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AIBU?

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Original poster

If you've been pregnant twice..

36 replies

thechunkypixie · 15/10/2014 10:41

And we're say a healthy weight when pregnant 1st time, but over weight (4ft heavier) the second time, can I ask how it affected your experience. Where you treated better 2nd time around by medical staff/midwives? Was your birth different?

OP posts:
MrsBungle · 15/10/2014 10:44

I was a lot heavier the second time. Not sure by how much but a good few stone. I was treated well through both pregnancies (I had the same midwife and consultant for both).

First birth (at the lower weight) was crap.
Second birth at the much higher weight was brilliant and much easier than the first.

skylark2 · 15/10/2014 10:46

Do you mean 4st heavier?

I was a couple of stone heavier the second time than the first (never really lost the weight from the first). I didn't notice being treated any differently.

But I wasn't in a significant risk group due to my weight either time. If you're now so much heavier that your pregnancy this time is high risk, yes you'll be treated differently.

Overweight but not obese? I can't see that making a difference. That's where I was.

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 15/10/2014 10:46

Op are you really 4 foot heavier? Grin

MommyBird · 15/10/2014 10:46

I was abit heavier 2nd time round because i didn't have morning sickness and i wanted to eat everything in sight.

The birth was alot easier and quicker.

Littledidsheknow · 15/10/2014 10:47

Had my first as slim 23 year old; my fifth as a chubby 40 year old. The others in various stages in between of very slim to average.
I had no difference in my treatment due to my weight at any point. It was never mentioned.

Original poster
thechunkypixie · 15/10/2014 10:49

Haha, 4 foot. No 4st! I'm the weight I was at full term with pg no1 .. For lots and lots of reasons, but ofc I wish I'd lost it. I told a friend and they said I should be prepared for the difference compared to first time. :(

OP posts:
BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 15/10/2014 10:55

I was officially 'obese' at the start of pregnancy number two, having been only overweight with number one. BMI was 32 though, so below the nhs threshold for concern of 35. Both my pregnancies were awful, due to undiagnosed other issues that have since been diagnosed, but second no worse than first (apart from being run ragged by a toddler!) second labour was quicker and much easier, even with induction at +16 :)

Thebodyloveschocolateandwine · 15/10/2014 10:56

Your friend sounds mean!

Anyway so what if they do. It won't be in a judgy way just giving you what care you need for this pregnancy.

It's so bloody hard shifting post pregnancy weight. Thanks

ithoughtofitfirst · 15/10/2014 10:57

It would make me really angry to think they would treat you differently (in either direction) because of your weight Op. Really hope you have a lovely pregnancy Flowers

Mammanat222 · 15/10/2014 10:57

LOL @ 4ft heavier.

I was 8st size 8-10 first time round and this time almost 11st and 14-16.

So far no difference (although I have not seen MW since I was almost 16w and I am now 26w, not got an appointment until early November)

My BMI at booking in appointment had me at just under 30, so I am OK to use Birthing centre / pool etc. BMI of 30 is the 'cut off point'

I generally feel it all a lot more this time though - but I do have a toddler and I work FT so it's not down to my weight!!! It's down to my life.

SeattleGraceMercyDeath · 15/10/2014 10:57

Recent research says that multiparous women with a raised BMI do better than their primiparous counterparts. That's complete paraphrasing but I'll try and find the research.

SeattleGraceMercyDeath · 15/10/2014 11:00

I think this is what I was talking about.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24034832/

Original poster
thechunkypixie · 15/10/2014 11:10

Ohh shit. My bmi is 35.8 ... I wonder if the morning sickness will kick in and I can lose a few lbs before booking in

I was size 10 first time. Beautiful pregnancy and birth. . I'm a size 16/18 now. Vvvv early days really but it's played on my mind a bit. Thank you all

OP posts:
Getyourflipflopson · 15/10/2014 11:21

I have a bmi over 30. Currently 34 +4 and I have a 13 month old. You will probably be under a consultant, and have an extra growth scan at about 32-34 weeks to check the planceta is still functioning well. You will probably be told that you can't labour in water until the end ( in case they can't lift you out!) and will keep reminding you to keep an eye out for pre eclampsia symptoms, ( odema, blurred vision, upper abdominal pain, headaches) in the third trimester. Saying all that, both my pregnancies have been fine, and my first delivery went fairly smoothly.

SeattleGraceMercyDeath · 15/10/2014 11:21

^my research (not mine obvs) says that actually women with raised BMI's who have had babies before do better than women of a normal BMI who haven't given birth before. So although having a healthy BMI is obviously best in terms of, well, being healthy, in terms of your labour outcome don't panic. Good luck.

Getyourflipflopson · 15/10/2014 11:22

Bmi over 35 that should have said!

poolomoomon · 15/10/2014 11:39

This exact thing happened to me. Normal weight BMI 23 with first pregnancy but piled on weight mainly in the last trimester. Gained four stone.

Pregnant again when he was six months old, had only lost a stone of the excess weight. BMI was now 30 so obese. Midwife didn't treat me any differently but the sonographer made me feel like shite, I actually cried afterwards. He kept making it absolutely clear that he couldn't see the baby properly because of my fat. He didn't word it like that obviously but that's what he was getting at. He said "Oh yes the BMI is high so that's why I can't get a clear enough view" and said something along those lines a few times. I call bullshit on it because I was three stone overweight not ten stone+ and I don't really carry my weight in the middle either so he was just crap at his job Grin.

I did retain placenta the second time and lost 4 pints of blood so needed a transfusion. Apparently being overweight does increase the risk of this happening so worth mentioning... The first labour wasn't without it's hitches though! Back to back labour, Shoulder dystocia, needed emergency forceps. I just don't do labour very well though, third labour was back to back and lost a fair amount of blood again... Pregnancies all went completely smoothly though.

It's not worth worrying about right now. There isn't very much you can do. Don't start any crazy diet or exercise regime but do try your best to keep active- walking is fine and eat healthily. It'll help the labouring process and the baby if nothing else Smile. You'll be fine, I promise.

WorraLiberty · 15/10/2014 11:39

Obesity in pregnancy is quite similar to smoking in pregnancy, in terms of so many different studies contradicting one another.

The truth is they don't know how it might affect each individual mother and baby.

But having said that, something like 60% of UK women of child bearing age are overweight or obese, so I'm sure they're very experienced in this sort of thing OP.

Congratulations and try not to worry OP Thanks

Mintyy · 15/10/2014 11:41

So what are you being unreasonable about?

poolomoomon · 15/10/2014 11:42

Oh and it was completely midwife led, didn't need a consultant at all. I had one consultant appointment close to the end only because of the previous shoulder dystocia, they wanted to assess the risk of it happening again and whether an elective section would be worth it but they said there was no reason I couldn't deliver normally so I did and it didn't happen again Smile.

BeyondPreparedForHell · 15/10/2014 11:45

Didnt realise you were already pregnant, thought it was theoretical, hence my lack of congratulations.

Congratulations!! Grin Flowers

lynniep · 15/10/2014 11:48

its made absolutely no difference to how I was treated.

The births were completely different, however it was not related to my size.

DS1 was undiagnosed breech so it ended up assisted birth and ultra-horrible experience.
DS2 had no complications other than I'd been given blood thinner for suspected clot about 6 hours earlier and told to try and not go into labour. I did of course. It was fine. I didn't bleed horribly like they warned me I might.
DS2 was a considerably bigger baby (10lb3 whereas DS1 was 8lb2 - both were term) He had a massive head
Both were quick (DS1 less than four hours from first pain - DS2 less than 3)
I was fit and slimmish the first time round.
I was anything but on the second.

WorraLiberty · 15/10/2014 11:55

The births were completely different, however it was not related to my size

But aren't overweight/obese women more prone to having bigger babies and also blood clots?

harihippo · 15/10/2014 11:57

I was same weight at the beginning of my second as I was full tent with first. I did lose a stone in first 16 weeks with morning sickness and only put on 16 pounds in second pregnancy so only gained 2lb the whole of second pregnancy if that makes sense.

At my first midwife app I was expecting a lecture about my weight but no one said anything at all about it throughout pregnancy.
I had a big baby 9lbs 11oz and I did need a forcep del. But don't know if that was too do with my weight or not. First baby nearly 8lb and 3 weeks early so I do have big babies. Whatever my weight.

MrsHathaway · 15/10/2014 12:02

I was heavier each time (never lost pgy weight from unsuccessful pgies before conceiving again) but didn't tip into the "extra care" 30+ BMI category so as far as I can tell nobody treated me any differently.

Don't try to lose weight, just be sensible and eat well and exercise well. Fitness helps with pregnancy and delivery so is well worth it regardless of what it does to the scales.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

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