Plus size pregnancy early days - anyone else in early pregnancy want to join me?

[mrsc1987]

Is anyone else in early pregnancy and plus size?

Im 5 weeks 3 days and I'm really worried about all the risks of being pregnant my bmi is around 41 im 32 and its my first pregnancy and is very much wanted.

I've been prescribed 5mg folic acid and have my first midwife appointment next week. Ive read so many things about misdcarriage, diabetes, pre eclampsia, c sections, spina bifida etc etc now im terrified that I won't go on to have a healthy baby.

My BMI was 41 when I got pregnant. I managed to get it down to 39 by my 12 week scan which meant that I wasn't forced into a hospital birth. I found calorie counting while I was pregnant was useful - not restricting, but just ensuring I was getting a healthy balance and not overeating.

My pregnancy was complication-free and I felt great the whole way through (once the morning sickness was gone at 14 weeks). The only impact my BMI had was a few extra scans and having to have a GTT test as my baby was measuring large (I didn't have gestational diabetes though). I did end up having a c-section but that was nothing to do with my weight. Two days after giving birth I was 2 stone lighter than when I first got pregnant.

You can mitigate loads of the risks by being as healthy throughout pregnancy as possible. Good luck!

@peachgreen thank you for your reply. Really good to hear you had a good pregnancy!

Im doing my very best now to eat healthy and look after myself, i was dieting and lost 3 stone before i got pregnant but obviously i can't really carry on with the diet plan i was on, I'm just really scared but i hope the midwife will be kind to me and help me with any worries i have im so used to getting a massive lecture about my weight off my doctor that im half terrified im going to be told off for being pregnant.

Hey Mrs c, I'm in a similar situation to you, im 8 weeks and have my booking in appointment next week. I'm so scared they're gonna lecture me. I'm also on extra folic acid and was on slimming world before I got pregnant. Im going to go back once the nausea has passed (I'm constantly grazing to keep it at bay!).

My BMI was 41 at booking in. I didn't lose weight during my pregnancy and easily could have eaten better. Aside from fuzzy scans and gestational diabetes I don't think my weight caused any major issues. I guess it's just harder when you're waddling at the end but it'll come off soon enough. I did have some SPD/hip pain sleeping at night.

You'll be fine, and congrats!

PS nobody lectured me. I had some advice about healthy eating but definitely no lectures.

@mrsc1987 & @Lemonysherbet I'm going to join this thread too. Found out yesterday I was pregnant. At a guess I would say I'm only a couple of weeks. My BMI is 36, I'm 33 years. Earlier this year I was lighter as was motivated due to wedding... however it's crept back on. Obviously I have some time until booking appointment (probably December if this sticks) so am going to continue to try and get back to healthy eating. I normally follow slimming world when I've lost weight before and find it a healthy balanced plan. Not really a "diet". So am going to stick to this and see if I can get BMI down a bit.

I'm 34 weeks with my 2nd, my booking BMI was 37, it was 38 at last check a week or so ago. I think it was 39 with first baby, both times I had growth scans and GTT and some consultant appointments but first birth was midwife lead, this one I'm fully supported for a water birth with hypnobirthing. Higher BMI doesn't mean you'll have lots of complications.

I am borderline GD and testing 4x daily as baby is on the bigger side but not out of the 'normal' range, but perfectly healthy.

The biggest challenge has been finding decent maternity clothes that fit well, look good and don't cost a fortune!

@Lemonysherbert @Absa @orangejuicer @codenameduchess thanks for all the replies it makes me feel like im not alone

congrats to all of you on your pregnany! Such an exciting feeling

i have my booking in appointment Thursday I'll be 6+2 i think.. im really nervous but hopefully it will be ok! Im also part excited and hoping it might make it feel real too

really trying to eat healthy now i know its not just myself i need to look after I'm absolutely dreading getting bigger and waddling around but if i get a healthy baby at the end of it its going to be worth it

Cant wait for my scan i think we're getting a private one at around 8 weeks if we can find one near to where we live but that also brings anxiety of getting my flabby belly out and wondering if they can even see the baby through it all lol I'm such an over thinker though.

@mrsc1987 I'm 30 mins away from a private scan and so nervous so I totally get it.

17 weeks with a BMI of 42 on booking I think. Am currently 10lbs lighter than when I found out. Midwife has been lovely about it - she did her job by outlining potential risks, but did so in a non-judgey way. Consultant did start going on about seeing a dietitian but I’ve declined and she did stop going on about it at that point.

You can join slimming world if that’s something you wish to do. Or just try and eat healthily and actively try not to gain too much. That way you are doing everything you can to safeguard baby and minimise any potential increased risks. But TBH up until the nausea stopped I ate anything I fancied that would stay down! Needs must!

Echo pp, biggest challenge has been finding decent maternity clothes that fit and look good whilst not costing the Earth. Next battle is finding more comfortable knickers ha.

Congratulations on your pregnancy :)

@Lemonysherbert oh wow how did it go? I really can't wait for mine we have another couple of weeks yet until we have one. Can i ask who you went with for your scan too?

@Keyboard91 thank you for your reply, i dont think i will bother with the slimming world but i deffo intend to eat healthy, i am prepared for a little lecture and will try not to get myself worked up or upset when it comes up about diet at my appointments i know they have to say certain things to us. I was kind of hoping when it comes to it to find some cheap maternity stuff on the likes of ebay etc

@mrsc1987 it was a company local to me in the south, it's not part of a chain. It went really well. Had external one and saw the heartbeat, but I hadn't drunk enough water to do full checks so she did an internal one. I was so anxious about it but it was so easy and over quickly :) so happy though, told my parents now with a can photo which is nice

I wasn't in the exact same boat but my bmi was 31 and I still ended up with gestational diabetes.
We ended up having a very healthy baby girl at 38 weeks 8lb 10oz.
I was on metformin and insulin but apart from that a very healthy pregnancy so I wouldn't be too worried about that!!
Good luck OP!

Thats great to hear @Lemonysherbert i think ours will be with babybond at mothercare where they do them nearest to us, we arent telling any family until 12 weeks still although if my mum was still here i would be telling her right away!