the only food that doesn't make me nauseous 😔
Any meal ideas, mostly for lunch which I tend to skip or get a snack instead of anything of substance?
The midwives were shocked with my weight and didn't think I'd be in the obese category:/ I would be having the diabetes test because of parents with diabetes, one thing I've noticed is feeling thirsty all the time this pregnancy which is a concern!

I'm afraid I'm not one to recommend snack or meal ideas as I'm not a veggie and definitely have been enjoying the meat/dairy side of the diet! I've seen the Gestational Diabetes UK website recommended a lot though and I think they have a group on Facebook too - might be worth looking at those?

I'm struggling like you due to constant need to snack to try to avoid sickness and only being able to eat carbs and beige food in general. Problem is probably lack of protein causing hunger all the time but aversions meaning I really can't eat decent food!

It's so hard isn't it.

The large amount of weight gain is getting me down a lot to be honest as this is my usual diet at all. Too unwell to exercise currently so lack of movement definitely not helping things.

Hopefully as we get further along and able to eat more normally we can even things out!

*isn't my usual diet at all.

It sounds like the issue may be a shortage of protein.
Try switching out the Crisps for nuts.
Do you like nut butters?
Can you stomach a lentil bologna. I found my nausea is worse in the evening so I would have a dinner of something like bologna, cottage pie, lasange at lunch time. I would batch cook some of this stuff at the weekend.
Rather then trying to restrict yourself focus on more healthy protein rich alternatives.

Im due december so got GD test booked at 26 weeks i think it is... all I could stomach was carbs first few months so am trying to eat healthier now but this heatwave is not the one for cooking in 😅

When I was speaking to one of the GPs to get anti sickness medication, I raised a concern about my diet being awful (usually eat pretty healthily and do a lot of exercise) and he was dismissive of it being a problem... Then my Hb1Ac blood sugar level came back and they started to get excited about it, so actually, I was right and it was a problem for me! I was eating a lot of carby stuff and it still wasn't stopping the nausea. If you're really struggling with sickness and nausea do speak to a doctor about getting something to stop it. It made a massive difference to me.

Pregnant with baby number 3 and I started this pregnancy just 5lbs off the weight I finished at with my 2nd pregnancy!!! I'm 22 weeks now and so far I've only lying gained 5lbs, i haven't gained now since 10 weeks..It's horrible though, I'm hoping If I stick to set calories each day and eat healthily I won't gain anymore now so that i weigh less than pre pregnancy after the birth 😬.

My mom is type 1 diabetic so I will also have the joy of a gd test at 26 weeks 😫

I've tried to cut out carb heavy stuff cause for example of I have toast I can't just have one slice, I go back for more lol x

Joining a Facebook group is a great tip, thank you :)

@Ohhhhhshitttt I feel like I'm in the exact same boat. Lack of protein making me peckish and the nausea meaning quite often its just toast I can stomach.

I have been trying really hard the past 2 days to get more protein and veg in!

@Coffeaddict

I agree, I think protein is the issue. The past two days I've managed to stomach eggs which has been a bug help. If I'm honest 'wet' food is a complete turn off right now so bologna etc is a no go.
With this heat, all I've wanted to eat is tomatoes 😅 salads galore!

@LC84
Oh I'm due 2nd of Jan and have the diabetes test at 28 weeks. I fainted having my 12 week bloods done so I am not looking forward to it at all!

Congratulations on number 3😇

Very similar position to me. I continued with slimming world during my first pregnancy and only gained a total of 13lbs which was all gone plus more after birth. I would love to maintain my current weight for a little while to slow the impact of pregnancy!

How is the GD test? I'm already anxious about it.

How much did your 1st baby weigh? In my other pregnancies I'd gained 3.5 to 4 stone by the time I gave birth...they weighed 8 and then 9lbs but I have no idea how much I'd lost after having them...too scared to step on the scales for a while lol. I've never had the GD test before, not sure if my weight is the reason I'm being sent for it this time but I'm nervous about it too! Heading for 23 weeks now and still weighing the same ...I was really worried about being off work for the summer holidays and potentially gaining a fair bit but fingers crossed its going OK!! What kind of things have you been having to eat? I've brought chocolate rice cakes for snacks to try and get my chocolate fix 🤣 x

Commenting as much for bookmarking.

I'm due Dec 22 with my first and I'm 40. During covid I lost 4.5st and felt amazing. Since falling pregnant I've gained a scary 30lbs. I'm 21 weeks now.

I keep reminding myself that you have a third more water and a third more blood in your body and the placenta weighs too, and trying not to panic!

Like other comments, I've been nauseous and can't eat a lot of things as they make me sick, especially meat, fish, eggs. I'm not a veggie and used to being low carb so it's a shock!

My friend also recommended gestational diabetes diet but when the only real protein I'm getting is nuts it's hard to find other foods.

Wishing you the best of luck and channel positive thoughts!

Your saying you weigh the same now as you did full-time with baby 1, but were you the same starting weight with both? Otherwise your comparing apples to pears.
There are weight gain guidelines they like to see you follow during pregnancy, but you may find your gain evens out.
I had the GTT 3 weeks ago, it was fine! Make sure your well hydrated (you should be aloud to keep drinking plain water) it makes taking the blood easier and you'll feel less woozy x

My first was 7lb 8 and the only reason I knew was because I was still going to slimming world!
I'm off work for summer too (teacher) and actually finding I'm eating less. I rush and snack loads through the school day 🙈
I absolutely love rice cakes, especially salt and vinegar ones. I often put some spreadable cheese and tomatoes on top for lunch 😍
Right now I'm stomaching fruit, Greek yoghurt, gherkins with cheese as snacks. Sour tip tops are a huge one for me right now as a craving x

Congratulations to you 💝 do you know what you're having?

One thing I have noticed is how much bigger I am this time around. I do wonder if maybe I'm carrying more water than previously. I'll be weighing myself again on Friday morning. Trying my best to not weigh too often because I end up having a difficult relationship with food!

I was heavier starting this time around by almost a stone so that's really driving me to be more mindful with my choices.
I'm glad it was fine, that's reassuring. How long do the results take? X

I am 37 weeks and having an elective section in 2 weeks time. I have put on about 1 and a half Stone. I weighed 11 stone when I got pregnant which is a stone more than I usually am but I ate alot over Christmas months. My first pregnancy was 22 years ago and I weighed 7 and a half stone before pregnancy and went up to 9 and a half stone full term. A week after I'd lost all that weight I'd had emergency Cs that time. Don't think il lose it that easily this time round. Everyone is different.