Rapid weight gain at 34 weeks

CarriMat · April 2014

I went in today for my 34 week appointment. My whole pregnancy up until now I had only gained around 7 lbs because I spend half my time nauseated or in bed with a migraine or both. I am slightly overweight but lost around 15 lbs in the first trimester. I was still under my pre-pregnancy weight so haven't been too concerned about weight gain or loss because my dr said it's perfectly normal. All of a sudden within 2 weeks I have gained 8 lbs since my last appt. I have no signs of pre-eclampsia and my dr did not seem concerned at all but it SHOCKED me when I stepped on the scale!!! Has anyone else had this happen? I have had no real changes in my diet, but I have noticed slight swelling in my hands this last week. Is it possible to retain that much water weight? I'm just wondering if this is common.

Jdub489 · April 2014

I had this exact same thing happen with my last appointment. Very smooth weight gain throughout the entire pregnancy - normal starting weight, about 5 lbs total 1st tri, 3-4 lbs per month 2nd tri, and continued through my 32 week appointment. Come 34 week appointment, and 8 lbs in 2 weeks. My doctor was also not concerned and said it could be a growth spurt, as long as I've continued a somewhat healthy diet, etc. I assured him I've eaten just as much ice cream as before

I had my 36 week appointment today and was terrified it was a new trend, but actually gained no weight this time around.

CarriMat · April 2014

Thank you! This makes me feel a lot better. Hopefully, the numbers won't be quite so large at my next appointment. I definitely can't say my diet has been super healthy , but it has stayed consistent. I'm still not concerned with my overall weight gain, it was just the sudden weight gain that threw me for a loop.

Helmink0804 · April 2014

I've lost 22 lbs this pregnancy and at my 34 wk appointment- I'm now 36.5 wks- I gained 5 lbs back. They weren't concerned at all. They just told me I'm all baby.

jenb_99 · April 2014

As long as everything else checks out okay (BP, etc.), you can probably chalk it up to baby growth and fluid retention. This is when the baby starts gaining weight more rapidly and your body's fluid levels increase. It's not uncommon to gain 10 or 15 (or even more) lbs in the final 6 weeks of pregnancy.

dogsombrero · April 2014

I gained 8 pounds from 27-31 weeks which was double what I gained total before that. At 34 weeks I had a growth scan an he had ballooned from 52nd percentile at 25 weeks to the 90-something percentile haha. I did eat a lot of cake though (2 baby showers that month). Not that they are correlated I just thought I had over eaten until my growth scan then I knew he had been gaining (5.5 pound difference in 9 weeks).

tjkdlhb · April 2014

I had gained 10 lbs at my last appt (2 weeks between). No swelling,my BP is still good and no other warning signs, so dr wasn't concerned. Most of my weight gain prior to that was slow and steady, minus a 'growth spurt' at Christmas...

kat8805 · April 2014

Pregnancy does things to your body. Lots of things. Both horrible and awesome. If your Dr isn't concerned, you shouldn't be either. And if you are concerned, and have serious questions about the sudden weight gain, ask your Dr to help ease your mind.

LunaBug924 · April 2014

I had a pretty decent growth spurt between 32-34 weeks. I had a growth scan at 33 weeks and baby was measuring about 2 weeks ahead. Since then, I've only gained a few lbs. so I think baby just had a big growth spurt and now things have leveled out. Like pp said, if your doctor doesn't seem worried, then try not to worry.

jschwind22 · April 2014

Yup. I gained 7 pounds between weeks 34-36. Had slight swelling, but my Dr. wasn't concerned at all. Then from 36-37 I gained a pound. It evens out. Don't stress about it.

CarriMat · April 2014

Thanks everyone! It definitely caught me by surprise, but hopefully will level out when I go back in 2 weeks. I hate to "diet" or change my diet for that matter this far into it. I guess I will just see what happens. I wish my dr would do another ultrasound so I can see how big she is! I don't think I will get to see her again though until she arrives, unless there is a problem, which thankfully she seems to be pretty healthy even though I have been miserable!

Hope everyone has a great last few weeks!

deanna1313 · April 2014

Our babies are growing rapidly this late in the pregnancy. I'm sure if they are gaining weight so quickly we are going to gain it, too.

If your dr wasn't shocked then I wouldn't be concerned at all.

Mrsgattis11 · April 2014

My dr warned me. The baby will have it's growth spurt between 34-37 weeks.

IBackBevo · April 2014

I have not read all of the responses, but I had a huge weight gain in around the 33-34th week, too.

My weight gain over the past ~3 months has been holding pretty steady with either no weight gain between appointments (2 weeks apart) or a pound or so. Then, all of the sudden, in about a week to a week-and-a-half, I am up a whole bunch like you...not quite as much as you, but still quite a bit. All I can contribute it to is perhaps a growth spurt in the baby.

However, definitely still be on the look out for pre-e signs...but if your BP is normal, I would not worry too much.

KBowen715 · April 2014

I'm just constantly gaining weight in general.

What?

Rocknroll64 · April 2014

yup growth spurt for me too between 33-35 weeks and it's out of control now. haha

Don't stress.

stiches221 · April 2014

At 30w I had only gained 5lbs at 32w I was up another 4lbs in 2 weeks. 34w I lost a lb in 2 weeks. Went in last week at 36w and gain 5 more lbs in just 2weeks. Just got weighed for 37w no gain or loss. This kiddo has spurts rather than constant gains.

danagmauro · April 2014

What are you ladies taking about... I'm up 40 at this point and completely healthy.... Are some of you complaining about 5-8 totals ugh!?!

lrmrtn · April 2014

I gained 10 of my 13 lbs in 2 chunks - from 16-20 weeks I gained 6 and from 28-30 weeks, I gained 4 lbs. From 28-30, the Dr was a bit concerned because I had started swelling suddenly but my bp was normal and it didn't happen again. They said it was probably a growth spurt.

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