..but who would want to be weighed when you're pregnant to make sure you're not getting too fat!!

[Chocolate50]

The Government are considering weighing pregnant women throughout their pregnancy.. who thinks this is a good idea?
I don't btw, I think there is enough tests and stress during pregnancy without putting in this austere measure, should they not be just trying to emphasise healthy living and diet and just leaving it up to women and families to make their own choices? how patronising..

I was weighed at my booking appointment and again at my 25-week. I didn't realise most women weren't weighed in pregnancy!

When I was last pregnant (16 years ago) it was routine to be weighed at certain points in a pregnancy. I hated it and I was teeny tiny so I can't imagine how someone who is a little larger than average would feel! I'm not for it.

I think it's the French only allow you to put on 9kg when pregnant. I don't know what they do if you go over it ...

I was weighed at booking in and specifically told that they won’t weigh me again.
I have gestational diabetes which is diet controlled and they still haven’t weighed me again.

I do weigh myself though, since diagnosis, but for a low risk pregnancy I don’t think there is any need.

Who has decided this is a good idea? Another way to control women I say.

I was weighed a few times I think, I didn't realise it wasn't a standard thing already

This is the problem. It's all very well saying women should get good advice and be weighed etc, but that assumes that pregnant women just suddenly forget how to eat healthily. I honestly think very very few women suddenly go from being super healthy and appropriately slim to ginormously fat. And those women who DO gain excessive amount of weight are almost always doing so for reasons out of their control. Every pregnant woman I know who has gained extra weight is usually one who always has to watch her weight and normally does but finds it impossible while feeling ill etc and so suddenly sees the weight piling on.

So how on earth is extra advice and weigh is going to help these women!? The idea that women use pregnancy as an excuse to just eat and eat and eat thinking is okay is ridiculous and patronising.

Why wouldn't you want to know your weight change? I honestly don't understand.

I think it's a good idea because it's in the interests of the baby as well as the mother.

Some women gain massive amounts of weight during pregnancy and that can cause serious problems for both them and the baby.

i have a 2 year old and I was weighed at every single appt, I’m in Ireland. Every hospital appt and every gp appt they weigh and check blood pressure here.

Is it patronising to get your blood pressure checked? A significant percentage of women gain a lot more than recommended during pregnancy, and tend to have trouble losing it afterwards, putting them at higher risk of obesity related illnesses. With my most recent pregnancy I was quite unwell and started gaining really fast- I am not especially judgy about this, but do know how it can happen and think it's not bad to track it

I was weighed at appointments, but it was a few years ago. Did they stop doing that in recent years?

Well it’s not great to put on a 100 stone in pregnancy so why as a mother wouldn't you want to know what you weigh?

Seems sensible to me to weigh yourself, I’ve had 3 dc and always weighed my self every now and then

I wish I had been weighed rather than just at my booking appointment. I used to exercise pre pregnancy and due to spd I couldn't. I put on more weight than i would say was healthy as I also ate to much. If I had been weighed it may have helped me understand how quick it goes on and to do something about it with help from my midwife. I also feel very guilty that I put the health of my child at risk by putting on more than a healthy amount.

With my 1st Dd 38yrs ago in Edinburgh, I was weighed at each ante-natal visit. It was frowned on by your team to put on more than 2 stone. Family & close friends were also a factor in keeping you in check if you ate too much. Much societal & peer pressure as far as we were concerned then.

I'd forgotten all about this till today.

I had two pregnancies in Belgium where you have monthly check ups and are weighed at each one. Not a big deal at all.

This is a new 'rule' that the government / NHS are considering bringing in - they are wanting to regularly weigh women during pregnancy - I just think its 'policing' and adding more stress to an already stressful time, when exactly...if you want to know you would do it yourself surely? I remember in during my 3 pregnancies feeling less of a person each time, they seemed to change the rules each time and I honestly feel its dehumanising and kind of disrespectful

I think we have a bit of an immature (is that the right word?) attitude to this in this country (and probably loads of others) yet when people try to suggest pregnancy diets it’s as though you’ve suggested becoming anorexic for 9 months

Last time I followed the gentle birth method which is wheat and (refined) sugar free, and gluten free in the final months. I had loads of concerned looks even though no one needs sugar or wheat in their diet so it was in no way dangerous. It was a bit disappointing.

I weighed myself, I asked my midwife if I could use her scales once and she said “you shouldn’t, scales were invented by men to surpress women” as much as I loved the answer (and subsequently her- who wouldn’t want that midwife on their side?) it was just another example of the complete lack of concern over weight gain (I’m sure it would’ve been different if I’d become very very fat though?)

I didn’t put on any weight when pregnant, I actually lost some, but they don’t comment anyway unless you’re putting on way too much

I mean if you are putting on 'weight' you know about it don't you? why not just ask women to keep and eye on diet and exercise during pregnancy themselves, push this as a positive thing if there is some concern about women overeating and getting to be 100 stone or something, during pregnancy as opposed to any other time(!)

I put on 3 stone despite eating healthily. Lost it all and half a stone more in 1 month. It was water I think.

when exactly...if you want to know you would do it yourself surely?

Probably not. Often the women who really do need to think about how much weight they're gaining, will be the ones who need a bit of encouragement.

I remember in during my 3 pregnancies feeling less of a person each time, they seemed to change the rules each time and I honestly feel its dehumanising and kind of disrespectful

Is the baby not important here too though? Considering the possible risk to their life?

I think there are lots of midwives who have raised concern about this weighing in though so... interesting to read people's different experiences of pregnancy & weight

I think this is a great idea as personally when I was pregnant with DS , had someone of weighed me after my initial book in , they'd of realised I had gestational diabetes and a thyroid issue - I ballooned just after the 7 month mark ( put on 6 stone) and was told off by the consultant for not pushing harder when this happened .
He said had someone of ' bothered ' to weigh me , they'd of realised much earlier as the weight gain was 3 x the amount the average person puts on and in a short amount of time. I had kept a diary of all things I had eaten for months and have always eaten balanced and well so it wasn't diet related .
Had I of had the GD diagnosed earlier ( 37 weeks when I did ) , they would of been able to access DS better as he was 10lbs and had some issues getting out resulting in him spending time in neo natal , not solely blaming the lack of weigh in , but this definitely contributed so I think it is a positive thing x

I wouldn’t mind. I used to do 5:2 before I was pregnant and I have found it hard to judge how much I should be eating now I’m not doing fasting days.

If I was eating excessively and piling on more weight than was advisable I’d rather know so I could slow it down a bit and not have loads to lose afterwards. Yes, you can weigh yourself at home but it can be hard to judge what’s ok so I can see a role for advice and support from midwives to help with healthy eating.

I think they should bring it back in but maybe make it optional so that those who aren’t comfortable with the idea can opt out.

I thought weighing women in pg was standard though DS is 12 so realise times change.

Rapid weight gain is an indicator of Pre-Eclampsia so to me it's a good thing form that point of view