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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Overweight, birth, pregnancy. Help please

22 replies

Emilyjane11 · 18/11/2014 18:26

Hi ladies,

I am 7+2 weeks pregnant with my first child, i have a bmi of 35. I am 6ft tall and weight about 17.5 stone and carry my weight well but let's face it that doesn't matter when your pregnant.

I am very anxious about being overweight and pregnant and I am being as healthy as I can be, walking and eating right ect. But i was wondering if any of you could share your birth stories (if you are/were overweight)

Also, I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the scan and if it's more difficult to see baby/heat heartbeat if overweight.

I know I can do this, and really want a water birth but I don't know if that will be possible. Knowledge would be greatly appreciated

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MrsCK · 18/11/2014 18:37

Hi! had a BMI of 41.7 at booking in (I worked it out as 39 so who knows) and have had the following 'issues'.

Had a scan at 7+5 and this wasn't abdominal had to be transvaginal. I don't know if this was due to my bmi or the fact I wasn't far along though.

and that's it really. I have spd but then again so do other people. I may not be able to have a water birth...they have advised me against it but apart from that all has been well. I also felt the baby kick at 18 weeks quite clearly....I gather this is quite early and assumed my layer of insulation would prevent kicks from being felt. I've also had one consultant appointment at 27 weeks where I got lectured a bit and made aware of the risks I was at due to bmi but they are just that...risks not certainties. good luck with your pregnancy!

Original poster

Emilyjane11 · 18/11/2014 18:42

Thank you. You have made me feel better.
I really don't want to be lectured but I'll deal with that when I have to. I've had my booking in appointment and she said if my bmi stays the same i should be able to have a water birth. So fingers crossed.

When did you start showing?

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PeppermintInfusion · 18/11/2014 18:54

I was worried about this too, my pre pg bmi was about 32/33, but I've had really clear scans, like you this was something I was apprehensive about beforehand.
I'm generally healthy, still active, low BP etc so I haven't had to do anything else differently. The only additional advice was to keep any weight gain to a minimum.

Bippidee · 18/11/2014 18:57

Hi! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I had a high bmi (40) at the start of the pregnancy. I was allocated to a weight clinic, so I had lots of appointments with consultants who basically told me I was overweight, but not to crash diet.

As I was not drinking throughout the pregnancy, I actually net lost around 20 kilos by the end.

Re scans, I didn't need tv ones, there was just a note from the first one that said it was not clear because of maternal adiposity. Nonsense: the 13 week one was clearer than any of the others!

My pregnancy was thankfully straightforward and I was incredibly lucky not to have sickness or anything like that.

Good luck, and enjoy it!

knowler · 18/11/2014 19:03

My bmi was 32 and everything was absolutely fine. BP always perfect, scans fine. I think the midwife led unit here has a guideline that the highest bmi should be 35, but if you feel strongly you can always try to get them to make an exception.

Congratulations, you'll be fine!

Original poster

Emilyjane11 · 18/11/2014 19:05

Thanks ladies you have all made me feel miles better.
I just have mili second panics where j think my body won't be able to get the baby out x

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Chefpepperjack · 18/11/2014 19:07

Bmi of 33
No one mentioned weight, ever. And I was over 35.
Scans were fine.
I put on about a 1.5stone during pregnancy
Great pregnancy
Birth was long, big baby 10 lbs, but big babies do run in our family, so not sure that was definitely connected to my weight.
I really think it depends on individual hospital policy as to how they treat/determine high risk.

Chefpepperjack · 18/11/2014 19:08

Don't worry, enjoy!
I wish I could do it all over again

Zamboni · 18/11/2014 19:11

BMI of over 40 in both pregnancies. Had excellent care, no particular issues and my size was dealt with matter of factly but kindly if that makes sense. Don't worry, just be as healthy as you can now - I actually list weight in both pregnancies and put it back on as I are cake everytime I breastfed!

Original poster

Emilyjane11 · 18/11/2014 19:16

Haha thanks ladies this is such a nice place to vent!

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Original poster

Emilyjane11 · 18/11/2014 19:17

Can I ask when you started to show?

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MrsCK · 18/11/2014 19:24

started to show around 16 weeks. It was definitely a bump and people commented. I was worried I'd just look fatter but nope definitely bumpy! 29 weeks and people in the street have asked me how long left so I clearly look pg and not just fat!

Original poster

Emilyjane11 · 18/11/2014 19:32

Aw that's great :) im excited now xx

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PeppermintInfusion · 18/11/2014 20:28

I only started to show around 20w, managed to conceal it for work (long story) til the past week or so 26w, still not massive could mostly hide it if I wanted to. My hips are quite wide which I think makes it less obvious.

When you google the advice about bmi etc it does scare you, but I think most hospitals just use it as a general guide and take into account your lifestyle etc as well.

Chefpepperjack · 18/11/2014 20:40

Yeah about 16weeks

eastcoastmum2014 · 18/11/2014 21:18

My bmi was 32 at booking. I had an abdominal scan at 8 weeks (due to brown bleeding) and since then I have noticed they push a little harder at the scans but the clarity has always been good! (I have had 3 NHS scans and 2 private scans) I also had the GTT cus all people with a bmi over 30 have the gtt at 28 weeks- but that was fine! My bump isnt massive and they think bub will be a 6 pounder so she wont be huge... I could hide it until I was about 22 weeks. I think generally they should be ok with you I havent had any problems xx

CherryLips1980 · 18/11/2014 21:30

My BMI was (and still is) over 40 when I was pregnant with DD last year. Pregnancy was fine until the last 3 weeks when I developed high BP (but not PE). Always able to see her on scans - difficulty measuring her was due to her constantly wriggling rather than my podge. HB sometimes took a bit of finding but again that is because she was forever on the move - MWs would lose the HB after they'd found it (if you get what I mean). Birth, frankly, was a doddle but I had a precipitate labour/delivery. All done and dusted within an hour and a half. BP was stratospheric afterwards and I ended up readmitted but that can't be absolutely attributed to weight.

This time I'm slightly heavier than I was with DD (am now 18+0) and have only had one MW get in a tizz with me over my weight.

purplebiro · 18/11/2014 22:53

I'm also BMI 35-ish, also 6ft (and a bit) and also wear it well and currently 11+5 with first pregnancy. Absolutely nothing to report in the way or either problems or shaming yet, except for the consultant who was booked for my appointment to talk about mental health (I have history and am on Sertraline) who blatantly didn't know that's what he was there to talk to me about it and, while frantically searching my notes to find a reason for being there said "ummm....you're BMI is a bit high, are you aware of healthy eating?" "no, doctor, I thought it was a witch's spell that made me porky, not the cake" (I did not reply).

Had an early scan at 9w (because of messed up dates) and baby and heart beat clearly visible with no poking and prodding whatsoever.

Happy to message/stay in touch if you want to compare notes as we progress.

Original poster

Emilyjane11 · 19/11/2014 08:45

Thank you. Yeah I'd like that.
I can't wait for my scan. I've only seen my midwife once and she just said that I don't look my weight and not to worry. Fingers crossed I'll have a fairly positive experience like you lot :)

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adieutoyou · 20/11/2014 17:45

im 7+5 and have a bmi of about 39 :/
Im feeling anxious about the risk to the baby and kicking myself for not losing weight prior to getting pregnant. I lost 12 pounds before falling pregnant and think ive lost more due to morning sickness but that is a drop in the ocean compared to what im carrying.

I have my first MW appointment next week and scared shes going to tell me off/ make me feel like a terrible person. Not that I dont deserve it.

Your positive experiences are making me feel a bit better about things.

MsRyanGosling · 20/11/2014 18:14

Im 8+1 and have a BMI at booking-in today of 40 which I knew. it doesn't help that I'm only 5'2" so it is pretty horrific.

I had an early scan at 6+5 and that was abdominal and she could see no problem. I was so worried she was going to she couldn't see due to me being so fat. There were two ladies in before me, both bigger than me and they also had outwards scans.

I have had three dc previous, inc 2 CS and have lots of fat around my middle.

At booking today however, the mw was bigger than me and didn't offer any advice and just kind of looked at me when I said I was worried about my weight so that was awkward.

I have been at Slimming World since 5 weeks and have lost 5.5lb. I am not actively trying to diet but I am wanting to avoid putting 5 stone on. There is no need to do that.

Gemzybelle · 20/11/2014 19:40

My bmi was 36 at booking in. My midwife has never mentioned my weight and has thus far been lovely. However I was referred to a consultant (due to previous preterm birth at 29 weeks) who looked at my notes from previous pregnancy and remarked 'well you were much thinner when you had your daughter, what happened?' About ten years has passed for a start cheeky cow

Now well into second tri I haven't found my weight to be anything of an issue apart from the obligatory diabetes test it hasn't had any impact on my pregnancy so far.

Just smile and nod

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