Fertility, Miscarriage and BMI - how realistic is it?

[GoldDustWoman90]

I'm currently going through my third early miscarriage of 2024. It's heartbreaking and exhausting and I honestly have no idea where to go from here.

I am on every fertility supplement imaginable and stick to a Mediterranean diet as have read this helps. I swim twice a week as well as regular yoga classes (more for mental health than physical....). While I consider myself healthy, I am for all intent and purposes overweight and feel there is likely more I can do to squidge my BMI to below 30. It's currently 31.

I guess all I'm asking is....has anyone actually found losing weight was the key to holding on to a pregnancy? It would seem that my husband and I have no problem conceiving, it's keeping them alive that's the issue.

I'd love to hear real world stories for inspiration to keep me going!

Yes, I know several people who have lost significant weight and conceived after uears of trying. BMI 30 is obese range. Losing 10% of your body weight is known to kick start ovulation.

Yes OP, 2 women I work with have found exactly that. They both had tried everything, had read “it starts with the egg” and for months were following Mediterranean diet, taking every supplement going, no hot baths etc literally everything you can think of and struggled for years. They both actually decided to lose weight together, to help keep each other accountable, and both had healthy baby’s in their arms less than 18 months later x

@GoldDustWoman90 I am so sorry for your losses. I am just recovering from my first MMC.

I have heard what pp have said about losing 10% of your body weight but I think that is only regarding ovulation, not maintaining pregnancy. It sounds like you are ovulating regularly as you can conceive.

I also think BMI is rubbish statistic and that it sounds like you are perfectly healthy.

I would look into causes beyond your weight, while you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

That said, my BMI is the same and I am going to try to lose a bit of weight just because I have nothing to lose! It irks me a bit, because I am size 12, 5'3" weightlifter, but whatever... If anything will move the needle on my next pregnancy I will give it a shot.

Thanks @Orlahoping - yes, it would seem I have no problem conceiving...I ovulate on day 14 and have a 12-13 day luteal phase, but something always seems to go wrong around the 5 week mark which is why I was interested to hear other people's success stories.

We sound similar! I am a comfortable size 12/14, eat healthy and keep active, but am 5'2", quite wide set and have a G cup set of boobs which I always feel set the the scales against me somewhat! At this point I feel the same - there is nothing to lose by trying.

Thanks @twitternotx ....the issue however is not with ovulation, but with maintaining a pregnancy.

My fitness and overall health I believe have had an impact on being able to get pregnant - but are definitely not the be all and end all! I lost my pregnancies when I was at a healthy weight when I was eating well and exercising regularly. BMI is inherently flawed as a measurement, but it's always worth being as healthy as you can when TTC.

Also it's worth being aware, if someone is not ovulating then losing weight can help them ovulate, but most women ovulate even when overweight. There's far less clinical research connecting being overweight to miscarriage than there is to issues with ovulation.

If you've had 3 miscarriages I'd recommend heading to your GP to get a referral for testing to see if there's something causing them - I recently went through this process and have had scans and bloods for all sorts including thyroid issues, hormone levels and clotting disorders. It's worth ruling these things out.

Finally - I'm so sorry you're going through all this. It's horrible and stressful, and you'll always get stories where weight loss worked but remember that doesn't mean it'll be the key for you keeping a pregnancy or that you've done anything wrong, it's incredibly hard to cause a miscarriage and most are put down to cause unknown. Sending huge hugs xx

@Mrsttcno1 ahh I've heard of that book! Wondering now if I should give it a read. Thanks for your response :)

@Orlahoping also....so sorry for your loss. It's such a shit club to be in, but I found so much lovely help and support on these boards. I hope you have your tribe x

@GoldDustWoman90 I would be looking at other potential issues, as 3 losses before 5 weeks seems more than bad luck. I really feel for you...I am absolutely heartbroken after one (found at 13 week scan).

Can you get a referral to a clinic?

Also if you want any advice on going private from someone who has done a lot of research and spent a lot of money already let me know!

Have u been checked for pcos ?

Pcos = much higher chance of miscarriage

Have u had transvaginal scans ?

Hi there

My BMI is 34 and I know how hard it is to feel weight is impacting on this. We struggled to conceive, then got pregnant but the baby had Edwards Syndrome and we had to terminate at 14 weeks. It was so hard to read that a higher BMI can increase risk for it, but I’m not sure why?

4 cycles later and we’re pregnant again, 9 weeks now and really hoping this is it this time.

Have you heard about taking progesterone? It would be worth having a look at this research and considering asking your GP if you can have a prescription to take it as soon as you get a positive test

https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support/miscarriage-information-and-support/pregnancy-after-miscarriage/taking-progesterone-early-pregnancy#:~:text=Research%20has%20shown%20that%20taking,1%20or%20more%20miscarriages%20before.