Pregnancy weight loss concern

[tinseltits21]

Hi ladies,

I am now 30 weeks pregnant and I am concerned that I haven’t gained enough (any) weight during this pregnancy. I was BMI 20 point something when I conceived but had a hideous first trimester with morning sickness and strong food aversions so I lost 3-4kg. I increased my food intake once the sickness stopped at about week 15 but remained below my pre pregnancy weight so 4 weeks ago I increased by 300 calories - am now eating 2400 calories per day - but I am still below my pre pregnancy weight, and this includes weight of baby, amniotic fluid etc.

i can see that my face looks drawn and my bum is flat. I just don’t understand why I’m not gaining anything. My bloods are excellent and baby is growing well but I’m concerned I may not have the reserves to breastfeed or look after a baby if this continues.

has anyone experienced anything similar? I am struggling with appetite at this stage so am eating dense foods like peanut butter on toast, full fat yogurt etc and all my meals are well balanced. I’m starting to get awful reflux so the thought of eating even more isn’t at all appealing but I do want to be healthy for my baby.

Anyone?

Hi OP - not exactly your situation but I had a low BMI (18) with DD and struggled with nausea in the first trimester also. My midwife wasn't too concerned as the baby was growing well etc but I ended up being consultant led. Our bodies are amazing and I'm still breastfeeding DD (11 months) - I make sure to have a hefty breakfast and healthy snacks throughout the day. Tbh I think the most important thing there is drinking enough water!! Around 8 months pp, I had a few odd feinting/migraine type experiences and have discovered I have low iron so I'd keep an eye out and maybe have your GP take bloods as I'm now on iron supplements. Have just conceived DC2 so clearly my body is managing despite being on the smaller side!

Hi, no advice but hopefully reassuring as I was in a similar position and lost weight during my pregnancy due to HG and severe food aversions, I had a low BMI to start with and weighed less the week before my baby arrived than I did when I fell pregnant. I wore my size 8 pre-pregnancy jeans until about 30w and was back in them the day after I delivered. Baby was born at 35w (completely unrelated) but around average weight and healthy.
I bf exclusively until 16m, only stopping at this point as I was already pregnant with my second. So certainly didn't cause me any issues! I did gain some weight back when I was bf, probably due to all of the coffees and lunches out on mat leave, but I imagine it was also to build some reserves similar to how some people find it difficult to lose weight while bf due to the body holding on to it (how clever are our bodies!).
Eat what you can, drink as much as you can but try not to worry about it too much - my midwife told me that the baby will take what it needs from you to develop. I also felt SO much better as soon as I had the baby, much more energy and appetite so looking after a newborn was much easier than the pregnancy slog. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your reassurance @hopeful4usand @IC29173. I seem to be healthy enough as bloods are fine and baby is doing well, I just hate looking in the mirror at my gaunt face and trousers/leggings not fitting my legs - i definitely don’t have the pregnancy glow people talk about! I have made an effort to eat more today but I feel so uncomfortable and sick. I have been eating really well so I don’t understand where it’s all going! I’m considering working with a Dietcian to make sure I don’t lose anymore or at least gain a bit before baby is here so I have enough reserves to look after a newborn and breastfeed. I saw my midwife today and told her about my weight loss but she couldn’t have cared less - I bet she’d have cared if I’d have gained too much!

I started with a BMI around 18 with my first and lost a lot due to HG I ended up with a BMI around 15 at my booking in appointment at 10 weeks- I’m short and lose weight quickly and gain slowly. I was “lucky” my sickness stopped at about 15 weeks and I managed to eat healthily the rest of my pregnancy. I had growth scans from 28 weeks (and one appointment with a consultant to make sure I didn’t have an eating disorder).
My baby was actually measuring big on the scans despite a small bump measurement and was born a healthy 7lb at 42 weeks- which is probably small for gestation but big for my small frame and starting weight.
I breastfed that baby until she was 2 years old no supply issues at all- she actually shot up to the 70th centile by the time she was six months.

I don’t have experience with weight loss but I started both my pregnancies at a BMI of around 16. They did an extra scan near the end to check growth - that was decided at my booking appointment, so it was based on pre-pregnancy weight, not any subsequent weight loss/not enough gain.
I breastfed both DDs, and breastfed DD1 for 2 years.

I’d stick with your plan to eat dense foods, if reflux and feeling full is a problem can you switch to smaller meals more frequently?

Also ask your GP for blood tests to check your thyroid function if you are concerned you should be gaining with what you are eating

Thanks everyone, I ate 2400 calories per day pre pregnancy so maybe I need more than that? Or maybe it is a thyroid issue?

I am eating all the dense foods - cheese, peanut butter, full fat yogurt. I just had a shower and my chest is so bony, it’s horrible 🙁