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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Overweight

32 replies

silvachick · 06/06/2012 22:28

I am overweight at the moment was when I fell pregnant. I'm now 13 weeks and since I've stopped being sick all I've done is eat. I just don't want to eat much healthy food unfortunately.
I'm worried about the negative press and warnings about being overweight and pregnant. What do others think? Any good stories? Larger ladies avoiding the much warned about complications?

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Spiritedwolf · 07/06/2012 14:08

Stop worrying about the weight you started pregnancy with. You cannot change how much you weighed when you concieved and you cannot go on a drastic diet to lose weight.

I'm not saying that there aren't increased risks associated with being overweight, but there are also plenty of larger women who have healthy, straightforward pregnancies and plenty of slimmer women who have complications despite their lighter bodies. General trends aren't going to be that useful to you, you just need

I am now 33 weeks with my first baby and have had no weight related complications so far. I was losing weight prior to becoming pregnant, but got lucky (after 5-6 years of TTC) when I was only about half-way to my goal. So I do get a little frustrated because I was doing the right things for 9 months before I got pregnant, but still get counted as a larger lady because it just wasn't long enough!

What you can do is to try and moderate your weight gain in pregnancy by making sure you eat well and get some light exercise in. I haven't been as good as I could have (some bad eating habits crept back in during morning sickness and are still sticking around) but I've not put on much weight at all at this stage.

You say that you don't want to eat much healthy food at the moment. Is it possible to make some small changes to your diet. Nothing drastic, just switching in some healthier options (e.g. wholemeal rather than white bread, a fruit based dessert instead of a heavy pudding etc) or reducing portion size of less healthy stuff? (Making vegetables/salad take up more room on your plate so there's less room for the other stuff).

I think a lot of the downsides of starting off overweight can be counteracted by eating sensibly during pregnancy. My blood tests and so on have been fine despite a family history of gestational and type 2 diabetes, though this may have more to do with my age than my -less than perfect-- eating habits as risk increases with age.

Take it one meal or snack at a time and try to think about little changes you can make. Discuss any concerns with your midwife.

Can I ask how overweight you are? Only, some women worry about their weight when they are just a stone or so overweight and if that's the case you need to know that the risks are mainly associated with women who are very overweight. My BMI was 41 at booking in, dropped to 38-39 during a long period of morning sickness, and has snuck back up to 41 over the last month or so. I might be a few pounds heavier than when I started pregnancy. With a month or two to go.

My midwife considers me low risk and so far would support me to give birth at the local MLU based on me having a healthy pregnancy so far. I might decide to go to the CLU though for weight-unrelated reasons (antibiotics for Group B strep).

Spiritedwolf · 07/06/2012 14:08

*you just need to focus on how to make your pregnancy as healthy as it can be.

mrswee · 07/06/2012 15:09

hi silvachick how over weight are you if you don't mind me asking?

in my last pregnancy I was 15 1/2 stone when I started, having just lost a stone. I was almost 18 stone after.
The problem was I totally took my foot off the breaks and ate cake and sweet stuff every day as well as the fact I just couldn't face healthy food as much as before. Everyone just always says 'oh eat what you like or you are eating for two and they never mention how big you are getting. I really regret eating that way because it did affect my pregnancy and I wish someone had given me some advise early on and I am doing things differently within reason this time.

So my situation now is as follows. I lost a lot of weight over the last two years but still didn't reach my target. I started this pregnancy at 11.11 stone. Still over weight but not as bad. I ate not much more than normal for the first little while as couldn't face food then between about 9 weeks and till last week 14 weeks, I was devastatingly hungry ALL the time!! and only wanted crap food, so I have put on some weight, not sure how much but some of my trousers don't fit!!
Anyway this week 15 weeks I feel much more open to all sorts of food so I am just trying to be as careful as possible with what I eat but eating when hungry and trying to avoid the bad stuff as much as possible. It is all I can do but if I carry on this way I should put on too much more and therefore it shouldn't effect my pregnancy. I won't lose weight, I know that but I want to minimise the impact because it REALLY REALLY effected my health badly the last time.

If I can advise you anything then it is to NOT do what I did the last time and listen to people who say oh have another cake or eat for two!

goood luck with everything. The only reason I answered you honestly is that I wish someone had said it to me. Hopefully in the next few weeks you will have less cravings and be open to more types of food.

Cheekychops84 · 07/06/2012 15:40

Yes I too have been a bit naughty :/ 33 weeks on Saturday and over the past 4 weeks it has settled down. I'm trying to eat porridge for breakfast this actually really fills me up for ages unlike when I'm not pregnant must be because baby is reducing my stomach size? The fruit to snack on or fat free yogurts, salad or jacket potatoes for lunch and whatever is for dinner fill up with veg and eat that first then I'm usually to full to eat what I was having with it ha ha! I put on about 5 stone with my first as I was really really bad ! My 2nd about 3 stone this on so far a stone and a half altho I'm at my biggest now as I didn't loose the weight from my previous pregnacys I jus carried on ! Woops !

HappyCamel · 07/06/2012 15:48

Hmmm, well it would be a good idea to exercise some self control. I had gestational diabetes and trust me, I'd have swapped a healthier diet earlier for making myself bleed four times a day, eating a very restricted diet, having to be induced at term and risking a much higher chance of stillbirth.

Yes, you might get away without complications but pregnancy is tough on your body and pregnancy with extra weight is even harder.

silvachick · 07/06/2012 16:55

I am not hugely overweight I am 13.5 stone and 5"3. Enough to be classified as obese no doubt! I have been trying to eat some good food e.g fruit, veg, fish, yoghurt. I have been succeeding it's just the other crap round it like sweets, crisps etc. I am dreading getting a lecture when I go for my booking in appointment.
My mum keeps on at me about how hard it's going to be towards end of pregnancy carrying extra weight. Cheers mum!

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HappyCamel · 07/06/2012 17:10

I was 10.5 stone and 5'6 and I still got GD. How about keeping a food diary, it might put you off if you know you have to write it down. Meal planning is your friend too.

Do you want to control your weight though? It sounds you'd just like people to tell you that it will all be fine whatever you weigh, which it might be, but we can't tell you that it will be.

Cheekychops84 · 07/06/2012 17:12

I couldn't eat healthily in the first months and still get off days! In the beginning I craved mcdonalds chips! Crisps , sandwiches, cheese anything really salty really ! And I gained most of mine at the beginning! Now since 26 weeks so say the last 6 weeks my weight has steadied out a bit and I'm enjoying eating veg and fruit and not craving the bread! Bread and crisps deff need cutting down on if
You can :)

Cheekychops84 · 07/06/2012 17:15

Oh and I drink a lot but weak sugar free or no added sugar squash

silvachick · 07/06/2012 17:37

I am perfectly aware of how to control my weight. I am not seeking permission to be fat. I just was wondering what experiences other ladies had in similar positions. It has been in the press quite a bit recently about all the possible issues that being overweight may cause not just during pregnancy but for the babies health beyond the birth and going forward.

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silvachick · 07/06/2012 17:40

Cheekychops - I have had a similar addiction to mcdonalds. Must say I have but a curb on that in recent few weeks. Damn those drive thrus lol!

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birdofthenorth · 07/06/2012 17:49

I weighed over 13 stone when I got pregnant with DD1 and almost 15 stone when I was 9 months pg. Had no problems but was bloody uncomfortable by the end, and DD was 9lb 6oz, possibly as a result of my scoffing!

I've also subsequently has 2 miscarriages (still weigh over 13 stone) so probably really ought to lose a couple of stone & eat better when pregnant, even though it makes me ravenously hungry & desperate for carbs & fat!

silvachick · 07/06/2012 18:01

Hi bird - that's the worry being too heavy that it is unbearable to drag myself around. I'm bad enough without bump!
I am starting swimming at the weekend so hopefully that should help

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AmandaLF · 07/06/2012 18:06

I was overweight when I fell pregnant and I've put on a lot of non baby weight since then. (I'm due next week). I've had a fairly easy pregnancy but the last couple of weeks my back has been very sore and I'm sure it's due to this. Just wanted you to know your not alone. Congratulations on your pregnancy though.

silvachick · 07/06/2012 18:09

Thanks Amanda - know nobody has a crystal ball just wanted some ladies in a similar boat!

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felixstow84 · 07/06/2012 18:16

Hi. I am 24 weeks pregnant. Not planned. I am sadly very obese. So far everything has been fine. Blood pressure ok etc. I am having Glucose Tolerance test at 28 weeks. However, I would need that anyway due to family history of type 2 diabetes.
On booking I was given a leaflet telling me about all the worst case senarios that are more likely when obese. Yeah thanks for that. Up to that point I was doing really well and I had actuaaly lost weight.
Other slightly upsetting thing is comment on scan report saying low resolution due to maternal BMI or similar.
However, apart from that HCP have been fine.
Congratulations.

mrswee · 07/06/2012 18:21

silvachick I'm sure you will be fine. You are not that big by the sounds of it. At 13 weeks all I wanted to eat and all I could stomach was junk and sweet stuff, now at almost 15 weeks I am not feeling that quite so much and I think that is the key really

blonderthanred · 07/06/2012 19:45

Hi Silva, I'm 18+2 and started this pg with a BMI of 37 (yours is 33
I think - I'm the same height as you). I am doing pg yoga, gentle swimming and having small amounts of sweet stuff as well as lots of healthy but nice stuff. Consultant is very happy with my progress and with the baby so far. They consider me very healthy aside from the BMI.

It can be upsetting when you see the BMI referred to on every new note, but it doesn't have to mean that the pregnancy will definitely have complications.

Cheekychops84 · 07/06/2012 19:50

I am now more or less 16 stone :/ and it's really annoying me ! I just want this baby out now so I can start walking and burning it off! I try walking now but get a really painful stitch pain and loads of braxton hicks get really hot and uncomfortable

Cheekychops84 · 08/06/2012 20:11

Anyone get really frustrated with themselves for being so big? I'm contantly punishing myself :( i can't face dinner tonight as it makes me feel so guilty for eating ! And I no ppl say ur pregnant u will gain weight but I still have to loose it after and thats hard I never managed to loose it the last 2times!

PineapplePol · 09/06/2012 07:42

Hi, I've only had one successful pregnancy and I started off overweight at 14st. By 37wks was nearly 18st. Stayed away from scales after that as scared! Had a diabetes scare but wasn't. Had SPD (but so do slimmer women) and high BP too (but this probably unrelated to weight). Towards end couldnt eat much because of heartburn anyway. Not sure how you feel about breastfeeding, but that really helped burn away the fat afterwards and helps with healthy eating as you want to do it for baby. Good luck!

PineapplePol · 09/06/2012 07:43

PS. Now 10wks in pregnancy 7 and normal BMI. You can lose it!

Spiritedwolf · 09/06/2012 09:08

Cheeky please don't skip meals, it really isn't good for you and baby and won't stop you gaining weight as your body will slow its metabolism in response and it might make sickness worse if you are still getting ms.

An alternative is serving yourself up a smaller portion of what you would normally have on a side plate. Or you could put a healthy side (salad, steamed veg etc) on about a third of your plate so that you have a smaller portion of the main meal.

I do understand how frustrating it is to eat when you know that ideally you'd be lighter, so I do sympathise, but skipping meals won't do you or your baby any good. You want to give your baby the message that it will be born into a world with enough nutrious food.

Cheekychops84 · 09/06/2012 09:17

Thanks guys ! I did have something in the end but small lol 2 sausages and 5 chips loool but I was still hungry so ended up having toast damn it. Was going to have porridge this am as its really filling but I've noticed the last few times I've had it after about half an hour I get quite breathless and feel really strange so had toast instead to see what happens ? It may jus be something wrong with me ? I went to hosp with it but all bloods came back fine.

Cheekychops84 · 09/06/2012 09:19

Also yes I will try to breastfeed altho wasn't successful for long with the other 2 first she lost too much weight 2nd seed to jus b constantly hungry