Pregnant and obese

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I'm looking for information or support of anyone that has had an NHS bmi in the red whilst pregnant and also any advice to shed a couple of kgs in early pregnancy.

I'm currently 5w5 days and not only scared if miscarriage now scared of how fat I am too.

So I'm 5'8" and approx 88kgs my bmi is 30.1 if I can lose 2 or 3 kgs I'll move to the just over weight section.

I know its not great to be pregnant whilst out of shape and to be honest I've put on so much weight due to miscarriages and redundancy so I'm well aware that its self inflicted.

I'm going to try and sensibly cut down on the fatty snacks and walk alot more before I see a midwife for booking in so hopefully I can make myself healthier, any tips or should or should not whilst pregnant.

If I am still in the obese category does anyone know what that means for my Mat care.

You can safely carry and deliver naturally if your bmi is in the obese category. It depends on your health in general. You're at higher risk of gestational diabetes and pre eclampsia though.. I would try not to worry too much. If you end up having consultant care it's just to ensure you carry and deliver safely, you may end up having more scans. Just focus on moving and keeping healthy but don't obsess too much. Lots of higher category bmi ladies go on to have healthy pregnancies and natural births.

Where I am, nothing at that BMI. If it’s above 35, you’d get additional scans and a gestational diabetes test, but you’re quite far from that!

Just try to make sensible food choices, and don’t fall into the trap of eating for two - but don’t restrict your food, either. It’s not advisable to try and lose weight during pregnancy, they’ll advise that you try to gain less instead - I think between 5 and 8kg would be the recommendation for a BMI around 30 but your midwife will let you know.

My BMI is similar to yours, nobody is too fussed. I wanted to lose another few kg before, but it didn’t happen. They’ve advised me to increase my calories to my maintenance to keep myself and baby happy and healthy, and just to make healthy choices. I’m 13 weeks now and all doing fine.

Thanks both, I'm definitely looking for things to panic about.

You've both really helped. Hoping that cutting out wine and milky coffee will help my overall diet anyway

If it gives you any reassurance my bmi was 34 with dc1 and 36 with dc2. Both pregnancies and births were complication free.

My bmi is less than ideal. I'm 18 weeks. I've actually ended up losing weight naturally I think as I have very little appetite - think small meals rather than big ones. Keep up the exercise too - low impact if necessary.

@Pebbledashery gave very sensible advice.

I think it's ok to take advantage of pregnancy to improve your health, just be wary that babies don't actually use up that many extra calories especially in the first 2 trimesters. You're not literally eating for two.

So yes, if you eat the same amount as before the pregnancy then you'll lose a healthy amount of weight gradually. But the last thing you need right now is the stress of a diet so don't get obsessive about the scales.

I’m 5,1 and my bmi at booking was just over 30 so obese.

Nothing was said at all re my weight. I’m now 26 weeks and still nothing has ever been mentioned. I’m having a GD test at 28 weeks but that’s due to family history.

I was really worried as I was well aware I’d let myself get into bad shape physically, but after 4 miscarriages I was kind of wallowing a bit and in all honesty just didn’t think a successful pregnancy would happen for me.

I have really tried to eat healthily and not over indulge, but tbh I’ve found my appetite is nowhere near what it was pre pregnancy anyway. I haven’t fancied the usual sweet treats I’d turn to, and so far I’ve put on around 13lb.

I had been worried that at my scans they’d tell me the view was bad because of my weight, but nope, all my abdominal scans have been perfectly clear. I actually don’t think I look very overweight at all. I wear a size 12-14 and don’t have a flabby tummy or anything. But I definitely found I needn’t have worried quite so much.

I think as long as you eat healthily and try to exercise a little each day then that’s perfect!

Congratulations!

My bmi was 32 when I got pregnant. Had no comments from medics, no issues and had the homebirth I wanted. Midwife sent me for an extra, late, scan to see if baby was big but no and she was average when born.

I neither lost nor gained my fat when pregnant. Did subsequently make an effort though as felt more motivated to be healthy. Hope it all goes well for you.

I was much heavier and fine.

Eat healthily when you can, try to move more if you can.

You'll be fine and don't let anyone scare you.

FWIW I lost 20lbs in pregnancy due to not drinking or eating sugary foods (had GD)

Plus if you are able to breastfeed and you choose to - the weight literally comes off! I lost so much weight breastfeeding!

I had a high bmi at booking as well, I can't remember how high but my height and weight were similar to yours. The only difference for me during mat care was that I had to go for a test for gestational diabetes at around 26 weeks. I didn't have it and that was that. I also weighed 2kg less just before giving birth than I did at my booking appointment and about 10kg less a couple of days giving birth. That was a total suprise because I didn't really change anything consciously while I was pregnant, carried on eating the same, exercising the same amount. So I really wouldn't worry about doing anything drastic. Just make sure your eating healthily for baby.

Just a little something I read the other day:

Be better, do better. Not best, not perfect, just try to be better

It's helping with my Nutella addiction

Wow thank you all, I feel such more content now.

I wasnt planning on a proper 'diet' but maybe eating better and less junk.

I'm really hoping that it isnt an issue but mostly just hoping that this one sticks.

my bmi was about 29 ish,

I lost nearly a stone in first trimester, put it back on and a lot more in 3rd trimester 🙈

no-one has ever commented on my weight at the hospital.

My BMI was nearer 40 with both my pregnancies. I was consultant lead for both but all that literally meant for me was I had a gestational diabetes test (negative both times) and I had extra scans (although that was partly because I grow small babies)

I was even given permission for a water birth after I requested one, I had to go to the delivery suite and demonstrate that with dhs help if needed I could self transfer in and out of the pool to the head of midwives. Didn’t happen in the end as the pool was in use but I had the option there.

In my first pregnancy I also had to be checked by an anaesthetist to make sure they could feel my spine in case I needed one (they could, they didn’t understand why I’d been sent) and I had to have celexane (i think that’s the name) blood thinning injections for a week after birth and wear compression stockings but I didn’t have any of that with my second.

I actually lost weight during both pregnancies and after birth was lighter than the weight on my booking in form. A mixture of nausea early on then a baby stuck under my ribs squishing my stomach so I had to eat little and often and couldn’t manage big meals.

Thanks to all of you.

To be honest I'm off sweet stuff at the moment so hopefully I will be ok.

Good luck to those all still pregnant.