Is weight gain a sign of pregnancy
How to Tell if You’re Pregnant vs. Weight Gain
How to Tell if You’re Pregnant vs. Weight GainMedically reviewed by Nicole Galan, RN — By Rena Goldman on September 30, 2018
Have you noticed some changes in your body recently, especially in the waistline? If you’re sexually active, you might be wondering whether it’s weight gain or pregnancy.
Women can experience pregnancy symptoms in different ways. Some signs and symptoms that come with extra weight gain might mean that there’s another health issue.
Dr. Gerardo Bustillo, a California-based OB-GYN, says he’s had patients who were very surprised to find out they were pregnant. “It all hinges around what kind of menstrual pattern a woman has,” he says.
For some women, their menstrual cycle is very regular and they can tell something is different as soon as a period is missed. Others have irregular cycles, meaning periods are unpredictable. They may not suspect anything if one doesn’t come when expected.
According to Bustillo, overweight women are less likely to feel fetal movement. And if a woman doesn’t feel like she looks different in the mirror, she may not notice extra weight.
One way to clear up any misunderstanding is to take a home pregnancy test. But if you’re not ready for that step, there are other physical signs that can also be present if you’re pregnant.
This is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting, also known as morning sickness, tend to start anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks after conception.
The symptoms can vary. Some women don’t experience any morning sickness, while others have severe bouts of nausea. Some women only vomit when they’re pregnant.
Progesterone, a pregnancy hormone, makes the bowels move less quickly. As a result, constipation is pretty common.
A woman who may have been regular before pregnancy might start to have trouble going to the bathroom.
If you find yourself running to the bathroom a lot more than usual, this could be a sign of pregnancy. You might also feel thirsty and have the urge to drink more liquids than before.
Feeling tired is a common symptom of early pregnancy. As hormones change, you may find yourself wanting to nap more often.
Some vaginal spotting around weeks 6 to 9 is not uncommon. If the bleeding happens 6 to 12 days after conception, it’s may be implantation bleeding. This can also occur with some slight cramping.
Women who aren’t sexually active could shrug this off as an irregular period.
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded if you stand up too quickly is another common experience for pregnant women. During pregnancy your blood vessels dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure.
Anemia is common in women. But when they become pregnant, their blood volume is expanded, so they become more anemic.
The craving for ice, specifically the need to chew ice, is often associated with anemia.
The skin around your nipples may start to get darker if you’re pregnant. Some women will also have a discharge from nipples (early milk production). This can happen early in the pregnancy.
It’ll be milky in color.
If the discharge is colored or bloody, it could indicate other health issues, such as a tumor. In this case, you should notify your doctor right away.
Dr. Katayune Kaeni, a psychologist specializing in maternal mental health, says you shouldn’t speculate or comment on whether or not you think a woman’s pregnant.
Bustillo agrees: “It would be dangerous to ask based on weight gain if someone’s pregnant. There are too many reasons people gain or lose weight.”
In situations such as public transportation, it’s OK to be courteous and offer a seat to someone. You can do this without asking if a woman is pregnant.
In most cases, a woman will tell you if she wants you to know she’s pregnant.
SHOULD I ASK IF SHE’S PREGNANT?“We have no idea what a person’s going through. We don’t know if they’ve gained weight, are or aren’t pregnant, or were pregnant but just had or lost a baby. It’s really nobody else’s right to ask, assume, or comment on a person’s body.
”
– Dr. Katayune Kaeni, psychologist
Don’t ignore pregnancy symptoms. Any unexpected, uncomfortable changes to your body should be checked out by a doctor.
Take note of your symptoms and make an appointment. Your doctor can perform tests to tell if you’re pregnant or need treatment for another condition.
Last medically reviewed on October 1, 2018
- Parenthood
- Pregnancy
- Getting Pregnant
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Bustillo G. (2015). Personal interview.
- Kaeni K. (2015). Personal interview.
- Mayo Clinic Staff.
(2016). Belly fat in women: taking — and keeping — it off.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045809 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Symptoms of pregnancy: what happens right away.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853 - Nine medical reasons for putting on weight. (2017).
nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/nine-medical-reasons-for-putting-on-weight - Pregnancy: Am I pregnant? (2014).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9709-pregnancy-am-i-pregnant - What are some common signs of pregnancy? (2017).
nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/signs
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Current Version
Oct 1, 2018
Written By
Rena Goldman
Edited By
Frank Crooks
Medically Reviewed By
Nicole Galan, RN
Share this article
Medically reviewed by Nicole Galan, RN — By Rena Goldman on September 30, 2018
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How to Tell if You’re Pregnant vs. Weight Gain
How to Tell if You’re Pregnant vs. Weight GainMedically reviewed by Nicole Galan, RN — By Rena Goldman on September 30, 2018
Have you noticed some changes in your body recently, especially in the waistline? If you’re sexually active, you might be wondering whether it’s weight gain or pregnancy.
Women can experience pregnancy symptoms in different ways. Some signs and symptoms that come with extra weight gain might mean that there’s another health issue.
Dr.
Gerardo Bustillo, a California-based OB-GYN, says he’s had patients who were very surprised to find out they were pregnant. “It all hinges around what kind of menstrual pattern a woman has,” he says.
For some women, their menstrual cycle is very regular and they can tell something is different as soon as a period is missed. Others have irregular cycles, meaning periods are unpredictable. They may not suspect anything if one doesn’t come when expected.
According to Bustillo, overweight women are less likely to feel fetal movement. And if a woman doesn’t feel like she looks different in the mirror, she may not notice extra weight.
One way to clear up any misunderstanding is to take a home pregnancy test. But if you’re not ready for that step, there are other physical signs that can also be present if you’re pregnant.
This is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting, also known as morning sickness, tend to start anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks after conception.
The symptoms can vary. Some women don’t experience any morning sickness, while others have severe bouts of nausea. Some women only vomit when they’re pregnant.
Progesterone, a pregnancy hormone, makes the bowels move less quickly. As a result, constipation is pretty common.
A woman who may have been regular before pregnancy might start to have trouble going to the bathroom.
If you find yourself running to the bathroom a lot more than usual, this could be a sign of pregnancy. You might also feel thirsty and have the urge to drink more liquids than before.
Feeling tired is a common symptom of early pregnancy. As hormones change, you may find yourself wanting to nap more often.
Some vaginal spotting around weeks 6 to 9 is not uncommon. If the bleeding happens 6 to 12 days after conception, it’s may be implantation bleeding. This can also occur with some slight cramping.
Women who aren’t sexually active could shrug this off as an irregular period.
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded if you stand up too quickly is another common experience for pregnant women.
During pregnancy your blood vessels dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure.
Anemia is common in women. But when they become pregnant, their blood volume is expanded, so they become more anemic.
The craving for ice, specifically the need to chew ice, is often associated with anemia.
The skin around your nipples may start to get darker if you’re pregnant. Some women will also have a discharge from nipples (early milk production). This can happen early in the pregnancy. It’ll be milky in color.
If the discharge is colored or bloody, it could indicate other health issues, such as a tumor. In this case, you should notify your doctor right away.
Dr. Katayune Kaeni, a psychologist specializing in maternal mental health, says you shouldn’t speculate or comment on whether or not you think a woman’s pregnant.
Bustillo agrees: “It would be dangerous to ask based on weight gain if someone’s pregnant. There are too many reasons people gain or lose weight.”
In situations such as public transportation, it’s OK to be courteous and offer a seat to someone.
You can do this without asking if a woman is pregnant.
In most cases, a woman will tell you if she wants you to know she’s pregnant.
SHOULD I ASK IF SHE’S PREGNANT?“We have no idea what a person’s going through. We don’t know if they’ve gained weight, are or aren’t pregnant, or were pregnant but just had or lost a baby. It’s really nobody else’s right to ask, assume, or comment on a person’s body.”
– Dr. Katayune Kaeni, psychologist
Don’t ignore pregnancy symptoms. Any unexpected, uncomfortable changes to your body should be checked out by a doctor.
Take note of your symptoms and make an appointment. Your doctor can perform tests to tell if you’re pregnant or need treatment for another condition.
Last medically reviewed on October 1, 2018
- Parenthood
- Pregnancy
- Getting Pregnant
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Bustillo G. (2015). Personal interview.
- Kaeni K. (2015). Personal interview.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Belly fat in women: taking — and keeping — it off.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045809 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Symptoms of pregnancy: what happens right away.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853 - Nine medical reasons for putting on weight. (2017).
nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/nine-medical-reasons-for-putting-on-weight - Pregnancy: Am I pregnant? (2014).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9709-pregnancy-am-i-pregnant - What are some common signs of pregnancy? (2017).
nichd.
nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/signs
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Current Version
Oct 1, 2018
Written By
Rena Goldman
Edited By
Frank Crooks
Medically Reviewed By
Nicole Galan, RN
Share this article
Medically reviewed by Nicole Galan, RN — By Rena Goldman on September 30, 2018
related stories
Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Causes of a Negative Pregnancy Test with No Period
7 Causes for a False-Positive Pregnancy Test
8 DPO: The Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Faint Positive Home Pregnancy Test: Am I Pregnant?
Read this next
Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH
What are the telltale early symptoms of pregnancy? Every person is different, but here are a few top signs.
READ MORE
Causes of a Negative Pregnancy Test with No Period
Medically reviewed by Michael Weber, MD
If you miss your period but get a negative pregnancy test, there are a number of possible explanations. Here's what might be going on.
READ MORE
7 Causes for a False-Positive Pregnancy Test
Reputable home pregnancy tests can be accurate, but they aren’t foolproof and can cause confusion. Here are 7 reasons you may receive a false-positive…
READ MORE
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If you miss your period, you might wonder if you’re pregnant. Some women have symptoms of pregnancy as early as eight days past ovulation (8 DPO). We…
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Pregnancy weight gain - What is BMI?
- Contents
Every woman gains a certain amount of weight during pregnancy. But in this case, it cannot be called superfluous, since each kilogram appears for a reason. You should not be afraid of such weight gain, because often after childbirth, most women manage to quickly return to their usual form. However, one should not “launch” oneself either - too rapid weight gain at each stage of pregnancy can have negative consequences. Everything should be in moderation, and in order to control it, you need to know in advance what should be the rate of weight gain during pregnancy.
What is the normal weight gain during pregnancy?
This indicator is individual. Some gain only 5-6 kg, feeling fine, having no problems with bearing a child. There are those who gain more than 20 kg, also without complaints and complications. However, in most cases, the rate of weight gain during pregnancy is average between these values - 9-14 kg when carrying one child and 16-21 kg if the pregnancy is multiple.
It is also important to remember that in the first trimester a pregnant woman may not notice weight gain. Firstly, the fetus is just being formed, and it is too early to talk about its growth. Secondly, many during this period have severe toxicosis, accompanied by a deterioration in appetite and vomiting. As a result of such conditions, a woman can, on the contrary, lose a couple of kilograms. Starting from the second trimester, weight gain becomes more noticeable. Usually it is about 1 kg per month. The sharpest jump can be seen in recent months - then a woman can recover more than 400 g per week.
Keep in mind that these are only generalized data, and should not be taken as a hard rate of weight gain during pregnancy. Only a doctor can determine whether this or that weight gain is acceptable for a woman and her fetus. This is especially true in cases where a pregnant woman has concomitant health problems, or she bears more than three children.
What increases the weight of a pregnant woman?
So that a pregnant woman is not afraid of the fact that she is gaining kilograms, she needs to understand where they come from.
The main sources of weight gain are:
- Fetal weight. The child in the womb is getting bigger every day, respectively, this affects the weight indicator, adding up to 3-4 kg.
- Increased uterus and amniotic fluid volume. Usually, at their expense, a pregnant woman gains up to 2 kg before giving birth.
- Increased blood volume in the body. This indicator can vary greatly, but usually about 1.5 kg is assigned to it.
- The appearance of additional fluid in the body. Its weight can be from 1.5 to 3 kg.
Do not forget that in the last weeks before childbirth, a woman's mammary glands begin to increase - milk accumulates in them. This process increases the total weight by about 0.5 kg.
Regardless of how a woman eats during pregnancy, avoiding the accumulation of body fat is extremely rare. The norm can be considered a situation when their weight does not exceed 3-4 kg. This indicator can be considered the most unstable. If a woman was actively involved in sports before pregnancy, she may gain less. If a pregnant woman allows herself to eat too much, or takes hormonal drugs to preserve the fetus, this can lead to a significant increase in this indicator.
What factors influence weight gain during pregnancy?
Although the sources of weight gain are clearly identified, there are internal and external factors that can affect the amount of weight gained.
The main ones are:
- Initial weight of a woman.
Of course, this factor cannot be considered decisive, but it shows that usually thin women gain more extra pounds during pregnancy than obese women. - Growth of a pregnant woman. Tall women tend to gain more kg.
- Tendency to be overweight. If a woman has such a predisposition, she needs to be especially careful, because during pregnancy she can gain a lot of extra pounds.
- Strong increase in appetite. This factor is not common to everyone, but to the majority. Feeling a sharp increase in appetite, women can succumb to it, or vice versa - try to restrain themselves, controlling weight gain in themselves and in the fetus.
- The presence of toxicosis. If such conditions are frequent and severe, it can lead to weight loss, which is highly undesirable during pregnancy.
- Presence of comorbidities, such as diabetes. In this case, a violation of metabolic processes is possible, which will cause weight gain.
It is worth remembering that age can also affect the rate of weight gain.
The older a woman is, the more difficult it is for her to control her weight gain during pregnancy. Therefore, for those who give birth in adulthood, it is important to pay special attention to this issue.
BMI when calculating weight gain
BMI is one of the basic concepts that can be used to control the process of weight gain during pregnancy. This indicator is calculated quite simply - according to the formula: the usual weight of a person must be divided by his height (m) squared.
The resulting figure can be attributed to 3 types of figure:
- up to 19.8 (Group 1) - the thinnest women
- 19.8-26 (Group 2) - women with an average build
- from 26 (3 group) - obese women
For example
With a height of 1.75 m, a woman weighs 65 kg.
1.75*1.75≈3.
65:3=21.6
It is the body mass index that is used to calculate the rate of weight gain during pregnancy by trimesters or weeks.
The easiest way to do this is to use a weight gain calculator.
Risk of being underweight during pregnancy
Severe weight loss during pregnancy or simply underweight can adversely affect the health of both the woman and the baby.
Possible risks are:
- premature birth, which can be very dangerous for both the mother and the baby
- too low birth weight, which can cause health problems
- baby's weight in the first months after birth
To exclude the possibility of such unpleasant situations, it is important to notice the underweight in time and determine its cause. It may consist in malnutrition, severe toxicosis, etc. Usually, such conditions can be successfully corrected by taking special medications or diets.
What is the danger of too rapid weight gain during pregnancy?
Rapid weight gain during pregnancy, as well as its reduction, is fraught with the following pathologies:
- development of gestational diabetes mellitus
- increased blood pressure
- risk of preeclampsia - severe deterioration of the pregnant woman in the last weeks before childbirth pain
- premature aging of the placenta
- metabolic disorder
It is important to remember that if the mother-to-be recovers rapidly, the same happens to the fetus.
Its large weight can complicate the process of natural childbirth, because of which you will have to do a caesarean. It also increases the risk of preterm birth with complications.
How to maintain a correct BMI during pregnancy: nutrition tips
No matter how much a woman gains weight during pregnancy, it is important for her to follow a healthy diet. In addition to the ability to maintain normal weight, it will also help maintain the health of the pregnant woman and the child.
The following recommendations can be considered universal:
- Exclusion from the diet of a large number of sweet dishes, primarily flour.
- The use of fermented milk products in sufficient quantities (they will help improve metabolic processes).
- Selection of foods that contain folic acid. If this is not possible, you can take the appropriate drugs.
- Refusal of fatty, fried and smoked foods - such food can not only cause weight gain, but also negatively affect the health of the fetus, as it worsens blood quality.
- Emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables - they will improve digestion, provide the bodies of a pregnant woman and a child with the necessary vitamins.
It is also important to ensure that the diet is balanced in terms of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. If it is not possible to independently develop the correct nutrition schedule, then it is better to consult a doctor who will suggest the optimal diet. To do this, you can visit the Ivimed reproductive health clinic. Thanks to this, the norm of weight during pregnancy will be observed.
The first signs of pregnancy in the first days after conception
The first signs of pregnancy observed in the first days and weeks after conception
Not many women notice the first signs of pregnancy in the first days after conception. But nevertheless they (symptoms) are. And they can be easily detected if you listen to your body.
So, what are the symptoms of an interesting position before the onset of a missed period?
1.
Frequent mood swings. Women are fickle creatures and often change their attitude to this or that situation, but in this case the change of mood occurs completely for no reason and very often. It is immediately clear that these are the first signs of pregnancy in the first days of conception. But the girl laughs and then starts to cry. Irritability, out of nowhere jealousy and other not very pleasant feelings can also be observed. And yet, expectant mothers become very capricious. Actually, this is the second symptom.
2. Increase or loss of appetite. Change in taste preferences. About the second, you probably read a lot of anecdotes. Ladies in position suddenly change their tastes dramatically. It may happen that a hardened vegetarian suddenly begins to eat meat or enjoy trying various outlandish food combinations, such as herring with milk.
3. Barely noticeable weight gain. This first sign of pregnancy in the first days of conception may be associated with an increase in appetite, as the metabolism of expectant mothers, on the contrary, accelerates.
An increase of 1-2 kilograms is possible, but not more, since the main weight gain occurs only in the 2-3rd trimester, when the baby begins to grow rapidly and gain weight.
4. Soreness in the area of the nipples and mammary glands. Few people pay attention to these first signs of pregnancy in the first days after conception, since a good half of women have the so-called premenstrual syndrome, which also includes this breast pain, justified by cyclic hormonal changes. However, with an interesting position, the pain is usually more pronounced. In more rare cases, at such an early date, pigmentation of the nipples may already appear, and colostrum may begin to stand out from them.
5. Bloody discharge around the middle of the menstrual cycle, one week after conception. This barely noticeable bloody discharge from the vagina is associated with the attachment of the future fetal egg to one of the walls of the uterus. Often such ambiguous first signs of pregnancy in the first days of conception are perceived precisely as the onset of menstruation.
But the discharge quickly stops and the delay begins.
6. Pain in the lower abdomen and (or) in the lumbar region. Usually, women experience these cramping or aching pains a couple of days before the onset of menstruation. But if the conception took place, then these are the first signs of pregnancy in the first days of the delay.
7. Increased basal body temperature. Observed from the moment of ovulation and during the first weeks of pregnancy. An elevated temperature is considered to be above 37 degrees. In some cases, in addition to basal, the general body temperature also rises. This is due to the onset of various hormonal changes and the acceleration of metabolism.
8. The amount of colorless and odorless vaginal discharge increases markedly. Many women also have increased sex drive.
All the first signs of pregnancy described above in the first days after conception do not appear in all expectant mothers, more precisely, not everyone notices them.
It is much more correct to carry out diagnostics after the start of the delay.
Symptoms appearing after the onset of a missed period
1. Pregnancy test. This is the first diagnostic procedure that a woman should undergo after the onset of a missed period and potentially pregnant. As a rule, at 2 weeks (namely, such a period will approximately be at the beginning of the delay), a test with any sensitivity will show the correct result. But do not forget to follow the instructions that are on the packaging of any test. It is best to do it in the morning, before that do not urinate for 6 hours (night sleep). In this case, there will be a maximum concentration of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine (in the case of a positive result), to which the test strips react. If you did everything right and you see two rather bright stripes, then these are the reliable first signs of pregnancy in the first days of the delay.
If the test shows an unclear result, then you need to repeat it the next day.
If again there are any doubts, then you can donate blood for the same hormone and get a 100% reliable result.
2. Gynecological examination. An experienced gynecologist can determine the pregnancy of his patient at a very short time. The doctor makes his diagnosis based on the results of a gynecological examination. Visually, the labia of a woman, as well as the cervix, become bluish. The uterus slightly changes its shape, if earlier it looked like a pear in shape, now it “turns” into a ball.
3. Scanty menstruation. But how can this be? After all, during pregnancy, menstruation does not go! Yes, indeed, menstruation does not happen, but there may be spotting, short-term, more often at a time when, according to the schedule, there should have been cyclic bleeding. So, if you notice weak spotting instead of normal menstruation, then it makes sense to do a test.
4. An ultrasound shows a fetal egg in the uterus - there can be no mistakes here.
But in very rare cases, the fetal egg may not be visible on the monitor when other first signs of pregnancy have already appeared in the first days of the delay. This may be due to late ovulation. After all, sometimes conception does not occur in the middle of the cycle, but towards the end. Thus, during the days of delay, the fertilized egg is still in the fallopian tube. But there may be another ... a bad outcome - an ectopic pregnancy.
5. Toxicosis. Nausea and vomiting are the companions of most expectant mothers until the second trimester. If these phenomena are observed regularly, poisoning is excluded, it happens mainly in the morning and some smells and tastes seem unbearable + there are other first signs of pregnancy in the first days of delay - you will soon become a mother.
6. Increase in the number of urination per day. This symptom must be taken very seriously. If, in addition to increasing the number of trips to the toilet, you still notice pain before, during or after emptying the bladder, then these are not the first signs of pregnancy in the early days, but cystitis or urethritis.
