Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Any High BMI, obese mums to be??

201 replies

oopsydaisyyy · 06/03/2021 13:30

Hi everyone,

Im currently pregnant 10wk today. I was losing weight before I found out I was pregnant and it was a surprise BFP as drs were convinced I had PCOS.

Really anxious as my BMI is still over 50! So wanted to start this thread to see if theres anyone else in a similar situation? Lets ride the waves together ladies Grin

OP posts:
LikeSomeKindOfMadness · 08/03/2021 10:45

I'd like to join please. Mh BMI is around 40 and I just found out I'm pregnant. I knew from last time that I needed 5mg folic acid so I ordered it online when we were TTC. I've just referred for antenatal care so won't see anyone for a while so I'm wondering whether to ask the GP for official 5mg pills or just keep taking the ones I already have.
I had some incidences of higher blood pressure in my first pregnancy but not very high and not very concerning. I did take a low doses of aspirin.

Newmum110 · 08/03/2021 11:04

Hi all, I have high Bmi also. On 5mg of folic but could someone explain what the aspirin is for? Was never mentioned by GP but have hospital appointment in 2 weeks so maybe then.
My GP made serious comments about my age & weight so not overly looking forward to next appointment.
Also having issues with my Harmony test possibly due to BMI.
Had great intentions of losing weight before pregnancy but it all happened very quickly (a blessing)!!!

AdventuresAwait · 08/03/2021 11:35

@Newmum110, my aspirin was prescribed by midwife to start taking daily from 12 weeks. I think it's to try to prevent Pre-eclampsia.

acrossthemultiverse · 08/03/2021 11:42

Hello. This is my first pregnancy. 33 and BMI of 40.

I would have liked to have shed some weight but then lockdown hit and the weight piled on Sad and now pregnant! We're very happy but I am concerned.

Has anyone had success losing weight in a healthy way during pregnancy? Or at least not gaining any weight?

Newmum110 · 08/03/2021 12:15

Thanks @AdventuresAwait I will ask when I got to my appointment just to be sure. Need all the help I can get!!!!

KHR1 · 08/03/2021 13:32

@Hannah295 my labour last time wasn't great but most of the difficulties weren't to do with my weight. My DD was breech at 37 weeks so I had an ecv to turn her, I was told it was highly unlikely to work due to my weight, but they were wrong, it worked! I was induced at 41+4, waters broke naturally, had meconium liquor so was rushed to the Labour ward. Contractions weren't picked up well on the monitor (maybe due to weight?!) and they didn't believe they were as often as I was saying so put me on the drip which worked very quickly and I went from 4-10cm in about 3-4 hours. I had a bad bleed from my episiotomy which I do wonder if it was down to my weight or aspirin but no idea. These things could have happened whatever my weight though

LittleTiger007 · 08/03/2021 14:07

Hi @acrossthemultiverse, yes I have lost half a stone since Christmas. I haven’t been trying to. It’s just that I can’t eat a full meal anymore (most days) due to the pressure of the baby. So I’m mainly eating protein and veg and leaving any carbs as I’m usually too full by then. This has resulted in weight loss for me but the baby is still getting what they need and she’s growing well. I’m 29 weeks along. I really did not expect to loose weight. Some days I’m so hungry and so I have snacked badly at times. However baby is doing some serious growing now and so it’s all good. Most of my snacks are healthy such as nuts, seeds and fruit, but I do have regular biscuits too (a couple of ginger biscuits a day) and I’ve still lost weight. My bmi was 40 in November.
@Newmum110 I too have had some serious words from my gp regarding my age and weight. I haven’t had this from my midwife though who tells me that she has two other mums aged 48 currently and one who is 57!!

PurpleFlower1983 · 08/03/2021 14:52

@acrossthemultiverse

Hello. This is my first pregnancy. 33 and BMI of 40.

I would have liked to have shed some weight but then lockdown hit and the weight piled on Sad and now pregnant! We're very happy but I am concerned.

Has anyone had success losing weight in a healthy way during pregnancy? Or at least not gaining any weight?

My BMI was 33 at booking for my first but I gained 3.5 stone and was 17.5 stones when I delivered. My labour was textbook, waters went during the night, labour progressed normally and I had her within a couple of hours of arriving at the hospital. We were in and put within 6 hours. I’m hoping for the same again!
PurpleFlower1983 · 08/03/2021 14:54

@acrossthemultiverse

Hello. This is my first pregnancy. 33 and BMI of 40.

I would have liked to have shed some weight but then lockdown hit and the weight piled on Sad and now pregnant! We're very happy but I am concerned.

Has anyone had success losing weight in a healthy way during pregnancy? Or at least not gaining any weight?

Sorry! Wrong reply! That was meant for an earlier message! I have found slimming world great so far! I’ve lost 11lbs in just over 8 weeks and am almost 20 weeks.
acrossthemultiverse · 08/03/2021 14:54

@LittleTiger007

That's encouraging to hear you're doing so well! Smile

At the moment I swing between ravenously hungry and horribly nauseous. After today's appointment my next shop is cutting out some unnecessary calories and stocking up on more healthy proteins and veg.

lilymty · 08/03/2021 15:01

I was worried about not showing but I'm 33 weeks now & definitely have a bump. I felt baby from 21 weeks so didn't really make a difference being overweight.
I was told that the aspirin helps with blood flow to the placenta. All ftm take it at my trust.

sheslikebutter · 08/03/2021 17:05

Hi all, I've just found out I'm pregnant. I think I am 3 weeks (so might not even make it past AF yet but fingers crossed). My BMI is 39. Want to wish you all well during your pregnancies!

I'm currently on slimming world, lost 3lb so far so hoping I can continue to lose until my booking appointment whenever that will be. I'm hoping to get down to under BMI 35 (that would mean losing 2 stone) but I don't know if I'm being too optimistic. I lost 3 stone in 3 months a couple of years ago but obviously wasn't pregnant at the time and I'm pretty sure it's not good to lose so much weight while pregnant. Although if you're eating properly and excersising and the weight comes off then I don't see how it's bad?

Glad this thread exists, I'm sure I'll be here often :)

pixiedust21 · 08/03/2021 17:20

My issue is snacks and also when I'm feeling a bit off colour/unsettled tummy I don't always want an apple Grin

Thinking of high protein snacks and focusing on getting my protein and veg in as another poster said. So maybe snacking on cooked chicken, small bit of cheese, the odd biscuit (because come on let's be real)

Only issue is days like today where I just want plain food, had planned to make a slimming world friendly beef casserole but couldn't face making it or the thought of eating it either!

Just trying to make the best choices I can for how I feel and that's all we can do xx

KHR1 · 09/03/2021 14:22

Had my first consultant appointment today and it seemed to go well! Asked my consultant about the covid jab and he said I wouldn't be invited just based on my BMI but I thought it put me in the clinically vulnerable group?

Faith821 · 09/03/2021 15:06

@KHR1

Had my first consultant appointment today and it seemed to go well! Asked my consultant about the covid jab and he said I wouldn't be invited just based on my BMI but I thought it put me in the clinically vulnerable group?
Hi, my consultant told me that only people with BMI over 40 will be invited for the covid vaccine - if you are over that it might be worth asking for a second opinion ( if you really want the jab) x
yellowbeaker · 09/03/2021 15:12

can I join you. I am 10 + 3 and have a BMI of just below 40.

I am trying to be sensible but after reading on here I might join slimming world. I really want a water birth if possible and I know if I go over 41 they won't let me.

I was a total pig right before I got pregnant so I am hoping by just being sensible I can avoid putting any weight on and maybe even lose a few lb.

KHR1 · 09/03/2021 19:10

@Faith821 thanks, I thought they were inviting people with a bmi over 40 but he seemed to say different. I'm in two minds about whether I want it or not.

kerbearr · 09/03/2021 19:47

@KHR1 I was offered the covid vaccine due to BMI but other than that I'm healthy, I was in with my GP last week and they said I shouldn't get it while it pregnant but have put me in for July to get it. I'm WFH and only see DP and my mum and every other week I pop out to get some groceries so I'm not overly exposed. DP works in retail but comes straight home uniform in wash and in2 the shower and once I reach the 3rd trimester he's moving in2 the spare room for extra precaution. It's worth checking about if your worried tho

LikeSomeKindOfMadness · 09/03/2021 20:27

You should definitely be offered it with a BMI over 40, it's one of the risk factors for group 6. I had mine due to that, even though I felt horrendously embarrassed about it all. I am at risk at work so decided to have it, but it's a very personal decision. If you can't have it now you should be able to.get it after birth asap. I'd ask your GP.

KHR1 · 09/03/2021 20:40

Thanks @LikeSomeKindOfMadness and @kerbearr! I'm glad I wasn't going loopy when I asked about it as I was sure it was a risk factor for one of the groups getting vaccinated at the moment.

LikeSomeKindOfMadness · 09/03/2021 20:50

It definitely is. Giving the consultant the benefit of the doubt guidelines seem to change a lot. But I spoke to my GP about my weight and they updated their records. I was called soon after.

lilymty · 09/03/2021 21:14

The people who have had the vaccine due to high bmi did you have to have a letter from the doctors to have it. With a bmi of over 51 at book in I'm really worried about catching it so want it ASAP

Rockhopper81 · 09/03/2021 21:26

Not pregnant yet, but hoping to be, and I have a BMI of over 40, so thought this looked like the thread for me - I hope you don't mind me jumping on?

With the vaccine - I've had mine, was called because of my BMI. I received a text from my GP surgery as part of Group 6, then they booked it. Group 6 had to be booked by a doctor I believe, rather than self booking online? Both of my parents (64 and 60) booked themselves online. I would contact your GP and explain your concerns @lilymty, they may have discounted you from booking automatically due to being pregnant, so worth mentioning that you want it.

LikeSomeKindOfMadness · 09/03/2021 21:46

No I just updated my weight with my GP practice in an email. Just checking records were right really. Explained in it that I was worried due to it and my job and wondered whether they could make sure I'm being called in the right group. I had my text message the next day and didn't need to show anything at the vaccine centre.

And welcome @Rockhopper81

justsaymaybe · 09/03/2021 22:11

I'm not pregnant now, but I've had 3 pregnancies at BMI 50+ and never had any problems, perfect blood pressure and no diabetes (to the surprise of the doctors).
I did end up with an emergency C-section with my first due to lack of progress (got to 4cm and stopped), but as I wanted a C-section anyway I was fine with that. I then had 2 electives and they were all fine.
You may find that you get some blunt doctors (especially the anaesthetist I found), but I was aware of the risks before I got pregnant so nothing came as a surprise. There's no point being offended as I know I was high risk so I just nodded along.
In my last pregnancy 3 years ago I had to take a blood thinner injection every day from 16 weeks until 2 weeks after birth, but for the previous 2 I didn't. It may have been a different protocol as I moved to a new area before my 3rd was born.
I had extra scans as there was no point measuring growth with a tape measure, but I always liked the reassurance of the extra scans, so they were a bonus to me.
If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to answer.