how overweight questions

[sunchild77]

How overweight do you need to be before it Is a problem in pregnancy?

What will they do about it?

Am overweight, not obese (I hope!) but definitely significantly over what I should be for my height and build. Am a good size 16, and 5"5 ins.

Just worried that I should be losing weight before getting up duff.

[June2009]

in my experience (one dd 9mo now so not masses amount of experience really...) the birth centre had a limit on the BMI they would accept for a natural birth. Mine was just under so was ok, but they still turned me down ne week before the birth and I had to go to hospital to have my baby.
I think it flags up a whole bunch of stuff like tests to check whether you are diabetic or whether the pregnancy has brought on diabet.
I think it put me in a difficult situation (and i was a size 14 to start with!) because it was deemed dangerous to have a natural birth at the birth centre and then when things did not go to plan it was deemed too dangerous to have a c section - and it ended in c section.

It will also depend on how quickly you can put on weight.
I had SPD so had to stop training and put on almost 5 stones. ARGH.
haveing said that some overweight women can manage and not put on too much.
dont forget also that after pregnancy you might find that it is hard to loose the extra weight because you do not have time to exercise. (there is a baby there now needing on 24 hours a day).

I would recommend to start exercising if you don't already and be healthy in the way you eat.
pregnancy is a pretty major thing to happen to your body.

sorry if this is not very clear, i basically think that if i hadnt put so much weight on during pregnancy i could have had the natural birth i had planned and that being verweight flags u all sorts f stuff. tests and worries which you can really do without.

take care

[oldmum42]

It depends on how fit you are as well. If you are very active, you'd be less at risk of all the things you're at risk of- diabetis, highblood pressure, poor wound healing after c-section, etc, etc.

If you don't go to the gym, start now. But take it easy - no high impact esp. if you're not used to it. maybe swim instead, but do it several times a week

Try and limit weight gain - the recomended weight gain for overweight/obese women is a lot less than for normal weight - if you can avoid excess gain, you will keep your risk factors down to a minimum (I think is something like 15lbs instead of 40lbs???).

(I'm a big girl myself so I'm not slagging off fat people. I swim half a mile 5 days a week (did double this before I got BFP) and have actually lost a few pounds in the 13weeks of this preg, but eating good quality, high nutrient diet so doc very happy and is encouraging me to try and put on a minimal amount in 2 trimester and a small amount in the 3rd, specifically to lower my risk of GD, High bloodpressure etc).

[oldmum42]

Ah, just re-read your post and saw you are not actualy pregnant yet!

Well yes, get yourself onto and exercise program and start getting fitter and slimmer now - it'll give you something to focus on appart from TTC - which can really take up your life!

Good luck x

[redandyellowandpinkandgreen]

It is based on your BMI at my hospital. I was trying to lose weight before fertility treatment but got pregnant naturally so I heavier that I would ideally like to be. I think it your BMI is over 35 you get referred to the consultant and you have additional appointments. I haven't been told it will affect anything else and no-one has really spoken to me about it but I do have to have this extra care.

My friend had high BMI and she had to give birth at the main hospital so it affected where she could give birth.

I just think it is an extra worry, if you could get your BMI down before you fell pregnant then I would do it.

I am 12 weeks today and have managed not to gain any which I am pleased about but none of the professionals have weighed me!

[MrsSenior]

I think redandyellow is right, it's BMI rather than weight, so work that out - there are loads of calculators on tinternet that do it, you just need your height and weight.

I am literally a couple of pounds over the 35BMI limit and so have to be referred via a consultant clinic which may mean I can't give birth in the midwife led centre but I think they assess that later and take all factors into account. It's all abut how much risk there is.

If you spoke to any professional about weight they would say to lose weight before you get pregnant if you are overweight. It effects lots of things (fertility being one) as well as diabetes risk, accuracy of ultrasound etc etc. If you work out your BMI then look at it on one of the charts it will show you what would be a healthy weight for you. (Also bear in mind that there are plenty of us larger ladies who get preggers no probs and go on to have healthy babies, but I guess it's all about reducing your risks!)

Good luck with whatever you decide! xx

[jwiggles]

I have a BMI of 35 and have a consultant referal too (at 21 weeks) so am hoping all will be ok for then. I suppose its better to have more help, than not enough as its a scary thing, this baby business!

[JazzieJeff]

OP; I was still trying to lose weight from Christmas when we got BFP so that got stopped in its tracks lol! I was a healthy BMI to begin with, but then went ahead and put on 6lbs and I'm only 17 weeks! I properly winced when I got on the scales last week and expected a proper bollocking from the midwife but she didn't even bat an eyelid. TBH, I think as long as you're as active as your job allows you to be (it's sooo hard dragging yourself off to the gym if you've got in at 6pm) and eat the most nutritious diet you possibly can, then you'll be just fine. I took up a book on it, think it was called how to be a yummy mummy (i'd dig it out and tell you but we;ve just moved and it's probably buried under about a million boxes) and it was really informative and had loads of meal ideas that properly fill you up; none of this 'rice cakes for lunch and that's it' rubbish.
I really hope that you get that BFP soon

[mollybob]

I am consultant led as bmi>35 and wish I had lost some weight but all is well - my third and have had no problems with pre-eclsampsia, general raised BP, gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies - you never know especially before a first pregnancy if you might be at higher risk of these even if BMI better so makes sense to be in best shape if you can. I've had a few stresses that could have been avoided if I'd followed my own advice.(see my thread on aibu re being peed off with consultant led care - all sorted now)

was referred to research re diet in pregnancy and that even in the obese the healthier the diet the better the outcomes so even after BFP it's not too late to keep your risks as low as possible

[jillsgymkhana]

I was (am!)much much fatter than you, had 2 babies with IVF and had two easy pregnancies - I do know how lucky I am and I am not saying it's good not to be fit, but just wanting to encourage you that you could be just fine. Frankly if you are a size 16 I think you should stop worrying about food at all and just get plenty of sensible exercise and fresh air - walking and swimming!