Should you try to lose weight in pregnancy ?

[mouldygrapes]

I’m worried about my weight - was the biggest I’ve been pre pregnancy and have put on about 4kg so far (12 weeks now). BMI definitely above 35.
I’ve been grazing to cope with nausea and not very active but want to change that when I’m feeling better.

Is it advisable to try to lose weight; or just to try to minimise gain? The midwife today didn’t really answer my question so please help, wise MNetters!

You could ask to be referred to a dietician if your midwife wasn't much help. The usual advice is to eat healthily and not to gain weight in the first three months. Certainly don't go on a low calorie diet without medical supervision.

I was mid weight loss when I got pregnant and was advised to just carry on with healthy eating but not restrict calories. Could that be an option? Also carrying on exercise or starting moderate exercise like a 30min walk a day would be good.

Congrats

Thanks both. Could ask re dietician but they didn’t seem hugely bothered, just said “keep an eye on it”

I wasn’t thinking of anything drastic but healthier eating and increasing activity would definitely be sensible first steps

If you have a high BMI you should try to minimise any weight gain during pregnancy which means you would be loosing weight but baby is gaining. So if you are 90kg you should aim to try and stay at 90kg for the pregnancy. So then after birth you should be 80-84kg

With support of midwife, I think slimming world do a programme. I think it's more to minimise your gains (which means effectively losing weight as baby/placenta et al grow).

I’ve always been very sceptical of slimming world!

Thanks for the advice so far. Minimising gain may be the thing to aim for