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!

ilikerain my mid wife mentioned mentioned my weight at least ten times during booking in appt yesterday. Im sure we are all aware of the risks.

I'm 35weeks now and size 20/22 (plus the the now noticeable bump) - and have thankfully had a pretty smooth pregnacy tbh despite the whole thing about the potential for added problems with being overweight and pregnant.

I was very self conscious at first when I got pregnant because it was a total suprise and i'd actually been doing slimming world for about 5months before (lost just over 3 st and dropped down from a size 26!) So I hated the fact that I'm sure people just thought I'd fallen off the diet wagon when I started to show but it it wasn't immediately obvious that the growth was due to baby IYKWIM.

Honestly it's awful but one of the 1st things that went through my head when I got the +ve test was 'oh shit - I'm doing so well on the diet and this will ruin it!' (Must add that this was immediately followed by utter delight - but it's weird where your mind goes when in shock!) i've been sticking with SW with the encouragement of my midwives etc and still go to group although im not giving myself a hard time about what the scales say right now i will continue with my journey after DD arrives and she will ultimately give me even more incentive to keep going! I'm actually pretty sure that the reason I conceived when I did was due to the improvement to my general health with the weight loss anyway.

I'm overweight, not massively, but I'm certainly not in the healthy range. I'm really stressed and worried about further weight gain. I'm only 10 weeks and have already gained 5lbs which is ridiculous. Have been attending weekly slimming world classes too and sticking to it 95% of the time. Very panicked about what the next 30 weeks hold for me if this is what's happened so far!! To make matters worse those 5lbs were gained in the last 3 weeks!!

AKP79 - don't get too worked up about the number on the scale right now your body is going through some massive changes. Stick to SW as much as you can its really helped my whole attitude about weight right now - am I where I want to be in terms of my weight? No. I'd have chosen to be at my target weight before getting pregnant but thats not how its worked out so all I can do now is make the best possible choices and by continuing to go to group it's kept me in the right mind set and reduced the temptation to 'eat for 2'

Try not to get too hung up on guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy, just eat as healthily as you can and cut out the cakes/sweets/treats as much as you can and don't think I'm eating for two as its been proven pregnant women only need an extra 200cals which is 2 slices of bread for example.

Last pregnancy I was 14.5 at the begginging (5ft2 so really shows) and put on three stone, midwife when I was in labour was a total bitch and was horrible about my weight- put me on the scales to weigh me when I got to hospital at 7cms !! Wrote "difficult to listen in due to maternal size " every time she listened to baby's heartbeat, even though she successfully did it each time.

As it was the baby was 9lb, plus placenta, fluid and 20% extra blood flow round body and I ended up being 14.3 just four days after the birth!! Which convinces me that whilst I did put on a fair bit, it was all needed.

Incidentally with dc1 I was not overweight and still had 9lb baby, I was progressively heavier with each pregnancy but all 4 were 9lb thereabouts.

My other two were 9lb+. Have a feeling this one is smaller. She's measuring bang on the middle where as my other two were on the 98th centile lol x

I had a BMI of 41/42 with my two previous babies - and successfully fought for 2 x happy home water births. I live in an area with very supportive community midwives who advocate home births but had to be referred for a very upsetting anaesthetist appointment (who I later complained about) - then went along the corridor to see an obstratrician (sp?) for an appointment - he told me he was born in Africa under a table and told me to go for it!!

I'm a bit bigger now (probably BMI >45 but not sure yet, booking in appt a week on Monday so will find out then) and am preparing for similar fight!

I'm sad I got pregnant at this weight. I'm sad I won't have an amazing beach ball bump, that I can't buy pretty maternity clothes and that I have the extra pressure with scans, to plan the birth I want etc. But I'm very very happy to be pregnant and can't do a lot about it now!!

Thank you ladies for your words and support. I feel so depressed about my weight and then I feel really shallow about feeling like this. I am determined to stick to SW and stay to groups, but it's really testing my motivation when the scales are creeping up so rapidly. It's sent my anxiety through the roof.

Maybe we could set up a little Facebook support group? Might help with reassurance from others in similar situation. What do you think?

I will get onto it! X

Made one called Plus size pregnancy UK xx

www.facebook.com/groups/1539064789732097/

Xx

Aw I'm not on FB. Pop back here sometimes and keep me company Xxx

Would love to join that but will people on my FB see that I've joined? We haven't announced the pregnancy yet. X

Nope it's a private group. They will only know if they look on the group at members x

Great to have FB option, heyjude16. I'll continue here tho', as there's no plus-size preggers thread on MN just now & we need one.

Amazing to hear, lilydaisyrose, that you succeeded in getting home water births, so often refused point-blank at 'high risk' weight. Well done you! Did you get a MW to attend?

About weight in pregnancy & conception, I got a lot of grief about mine previously when struggled to conceive. Got put on Clomid repeatedly but just kept miscarrying (5x). All doctors focused on was my weight, when actually my age & ovarian reserve were much more significant factors. Have now had private ivf successfully in USA using 27-yr old donor's egg & hubby's sperm, and my weight has been the least important factor of all. I may be big but I'm also healthy & my womb's terrific!

Anyway got my heart beat ultrasound (7 wks) this afternoon so on serious tenterhooks at the moment. Keep your collective fingers crossed for me/us!

I can't thank you all enough for this thread. I'm pregnant with my first and have spent the whole of the first trimester feeling so anxious and guilty about the potential implications of me falling into the obese category. I convinced myself I could lose weight at the beginning but have had bad nausea which seems to get worse when I'm hungry. I'm trying my best to keep a cap on it the eating but I'm only just getting to a place where that's feasible.

It's really reassuring to hear from others in the same boat so thank you

Fingers crossed for you leotwist I hope all goes well.

Ahhh a lovely thread I can relate to! I'm currently 12+5 with dc2. I started this pregnancy a couple of lb heavier than last time but am the same now as I was at this stage laSt time having gained 1.5 lb. Bmi at booking was just under 30 thank to the midwife's scales not working properly (in both pregnancies) - it was actually more like 31. My pregnancy with dc1 was totally uncomplicated and while labour was painful (long and back to back), birth itself was no problem! I'm 5' 10 and full term I weighed 18st, though I'm going to try not to put as much this time (38lb last time!). I'm also obviously showing if you know, but if you don't must just look like I've really let myself go lately!!

Yaaaay! We have a heart beat! First time ever. So pleased and relieved just burst into tears! (External wasn't clear but v nice midwife fine about switching to vaginal.) HCG levels still rising nicely too. Another scan & bloods check in 2 weeks. What a wonderful day!!!

I was a size 24/26 when I fell pregnant. I did lose some weight before TTC but it was taking forever and I couldn't wait any longer! I worried about it loads initially but I'm now 37+5 and have had a completely trouble free pregnancy so far (little bit of achiness / SPD right now but to be expected as baby is a big'un ). Had two sets of GTT tests with normal results back too. I do plan to shift the weight in a big way once baby is here, don't want to be all out of breath running around after the baby when he gets older, but I've tried not to be too obsessive while actually pg; I've gained about 8 or 9lbs.

I know there are risks, but there are also way worse things than being overweight while pg - people smoke, drink, take drugs and don't look after their bodies in other ways.

I've joined the FB group.

I was a size 14/16 before getting pregnant. I'm classified as high risk as BMI is over 30 (think it was 35) but my MW, consultant and GP have all acknowledged that my weight isn't a concern apart from I've been categorised as consultant led.

I've got to do a GTT though, but blood pressure remains low, I don't smoke or drink and any blood result I've had before and during pregnancy has showed an entirely normal set of parameters - in fact, a SHO 6 months ago said my blood results were better than an 18 year old athlete

I'm nearly 20w now, but I've not gained much more than 7-8lbs so far.

Amazing news leotwist I'm so pleased for you!!

My grandma in law used to be a midwife, she's never heard of spd. She swears it's the extra weight I'm carrying that's causing the pain as the baby couldn't possibly make a difference right now 🙄

Totally get the frustration with the lack of decent plus-size maternity clothes. It's always been hard finding wide-leg trousers & jeans that also fit properly elsewhere, so dreading the hunt for them over the next 9 months. I like leggings & jogging bottoms but would like a change sometimes. Am thinking that a summer pregnancy means being able to do sundresses over leggings. Aren't retailers missing a trick, when so many women gain weight everywhere during pregnancy? Have seen better clothes options in US but unfortunately Zika has put paid to my trips there for now. Will try to hunt down affordable & nice UK sources for this thread. All & recommendations very welcome.