BMI over 35

[Lorna2019]

I'm worried about my BMI and how this will impact my pregnancy. There are loads of associated risks with having a BMI over 30.

Just wondering what experiences people have had so far. I have my first midwifes app in 3 weeks so fully expecting to be told about these risks.

Hi there. I'm 32 weeks with a BMI well over 35.

So far my experience has been that the midwife has been really supportive. I was referred to a consultant due to the increased risk and I was fine with that. The consultant has outlined the increased risks but without being overly harsh about it.

What happens will largely depend how your pregnancy progresses. I have developed gestational diabetes which is an added complication but it's completely diet controlled at the moment and if it stays that way then there is every chance I can still expect a fairly normal labour and delivery.

You may find you have fewer birth choices or you may not but ultimately you may need to advocate for yourself. Of course listen to the advice from doctors and midwives but do ask about the risks and benefits of anything they recommend. It's your body and your baby.

Lastly try not to panic. Lots of people with high BMI have healthy babies and healthy pregnancies. Of course things could be different but it's not the end of the world.

There is some really helpful advice on this American website and podcast. It's very specific to the American healthcare system in places but the facts on increased risk and the advice is still valid. The positive stories really helped me in the early days.
plussizebirth.com

I hope all goes really well for you.

What PP has said.

I have a BMI of 37, it was brought up and they have prescribed me a daily 75mg of Asprin because of this, all has been normal so far but there are increased risks as it progresses. I have to be tested for gestational diabetes at 28 weeks (I think) but other than this nothing much else has come about.

Mine was bang on 35. I was consultant led, but would have been anyway. As it was, no complications, and my weight was never even mentioned bar me having a GTT which came out fine.

Oh, you'll also need a higher dose of folic acid for the rest of your first trimester.

One of the first ones I met said I might not fit the regular scanner or something - I was a bit surprised as I am only a short size 16. Think she was exaggerating my mass in her head. Anyway, at no point was I hauled off to use specialist equipment and my weight was fortunately not an issue for either pregnancy. No one else mentioned it.

I had a BMI of 43 at my booking in appointment with #2.

Midwife was really nice explained that there were increased risks to me and the baby (gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, premature labour were a few) but also reassured me that although the risks were higher they were not inevitable and could be monitored. I was sent for Glucose Testing which involved fasting, drinking lucozade and blood tests but these were all normal.

Because of my BMI I was advised to go with consultant led care although this would have been advised due to difficulties with my previous birth. He was pretty good but blunt and scared me a bit saying they may have faced difficulties with anaesthesia if I needed another section.

As it transpired I did need another section due to Dd's positioning but there were no difficulties relating to my weight and I never had any health issues either.

I did choose to follow a healthy eating plan with help from my local NHS healthpoint through pregnancy and coupled with extreme morning sickness right up until birth I was 2st lighter 3 days after she was born!

There are too many people to mention, but thank you so much! I was awake for 2 hours feeling like I'd already failed before I'd started.

A while ago I had to have a lumbar puncture and I was bigger than I am now. It was an effort but because of the position I had to lie in, whereas they said if I sat up like a pregnant women it would have been easier.

The crazy thing is that I am only short and a size 18 - but I weigh the same as a double decker bus apparently. I can't understand how I weigh as much as I do, I will carry on with the healthy eating as I want to do everything I can to have a healthy pregnancy. It's my first, so it's all very new and scary. I know in my head that loads of people bigger and smaller than me have babies, some with complications and some without.

I think sometimes it's easy to just blame weight, which I find frustrating. I have no health complications, I rarely go to the Drs, but as soon as you stand on the scales, all they are interested in is my weight.

Thank you so much to everyone who posted! Wishing you all lots of luck. Xx

Hi I am pregnant with my 1st too and have a high bmi 42. I'm 4ft9 as well. I've been told to increase my folic acid which I've done. The midwife prescribed me an increased dose. She also mentioned the issues the pps mentioned. Thankfully baby doesn't seem to like sweet things so that is really helping with the healthy eating.

I'm so anxious I'm 9 weeks today. I can't wait for my scan. I just want to know baby is progressing well!

How far along are you?

Good luck OP!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I had BMI of 33 at booking in and the only difference from my last pregnancy (BMI of 28) was that I was given the higher dose of folic acid, a sheet on healthy eating in my notes and was weighed later on in the pregnancy (once only) rather than just at booking. No problem at all with the scans, green pathway, all birthplace options available (in fact actively encouraged to go for home birth). I did have a glucose tolerance test this time but that was in response to growth scan measurements rather than triggered by BMI.

@OnlyLittleMissOrganised I am 5 weeks on Sunday. It actually feels crazy to say! Due early December. I haven't told anyone, so this forum is a god send.

I booked my midwife app today and it's 3 weeks today so I'll be past 7 weeks. I am willing the days away, I found out on Monday and I keep checking the calendar every morning just to make sure I'm not further a long, just want to make it to 12 weeks.

Have you felt ok so far? When are you due? X

@lifechanginglemoncake Just wanted to say 'Thank you' for the recommendation. It has been really informative so far, really liked that they have their own instagram too! You're right about the US orientation but the sentiment is the same and some of the ridiculous things I worried would happen have been quashed. Thanks again! X

Hi, I have a BMI over 35. Currently 25 weeks pregnant (it's gone so fast! 😮)
My midwife didn't really mention that much tbh, PP posters were told to up their folic acid but I wasn't told any of that. Everyone is different 🙂. I got told that if I had a c section I'd need to speak to the anaesthetist for more precautions. I also got told she'd make a referral to the doctors and if they wanted to see me/ were concerned they would call me in, they haven't yet. I have a diabetic screening when I'll be 28 weeks. Have you started to take any pregnancy vitamins? X

Hi Op,

Just wanted to pop in as I worried like hell I was going to be told off by the midwife and doctors about my weight. My BMI was 49 on booking so really really high, I had to be under consultant led care, which after 16 weeks they decided there were no issues so signed me back to midwife led care but somehow the communication got a bit confused and I ended up under both, I went to a lot of appointments but as it was my first pregnancy I didn't know any better so just went with it lol! Will know for next time haha! I ended up losing nearly 4 stone eating healthy through my pregnancy and a year on have kept it off so for me being pregnant was a bloody amazing time as I got my baby at the end of it and my figure back lol! Lots of luck, I hope you enjoy the journey xx

Hi @Lorna2019 - you're welcome. I've found it so inspiring to read good news stories and get some realistic perspective on the increased risks.

Like previous posters have said, you may need high dose folic acid. If you're not on it already it might be worth calling your GP to say you are pregnant and it's recommended at your BMI. I got prescribed some from a phone appointment. I also got prescribed aspirin from 12 weeks.

The plus mommy podcast is also great with brilliant tips on pregnancy and birth choices. Again a bit American but good stuff in there. They interviewed a British plus size fertility coach the last couple of weeks who talked about the British system a bit more.

You've got this. Most likely all will be fine but if there are things that crop up you'll be well looked after.

@lifechanginglemoncake Thank you! Your words are encouraging. I'm such a worrier, I worry about things that haven't happened, may never happen, that could happen. It's ridiculous.

I didn't expect to feel this way and when I saw those 2 lines on the test, after utter shock, I felt so happy and I just want that feeling to stay. X

Congratulations! My bmi was 40 I think, and had a great pregnancy! I was consultant lead, but had no health issues at all, passed the glucose tolerance test at 25 weeks with flying colours. I had an extra growth scan because high him can disguise growth problems when measuring bump. It showed DS as being a big baby, so I had another about 36 weeks, which was consistent. One consultant scared us about giving birth to a heffer and wanted to induce early or talk about an elective section, but at 39 weeks another was much calmer so we just waited. I was 40+11 before I went into labour, in the labour suite, I was allowed to use the pool and eventually delivered in theatre with episotomy and forceps after pushing for 2 hours with no result. They predicted DS would be 10lb at term, he was 10lb 11, so I think they were bang on with that estimate!!

I will add that I am quite fit and active, played a contact sport right up to falling pregnant, walked to and from work and even walked 4.5 miles the day before I went into labour, was desperate to avoid induction!

DS is now almost 7 months and doing well.

@Pinklittle Yes! That's the kind of result you want!! Haha! I'm the same, know nothing!!! My sister is pregnant but with an IVF baby so her experience has been different, so I don't know what to do or who to ask. I called them GP and asked if I needed to self refer or see the Dr. The receptionist was offended that I even suggested self referral.

Thanks for the reassurance. It means a lot, I have a bad relationship with my body and if anything were to happen, I'd blame my body/weight.

Hope you and your little one are well! 😀

I'm due the 8th ish of November. I have indigestion a lot and when I read certain foods am nauseous. Thankfully I've only been sick once!

I was the same OP constantly counting the days! I'm counting down 3 weeks until 12 weeks!

I think I was 30 BMi , when pregnant but it must have gone over while pregnant as I had so many foods that made me feel sick I was living on crap like pizza and chunks of cheese ... it’s what I could keep down for months .. I did get tested but managed to not have gestational diabetes and my blood pressure was consistently excellent through out, birth was standard and mine and baby blood pressure wise was perfect in birth we were as cool as cucumbers throughout.

I was also 35 so age was another flag,

I may be lucky, all caffeine / alcohol was completely stopped and I exercised
At my aqua class as much as I could ... once the Sickness subsided anyhow ... didn’t fancy throwing up in a pool and it happened a lot ... how I put on such much weight was prob the constant snacking as although I threw a lot up only felt better when eating something I could stomach the idea of ... must have kept more down than I threw up!

Have a healthy little bubba ... 17 weeks chats away grins and rolls and is happily depriving me of sleep 😴

You won’t stop worrying but just do the best you can and listen to your body x

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee You sound like a warrior! I can imagine if I were 9 months pregnant with a 11lb baby that I'd struggle getting off the sofa. #superhuman!

I've never played a contact sport, I'd be useless and be raging if I broke a nail. I don't consider myself unhealthy, I just know I'm overweight which I'm working to change.

Really glad that you and baby are doing well!

Thank you for sharing your experience. X

Mine was 32 and I was 38 years old. No one said much about either. I pushed for the higher folic acid as they hadn’t heard about it but they then checked with the hospital and Prescribed it.

I lost weight whilst pregnant and was only about half a stone heavier at the end.

You’ll be fine!

@PixieDust26 Ah, congratulations. Glad it's been a good pregnancy so far!
I was taking conception vitamins when I was TTC.

I've got some folic acid (400) which is the recommended amount. In addition I've been taking a multivitamin, which also has folic acid in but they don't have the same does as pregnacare so I was going to go to H&B tomorrow and buy some. X

@Middlrm Sounds like you're in love! Congratulations, 17 weeks, how are you still awake, ha.

So far, I'm crampy and my boobs are so full. I seem to have gone off food, which is not like me. Obviously! Ha! I'm still sticking to the core principles of slimming world, it's always been my go to when I wanted to loose weight. Hopefully, I can stay on this path until cravings take over. Dreading morning sickness, I hope I don't get it. Like you, public vomiting isn't my thing. X

@Shiverrrrmetimbers thank you! X

You’ll need 5mg of folic acid preferably - you can only get this via prescription.