hi there

i put on about 18 kilos with my first but only got to 35 weeks so would have been over 20 had i gone full term. lost the weight pretty quickly with breastfeeding and i think a lot was fluid anyway.

second time around i think it was about 16 kilos at full term. i was more careful with what i ate and did more exercise. i lost the weight very quickly with breastfeeding and got down to the lowest weight i had been in a few years (57 kgs).

this time around i have put on 7 kilos so far and i am now nearly 22 weeks. i have been careful with what i eat although very hungry all the time so eating more and i have been exercising - yoga, pilates and very low level gym exercise.

i think some people just have a tendency to put on more weight when pregnant. i try not to stress about it too much as i experience has shown it is not too hard to lose if breastfeeding and i figure my body must want me to put on the weight if i am eating well and exercising and still putting on weight.

im sure the tightness you are noticing is just bloating. its very common in those early weeks and it settles down - although by then you get the belly anyway!

best wishes

beccas