What is a normal amount...?

[BrightSparkles]

Of weight to put on during a pregnancy?
I've put on 6 kilos in 5 months. Is this bad? My doctor and midwives keep saying about how concerned they are about it - but TBH I thought this would have been about normal? Maybe i'm wrong?

[Asparagus and Lemons]

Well if thats bad..
I have put on 12kg so far...
Everybody is different and gains different amounts, so for you, thats normal, and my weight is normal too.. until the doctor says so I guess.

[~ Mylitta ~]

The average weight gain in a pregnancy is about 12-14kg. It's generally made up of the following:

baby = 3 to 4 kg
placenta = 0.5 kg
amniotic fluid = 1 kg
uterus = 1 kg
blood volume = 1.5 kg
breasts = 0.5 kg
Fat stores for breastfeeding = 3.5 kg
Fluid retention = 1.5 kg

I wouldn't worry too much about your weight though. My ob didn't even ever weigh me once during my pregnancy. My concern was that during the first trimester I lost weight, but I was assured that it was fairly normal and that weight change during pregnancy can be hugely different from one woman to the next

[fionas]

There's no real normal but someone who weighs less to start with would be expected to put on more than someone who started overweight.

In my last pregnancy, I started overweight, didn't put on anything until 20 weeks and ended up putting on 8kg overall.

This pregnancy I started off almost 10kg less than last pregnancy and as a normal weight. Have put on less than a kilo so far. But I have pelvic instability and can't walk anything more than five minutes so I basically don't need many calories to get me through the day as I'm using very little energy.

It's normal for very slim women to put on many more kilos than overweight ones - that's why I'm saying there's no real figure for normal.

If they keep saying they're concerned, just ask them why. My ob only really kept an eye on my weight for any sudden increases at the tailend that would indicate a problem. He wasn't interested in how much I gained overall, just if there was an out-of-the-ordinary leap.

[MummaSue]

I agree, there is no normal amount.

I have gained most of my weight (15kg) between week 16 and week 32. I lost weight this week. To me, 15kg sounds like a lot but I am all bump and boobs and my clothes all still fit me (except round the bump area obviously - I mean around the bottom and legs).

6kg is what YOU'VE gained, that is obviously where your body feels comfortable and I have no idea why your care givers are making such a fuss about it - we no longer judge how well a pregnancy is going on weight gain. Are they concerned because they think it's too much or too little??

Sounds like you're going great guns to me love!!
Sue xx

[belfie]

Gosh I'm surprised they're acting worried about it! I'd put on 5.5kg by the same time with my last PG and was never even weighed or commented upon. I then didn't put on ANY more - which means it was quite a small gain overall for a pregnancy (like they said above, 12-14kg is typical - but not everyone does that). Plus everyone is different whether they gain more in first, second or third trimester.

I'd be asking them why they're worried. I asked my doctor cos I was worried when I didn't gain in 3rd trimester, and he said that's why he didn't weigh his patients anymore, because it just made folks fret needlessly.