Weight gain during pregnancy

[Sunshine8011]

I’m 22 weeks and have already put on a stone and a half and I’m really worrying about how much more weight I will put on. I am a first time mum and before pregnancy I was a healthy weight (on the lower side) but I’ve also struggled with body issues and had an eating disorder when I was a teenager and now I’m worried the intense weight gain is triggering something in me. Is this a normal amount of weight to put on already? How much weight did you all put on during pregnancy? How long did it take you to loose it? I know is the last thing I should be thinking/ worrying about but because of my history I can’t help it! Any replies would be welcomed, I know I should just be grateful I am having a healthy pregnancy which I really am I just didn’t realise how much gaining weight would trigger me.

I gained a stone on the first 12 weeks of my first pregnancy because I spent so much time sleeping and the only thing that helped the nausea was eating!

I didn’t have the same issues with the second pregnancy so didn’t gain as much.

Looking at the charts I think the expectation is 7lbs of fat gained in the final trimester for breastfeeding stores created by consuming 200 calories extra a day. All the other weight is meant to be blood volume, baby, placenta etc.

tbh everyone is different and I don’t see any value in worrying about it or weighing yourself during pregnancy.

so long as you are eating your usual diet then you won’t be gaining excess weight. If you are treating your pregnancy as an excuse to ‘eat for 2’ then you will. If you are hungry, I hope you’re eating. Your body asks for what it needs. If you’re eating cake and Greggs on the daily which isn’t normal for you, then stop it. Your body is such a clever thing, it knows what it needs ᵕ̈

h&h 9m OP.

I had to check when this was written because it’s honestly what happened to me! First time I put on a lot of weight but lost it quickly after, second time I put on over 4 stone and that was a lot harder to get off. It’s such a hard time adjusting to being pregnant. I won’t have a third because I can’t mentally deal with the body changes again. I do look pretty much the same now 2 years after my youngest

@NoHotGirlsInHell I also have struggled with nausea and sickness so initially I was eating a lot of carbs and my gym going has taken a huge hit as I have been feeling so unwell. I spent most of my early pregnancy sleeping and resting to try and keep the nausea and sickness at bay like you! I am getting back into exercising now but it’s difficult because I feel so exhausted all the time lol.

Looking back, pre pregnancy I was definitely under eating so just eating a normal amount in this pregnancy has probably added to a lot of the weight gain.

Thank you for your response, very good advice in regard to weighing myself! It’s just causing unnecessary worry maybe I need to put the scales away till after pregnancy now lol x

@countrylifeorcitylife it really is! You almost feel guilty for worrying about it when you should just be enjoying your pregnancy and appreciating the gift you are growing inside you! Honestly I feel like I’ll end up putting about 4 stone on if I’ve already put one and a half on at 22 weeks. It’s reassuring knowing that 2 years on you are pretty much back to pre pregnancy weight! It’s just so hard seeing your body change and having no control over it what so ever!

I think 2 is a lovely number to have anyway, it’s nice and even! Hopefully if you do really want another in the future you aren’t too put off as you know you can loose it! You’ve done it twice already. I completely understand the mindset though; I can imagine its not easy having to loose the weight and something you really need to work hard for to get back to being happy with your body! The joys of womanhood lol x

I had to stop weighing myself because I was worried about both getting fat and that I'd hurt the baby by putting on too much. I put on a lot from a very sporty figure, I think more than 20kg including baby. It didn't go fast even with breast feeding which left me feeling really shit. Bizarrely it all fell off when my periods restarted despite eating the same. I think I lost 2kg per month for a few months and seemed to have to buy a new bra weekly. 18 months PP and I'm back to pre-pregnancy weight and fitness. For me holding onto weight must be hormonal so I'm a bit worried about the menopause now.

Agree with this.!Healthy food only. And ‘running around’ after an immobile baby doesn’t count as exercise.

@PeperNotNutsNoten honestly think I’m going to start doing the same, the scales are just stressing my out so putting them away till after pregnancy is definitely a shout! Tbh, I’ve read that whilst breastfeeding your body stores onto body fat to help support milk supply ect which is very conflicting from what I first was told about loosing weight fast when you are breastfeeding as it burns so many extra calories but it does make sense your body would hold onto it to support you whilst breastfeeding so that was maybe the case for you! It’s definitely reassuring to hear your back to your pre pregnancy weight and fitness only 18 months later - I really hope I’m the same! Thanks for your reply x

I'm still breastfeeding at 18 months. I think it does help, but only around the 12 month mark for me. I was very disappointed (heartbroken) that it didn't all fall off in the first 3 months, although I don't think that happens for more than the lucky few. I lost weight very fast between 10 and 15 months, but now DS is feeding less I'm noticing I'm no longer immune to cake calories. Broken nights reducing will power against biscuits are also a problem!

My top tip is to go shopping fairly regularly and try to find something that you makes you feel good today, not when you've lost a kg. Same goes during pregnancy. I was so miserable trying to buy back to work clothes at 5 months, but once I accepted I'd only wear them for 2 months it was much better and gave me chance to experiment. I have some lovely XL mustard yellow linen trousers I'd never have bought if they were to wear for a whole year!

It’s very easy to put on a lot of weight and very quickly. But it’s terribly difficult to lose.
in the end I put on 34lbs and never quite lost it all.
Try and eat healthily and munch on veg and fruit. Keep exercising (but don’t start something new!). Good luck!!

12 weeks postpartum here.
Best think to do is make sure you are eating healthy, absolutely treats are fine you should not completely deprive yourself but you must make sure you are getting the right nutrition. My midwife offered a nutritionist, maybe this is something you could ask about if you are worried about weight gain?
Your body is doing an incredible thing right now, growing your baby and storing energy for the big day! Your body goes through many changes during pregnancy and also after. It’s such a powerful and amazing thing. Stretch marks, weight gain are all a completely normal thing during pregnancy and also something you should embrace and not beat yourself up about. You are doing an amazing job and please remind yourself of that. Afterwords you can always focus on your eating and exercise to shed the baby weight.
Congratulations OP on your pregnancy and wishing you all the best 🤍

I put on about 2 stone in my first pregnancy. It had all dropped off in 3 weeks with no effort. I breastfed and the baby just took so much from me, i actually ended up way smaller than when I started and was very happy with my post partum body. I don't know if you've given breastfeeding much thought but it certainly helped me with losing the baby weight. Although I have heard it's less effective with a 2nd baby.

I'm pregnant with baby no.2 now and I stopped weighing myself at 27 weeks as I'd already put on a stone and a half. I wasn't overeating so decided to stop tracking it. I only eat when I'm hungry and there's no fat on my stomach as it's all bump so hoping that's a good thing. My legs are very swollen which will be adding to how much I weigh but that's nothing to do with food so I'm just ignoring it for now. Remember that the weight is made up from baby, placenta, amniotic fluid, extra blood and fluid retention so a lot does just drop off when the baby is born.