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

They took blood first of all to test for various things (all of mine came back ok except a bit low on Vit D) then gave me a home blood testing kit to use. Then 2 days later I had to go back in and they talked about diet etc. Then I had to monitor for 2 weeks and go back in again. I also had a growth scan that day. Then they looked at my blood sugar results, said they were too high (but nearly all within 'normal' limits) and I needed to go on Metformin. The scan had shown baby was exactly the size it should be for 28 weeks and I wasn't concerned about my results as they were all pretty normal, so I refused. I have to go back 4 weeks from then for another scan and appointment.

It seems they are so quick to whip out GD as an explanation for everything when you're over weight 🙄
My boy showed a larger estimated weight than 'normal' due partially to tummy size but mostly femur length... his dad is 6ft 6in so surely its a possibility that could be a cause? But no, instead they asked if I'd had GTT, what my levels were, when I had the test and basically made me feel like a liar when I said my levels were normal, no GD!

Yes I've been told it's likely my baby will be big due to GD. So the fact my husband is 6ft4 and we were both over 9lb as babies will have nothing to do with it?! I know it can really affect babies but it's more the fact that they're presenting it as a worst case scenario that will almost definitely happen, rather than it being one of many possibilities, that's really annoying me!

I keep telling them that I previously gave birth to a 10lb baby with no complications and no intervention but they're just not listening to me - so frustrating. He was long too and I know that myself and DH won't have small babies as we were both nearly 9lb when we were born. I think they just see you have a high BMI and just go into overdrive with their statistics rather than looking at the individual.

Happy to report that my scan all went fine, baby's got a good strong heartbeat! Am 9 weeks gone, baby due mid November :)

Yes!!! Been waiting to hear caglio so pleased it went well!!!

How's everyone else's weekend?
I've had a lot of rolling and swishing type movements today rather than big old kicks - hoping it means he's getting into position but probably not!

Wetold my family today. My parents have known for a month but told my bro and sis and their partners. All very excited. Telling my Hubby's family tomorrow and then our first scan is in 12 days x

Hi everyone, I'm 26+3 with first, booking bmi was 32.9 and I've put on a kilo since then! Had the gd test which came back fine but at the 25 week appointment my bump measured huge so they are waiting til the next appointment measure again and then possibly send me for another scan, I'm not overly worried as I carry all my weight on my stomach anyway so I think that's all it'll be.

Hi harvest that's really interesting - the trust I live in won't measure your tummy if your BMI is over 30 as the measurement isn't reliable... for exactly the reason you give! Even before pregnancy I carried a lot of weight on my stomach (trousers are always huge on my thighs but I struggle to zip them over my belly) and I know measuring my 'bump' would give some crazy reading!
I'm sure everything is fine and scan will confirm it for you :)

Hello, I am 9 weeks and 1 day and I had my booking in appointment today.

My bmi is over 35 and the midwife gave me a letter for my doctor to ask for a prescription for low dose of aspirin. She said because of bmi and first baby I would need to take it every day from 12 weeks through to birth to avoid blood clots.

I've never had any problems with blood / blood clots before so I just wondered if this is normal and whether other people are taking aspirin? Xx

Hi @Hopeful25. My bmi is similar and I wasn't given that and so far no concerns raised. I'm 11w4d x

hopeful yep, I'm on aspirin too - it's standard procedure in my trust for high BMI, regardless of blood clot history. Think it's more of a precaution than anything and based on fairly current research. The does is super low, like 75mg, and I've not felt any affects from taking it :)
Congrats btw x

Hi just on the aspirin thing. My sister had 4 babies, first two no aspirin and she had pre-eclampsia and emcs with babies at 30wks and 32wks. Second two babies she was on the aspirin and went full term with no problems. She would have had bmi 35+ for all. I think there has been loads of research on it being very helpful, one doctor I heard describing it as a wonder drug.
But if you have no problems it should be fine, I just wanted to reassure people that even at a very low dose it does seem to have a big effect.
It turns out though that as a family we may have an underlying issue which is why I have had 2 mc so far, been tested and they can't find anything, but I am taking the wonder drug this time to see if it makes any difference.
The second my consultant heard my sisters history, she confirmed that I would be on it too.

miami thanks for sharing and the info. I didn't mean to infer that the low dose was pointless - merely meant I'd had no side effects from it :)
I knew they would offer me aspirin and I chose to take it based on current findings. I know it's not an 'across the board'meafure though as someone I know lived in the next trust to mine, moved to mine at 32 weeks and midwives were horrified she hadn't been offered aspirin, started it immediately.

Nobody mentioned aspirin to me! I was just told to get higher dose folic acid because of my bmi

Hi everyone! I'm 10 weeks ish with DC2. I'm a size 16-18 and have a bmi of 32! I was prescribed extra folic acid this time (I wasn't last time and my BMI was 33). Ayway, I should have collected my prescription on Tursday, forgot, long weekend, forgot yesterday, so should get it today. Have to take it until 12 weeks. Does anyone know about this - aren't neural tubes formed in the first 4 (or 8?) weeks? So it's pointless me taking extra folic acid for weeks 10-12? . I will take them obviously, but didn't with DC1 and he's all good.

Caglio
It does seem to vary wildly. If your hcp's don't prescribe it then I am sure they feel it is not required.
I am clutching at straws for myself at the moment. Just wanted to share that it can be a relatively simple cure for some things. But obviously not if you don't have any indications for those things. Sorry - just realised that my post might panic people, didn't mean it like that. Shouldn't post first thing in the morning before my (decaf) coffee.

Also just a general hello! I'm 11 weeks on Saturday, have my scan on May 3rd, flying on holiday on May 5th, but already had 3 scans due to spotting. Told a lot of people already through necessity - in laws because SIL is due 2 days before me (AGAIN!!!!! Due 2 days before me last time), so they told and so we did, so then I told my parents, various friends who bled in their pregnancies for support, my cousin who is a pharmacist etc. Not told sis yet as she's been struggling to conceive!

Aw Miami thank you for clarifying, I didn't mean you'd panicked me, I will just ask when I next see MW :) I see that it can be about pre eclampsia and I assume I am lower risk for that because my blood pressure is generally much too low including during pregnancy. I shall look into that.

Welcome Bendy! DH and I actually love the name Benedict if we have a boy but probably won't use it because of the nickname possibility (and the fact everyone will assume it's after Sherlock!) :o

Haha, it is a lovely name despite that Caglio.

Does anyone know the answer to my folic acid question?

I asked how long I needed to take folic acid for and the doctor just said ask the MW :o as he was unsure if it's just first trimester (that's what I remember TBH)

Yes my MW said only to take them until 12 weeks, then go back to regular amount, but I've read the neural tube is finished by 6-8 weeks so I don't think taking folic acid for weeks 10.5-12 is going to do anything? Oh well, I picked them up today so will do as I'm told

Nothing to do with being plus size but apparently this is common in pregnancy (plus I thought you might all like a quick giggle!) dreamt I gave birth to a cat last night I was breastfeeding it too! Had to take it to the doctors but it wouldn't go in its car seat (an actual human baby car seat) so I had to let it sit on my head while I drove!!

@PrtyPsn that's brilliant. I've had very vivid dreams and am 12 weeks atm. God knows what I'll be like further along x

Prty :o :o my mum still remembers a dream she had when she was pregnant with me (I'm 30!) - that I was born fully clothed in a little matinee jacket :o

Got my 12 week scan date, will be 11+4 but that's ok right? Excited to see our little Meeple again! We've been talking about names and stuff even though I keep telling myself we shouldn't!

On another note. Good lord prams are expensive these days!