Help im gaining 2lb per week!

[lauralai]

Hi Any advice please.

Im 25 weeks pregnant and so far have gained 20lbs. I started out with a normal bmi, but was already 7lb heavier than normal.

My daily diet is 8am a bowl of branflakes with sultanas for breakfast, with a glass of fruit juice. 12/1pm lunch can be sushi, soup or a sandwich with fruit and a yoghurt. sometimes im full and dont eat the fruit and yogurt other times i may eat them later in the day, usualy 2 satsumas and a pear or banana.

then my evening meal is normaly late because i dont get home from work till 7.30/ 8.30pm somethimes later. this is always a home cooked meal such as meat and veg, caserole or could just be a jacket potato with beans.

During the week i try my best to stay away from sweets etc and so may have a cereal bar if i have a sugar craving or a couple of chocolate digestives. On the weekend we may be out with friends so may go out for a meal. I know these are the areas i can improve and increase my exsercise, but i dont think i am eating excessively. I do a pilates class once a week and try to go swiming or do yoga in addition when i can, but i work from 10am -7pm most days as i run my own business so between housework and paper work it is hard to fit more in. This is something i am working on changing over the next few weeks so activity should increase. lol plently background then, so i am just worrying because i am consistenly gaining 2lb per week! am i growing a giant baby, i suspect not... advice please

Dear Lauralai I understand where you are coming from. I am at 31 weeks, weighing in at 11 kg (24 pounds) although I do measure 1.80 m (listen to me trying to justify myself!!!) It sounds like you are eating very healthily and that's the most important thing. Many people would tell you to relax and enjoy your pregnancy and not worry and I agree with them mostly. However this is my third pregnancy and I do wish to err on the side of caution. Here in France the midwives put enormous pressure on you not to gain more than 12-13 kg during the pregnancy. I recall how much I lost in the first week after giving birth 6 years ago but I am one of those who does NOT lose weight when breastfeeding, only after I have finished. So having 5 kg to lose until I had finished feeding my DS at 10mths got me down from time to time but that's my hang up!!!

If you do want advice (aside from enjoying your pregnancy as much as possible) I would say that what works for me is eating very lightly in the evenings. In my case (but we are all different) I tend to pile on weight if I have a normal meal before going to bed. Ho hum. Also my weight gain has slowed down in the past month .... thank God or I'll have to deal with the midwife's fury

thanks, my main concern is as it was 1lb a week consistantly till the last 3 weeks could i be developing pre eclampsia. Otherwise i am fine, but i have been to my parents tonight and taken my blood presure which is normaly 120/76 and it was 140/90 so i am even more concerned now. I have a MW appointment on Thursday so hopefuly i can wait till then. However the prospect of bed rest is not great when your self employed. I am definetly gonna try the lighter meals on an evening and see how that goes. thatks x

Home blood pressure monitors aren't that reliable but that is at the upper end of normal so I would try and bring the midwife appointment forward or get it checked by the doctor just in case.

I (32 weeks) gained 21 lbs in the first 27 weeks this time (was only 6lbs heavier that that when giving birth with other 2 dcs!) so was also concerned. However, in the last 5 weeks I haven't gained any weight at all. Go figure... I have no idea why.

thanks its reasuring to know im not the only one who has gained this much at this stage x

Our bodies are such peculiar things. I am 26 weeks and have gained 10lb in total, and my diet is much much worse than yours, plus I seem to be downing milk like there's no tomorrow, can't get enough of the stuff, and it has to be full fat. I actually want to be putting more on as I'm worried that I'm small - bump is tiny.

I guess no matter what we do, nature/genes will determine our shape and weight during pregnancy. Good advice about lighter meals later on though, I usually have dinner at 6.30pm ish and then maybe a yoghurt or piece of fruit (or sometimes cake) later in evening before bed. Dp drunkenly came in last night at 11pm with a pizza "for me" and I couldn't even look at it - bleurgh.

Quite true stressheaderic; genes will determine our shape and weight indeed. I cannot make myself into one of those gorgeious sylph-like women who only put on a nice, neat bump. I just get bigger everywhere and at 41 (today!!!) my body isn't going to change its mind. I just wish my midwife would understand that.

I am 35 + 4 and have gained 42lb!! Only just found out that i have preeclampsia brewing though.

I am 34 weeks on wednesday and have put on 24 pounds.
Im only 5'2 though and started out with my BMI slightly over 25 so put on more than I need!
My problem is now, my appetite has increased hugley as it did with my DS at this stage.
Ive had a little chat with myself this morning and need to ease up as I am knackered already and have 2.5 yr old to look after (struggling).
I ended up with terrible swelling, high blood pressure and 2 stone to loose after DS.
It's so not worth it.
Im going to try and follow a diet much more like yours lauralie, it sounds like you've got it right so I wouldn't worry. x

I'm 27 weeks and have put on 24 lbs. I'm eating less in this pregnancy compared to 1st time when I put on 24lbs in the entire pregancy.

Honestly though, don't worry about it and stop weighing yourself. This is the time to not fret over weight, enjoy your pregnancy and stay away from the scales.

To be honest, I'm not concerned if I gain 4 stone this time, it'll fall off with BFing.

However, keep an eye on that blood pressure - if you're worried make an emergency appointment with the nurse or Dr at your surgery to get it re-checked today. If you're having headaches, legs swell etc ring the delivery suite and tell them you're on your way in as are concerned.

It sounds like you are eating healthily... so I wouldn't worry about the weight gain too much (although the advice about watching the blood pressure etc. is very wise). You are also really busy and exercising (which is more than I am doing!). If it helps, I had a similar diet to you (and was normal BMI but about 7lb more than I like to be too at the start), put on lots of weight (20 lb again - huge appetite and dreadful sickness if I didn't eat) for the first 20 weeks... but it has slowed down now and I am eating much less than normal so maybe that will happen to you...

aww sounds like your eating fine! Try not to worry.

I on the otherhand climbed onto my wii fit board to see how bad the damage was so far (31 weeks) and oh my god I have so far gained 2 stones 8lbs! Woops a daisy!

I wish i could tell the board im pregnant its not just me being obese

20 pounds doesn't sound too bad so far. I found that I had some weeks where I'd put on 2 pounds in consecutive weeks then it would slow down and on other weeks I only put on half a pound. I'm 33 weeks now and have put on 26.5 pounds, and don't feel like I've held back on eating that much. My belly suddenly grew hugely between around 27 to 32 weeks so I think there must be intermittent growth spurts.

Just eat when you're hungry and don't worry about it, so long as you're not filling up on junk. My hairdresser told me the other day that her friend put on 5 stone!!