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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

How fat is too fat?

43 replies

HeresMeh · 08/01/2018 15:03

Hey everyone,

Looking for your opinions or personal experience stories out of sheer intrigue and interest.

How big is too big to conceive? Did you have to shift a bit of timber before you conceived your first? Or are you TTC #1 and struggling due to weight?

I'm currently 16st 4lbs after losing over a stone and a half since August. My current BMI is classed as 'morbidly obese' at 35.7 - and although I take these stats with a pinch of salt, because I don't think I look gigantic and I know I have a good level of health and fitness, I'm just wondering what your feelings and experiences are with weight and TTC?

I'm only on cycle 2 of TTC #1, but as is the case when you're in a 2WW, the mind wonders and you start thinking down a path of 'maybe I won't conceive cause I'm a gigantor!'

Look forward to hearing from you x

OP posts:
LookingAtTheStars89 · 08/01/2018 16:31

@HeresMeh. I think your weight is mainly only a problem if it's causing other health problems (diabetes/high bp) or causing your body to make too much estrogen. I got pregnant with my 1st at 9st, 2nd at 15st, my 3rd at 12st (still that was apparently obese lol) and my 4th st 14st 5lbs ( I had a miscarriage but that's irrelevant).

During my pregnancies, I had a perfect bp and no gestational diabetes. The only problem I had was back ache and that was at my lightest!

Original poster
HeresMeh · 08/01/2018 16:15

Oh @Jemma2907 you sweetheart, so so sorry to hear of your experiences... such an awful thing to have to go through. But thank you for sharing, I really appreciate it.

The very best of luck to you for this pregnancy. XX

OP posts:
lookingforthecorkscrew · 08/01/2018 15:59

I also tend to go off junk food when pregnant, and have become obsessed with apples since Week 6 with this one. The image of the ravenous pregnant woman stuffing chocolate just isn’t accurate, IME. Your body will tell you what you need.

Jemma2907 · 08/01/2018 15:56

I do believe that being overweight can be a hindrance for some but in my experiance my issue with weight was to do with the strain it takes on the body during pregnancy, not necessarily an issue with falling pregnant. I'm currently on my 5th pregnancy. My first took 3 years and I miscarried at 6 weeks - I weighed 16 stone when I fell pregnant. Two months later I fell pregnant again but sadly the baby had abnormalities and I lost her at 21 weeks (not weight related). Five months later I feel pregnant and by this time I weighed 17st6lb - comfort eating through grief. By the time I had a c-section I weighed over 21 stone and was struggling to walk without him pain. Recovery was so hard at that size. Since then I've lost a lot of weight and after a year of trying I fell pregnant at 13 stone. This sadly was a missed miscarriage. Two months later I fell again and I'm currently 24 weeks. It doesn't feel to me like my weight made a difference in whether I fell pregnant or how healthy the pregnancy was. It still took me over a year to fall when I was a lot lighter. Try and lose weight for you and for how much better you will feel when you're carrying a baby. It's still early days and it seems it is often harder to fall with the first. Good luck! X

lookingforthecorkscrew · 08/01/2018 15:56

I think for me the key is to keep moving, and always take your vitamins! My three year old keeps me pretty busy!

Original poster
HeresMeh · 08/01/2018 15:53

Aww @lookingforthecorkscrew FANTASTIC news! Congratulations Smile

Thanks for posting, it's really encouraging to hear.

OP posts:
lookingforthecorkscrew · 08/01/2018 15:52

I have a higher BMI than you OP and no issues falling pregnant. I had a textbook pregnancy with DS1. Then a miscarriage. I’m 17 weeks pregnant again with DC2 and have just returned from a midwife appointment where my BP, heart rate, urine and blood tests were all normal. I’m on one baby aspirin a day to try and prevent pre eclampsia. Of course I’m aware that I am more at risk of developing complications, but I am happy to participate in more tests/screenings to ensure a healthy baby.

Original poster
HeresMeh · 08/01/2018 15:36

@affairnamechange thanks for positing, appreciate your words.

I'm currently working hard on the Scottish Slimmers diet to lose weight and be better in a more sensible way rather than crash dieting or any of that rubbish.

I'm probably in the minority where I actually don't mind my body and all it's lumps and bumps. But I'm well aware that for a healthy pregnancy and much more importantly a healthy baby, things need to change.

Really interesting reading everyone's input and hope I've not come across as someone who wants to be a fatty and have a baby because that would be easier than losing weight etc. that's certainly not the case!

OP posts:
affairnamechange · 08/01/2018 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Soulcakequack · 08/01/2018 15:30

I’m bigger and only fall pregnant when my bmi is under 31. Being over weight can have a big impact on fertility. Many women who have high bmi do fall pregnant with little issue but it for others it has an impact.

As an aside a plus size pregnancy can be pretty hard so I’d definitely recommend trying to some weight while ttc.

Original poster
HeresMeh · 08/01/2018 15:29

@moonlight1705 hey every little helps and don't forget that!

Self improvement is always going to help in some way and whether that's fertility, general well-being, mental health... it doesn't matter!

Give yourself a high-five immediately for aiming to be a healthier version of your current self.

OP posts:
moonlight1705 · 08/01/2018 15:25

Interested in replies in this - I've got a BMI of 43 and am trying to lose weight desperately before we start TTC #1

Actually I was thinking if I got down to your weight OP that I would be much better off that I am now Sad

Original poster
HeresMeh · 08/01/2018 15:23

Ugh... sorry that post above us half in bold! I'm a mumsnet dunce!

OP posts:
Original poster
HeresMeh · 08/01/2018 15:23

You know what @genever you're absolutely right. That was a stupid thing that I wrote.

If I can try explain what I meant; when you see the words 'morbidly obese' it conjures up images of Fat B*stard from Austin Powers or something, when in reality that's not the case.

So you're right I'm probably not 'fit and healthy' but I do go hill walking and I'm a mobile person. I'm trying to make changes that will have a big impact.

Thank you for popping that link through, I'll have a wee read of that now.

@Trytrytry2018 thanks for posting, sorry to hear your journey has sucked from the opposite end of the scale!

@Mooey89 great to hear your story! There's maybe still a chance for a BFP next week then!

OP posts:
danTDM · 08/01/2018 15:22

Obviously it would be much better to try and lose some more weight.
Morbidly obese is not good or healthy at all (as you know) and you need to be as fit as possible to have a baby.

Good luck Flowers

Mooey89 · 08/01/2018 15:18

I conceived DS at BMI 34 within 2 months of TTC

Trytrytry2018 · 08/01/2018 15:13

I think you’ll be fine, I’m skinny and have had loads of issues 😂 try not to worry and good luck with your journey ❤️

genever · 08/01/2018 15:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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