Low weight gain? « Back to Group Discussions

[Alexandria]

Anyone under the recommended weight gain? My midwife says 10 pounds by 20 weeks, and I am a few days away from that and only up by 5 pounds (128 pounds weight). I have a round belly with a crazy kicking baby in it though!

With my son I didn't have this problem (and had gained a lot more by this point)... but then again I was allowed to eat gluten, dairy, sugar and all the good stuff I have to avoid now because of autoimmune thyroid problems.

[kjourdan]

I am just now hitting 10 pounds at 20 weeks and nothing was said to me at my appointment....

[swelldoula]

I've only gained a net of 3 pounds so far (lost 5, and have gained back 8), and I'll be 20 weeks on Friday. My midwife doesn't seem concerned. Although, with my previous two pregnancies, I had gained a lot more weight by the 20 week mark. I'm really not worried about it though. I'm eating plenty, feeling good, and baby is very active.

[tinams8]

I can't eat gluten and I think it is going to make it much easier to keep my weight under control... if I couldn't eat dairy or sugar, I would be struggling.  If your midwife continues to be concerned with it, maybe she can help you figure out how to add more calories or you could see a nutritionist.

On the other hand, if you feel like you are eating lots of healthy foods and protein, maybe it's just fine. Do you feel hungry at all?

[Alexandria]

whenever I feel hungry I am able to find something filling to eat... I think this is just how my body is this time around. I keep thinking I will catch up soon, so maybe I will!

[BroodyWoodsgal]

PFTTTT! <---- that's what I say to low weight gain worries! I hardly ever gain anything in pregnancy.

Weight gain or lack there of is not, in and of itself, an indicator of the overall health of the person gaining or not gaining weight. Guidelines are guidelines...a lady could be gaining that "perfect" ten pounds...and be eating like crap. A lady could gain twenty...and be eating a golden diet of all perfect foods. Personally...I gain practically nothing, but have an extremely healthy diet.

Eat when you're hungry, eat nutrient dense, whole foods....and let the pounds add up as they will. If you feel good and you are eating well...don't worry!

[thecountrymouse]

I am 2 lbs above my pre pregnancy weight.  No worries here.  -thecountrymouse

[becoming]

I've only gained 7 pounds at 20 weeks tomorrow. If I follow my usual pattern, I'll hit 20 pounds by 32 weeks, then will only gain 3-5 more pounds before delivery. I started out at 144, though, so a little overweight.

[dkenagy]

I made a point to check my chart while I was at the midwife's office today. I am 18 weeks and have gained 6 pounds. I'm not worried and my MW hasn't said anything to me, either. When I was pregnant with my second DD, I was seeing an OB who was constantly on me about my weight. In fact, at one appt, he said I MUST gain some weight by my next appt... at that pt I was about 24 weeks and hadn't gained anything. At my next appt, I had lost 2 lbs. The OB accused me of not eating, of starving my baby. Then, he sent me with the nurse to the lab and cornered my husband, asking him if I was really eating or not. I'm embarrassed to admit that I continued seeing that jerk until I found out his call policy and that he had already decided just to induce me for his scheduling convenience, when I was 37 weeks. I told him I couldn't agree to that, and he ACTUALLY said, "Good luck finding someone to take you now!" OMGoodness. But I'm so glad that all happened, because that's how I found the MW group I'm with now. They took me. LOL

ANYWAY, sorry to run off topic, but no worries. If you and baby are growing as you should, don't mind the scale! ;)

ETA: I was 37 weeks when I found out his policy, not that he wanted to induce me at 37 weeks.

[simply mom]

I lost 12 pounds in my first trimester because I was so sick and from week 12-18 I have leveled off, but not gained. Midwife sounded a little concerned, but no matter how much I eat I can't seem to gain. At this point I am hoping to put on at least 1 pound by 20 weeks (still 11 short of pre-pregnancy weight). I am open to weight gaining suggestions. 

[kjourdan]

Simply mom, how about some nuts, nut butters, or avocado?  Those are the nice healthy fats to be taking in....When I was at 14 weeks I was still below my starting weight so I just tried to make sure to get some nuts or avocado and that helped me start to gain a little!

And there's my personal favorite, ice cream. 

[jocelyndale]

I'm still down 20 and not gaining.  I start out with extra to spare, but this happened with my son, too.  I had a net  loss with him--was still seven lbs lighter right before he was born than I was when I got pregnant.  I lost something a bunch and gained some of it back.  He was born totally fine.  My provider is cool with it--I eat well and stay active.  That's all anyone can do.  The baby moves and has a heartbeat, so I'm content.

I'm finally getting more energy with this pregnancy, so I anticipate a bit more weight loss before I start gaining.  And that's fine.  Normal for me.

[butterfly_mommy]

I started out this pregnancy overweight but I tend to lose about 10-12 pounds in the first trimester with all my pregnancies and then slowly put it back on. This pregnancy it is going back on even slower. I am still about 4 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight. My midwives are not concerned at all and actually they don't even weigh you at the practice. My M/W says that how much you way and what you are gaining etc gives them very little info about yours and baby's health. They look at other things like fundal height, blood work, HB, baby movement, mother's energy level state of health, pee strips etc.

[rebirth]

I started pregnancy at 102, was 98 at 12 or 14 weeks and am back to 102 at 20 weeks. I am not worried, I eat plenty of healthy whole foods and protien, healthy fats etc. I nurse my toddler and have had difficulty all of nursing on maintaining weight. Thats just how my body works.


Doula mama to my nursing toddler Noah

[thegoodearth]

I'm concerned about gaining too much weight! Last pregnancy I gained 50 pounds and I do not want to do that again. This time I'm doing much better, but I still wonder if I'm gaining too much too soon. I am a little over 20 weeks and up 10 pounds. I feel like that is a lot since I still have a long way to go. Anyone else up in weight as much as I am?

[becoming]

I've gained 9 pounds so far & was 20 weeks yesterday. I'm proud of that, I've always gained way more weight than this by now! We're halfway done, that means I should only gain 18 pounds total, right?

(Oh, and by the way, me saying I was 20 weeks so long ago up there is a result of my doctor's office getting me so confused. They told me I was 20 weeks two Thursdays ago, which would make me 22 weeks this week. I entered my due date into a due date calculator, and it said I was 20 weeks yesterday. Not sure what dates they're going on... maybe size of the baby?)

[kjourdan]

thegoodearth, I think you're fine!  The next bit of time they say 1 pound a week is average, and then it drops off near the end because there's not as much room in there!

[thegoodearth]

I sure hope so! I'm just trying to be more mindful of it this time around. I know I'm doing better than I was last time - so that's good. I think by 25 weeks I had gained 25 pounds (and I was not underweight to start). It's weird though - b/c my weight gain this time around isn't steady. i don't remember if it was or wasn't steady that last time around - i really didn't pay attention. This time it's like I'll stay the same for a few weeks and then in 1 week gain like 3 pounds. That's what happened this week anyways. 

[tinams8]

I weighed myself this morning and I am 3 lbs less than I was at my 16 wk appt.  I'm 19 wks now. I have no idea how because I eat just about every waking moment of the day.   I gained like 12 lbs between my 12 and 16 week appointments, which was a little much! So now I'm up around 10 lbs which I am happy with.  I remember from my previous pregnancies that it seemed completely out of my control, my body just did what it needed to do. I gained about 30 lbs each time which seemed just right.  Here is a link that has average weight gain by weeks, but I agree with the others here that it is most important to eat well and let your body gain what it needs.  http://www.baby2see.com/pregnancy_weight_calculator.html

[mleawicks]

I'm 23 weeks and 2 lbs up. I eat when hungry except middle of night. Just think we wont gain the fat America stat at end of this. I think my belly when kid starts growing fast in coming weeks will be the basket ball shape. no slope. I'm a health nut who eats sugar about once a month other then homemade jam. (see my pic of canning jars.lol) so health, whole grain means less hungry but better nutrient for me and kid on less. The body in balance will tell you what you need. Those who i know of who have gained a ton by 20 weeks are eating chips, ice cream and cookies, oh and don't forget soda. they gain fat. The FDA says average weight gain at 23 weeks is 15 lbs. But they don't look at health they look at what people have gained. they are about making us sick. so don't worry about weight if lower they they say. Is baby moving? and you eating when hungry. all good.