I am 20 weeks pregnant today. I am curious as to how weight is determined during pregnancy.?

Question

The uterus adds weight and so does the increase in water and blood. So how can you tell the difference between weight you've gained on your own Vs. the weight of the baby and everything else your body is going through that adds pounds to your body? I don't want to believe I've gained 20 lbs. just from eating alone.

Answer 1

I weighed in at 193 before pregnancy and now I weigh well over 240 they said at the doctors office that it's normal. I think you should ask your doctor about the weight thing

Answer 2

Well at 20 weeks the baby alone weighs almost a pound.  The uterus will weight about a pound.  The amniotic fluid is about 1/2 to 1 pound.  The extra blood flowing through your body is almost 1.5 pounds (about a liter) so basically the baby and pregnancy itself is about 4-5 pounds, so you gained 15 pounds of fat and muscle.  The baby will gain the majority of it's weight from here to the end so if you're at 20 pounds at halfway you're going to be at 40-50 pounds at the end.  Slow down.  After birth you only lose about 15 pounds right away. You only need 300 more calories a day for the baby which is just a banana and a yogurt - it's not a lot.

Answer 3

You really can't. I mean you will know how much your baby weighs when it's born but the rest is distributed in your b***s, the blood and everything in the uterus and stomach and in the hips and thighs too to help support the body. Some is water weight all over too and extra blood your body is pumping.  

Answer 4

well then I don't feel so bad lol i'm 18 weeks and have put on 13lbs! I thought I was gaining to much my ob says no way it's good so I guess I'll just go with it  

Answer 5

It's not so much weight gain from eating but from baby growing. As baby grows in your belly you will put on weight as he does. The baby lives in the amniotic sac this water will increase as he grows too so will the placenta and the umbilical cord. The amount gained is a best estimate that they tell us. About 35 lbs for an average size female. If you were under weight you might gain more and if you were over weight to begin with you may not have to gain much. I was at 218 before being pregnant so they would like me to gain only 15 lbs and not the normal 25 to 35 lbs. As long as your not quadrupling your weight gain from before baby you will be fine. Not to mention the doctor will say something when it becomes a concern. With my first baby I gained over 60 lbs that was way to much! The doctor even said something toward the end when it became concerning. Don't think of it as getting fat or eating to much, but rather think of it as what we need to do to ensure a healthy baby. Besides when the baby is born it will all be worth it and then you can focus on getting rid of extra weight.

P.S Women who breast feed tend to loose weight quicker and better than women who do not!