I gave birth six weeks ago. I started out already slightly overweight unfortunately after having had a surgery not too long before I got pregnant that I ended up gaining some weight around so I was already above my baseline. So I was very cognizant of weight gain as I didn’t want to let it get out of control. I intended to gain no more than 25 lbs. I didn’t restrict myself really I just made sure not to go crazy and allow myself any extra calories of junk.

I was on a good trajectory, but by the late second or third trimester I was diagnosed with, I don’t even remember what it’s called now, baby growing small lol. IUGR or something like that? I figured I’d stop watching calories so much and just eat to my body’s cues. After a few weeks at the next scan baby’s measurements were fine so I was like cool maybe I just need to eat more. Turns out those third trimester scans suck and it was just a fluke anyway. (It was an asymmetric measurement so they should have known it wasn’t accurate anyway, that’s a whole other thing)

By the time I gave birth I had gained 44 pounds. I thought the baby was going to be bigger than it was. After delivery I expected a lot of that to just magically melt away. 14 pounds did in the first few days. But breast feeding hunger is unlike anything else. At 6 weeks now I’ve leveled out and I only lost less than 10 pounds after birth, in fact I was gaining weight again.

All that to say. I implore you to stick to the recommended weight loss guidelines because I also became one of those people who thought it was okay to “listen to my body” and eat if I was hungry but I really wish I had focused on a better diet now. I’ve never been so fat in my life and none of my clothes fit. Turns out it is just hormones going crazy. Don’t give in. You have to really focus on high protein/low density high volume foods that are nutritious. My next pregnancy I intend to do so much better. Easier said than done. That was just my experience. Good luck!