Plus size pregnancy

[MrsB12345]

Hi everyone. I'm 5w5d and currently a size 20. When we decided to start trying I expected it to take at least 6 months....we fell pregnant straight away - first time we tried. Hubby is now congratulating his 'super sperm' on a daily basis (I had nothing to do with it obvs!😂

I've tried to find a thread for plus size pregnancies and can't find one so thought I'd start one up

I really hope I get a nice bump and don't just look and feel fatter x

That's good that you are eating brown pasta, that is supposed to be better. I hate it though so if I do have pasta at home I will have a tiny amount and top up with veg (I discovered a while ago that bolognese sauce on top of avocado is really lovely!)

I agree it's a lot to get your head round and I am still finding that everyone is saying different things and as an anxious hormonal pregnant person I am really struggling. Hopefully your levels will continue to be great :)

One advantage of this is that it's made me even better at 'not wasting calories' - I don't mean empty calories exactly as I would still eat lots of cake or whatever if I could, but I mean food that I don't actually enjoy all that much. Eating stuff just because it's there is a huge factor in my weight. For a while (maybe 1.5 years although it happened gradually so not sure) I have been slightly better at not doing that. Instead looking at something and thinking, how much do I ACTUALLY enjoy that, is it worth the calories?! (Not that I have ever counted calories but it was how I thought of it.) It has definitely made a difference and now that I am concentrating on carbs, and most things I eat/crave are carby, it's continuing to improve. For example since I had lunch out and tried a burger without a bun I realised I didn't actually enjoy the bread bit anyway so what's the point in having it.

If it weren't for the fact my fingers are getting sore I'd be tempted to test more often (we've been told before breakfast and after 3 meals) - I'm not sure what to do about snacks

@Cagliostro sounds like you've got the balance right. No one showed any interest in my food diary either but I found it really useful for myself, to see which foods and eating at what times had the most impact on my blood sugar levels and how I was feeling.

Hello I got diagnosed with gd too though didn't find out until five weeks after gtt test which I was a bit annoyed about.

I've found a website and Facebook group called gestational diabetes uk. I've found advice on there really helpful. Xx

Should add my growth scans are showing baby tummy outside range on the big side :(

I've put on 5kg since I first got pregnant which I think is ok?! I've also. Got a slipped disc and sciatica which has made exercise hard to do

Sorry about the slipped disc/sciatica my DH had that a few years ago and it's miserable, must be even worse while pregnant :(

I was told baby having a big tummy is due to the extra glucose but in the last four weeks my baby's has dropped from 94th centile to about 84th I think. So I reckon that means it can be turned around with the dietary changes etc.

I have absolutely no idea about the weight gain, it's so strange that other than being weighed at the start of pregnancy and obviously being referred due to BMI, nobody has mentioned anything about my weight at all even when I said to the consultant the first time I met her at 12 weeks, I said I had been losing weight (mostly between new year and conceiving in early spring but I did probably lose some in first trimester because I felt so sick) and she said that's great, don't try to lose more just keep making healthy choices. Which I didn't as much I don't think because once the nausea wore off I felt so bloody hungry all the time. That said I can't physically eat so much in one go anymore even before baby started taking up more room. Now I'm waffling because I'm tired and can't sleep sorry

Hi all,

I'm just 6 weeks pregnant but was wondering if anyone knew where I could get some decent plus size maternity tights?? They need to be over bump. Any legging suggestions too?

@ElizabethLemon I got my leggings on eBay. If you look at plus size leggings a few come up and they've been great. Very comfortable x

I got some from M&S and ASDA. You could try ASOS too

Hi everyone, mind if I join?
I’m only 4 weeks pregnant but have a cloth size 14 and BMI 33.
I’m really hoping for a water birth at home, do you think there’s any chance I’ll be allowed to do this?
I have my booking appointment with my midwife on Monday and I am really dreading receiving a lecture about my weight

Hi can I join? I'm 12 weeks today and 15st 3lbs. So still classed as obese. I had wls in January so I do worry about baby getting enough. My MW has advised me to try and maintain my weight.

Hi @Enwi - i hope your pregnancy is going well - I know this is an old thread but I have similar stats to you and was just wondering whether you could tell me whether a BMI of 33 has affected the antenatal care you have received? I don't know whether you'll respond or see this but thought I'd give it a go 🙂

Hi EL,
Honestly my weight hasnt even been mentioned once! I lost a bit of weight in my first trimester and got my BMI down to 30 exactly.
I’m planning a home water birth and my midwife is totally happy for me to go ahead.
A friend of mine who is currently training as a midwife did say they are often more concerned with mums who seem to carry a lot of weight around their abdomen ( I don’t and am very bottom heavy) as it is that is more likely to lead to problems. I don’t know how though or if that’s even true
Best of luck! X

Oh thank you @Enwi that's great to hear 🙂 a home water birth sound incredible - I hope the rest of your pregnancy continues to be happy and healthy

Hi everyone, I’m really pleased that i’ve Found this thread as I’m 25 weeks pregnant with my first baby and the pregnancy is going well but I’m not handling the judgement of being overweight very well ☹️ Does anyone else feel that way at all?

To give a bit of background I have had issues with my weight since I was a baby, despite eating well I gained loads of weight and it came to a point where I was being investigated as to why I was gaining so much weight that I couldn’t explain. So I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism but fell pregnant when I was being investigated, I was put on thyroxine while I was pregnant and the investigations will have to continue after. I also got diagnosed with a condition called lipoedema during this pregnancy where I gain weight that has nothing to do with diet and exercise! My body is fat but inside, it seems as though I’m very healthy. I just find I am judged a lot and told to eat less and I was referred to ‘lifestyle clinic’ for the fat preggos! But I feel like my lifestyle isn’t so bad! Does anyone else feel this massive judgement?

Hello there! Congratulations on all your little bumpies! ❤️

I too am a "plus size" mummy to be - got married in September last year and initially wanted to get to my target weight before trying but I couldn't wait potentially another year or two!! I'd lost 3.5 stone and a size 18 when I found out I was pregnant, still have 4 stone to go! Sticking to Slimming World during pregnancy but this week I'm mega hungry!! Need to find low syn treats to fix the cravings, don't normally have a sweet tooth but I do now!! I'm a few pounds down since I got pregnant but can tell this is going to be a struggle especially with the tiredness and my long shifts...

Any tips would be much appreciated! I'm only 7weeks so haven't had any appointments yet, I'm so nervous about the judgement! My gp was absolutely lovely about my weight loss so far but I'm so worried about the risks I've potentially caused to the pregnancy as I'm still so overweight :(

hello. glad I've found this thread as I've recently got my BFP and I am worried about my weight.

not sure if anyone is still active on here? but it was good to read all your posts xxx

I'm now 4+5 and starting to get concerned as I know my BMI is over 40 (it's been a while since I weighed myself). I've got no medical conditions but I could be a lot fitter.

I got tested for diabetes last year as I convinced myself I would have it but my results were in the normal range (not even prediabetic) so I am trying to stay positive and tell myself it is perfectly possible that I will have an uncomplicated pregnancy.

I do know I will be considered high risk due to my BMI but I also have a weird family history with clotting so I suspect that would have raised my risks too.

I am just hoping not to get too many lectures along the way. I know I am too fat and it's more risky but at a certain point I just got to the point where I felt like my life was on hold while I waited to be thinner and despite my best efforts and some successes it always ended up with me gaining more weight. So here we are. Sometimes you just have to live life and I got pregnant more quickly than I thought. We are where we are.

Hello im also pregnant 17 weeks and size 20, this is my second , got little girl 20 months, she will be just over 2 when new baby is due! I actually gave up sugar for 3 months before getting pregnant and lost 18 lbs but then started eating it again when the pregancy cravings hit , but plan to give it up again once had baby. It was may hardest time once i had my little girl , in put on a stone in first 8 months of her being here, hope everyone is doing well

Hi guys I know this thread is old but I'm also VERY plus size! I'm a size 22/24 (pre pregnancy and also now) this is my second pregnancy I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant with a little girl. My son is 9 months old and will be 13 months when baby is born! 😳
First pregnancy was a breeze and everything was fine up until 37 weeks when I was in and out of the pregnancy assessment unit for high blood pressure... turns out I should've been monitored more and been on aspirin since early weeks of pregnancy I ended up getting pre-eclampsia and spending 5days in hospital getting induced and a further 5 days when he was born... it wasn't the best experience but I do put it down to not being monitored enough.

This time I am high risk and my bmi is higher than the first time round... I should be being monitored a lot more but have only had 2 midwife appointments since finding out I was pregnant 1 of them being the booking appointment... and apparently it's because it's my second. Is this normal?

Hi all, I'm know this post is old but I'm hoping someone could help me, I'm 10 weeks pregnant and have my first appointment with the midwife on the 22nd.
I'm worried that they are going to mention my weight, I'm 5.8" and a size 18 but got a very very large belly! Will I still scan OK, or will they do an internal? I'm assuming after I see the midwife they will refer me to the hospital so I can have a scan. I'm petrified if they can't find the heartbeat as my belly is too big, or if they mention my weight etc, as anybody gone through something similar xxx

@Keisha1986 you will be fine honestly...the first appointment will be your booking appointment, basically it can go on for up to an hour and they ask you lots of questions about your health, any history of heath problems, etc... they will also give you your notes book to keep everything in, and they will give you an estimated due date from when your last period was. they don't usually use the Doppler at this appointment it's just a booking apt, she will work out how far along you are and make a scan appointment off of this. Between 12-14 weeks you will have your first scan. I'm a size 24 this time around and was a size 22 last time. Both times they can see baby through a normal tummy scan but there is reduced visibility due to the fat. So both times I had to have an internal, you will be fine honestly you will be too busy looking at the screen at your little baby you forget what's going on. I'm not 27 weeks pregnant and have only ever had to have one internal scan for each pregnancy at the 12 week one x

hello. I know this is an old thread but wanted to check in if anyone was active. I'm 13+1 bmi is 34.

Feel a bit sad I may not get a proper bump.

xxx

Hi @dreaminofholidays I'm still here. Currently 11+4 and waiting impatiently for the scan. My BMI was over 40 at booking in which was a bit of a shock.

If you haven't already, check out plussizebirth.com and @plusmommy on Instagram which has loads of photos of plus sized pregnant women looking fabulous and talking about their journeys. Made me feel better. I might not pop out a really neat little bump but I can still celebrate that my body is doing something incredible.

Hope all goes well for you.

@lifechanginglemoncake
thank you! I haven't heard of those. I will definitely take a look. How long until your scan?
I hope time passes quickly for you!
Is this dc #1 for you?
I was so dreading being weighed and being told off for it. xx

@dreaminofholidays it is my first so everything is new and scary. Scan is on 19th so only just over a week to wait now.

Nausea has disappeared the last two days which is nice but unnerving.

I was dreading being weighed and told off too but my midwife was lovely. I'm sure there might still be some people who aren't as nice but I'm trying to remind myself that in most cases everything is fine. We are where we are anyway - can't change it now!