Is there a support thread for the larger mum-to-be? Anyone want to join me??

[ValiumQueen]

I am thinking of a safe place to discuss issues pertinent to those carrying extra weight - clothes shopping, weight gain, additional tests and scans, potential concerns about labour etc. Any thoughts?

Javotte it's not pathetic - food issues are as complex and painful as they are common and under-discussed. But please, fgs, eat at least 1,800 calories a day! And take a decent multi-vitamin and some fish oil! :)

Might be worth pointing out that its Fish Oils for Omega 3 you want, not Cod Liver Oil (which has high levels of Vit A, not recommended in pregnancy). For the same reason, its best to go for a pregnancy multivitamin rather than the regular ones.

Sarah, which just goes to show that not all larger women produce large babies (and even when they do, it is often that the baby is long, not particularly heavy for its length). Are they concerned about the baby's size, or do they just think your baby is on the small side of normal?

I haven't had a growth scan, but my midwife reckons I'm measuring a little big, though so far, she doesn't think I'm carrying a particularly big baby (just that the measuring tape is measuring some of my excess skin/fat). If I start measuring bigger then I'll get a growth scan.

She jus a bit small they dnt seem concerned ? I may b overweight but very active maybe that's y ?

my first baby was very long and skinny. 9lbs, but not fat at all. He's still hugely tall today - and still not at all round. He eats like anything, but he also never stops moving so...

I'm just trying to keep my blood sugars stable, I'm not worrying about losing weight or having a small baby, I know neither of these things will happen - I'm just trying to stay healthy and strong for the birth. :)

DD1 was 8lb 13, long and thin. DD2 was short dumpling at 10lb 3. My mother used to call her 'fat bum'. I told her off! DD2 was a double cheeseburger and chocolate baby, so I am determined to eat better for this one.

My Mum completely upset me this morning just as I was walking out of the door. She made an unthinking comment about my weight and I was already feeling a bit tearful so it set me off. I spent the first hour at work in tears :(

I have a high bmi and two small babies, never had a hint of GD. :)

Crave maternity also do a size 20 and also I think picchu.

Sorry to hear that Dorothy Tell me where she lives and I will go and smack her!

Alpine I remember you from 'list of doom'. Hope you and your babies are well. I have namechanged a dozen times since. I remember lusting after your reports of lovely food.

My BMI has dropped from 37 at conception to 32, so happy about that. i lost weight before 12 weeks, then have maintained since - alas the illness this week did not result in a loss, but I have been eating whatever I wanted since. I am thinking of swapping back to SW as cravings for bread are passing. I am 18 weeks with a bump.

How is everyone else?

dorothy I'm really sorry. I was a very slim 9-year-old the first time my Mum told me I was too fat, and it still hurts.
valium congratulations!
I have decided to stop weighing myself every morning. I'll measure my hips once a week instead, so I won't panick if I get heavier because of water retention.

It sounds as if you are making progress Javotte Weighing daily is not a good thing (says she who has been known to do this). My brothers used to say I was clearly adopted as I was so fat, at a similar age to yourself - looking at pictures I too was quite scrawny. If they only knew the damage they caused, or at least they got me on the journey to an eating disorder.

Javotte, it sounds to me like you should stop weighing and measuring all together for a while. I am not sure anyone is completely in control of their body whilst pregnant. As long as you are eating healthily and not going mental I am sure you will be ok.

I had my booking scan today and saw a lovely obstetrician. He didn't make a big deal of my weight at all other than to tell me of the things they do extra because I have a BMI of 37. He made me feel a lot better about things.

Javotte Please do give yourself a rest from regular weighing. last pregnancy I put on 8lb in a month (month 7 or 8 I think) and it was a month in which I hadn't eaten much because it was stupidly hot and I'd been ill. The MW prodded my enormous, puffy ankles (I went up 3 shoe sizes and LIVED in flipflops!) and said "It's fluid. Don't worry about it. Keep your feet up. You'll wee it all out after he's born." - and she was right. I lost nearly 20lbs in the 2 weeks after DS was born and peed gallons! Some people put on lots of fluid-weight during pregnancy, some don't. It depends on how your body reacts to being pregnant. So thinking "this child is the size of a plum, how can I weigh more?" doesn't take into account all the marvelous things your body is doing, increasing blood volume, growing the placenta, etc. Don't worry about it too much, please. You will damage your health if you don't eat enough while pregnant.

I was very proud of myself when, last January, I told my mother never, ever to mention my weight to me again, or we would have a conversation that would fundamentally change our relationship for the worse.

I got a one-line email back: "ok." ... but she hasn't! Totally worth it :)

Wow, blackcurrants I'm impressed! My mother doesn't mention my weight any more, but she keeps telling me "oh, you were such a pretty kid / teenager" when at the time she used to tell me how fat I was (I wasn't). It makes my blood boil every time but I don't think I'll ever find the courage to confront her.

I did have a BMI of 34.5 when I was first pregnant but because I've been so sick and was trying to lose weight before I found out I am pregnant, I now have a BMI of 32.1 (not that I've weighed myself recently so who knows if that's gone back up!)

I am now 19+4 weeks. When I was PG with DD I had a BMI of 23.6 so it's quite a difference and I have been worried how I'll cope as well. Been told by both GP and midwife to eat healthily (that old chestnut).

Yeah, they tell everyone to eat healthily though. You need to be thinking of your baby and not obsessing about your weight at the moment.

They really do tell everyone to eat healthily. It's sort of one of the things everyone can agree a pregnant woman should definitely do! Doesn't matter what size you are, they tell you.

I am struggling with getting adequate protein at the moment, as the thought of it turns my stomach most days. Except for smoked salmon - perhaps the Sprout is scottish?

Hi ladies. Had midwife appointment today. Anyone else feel anxious when you meet a new health professional in case they mention your weight? I had a student midwife feel my bum and she wasn't sure of lie. All I am thinking is must be because of my belly. Both she and midwife were lovely though.
i have just weighed mysel and found I have gained 5kg and I am only 22 weeks. Think I may gain more than the recommended stone!
Also doesn't help when comments are plastered all over your notes.

Felt your bum eh You will gain what you gain, and likely a lot would be water. 5kg sounds just right for 22 weeks. 1lb a week from 12 weeks is what I have been told.

I understand about being anxious meeting new folk, but rest assured they have seen bigger!

Thanks "vq. Really should preview my posts!

No wonder she could not work out the lie. First year?

york I was terrified when I met my gynaecologist for the first time. I couldn't sleep the night before. She turned out to be very nice. Given that I've already had two "perfect" pregancies, she hasn't mentioned my weight (yet?)

Well the midwife has just been to visit to do my booking in appointment. Despite having a high BMI and some bleeding she reckons I am low risk which is reassuring!

That's great news, Friend - I'm considered low risk after a previous straightforward birth too. I just hope this one decides to come out of his or her own accord, rather than being induced, as DS was, and taking forbloodyever about it!

Hi everyone - I don't get time to post very often but am a frequent "lurker". I've got my 16 week midwife appointment tomorrow and depressed myself by looking at my notes last night (haven't gone completely mad - I wanted to check something) - BMI of 32 plastered everywhere. Have met the midwife before but am still worried she's going to tell me off tomorrow. Have got hyperemesis so it's been a case of eating what I can, when I can so no healthy eating here

I am 11 weeks pg with scan later this week. My bmi is about 41 as it was before/during 1st pregnancy with now 18 months.

In that pregnancy I was v sick for first trimester so lost weight and only put a stone on the whole time. In fact I weighed less when dd born than when I conceived. Sadly my year of eating cake with my mum friends meant I then put on a stone post baby.