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For many, weight-related comments come not only from family and friends but also from doctors, nurses, or even fitness instructors. These remarks may seem casual or even well-meaning, but they can leave lasting damage. A growing body of research confirms that weight stigma during and after pregnancy can interfere with medical care, increase anxiety, and even raise the risk of complications.
What Is Weight Shaming in Pregnancy and Postpartum?
Weight shaming refers to negative attitudes, judgments, or comments about your body size or shape, especially when tied to pregnancy weight gain, postpartum appearance, or expected recovery time.It can look like:
- “You’ve gained too much; that’s not healthy for the baby.”
- “Are you sure you’re eating the right things?”
- “Don’t get lazy now, you’ll never bounce back.”
- “You don’t even look pregnant. Are you eating enough?”
It may also come in more subtle forms, like being weighed without consent, being told to limit food without dietary context, or being denied treatment until weight loss is achieved.
Why This Matters for Your Physical and Emotional Health
Weight stigma isn’t just a passing insult. It can deeply impact both your health outcomes and how you navigate pregnancy or recovery. Here's how:- Delays in seeking medical care: Many avoid doctor visits to escape being shamed about weight.
- Reduced quality of prenatal care: Research shows that higher-weight patients report feeling dismissed, misdiagnosed, or given less information.
- Increased stress and cortisol: Weight-related comments increase body shame, which correlates with higher stress and depressive symptoms.
- Postpartum body image struggles: A poor body image during pregnancy often worsens after birth, increasing risks for depression or disordered eating.
- Impaired bonding and confidence: Feeling “disgusted” with your postpartum body can affect how confidently you feed, dress, or care for your baby.
What Makes You More Vulnerable to This Shaming?
Weight-related stigma can affect anyone, but some patterns make it more likely:- Higher pre-pregnancy BMI: Individuals in larger bodies are more frequently subjected to weight-centric counselling or restrictions.
- History of disordered eating or body image issues: Pregnancy may re-trigger old beliefs about food control and worth.
- Social or family pressure to "bounce back": Cultural expectations around thinness and attractiveness don’t pause for postpartum healing.
- Public visibility of your body: As your bump shows or doesn’t show, it becomes a point of discussion, even from strangers.
These factors intersect with medical systems and social networks, intensifying scrutiny during vulnerable moments.
Is There a Medical Basis for This Focus on Weight?
Yes and no.Gaining too little or too much weight during pregnancy can affect foetal growth, gestational diabetes, or delivery complications. But most health bodies, including the ICMR and WHO, now warn against using BMI alone to assess risks.
The real issue lies in how this information is communicated. Women who experience weight stigma from doctors are more likely to disengage from care, even if their pregnancies are high-risk. Weight bias during pregnancy is also linked to higher levels of emotional distress and poorer nutrition, not better outcomes.
How This Shaming Plays Out in Real Life
Let’s break down where and how this shows up, both during pregnancy and after.During Pregnancy:
- Clinic weigh-ins without consent: Many report being weighed without explanation, or scolded for each kilogram gained.
- Blame for health conditions: Even when complications are unrelated to weight (e.g. hyperemesis, hypertension), higher-weight individuals are often blamed.
- Exercise shame: If you work out, you may be told you’re overdoing it. If you don’t, you're labelled “lazy.”
- Small bump ≠ free pass: If you’re not visibly showing, others might imply something’s wrong, or that you’re vainly “lucky.”
Postpartum:
- "Have you lost the baby weight yet?"
- “At least start walking now!”
- Social media pressure
- Clothing comments
How to Respond or Set Boundaries
You shouldn’t have to defend your body, but these options may help reduce the emotional toll:- With family/friends: “My doctor is happy with my progress. Let’s not discuss my body.”
- At checkups: “I’d prefer not to be weighed unless it’s medically necessary. Can we focus on symptoms and care plans instead?”
- To yourself: Replace “I need to lose this belly” with “My body is still healing.”
- Online: Curate your feed. Mute or unfollow accounts that promote post-baby bounce-back narratives.
What Actually Supports Healthy Weight and Well-Being?
Instead of weight-focused care, the following approaches are evidence-based and supportive:- Intuitive eating: Encourages tuning into hunger and fullness without rigid restrictions.
- Gentle movement: Like prenatal yoga or walking, adapted to your trimester and energy level.
- Mental health support: Counselling for body image, trauma, or eating patterns has been shown to improve maternal outcomes.
- Body-neutral language from providers: Using terms like “weight gain trend” rather than “too much” can lower shame and increase engagement.
In postpartum recovery, approaches like pelvic physiotherapy, rest, and nutrient support, not diet culture, are what build true strength and functionality.
Your body is doing, and has done, something extraordinary. Gaining weight, changing shape, and taking time to recover are not flaws to fix. They are physiological realities of growing and birthing life. When shame enters the room, remember: it doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to a culture that’s still catching up to what real care should look like.
FAQs on Shamed for Gaining Weight During or After Pregnancy? You’re Not Alone, and It’s a Real Health Risk
- Is weight gain shaming common in prenatal clinics?
Yes. Studies show that many pregnant patients, especially in higher-weight bodies, report being treated dismissively or denied evidence-based care. - Can weight comments affect mental health during pregnancy?
Absolutely. Weight stigma is linked to higher anxiety, depression, and stress hormones during pregnancy—all of which affect maternal and foetal health. - What’s a healthy range for weight gain in pregnancy?
There’s no universal number. It depends on your pre-pregnancy body type and medical history. Your doctor should personalise this—not compare you to charts alone. - How can I protect my mental health postpartum?
Focus on healing, not shrinking. Choose clothes that fit now, eat enough to support breastfeeding or recovery, and limit exposure to “bounce-back” pressures.
