How bad is it to TTC when I am very overweight

[PuppyLoves]

I weigh about 16st and am 5.5in. I have tried to lose the weight put on when pg with dd and from spending a year on steroid tablets but am failing miserably.

DD is 20 months and we are desperate to have another. How bad is it to start TTC now?

[caykon]

I was the same size as you when I concieved my ds. I was still carrying all my pregnacy weight from dd as she was only 3 months old. We had unprotected sex once, which I took the morning after pill and still got pregnant. I had a much easier pregnancy that time as well. So I don't think there are any rules to size and TTC.
If you feel ok about being pregnant again start trying, women of all sizes have babies.

[PuppyLoves]

Thanks caykon, I just remember the hassle I got last time about my weight, from my MW and my doctor and I was 4st lighter then

[thisisyesterday]

i think that you will have a much more enjoyable pregnancy if you lost the extra weight to be honest, and i say this from experience!

you probably aqlready know that there are added risks for overweight mums during pregnancyh, that isn't to say you'd necesssarily suffer from them, or not have a great pregnancy, but you are more at risk of things like gestational diabetes and things like that.

[wilkos]

lose the weight first for your own benefit, carrying extra from day one and then 9 months of adding to it would make you very obese come d day

baby will no doubt be fine no matter what you weigh but lose it first for your self.

you are obviously worried otherwise you wouldnt be posting, so do something about it

[wilkos]

what i am trying to say but couldnt quite make the words is that if you lose the weight it will be a total non issue and allow you to just get on with pregnancy and birth without the worry of your size hanging over your head

ps i have been very overweight myself so iknow how you feel

[PuppyLoves]

I am starting WW this week as I am apparently useless at trying to stick to a low calorie diet without the fear of a weekly weigh in.

But it will take so long to lose the weight and the age gap between dd and the next child is getting bigger and bigger. Something neither dh or I want

[EldonAve]

I would just get on with it
Yes being overweight increases the risk of mc and of some preg complications
BUT so does your age
AND it might take you ages to get pg

[babyboom1979]

Puppylove......while I agree with Elgin regarding age and getting on with it, it's also important to consider the serious complications that can affect a woman who is overweight and pregnant (I'm thinking of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia). It may also be harder to fall pregnant as lack or excess fat can cause hormone imbalances in a woman's body.

If you do decide to go ahead with ttc, I think most doctors would tell you that you will need to gain far fewer pounds than a woman with a healthy BMI. So keep that in mind if you fall pregnant at your current weight. There is also nothing wrong with you adopting healthy eating habits while you try to fall pregnant. Who knows you may lose a bit of weight in the process which will only increase your odds of getting a BFP.

It's very hard. Best of luck.

[MyCatIsABiggerBastardThanYours]

I conceived DS (a happy accident) when about your weight (am 5ft 6in). I wouldn't necessarly advice it, as the more pregnant I got the harder it got. I could barely move towards the end. However, it is possible but is probably wiser to lose some weight first if you can.

[lilacpink]

I was 13st 4pound at the end of preg 1, and at 5ft 2 I struggled to move, had v. bad fluid rentention so I 'lost' my knees I'd actually done it through putting on 4 stone while pregnant! I would say it's better to try losing it healthily while TTC, in case you put on weight during the preg.

[caykon]

I've never done ww but know you can follow slimming world whilst pregnant. Maybe do this diet instead you can then start trying knowing you are loosing weight and will be able to continue eating healthy through the pregnancy so not gain excessive weight then.

[Bubbaloo]

I weighed around the same as you,for both my pregnancies.
My 1st pregnancy was very straight forward and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.My 2nd pregnancy was fine until the last few weeks,when I had suspected pre eclampsia and at the hospital every other day,being monitored.Have no idea if my weight caused it,but I was very uncomfortable towards the end and had put on a whopping 4 stone,so I was huge.
We have now been talking about ttc again and I have told dh that I definately need to lose weight first.Like others have said,it doesn't always cause complications being overweight,but it can,and I would definately recommend losing some weight,beforehand.

[PuppyLoves]

Thanks for all your replies. I think I will try to lose at least 2 stone before TTC then continue losing weight (hopefully) whilst TTC. Then hopefully I be a bit lighter when pg.

Thanks for the tip about slimming world, that is really helpful and I'll efinalty look into joining them instead