Obese. AIBU to continue to lose weight while pregnant?

[Brown888]

Found out I'm pregnant last week.
While this is happy news I'm currently obese and am worried about the risks of this in pregnancy. I have been slowly losing weight over the past few months via eating smaller portions and eating only when I'm actually hungry. No fad diets. No exclusions (except reducing takeaways).
I've had GDM in one of my previous pregnancies.
Since finding out I'm pregnant I've switched to healthier foods like lean meats and grilled veggies and I'm worried that I'll be losing more weight with these changes. Currently dropping around 1-2 pounds a week. Am otherwise healthy.
AIBU to continue this despite being pregnant and lose weight? Or should I add extra calories to my diet keep my weight static?
Any midwives or dieticians who could help?
Thanks

Sounds like you're doing it gradually and safely and you're eating nutritious foods. I would definitely continue for now at least, well done!

Do you have a midwife you can ask?

Definitely continue what you’re doing though by changing your eating habits for the better and do not be sucked in to the nonsense that you’re “eating for 2”

how obese?

Keep going as you are. Nutritious, healthy food will be good for baby.

It is safe to lose weight in pregnancy provided you are starting from a position of being overweight in the first place and doing so in a healthy way, i.e. no crash diets or fads or living off shakes or cutting out any major food groups.

Continue to eat healthily and in moderation and you'll be fine, but if you're concerned then speak to your midwife.

I lost 1 1/2 stone during my pregnancy, mostly due to awful nausea and later on indigestion. Actually ended up lighter after DD was born than I when I conceived.

It's usually fine to continue to lose a bit of weight, but keep it sensible and make sure you're taking a good pregnancy vitamin.

You really should be asking a medical professional about this.

Mumsnet is full of people who are obsessed with weight. Some find overeating hilarious (check the Xmas food threads), some find under eating virtuous and some have planned pregnancies whilst obese and see nothing wrong in that at all.

I can see you being even more confused by the end of the thread.

The baby will take what it needs anyway. As long as your not crash dieting or doing a fad diet what harm can it do? but do tell the midwife what your doing.

They'll probably be happy your eating healthy and losing excess weight because it will lower the risk of your pg.

Congratulations! I'm following this for answers as well.

I'd probably speak to your midwife, but it sounds like you're doing it in a healthy way.

YABU to take medical advice while pregnant from randoms on the internet.

I am obese and lost weight in both my pregnancies because I ate healthily and not all the crap I normally did. I mentioned it to my midwife and it was no problem at all.

I lost 3 stone when pregnant and another 1 witching 14 days after baby was born (water weight!). Midwife was happy with this and was very much encouraging BUT did give me a list of vitamins to ensure I was taking and had a very in depth convo about doing it slowly and carefully. I had to up my calorie intake as I got nearer the end but I followed her guidelines.

As long as you are eating a healthy balanced diet and naturally losing weight as a result, I think that sounds healthy and good. That way you and baby are getting the benefit of a healthy diet. Intentionally vereating in order to stay obese would not make sense.

I was borderline obese when I got pregnant. I started eating more healthily and also cut out booze as you might imagine. I didn't lose much weight during the pregnany as the baby and placenta were growing, so by month 9 I pretty much weighed the same as when I started.

But when I had my baby the weight of my DD and also the placenta came off and I was actually a couple of stones lighter.

If you want advice though I would discuss with your midwife.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I think if you’re a healthy weight the aim is 2st weight gain in pregnancy? Sure I read that somewhere.

so I’d calculate a normal weight for height, add 2 stone, and as long as you lose slowly and don’t go below that it should be fine.

check with m/w though :)

If you had GD previously you may well have it again. I'd be eating as you are but also trying to eat low GI foods in the meantime before the test just in case (I'm fat and was during pregnancy FYI). No doubt your midwife will advise too.

Sounds as though you are aware of what a healthy diet should be for you, and consequently it will be a healthy diet for the baby. Keep doing what you are doing, maintain gentle exercise like walking to keep your joints mobile and you are maximising what you can to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Everything that goes in your mouth for the next 9 months must be healthy. Your body and your baby will thank you for it. Well done for your effort up to now and good luck!

🤫

don’t be daft. The odd kit Kat, packet of wotsits or scoop of ice cream no big deal whatsoever

I am obese and just had an unplanned baby. I lost weight in the first trimester and then only put on about 5kg by the time he was born. I was being careful because I was worried about not being able to give birth without being consultant led but I also just 'craved' much healthier/ fresher foods.
I was also walking loads.

A word of warning though, I have now put on loads of weight due to a combination of unavoidable post-partum factors which is annoying but am back to exercising to try to lose it again!

Have a look at this OP and maybe discuss with your midwife? 111.wales.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Pregnancy/ExistingHealthproblemsOverweight/

Thanks all for the advice and making me feel like I'm doing the right thing!
I am still waiting for my first midwife appointment and will be discussing this with her. I just wanted to see if there was any advice just to reassure me and stop me reaching for the choccie bics for the calorie worries

I was obese when I was pregnant and because I ate pretty healthier when pregnant I weighed less after I gave birth. I craved berries and iced water which probably helped!

I think I remember reading in a pregnancy book to make all my calories count so I tried to do that and eat healthy nutritious food. Mind you DS is now 21 so it was a while ago!

This is really a question for a GP, midwife or dietician tbh OP. I'm sure there's ways of reducing weight but you may need some tailored advice regarding specific nutrients you need to include in greater than usual quantities.

Good luck with your pregnancy

OP, continue as you are. You are doing great and your efforts to be healthy will be encouraged by your midwife. I had GD in my second pregnancy and with the diet changes I made to try to combat it I lost weight. Whilst no one was pushing me to lose weight, the fact that I was eating healthily was very much encouraged by everyone (I had midwife as well as consultant led care). I was reassured by everyone that I was doing the right thing. Plenty of green veg, take your supplements, eat oily fish, legumes and protein. Drink water.

I found it lovely to be able to focus on eating healthily without obsessing over the scales (as I was pregnant). It changed my relationship with food for the better.

You are doing great.

Well Op you should stop teaching for the choccie biccies if you are obese.

Yes to the occasional treat, but carry on with the healthy eating.

also important when you start feeding your child solid food

I felt the same @Lndnmummy . Having GD during my first pregnancy did change my relationship with food and with my body actually. Because it was genuinely about health and cherishing my body for the sake of the baby and not outside opinion or appearance. It's a shame I couldn't cherish my body for its own sake but I'm guessing that's because people feel they can tell fat people what they should do or not whenever they feel like it.