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!

Hi I'm matha Iv changed my name 😂

The dress is from Lindy bop. That's where I get most of my dresses xx

Hi can I join?

Currently 9+4 with an IVF baby after 4 years TTC. BMI was 33 at the point of conception but I've only just notice how much weight I've put on since! The morning sickness is only stopped by constant snacking and I think I've put on about 10Ibs!!

I should probably get back onto slimming world too - if I do it properly will I be able to loose some of this definitely not baby weight?

Ive found George to be quite good although they only go up to a 22 I think. Also yours clothing have a limited maternity section but what I've seen looks nice enough.

I wore maxi dresses with comfort shorts from Evans. I got a maternity one from eBay. I also got maternity leggings there too. I wore a lot of skater dresses with them

There's an eBay shop called purpless_fashion (sorry don't know how to link from the eBay app) that does mater it and nursing bits up to a size 18. I'm about a 20 but have bought some of the stretchy nursing tops that are a bit longer and they're a nice fit. Also make bump look nice and round rather than just fat.

My problem is that I'm plussized and skint! I want cheap maternity clothes!!!

I've requested the FB group too, good idea!

I'm also doing slimming world, is it right from the start you can do 2x the healthy extras? I'm doing the online membership so don't have a group consultant and was never sure on this cos I thought it was only for last trimester but keep hearing people say it's all the way through. Would be good if it is!

Is everyone agreeing to be weighed at their MW booking appointment, or has anyone opted out? I hear that some women refuse, rather than be classed as ‘high risk’, a label that depends on so many other factors too (smoking, drinking, diet, lifestyle, etc). It’s said to be for BMI calculations but those are just as controversial, especially for the more muscular among us, as they make no distinction between fat, fluids, muscle or bone. In the past, for example, when I've almost reached my supposedly 'healthy' BMI, not even into the top of my apparently 'correct' weight band, I've been so emaciated that doctors have told me to gain weight and quickly.

The repercussions of an overweight weigh-in in early pregnancy can include (tho' not always) being obliged to attend a compulsory weight management group, not being allowed water/home births, being forced to accept interventions like ‘sweeps’, contentious instructions about calorie restrictions, and submitting to subsequent weigh-ins. Indeed, some clinics only weigh visibly overweight women because – get this – it might cause others (of ‘normal’ weight) anxiety about their weight! As though overweight women are not the MOST prone to anxiety about their weight during pregnancy anyway...

More enlightened clinics and MWs are tending not to weigh people now because, as one person put it, “pregnant women are under enough pressure as it is, without being weighed and worrying about their weight.” As a grown adult, I feel quite capable of monitoring my own weight and understanding when my weight gain is excessive. However, I’m not sure I can face a battle over it with a MW.

Hi Leo, my first MW appointment is Tuesday and I will consent to weighing, to be honest I already expect to be in the high risk category and if any of the potential monitoring helps then I'm ok with it. I want to be in a consultant led clinic for birth anyway. (I have thin friends who have had horrific births) so it's not really a loss for me.

All my clothes are stretchy so I think I'll probably get through without having to buy any maternity stuff (which is good - I am
Cheap!)

Can't join FB as I'm not on it

Leo, thank you - that is certainly food for thought. I had to really fight to get my home water births last time - and had 2 wonderful experiences which I am keen to attempt to repeat. I will certainly consider this as an option (funny, how you sometimes forget it's your choice/consent when faced with medical professionals -isn't it?!).

leo I'll agree to it just don't want any of the mw to make me feel too crap about it though! I already know I'll be consultant care, as I was with a private ob gyn for pcos and she told me to book in to this particular hospital and request to have her as consultant, so I'm all fine with that and know I have a higher risk for Gdd because I had it last time and have pcos, so I'm happy to have any extra monitoring but some of the experiences on the FB group are scarily bad, and shocking!!

I was slightly overweight with my previous pregnancy but not as much now. Bmi is at 36 so hoping to just shift it under 35 by the time of booking in although not sure that's realistic, and tbh I'm sure weight will come up higher on the hospital scales cos at home I weigh myself first thing in the morning and without clothes, to get better result lol

I had been losing weight (sw) prior to getting bfp and didn't expect to get bfp so early on so thought I'd lose another good bit before getting pregnant, but it is what it is!

Hi all, hope I can join this thread! I'm also plus size - BMI definitely well over 30! I've been reading that Slimming World in pregnancy is really good and endorsed by midwives?? So thinking of following this and hopefully finishing my pregnancy lighter than I started!! I'm only 5 weeks at the moment so really want to start sorting my weight to make my pregnancy as stress free and healthy as possible!! Anybody else actively losing weight or doing SW?? xxx

I was hoping that too prosecco but SW guidance says you aren't to loose weight during pregnancy and it's more to maintain which just seems silly to me ...

Blue, my Dr said it was absolutely fine to lose weight. To be honest, I can't drink prosecco, eat Camembert or patè so he said it'll start falling off anyway haha!!! SW is all about healthy eating so not like a crash diet so I'm hoping it'll help me out! xx

that's helpful to know Prosecco. Unfortunately it's the opposite for me, for the first few weeks all I could eat was cheddar and carbs hence the recent 10Ib weight gain! Morning sickness seems to have stopped though so I need to get onto a healthier habit

Web resource for those with BMI 30+ bigbirthas.co.uk/. Lots of useful info and, under the 'pregnancy' tab, there's also a section on 'plus-size-maternity-clothes'.

I feel like I have found my spiritual home! Hello everyone!

So.... I had my booking in appointment this morning (10wks) and I left it feeling really down, my BMI is 39 and while I am going to do everything I can do stay there, I am also pretty healthy and active and have even lost 2kgs since getting pregnant (god knows how, I have been eating everything!). I have obviously been categorized as high risk and referred to consultant led care, as its my first pregnancy I was a bit scared when they said this, as well as the fact that they couldnt have written 'BMI -39' any more on my notes if they had tried! Anyway, its good to have some like minded women to talk to about this and realise I am not alone and hopefully everything will all work out!

Hi All

As there have been quite a few questions about SW and the healthy extras in particular so I thought this might be helpful - I've attached images of info from the booklet my group leader gave me.

PM me if you want a PDF Copy - I'm quite happy to share it if it will help anyone else!

Can I join please? I'm 22 weeks with DC3 size 20 BMI 40 😔 I haven't gained anything since booking, but am obviously consultant led and all that entails. I haven't announced the pregnancy beyond family yet so can't join the FB group just yet. It's so lovely to find you all though!

Thanks for the leaflets talcott

Thanks for the info Talcott - I just can't read the HEx bit! Do you get 2 A's and B's? Thanks xxx

Yes Prosecco you can have 2 a & b choices! Think I used most of my b choices on toast in the early days - definetly helped my nausea!

Can I join you? Pre-pregnancy BMI of 46 and now exactly 30 weeks with DC3. Have not weighed so no idea about gain. Mainly wearing Monsoon size 22 jersey dresses.

Previous pregnancies were very heathy but have developed GD this time so currently looking at ELCS in 8 weeks (ELCS due to other factors).