Do you have to be weighed?

[TeacupTempest]

I am 7 weeks. GP appointment at 9 1/2 weeks. Do they have to weigh me? Can I refuse?

I presume you can.

I don't know what your resaons are for not wanting to be weighed, but if you know your BMI then you can tell them as that is what they do your height and weight for.

They just asked me how much I weighed so they could work out my bmi. They weighed me before taking blood for the combined nuchal test though.

Why don't you want to be weighed?

Recovering anorexic. I think I am downing extremely well at the moment but the scales are my demon and I don't want anything to jeopardise my progress right now.

First time I was pregnant (when I was thin) they didnt weigh me, second time (when I was not) they did. Not sure if that was a coincidence ... suspect not.

I am quite sure that you can refuse but why would you? Unless they are hopeless they are not going to be judgey about it and there are issues with being overweight/underweight that you may need to be aware of. For example, you may want to get tested for gestational diabetes.

yes, they do weigh you.

they won't judge you - it's only so they can see how much weight you put on during pregnancy.
(and i think they work out your BMI too, so they'll measure you too)

I don't own a set of scales for this reason as I have an eating disorder history and am now putting weight back on and I don't want to know what I weigh for the fear of going backwards.

My BMI was 17 with my first and is now up to 19.5 with my 3rd and I will be back to the gym and reducing my food intake once this one pops out. I will be honest I can probably work it out but have chosen no to, I don't actually know what I weigh, I never took any notice at the appointment.

Xpost, Teacup. That is tough.

Perhaps with your medical history it would be good for them to know what your weight is? Would it help if they weighed you but didn't tell you what you weighed? Perhaps if you tell them your worries and concerns they can talk you through any potential issues and you can avoid the whole thing ...

stillstanding - they weighed me and I would say i'm slim , not thin, though.

I have to say with all my 3 pregnancies I was only weighed once at the beginning, my weight was not monitored throughout, don't know if that helps at all.

Yes of course you can refuse. As a compromise though, could you be weighed but not look at the result, and ask the GP not to tell you the number? I'm sure they'll understand.

yes, agree ask them not to tell you - although they do write it in your maternity booklet thing (the one you're supposed to carry everywhere with you)

Explain that to the midwife. They do ask questions about previous conditions including eating disorders as a routine part of the booking in appointment. They might offer you extra support too so please don't feel awkward about being honest with them.

Fwiw, my BMI is 17. I don't know how far along your journey to recovery you are, but if like me you have low bmi, you will be offered extra growth scans at 32 and 36 weeks, which is a good thing for peace of mind and another chance to see your baby.

It is written in your notes, but you don't have to look and I work in stone and it's in KG so for me it means nothing.

I am not worried about being judged by anyone expect my anorexia. I just dont want to give the sick part of my brain any excuse to fall back into disordered behaviour at this crucial time. I am doing well so far but have a long way to go.

I think I could probably deal with being weighed as long as they didn't tell me what the scales read.

I had a check up when I was being treated for anorexia and even though I asked not to be told my weight the nurse blurted it out.

I guess if I tell them my concerns and put mu hands over my eyes and ears (at the same time?!) when being weighed I should be ok. Would rather not have to go there though as even stepping on the scale.......well, I don't know if I can trust myself not to look.

Hey ho.......if it has to be done so be it.

They weighed me but didn't say a single word about my weight, just wrote it on my notes and didn't even tell me what the scales said. Very low-key.

At neither my GP appt nor my midwife booking in appt did anyone ask my weight or weigh me. Good luck!

Go through your concerns I am sure you won't be the first or last person to request not to know their weight.

Thanks for all the advice and replies guys. I feel like such a freak sometimes!!

No a freak at all! It does get easier x

I was only weighed at my booking in appointment, but said I don't want to know how much I weigh, so she was really quick about it and just didn't tell me, and I didn't look! Fortunately I know I am a completely healthy BMI (probably bang on average - I'd say I'm slim to medium build) - I just never weigh myself in order not to get paranoid about going up or down the odd pound when my weight is fine, and I didn't want to start in pregnancy! I'm sure they would be perfectly sensitive about it if you said you didn't want to know.

I think, unfortunately, in light of that info they will want to weigh you but you can ask not to know and only to be reweighed if they have concerns, which is a reasonable compromise.

Tbh it's only if you're very under or very over at the beginning that they'd want to know anyway, to follow you, and looks can be deceptive so they prefer to have an empirical assessment from the scales! Depending on how your weight pans out they may or may not want to follow it more closely which means you may or may not end up getting weighed again.

Either way by making them aware and telling them you don't want it unless it's necessary, and if it is necessary you don't want to know the number you'll have done the right thing by you and your baby and theyre covered for what they need professionally.