Fat and fertile-were not 2nd class citizens. A support thread

[fishandlilacs]

I want to start a support thread for pregnant women with a high BMI. My BMI is currently 38. Last pregnancy it was 36, in between times my BMI went up to 41 but then I started a weight loss programme and lost over 2 stone-I was heading for more when I found myself here, pregnant, happy about it and feeling quite well thank you.

It wasn't my intention to be this fat and pregnant but cest la vie. This thread is not about arguing about it and I have no wish to hear from anyone who feels they may flame for being in this position.

My consultant has made me feel like a 2nd class citizen, I was told I was "bound to develop gestattional diabetes" last pregnancy and I didn't. This time the same old story.

If youre in the same position and want to chat about it or rant and rave then please join here.

Hi, new to this (pregnancy and Mumsnet!) I'm 12 weeks pregnant today and have my dating scan tomorrow followed by an appointment with the consultant as my BMI is 41. I'm generally quite healthy and had lost 1 stone 9 prior to conceiving and am still attending slimming world (have gained 8 pounds through constant nibbling to stop nausea and because i stopped smoking!) I want to lose this amount and at least another half a stone. I am really worried that they will struggle with the scan and i'm worried about what the consultant will say to me....i've never liked doctors at the best of times and stupidly watched a programme on overweight mums last night so have barely slept for worrying! Threads like this are really helpful so thanks for starting it and fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Hi katypii, and welcome.

Don't worry too much about the scan - the sonographer was quite quiet when I went for my first scan (which ended up being an early 10 weeks) I made a joke about my fat belly, and she smiled and said that actually super fit skinnies with rock hard stomach muscles cause them more problems!!

Good luck with all you appointments.

Thanks kitty5824 I will report back after scan and consultant.

Hi idrilis well done for standing your ground! After 2 sleepless nights my scan went really well, I said I'd been worried about my fat belly n the sonographer relied "i'd be more worried about ur full bladder!" Completely put me at ease making it the happy exciting experience I wanted it to be! Then I had to see consultant so back in worrying mode.....she was lovely...not patronizing or mean, just encouraging about continuing with slimming world and trying to do some swimming and walking. Couldn't believe how nice everyone was! Don't need to see her again unless any problems. Extra scans booked in for 28 and 36 weeks and gtt booked for 26 weeks. Can now, at last, feel excited about our little one. I am in Leeds by the way and was seen at lgi. Good luck to everyone worrying about their weight, hope u get to see people like I saw.

Hello ladies! Oh How I wish this thread was around this time last year when I found out about DS being on his way. My original MW treated me like a leper and insisted I go to a metabolic clinic, all sorts of complications lay my way, I may as well take to my bed then and not emerge untim the baby was born!

However, I changed MW because she was just a total bitch and went to the metabolic clinic. At the clinic I was asked to take part in a Tommys research project on the effects of high BMIs in pregnancy. So i did. I became quite friendly with the doctor and found out that the medical profession know there are risks to some pregnant women with high BMI, they just don;t know which ones. I was one of the lucky ones, I didn;t have many problems, SPD, but that wasn;t related to my BMI. No GD, no High BP, everything was always "normal". In fact DS was so comfortable he wa born 14 days late after induction failed, by CS. He'd still be there if we left him to it!

So I hope my research sessions may go a little way to saving some others having to be treated they way I was originally. DS is now 16 weeks, bright health and adorable. And there are plenty of skinny minnies out there who have GD, high BP, pre-eclampsia, and it always seems to come as a shock to the HCPs.

Congratulations and Good luck with all your pregnancies. :o

Great news idrillis, bet you are thrilled, although i'm sure you are doing everything right anyway!
Hi GlaikitFizzig - thanks for your message, i think it must be like everything else in life, regardless of size you are either generally healthy or not and the same risks exist for all. I've always been overwight, although perpetually dieting, but i can honestly say i am rarely ill and visit the docs about once every 3 years so it gets annoying if you are made to feel like a lazy blob who takes up all the NHS budget! Mini rant over!
Fishandlilacs - hope you are ok. I can't really offer any advice on VBACs as this is my first pregnancy but i hope you are getting lots of support.

I was at the hospital for a growth scan today and confirmation I would be having a c-section, tho date won't be set for another month. Anyway, the midwife said women who were large before pregnancy (my bmi is low 40's) were actually less of a concern for them than women who gained a lot of weight during pregnancy because of the massive change it is for their bodies. It was nice to know given the crap that's out there.

Apart from a few annoying but not overtly horrible comments early on my experience has been very nice and, in the words of the midwife, I had perfect results on the GTT and have had perfect blood pressure.

Thats nice to know, continuum :)

Floating back through to say hello and welcome.

I'm having my '20' week scan tomorrow. I'm just shy of 22 weeks. I'm a bit fed up at the minute.

Onwards?

Hi littlemissflustered, how did your scan go? Hope all ok and you're feeling less fed up x
I blame the hormones for everything, i'm 14 weeks now and still waiting to get to the blooming and full of energy stage!
Take care all.

Hello all, had my scan today it's a boy!

BUT he's massive, off the centile in all measurements. I really hope this doesn't cause problems.

hello everyone! can i please join you?

it's brilliant to see a support thread like this! i found out i was pregnant 2 days ago and have been pretty happy ever since! obviously i have got my doubts because i keep reading rubbish i shouldn't read so i will not tell friends until past 12 weeks.

that leaves me with no one for support so i'm so happy to have found this!

My diet was pretty horrid before, i have made a real effort and i'm eating as healthy as i can. or at least i think i am!

I rang my gp's reception today and let them know, they said i can either have a scan at 8 weeks or come in sooner if i have any concerns. i said i would rather see someone asap as i am overweight and suffer from PSVT ( tachycardia ) and she booked me in for wednesday.

i'm thinking ahead already. i'd like to use the birthing pool. if not for birth at least for pain relief. i heard that if you're overweight they might discourage you from doing so.. has anyone heard anything about that?

good luck to all you ladies and here's to a happy, healthy pregnancy for all of us

welcome mythical and congrats on your news-first one?

Sadly this thread doesn't move all that fast but everyone is here for hand holding. I never got to use the birth pool with dd as I was induced and theres only one in our hospital.

just checking infolks-this thread has gone mighty quiet :)

I'm assuming that the quiet is a good sign and no-one has been upset by thoughtless comments!

I have my Glucose Tolerence test tomorrow morning which I'm sure will be incredbly dull, but then looking forward to going to stay at my Mum's for a few days as one of my best friends from home is getting married on Sat.

Taking two dress options - both of which are at least a few years old. The bonus of being bigger is that all my dresses were empire line anyway to skim the old bum and tum. They still fit at 26 weeks!!

:) Thats good kitty-most of my clothes still fit me too. Except trousers, very definatley in maternity ones and have been for weeks.

I have my GTT sometime soon. I really hate lucozade.

Sorry, been rather quiet. Am reasonably active on the December thread and have had a bloody good rant on there about the leper status for the mums like up in my PCT.

Anyway. My scan was fine, if lengthy. My GTT came back with a gold star for perfect sugar processing and I am gearing up for battle with the consultant next month.

Hope you're all enjoying the cooler weather, I know I am!

Just read your post on the December thread littlemiss - it is incedible just how different we all get treated regardless of what boxes they want to fit us into. You go girl, don't let them push you around!

I had my GTT last Thur, and haven't heard anything so am assuming all is fine.

I managed to fit into my first choice wedding outfit on Sat, and managed to stay out till midnight. Def felt it the next day though

I have lost a stone. Glad my trousers are all elasticated really:)

fish Pray for lucozade, my PCT give you flavoured sugar water. You have to drink the full bottle they give you of it, which is the same size as of two of those plastic cups you get at the water dispenser filled to the brim with the flat syrupy stuff. In 15 minutes flat. And if you throw it all up (like the other lady in at the same time as me) you have to go home and come back another day.

OOF flat syrupy stuff sounds really grim-it says lucozade on my letter and they used lucozade last time. I have hated it ever since-i don't like the stuff anyway but having to drink it fast and loads of it. It was pint glass last time :(

A stone is really good littlemiss i have started really putting it on despite the fact I am just eating meals-no treats. I am coming into third trimester though I suspect that will just happpen no matter what i do-baby is predicted to be a 10lb'er before he's finished growing.

I'm easing into the third too. Between booking in and getting home after delivery I will be roughly three stone lighter. I tend toward normal sized babies.

Hi All
Can I join? I'm 27w4 with my first pregnancy and BMI was 57 at start of pregnancy. Lost about half a stone in first trimester, not through sickness but just couldn't eat the same amount of food and I've yet to put it all back on but baby is growing well.
Went to a health and wellbeing clinic (aka fat clinic!) 3 weeks ago and was put on baby aspirin to stop my blood pressure going up - and that's when it went up, although not by much.
Anyway, passed GTT with flying colours, not even borderline and feeling great still.
Got next fat clinic on 4th October and my anaesthetic appt for tomorrow has been cancelled and moved to 7th November.
So that's me, how are we all doing?