Pregnancy plus-bigger Mums to be

[starlet2411]

Hi there, I was searching for the topic I am looking for for the last hour but I gave up already :) Are there any Mums to be with BMI higher than 35? Or Mums who already gave birth being "big" during pregnancy? I am 31, my first pregnancy, 8 weeks pregnant. Scared and terrified that my weight can lead into miscarriage :( this is why I am looking for other ladies in similar situation to support each other :)

Hi @starlet2411 I started a thread 2018 Plus Size Pregnancies a little while ago and there is some info from other ladies on there, I'm coming up for 8 weeks and so far only have a scan date from NHS for 18th March and no other info... I'm waiting on a booking in appointment but I don't know whether I should be doing anything different as my BMI is currently 33/34... I'm taking a pregnancy vitamin and then extra folic acid too much am unsure what else I should be doing and as yet don't have a booking in appointment scheduled...

How are you getting on in your first 8 weeks?

Hi @EL332 I guess you meant scan date for 18th of May not March? :) I am exaclty 7+4 so coming up to 8th week on Saturday :) Have you seen your midwife yet? Mine told me that she will refer me to dietician and also to Pregnancy Plus clinic, I do not know if you saw your midwife already. Mine gave me a letter asking GP to prescribe 5mg of folic acid but I am waiting for my "discount card?" which apparently will let me have free prescriptions throughout pregnancy. But other then that she did not say much, just to try moderate excercise like walking 150 mins per week :)

Hi, congratulations on your pregnancy!

My starting BMI was just over 35 so got extra growth scans (28, 32 & 36 weeks), test for GD was negative and had no issues (due to weight) I am now 36+4 and have put on about 1.5 stone, continued Slimming World throughout (had lost 3.5 stone prior to pregnancy) but haven’t beaten myself up about it and just done what I could. I haven’t been weighed by midwife since booking appointment.

I have another child and was also ‘big’ when I had him with no issues.

Aww, thank you so much @RosaBaby2 that helps me to calm down :) Congratulations to you too, although you are almost coming down the the end :)

I haven't had my midwife appointment yet so haven't been given any guidance have only been going by advice I've found/read.

In my area I've been told that my first appointment will be a booking in appointment around 10 weeks and I'll get a letter in the post so I'm keeping an eye out for it but it hasn't arrived yet!

Yes, sorry 18th May is right 🙂

Hi there. My BMI was 41 at the beginning of pregnancy, I’m 31 years old and 34 weeks pregnant. No GD or anything else. - this is my third baby, both babies were big but delivered naturally with no intervention.

Don’t worry! You’ll be absolutely fine. You’ll likely have to take 75mg of aspirin throughout, which causes no harm whatsoever

Hi @FranticallyPeaceful thank you so so much, you actually made my day. I am sitting there and almost crying that there will be something wrong, it is hard to believe that everything will be fine. Yes, midwife mentioned about aspirin from 12th or 13th week so probably will be starting taking it in few weeks. Thank you again xxx all the best for you

@EL332 yes I heard it depends from where do you live, where I live I had to do self-referral and started with the midwife from there. I saw her when I was 6+7 weeks.

32, BMI of over 40 here and 39 weeks.
Have had a very easy pregnancy - only issue was severe heartburn from 32 weeks (solved with Ranitidine).

I'm actually more mobile than most folk in my antenatal class - I can still sit on the floor and get myself back up.

Hello,
I was just under 34 BMI with my first 3 years ago. Everything was normal but got sent to the dietician and I regretted accepting because she just made me feel awful and didn't give me any useful advice.
After having my first I put on a lot of weight, started Slimming world last May and lost 3.5st.
I am now 7+ 4 weeks with my second and BMI is about 35. I am taking the extra folic acid and have my booking appointment on Friday.
I've decided to ask the midwife to not talk about my weight (as I am aware of risks etc and will also have my 3yr old with me) and I'll continue with the Slimming World pregnancy plan throughout. I will do the GD tests later on but I don't want to be worrying all the time.

Have any of you started showing early because of starting pregnancy plus-size?

Hi Confusedmummydotcom! Thank you for your words! I am exactly 7+4 today too! What is your estimated due date? :-)

18 weeks with my first, and a BMI of over 30. So far so good. I lost quite a bit of weight at first due to morning sickness but it's stalled now.

Midwife was more or less indifferent to my weight, but I'm under a consultant for other reasons anyway. I have to have the gestational diabetes test at some point, not sure if that is because of weight or family history though.

In the last week or so my bump has suddenly 'popped' and looks pregnant rather than just fat. Still slightly B shaped but definitely a baby in there now (and yes, quite a lot of chocolate)

Estimated due date is 25th of November but we'll see if they change it at the scan! I had quite hactic cycles before I fell pregnant but I can pinpoint exact conception date but they don't take that into account. When's your estimated due date?
I look forward to having a bump this time around :)

Siol, I've got family history of diabetes as well so I'll have to do the test but hate the sweet drink they give us bleah

@Confusedmummydotcom mine is 24th of November but same as you it may change during scan :) Wow, you are the first with the date that close to mine :)

BMI of 40 here, third pregnancy, 19+1. No GD on the other two pregnancies and this pregnancy seems to be progressing normally so far. Had a private scan today and she's doing fine in there!

Also doing SW. Lost three stone before becoming pregnant and have gained one stone so far. Hoping if I follow SW I won't gain too much and breastfeeding with SW after will help kick start weight loss.

Hi, I'm not pregnant now but my bmi was 31 with my third and fourth pregnancies. It has never caused me any problems. Mine was down to getting pregnant repeatedly and not losing the weight in between. The only thing I noticed was slightly bigger babies than my first two and an increase in heartburn.
I was 10 stone with first baby and 13.5 stone with my third, my consultant said a weight gain of 3.5 wasn't significant enough to be majorly concerned about. Good luck.

@Addictedtohavingbabies thank you for your kind words. This is my first one, I am really worried but doing my best to not to stress too much. Thank you!

Haven't got much more advice than others but just wanted to back up what others said. Please don't worry :). I'm 22 weeks with baby number 1 and my bmi at booking in was 35.5. Initially I was told I'd be consultant led but he's said he's happy for the midwife to deal with my care. Only really had a few tweaks with my weight. A higher dosage of folic acid and had to
take aspirin from 12 weeks. My 20 week scan was booked for 21 weeks so they could see baby better and I've got a gestational diabetes test next month. Other than that just a few extra growth scans (look on the positive you get to see baby more often!) Everything has been text book. I've only put 7lbs on up until now but haven't been weighed since my first appointment :).

Congratulations with your pregnancies :D. It's easier to say it I know but enjoy every minute after that first appointment it all just flies by x

@Beanmama18 I have the same experience so far as you. Thank you for your kind words :)

I had extra scans as part of attending the diabetes clinic (I don't have it but there was extra checks to make sure I hadn't developed it)

@starlet2411 we have the same edd! My bmi is probably 39+ or there abouts. I'm 37 and this will be my second child. I've been to epu for scan due to previous losses and thank goodness seen the heartbeat so am able to relax a little. Still waiting on paperwork from hospital to return then they will issue the official booking & dating scan appointment. Things seem to be done a little oddly here.

I'm dreading the B bump. So have been researching belly bands to try to minimise that so can have a D bump. Silly I think but it would bother me.

Why aspirin?

Are you all taking 5mg of folic acid (prescribed) rather than over the counter 400ug?

@MonaTheMoaner still doing SW? My leader recommended that I leave and join again after baby.

Hi @TinyPawz ! :) nice to read that :) My first scan is 14th of May and I am worried that I will freak out waiting, I wonder if there is any chance for me to see or at least to make sure there is heartbeat whilst I am 7+5. Uncertainty is the worst :( Apparently aspirin reduces chances of miscarriage from 12th week and prevents blood clots. I am waiting for prescription on 5mg of folic to be ready but my GP takes his time :( so far I am taking 2x400ug per day

Hi! I’m 16 weeks with a BMI at booking of just under 35. I saw a consultant yesterday who discussed the additional risks (e.g. higher risk of C-Section etc), but nothing that alarmed me. I have a GTT booked and 2 growth scans at 30 and 34 weeks. Apart from that just the normal midwife appointments unless something changes.

This is my second pregnancy and I put on a LOT of weight first time round (about 30kg), but booking weight was lower so no additional scans/tests except a repeat of my 20 week scan as it wasn’t clear enough first time. My labour was induced with continuous monitoring (because waters broke over 24 hours ago). The only thing during labour that my size affected was that it was difficult to get a continuous reading with the so they put a clip on baby’s head to monitor his heartbeat.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck!