Subscribe for access to all that the WEIL Nutrition Corner™ and Nourished Mama Collective offers.
Pregnancy and Weight Gain
The recommended weight gain in pregnancy for someone with a “normal” BMI is 25–35 pounds. I gained more than that, and I wasn’t worried about it. There’s so much emphasis on weight gain in pregnancy, and I find that a bit troubling. Not because weight never matters, but because it can sometimes be treated like the main measure of health when it isn’t.
I was hungrier during my second and third trimesters than I’ve ever been in my life – not even breastfeeding hunger compared. I would often wake up in the middle of the night so hungry that I would have to eat a snack before I could fall back asleep. My body was doing the most intense, energy-demanding job it’s ever done, and I won’t apologize for listening to it and gaining more weight than what was recommended.
I also want to acknowledge something many women experience but rarely talk about, which is that for a lot of us, weight doesn’t actually fall off if you breastfeed. That definitely wasn’t my reality. I didn’t return to my pre-pregnancy weight until around 9-10 months postpartum, once Elio was eating more solids and breastfeeding slowed down. And this can be so normal!
So, how do we move away from obsessing over pregnancy weight gain? I think it’s important to first acknowledge that it’s normal to feel uncomfortable in a rapidly changing body. I think body neutrality can be a helpful approach. You don’t need to love every change, but you also don’t need to judge it either. You can simply just be in your body.
Second, I think this is a really important time to shift the focus from the scale to your internal cues. Weight is just one data point. My biggest advice is to stop weighing yourself outside of visits with your provider. I found it helpful to look away when I was being weighed. Let your provider tell you if anything needs attention. Overall, eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re comfortably full, rest when you need to, and move in ways that feel good. Pregnancy can be a great time to practice eating intuitively, as your body’s signals can be louder.
When it comes to other people commenting on your weight (because unfortunately, it’s bound to happen), I think it’s helpful to have some go-to responses that protect your boundaries without inviting more discussion. One of my favorites is “Bodies do what they need in pregnancy. Anyway, how have you been?” The same goes for someone commenting on how “small” you are! I know that can be just as hurtful as getting a comment on how “big” you are.
Pregnancy is such a wild time, and your body truly is doing extraordinary things. It’s allowed to change in the ways it needs to.
I wanna know, do you have any good responses for when someone comments on your body in pregnancy? Share in the comments!