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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Weight gain

29 replies

Wills · 07/04/2003 16:36

I'm 20 weeks and have put on roughly a stone in weight. I've been trying not to weigh myself and if I look in the mirror I would say if anything my legs look thinner, yet today when I hopped on the scales at my mothers she was horrified. She tells me her doctor friends assure her that during pregnancy you shouldn't gain more than a stone throughout the whole pregnancy! Is that true?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

badjelly · 07/04/2003 16:44

When I was preg last year I was told the average gain was 3 stone,low and behold how much did my 2 pregnant neighbours and me put on? 3 stone each (give or take a few pounds!). Don't dispair - just eat lots of fruit!!!

badjelly · 07/04/2003 16:50

I should add that most of this will probably be baby and "stuff". Well that's my excuse anyway - dd was almost 10lbs AND I had alot of water!(would do a smiley but can't remember how!)

EmmaTMG · 07/04/2003 16:53

Well, I hope I never meet anyone who says 'only a stone' as I've put at least 2.5 stones with both pregnancies and am expecting to do the same again this time.
In every pregnancy book I ever read it always say around 20-35lbs (depending which one you read)is normal, I've never heard or read 'only a stone' anywhere and I have to admit my first comment when I read this post was 'Ha what a load of rubbish'.
Hope i'm not wrong.

eefs · 07/04/2003 17:23

I think the recommended weight is 2.5 stone? I put on 4 stone! I got the most horrible stretch marks EVERYWHERE and was so big I could barely waddle. Normally I'm a pretty ok 9.5 stone and 5'8" in height. The upside was that I lost all the extra weight fairly effortlessly and got major compliments for it for just getting to within a stone of my prebaby weight.
I'm desperately hoping the excessive weight gain doesn't happen again with this pregnancy although I had trouble with my trousers this morning and I'm only 7 wks which does not bode well.
Will's I think you are doing well with just an extra stone at 20 weeks.

AliP · 07/04/2003 18:13

Whoever said only put on a stone is actually giving you bad advice. The recommended amount is approx 25lbs (ish) and there is evidence that not putting on enough is bad for the baby.
I wouldn't worry, I'm a large lady and was a bit concerned, i reckon that i'd put on close to a stone by the stage you are at Wills and am now 10 weeks further on and still only put on another 4lbs ish. I have not been weighed at any appointments and if the professionals aren't worried about you don't get hung up on it. Just enjoy being pregnant.

zebra · 07/04/2003 20:38

I think there was widespread advice in the 1960s that women should only gain 15 lbs in pregnancy. Accordingly, new dads used to brag about their "whopping great big 6 lb babies"! Of course, women were ok'd to smoke then, too, under no circumstances should pregnant women be exercising, and breastfeeding was no better than bottlefeeding. All children could be toilet-trained by 18 months old. No offense to your Mum, Wills, but not a good generation to turn to for some advice.

I've always heard 30 lbs is about the right pregnancy gain... The thing is, I'm tall(ish): 5'8". I put on 12-13 kg each pregnancy (about 30 lbs). I had small babies (big one just barely 7lb). And within 2-5 months post-partum I was nearly underweight. I can't help but think that 30 lb should be a minimum total weight gain for anybody that didn't start out overweight. I think a good rule of thumb is something like 1 lb/week from 10 weeks. In which case, Wills, you're only slightly above the "ideal" target.

ninja · 07/04/2003 20:48

I'd put on 1/2 a stone by 7 weeks and was mortified! By 20 I was over a stone but now at 36 I'm only up to just over 2 stone and everyone comments how neat I am! It doesn't go on uniformly like the charts and it doesn't have to be 70% in the second half of pregnancy. You'll know if you're eating well (and yes as far as I'm concerned that does include the compulsary cake each day!) I don't think they really woory so much about weight now half the time they don't even weigh me at my AN appointments.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

monkey · 08/04/2003 09:20

ninja - you've mentioned the compulsory cake each day - how do you keep it to just one?? I went on a diet after Christmas and lost a stone. I was really pleased with myself. It was the atkins diet & it really worked for me because I am definitely an 'all or nothing' person. I find it really hard to do anything in moderation.

Anyway, obviously being pg I can't give up a whole food group (carbs), so had to start, but, true to for,, once I start i can't seem to stop & now I'm 8 weeks and have already put in half a stone. I find it especially demoralising as I onmly just lost a stone, plus I can't go back on the diet, and I am a total sweet addict. (But don't really like fruit, so can't ejoy the sweetness in a useful/healthy way) Any ideas???

Original poster

Wills · 08/04/2003 10:03

Oh boy monkey - I know where you're coming from. I too unfortunately am not a big fruit eater but have found some health bars that "do the job". For me its biscuits so maybe these wont work for you but Waitrose do a range of "perfectly Balanced" bars and McVities do "Big softies". Both are only 90 cals and fill that "sweet gap" for me. Good luck

OP posts:

monkey · 08/04/2003 11:53

hanks wills - I hadn't thought of searching for 'healthy & sweet' just worried about only wanting sweet. I'll hopefully have fun doing the research too!

btw I'm not in uk now & you mentioning the biscuits reminded me that last night I even dreamed about McVities digestives!

ninja · 08/04/2003 17:17

I have to say I ate complete crap (anything that I felt like and that wold take away the horrrible taste in my mouth) until about 14 weeks when I felt like eating normal food again.

It seemed wrong that all the books were telling me to eat all these healthy veg when they just made me feel nauseous and cakes made me feel better! I did read one book however that said toxins in some veg could be bad in the first trimester so I took comfort from that IYKWIM

The good thing about getting bigger is that there is less space in your stomach (especially if you're a short-arse like me!) so you can't eat as much anyway

For a sweet craving sometimes a drink will do it, juice if you like that. I sometimes find I just want sweet without being hungry. Also chewing gum (helps take that horrid taste out of your mouth as well) and sucky sweets.

Anyway remember a lot of that weight is in your breasts and certainly for me that was a bonus (until I had to wear horrid maternity bras!)

Original poster

Wills · 08/04/2003 17:38

McVities digestives are my favourite!!! Either dunked in tea or with a little butter and cheese mmmmmm. Glad I haven't got any in the house.

Have to agree with you ninja on the breast side of things at the moment all I need to do to be a Dolly Parton double is dye my hair. (that and learn to drawl). I was always large to begin with but now.... and as for pretty maternity bras - pah they don't do my size!

OP posts:

monkey · 09/04/2003 11:51

well, sorry to say big breasts are not among my problems.

Judging by my jeans, a lot of the weight is in my thighs

Caterina · 27/04/2003 13:14

monkey, I sympathize, I am at my 34th week and I have already put on 3 stone, but my cup size is merely a C, everything has gone around my hips and bum, and of course bump, which people comment is not very big!
I feel quite depressed as I don't think I will ever be able to wear my size 12 clothes anymore, since if you are a pear shape like me, the weight is a lot harder to shift!
Wills, I wouldn't really worry about what your mother said, I have spoken to various midwives and doctors and they all agree that a healthy pregnancy weight gain is around 2.5 stone in total. I have been advised to cut out the junk food and the cakes and to walk more as in the last few weeks it's OK not to gain much weight, so I am not too far off the mark.
Expect to put much of your weight on until the end of your 30th week, then it should slow down, it has for me!

pupuce · 27/04/2003 13:17

For those of you who are sweet/sugar addicts and trying to not put on weight can I suggest a trick which I know works for some (at least worth a try for a week...).
Every time you have a craving for a sweet, drink a glass of water first....

champs · 05/05/2003 16:44

Hi all, I am too "fighting the p/g flab" lol. I was big to begin with but at least I was "fit" but being p/g I find I'm getting slow. I have a trick for sweet teeth, it's a trick I picked up whilst dieting, get some sugar-free jelly, a can of diet lemonade (7up or sprite light are good too) make the jelly with the amount of hot water it says and instead of adding cold water, add the lemonade, (best to chill first) I pour the jelly in plastic cups so I can just eat portion I want. set in the fridge and then enjoy. It's sparking and fat free, also very few calories. Also, remember most sweets are fat free and even the creamy ones are less cals, than chocolate. Marsmallows are also fat free.
Champs
PS just remember to care for teeth as gum disease is higher in p/g

crazynow · 05/05/2003 17:54

Hi all, I am now 21 wks with baby no.2 and have put on 1 stone and 4lbs, which for me is good. With baby no.1 I put on over 3.5 stone, which I found a nighmare to get off (and i'm an aerobics instructor! ). I have to admit that with baby no. 1 in the last 4 wks of pregnacy my shopping trolly was full of choc and cakes (pure energy for the coming labour of course!). All I would say is don't get too hung up on this, if you have a bad eating day try and be good the next day and enjoy your pregnancy.

dinny · 07/05/2004 17:05

Thought I'd ressurect this thread with this question - is 22 weeks too late to try and stop my pigging out/weight gain? I was sick for 18 weeks and have basically eaten like a PIG for the last month and ballooned! I REALLY need some words to motivate me to stop eating so much - especially in the evening. I can't face having tons of weight to lose after the birth. Just can't snap out of my overeating! HELP, please! Dinny

moodyzebra · 07/05/2004 21:53

That's quite a resurrection, Dinny!
How much over your pre-pregnancy weight are you, now?

scoobysnax · 07/05/2004 22:36

Weight doesn't go on steadily so much as in big jumps IME!

Cavy · 07/05/2004 22:45

Come on, Dinny. Reveal all. I was horrified because I gained almost 2 stone when I was 22 weeks... but now I'm 34 weeks and I'm only 2 stone+8 above my pre-pregnancy weight. I know people who put on over 4 stone when pregnant and lost it all afterwards.

Lesley76 · 08/05/2004 15:07

Tips for the healthy but sweet (when you cant face veg or salad) is tinned fruit IN FRUIT JUICE not syrup. Its only about 200 calories for a whole can ( the 400g size), cheap, always available in your cupboard & you are getting lots of vitamins so you can feel postively virtuous. You can put it in cereal or puree it and have over some ice cream or milk as a milk shake and it feels very wicked but isn't too fattening.

Regarding recommended weight gain in preg - i thought that the MINIMUM was about 10 - 11 kg. If you gain less than 9kg you are at risk of an underweight baby or premature delivery. So "only a stone" is rubbish!

dinny · 08/05/2004 20:41

Haven't been near scales and daren't do so either! With dd1 I went from 8.7 stone to 12.5 but lost it all except 5lbs-ish. God knows what it is now. I lost weight initially this pg as so sick so maybe it's a spurt. Feel HUGE though. Dread to think how big I'll be by July! Though I'm hoping I'll be like Cavy!

karen01 · 08/05/2004 20:55

this is my 2nd pg and I am 33+wks. I have so far put on 1.5stone. Which I am glad about but can afford not to put to much on as was about 3.5 stone overweight in the first place!!!. Hoping to lose a majority after babs is born by b/f and all that walking with the pram.

SpringChicken · 10/05/2004 11:52

Well mumsnet is the first and only person i am admitting this to.............................i am 30+4 and have put on 2.5 stone already..

AAARRRGGGGGGGGG - The belly's gonna getcha, the belly's gonna getcha

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