Overweight or plus size and pregnant

[eskimod]

Hello! I'm starting a thread where us plus size girls can talk pregnancy!
I've noticed you rarely see a plus size bump etc.

My journey started 2 months ago. My OH and I have been busy working etc etc and realised we're nearly 30 (I'm 29 and he's 28). I have a few friends trying for a baby and struggling (not plus size, one older, one younger) so we got concerned that our weight and age would make things difficult (I'm 5"5, size 16 and 14 stone, BMI 33).

So, after years of telling everyone I didn't want kids, I wanted to get married first (we've been together 10 and a half years, getting married July 2020), were not ready yet etc... we decided to see how it went.

I started using apps and ovulation tests and we had sex st the right times but cycle 1 was not successful. I think I got a bit too obsessed.
Month two, I did the same but I was more relaxed about it. Then I got cramps and could feel my period coming, I was a bit gutted but tried not to get too down. BUT, AF didn't arrive... I took a test and it was a BFP!

I'm currently 5w4d by my calculations. Due 29th March 2020. I rang for an appointment and was given one for 29th August- I'll be 10 weeks by then! The lady on the self referral line said I need to take more folic acid because of my weight. I'm waiting for a prescription because you can only have it prescribed. I'm taking 4mg (rather than 5) and hoping this will be okay?!!

I've been reading online and can see there's some scare mongering for larger pregnant ladies bit I've also read that most plus sized women have healthy pregnancies.
Let's offer each other support and advise

@eskimod
I'm signed off work until Tuesday. I have had really bad sickness and havent kept much down, so would have been pretty rubbish at work!
Seen both GP and midwife and nothing mentioned about the extra folic acid.

Great to hear some success story, me and my partner been trying for over 12 months. Both early 30's, I've started having testing and husband is booked for sperm test, but mainly the doctors go on about my weight and say I need to lose weight and I should concieve easier said than done! I'm 5'8, weight 15 stone 3 and have a BMI of 31.

Feeling worthless is understatement!

@wantingformytime You are NOT worthless! It must be so hard and you must feel so sad but hang in there, your time will come! I have my fingers and toes crossed for you! Good luck and keep us updated! Xx

Hey!
I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant with my first. When I got pregnant I was a size 20 bmi around 37. I was on the higher dose of folic acid and have been taking the low dose aspirin since 12 weeks. Due to my bmi I'm under shared care and so far have had a lovely pregnancy (touch wood the last part continues!) At first I got quite fed up with my bmi constantly being mentioned but now I try and take it with a pinch of salt! I had a glucose tolerance test at 26 weeks and that was fine, my sugar levels were great. I've had additional growth scan and again they came back fine, so although there are higher risks due to my weight, things have been okay so far (fingers crossed). My baby was breech so I had an ecv this week which again I was told was unlikely to work due to my weight (only a 50/50 chance anyway, lower chance of success in first pregnancy and high bmi) but it worked!!! Hope everything goes well for you all!

Hi all, it's nice to find some ladies in the same position. I'm trying to tell myself that I wouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place if my body was OK to do this but it's hard when everyone seems to be concerned about it.

I started taking asprin at 12 weeks but stopped again because it was making me feel faint and breathless.

I'm waiting to meet my consultant for the first time on the 14th and I'm a bit nervous about it.

@KHR1 I'm so glad you've had a pretty straight forward pregnancy so far, I'm sure it will continue that way for the final stretch!
Let us know how you get on! I'm
Sure you can't wait to meet your little one soon! Xx

@PutTheBassInYourWalk hello! Yes exactly, we can't be that unhealthy if our bodies are getting pregnant. I do r feel so I'm healthy anyway.
Is this your first pregnancy? How far along are you? X

Iliana sending you big (fat!!!) pregnancy hugs, so sorry your consultant is making you feel this way, that's so upsetting and out of order. Maybe tell her that she's risking negatively affecting your mental health! (They're very worried about this right now, policy wise, so might give her a bit of a shock!) You're doing all the right things and treating you that way isn't going to help the baby, is it!!! May be pregnancy hormones but I'm getting a bit worked up here. Anyway, lots of positive vibes xxx

@catlady3 😂 Love your attitude, and you're absolutely right! When the health professionals talk to you like that, all they're doing is making you worry and having a negative impact on your mental health which could harm the baby?!!!! I'm going to use that if they're rude about my weight!

that's pretty much what I've been saying to doctors for years (minus the baby bit up until now cos this is my first pregnancy). I've worked really hard the last few years to focus on regular exercise & a healthy balanced diet & having a more positive attitude towards myself & not giving a shit about my size or weight. I know from years of experience that dieting and worrying about my weight and focusing too much on weight is terrible for my mental health. Having a baby is gonna be hard enough without getting dragged back into a self hating, disordered eating mindset.

@PutTheBassInYourWalk please don’t be nervous about your consultant appointment!

I’m a size 20 (or was pre-pregnancy!) and ever since I found out I was pregnant at 5 weeks I’ve been DREADING meeting a consultant. I had my first appointment with them last week and it was literally a two minute chat. A nurse did my blood pressure first, then the consultant came in, glanced over my notes, told me there was a slight risk of gestational diabetes or a larger baby and that the best thing I could do was act like I’m diabetic now and cut out sugar. He didn’t lecture me, just said that and then told me I was a straight forward case and that was the end of it! I’m booked in for an extra scan at 28 weeks so if anything I’m now pleased for the extra care as I’ll get to see baby more often x

@goodnightsugarpop
I sometimes struggle with thinking too much about what other people Might think. I'm really really trying my best not to now, it's about how I feel about my self and my OH loves me the way I am so that's all that counts! I sometimes fall back into the trap of feeling sad because I think society makes lots of girls feel that way. I'm getting wiser 😂

@catlady3 thank you so much that's a great idea I might employ that, hopefully after my terse response last time she'll leave it be. It does actually make my anxiety (which I am medicated for and is on my medical records) much worse and makes me feel low afterwards like what I'm doing isn't good enough. Big hugs back 😊

@Iilana 💪🏻 go girl

Hi everyone, just checking in. How are you all getting on?
Same symptoms here, sore boobs, fatigue, occasional cramps.
My hips/ pelvis sometimes hurt. Is that normal so early on (7+2)? My sister has pelvic girdle but she's 32 weeks!
Hope you're all ok and are enjoying pregnancy x

Im 32 weeks currently and have been under the care of the consultant team due to high BMI (nearly 40).

One of the things I did find was that I had a lot of evening sickness in the first trimester, which resulted in a half a stone loss. Since then, I have lost another half a stone from having gone off food in general/very small appetite and following a low carb diet since being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Expecting after the baby is born, I will be around a stone and a half lighter than when I had my first booking in appointment with the midwife. Despite the weight-loss, the baby is growing well and now my bump has popped out properly, it is a nice and defined D shaped one.

So far my consultant and all the people I have seen have been very supportive. They have obviously outlined the extra risks due to the weight, but none have been disparaging about it. I was limited in the options available for the birth plan because of the consultant care, but I hadn't really considered anything outside of a hospital setting, so it wasn't a huge issue for me.

Just working on maintaining good sugar control for the next 6 - 8 weeks and hoping all else goes to plan!

Hi everyone. Hope you don't mind me joining you.

I am 10 weeks today (due 9th March) and I am currently BMI about 37 (was under 35, but put on a bit during the stims for my last IVF cycle).

It is interesting you have been told 5mg of folic acid. I had my booking appointment and was just told to take a normal pregnancy multi-vitamin with folic acid in it. I do take 3 folic acid though, so hopefully the 1.2mg may be doing something.

I was told I will be consultant led - as well as BMI I have high blood pressure - so will be limited on birthing options to the hospital I was going to give birth in anyway. I am also going to have extra monitoring for pre-eclampsia as my blood pressure puts me at higher risk.

I know I do need to exercise more (I do so little having a desk job), but they have said swimming and walking. I am trying to do some more walking, but I had a bleeding from a haematoma two weeks ago and I am still spotting so have been told to be careful in case I cause more bleeding.

Hi ladies.
I’m 9+2 with baby number 5(!), and am around size 18/20. Stopped weighing myself a few months before I got pregnant, as was having ivf and the weight thing was just stressing me out. I’m pretty active - always walk around 5 miles a day, just eat too much and have pcos.
I’m a high risk pregnancy for a number of reasons, not just BMI but, am keeping my fingers crossed that things are going to go relatively smoothly. I’m not easily offended, and know that doctors always have to outline the worst case scenario, so try not to get too worked up about all the “things that can go wrong”.
For those of you who are further along, have you any recommendations for plus size maternity clothes? My 4th is 9 so, it’s a long time since I’ve had to dress a bump!

@Cantrip hey, I've found asda pretty good for plus size maternity clothes. I only really bothered with maternity jeans and trousers. With tops I ended up mainly getting tops that were a size up from normal (and the odd nice maternity top) and I wore normal leggins too

You can get high dose folic acid from Holland and barrets or just take 2 tablets?

@WanderingMind2Day there is a comment further down on the post that explains the folic acid thing. As far as I'm aware, you can buy 5mg of folic acid, you can only get it prescribed as it is a far higher dose than the recommended 400mcg (you would have to take 12.5 of the 400 tablets to make up the 5mg). I was naive and didn't realise the massive difference until someone explained it. Taking 2 400mcg tablets wouldn't be enough.

@Bingbangbingbangbong
Welcome and congrats on your BFP! I lost a few pounds in the first few weeks through wasting much healthier. My appetite has been strange the last week or so though, don't really feel like eating many things apart from crisps and noodles which isn't so healthy. I don't really feel like eating meat anymore. I started feeling sicky everyday but wasn't actually sick. I've felt better the past few days though but not a big appetite. Have been drinking lots though. I'm hoping not to put too much on!

@CornishMaid1
Welcome and congrats!
Yeah I was told by the lady in the self referral line then I requested a prescription from the doctor and he gave me the 5mg folic acid with no arguments. I've heard lots of other ladies say that they haven't been told to take more folic acid because of their weight. How strange. Maybe it's an area thing?!

@Cantrip
Hello! Congrats!
Good question about maternity clothes! I'd like to know too although I'm hoping I can get away with wearing my normal clothes for as long as poss. I have lots of baggy dresses and leggings. I haven't really seen any maternity clothes anywhere apart from ASOS 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hello all, please can I join? I'm 12 weeks with my first. BMI is 37, size 16. At 5ft 3 I'm on the shorter side.

I left in tears after my booking in appointment - there was a tick box sticker added to my notes with all the risks associated with being overweight in pregnancy and the midwife basically went through each one telling me I'd likely get preeclampsia, gd, my baby might be bigger so it'll get stuck and any epidural might not work. It's scared the life out of me. She didn't discuss the likelihood of these happening or what I can do to prevent. I've cried many times about it.

She also didn't tell me I'd been referred to a diet team so I got a surprise phone call from the loveliest midwife ever who is going to come and see me every 5 weeks to help with my diet and weight gain. I'm going to discuss what the other midwife said to me with her.