Bmi 37 pregnancy - consultant scared me stiff!

[KHR1]

Hi,
I'm currently 15wks+1 and just got home from a consultants appointment. She basically sat and told me a million and one things that could go wrong during and after my pregnancy and as a sufferer of anxiety it's panicking me! She mentioned gestational diabetes, blood clots, bleeding out during birth, a higher risk of needing a csection (I have an insanely big fear of operations), injections after birth to prevent blood clots in my legs and many other things. Does anyone who has a similar or higher bmi have any positive pregnancy stories or wisdom they can share please?

You are at higher risk of these things, doesn't mean none of these things wouldn't happen if you had a lower BMI. It's not good that she scared you but you do have to be aware of the higher risks of these things so you're prepared.

I have a high BMI, I had the gestational diabetes test, it's rubbish but I didn't have diabetes. Baby was born premature (not related to bmi) by C section. I was terrified about it, not so much the operation, more the recovery time. It wasn't too bad. Read some positive stories about c sections so if you do need one you know what to expect, so many women loved their c section birth and would only ever choose to have one again. And the injections aren't as bad as they seem, they are also a long way off so don't even worry about them until if/when you come to them.

As I said, one step at a time, enjoy your pregnancy, and try not to fret about the end too much. Maybe speak to your midwife and see if she can explain that it's really scared you, she may be able to put your mind at ease.

I tip between a BMI of 34 and 35 but I've always found consultants and midwives very supportive whilst making me aware of the risks.

We can't ignore the fact that there are risks, it's a fact and we do need to be aware.

In my last pregnancy though, the consultant at my 36 week check said "look, you're not ill, your blood pressure is fine and you have no gestational diabetes. You're just big." Which is true. And he signed me off from consultant care.

This time around my booking in appointment is with a consultant and he will decide immediately whether I can be discharged to community midwives.

Risks are a reality unfortunately, but it would be worth sitting down with your midwife and discussing concerns. A lot of it is a tick box exercise and they definitely shouldn't be scaring you. Educating and advising, yes, but not scaring you!

I have a higher bmi, I am consultant led for essential hypertension and I do have gestational diabetes, had it I'm my last pregnancy too. (I'm under the care of 2 consultants which I see at the same time).

My consultants have never once told me any of the complications associated with my bmi that you've been told, I'm actually 😯 In fact, they've never scared me with any complication stories about my other health issues either! They inform me if i ask. Otherwise my appointments are always focussed on positive monitoring and gradual treatment when necessary. My midwife tried to say once that I am very ill, to which I asked my consultant if this was true and they laughed and said of course not!

Due to GD in my last pregnancy I was on metformin, and the slow and fast release insulin injections. The thought was scary at first but it was a gradual process so wasn't bad at all. The extra growth scans were a huge plus! Scan at 32 weeks I saw DD had a full head of hair floating around her head 😍 She wasn't huge either which is what the growth scans predicted.

The only complication I did develop towards the end was very high blood pressure, but that was due to my pre-existing condition and so it was expected. This started to develop into pre-eclampsia so I was induced at 35+6. Labour was no problem and birth no complications at all. My weight was never mentioned once! Not once did I receive extra monitoring because of my weight.

I was kept on the ward after for a week (because my blood pressure was setting off alarms) most of the women I saw who came and went who had suffered complications (with thin curtains between us you could hear everything!) were actually slim! So at 18 weeks pregnant, haveing GD again, I have no concerns about any of the complications you mention. I've had 3 babies, while having a high bmi and not had any complications 😊

I should say, I'm not saying you should ignore that there can be complications, just that you shouldn't focus all your attention on the what-ifs. Most of us choose healthier lifestyles when we find out we are pregnant anyway. Enjoy your pregnancy and each little milestone that gets you nearer to meeting your little baby 😊

Thank you all for your replies! I know I need to be aware, and I'm in no way deluded/unaware of my weight it was just worrying to hear so many potential problems at once, although, like you all say, they are maybes! Does anyone else have experience of gestational diabetes? I'm interested to find out more about what the treatment/monitoring for this is like

Sorry but I find this so stupid and pointless to scare women and dwell on slightly increased risks when it's too late to change anything.

Of course we can do what we're supposed to - eat healthily and keep active as much as we can- but we can't diet and we can't get magically thin. So what's the point in stressing further?

Ive been diagnosed twice with GD at 12 weeks. 1st time I was checked at 12 weeks because of my bmi and this time I was checked early because I had it last time lol. Monitoring is a pain tbh. I have to check my glucose levels 4 times a day. I keep my readings in a diary they provide and take the diary with me when I see my consultants.

1. In the morning before breakfast (fasting levels)
2. Before lunch
3. Before evening meal
4. 2 hrs after evening meal (to see how glucose levels are affected)

Both pregnancies my fasting glucose levels have been a little over target.

1st treatment is to try monitor with diet alone - eat low GI foods and lower white carb intake.

2nd treatment was I was put on metformin with my evening meal to help with over night glucose levels. If fasting levels still too high then my metformin was increased.

3rd treatment, (and where I'm at with this pregnancy) currently on 2 x 500mg metformin with evening meal and just had Lantis (slow release) insulin injections introduced which I take around 6pm every night.

As my last pregnancy progressed (and I've been told it all be same again this time) my glucose levels will start to rise above targets.
Metformin was introduced at lunch time as well as the evening to combat creeping day time glucose rises and eventually I was introduced to Novo Rapid (quick release) insulin on top of all the other injections/ tablets. So by the end I was taking a lot!! It was a pain but, because it happened gradually, it was easy to get used to. And as I said, the 'up-side' was I got to see my baby more because of the growth scans.

A few months after having DD I was checked for diabetes and results came back negative, so everything went back to normal 😊

I've always had a BMI around the 30's, have had two children with no problems at all. Don't be scared by these comments - there might be a slight increase in the prevalence of diabetes etc during pregnancy but it's not definitely going to happen.

Thank you ispywithmycynicaleye, that's helped me understand a lot more about it!

KHR1 just an alternative gestational diabetes perspective for you...

I was diagnosed at 28 weeks. Also testing 4x per day but mine are upon waking and then an hour after every meal. My monitor syncs with an app on my phone and I email my results to the diabetic midwife once a week. I have never met them. It’s super easy but obviously this varies by area.

I have been lucky that with some diet changes I have managed to stay diet controlled so am not on any medication at nearly 39 weeks. I had an additional growth scan at 36 weeks and baby is 50th centile so I have been discharged from consultant care. I won’t be induced early or anything like that and can still have a water birth etc if I want which was important to me.

So basically GD is not the end of the world! I’ve taken the positives of some extra scans and a kick up the bum to cut out the cake and it’s actually been a really positive experience for me...

Good luck!

MonkeyToucher - that's ace that you got a monitor, I didn't think they'd be generous enough to offer things like that! I think as more and more people have replied, it's definitely made me feel a little better about the risks associated with my bmi, and like you said, it has definitely made me think about my diet and things I can cut out or swap for better alternatives.

Im 34 with a bmi of 42 when i got pregnant. I too was informed of all the risks and referred to the consultant. I had a faultless pregnancy, blood pressure perfect, no diabetes and no weight related problems, baby was perfect and a normal birthweight. The only thing i will say is despite my bmi i am relatively fit and i made a concious effort to be as healthy as possible throughout my pregnancy and only gained 11lbs. I was actually lighter once i gave birth than i was before i fell pregnant. Good luck with your pregnancy and try not to worry about things unless they happen.

Sassy306 - thank you, it's nice to hear that even though they warn us, it doesn't necessarily mean those things will happen!

BMI of 36 here! I too felt overwhelmed and sad at my booking in. I haven't seen a consultant due to my weight but saw one the other day to discuss my birth as it was traumatic with my son. I'm currently 29 weeks and I said I was concerned about all the additional risks, not being able to birth in a pool etc etc and the consultant took one look at me and said Don't worry, your BMI is pretty normal these days, although it's not good, your not extremely unhealthy, you're low risk for every other area and you're going to have a very healthy pregnancy and birth. You're going to be fine lovely, just be sensible and follow advice. For what it's worth, I joined slimming World at week 13, and I've lost 7lb overall, so at 29 weeks I'm half a stone lighter than where I started...it might be worth you looking into how you can minimise weight gain just so you and baby both feel happier and healthier xx

Thanks Babyno2mamabear. I might look into slimming world, I've heard a few people recommend it in pregnancy! In fairness, both midwives I've seen have said they have similar bmi to me, which made me feel better!

P.s. that's ace!

Well I had a healthy bmi and had a pph and suspected clot so had to inject myself after birth. My friend was even slimmer than me and got gestational diabetes. You may be at an increased risk but these things can happen to anyone at any size. I agree you need to know the risks but I hope you weren't made to feel that it's your fault if these things happen - clearly more factors are at play with them than just your weight! I hope you have a healthy pregnancy and aren't too anxious - take care of yourself.

Those things are already risks in pregnancy. Pregnancy and birth are risky. Approx 30% of first time Mums will need a c section.