Losing Weight at the end of pregnancy

[Atia_Julii]

This entire pregnancy, I've always gained weight from appointment to appointment.  But at my 38 week appointment, I had actually lost weight from my 37th week appointment.  Is this normal?  And what is the reason for it?

[Limonada]

This totally happened to me with both pregnancies - at the very end (week 38-41), I lost about 2-3 lbs.

[leighanne143]

i lost weight my last few weeks too.  my doctor told me this is totally normal and not to worry

[Ashelen]

LOL if you're anything like me you're moving more side-to-side than you are actually moving forward...ahh the 9th month of pregnancy. a thing of grace.

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks girls!  I was naturally freaking out. (As I do about everything pregnancy related) Hee hee. :)  I feel like I've been eating a lot, but maybe I haven't been eating as much?  And the waddling I'm doing MUST be burning some calories right now.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

It is normal and it can be partially due to the fact that for a lot of women the amount of amniotic fluid will slowly decrease as labor approaches (or so a couple of my doctors have explained)...less fluid = less weight.  But it also is due to what some of the others mentioned...not eating as much becuase everything is squished.  I know with one of my pregnancies my fluid level went from 12 to 6 in a weeks time and a couple days later I was in labor.

[HeatherLF16]

My doctor warned me about this for my next few visits and told me not to be surprised if it slows or I lose.  
Your stomach gets so squished and has very little room, so you get full quicker and maybe you are not eating as much?  But, at this point your body has enough of a reserve the baby is just going to take what he/she needs.

[Melka76]

I think it is because the baby is so big it leaves less room for you to eat... you slow down eating... and you burn more calories trying to waddle all that baby around with you.. it is pretty common to lose weight the last couple of weeks.... my last two check ups - at 34 and 35 week appts I did not gain any weight from the 33 week appt... that should have been my first clue things were about to start cooking!!!  Also, for the fluid - I posted a pic of me at 35 weeks and thought I was pretty small - and I thought I had low fluid.. when the did the section they make several comments about how MUCH fluid I had - I think it actually sprayed someone because there was giggling on the other side of the curtain.. and Olivia swallowed some of the fluid as well... NO worries - you are almost there!

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks Ashelen.  Of course it freaked me out! Like, does the baby have low fluid? Is something wrong?  Thanks for the reassurance. :)

[Ashelen]

yes it's entirely normal and actually somewhat expected. it can be due to a number of reasons, none of which I can remember at the moment...but I did want to reassure you that it's normal, lol.