Struggling with weight gain

[Babybear260]

I feel awful posting this and I’m sorry if upset anyone. I am very grateful to be pregnant, and for the most part I’m very proud. I’m proud all the time but sadly sometimes I look in the mirror and burst out crying. It’s not the bump that upsets me. I now have a fat roll on my back that I can see if I turn my head in the mirror and I move. I’ve never ever had that. And then I get upset about the fact I get upset.

My legs seem to have lost their shape. My face is definitely puffier, ribs are bigger - even my neck. Like I just know if something is going to be tight cos it feels tight when I put it over my head???

I google and I see these changes are normal (for literally growing a human) which soothes me but then I’ll see someone pregnant that is still skinny everywhere else.

I thought I was a naturally skinny person. I didn’t do super exercise and I was still always really slim. I always exercised to tone rather than lose weight…..

I’m 24 weeks and my size 8 maternity dresses are starting to look uncute / tight.Is that normal?! I dare weigh myself - tbh it’s not about the weight it’s about how I look. My bump isn’t cute because I just look so round. I’m only 5ft so there’s not a lot of me to distribute the fat.

I plan on breast feeding. I’m trying to be optimistic and hope I can lose the majority of this PP but I know I’ve got to be realistic.

all my family members tell me this is normal - apart from my old dad who makes comments like ‘ well as long as you don’t get too fat anywhere else other than your tummy’ or ‘you don’t look that fat for 24 weeks’ and it just breaks my heart and hurts me…

I just feel like I’ve ‘let myself go’ or at least, worry that PP I will have ‘let myself go’ if I can4 shift any weight.

I hate how selfish and shallow I sound but I genuinely don’t even feel physically fit enough to look after my baby when he comes because I feel so large and lumpy

Honestly you have a long way to go and your body will change a lot. I have gone from having toned legs and strong arms (I was always a bit chubby) to not being able to work out and looking very different than I did pre-pregnancy. My bump isn't a typical bump either as I have a B-belly.

Our bodies mostly have the ability to change however we want them to in regards to size and tone etc so you can always work on it after baby is born, but I don't think you should stress yourself out over this. If you don't return to your old body, who cares?! You've grown and carried life.

This is so true! And I know it deep down and most days. I just get half an hour in a day every so often where I get a tad triggered about the weight change which I then feel guilty for feeling bad about it. I want to fully embrace it!! Because I’m already 6 months and I might even miss being pregnant once he’s born!

pregnancy is a hard enough time without berating yourself for how you look. Weight gain is normal and you need to feed yourself and the baby - nourishment is very important. You will have all the time in the world to lose the weight (if you want to) once baby is here. For now concentrate on looking after yourself and the baby that is growing inside you

I am massively struggling with this too and I’m only very early on. I feel embarrassed by how much I think people must think I’ve changed already. It’s so hard not to compare to the endless Instagram reels of people still looking super fit and slim even near their due dates.

Just focus on eating healthy foods and light exercise (e.g. small walks). Don't worry about weighing yourself.

Yes I felt like this too in my first trimester. I felt huge. But now I look at pictures of myself in my first trimester and I actually looked very normal so it’s all relative. But when you get a more prominent bump and it’s obvious you’re pregnant you might feel better!

thankfully I deleted instagram a couple of years ago BUT it’s still impossible to not see e.g in movies / celeb news etc. defo don’t look on instagram as I can imagine that’ll make your self esteem even worse.