Weight versus TTC #1

[baggiesbabejs]

Hello ladies,
Am I over thinking this...

My and OH have decided we would like to try for a baby this year if possible but I'm overweight with a BMI of 42.3 and am really worried that this will cause lots of problems for both me and a pregnancy.

I came off the pill last September after being on it for 7 years and have been lucky enough for my periods to become regular so that I know exactly when AF is due.

My dilemma is...do we TTC with me being at this weight (although I am on weightwatchers and have lost 3.5 stone already) and see what happens or try to lose the weight, lose valuable months of TTC and then try?

I'm really hoping someone out there will have some useful advice as I dont know who else to talk too!

Thanks ladies

[Harrybee]

Hi baggiesbabejs, well done you in loosing this weight its fantastic news.

not being rude but how much do you weigh (im usless with BMI). Im over weight too (almost 16stone) and has no problem conceiving, I was at higher risk of gestational diabetes but thankfully all the tests came back clear.

I would follow your heart and if its a baby you want then they weight can fall off after. Assuming you dont have any other health problems.

Good luck

[baggiesbabejs]

Thanks for the reply Harrybee

I'm almost 2 stone more than you I did have problems with IBS but since losing weight I dont suffer at all these days. I have no other health problems, my blood pressure has always been normal and my periods are regular.

I guess I should just go with the flow, keep up with my diet and regular exercise and see how the TTC goes!

[Lorelai]

Well I am probably not the best example, but I weighed 22 stone when I got pg (accidentally!) with DD - so def didn't have problems conceiving!

I had no probs at all while pg (except heartburn), and didn't put any weight on at all (so after I gave birth I was half a stone lighter than when I started!), although that may be linked to the over-active thyroid I also developed at some point either during pg or just after - it resulted in me losing 7 stone in about 8 months

Although I have to say that it can be dangerous to be seriously overweight while pg, so I would definitely keep losing the weight for now as well as TTC (I am TTC too and am still quite overweight - am on meds now for the thyroid so have put some back on and am finding it difficult to lose )

[baggiesbabejs]

Hi Lorelai, thanks for your reply, its reassuring to know it can happen. I know its not ideal at my current weight but I guess I should just see how we get on ttc whilst losing the weight at the same time! TTC is a fantastic motivator for losing weight.

Can I ask, did you have any problems with the scans with #1? Did you have to have more tests than usual?

Thanks

[Lorelai]

No probs with scans - at my first scan I had kind of over-done it with the amount of water I drank (they ask you to have a full bladder - mine was so full they couldn't see anything so I had to let some out!), and at the second DD was in the wrong position so I had to walk around for a bit to get her to shift, but neither issue was related to my weight.

The main problem I had was that the hopsital had a midwife-led birth centre which I wanted to be booked into, but they wouldn't take anyone with a BMI over 35 as the risk of complications is higher. So I had to go to the regular delivery suite, which was fine, if not quite what I wanted.

Don't think my weight caused much issue with the birth either; the anaesthetist had issues doing the epidural (she put it into the wrong space) and had to get her consultant to take over, but no-one said it was anything to do with my size.

[baggiesbabejs]

Thats good, I'm worried they wouldnt detect a heartbeat under my well padded birthday suit!

I'm quite relaxed to the thought of where to have a baby, I definately want drugs and definately want the experts on hand! I'm such a wuss thinking about hospitals!

Thank you for your honesty, its really reassuring.

Good Luck with TTC#2

[Lorelai]

No probs - happy to help!

Thinking about it, they did have to press quite hard with the scanner thingy, but it didn't seem to be an issue. One thing I really appreciated was no midwife ever tried to make me feel bad about my weight - no judgement whatsoever (not much I could have done about it at that point so wouldn't have done any good!)

Good luck!