How does it work baby weight gain and my weight gain

[shinybaubles]

I have gained 8lbs this pregnancy so far at 34ish weeks, and they are predicitng a birth wait for my baby of 5lbs. My ds was born weighing 8 lbs - so why is this baby so much smaller? Should I try eating more and trying to put on more weight so the baby gets bigger does it work as easily as that? I have scans at every appointment so that's where they are getting the 5lbs weight from.
Does anyone know how it works?

Hi Shiney

I'd step away from the scales if I were you. Weight gained depends on the invididual and how much you weigh pre pregnancy.

So a very slim person will put on more weight to lay down fat to help sustain the pregancy but a larger person may not gain so much.

All babies are different and 2nd baby wont necessarily be the same weight as the first.

The next 6 weeks will see the baby grow a lot. Also, 3rd trimester wt predictions via scan are notoriously unreliable.

I would eat healthily and not worry too much- if the doctors are concerned about the baby's growth they will let you know!

Good luck

PS I was told 8lbs max for my baby. She was nearly 11 lbs and I had a tiny bump.

If you're eating more healthily now than pre=pregnancy and have given up alcohol etc it's [possible you've lost weight whilst gaining baby weight, IYSWIM.

Interesting I didn't really drink prior to this pregnancy, I am a size 14 so a bit overweight but not loads and am eating the same. The only exercise I get is walking the dog and ds to school. I guess nothing has changed.
To be honest my bump is small much smaller than when pregnant with ds. 5lbs seems so small to me. I was just wondering if it would be worth eating more to try and get the baby bigger.

I actually lost weight when I was pregnant with ds (I certainly needed to!) and after he was born - at 10.6 oz - I was a stone lighter than my pre pregnancy weight!