Plus-sized Pregnancy

[leotwist]

Feeling hot and tired in the supermarket the other day, I mentioned to the checkout girl that it was probably because I was pregnant and had a cold. When she asked how far along I was, I said ‘Just a couple of months’. To which – with a pointed downward glance – she replied, ‘Oh is that all?’ Cheeky cow Granted I am plus-sized, but I felt like shaking my belly fat at her, Goonies style, and shouting, ‘This? Oh this is just all blubber so far!’

Now, obviously weight is an important consideration when you’re pregnant, and to get regular exercise and healthy food throughout. However, some of us get pregnant at a higher weight than most and, once you are, is not the time for any extreme dieting.

This thread is for the plus-sized mums amongst us (usually classed as size 18+) to support each other without judging or patronising. Your tales, reflections, experiences, resources, rants, etc – all very welcome!

I'm 5'8 and currently 17st 5 - size 20. I've actually lost 7lbs in this pregnancy so far from all the sickness but 15 weeks today and it's finally subsided.
My weight does 'bother' me in the sense I want what's best for us both, but do I care what other general population think - heck no. I'm just going to enjoy this massive privilege I've been given to conceive my first child after 5 months of trying.
Admittedly I do sit and think maybe I'd have a nice bump starting to show now if I wasn't so big, but hopefully it'll show more in time.
I'm planning to start slimming world to maintain my weight/not put on for sure especially now I can eat nearly normally again.

Good luck with your pregnancy

I'm 30 weeks today and size 24 and just have a lovely bump forming now. I haven't had any negative comments. All of my scans have been lovely too that was a big worry for me! just feel as though sometimes my midwife expects to have things go wrong at my last appt she was shocked when my GTT results were well within range!
Here's to happy healthy pregnancies ladies

My last scan said difficult scan due to maternal habitus AKA fat!

High BMI but pregnancy still low-risk as blood pressure ok.

I do feel annoyed at myself sometimes as will be even harder to shift weight after pregnancy, but I exercised three times a week before getting preggers.

I am weighing myself weekly to keep things in check - 22+2 and I've put on 5.3kg... too much?

Size 20 here. 28 weeks, put on 2 stone so far. I'm still wearing pre pregnancy clothes which I'm happy about. I put on 6 stone with my others 🙊

Cheeky bitch! If she'd said that to someone less sure of themselves than you she could have really affected them :( Good for you! I was obese at booking in. Pregnancy was brilliant for me though and I ended up slimmer than when I began. Am now bigger than ever a year later though! Oops 😬

Can I join? Size 20 here too and 27 weeks.

Honestly my weight does bother me a bit because I feel I've cheated myself out of a nice wee bump by being overweight! A couple of my friends are also pregnant but not as far along as me and I get a bit jealous when I see their bumps forming

Or maybe I do have a bump and I just can't see it when I look down thanks to my 40H boobs!

Great to hear from everyone and very glad to hear things are generally going well. Definitely a big plus (excuse the pun) not having to buy as many maternity clothes. I started buying baggy tunic style tops a while ago, which I reckon will last me most of the 9 months. And even if we don’t see our bumps as early as most people, we’re likely to end up with similarly massive bumps anyway – so no rush!

Yes, Bippitybopityboo, being big AND healthy does seem to be quite a surprise and novelty to many people, something that’s definitely a modern phenomenon. In days gone by, larger women who clearly ate enough were usually considered to be the most fertile and healthy.

In terms of weight gain, Sophied1983, 5.3 kg (> 12 lbs) doesn’t seem excessive at all when you're at 22 + 2. From what I’ve read so far, the most commonly cited weight gain is around 42 pounds/3 stone, but of course it varies dramatically and usually with little/no consequences whatsoever.

Talking of widespread info, the published brochures are beginning to annoy me – and not just because they only ever show images of size-12 women in their twenties. What really bugs me is that – after scaring you half to death with dire warnings about how being overweight increases risks of gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia and problematic deliveries – they always end up saying “but if you’re already overweight, try not to worry”!

Hey I'm 36+5 and I'm 22 stone. Have put 14 pounds on so far.

Those weight gains are too high!

I'm plus size and have tried really hard to keep my weight gain in check so it can be done. Pregnancy isn't an excuse to eat for two. We have all been doing that up to his point or we wouldn't be so fat! Take control and watch your weight gain for the sake of the baby.

www.calculator.net/pregnancy-weight-gain-calculator.html

Hi im plus sized.

Early days awaiting dating scan.

Lost 2 stone last pregnancy. Kind of hoping for similar again but without the sickness!

Hi ladies. I'm not pregnant anymore, but want to just reassure you... I had a BMI of 41 at booking. My scans were a little fuzzy, but I sailed through the GTT and had no complications at all. I swear the consultant was annoyed with me for it.

I lost weight during my pregnancy, but do have more of a belly now so must be slimmer elsewhere.

Anyhow... Try to ignore the doom and gloom. If you do get complications they don't worry. It wasn't inevitable as plenty of us have proven. everyone I know with GD is very skinny

Good luck!!

*then not they. Obviously "they" (HCP) will rightly worry.

ItsLikeRain is right though... Try to keep yourself in check. I was recommended to gain only a stone maximum.

Ok so a few of you have sailed through pregnancy with no issues. That's brilliant. Statistics don't lie though. You are at much higher risk of terrible outcomes so you have to control weight gain and your health where you can.

www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g6572

Just popping by. I am hoping to ttc soon (weighed 14st 7 at last check) and have been trying to loose weight.

I popped to the doctors about it as so far i have had an mmc and a stillbirth and was paranoid it was linked to weight as you read so many stats online.

My gp told me that weight would not affect the baby at all. I just really wanted to share that as kinda blamed myself after my problems and am probably pressuring myself too much to loose weight and having the opposite effegt comfort eater . Gp said it links to maternal health hence all the uproar about gdb and the other one which has left my mind lol! I didnt get gdb but from everything i read i felt like it was in inevitable. Its crap really.

In my last pregnancy i.put on 6lb but only made it to 27 weeks. Midwife said bigger people tend to put on less as they're so paranoid about it.

Anyway congrats to you all. Enjoy your pregnancies and dont worry what anybody else thinks

I'm sure we all know these things, and want what's best for our babies Itslike

You're right about statistics* but I joined this thread 'to support each other without judging or patronising.'*

Really sorry to hear that ginger.

for you and try not to be too hard on yourself

Sure enough, if I gained another 3 stone, my legs would simply buckle! However, that is still the most commonly cited weight gain. And while I take your point ItsLikeRain, let's keep it positive; no need to patronize. Most pregnant women do already realize that "pregnancy isn't an excuse to eat for two", and doing that certainly isn't the only reason people gain weight. At any rate, happily, many women only gain a few pounds or even lose some. My main priority will remain nutrition and health, rather than just numbers, but here's hoping!

I'm quiet proud of my weight gain. I haven't pigged out, I could have gained a lot more like my previous pregnancies. I lost 6 stone to get pregnant, I know I will lose again once baby is here. I'm still wearing my pre pregnancy clothes. Outing myself but what the hell!

Bravo Martha! Looking lovely!

Thanks kaja

Fwiw my son had a condition called pffd which was discovered at his 20 week scan and it is not related to weight at all. Still try to point the finger somewhere tho.

Lovely bump pic martha

I'm currently trying to lose weight (unsuccessfully) to have another baby. I am 22st and would like to be 15st. With my first pregnancy I was 16st when I fell pregnant, 19st 3 at 40wks, had a great big healthy 10lb baby - plus water, placenta and the rest of it, and was back at 16st after a month or so. I had very few complications first time round other than being hospitalised with HG -although I was high risk and I was induced on my due date as measured big for dates, and my scans were poor due to adiposity so I felt very guilty throughout my pregnancy that I was posing a risk to my ds. I wish I could sort myself out and get some of this weight off to start trying again as my cycles are all over the place now and my clock is ticking.

Lovely pic Martha! (Also love the penguin phone case )

Hi there. BMI of 36 at booking in. I'm now 31+2 and I weigh the same as at booking in. Past 2 weeks my bump looks like baby bump rather than fat which I was really looking forward to. I am on meds for my bp and having extra growth scans but touch wood everything has been good so far.

Itslikerain I get you're trying to be helpful but I would bet the majority of the ladies on this thread have heard it all before and felt the judgment from others (I know I certainly have). This thread should be a supportive and non judgmental place.

I lost weight in pregnancy basically because stopped drinking wine and, as I had type 2 diabetes and had to keep good control of blood sugar, couldn't eat too much sugary food either.
My weight did go up after week 30 but 2 weeks after having him, I was less than my pre pregnancy weight. Nobody cared that much about my weight, they were more bothered about the diabetes.

The worst things were people thinking I was further on; maternity clothes being too small so just wearing my usual clothes and bigger knickers/leggings; scans sometimes hurting as they pressed on really hard to get a good image; and the spinal for my c section being problematic. They managed it eventually but I was in danger of needing a GA - fortunately it was an ELCS and no one was in a hurry!

Martha you look lovely!

Hi purple waves