Pregnant with BMI of 42......

[SpunBodgeSquarepants]

Has anyone got any positive stories related to being pregnant with a high BMI?

I fell pregnant in December 2016 with a BMI of 47, it ended in a missed miscarriage resulting in an ERPC in March 2017, and I convinced myself my weight was the reason why. I was just under 19 stone at 5'4.

I'm 4+6 with this one now, and I can't stop worrying. I'm berating myself for allowing this to happen whilst I'm still so heavy :(
My weight is mostly around my middle too so I'm sad I won't see a baby bump growing. I feel so selfish.

Close friend of mine had a BMI of 40 when she had her first. Completely uneventful pregnancy with a healthy baby at the end. She lost a lot of weight breastfeeding and through exercise found that having a small child was a real motivator to lose weight.

She had a baby bump! It wasn't obvious to others but I could absolutely tell.

Best of luck and congratulations. You'll have so much support from midwives and consultants

First of all congratulations!
I had a bmi o 42.6 for one of my pregnancies. I was in the high risk category obviously but besides that I had a healthy pregnancy and baby. I have to say that I didn't enjoy it as much as I did my other pregnancies when I was at a healthier weight. Mainly just comfort wise, although it was harder to find my ds position and heart beat earlier on since I carried a bit around my middle. I did get a bump later on still!

I was advised that now was the perfect time to eat healthy for the baby and to do some gentle exercise. I did lose a little bit during the pregnancy but i got back to a healthier weight a while after I gave birth.

Just try to enjoy this time

Admittedly not advised, but I've had 3 babies (& 1 early miscarriage) at a BMI of 40+ and 3 home births! Good luck with your pregnancy.

While it is not good for your health and obesity does increase the risks of adverse events in pregnancy, you should not beat yourself up... It is was it is.. And you now have a wonderful incentive to change your life and fingers x give your baby a healthy life too.
You can read the rcog guidelines on management of pregnancy in obese women or nice guidance, for context and so you understand what midwifes or consultants might say or do regarding your care.
It is safe to lose weight in pregnancy if you are very over weight so you could use this as catalyst to kick start healthy eating and exercise.
Best of luck to you and imagine in a year's time you may well be lighter, with a gorgeous baby and well on your way to a healthy life

My BMI was 47 when I got pregnant (slightly less now).

I'm bloody knackered but I'm still here at 25 weeks. I have a "B" bump the top half is where all my organs have been squished up and the bottom half is the baby. I started feeling movements only this weekend but my bump has been "visable" for about 4 weeks!

Berating yourself and worrying will not help you OR the baby. I've been doing yoga and swimming and aquacise to boost my fitness. The Midwives have been lovely AND I get extra scans to see my lovely baby at 32 and 36 weeks to see how she is growing.

You will be fine, relax as much as you can and try and increase the good foods and the gentle exercise x

My BMI was 38 at booking. I have a noticeable bump since 6 months and so far no complications in pregnancy. Once I've given birth this will be a good motivation to loose weight, just eat healthy as be active during pregnancy, you'll be fine x

Hiya,

I just wanted to say you're not alone. Although I haven't been through what you have, I had my booking appointment yesterday and was told I was classed as Obese. To be honest, I knew it was coming.

But hearing those words made the guilt flood over me. I have extremely heightened anxiety during the first 12 weeks, and did with my son too - no real reason for it - it's just me. And this made my anxiety shoot through the roof. I asked the midwife every question possible she must have thought I was crazy, I wanted the exact % increase of miscarriage, pre-eclampsia...everything! She could tell I was going into over drive. She just put her hand on my arm and said I didn't need to worry because I would be more closely monitored anyway, and that's what the extra appointments are for. She said more often than Not, most women are overweight or obese and not to let it bother me. She was so so lovely.

Although I still feel overwhelming guilt, it's made me want to be the healthiest I can be during this pregnancy, I've just signed up for slimming world and want to start swimming too.

We are in this together and if you want to chat, I'm here. Wishing you a very happy and healthy pregnancy, you deserve it xx

Thanks everyone. I'm a worrier by nature anyway, when I'm pregnant it just ramps up 1000%. What will be will be I suppose. And yes I've started eating healthily already, swapping crisps and chocolate for fruit and yoghurt so I expect my weight will come down slowly but surely anyway. Doesn't help that I'm already so starving hungry all the time though!!

Im 23 weeks with a bmi of 48 oh and 5"2.5 :)

Bar that im perfectly healthy. Low bp, normal blood sugar etc etc,
Ive ate more "responsibly" and im deffo not eating for 2! Ive actually lost 3kg since my BI app, im keeping much more active now than ever.

I also get extra scans to see growth :)

To my close friends and family ive got a bump, obviously rounding out more. "Deffo something in there!" So my mam says :p
Baby has been fine at all apps and scans, very active and very strong heartbeat.
Just started feeling her move about past week or so, so im happy.

Honestly please dont worry, when i went to my first consultant app there was women there nearly double my size,
Try and enjoy your pregnancy :)
Congratulations

I'm in the same boat OP, I was lighter for my last pregnancy although still in the overweight category then. I get consultant led care anyway for an unrelated condition so my BMI comes up in appointments a lot. It is a risk factor of course, but in reality there is very little you can do now except eat well. I have had one unpleasant discussion but everyone else has just noted it as a risk along with my age (and there's nothing I can do about that either!)

One thing I would say though -- you should be on high dose (5mg) folic acid and vitamin D as soon as possible. You may also want to ask about low dose aspirin. I personally would ask to see the GP about this before the booking appointment.

BTW your miscarriage may well have been nothing to do with your weight and was probably a chromosomal problem (i am not an expert). Demand get the appropriate care irrespective of your BMI then or now. Don't beat yourself up about it and certainly don't blame yourself, just make sure you get the supplements you need now to lower your risk.

I'm in the same boat. BMI over 40 (don't know exactly as haven't weighed myself and haven't had my booking in appointment yet)

I'm 7 weeks today and have my midwife appointment on 29th October when I suspect I will be referred to consultant led (due to weight and some family history factors).

It's my first pregnancy and I don't know what to expect. Been mostly fine so far with tiredness the main symptom. My GP wasn't bothered about seeing me at all - I was just booked in the midwife straight away.

I've been taking regular conception supplements since starting TTC several months ago but now I'm worried I should be taking high dose folic acid and/or aspirin. Should I try to see my GP ASAP about this? From my reading high dose folic acid was recommended for those with diabetes and other pre-existing conditions but I don't have any health problems, just that I'm fat.

My biggest concern is how unfit I am. In an ideal world I would have massively improved my fitness before conception but that didn't happen. I've noticed already I feel more breathless walking fast or uphill than I did before. Not sure if this is a pregnancy symptom or just my level of fitness being terrible. I've been trying to eat healthily (helped by suddenly having an aversion to anything sweet) and I will increase my walking as much as I can but I don't think there is anything more I can do now. Just hope for the best!

@lifechanginglemoncake, you need to have 5mg of folic acid if your BMI is over 30, so call up your GP and say that whilst you wait for a midwife you'd like an appt with them and then they can prescribe for you. I had my booking appt the other day, they didn't mention aspirin and we have blood clots run in the family - so I'm not sure you would deffo need it, but yes to the 5mg folic acid. Congratulations lovely xx

@Babyno2mamabear thanks for the advice. Will call the GP and see if they can fit me in soon. Trying not to stress now that it's too late and I should have been taking it ages ago. On the plus side I have been very consistent with the regular dose so hopefully that counts for something.
Pregnancy is so stressful and anxiety inducing!

Honestly @lifechanginglemoncake I was taking pregnacare but only from 6 weeks pregnant and it was making me so so sick so not even sure what good it was doing - if I was even getting any in my system! And have only got the 5mg today and I'm 10weeks4days. I'm just going to stick to straight up folic acid and vitamin D now - that's what the midwife advised. If you're taking the 4mg now I'm sure it's absolutely fine, some women take nothing at all! Could agree more with the anxiety inducing though! Xxx

@Babyno2mamabear I've been taking pregnacare or the Boots alternative since about March when we started TTC. So that's the normal dose going in every day.

I found it made me nauseous even before I got my BFP if i took it in the morning. Switching to having it with dinner made all the difference as it's a bigger meal. You could try that.

I called the surgery and I have a call with a GP tomorrow so hopefully as it's just folic acid they can prescribe over the phone and I can start from tomorrow.

I'm trying really hard to be calm and zen and 'what will be will be' and then completely failing and having massive panics. Can only hope it will get better after 12 weeks if all is well.

Fingers crossed all goes well for you too

@lifechanginglemoncake my previous message was supposed to say that I couldn't agree more with the whole anxiety thing haha. I think you got that gist though 😂

Tried everything with the pregnacare, cpuldnt take it when I had my son either. I just think it doesn't agree with me. So will have to eat super healthy instead.

Good luck with the DR, I'm sure they will be Super helpful xxx

About blood clots - if you have a family or personal history of DVT, you will probably be put on j ejected blood thinners if its deemed serious enough. Aspirin doesn't do anything to prevent clots (according to the consultant haematologist I am seeing).
If you're concerned, ask exactly why you need aspirin and whether you need blood thinning injections on top.

Sorry that should be injections not ejections!

I meant to say to everyone, I found a really helpful American website and podcast which you may already be aware of.

plussizebirth.com
Plus Mommy Podcast

It's very American so not everything applies to the UK when it comes to choices and antenatal care, but what is encouraging are the photos of plus size pregnant women, positive stories and practical advice.

It made me feel better, realise there are so many people out there having perfectly healthy plus size pregnancies, and that our bodies are so much stronger and more miraculous than we give them credit for.

Wow @lifechanginglemoncake, thank you for that link. Very reassuring!