Obese and pregnant

[Pob13]

Hi,
Hoping to meet some ladies in a similar situation. When I say obese I mean properly obese, not just a bit chubby.
Im size 26 and 7 wks pregnant with my first.
I would really appreciate advice, tips, etc.
Hope to find some new friends.

@Dvg it sounds like you're doing really well, well done!

When your son is born, you will have the ultimate motivator to carry on with slimming world and be a healthy mum

Can anyone tell me what happens at an obstetrician appointment? I have one on 25th May following my 12 week scan, and another on 1st June for reasons that I don't quite understand

Hi guys

I was a 26/28 when I had my first baby in 2014 and was consultant led due to BMI but also illness earlier in year- a few extra tests and I loved my consultant experience.

I had gastric sleeve surgery last April and fell pregnant in november (oops) so I am consultant led again (YAY - same person) and due in August.

A few extra tests, a GTT test is offered and a few extra scans.

Btw - gestational diabetes happens to any size or weight so don't let people fat shame you as it strikes anyone.

Best wishes mama!

Hi hun im 37 + 5 pregnant with first baby BMI of 41 ive been placed as high risk and had consultant as well as midwife lead care. I carry my weight a little differently than some over weight ladies i.e i have massive legs and not very big round the middle / chest. Ive just been told to watch my diet which has been easy as suffered with hg my entire pregnancy so lost 4 stone in the first 20 weeks and since ive been able to eat again only put on a stone so even with my big baby bump i still weigh less now than before i got pregnant. I too have encontered some moody ultra sound women who go cant get babies measurements due to mothers increased bmi but mostly the midwife and consultants have been really supportive in my care. Just try to stay as active as possible walking where you can and be aware of what extra interventions may be required when Labour comes and stay open minded. I had anesthetist last friday and he advised a early epidural may be better as less pain at beginning so easier to administer im still debating it but im taking on everyone's advise and suggestions. Good luck and ignore any haters obviously to some people being over weight is clearly the worse thing in the world...

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.
I saw this thread and wanted to join in. I'm expecting my first child, 11+5 with scan on Tuesday. BMI is about 41 and I have PCOS. Been subscribed extra folic acid.
I was mid way through exercise referral programme with GP when I found out.
Not convinced that all is well but we will know on Tuesday. Baby very much wanted . Anybody else waiting for their scans?

Got mine on 25th orangejuicer. What makes you think something is up?

I have my book appointment on Monday so hopefully have my scan soon - we had a scan at 5+3 and 6+2 and saw heartbeat etc but still petrified! I’ll be 11 weeks on Monday based on scans (but 13 weeks based on LMP). I also have PCOS.
Was really anxious coming back to this thread but yay thank you for everyone with positive advice!

@anotheroriginalusername nothing in particular but just the uncertainty/pessimism! Also lack of sickness, it doesn't seem real. I don't feel that different, I do have some symptoms of course. I don't know, just being pessimistic!

@orangejuicer I know what you mean! I've had virtually nothing besides being tired (I'm always tired!) and some occasional heartburn. The heartburn has really ramped up over the last couple of days though!

I had some bleeding at 6 weeks and had a private scan at 8 1/2 weeks and all was well. Just very impatiently waiting for my 12 week scan now

Although saying that I'm tired despite not doing anything especially. I went back to the gym once this week for the first time in about 5 weeks and I've turned down any extra hours at work (usually do 50+ but now back down to my contracted 40) and still falling asleep on the sofa when I get in from work!

I've had five babies and was overweight for every one of them.

Im also confused about the whole bump thing. Does it go under the fat, so you are extra big, or does it sort of absorb the fat?
It hangs off of the underside of your bump usually. It would be nice if it just spread out over the whole bump, but it doesn't. Only you will really know that though.
Keeping mobile is important, and regular gentle exercise like walking or swimming is good for you and will help with your blood pressure. Blood pressure is more likely to be something you will have problems with I think, but doesn't automatically means pre-eclampsia.
Except for one of my births which went horribly and disastrously wrong (for non-weight reasons) none of my births were unusual or complicated. I had fast recoveries and no lasting damage.
Most of all, enjoy your pregnancy. Don't let anyone put you down and make sure you have the best information so you can make the best choices. Enjoy this time, you will always remember it.

I have had three babies in the last 5 years, all born perfectly healthy with pretty straight forward births and pregnancies 😊 I was around 8 stone overweight but relatively fit if you know what i mean!

The downsides to being preggers while overweight/ obsese in my experience are

Rubbish scan pictures - fat makes it more difficult to get clear images

Consultant led care - a load more appointments for imo no real reason

Tiredness / aching joints towards the end

Very little choice in the way of maternity clothes - i just wore leggings and long tshirts but work wear was a nightmare

Good luck with everything 😄

@anotheroriginalusername Thanks, that helps. I am definitely with you on the fatigue. No idea what it will be like later on, if we make it that far!

Not long to go..

That sounds reassuring @DontDribbleOnTheCarpet and after 5 children you must be an expert

Pre-eclampsia worries me. I have a heart condition that was discovered after I pushed for investigations. I lost 11 stone and was exercising heavily but my resting pulse and BP never improved (about 85bpm and high end of normal BP) which set alarm bells ringing for me. My condition means that I have a degree of heart failure and I've been medicated to reduce BP and pulse to reduce the work on my heart, but have had to come off of the BP medication as it isn't safe in pregnancy. Currently back to high end of normal BP again but being carefully monitored

@orangejuicer everyone is telling me I've got away lightly with the first trimester and I agree, but I'm wondering what will strike me down in 2 or 3!

I've been off work all week (decorating - yawn!) so am having a day of batch cooking today so that decent meals are cooked and ready to go when I'm back at work next week, rather than just eating what I feel like, when I feel like it!!

I made it to the gym this morning and have been pottering in the garden but that's about it. Busy day in work tomorrow and then scan day. Eek.

Well done @orangejuicer, I'm determined to get back to my usual gym routine but maybe not at the usual intensity - I usually do 3-4 spin classes a week and push myself to the absolute limit but probably shouldn't be doing that right now!

Pre-eclampsia worries me. I have a heart condition that was discovered after I pushed for investigations. I lost 11 stone and was exercising heavily but my resting pulse and BP never improved (about 85bpm and high end of normal BP) which set alarm bells ringing for me. My condition means that I have a degree of heart failure and I've been medicated to reduce BP and pulse to reduce the work on my heart, but have had to come off of the BP medication as it isn't safe in pregnancy. Currently back to high end of normal BP again but being carefully monitored

There are BP meds which are safe in pregnancy and when breastfeeding. If you need them, you will be able to take the medicine you need, it just probably won't be the same as before. I can't remember the name of the one I had (possibly labetolol?) Definitely a concern to raise at your next appointment, but you shouldn't just be left with no treatment so try not to worry too much.

@DontDribbleOnTheCarpet I'm still on beta blockers (which it sounds like what you're thinking of is going by the -olol suffix) but I was on ACE inhibitors too, which definitely can't be taken. I think I'm all good so far, got a heart scan on 1st June so they will re-evaluate then

Glad to hear it's being monitored closely Another. I hope it continues to go well for you.

So I was fed up of getting out of breath all the time and my achey hips so I tried to do some exercise today. Ended with me lying giggling in a heap on the floor and DH wondering what on earth I was doing just to keep it nice and light over here

Told my mum today, got the response i expected - what about your weight, diabetes, diet, health etc etc. I knew it was coming but i wanted a tiny bit of excitement. I know it comes from love. Oh well.

@Pob13 such a shame she was unable to prioritize being excited over her concerns for your health. FWIW, I get on really well with my mum and she was very excited about my pregnancy, but she too couldn't resist pointing out the need to eat healthily. This was when I was explaining that I'd been told to eat what I could when I could (bad nausea), but that ginger beer helped - "But ginger beer is probably quite sugary, isn't it?" FFS mum, I'm feeling sick all the time! It comes from a good place, but can be really unhelpful!

@pob13 Sorry to hear that the reaction wasn’t what you expected, although as scan pics emerge and she can start thinking of baby clothes I’m sure she will be more excited.

I’m currently 38+3 and have a very high BMI. Pregnancy has been fine with no complications so far (touch wood) but my advice would be to be careful with weight gain and do a bit of gentle exercise while you still can - at the later stage it will be really hard to do much of anything.

Most medical staff have been fine with me - all my scans were fine (five in all) and everyone has been v professional. I had to see an anaesthetist because of being high risk but she said there is still a good chance of a natural birth - won’t be allowed a water birth though.

Hello and congratulations! I've had two healthy and happy pregnancies while technically obese. You get offered lots of extra scans and encouraged to do the glucose tolerance test, which is the gold standard check for gestational diabetes -- but you can refuse any of these things if you don't want them. I refused to be weighed by medical professionals during pregnancy as I did not want the extra stress (or discussion about weight). However I monitored my own weight throughout.

Personally next time around I would say no to the GTT, as it made me faint and I didn't feel that fasting for so long and then drinking a very glucose-heavy drink was actually good for my baby. I didn't have GD. However I did cut out most sugar during pregnancy and would do so again (that's what they advise you to do if you have gestational diabetes anyway). I lost weight in the first two trimesters and then put on a reasonable amount in the last trimester, as you would expect with a baby growing in there!

I chose to have a home birth so that I could have a water birth and feel more comfortable in my own home. It was absolutely brilliant.

I think that the one thing that the NHS gets very wrong is not "allowing" high BMI women to give birth in birth centres or birth pools. Water is a very effective method of pain relief and may also help larger women to be more flexible in their movements during labour (certainly the case with me). So personally I would highly recommend giving birth at home so you can benefit from it, if you're at all that way inclined.

Some research has suggested that some of the higher risks associating with childbirth at higher BMIs could actually come from medical professionals' attitudes towards weight -- e.g. being quicker to suggest assisted delivery, refusing access to birth pools etc.