Minimal weight gain at 19 weeks pregnant w/ baby #2

[ergo]

Anyone else only gain the bare minimum/slightly under the minimum amount of weight during their pregnancies? Pre-pregnancy I was considered on the high end of "normal" on the BMI.

I went in for an additional appointment yesterday to get some issues with my high blood pressure meds sorted out and had lost nearly 1.8lbs since my appointment just a week prior. Baby sounded great with a heart rate of 155, very active and I feel him kicking and squirming around all throughout the day. My doctor gave me the whole, "Are you sure you're eating enough?" talk and made it a point to even say that she knows that some people eat less to avoid seeing their weight shoot up on the scale during pregnancy. I've been eating regularly, with snacks included (lots of sour candy/gummies because this kid loves his sour cravings) so I honestly was worried that I would've gained MORE than I should've in the past week So far I've gained a total of 4lbs since I've become pregnant.

I'm not all that concerned right now, given this is the same trend I followed my last pregnancy. I ended up gaining exactly 20lbs by the time I delivered and lost all but 2lbs of the 20lbs by the time I'd left the hospital. I'm just assuming my body doesn't tend to put on a whole lot of weight during pregnancy, unless I was to really overeat?

Anyone else in the same boat? I feel like I'm experiencing deja vu, with the doctors questioning my eating habits with baby #2 just like they had with my first. It's honestly kind of annoying at the end of the day when I know I'm never allowing myself to go hungry or starving myself in order to keep my weight down.

Edit: Thank you all for all the comments! It was really reassuring to see that it isn't so bizarre to only gain minimally, or even LOSE weight during pregnancy--so long as it isn't intentional weight loss of course. This is my second baby but this pregnancy is considered especially high risk because of multiple factors, so to hear the doctor being so concerned over my small weight gain has made me a little more anxious than it did with baby #1. But baby is looking great so far! Appropriate fundal height for gestational age, even measuring a little ahead in ultrasounds. Here's to hoping his growth and good health continues well into the pregnancy

 

[bellahouz]

@ergo Everyone is different. I gained only 5 pounds by about 20 weeks. Most of my weight gain was from mid to late second tri. My doctor hadn't been concerned at any point about my weight gain - I'm 35 weeks and now at 22 lbs, but I stalled at a total of 16-18 lbs of weight gain between weeks 28 to 32.

 

[ergo]

@bellahouz I swear my OB will have my head if I failed to gain weight for a month straight I'm pretty sure I also stalled in weight gain last pregnancy during one of my late 2nd trimester months so I feel like that's fairly normal? Not everyone gains excessive weight when pregnant, and honestly I think it's a bad stigma to place on pregnant women that they need to eat excessively in order to have a healthy baby/pregnancy. That only makes it so much harder/nearly impossible to meet pre-pregnancy weight goals when recovering.

 

[thrall]

@ergo I haven’t gained much weight in the 3rd tri and I’m at 38 weeks on Monday. Overall I’ve gained about 27 pounds for my whole pregnancy. Mostly because I haven’t felt the need to over eat. I pretty much just eat when I’m hungry and stop when I’m full.

Everyone is different though and obviously there are a whole host of reasons why some women gain more. Most of it is completely normal.

 

[purity77]

@ergo I started my second pregnancy slightly overweight and only gained 10-11lbs. It all evened out and my doctor was never concerned.

 

[mwia91]

@ergo I lost 10-12 lbs in the first and second trimester and finally gained it back during this third trimester. I’ve only gained about pounds from my starting weight.

 

[ergo]

@mwia91 My friend was considered obese on the BMI scale and during her first trimester, she lost 30lbs due to a combination of contracting covid and horrible acid reflux that resulted in a hospital visit. But even with everything online stating that no one, regardless of BMI status, should lose weight during pregnancy, none of her doctors were concerned or made any comments.

I feel like it shouldn't be an issue overall so long as the baby is looking healthy and measurements are on track. I'm not sure if my OB is a stickler for the weight gain being priority or what

 

[katrina2017]

@ergo I was doing everything possible to keep my bp ok, so I started eating a lot better and doing some pretty light but regular exercise- I lost weight first trimester, stayed the same weight second trimester, gained some third trimester. My midwife was totally fine with it, and baby was born perfectly healthy (and over 9 lbs ). Left the hospital 15 lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight. It happens!

 

[swan]

@katrina2017 Very simiLar experience with my first child. Im 32 weeks now and only gained 3 lbs. Baby is estimated to be weighing 4.5 lbs. My body loves being preg

 

[drdb]

@ergo I started pregnancy at 170lbs, and by the second trimester I was 140. Only towards the middle of the second trimester did I start to put on any weight at all. Now I’m in the third and back up to the 170s range. Sometimes it’s a journey that’s not linear or dramatic! Baby is taking from you all that it needs, even if you’re losing weight.

 

[zumaman]

@ergo I only gained about 15# through the whole thing. As long as everything is measuring well and I felt fine, nobody seemed very concerned.

I think bodies are all just wildly different!!

 

[ergo]

@zumaman That's what I think as well! That's why I've been bothered by the comments the last couple of visits, as though I'm just not eating and not putting weight on as a result. She measured me and my fundal height was 19 which was perfect for where I'm at gestationally--and all of my ultrasounds even showed my little guy is usually around a week ahead of his actual gestational age measurement-wise.

 

[katrina2017]

@zumaman That’s how I’m trending too, I’m 24 weeks and have gained 8 pounds total since starting IVF and getting pregnant. My OB hasn’t been worried at all, and said it’s totally normal for people to gain just 10-15 pounds total.

 

[sblair]

@ergo At my last appointment at 19 weeks I had only gained 3 lbs and my doctor wasn’t worried. My doc gently asked if I’m restricting calories and I told her I’m just eating healthier and walking/swimming more than I was pre pregnancy. She didn’t seem concerned. I think maybe she just wanted to confirm in case I need a reminder that now is not the time to diet. Some doctors seem way more focused on weight than others.

 

[ergo]

@sblair I basically gave the same spiel, because I have been incorporating a LOT more fruit and vegetables into my diet than I'd been eating before pregnancy--especially to combat the less-than-healthy cravings foods LOL. But I definitely agree--some doctors may just be more concerned about the standard suggested weight gain than others.

 

[littlegrain]

@ergo So I’m 5’9 and was 192 pre pregnant so technically over weight. I’m now 26 weeks and have gained 8lbs total. Baby is doing great and everything else is on track so my dr wasn’t concerned. She said I may just catch up at the end. I was pretty sick the first 3 months and now I feel full all the time so I eat small frequent meals.

 

[sarahjeanne]

@ergo Same boat here. I started sliiiightly overweight before getting pregnant. I haven't been weighed in a few weeks, but at my last weigh-in I was 25 weeks and still 2 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight. I lost 15 pounds in the first trimester due to being so ill. When I first discovered the weight loss I panicked, but my doctor said I had nothing to worry about. She didn't comment at all on my most recent weigh-in so I'm assuming she must not be concerned.

I'm eating a pretty balanced diet, snacks, 3 meals a day, etc. I'm doing my best and so far there has been 0 concern about baby's health or growth so...I guess some pregnancies are just like this.

 

[namadirk]

@ergo I am 31 weeks pregnant I started this pregnancy at 179 and I am 5’9 I lost 5lbs in the first trimester and have yet to put a single pound back on. I am still 174. My doc has never questioned me, but I questioned them if my lack of weight gain was okay. I was told as long as I’m actually eating and listening to my body then it’s fine and my baby is measuring okay. Your body will do what it needs to in order to support your baby. As long as baby is measuring on track then it’s fine

 

[annalisewong]

@ergo I'm at 27 weeks, initially lost lost ten pounds due to nausea and have now stayed right below my starting weight. My BMI was barely in obese (5'9" 212lb) but my OB hasn't brought it up once. I'm still able to wear a lot of my normal clothes even.

My lack of appetite from nausea has definitely contributed, but I also haven't had any cravings for junk food. I decided not to worry about it unless they tell me to since the baby is measuring fine.

 

[devyn]

@ergo I’m also in week 19 and have gains 8lbs so far. BMI was also high end of normal when starting.

Weirdly while the scale hasn’t changed much my belly looks HUGE. I’m wondering if I’ve just lost any muscle I had and that is why that actual weight gain isn’t much but I look a lot bigger?