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Pregnancy

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

Weight concerns

14 replies

SevernTrentWater · 25/04/2009 22:58

Weight gain is freaking me out!
I'm not eating more than i was pre-pregnancy yet i've gone from a size 8 on bottom to a size 10/12 depending on where i shop. Is this normal? It's my bottom and hips that seems to have enlarged and nothing else! I walk at least 3 miles a day, try to get on the exercise bike or do other exercises when i can. I'm just wondering, if i continue eating the same number of calories into the 3rd trimester do you think i could lose a bit of weight before the baby is born? My midwife said i should be eating more in the third trimester but i have no desire to. So if i continue eating nutritional foods and not restricting calories, is my body likely to hold the fat or lose the fat?
What about after the birth? Will my metabolism go back to normal?

OP posts:
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farmgirls · 25/04/2009 23:32

A lot of the weight gain will be extra fluids and blood.

Weight gain IS a normal part of pregnancy, unfortunately!

I was an 8-10 pre-preg and went up to a 14-16, despite having no appetite whatsoever throughout pregnancy. Two years later, despite plenty of exercise and healthy eating, not back to pre-preg size and doubt ever will.

Don't rely on popular culture and celeb post-birth pics nonsense, they have rigorous exercise, private healthcare and nannies to help them, not to mention airbrushing and nothing like a contract with some company or other whose products you're promoting to get you back 'into shape' quick!!

Have intuitive feeling my metabolism DID change after birth though, was always 'fast metab', runs in family, we're all skinny minnies, although could be an age thing, over 40 now! I notice the younger you are, the quicker new mums seem to ping back into shape, unless they were already 'average' or plumper before getting pregnant.

Having been so skinny since childhood and suffering from beanpole verbal abuse, have to say now enjoy the extra pounds, feel more womanly, I think as long as you look fairly toned up and healthy, extra weight doesn't matter.

My stance has changed though, it really is mindset thing, in my 20s and 30s as a single and attractive skinny, my sexuality and attractiveness defined me, now in my 40s and a mum, that's what defines me, I'm a 'Mummy Portal', it's my job, my life, my total fulfilment spiritually, I don't care whether I'm sexually attractive anymore or not (but not in an 'I've let myself go' kind of way) because my children have made me feel so secure in my self-image - nothing like the unconditional love they give to make you feel wonderful inside and out!

Worry about weight later, if it goes on it can come off again, just depends how rigorously structured and determninedly you want to shift that weight post-birthm - my guess like most mums you'll be too blissed up with your new bubba to care, though that might seem ridiculous right now!!

hawesmead5 · 26/04/2009 20:02

Hey I am probably similar to you I am a size 8 prepregnancy and have gone to a size 10 - I am 9 weeks. I exercise regularly but have been eating loads of junk recently. I guessed this is what my body needs to help this little bean to grow, so have just gone with the flow. With my last pregnancy I also went up a couple of dress sizes, but soon went back to prepregnancy size - about 6 months after the birth of my son. My best advice is to breatfed, it's great for baby and great for getting your shape back. While breastfeeding I ate like a horse but lost weight.
Anyway I just wouldn't worry about it while you are pregnant.

RiversC · 26/04/2009 20:28

exactly, dont be so selfish, you have more to worry about now....

lazylion · 27/04/2009 11:09

Well said farmgirls, you should have more interesting things to think about SevernTrent.

TheProvincialLady · 27/04/2009 11:16

STW your body and your baby need those fat stores to grow your baby and feed him or her afterwards. If you are eating the same but storing fat then that tells you that this is NORMAL and HEALTHY weight gain. If you were 'eating for two' and chugging down loads of crisps etc then it might be different.

I know it can be hard to let go of your self image as an attractive slim woman - I struggled - but you are growing a baby in there and there are some huge changes to come, physically and mentally. Step away from the scales, continue to eat healthily and don't worry about what size you are at the moment. It means nothing. If you are still unhappy with your size 6 months after the baby is born, that is the time to start thinking about it.

And ignore Riversc and Lazylion. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Good luck

Nekabu · 27/04/2009 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TheProvincialLady · 27/04/2009 11:26

Nekabu don't worry about it. You don't have to be any kind of mother, just yourself. Some mothers devote themselves 100% to their children and completely neglect their own needs, appearance and health and some neglect their children to devote 100% of their time to themelves. Most of us fall somewhere between on that spectrum and there is nothing wrong with not wanting a different body after pregnancy. Whether that is realistic is a different matter .

TBH reading the variety of judgemental posts on MN is good practice for when your babies are here. Because then you'll be getting loads of unsolicited advice/information and you will be well versed in ignoring what doesn't suit you!

bunnymother · 27/04/2009 11:33

Nekabu, I think there are lots of women who "go with the flow" and whose main focus is on having a healthy pregnancy, but still have panics concerns about losing the weight afterwards and resuming (as much as poss) their pre-pregnancy lifestyle. I am one of them. But I don't think that this means pregnancy and motherhood isn't for them (or me). Isn't pregnancy and motherhood different for everybody? Just as many Mumsnetters have different views on how things are/should be.

You may be one of those breeds of ladies known as "yummy mummies" - fab mothers who are glam . I am certainly hoping to join the ranks!

Nekabu · 27/04/2009 11:42

It wasn't the weight (I don't think I'll be anywhere near the 'yummy mummy' standard!), it's the whole thou-shalt-be-a-mummy-and-rejoice-and-do-nothing-else-and-think-of-nothing-else attitude. Not just this but on loads of threads. I know my post was a bit tetchy so I asked for it to be removed as I don't want to get into an argument about it but I am just feeling quite fed up about the whole thing now.

brettgirl2 · 28/04/2009 10:23

I don't think that it's healthy for anyone to make themselves thoroughly miserable - that doesn't help anyone.

To the OP - I think that when you're very slim you notice wholesale changes. For one thing the shape of your pelvis changes - that could easily make you go up from a size 8 to a 10 I would imagine without any extra weight.

However, I don't think that getting hung up about weight specifically is good for you. I've just given birth and put on 1 and a half stone. I'm very tall and amusingly not even in the 'overweight' category on BMI - I'm just not as slim as I was before. It doesn't mean that I can't look nice though and that's what I'm concentrating on, rather than stressing about the weight. It will come off but I find that dieting/worrying about my weight is a sure fire way to start obsessing about chocolate cakes.

Tamlin · 28/04/2009 10:30

I think it's normal, unfortunately - most of us stockpile weight on our bottom and thighs during pregnancy. It took me about ten months to shift my pregnancy weight after ds, but it did all go (and then some - hurrah for breastfeeding).

McSnail · 28/04/2009 19:52

Hi Nekabu - I think it's normal to worry about weight when you're pregnant. I know I do (being just over five foot tall, the weight gain is really noticeable)
It can take a lot of getting your head around. I don't think it's 'selfish' (wtf?) but try to put it into perspective. You're pregnant - it's impossible NOT to get a bit heftier!

McSnail · 28/04/2009 19:53

Sorry - that was intended for the OP SevernTrent, not Nekabu.

AnnieGetYourGun78 · 28/04/2009 20:36

Try not to worry about the weight gain - it is completely normal!

I put on a couple of stone but decided to breast feed and that really shifted the weight - not immediately - but all of a sudden after about 2 months!

But even if you don't want to b/feed - all the running around you'll be doing the weight will come off!

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