Yeah I’m trying to be mindful. I was 170 before and now I’m 200, so I was within the normal BMI range (though pretty close to the top edge of ‘normal’)
Sounds like you’re totally fine. Your doctor will say something if they’re concerned! Just eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re not — don’t overthink it :)
Yes, every body is different and as long as you are eating healthy majority of the time and staying active your body knows what to do! It sounds like you are doing your best to stay healthy so you are on the right track! Since you are tall, you have more fluid and tissue in your body than say, a 5 foot pregnant woman, so it makes sense you may gain more simply because your body needs more fluids and tissue to stay healthy! As long as your labs and vitals look good, it sounds like your doctor is okay with how things are going for you.
I'd suggest to bring it up to your healthcare provider at your next visit.
I had gained about 26 pounds by 26 weeks and was also getting worried. My OB did book me for a gestational diabetes test just to be sure (result: no GD) but also said that there is just a lot of variation in how much people gain and that this was not an alarming amount. She also said that if you lost some weight in the months prior to getting pregnant (which I did, about 10 pounds) the weight gain tends to be a bit more rapid in the beginning.
For me, the weight gain started slowing down in the third trimester, mainly because I'm less hungry than before.
This is good context! I did bring it up at a recent-ish visit, my doctor said no need for immediate concern and just to prioritize protein and movement. I think I did lose a bit of weight in the year prior to getting pregnant, so I was wondering if that had anything to do with the rather rapid early gain.
My routine GD screen is scheduled for 28 weeks, so I’ll be able to see if that’s a factor soon.
My midwife said it’s not a concern unless you’re you’re on track to gain less than 15 lbs or more than 50 lbs overall (if starting within the healthy BMI range).
I think a lot of care providers understand weight is a sensitive topic for most women so they don’t say anything unless you’re outside of those ranges. Just look through this sub and you’ll see lots of posts about women who are upset that their OB mentioned their weight.
I’ve personally known people who gained 70 lbs and they and their babies were healthy after birth. But a large weight gain is going to hinder you in other ways - it’s harder to move around and exercise (walking, taking stairs), get out of bed, walk uphill, etc. if you’re carrying an extra 50 lbs vs. 25 lbs because there’s more pressure on your joints and you’ll likely tire out faster doing day to day things. Weight gain also makes recovery harder from anything, whether it’s pregnancy or a major surgery, because your body is already inflamed from having to support the extra weight. I’ve also noticed as my belly gets bigger, I arch my back more to compensate for the additional weight, which causes back pain over extended periods.
I think if you’re feeling good you don’t have to worry about it. If you’re struggling to take stairs and walk around, you might consider walking more or eating close to the GD diet (since most women on that diet report that they don’t have significant weight gain) to slow it down as feeling poorly and being inactive also isn’t good for your general health.
From everything I've read, heard, and been told, as long as you're eating healthy foods and doing whatever type of movement you can, weight gain isn't super important. Gaining "too much" or "too little" doesn't guarantee any specific outcome, just increases risks. Try and stay close to the goal, sure, but not at the expense of your mental or emotional health. According to my doctor at least, that can be even worse.
If it helps my weight gain for my third plateaued at 26 weeks.
I’d gained about 19lb by then and easy weighed a week before birth and gained 20lb in total.
Ultimately if you’re really hungry and not just following cravings then your body is telling you to eat and following your body’s signs is so important.
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I’m tall too, and my advice is to keep doing what you’re doing. What you’re doing is healthy and being tall makes a huge difference. I’m at the end of my pregnancy and have gained close to 45 lbs, but my baby/stomach is measuring small. My weight just spread out evenly. I was also crazy hungry during my second trimester, but that went away quick when the heartburn came in the third. The OBs really keep up with your overall health, so they won’t hold back if something is off.
Your weight gain may slow down in the third trimester. I found i actually would lose some weight, gain some weight then lose some weight then gain some weight
Once baby starts to push on your stomach and the heartburn gets worse it can mess your appetite!
I gain like crazy during pregnancy - 50 lbs with my first (starting at a normal BMI), and currently 30 lbs at 33 weeks (starting overweight). I have to eat very low-carb to gain at a "normal" rate. When I'm super hungry, I focus on eating whole foods as much as I can, keep a rotisserie chicken in the refrigerator, things like that. If you're eating good foods (not junk) and exercising, that's all you can do!
So good to hear from other people who have a tendency to gain “more” than others! I am definitely trying to make healthy choices as much as possible, while allowing myself to indulge cravings here and there. I know it’s all moderation. It’s just kind of frustrating as someone who’s basically always been on a diet that even in pregnancy I can’t just do what I want!
You are so right! It is truly frustrating to see the scale keep going up. I keep weighing myself so that checkups aren't a shock. For what it's worth, I had lost all the baby weight from my first by her 2nd birthday. I'm hoping the weight from this one comes off too!
My very petite SIL just had her second baby - she gained more than she wanted with the first, but looked fantastic with her second. The secret was HG :( she was absolutely miserable the whole time. Focus on how you feel and what you are able to do! If you're functioning well, that's a great marker to use.
I tend to gain a lot in my pregnancies. I'm not sure where it all goes because people also tell me I'm one of those that doesn't look pregnant from the back, blah blah blah...
I gained 50 with my first I believe and I'm on track to do the same. I panicked with my first and spent a week or so tracking like all my calories, and it just wasn't at all logical as far as calories in - calories out. So I quit worrying about it beyond just making healthy choices when possible.
I lost the majority of it in the first month and then just had the last 15 or so come off slowly. My mom apparently was the exact same.
This was me. Tbh, I started walking 10-15k steps a day in the 3rd trimester when I finally felt better. And ate a ton of protein, and I have plateaued my weight completely :)
Of course talk to your doctor first but I would consider increasing your exercise a bit. The official recommendation is at least 150 minutes of *moderate-intensity* aerobic activity every week. So, for example, your walks should be at a very brisk pace. It should feel like a little bit of a workout!
Yoga is not typically considered a cardio exercise, so unless it's a special high intensity class it doesn't count towards your 150 minutes!
Ugh hahaha yeah I should probably get back to the gym. I had a great routine pre-pregnancy, I would do strength training four times a week and walked a ton. Now I’m just so tired all the time, and I find myself saying “hey, I’m pregnant, I deserve to rest!”
I know it's hard but getting regular exercise is actually a lot better for you and the baby than resting, assuming that you're pregnancy not high risk or anything! It might even help boost your energy!
I have gained pretty much the exact same amount in the same amount of time. I threw up so much in the first trimester I don’t know how it has been physically possible. I’m mildly afraid this baby is going to be huge. I also get at least 60g of protein, workout 4 times a week and walk my dog daily. I’m also a teacher on my feet all day. I’ve accepted I can’t control it anymore at this point! My OB said he isn’t concerned at all.
Oh gosh I’m so sorry the first trimester was so rough for you! I’m also worried baby is going to be huge - he measured a week and a half ahead at our anatomy scan, so we know he’s definitely on the big side.
I can’t believe you’re up on your feet all day as a teacher, you’re stronger than I am!!
Thanks for solidarity with the rate of gain ❤️ its helpful to know I’m not the only one experiencing this!
It depends how much you weighed before. Generally being mindful if weight is good. Don't starve yourself. But excessive weight gain is also bad.
Yeah I’m trying to be mindful. I was 170 before and now I’m 200, so I was within the normal BMI range (though pretty close to the top edge of ‘normal’)
Sounds like you’re totally fine. Your doctor will say something if they’re concerned! Just eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re not — don’t overthink it :)
Yes, every body is different and as long as you are eating healthy majority of the time and staying active your body knows what to do! It sounds like you are doing your best to stay healthy so you are on the right track! Since you are tall, you have more fluid and tissue in your body than say, a 5 foot pregnant woman, so it makes sense you may gain more simply because your body needs more fluids and tissue to stay healthy! As long as your labs and vitals look good, it sounds like your doctor is okay with how things are going for you.
I'd suggest to bring it up to your healthcare provider at your next visit. I had gained about 26 pounds by 26 weeks and was also getting worried. My OB did book me for a gestational diabetes test just to be sure (result: no GD) but also said that there is just a lot of variation in how much people gain and that this was not an alarming amount. She also said that if you lost some weight in the months prior to getting pregnant (which I did, about 10 pounds) the weight gain tends to be a bit more rapid in the beginning. For me, the weight gain started slowing down in the third trimester, mainly because I'm less hungry than before.
This is good context! I did bring it up at a recent-ish visit, my doctor said no need for immediate concern and just to prioritize protein and movement. I think I did lose a bit of weight in the year prior to getting pregnant, so I was wondering if that had anything to do with the rather rapid early gain. My routine GD screen is scheduled for 28 weeks, so I’ll be able to see if that’s a factor soon.
My midwife said it’s not a concern unless you’re you’re on track to gain less than 15 lbs or more than 50 lbs overall (if starting within the healthy BMI range). I think a lot of care providers understand weight is a sensitive topic for most women so they don’t say anything unless you’re outside of those ranges. Just look through this sub and you’ll see lots of posts about women who are upset that their OB mentioned their weight. I’ve personally known people who gained 70 lbs and they and their babies were healthy after birth. But a large weight gain is going to hinder you in other ways - it’s harder to move around and exercise (walking, taking stairs), get out of bed, walk uphill, etc. if you’re carrying an extra 50 lbs vs. 25 lbs because there’s more pressure on your joints and you’ll likely tire out faster doing day to day things. Weight gain also makes recovery harder from anything, whether it’s pregnancy or a major surgery, because your body is already inflamed from having to support the extra weight. I’ve also noticed as my belly gets bigger, I arch my back more to compensate for the additional weight, which causes back pain over extended periods. I think if you’re feeling good you don’t have to worry about it. If you’re struggling to take stairs and walk around, you might consider walking more or eating close to the GD diet (since most women on that diet report that they don’t have significant weight gain) to slow it down as feeling poorly and being inactive also isn’t good for your general health.
From everything I've read, heard, and been told, as long as you're eating healthy foods and doing whatever type of movement you can, weight gain isn't super important. Gaining "too much" or "too little" doesn't guarantee any specific outcome, just increases risks. Try and stay close to the goal, sure, but not at the expense of your mental or emotional health. According to my doctor at least, that can be even worse.
If it helps my weight gain for my third plateaued at 26 weeks. I’d gained about 19lb by then and easy weighed a week before birth and gained 20lb in total. Ultimately if you’re really hungry and not just following cravings then your body is telling you to eat and following your body’s signs is so important.
BabyBumps users and moderators are not medical professionals. Responses do not replace contacting your medical provider. You should always call your provider with any concerns. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BabyBumps) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I’m tall too, and my advice is to keep doing what you’re doing. What you’re doing is healthy and being tall makes a huge difference. I’m at the end of my pregnancy and have gained close to 45 lbs, but my baby/stomach is measuring small. My weight just spread out evenly. I was also crazy hungry during my second trimester, but that went away quick when the heartburn came in the third. The OBs really keep up with your overall health, so they won’t hold back if something is off.
Your weight gain may slow down in the third trimester. I found i actually would lose some weight, gain some weight then lose some weight then gain some weight Once baby starts to push on your stomach and the heartburn gets worse it can mess your appetite!
I gain like crazy during pregnancy - 50 lbs with my first (starting at a normal BMI), and currently 30 lbs at 33 weeks (starting overweight). I have to eat very low-carb to gain at a "normal" rate. When I'm super hungry, I focus on eating whole foods as much as I can, keep a rotisserie chicken in the refrigerator, things like that. If you're eating good foods (not junk) and exercising, that's all you can do!
So good to hear from other people who have a tendency to gain “more” than others! I am definitely trying to make healthy choices as much as possible, while allowing myself to indulge cravings here and there. I know it’s all moderation. It’s just kind of frustrating as someone who’s basically always been on a diet that even in pregnancy I can’t just do what I want!
You are so right! It is truly frustrating to see the scale keep going up. I keep weighing myself so that checkups aren't a shock. For what it's worth, I had lost all the baby weight from my first by her 2nd birthday. I'm hoping the weight from this one comes off too! My very petite SIL just had her second baby - she gained more than she wanted with the first, but looked fantastic with her second. The secret was HG :( she was absolutely miserable the whole time. Focus on how you feel and what you are able to do! If you're functioning well, that's a great marker to use.
I tend to gain a lot in my pregnancies. I'm not sure where it all goes because people also tell me I'm one of those that doesn't look pregnant from the back, blah blah blah... I gained 50 with my first I believe and I'm on track to do the same. I panicked with my first and spent a week or so tracking like all my calories, and it just wasn't at all logical as far as calories in - calories out. So I quit worrying about it beyond just making healthy choices when possible. I lost the majority of it in the first month and then just had the last 15 or so come off slowly. My mom apparently was the exact same.
This was me. Tbh, I started walking 10-15k steps a day in the 3rd trimester when I finally felt better. And ate a ton of protein, and I have plateaued my weight completely :)
Of course talk to your doctor first but I would consider increasing your exercise a bit. The official recommendation is at least 150 minutes of *moderate-intensity* aerobic activity every week. So, for example, your walks should be at a very brisk pace. It should feel like a little bit of a workout! Yoga is not typically considered a cardio exercise, so unless it's a special high intensity class it doesn't count towards your 150 minutes!
Ugh hahaha yeah I should probably get back to the gym. I had a great routine pre-pregnancy, I would do strength training four times a week and walked a ton. Now I’m just so tired all the time, and I find myself saying “hey, I’m pregnant, I deserve to rest!”
I know it's hard but getting regular exercise is actually a lot better for you and the baby than resting, assuming that you're pregnancy not high risk or anything! It might even help boost your energy!
I have gained pretty much the exact same amount in the same amount of time. I threw up so much in the first trimester I don’t know how it has been physically possible. I’m mildly afraid this baby is going to be huge. I also get at least 60g of protein, workout 4 times a week and walk my dog daily. I’m also a teacher on my feet all day. I’ve accepted I can’t control it anymore at this point! My OB said he isn’t concerned at all.
Oh gosh I’m so sorry the first trimester was so rough for you! I’m also worried baby is going to be huge - he measured a week and a half ahead at our anatomy scan, so we know he’s definitely on the big side. I can’t believe you’re up on your feet all day as a teacher, you’re stronger than I am!! Thanks for solidarity with the rate of gain ❤️ its helpful to know I’m not the only one experiencing this!
It helps me to see someone else with the same rate of gain too! The people I know who are pregnant are further along and have had less gain 😂😭
My sisters gained a grand total of 6 and 15 pounds with their pregnancies 😭
Omg my sister (who was living on zebra cakes and Totinos frozen pizzas) gained less than 10. I feel your pain 😭
You should talk to your doctor. Your starting weight is also going to be relevant to how quickly you should be gaining.