How fat is too fat?

[HeresMeh]

Hey everyone,

Looking for your opinions or personal experience stories out of sheer intrigue and interest.

How big is too big to conceive? Did you have to shift a bit of timber before you conceived your first? Or are you TTC #1 and struggling due to weight?

I'm currently 16st 4lbs after losing over a stone and a half since August. My current BMI is classed as 'morbidly obese' at 35.7 - and although I take these stats with a pinch of salt, because I don't think I look gigantic and I know I have a good level of health and fitness, I'm just wondering what your feelings and experiences are with weight and TTC?

I'm only on cycle 2 of TTC #1, but as is the case when you're in a 2WW, the mind wonders and you start thinking down a path of 'maybe I won't conceive cause I'm a gigantor!'

Look forward to hearing from you x

Ahhhh ur all chatting poo .... lol .... I weighed 22 stone n had my first .. no issue ... I weighed 18 with my second ... 18 with my 3rd ... I then lost eight stone n had my fourth ... I put five stone whilst pregnant n lost it ... now I'm on my fifth ... iam 14 stone n 6,1 .... I've experienced being obese n not ... depends on the individual.... now go shove a old mince pie n b quiet 🤫

Op i like your posting style. Your mention of gigantors and fat bastard made me laugh and you were sweet to other posters. I wish you the best of luck with ttc

How old are you OP? (Sorry if I've missed this info)

I have real difficulties ttc in my late 30s and unfortunately dealt very badly with multiple mc leading to a high BMI. Currently 28 weeks (age 41) and this pregnancy did come after losing more than 2 stone (although I did take other action too). Physically I am pretty tired and have gestational diabetes although have had no other issues. I would have preferred to lose more though.

If time is on your side, I'd take a couple of months off ttc and get your BMI down further, nearer 30 if poss. You can do this in a sensible way (you sound very sensible) and focus on nutrition so your body is the best it can be to carry a baby.

Also I think if your BMI is under 35 at booking in (9-10 wks) then you are likely to have more birth choices eg using a birthing centre - this is the case in my hospital.

Tht I agree with juniper ... u do lose out on birthing options ....

Nobody is perfect ... you hear to old to young , fat and small .. it's individual.. if you think losing weight would be useful then do it ... they can't tell older women to stop having babies right? It would be discriminatory... yes being in the middle would be better ... but there are lottts of bigger ladies giving birth and the proof is in the pudding 😂

Also I think if your BMI is under 35 at booking in (9-10 wks) then you are likely to have more birth choices eg using a birthing centre - this is the case in my hospital.

At mine your BMI has to be below 35 when you're weighed at 28 weeks by the midwife to be able to use the birthing centre.

Hi @CrumpettyTree  thanks for the lovely compliment! Appreciate that xx

Hi also to @MsJuniper - I'm 30 years old and as I say we're on our 2nd cycle TTC #1. So for me currently I'm not worried about the process and thinking I have any problems to be concerned about. My practical head is telling me to just get on with the weight loss, after a bit a slow down over Xmas, and really give myself the boost I need to get pregnant.

Isn't it so interesting that we all have such different stories and experiences? To @cakeanytype having positive experiences and @genever at the other end of the scale having a super impressive 19 BMI!

The intent isn't for this thread to rile anyone up and cause arguments. Also should note that I'm not advocating ill health and bad living during a pregnancy.

It's just nice to chat to different people with different stories

I had a BMI of 34 at the point of conception. I conceived in my first cycle. I was 37.

I had a low risk, healthy pregnancy, all stats/tests/blood pressure on the good side of average throughout.

I had an absolute shitter of a delivery though, I supposed something had to give. I imagine if I was younger, thinner and fitter I’d have stood a better chance of a ‘natural’ and timely delivery.

I had so much good luck, conceiving DD, carrying her healthily, I thought I would have much more trouble than I did. And I’m grateful, daily, that I have a healthy little girl.

I guess what I’m saying is that though there are lots of factors involved, a lot of it is pure, blind, luck.

@HeresMeh. Sorry op. I wasn't advocating bad living either. I lived like a saint when I was pregnant and that's the point I was trying to make. I didn't meant to imply that I was munching on a bars bar for breakfast and 50 big Macs for lunch lol. Good luck to you!

Oh god @LookingAtTheStars89 no no no... I'm not having a go at all! Honest!

Just spouting my own thoughts onto the thread nothing comes across very well over a screen does it? Haha...

Jesus genever lay off abit. Fair play you posting evidence n stuff your points are valid, but you don’t have to go harsh on her about it and accusing her of this n that. Its mumsnet not a boot camp.

I was about the same weight as you when I conceived OP. I had lost three stone by that point though.

What about a weight loss club op? I find the support, structure and motivation they give you helpful.

With my first I had a bmi of 42 and I did get gestational diabetes however, I had a natural 3 hour and 45 minute labour and only 30 mins pushing. Overall my pregnancy was fine more appointments but resulted in an 8 lb 7 baby. I'm currently ttc baby no 2 and my bmi is now 37. Something and I'm still losing.

You can lose weight whilst pregnant I lost 1.5 stone didn't show till 2 days post birth

I've wondered with the increased risk of GD - are you more likely to have GD because your obese or does the fact you were susceptible to GD have something to do with the fact you're obese in the first place? (Obviously not in all cases.)

My weight crept back into the obese range while pregnant. I did get GD (as did my normal weight sister, incidentally). This meant I had a much more medicalised pregnancy and delivery which was a shame because I had an otherwise pretty much perfect pregnancy, bit of heartburn and that was it. I was still walking 5 miles a day the day before I went in to be induced. No pain, no swollen feet or trouble sleeping, no new stretch marks. DD was large but not huge, and not any bigger than expected given in 5'10" and DH is 6'5".

I'm not convinced it would have been any different if I was thin but I'll still be making an effort to lose weight before any future pregnancies to give myself a chance.

Obviously nothing more than an anecdote, increased risk, difficult to conceive etc etc etc.

My last daughter was conceived in the first month of trying. My BMI was 40. Pregnancy was fine. No diabetes. I was offered a dietician and took them up on the offer. Most HCP were very chilled about it. I had a planned section under general anaesthetic (unrelated to weight) and nobody even mentioned it.

I weighed at 6 weeks post partum and was roughy the same weight as when I conceived.

Oh, if you do get pregnant speak to your GP about increased folic acid dose from early on.