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Original poster

TTC while overweight

39 replies

cantwaitforxmas · 18/11/2008 14:34

I weigh about 12st10lbs and am 5ft5 so I have a few stone to lose to get to my recommended weight. Although I have never been very slim I have put most of the weight on over the last couple of years (have had a very stressful time at work which led to comfort eating). I am now eating more sensibly and trying to be more active (I am fairly fit anyway, lots of walking and have played hockey for years) and I am starting to slowly lose weight (0.5 - 1lb a week). The thing is I want to ttc early next year and I have a couple of questions

  1. Do you think I should wait to ttc until I am closer to my 'healthy' weight. I don't think so but my new GP is very disapproving and keeps going on about the many risks associated with being overweight and pregnant. I would rather lose the weight slowly by making small changes I can live with long term but that will takes months (or years!).
  1. I don't want to go back to overeating if I am pregnant but I don't think that it is a good idea to diet during pregnancy either. How do I know if I am eating a healthy diet? I eat a good range of foods with lots of fruit and veg and have cut down on the amount of rubbish I snack on but I know I eat massive portions and need to eat less. For example I think I am eating healthily now and don't go hungry and I am losing a little weight. If I eat like this in early pregnancy and lose weight (not deliberately but just because I have cut out the rubbish) am I risking the baby not getting enough nutrients?

Any advice would be really welcome. I don't want to put off ttc but my GP has made me feel as though I am being really irresponsible and would be putting my baby at risk.

Thanks

PS I am going to change GP regardless. Whether he is right or not his attitude was awful. I hate moving towns and having to change doctors!

OP posts:
Deeja · 18/11/2008 16:54

Yes i have a BMI of about 29 and talked to my doctor about maybe losing weight before TTC and she just looked at me and said it wouldn't be a problem. Sounds like your doctor is not the right one for you.

I also exercise often and I think am pretty healthy - naturally carry more muscle than some (but also like eating and drinking and socialising!). I just think you should go for it.

I'm just worried about putting on a lot of weight while preggers. How does one keep that in check and keep healthy for yourself and baby?

gingercoo · 18/11/2008 16:46

Thanks guys & sorry for the hijack cantwait! It's just all really useful info - love mumsnet!

yellowflowers · 18/11/2008 16:40

Though just to add more, I think the thing is sometimes the causes of overweightedness (real word?) can also be the causes of some miscarriages - so if overweight from thyroid that can be a problem, or from pcos which can have some effect etc.

NoNickname · 18/11/2008 16:38

gingercoo - I can't find it now, but I have definitely read some research that showed that being overweight was in no way a factor that influenced pregnancy outcomes as far as miscarriage was concerned.

(Am also very overweight and have had 2 recent miscarriages, so took notice of the info at the time).

Original poster
cantwaitforxmas · 18/11/2008 16:33

Thanks for all the responses so far.

gingercoo I am so sorry about your miscarriage but there really is no reason to think your weight had anything to do with it. Good luck with the weight loss, let me know how you get on.

OP posts:
gingercoo · 18/11/2008 16:32

Thank you yellowflowers... xx It's a concern though, and I know it - I guess because I don't drink, smoke, do anything daft other than eat shitloads I guess it's easy for others to question whether the excess 12 stones I'm carrying could actually be a factor?
But my point to the OP is don't let your GP or other medical professionals make you feel like a 'naughty schoolkid' or feel bad for being curvaceous, or let opinions like that stop you from going for your dreams. Life is just way too short for that kind of negativity...xxx

yellowflowers · 18/11/2008 16:25

Hi gingercoo - not obviously to do with your weight. I mean miscarriages happen to slim perfect weight women too. Sorry for your loss though.

gingercoo · 18/11/2008 16:22

Hi there - may I just add my 2p worth? My BMI is 50+ so waaaaay at the wrong end of the scale. My GP said to me that the hardest part was atualy getting pregnant - but we achieved that no problem. Unfortunately we did miscarry - but she put it down to my age (35+), my stressful job and 'one of those things'. Obviously I know that my weight must have been a factor somewhere (and I am taking steps to sort it)- but my GP was great - never once told me not to go for it, and I was never made to feel ashamed or embarrassed (I did enough of that for me.) You sound like you are doing everything sensibly - so TTC away! Good luck.

Original poster
cantwaitforxmas · 18/11/2008 14:51

Thanks Schneebly and yellowflowers, my instinct says that I am probably healthier than someone who weighs less but is very inactive and I should go for it but GP just managed to worry me and make me feel as though I was being stupid. Felt like I was back at school being told off by headmaster!

OP posts:
rookiemater · 18/11/2008 14:50

Your GP sounds a bit overanxious. You are not dramatically overweight, I'm roughly the same height as you and think at about 11st you would be at the top range of BMI.

I wouldn't put off TTC but I would certainly do what you are doing which is start some exercise and start losing weight in a healthy non obsessive way. I'm sure also that I read somewhere that being in the top range of BMI weight wise means that you are more likely to get pregnant whereas if you are thinner then may struggle.

Original poster
cantwaitforxmas · 18/11/2008 14:47

Thanks CK - I think my BMI is 29.5 so too high but def not as high as 35.

OP posts:
yellowflowers · 18/11/2008 14:46

I'm bigger than you but the advice I have been given more than once is that age a bigger factor than weight in both safety and fertility so start ttc now while losing weight as still better to get pregnant earlier while overweight as later when thinner.

Also I had acupuncture recently and the acupuncturist said that for some women being overweight affects fertility because it prevents or limits ovulation but if that has not happened then you should be fine to get pregnant and to stay pregnant and that in the US for example they never refuse fertility treatment for weight unlike in UK.

Good luck. Would be interested to hear from other people in same situation.

schneebly · 18/11/2008 14:45

You are not ridiculously overweight and it sounds like you have a sensible attitude to your food intake - just continue to look after yourself and if you want to ttc go for it. Good luck.

CaptainKarvol · 18/11/2008 14:39

I can't answer most of your questions, but I can say that I've (recently) been told by an obstetrician with an interest in the health of overweight mothers that the risks are only really raised once you get to a BMI of 35+ - so calculate your BMI and see what it is. Above that he sees more problems in pregnancies and deliverys. Which is not to say you would have problems, of course.

And pregnancy totally mucks up appetite, the ability to eat sensibly and any kind of understanding of what your weight should be doing for lots of women, so better to get to where you want to be before getting pg, as change in pregnancy is really wierd and hard to understand. In my personal experience. And having just eaten a cream donut that I didn't want, but apparently my unborn baby was craving...

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