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Original poster

5 Weeks BMI 47 and my doctors are not helpful

23 replies

missbex14 · 22/06/2021 11:15

Hi all, I'm currently 5 weeks pregnant and I believe my BMI is 47... So yes I'm worried. Got InTouch with my Drs to inform them and find out what I do next to just recieve a message to say book in with midwife!! No appointment with them nothing!!
I then got back InTouch and asked to see a Dr but due to covid they rang me... Didn't want to see me! I had to ask about folic acid being 5 mg and they told me I don't need vitamin d?..
It's been a few days and the more I read I feel I should probably have been seen or at least be in vitamin d!? So once again I contact the surgery to be told spk to a midwife! I'm just not getting anywhere which is making me more stressed 😢

OP posts:

popcorndiva · 22/06/2021 11:16

You will definitely need higher strength folic acid.

Original poster

missbex14 · 22/06/2021 11:19

I'm on 5mg but I asked them about it, if I hadn't of done some research I wouldn't of known.

OP posts:

Greytminds · 22/06/2021 11:20

You won’t get treated any differently until much later on in the maternity pathway. The process is the same at the start no matter your risk. You’ll be booked in by the midwife around 8-9 weeks, they will look at your risk factors and then decide whether or not you will be consultant led, which I think is likely given the high BMI.

Then you’ll have a 12 week scan, and then a 20 week scan plus midwife appointments. Possibly scans later on (post 28 weeks) depending on 20 week scan discussions.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1st trimester Families General pregnancy

Greytminds · 22/06/2021 11:21

I’d also get used to a degree of self management of your maternity care - with Covid and fewer appointments it’s important to be on top of what you need - whether that be folic acid, aspirin, vaccinations etc and educate yourself.

Fitforforty · 22/06/2021 11:22

You need to request higher strength folic acid. I didn’t have an issue getting from the GP a when I was trying to conceive. For everything else you need to follow the standard advice on the NHS website and try to follow a healthy diet.

MrsOwly · 22/06/2021 11:23

This is very normal, the GP won't really be involved.

You'll probably first hear from midwife around 10 weeks to arrange booking in and scan. The GP wouldn't see you.

Until then you can google re folic acid.

TheDaydreamBelievers · 22/06/2021 11:27

Midwives always say yes to vitamin D and yes folic. Even for people with no risk factors, I agree waiting until the 9/10 week midwife appt to give this info is really stupid!

secondspringing · 22/06/2021 11:34

Midwives know more about pregnancy than doctors - its their specialism.

secondspringing · 22/06/2021 11:34

Than GPs that should have said.

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/06/2021 11:34

Most people never see the GP, it’s a standard process to self refer to the midwife service and request a booking appointment through that, it’ll take place between around 7 and 10 weeks and after that they’ll book your dating scan around 12 weeks.

The NHS pregnancy info online is very comprehensive and covers most issues and as you’ve already found, you can find what you need to know on there by yourself.

There’s never been more detailed information online than now, forums, websites etc. It’s your responsibility to find a lot of it as maternity care can be pretty basic.

Arm yourself with the knowledge you need and best of luck with your pregnancy. It’s safe to lost weight oh a healthy way if you’re overweight at conception, or at least not to put on any weight.

Original poster

missbex14 · 22/06/2021 11:44

Do I need higher than the 5 mg which is what I'm in now?

OP posts:

NeedNewKnees · 22/06/2021 11:47

Your GP really won't get involved. It's a pregnancy, not a medical condition. They expect your body to do its thing until it's time to see a midwife. Eat well, take your supplements and try not to worry.

Original poster

missbex14 · 22/06/2021 11:50

Thankyou x

OP posts:

Mammyofasuperbaby · 22/06/2021 11:52

No, 5mg is the highest dose that would be prescribed so you don't need more and the advice you've been given by the drs surgery is pretty standard now. The GPS don't get involved with pregnancy for the most part

UniformMike · 22/06/2021 13:25

Maybe read up on aspirin and decide whether you'd like to take it? I think a lot of pregnancy care is self driven to a certain extent. They should have given you the higher dose folic acid as standard though.

MikeWozniaksGloriousTache · 22/06/2021 13:49

My BMI is similar. I wasn’t prescribed stronger folic acid just told to double drop standard folic acid and vitamin d too. I take aspirin but was told to take this by mw at the booking in so maybe wait until she has spoken to you for that.

As PPs have said get used to a hands off approach, this is my first baby and while I’ve had a few extra appointments lately I don’t feel like I’ve had much care at all. Mw appointments are very basic they basically dip wee, check blood pressure and send me on my way. No bump measurements have been taken, heartbeat has been listened to twice, it feels very odd. I don’t even know who I were to call if something goes wrong as they only work 1 day a week and I’ve not been told anything. I hope your nhs trust is better than mine lol.

Liverbird77 · 22/06/2021 13:51

Yes, they will probably suggest higher does of folic acid and an aspirin a day.
You should take vitamin D.

You'll be offered a GTT test.
They'll probably say you will have to give birth on the delivery suite, rather than midwife- led unit.
You'll probably be consultant-led.
Neither of these things is bad!

After birth you'll probably have to give yourself a daily blood thinning injection. You get used to it and it is absolutely fine.

Best of luck with your pregnancy.

Original poster

missbex14 · 22/06/2021 14:24

Fingers crossed then. So far I feel like I'm in my own but as many of you have said this maybe the case....
Very strange and definitely a lot different from my last pregnancy and I was alot slimmer but this was 16 years ago so times have definitely changed 😬

OP posts:

JustGiveMeGin · 22/06/2021 15:42

In the kindest possible way, you are on your own! You rang the GP twice and was told both times to contact the midwife....have you contacted the midwife? Is it just your BMI that makes you want to speak to a GP? Midwives have alot of expertise in pregnancy and childbirth so they really are your best option.

Original poster

missbex14 · 22/06/2021 17:16

I haven't officially got a midwife yet as so early but yes I rang this morning and was told a midwife would call me back.
It is the BMI yes just want to make sure I'm taking the right and enough of the vitamins 🙂

OP posts:

JustGiveMeGin · 22/06/2021 18:01

Try and calm down, as long as you are eating healthily your baby will get all of the nutrients it needs. Just take the Folic acid and a pregnancy multi vitamin until you see your midwife.

Original poster

missbex14 · 22/06/2021 18:40

Thankyou... U have all calmed me down alot today...
Amazing people and advice 🙂

OP posts:

KingdomScrolls · 22/06/2021 18:47

If it helps I didn't know I was pregnant until I was ten weeks, so definitely not taking the right vitamin doses before then, he's a fit healthy two year old now

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