Obese and pregnant

[Louian]

hi

I went for my first appointment today to have my bloods taken etc. I was told when im there that im obese and need to get a double dosage folic acid prescription from my doctor and need to be monitored for diabetes. This has come as a shock as im size 10 and knew im a little bit chubby but never realised I was this bad. Has anyone had any experience of this. I eat fairly healthy and small meals. I do like maybe 2-3 bars of chocolate a week and eat 50 50 bread. Im just now in shock and know i cant diet now as its not recommended. But im just scared now as to what complications it means. My husband keeps telling me im not but I know he's just been nice and obviously the midwife saw there was cause for concern.

Sorry for rambling! Just now a bit worried.

Thank you

BMI 1. Isn't based on your dress size and 2. Can be seen as a load of bollocks

I was obese when pregnant with both my DC and was given prescription FA. I was monitored for high BP - never once had high BP. Blood sugar - completely normal. Anything 'the books' said I should have, I didn't have. My only issue was when in early pregnancy, was that I needed transvaginal scans vs external scans.

What exactly are these 'complications' that you've been told about?

What weight and height are you? It seems strange that a size 10 could be obese unless you're very short and wearing very stretchy size 10 clothes?
I wouldn't unduly panic op, you'll be taken care of.

@Louian she actually told you, you were obese?
Not overweight?

I am sure if someone was obese in early pregnancy they would know about it 🤨
Maybe she calculated wrong or was being dramatic. Especially being size 10. Sounds weird.

Being on double dose folic acid isn't a problem. I am not overweight but still took 1400 of folic acid daily.

Obese at a size 10? How tall and how heavy are you?

I already knew I would be obese when I went to my booking, but even the midwife said it's just what goes on paper! And every appointment I've had since they've all said the same. The folic acid tablets are tiny (bit like the pill) and it's just to make sure the baby is absorbing enough. As for the diabetes, when they say monitor you, they will ghost check your urine for glucose and then you'll have the GTT normally around 26/28 weeks, I did have an earlier one as well but all you do is fast, have your bloods taken and then drink a really high glucose drink and then get your bloods done again. But I both of my tests came back negative.

Also bonus you might get growth scans which just means extra scans to check on babies growth rather than relying on midwifes measurements. Just continue to look after yourself and you'll be fine x

God, I hate BMI. I'm struggling to see how anyone who is a size 10 is obese, unless you're less than 5 ft tall and have sparrow's bones.

Being monitored for diabetes is never a bad thing anyway, so I wouldn't worry about that (I think in most private pre-natal care it's checked for routinely for example) and certainly at my trust at least half of all women are checked for diabetes as they apply pretty wide criteria including weight, past medical history (and family medical history), ethnicity etc etc. I have this vague memory that my midwife told me that even without my medical history being what it was, I'd have been checked for diabetes as my husband is ethnically mediterranean, which is considered high risk (that didn't really make sense to me and as I was fully aware I was high risk anyway, I ignored the comment).

Obviously, anything you can do to avoid piling on the weight while pregnant is good. I think for a lot of women who were active before but less so during pregnancy this can be a real challenge while lazy bones' like me lose weight because the sheer effort in hauling the baby around and growing it mean I was burning more calories than before!