Deliberately losing weight when pregnant (high BMI)?

[Daisy2990]

Has anyone with a high BMI deliberately lost weight during pregnancy and/or been advised to do so?

Is there a reliable guide to calorie consumption for high BMI pregnant women?

Background: BMI of 40.5, light exercise, vegetarian, not diabetic, no health problems. I will be having a section for unrelated reasons. Have had some condescending chat from a midwife ("Have you tried eating healthily?"), she didn't ask me about my diet but recommended Slimming World -- didn't mention MW supervision, which I believe SW require. Mental health triggers were glossed over in favour of tips like "don't eat pasta sauce in a jar".

I had a 9lb 3 baby and polyhydramnios last time. I'm very worried that maintaining or losing in this preg could force me to eat a calorie restricted diet. I've been led to believe this is really not recommended and am totally confused now. They've said they'll weigh me every time I'm seen and I'm dreading having this same chat 10+ times in the next 5 months.

I don't feel good about my BMI, obviously, I wish it was lower, I did lose 3st prior to this pregnancy but then nature took its course.

What are they actually asking me to do? Apologies for the length, this whole thing is making me feel quite depressed and anxious.

I had BMI of 41 at booking in and can honestly say that despite not actively setting out to lose weight whilst pregnant, I only weigh 2lbs heavier at 34 weeks than I did at 8 weeks (which the midwife seems to think is a good thing). I was never encouraged to lose weight during the pregnancy though and the fact you have been goes against everything that I have read for bigger ladies in pregnancy! Also, since booking in I haven’t been weighed officially either

Maybe your midwife was having a bad day? Never an excuse but she definitely seems completely different from mine at the very least!

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I joined slimming world last week. I’m 11 weeks and has a bmi of 29 at booking in. Nothing was said about my weight but I’ve got 3 dc already and I known the pregnancy where I was a healthy weight was by far the easiest so I wanted to do what I could to help keep my mobility good for as long as possible. I’d already lost about 6 pounds in the 2 weeks since booking as I’ve been so sick, but I have to say that this week has been a big improvement with only a few days nausea. I’m not feeling deprived at all, as within reason I can eat as much as I like. I weigh in on Wednesday and I’m at the point in pregnancy where I could still lose a few pounds each week and be ok. But the focus in pregnancy seems very much to try and limit to a healthy weight gain rather than weight loss per se. I gained about 4 stone in my first two pregnancies and I know how easily it was done so I’m desperately to avoid it. I wouldn’t write off Slimming World just yet, you have 5 months where you could do something proactive about your weight.

I haven't been encouraged to diet, I just took the advice I got to be pretty ambiguous. I.e. I was basically told: don't lose weight, but cut out this and this and this and look at Slimming World food lists.

AwkwardAsAllGetout, I've not written SW off but I'm very hesitant to do it without a midwife checking my food diaries etc. To be clear, the MW I saw said I should look into SW and their downloadable shopping lists. I can't find anything related to pregnancy though.

you have 5 months where you could do something proactive about your weight.

This is precisely my question, because you seem to be suggesting I should lose weight, and I have been told in the past that this is a no-no unless medically advised (and it hasn't been in my case). Have you been told to lost weight/ is your midwife monitoring it? Your BMI isn't what I would call high.

@Thegirlhasnoname

Thanks, this is helpful because you're quite similar to me in BMI terms. Perhaps I had an unusual experience with that MW. She was just unhelpfully vague on what she was actually telling me to do.

That’s the thing. My bmi IS too high. I’m overweight, bordering on obese. I don’t look particularly fat, but I am. We’ve become used to seeing overweight people everywhere. I could ignore it like I’ve done for the past few years but I’ve chosen to do something about it. With slimming world, you’re given extra allowances for hangs like milk, cheese and bread. It’s not a crash diet. What’s a typical day like for you food wise at the moment? If you don’t feel the need to run that past your midwife, you’ll be fine with the foods you can eat on slimming world. I’m not saying you SHOULD lose weight as that’s entirely your choice. But I had 5 stone to lose after two previous pregnancies having started out already overweight and it was utterly miserable. I can’t see what harm trying to control your weight gain from now on would do. Crash dieting is obviously a silly idea. No ones condoning that. But to eat sensibly and accountably? Absolutely. I didn’t consider myself to have a poor diet but the last week has made me realise just how often I’d mindlessly eat a biscuit, or how often I was making some really bad choices.

I have a similar BMI and i am obese. It's perfectly safe to lose weight during pregnancy. Many midwives do recommended slimming world as it doesn't cut anything out and is quite gentle. My MW has advised me not to gain any weight if possible, so far I have lost 10 lbs since my positive test however I haven't lost anymore in about 6 weeks (I'm 28 weeks) I'm working on maintaining my weight now and definitely don't want to gain any so I'm being careful.

Slimming World has a specific plan for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers so you get an extra dairy and fibre allowance basically. You'd just be cutting down on fatty, sugary foods and upping vegetables so it's quite safe.

@Daisy2990 Mine is at 38. Similar to you midwife said "you can do slimmimg world while pregnant". I told her I had lost 1 stone prior to the pregnancy plus with the nausea and food aversions I lost 6lb. She was very supportive and said the aim wasn't to lose loads just not to gain too much. I'm 12+1 and still very nauseous and limited in what I can eat. If I start feeling better I may join SW to keep an eye on things. But I do know I will not be weighed again at all - my trust weigh you at booking in and that's it. It seems unfair they are putting that pressure on you!

I think the idea is that rather than lose weight ejen pregnant, if you’re overweight you should try and gain very little.
SW is often recommended during pregnancy as it’s fairly gentle and has a pregnancy/breastfeeding specific plan. If you’re following that I don’t think there’s a huge need to tell your midwife exactly what you’re eating.

You don’t necessarily need midwife supervision to do SW, they consult with the royal college of midwives.

You’d only need your midwife to look over your food diary if you lose a over a certain amount per week. (Can’t remember it off the top of my head)

I was 41 or 42 BMI for both of my pregnancies - the first wasn't in the UK, and they were very easy going about it all. The second was in the UK, and I was put under consultant care, warned about shoulder dystocia, advised to take aspirin, etc. but no-one spoke to me about slimming world or losing weight, or having extra weigh-ins.

mind you, like thisgirl - I didn't put on much at all - by the time he was born (3.5kg of him - so not light, but not enormous) I was only 6kg heavier than the start, and it went all on its own within the month or two following birth (so I'm guessing it was water/blood/baby) I just didn't feel hungry most of the time.

I have a bmi of 48 and they havent mentioned anything to me.
Im not activley trying to loose weight either, but I have lost 3kg since my BI ap.
It helps all I fancy eating is apples and gone off chocolate almost all together.
Im trying to walk a bit more aswell which seems to be helping :)

Thanks, this is helpful and has settled my mind a bit. I think it's the combo of being weighed every 1-2 weeks along with not being given specific guidance that's confused me. I'll try get some clarity at my next appointment.

Slimming world is safe in pregnancy as it’s a lifestyle change! Would be very good for you and the baby to loose weight also in the long run why not start now xx