Pregnancy Weight Gain: Is My Weight Loss Normal?

Question
I AM 24 YRS OLD. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN. 1 IS 9 AND THE OTHER IS 5. MY LAST MENSTRUAL WAS ON MARCH 15TH. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE BEFORE I GOT PREGNANT I WEIGHED 154 POUNDS. I AM NOW APPROACHING MY LAST MONTH AND I ONLY WEIGH 164. IS THAT NORMAL? I ALSO LOST 2 POUNDS IN 1 WEEK. I AM NOW 162. SO ALL TOGETHER I ONLY GAINED 8-10 POUNDS DURING MY WHOLE PREGNANCY. IS THAT OKAY? DO YOU THINK THAT MY BABY IS OK?


Answer
Normally, we would like you to gain around 25 lbs for the entire pregnancy. You should gain around 2lbs per visit. However, some women do not gain that much (and some women do not gain any weight during pregnancy). That could mean that the patient is losing weight as the baby is growing or it can indicate some "intrauterine growth restriction" of the baby. If you are losing weight during pregnancy or are not gaining at least 1 lb at every visit, serial sonograms should be done to see if there is adequate growth of the fetus. I'm sure that your doctor is aware of your weight and will manage your pregnancy correctly. If there is evidence of IUGR, then it is possible that the baby will be delivered earlier than expected. You are due on December 22 and are now around 36 weeks pregnant. The baby is mature enough to be delivered at this time, so if there is any doubt in your doctor's mind, the baby can be delivered. It is, by the way, common to lose some weight in the last month before delivery. Don't worry.