Preventing an induction by losing weight

[Betty1064]

Hi, I am currently 28 weeks pregnant with my third baby but I am very overweight, obese even. I am truly ashamed of this and have been trying my hardest to eat healthier by following slimming world.

I was induced at 38 weeks in my last pregnancy as I had gestational diabetes but have managed to avoid it this time. My last birth was very traumatic and I am very keen to avoid another induction but now the doctor's are suggesting I am induced at 39 weeks due to my BMI being over 50!

I know this is my own doing but I really really want to avoid an induction. The doctor said the only way to avoid it now is to lower my BMI.

I guess my question is, is it even possible? I have 10 weeks until the decision is made and would have to lose a stone or so. She's given me the go ahead to try but said no shakes, crash diets or fasting of any kind. Where do I start?!

Don't lose weight now, just try not to much more on. You can refuse an induction anyway. If they tell you that the baby is in trouble, then that's one thing, but just being induced because you're overweight is not a reason if the baby and you are fine.

What was your bmi at booking in?

Slimming world can be followed in pregnancy safely. I did it in my last pregnancy, as well as before, to avoid GDM, which I didn't develop thankfully, BUT I still put on over 3.5 stone. My booking bmi was normal but my body just goes for it in pregnancy, I was very strict about complex carbs and sugar, plus I have 11lbers.
Good luck, I think it's definitely possible for you to have a better induction this time as well as eat healthily for the rest of your pregnancy.

What was your bmi at the start of your pregnancy?

My BMI was 49.5 at booking in and it's currently at 50 at 28 weeks. I have been following slimming world but have allowed myself the odd treat or so when I've really fancied something. I have only gained a few lbs up until now but I think actively losing weight during the third trimester will be really difficult, although I'm willing to give anything a try!

Sure you can lose a stone in 10 weeks. I'm guessing you weigh about 20 stone or thereabouts, it really shouldn't be difficult to lose a stone in that time with hardly depriving yourself at all.

I'm 5ft and slightly above 18st.
I'll give it my best shot, if I manage to lose a stone and prevent an induction that would be great and also a step in the right direction. This has been a wake up call tbh.

I think some GPs/Midwives will give you a referral for slimming world so you can attend for free, I've heard this before (maybe on here?) it may be worth asking about anyway?

Either way, Slimming World have worked with The Royal College of Midwives, so that's reassuring -

www.rcm.org.uk/about-us/alliance-partners/slimming-world/

www.slimmingworld.co.uk/mums/expectant-mums/support

Echoing the PP - they can't force you to have an induction at all.
With my dc2 I decided that however overdue I went, as long as the dc was safe I would wait to labour naturally.
The midwife booked me in for an extra scan - to make sure the placenta was functioning properly - and didn't have an issue.
I was determined to be much more in control of my own destiny in general with this pg though and was waaaay more clued up.

Ask them what the other options are. I guarantee there will be some.

What BMI do they stop this policy at? Cause if it's something like 35, then that's not going to happen.

As pp said, you don't have to agree to an induction but you need to be made aware of the pros and cons/risk-benefit of not being induced.

I'm sorry this is happening to you. My BMI was 41 at booking with my last baby, it's an awful feeling.

They suggest the induction when your BMI is over 50. Mine is 50 exactly. If I were to lose a stone it would make my BMI around 47.

The doctor said the risks are problems with the placenta, blood flow and a higher risk of stillbirth. Immediately made me feel like shit tbh.

Hi could you ask your consultant to refer you to a dietitian? Also a mum I knew was diagnosed with gd so had to eat a low carb diet and she lost lots of weight an weighed less after baby was born then pre-pregregnancy. So I think it's possible to lose weight when pregnant when needed x

I would go with your doctor’s advice. There are many increased risks that come from getting pregnant while obese such as shoulder dystocia, higher risk of stillbirth and higher risk of SIDS, increased risk of haemorrhage during labour. You have to go with what’s going to be medically safest for your baby, or if you’re going with your own feelings about wanting to avoid induction that’s fine as it’s your body but you should be fully aware of the risks.

I think it’s a positive thing that this has been such a wake up call, it’s awful for you and baby to go through these higher risks. Was it a planned pregnancy? If not then I can see how these situations occur, but if you planned the baby surely you did some research first about the risks of conceiving while obese? Maybe you did and you accepted those risks at the time and it’s just sinking in now that it’s almost too late to do anything significant about it. But it’s well known that being a healthy weight (or even getting down to overweight) is one of the most crucial things you can do before TTC for your baby’s health. If this really has been a wake up call then by all means give it your best shot losing a stone (that can be done during pregnancy of course, that’s only a bit over a pound per week and even though you’re growing the baby every week that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of weight to lose from your own body). But the risks will still be there.

I’d recommend reading the weight chapter in the book Expecting Better by Ostler ASAP so you’re informed about your current situation, and certainly before having any more children. Knowledge is key and it’s up to us to make sure we’re making healthy choices not only for ourselves but our children.

I hope you have a safe remainder of your pregnancy and a safe birth and that you and baby are okay. If it’s your third birth then I’m guessing you were obese for the first two as well? But those weren’t wake up calls? Surely you had some understanding of the risks of going into a third pregnancy morbidly obese.

wow

Good luck op well done for taking the right steps now.

My dear, I'm so sorry you're in this situation. If I can offer any advice, I'd suggest yes go for slimming world - it's just about eating healthier after all, nothing wrong with that.

I'm wondering about the reasons you've put on the weight in the first place.

Do you eat for emotional reasons? If so, a couple of good books to look at are:

50 ways to self-soothe without using food
Compassion focused therapy for dummies

Eating healthier is about looking after yourself and taking care of yourself. Often people don't feel they're worth taking care of, but the more you do it the better you'll feel about yourself and the easier it'll get. Get as much support from others around you as you can (something which can be difficult to ask for in the first place). Also bear in mind that eating habits are just habits - we can change them over time.

Most of all, try not to beat yourself up about this. Sending much love and care in your direction.

My son is 18 months old, I conceived him after doing slimming world for a while and losing 3 stone. However I suffered terribly with PND after his birth, this is when the weight just piled on. I had gestational diabetes with him but was able to control it with my diet however he did have shoulder dystocia- solved with the McRoberts manoeuvre but still scary as hell.

Food is a massive comfort thing for me. I am 100% an emotional eater. Thank you for the book suggestions.

This pregnancy wasn't planned as I swore after having my son I was done. But after a contraception failure, I really fought with myself over options but I just couldn't have an abortion. So here I am.

My daughter is older and I wasnt overweight during my pregnancy with her, my son I was overweight but had recently lost weight and my BMI was under 40. I have seriously piled on the weight in the 18 months since he was born.

Thanks for all of the advice, of course my babies and my own safety is my priority but after such a terrible experience a spontaneous labour is really want I want for my own mental health.

If I were in your shoes I would ask for an elective c-section instead of an induction.

I'm an emotional over eater, have had 4 children, and with my eldest was morbidly obese and did experience shoulder dystocia. Also PND (piled on even more weight). That was a wake up call for me. Weight not an issue with the subsequent 3 deliveries.

You can lose a stone in 10 weeks but I really don't think that this is a time to be stressing about it. Better to focus on a realistic delivery plan.

On the flip side, I lost weight throughout pregnancy with dc1 due to morning sickness and his position making me feel full after 1 bite and they wanted to induce me because of that (was still a long way from being underweight).

Eating healthily and just saying no to the induction if that's what you want might be the simplest option.

So I've been following slimming world 100% this week, was weighed this morning and I've lost 5lbs. I'm pleased with that and am going to keep at it, regardless of whether an induction is suggested or not. 9 weeks to go!

Well done Betty, that's great!

You could do the gestational diabetes diet, you wouldn’t have to worry about whether it’s pregnancy safe. It’s also really simple. I had gestational diabetes with a BMI of 24 and lost half a stone in the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy.