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?

They never weighed me, just asked how much I weighed and what my height was...

If you don't want to know, just explain it to the doctor - as someone said already, they do need to know about any eating disorders etc when they answer questions, but that's because they want to make sure you get whatever help you need so that you can be the healthiest to grow a baby.
They won't judge you.
(in fact, they're probably more likely to be kind to you, because they want you to feel secure)

Please just talk to them.

Round here they only weigh once to check your bmi at the beginning and in order to do the nuchal scan (they need the maternal weight to calculate the Down's Syndrome risk), so bear in mind if you'd like that scan it does require a weight being taken.

You must tell them your concerns. If they do weigh you at the beginning, they'll put it in your handheld notes, you can request they don't, just ask for the bmi to be noted instead if you're easier with this.

Well done for battling it. And congratulations on your pregnancy.

In two pregnancies I have not been weighed or asked my weight. Can't they tell if you're a healthy weight? They've commented on there "being nothing" of me, but I think they can tell I'm naturally slim.

OP, do you want to midwife to know your history? If not then can you talk to your GP about making sure you are getting what you need for a healthy pregnancy?
It's not the same, but there were some very private things that may have affected my pregnancy going on in my life that I didn't feel comfortable talking to my midwife about (I didn't really know her that well), but I did make sure my own GP knew. It was reassuring to know that the safety net was there, but it was separate from the joy of my pregnancy.

Best wishes.

Turtles - I was a bit confused as to why they needed to know my weight for the combined downs test. What weight increases your risk - too heavy or too light?

I think it varies from area to area. When I was pg they weighed me once at the first booking in appointment. It was low key though and I don't think they told me my weight. I'm sure if you explain your history and your concerns they can do it in a sensitive way.

Cattleprod, no idea. I assumed it was nothing to do with heavier/lighter increasing/decreasing risk, just that the calculation was somehow based on weight to make it accurate and relevant to your pregnancy.

I have no problem with any medical professional I come in contact with knowing about my eating disorder so I do feel I can be open with them. I just don't want to trip myself up. I do still struggle as recovery is relatively recent. I think I should be at the low edge of healthy and since being pregnant my boobs are massive so on sight they should be reassured I am ok weight wise!

You can refuse to be weighed. I wasn't weighed in either of my pregnancies. If they ask, just say "No, thank you. Weighing is not an option for me due to my history" and leave it at that. Your body, and they can't force you on the scales.

Not all PCTs do weight. At my booking-in the midwife asked for my rough height/weight and used it to work out BMI but I didn't need to hop on the scales and haven't at any appointments since. I wasn't weighed at all with DS either or with the two that I lost and I had booking appointments with both of those too.

Just tell the midwife you'd rather not, you have the right to refuse any tests/treatments/questions including weight.

Teacup, I completely get where you're coming from. I'd discusss with them the issues and ask that if they weight you, they keep it to themselves -- they should absolutely understand about this as it's in your interests.

Is BMI also triggery for you? If so it might be worth discussing strategies with them to manage it as I've seen my BMI on a couple of pieces of paperwork.

Teacup I haven't read all the posts, but I was in your position when newly pregnant with DC1 a couple of years ago. they agreed to not weigh me, but had it recorded that my BMI was still low and to keep an eye on me.
This time I was weighed, and even though I didn't want to know, the weight and BMI was recorded in the notes and jumps out at me every time I look at them. It would be good for you to talk to the midwife about this, because it is a minefield, or at least that's what it feels like to me, even a couple of years later.
I say this especially because you said you don't want to know the weight even if they do weigh you, but it gets recorded at the top of your green notes, if they have it..

I was weighed at booking in and for the nuchal/triple test, but no-one ever told me how much I weighed. It was written in my notes though. I think the only problem with never being weighed is that they need weight for the nuchal/triple test, as it can affect the amount of hormones they would expect to see in your blood. But lots of people opt not to have the test anyway, so that would be an option for you.

You can refuse any treatment or advice you like, even in an emergency. They may not like it but you shouldn't have to explain why. Don't know if you've already been now, but I hope it went well if so.

I guess you can judge pretty quickly if you trust a midwife or doctor, and how much you'd want to tell them, but it may be useful to have mentioned it at some stage. A midwife I met was telling me how she wished she could have been more sensitive in one situation recently but she hadn't a clue about the person's history and couldn't have known.

PS not a freak honey, I think if honest virtually every woman will admit to having had weight/ eating issues to some degree at some point. I certainly did.

I was never weighed in my first pg, and have had 2 mw appts so far in second and have not been weighed. Despite having had hyperemisis in both pg!

They can weight you and not put it on your copy of your notes I think. I had this done when I was in recovery but not preg