Pregnant and plump

[Polliver]

Hi everyone, I had my bfp last Friday, and all being well my first DC will be due end of April/beginning of May. I feel nervous about my first midwife appt, as my BMI is currently 34, and I can't seem to stop eating Are they likely to give me a hard time? I am really keen to lose a little bit of weight during my first trimester to avoid being the size of a planet later on, but I don't want to do anything unsafe. Has anybody been in the same boat?

Hi there can I join in on your thread I'm same as you bmi is 34 very close to 35 🙄and I'm just 5 wks today ( I had to loose loads weight last year to get bmi under 30 to get my reversal done and despite achieving that and getting my much desired surgery in January this year I've managed to pile all the weight back on so sickened and now don't no how to safely loose it again ( last year I trained super hard and was taking supplements which suppressed my hunger neither I'd say r recommend now 😏so eager to hear how we don't become the size of a planet ( which is what I was like on last dc 10 years ago my belly entered the room long before rest o me did 😂😂😂

@Polliver My BMI was higher than yours when I got my BFP. By the time of my booking in appointment at 8 weeks it had gone down 2 points, simply through healthy eating and regular gentle exercise (which stopped between weeks 7-14 because of terrible morning sickness!) despite having really bad nausea with an empty stomach - I just ate little and often.

I've managed to almost maintain this up until now (18+2) - put on 1lb over the weekend but I'm hoping that will disappear this week.

Nobody gave me a hard time - in fact, I was hoping for more support in my goal not to gain any weight during pregnancy, but they're really not interested in discussing it and have only weighed me once (at booking in). Otherwise the only times it's been mentioned have been when I've brought it up!

My BMI was 33 at booking in, I had an extra appointment to talk about diet and exercise and the additional risks, but it wasn't at all judgey. I haven't been weighed since, but will be at my next midwife appointment (28 weeks). I believe if it was over 40 at that appointment I'd be referred to a consultant. I wouldn't be able to give birth in the midwife led birthing centre at my hospital if it's over 35, but I've now got a gestational diabetes diagnosis so I wouldn't be allowed anyway.

I expected them to be a lot more on at me about my weight tbh, so it's been a pleasant surprise. I wasn't given any weight gain guidance but the verdict from my googling seemed to be that 5-9kg was max recommended when starting with BMI >30, so I've been trying to keep within that sort of range.

Hi @Myalterego1, I am 5 weeks tomorrow, so it looks like we are in the same boat!

@AnUtterIdiot @peachgreen @AccrualIntentions thanks for the info, it's good to know that you weren't given a hard time...I was imagining really judgey, tutting midwives!

I've been doing a bit of research, and Slimming World is recommended by the Royal College of Midwives...in going to a group tomorrow evening. Not that I haven't been before, ive been around the block a few times, diet wise! I like the idea of being able to eat lots of healthy food and lose a few pounds in a healthy way. Xxx

Ps. Obviously the health of my baby is my first priority, and I know this is super vain, but I really want to feel proud of my bump in the 3rd trimester, and not to feel like a planet 🌎

@Polliver If it helps I'm 18 weeks and I love love LOVE my bump

Good luck! It took me a bit longer than thinner friends to look visibly pregnant rather than just fat but now I have a proper bump it's great. I'm wearing fitted dresses and not having to suck my stomach in like I have for the past 15 years

I was 33-domething on booking in, weighing 92kg, measuring 166cm. I'm now 30 as I'm down to 88kg at 32 weeks. Not been trying to loose weight just had dreadful nausea and a baby sitting high on my stomach so i dont eat much. Midwives seem uninterested in my weight and say its fine. Baby growth is a couple of weeks ahead. They will probably tell u to.take extra folic acid in the early days...

I was the same BMI - nobody gave me a hard time, but they did spend a long time warning me of additional risks, namely:

• higher risk of pre-eclampsia
• higher risk of gestational diabetes
• potential anaesthetic complications
• high birth weight baby

None of these things happened! I had a perfectly normal pregnancy, an easy and complication-free epidural and a perfectly normal sized, healthy baby.

The only thing I found a bit off was one sonographer reassuring me that the reason they couldn't see the baby well wasn't because I was fat, it's just that some people have 'dense tissue'. Up until that point I didn't think it was my fault for being too fat, but after that I definitely did!

@Polliver great we round same I'm thinking my due date be 24 April what's yours ? Also be really Interested to know how you get on with slimming world and feel free to share any and all tips tricks you pick up there so we can both have as healthy and happy pregnancy ive tried to curb my crappy food and eat healthier since bfp and I've been out walking on average 4 nights a week we up to 5km this eve so if I can manage to keep up the walking at least fitness level will improve and this pregnancy I hopefully won't be waddling as much as previous ones 😂

Opposite issue for me, currently 36 weeks but had a low bmi, no one ever had a go at me for it, just had to have extra scans but babies weight has been fine all the way through. I think it depends on your midwife, mine never seems concerned about anything, all my appointments last minutes

Lovely to hear some positive stories about mums to be with high b.m.i.
Mine was 39 at booking in and now 25weeks no-one had taken my weight again pr calculated my b.m.i (although first trimester sickness and not drinking booze means it would be lower than original).
Sadly I have felt very much at a disadvantage because of my weight - my (community, very old-fashioned) midwife basically told me that all my risks are greatly increased and that it was 'her job' to worry me, ' at least for the first 20 weeks'. She said I must be consultant-led in labour ward, no chance of midwife - led in birth centre (within labour ward). Thankfully the consultant disagreed. Even at 20 week scan the (genuinely inexperienced) sonographer said that he couldn't see enough of the baby's heart due to my b.m.i (i know this can be true but in my case was just an easy shorthand to blame me as I had to repeat the scan at 22 weeks and she could see everything).
I don't say this to upset you op, but instead to arm you with knowledge that I wish i had know at the start. A few weeks ago I had my first lovely midwife who said ' you're a mother first and foremost, and only after that are you someone with a medical history'.
It gave me the confidence i needed to stand up for myself. Good luck and congratulations!

@InThisTogether So sorry you've had such a horrible experience, what a shame. :(

You make a good point re: 20 week scan actually - I booked mine for 22 weeks at the recommendation of a sonographer and I'm so grateful to her for suggesting it as I wouldn't have thought to and it sounds like it was very upsetting for you. :(

BMI was 33 at booking appointment and other than having to have GTT at 28w (I am now 17w) I have needed no extra appointments. I am low risk and don't actually see the MW now until my 28w appointment 3rd baby, they barely see you at all with number 3

My bmi is 42 and I'm worried about effects it may have, we didn't plan our pregnancy but are very happy we have had a surprise! Midwife said I'm
Classed as high risk due to pregnancy, but I'm not to try and lose weight as that could be worse!

My bmi was 40+ when I fell pregnant. I was losing weight but was told that conceiving would take a long time due to being over weight. It didn't take long at all so I was still a lot heavier that is have liked when I fell pregnant.

I wasn't even weighed at booking in, midwife was happy that i had answered honestly. Ran me through the additional risks than a high bmi entailed and said that I would have consultant led care and prescribed a higher dose of folic acid and aspirin. I was lucky and my pregnancy was actually quite easy. Consultant appointments were fine they just wanted to keep a close eye on my blood pressure. I was signed off from the consultant after a clear GTT.

I wasn't able to used the MLU but labour ward/delivery ward was fine.

Hi all, just wanted to come back and let you know (after my last moany thread) that my usual miserable midwife was off sick today and her cover was the most upbeat, lovely, friendly, positive midwife I could have wished for.
She talked about positive attitude, empowering her mothers and that there was no reason for ever assuming a high b.m.i would lead to complications.

So really just to say it is luck of the draw who you get but she restored my faith a lot!

Hi- 35 weeks here. My bmi was 36 at booking. They won't give you a hard time but you need to control your overeating.

I was really worried about this, mine was 32. It wasn't even mentioned.

I was also scared I wouldn't be able to have good scans and they were all fine, although on one they wrote 'low resolution scan' ... but again never mentioned it.

And I'm so far on track with weight gain, for my BMI. I was really worried I would gain loads (and I was very hungry in the second trimester).

In a nutshell, try not to think about it. Relax and enjoy your pregnancy. You won't be made to feel self conscious and I think it's pretty normal. We're all different shapes and sizes but your body will be the perfect home for your baby in the coming months and that's the main thing X

Oh & one more ... I was scared I wouldn't get a proper bump as my biggest area is my tummy. But I have a big bump and am enjoying wearing tighter clothes than I have in years to show that area off, which I never imagined

I had booking appointment yesterday. My bmi was also noted as 34 it's 33 naked first thing in the morning midwife was fairly supportive and I was more concerned than her. She referred me to consultant for 16 week check... but also said "if you want a mars bar, for gods sake have one, just don't have three" !!

My bmi was 45 but wasnt actively trying so was slowly loosing weight with slimming world. Since my bfp i have lost 35lbs and bmi dropped 10. Midwife has said slimming world fine to continue with and if i carry on loosing it can only benifit me. As long as its not drastic.