Should I try for another baby if I am (ahem...very) overweight?

[scoopmuckanddizzy]

Here it is - dd will be 2 in a few weeks and dh and I would love to have another baby soon as we don't want too big of an age gap.

However... I weigh 16st. With dd I'd lost 3st before I got pregnant but ate so much I put it all back on and more besides. I've now managed to lose 2st (and still losing weight).

So what should I do?

I know that If I were to get pregnant I wouldn't eat as stupidly as I did with dd.

I know that there are also health risks involved although with dd there were no complications at all, it was a good pregnancy and birth.

So should I lose weight first meaning there'll be a bigger age gap or just go for it and concentrate on losing weight afterwards?

I'd love advice from anyone who has been or is in a similar situation.

Thanks

I was 15 stone when I got pregnant with ds 4 years ago. I was 16 stone when pregnant with dd one year ago. Never had any problems with either pregnancy and both of mine were water births, hospital with ds and home with dd. My weight was never an issue and became pregnant first time of really trying both times. I'm 5' 8" so probably don't look that big. Didn't really consider weight a problem when trying to conceive. I actually lost weight whilst pregnant both times, only to put it on again afterwards (like we all do). Go for it if you feel comfortable and you have no health problems. Sometimes the media and doctors blow it up out of proportion and just want to frighten every women into loosing weight.

How old are you?

weight watchers do a greatplan for pregnant women

Oh btw I was 31 when I was pregnant with ds and 35 with dd.

I weighed more than you when i fell pg with number 2!

If you aim to lose weight first, you'll end up never doing it and having a big age gap etc etc etc.

My recommendation is to just go for it. TBH, i've felt much much healthier and "glowy" with this pg than i ever did with DS. When i was pg the first time around i was only 21 (i'm 39 now) and I was about 5 stone lighter than what i am now, but i felt rubbish.

Go for it!

If you do go for it, try and bf afterwards because it can (I know not for everyone!!) really help you loose weight)...as long as you don't use it as an excuse to eat more than about 2/2500 cals a day.

Also, my mate did the weightwatchers thing and weighed less when she was 9 months preg with her dd than she did at the start.

It can be sone.

Done

I'm 26

Yes, have a baby and then breastfeed like a demon for as long as possible - weight drops off! (if you eat sensibly at the same time, of course!)
Manufacture of breast milk uses 800 calories a day, or something!

I'm also quite short, 5'4" - I think I'm more concerned about what other people think.

SIL is very overweight indeed and had two children with a 2.2yr age gap without any problems for her or the babies.

mate of mine weighed oless at 9 months pregnant that she did at styart - using ww

Will look into weight watchers, it's all really encouraging, thank you. I feel quite excited now!

Another issue is maternity clothes, I struggled first time round to find clothes to fit me. I'm a size 20/22 on top and 24 ont the bottom(!). Any advice?

I didn't know WW did a pregnancy plan - that's good to know. I'm in a similar position to the OP. No problems at all in my first pregnancy, but am struggling to conceive this time. There are host of other possible factors, not least the possibility that dh might be infertile! I would definitely go for it if I were you.

Thanks tribpot, sorry you're struggling to conceive, you've certainly put things into perspective for me.

Next maternity range are very generous and go upto sz 22 but they will fit a sz 24. I am normally a 22 but found I had to buy sz 18 maternity as the 22's were huge!

I think slimming world also adapts its plan for pregant people. I'm not sure whether it's better than ww.

my sil was at least as heavy as you when she had her 2. She lost weight during pregnancy too as she was put on a strict diet due to the threat of gestational diabetes.

Thanks sarahlou1uk, that's good to know. Will be very pleased if I can fit into a size 22!

I'm more than that and am now pg with my first. I'm 35 and have been married 7 years and the reason I waited so long is that I kept telling DH that I couldn't have a baby before I lost weight...and so it went on...

Finally, I said that if I hadn't lost weight by Easter then I never would and we should just go for it. Didn't lose the weight and so we threw caution to the wind. Conceived on the first try and here I am. I'm 23 weeks now and (fingers crossed) it's all been ok so far.

I'm sure it's better not to be overweight, but if you are then so be it. No one has mentioned mine to me at all, I thought I'd be a bit bullied but nothing. I say go for it.

This all so encouraging, I think I know what I'll be doing tonight!!!

Oh and I can echo the bit about Next maternity clothes. I bought my usual 22 jeans and every time I move they fall down!

Congratulations Sarahjct.

Thank you all for your advice, I haven't posted on here for ages - am a bit of lurker! - but I'm so glad I did. Will keep you posted xxx

Let us know how you get on We'll be watching for news!

Evans go up to a 30/32. Ebay have a few shps who do clothes upto 7x (and can get their hands on up to a 10x), you can buy from America...... Clothes are not a problem.

You can eat healthily during pregnancy. Your midwife can advise and support you. WW, slimming world..they can support you too.

Certain things can be more tricky - like foetal monitoring, epidural, etc. Plus you can get gestational diabetis (or whatever it's called!) which can lead to a big baby. Your midwife etc will deal with this with you. It's nothing they haven't dealt with a million times before and it certainly shouldn't put you off.

I would say go for it.