How fat is too fat?

Oh, if you do get pregnant speak to your GP about increased folic acid dose from early on.

Obviously nothing more than an anecdote, increased risk, difficult to conceive etc etc etc.

My last daughter was conceived in the first month of trying. My BMI was 40. Pregnancy was fine. No diabetes. I was offered a dietician and took them up on the offer. Most HCP were very chilled about it. I had a planned section under general anaesthetic (unrelated to weight) and nobody even mentioned it.

I weighed at 6 weeks post partum and was roughy the same weight as when I conceived.

I've wondered with the increased risk of GD - are you more likely to have GD because your obese or does the fact you were susceptible to GD have something to do with the fact you're obese in the first place? (Obviously not in all cases.)

My weight crept back into the obese range while pregnant. I did get GD (as did my normal weight sister, incidentally). This meant I had a much more medicalised pregnancy and delivery which was a shame because I had an otherwise pretty much perfect pregnancy, bit of heartburn and that was it. I was still walking 5 miles a day the day before I went in to be induced. No pain, no swollen feet or trouble sleeping, no new stretch marks. DD was large but not huge, and not any bigger than expected given in 5'10" and DH is 6'5".

I'm not convinced it would have been any different if I was thin but I'll still be making an effort to lose weight before any future pregnancies to give myself a chance.

With my first I had a bmi of 42 and I did get gestational diabetes however, I had a natural 3 hour and 45 minute labour and only 30 mins pushing. Overall my pregnancy was fine more appointments but resulted in an 8 lb 7 baby. I'm currently ttc baby no 2 and my bmi is now 37. Something and I'm still losing.

You can lose weight whilst pregnant I lost 1.5 stone didn't show till 2 days post birth

What about a weight loss club op? I find the support, structure and motivation they give you helpful.

I was about the same weight as you when I conceived OP. I had lost three stone by that point though.

Jesus genever lay off abit. Fair play you posting evidence n stuff your points are valid, but you don’t have to go harsh on her about it and accusing her of this n that. Its mumsnet not a boot camp.

@HeresMeh. Sorry op. I wasn't advocating bad living either. I lived like a saint when I was pregnant and that's the point I was trying to make. I didn't meant to imply that I was munching on a bars bar for breakfast and 50 big Macs for lunch lol. Good luck to you!

I had a BMI of 34 at the point of conception. I conceived in my first cycle. I was 37.

I had a low risk, healthy pregnancy, all stats/tests/blood pressure on the good side of average throughout.

I had an absolute shitter of a delivery though, I supposed something had to give. I imagine if I was younger, thinner and fitter I’d have stood a better chance of a ‘natural’ and timely delivery.

I had so much good luck, conceiving DD, carrying her healthily, I thought I would have much more trouble than I did. And I’m grateful, daily, that I have a healthy little girl.

I guess what I’m saying is that though there are lots of factors involved, a lot of it is pure, blind, luck.

Also I think if your BMI is under 35 at booking in (9-10 wks) then you are likely to have more birth choices eg using a birthing centre - this is the case in my hospital.

At mine your BMI has to be below 35 when you're weighed at 28 weeks by the midwife to be able to use the birthing centre.

Tht I agree with juniper ... u do lose out on birthing options ....

Nobody is perfect ... you hear to old to young , fat and small .. it's individual.. if you think losing weight would be useful then do it ... they can't tell older women to stop having babies right? It would be discriminatory... yes being in the middle would be better ... but there are lottts of bigger ladies giving birth and the proof is in the pudding 😂

Also I think if your BMI is under 35 at booking in (9-10 wks) then you are likely to have more birth choices eg using a birthing centre - this is the case in my hospital.

How old are you OP? (Sorry if I've missed this info)

I have real difficulties ttc in my late 30s and unfortunately dealt very badly with multiple mc leading to a high BMI. Currently 28 weeks (age 41) and this pregnancy did come after losing more than 2 stone (although I did take other action too). Physically I am pretty tired and have gestational diabetes although have had no other issues. I would have preferred to lose more though.

If time is on your side, I'd take a couple of months off ttc and get your BMI down further, nearer 30 if poss. You can do this in a sensible way (you sound very sensible) and focus on nutrition so your body is the best it can be to carry a baby.

Op i like your posting style. Your mention of gigantors and fat bastard made me laugh and you were sweet to other posters. I wish you the best of luck with ttc

Ahhhh ur all chatting poo .... lol .... I weighed 22 stone n had my first .. no issue ... I weighed 18 with my second ... 18 with my 3rd ... I then lost eight stone n had my fourth ... I put five stone whilst pregnant n lost it ... now I'm on my fifth ... iam 14 stone n 6,1 .... I've experienced being obese n not ... depends on the individual.... now go shove a old mince pie n b quiet 🤫

@HeresMeh my DH and I were trying for a year and in that time I fell twice, both lost before 6 weeks. I was 16st at the time.
Living situations and jobs changed so we gave up for a year.
When we started trying again I fell on cycle 3, I was 17st7lbs and had recently lost a stone. I had an mmc at 11 weeks. It took me months to recover (mentally and physically) and we didn't get round to trying again until July last year. It was super casual and I wasn't expecting anything to happen esp as I had gained weight. We caught straight away. I'm now 28 weeks and having a perfectly fine pregnancy. All hormone/vitamin/bp levels have been perfect, scans haven't been an issue and I've actually lost weight. I don't have gestational diabetes even though the consultant said I would "obviously get it".
There are a lot of negativities towards larger women becoming pregnant and so many healthcare professionals are under the impression that every complication is an absolute certainty. Obviously it's not the healthiest but it's not impossible to have an uncomplicated pregnancy.
Do all that you need to do and carry on the great work of losing weight, take prenatal vits (I recommend the 7 Seas ones!) and just keep trying. You will fall pregnant when your body is ready for it. Good luck!!

@genever. I am sure that's true in some cases. Likewise, being could have the same affect. Being over 35 could have the same affect too. It wasn't luck that I had successful pregnancies whilst being "obese" at all. They were successful because I might have been heavier but I was as The original poster made reference to "fit and healthy" so to speak. I think there is obviously a limit and when you get to the point where your weight is affecting your periods and general health, fair enough.
The BMI system is completely flawed - if you worked out a lot and had heavy muscle mass, you would step on the scale and the DR. would tell you that you were obese but you wouldn't be.
As for being able to keep a check on baby then if your weight isn't all on your stomach then there shouldn't be a problem finding baby. I've had abdominal scans at 6 weeks and been able to find baby just fine.
It never hurts to lose a few pounds, obviously but to say that it's the be all and end all is in my opinion, a bit much. Sorry if this has annoyed anyone.

I'm overweight (can't actually remember my bmi) but im not drastically overweight.
Ive fallen pregnant very early easily, twice in 9 months first ended in miscarriage at 12 weeks.
It's not ideal but I'm 20 weeks tomorrow and feel fantastic. Midwife says everything's great aswell. I've only gained 2.5lb and I'm trying to shift that by continuing with slimming world.
Keep working on the weightloss but continue with ttc and see what happens. Good luck.

Depends if you want NHS IVF treatment or private. Private clinics will often see you with a 35 on the dot BMI while all NHS referrals Only go up to 30.

The general consensus now seems to be that if your weight isn't interfering with your cycle (e.g. If you are having regular periods and have no unusual menstrual symptoms) then your weight probably isn't affecting your fertility. Once you are pregnant you are at a slightly increased risk of some issues like diabetes, but it isn't much of an increase. Good luck OP, wishing you all the best!

I got my BMI down to below 30 from 37 to be eligible for treatment once referred to a fertility clinic (Clomid, due to anovulatory cycles). Losing weight made no difference to my cycles etc or other PCOS symptoms - perhaps it would have done if I'd lost more.