Healthy obese pregnancy/losing weight while pg

[twindomino]

I have had a big lecture this morning from my GP about how getting pregnant at my current weight (3 stone overweight) will likely lead to miscarriage or some problems with the baby. I've waited 5 years to get pregnant a second time due to other health issues and I have binge eating disorder and find losing weight very hard. If I waited another 6 months there are no guarantees I would lose the weight and would just be closer to 40, so I want to try for baby 2 now. I will keep trying to eat healthily/gently dieting and exercising and will try to access the perinatal mental health team for support with my binge eating.

Has anyone lost weight in pregnancy and it's been ok? Or had a perfectly healthy obese pregnancy?

At 3 stone overweight I think this is nonsense from the gp. I feel like your issues are complex so I don't want to simplify though. Normally they will suggest trying to maintain your current weight rather than lose weight while pregnant and you will need to have gestational diabetes tests etc. Also they will probs be quite pushy about an induction once you're at your due date.

So I'd say go for it but I don't have your medical notes in front of me, nor am I a medical professional. I'm just a fat bird who's had kids myself.

The majority of women who are overweight have healthy pregnancies. Yes there are increased risks but not to the extent that your gp can say it’s likely to end in miscarriage or problems for the baby without there being other medical issues at play (you’ve mentioned health issues so could that be the gp’s focus, or the eating side order itself). You shouldn’t really try to lose weight whilst pregnant though, and should instead try to eat healthily and stay active. There are threads on here with women who are obese and pregnant that could be worth you having a read to get an idea of their experiences etc.

You can lose fat safely during pregnancy but it should be done through healthy earing rather than large calorie deficit. Simply making smart swaps from heavily processed foods to whole foods and limiting treaty type foods.

On my 3rd pregnancy starting out in the obese category, 1st 2 started out overweight. Never been in the healthy BMI as a adult though, even when I was quite slim.
I've had perfectly healthy children and carried twins last time, only problem I have had has been SPD from 2nd onwards but I've remained quite active despite that. I gained a lot of weight early in this pregnancy but my weight has been hovering around the same since 16wk and I'm now almost 33wk. I just eat normally and exercise as much as I can (mostly essential stuff now due to hip pain). My consultants and midwives have not negatively commented on my weight, I started out lighter than in my last pregnancy though.

Thanks all, that's really reassuring. I would be having a c-section this time anyway so induction not a worry. I suppose c-section recovery may be harder at my weight, and the op itself have more risks, but due to complications last time they won't consider other options for birth. And neither will I.

I had awful SPD last time at a healthy weight, so am expecting to have it this time but I do exercise more now (pilates, cycling) so if I can keep that up hopefully it won't be worse than last time.

I am hopeful the perinatal mental health support will help with my eating issues. To recover from binge eating you really need to stop dieting, but the only time I feel I can stop actively dieting is when I'm pregnant, and then I start comfort eating because of the SPD/insomnia/prenatal anxiety.

I will look out those threads from other women, it's good to know the vast majority have healthy pregnancies!

I’m overweight, due to my bmi I have to be seen in the well-being clinic with dietitian after every scan. This pregnancy is going fine and with my first he’s 18months old now I had a straightforward pregnancy no gestational diabetes, no pre eclampsia, no high blood pressure which of course I was warned about often as being more high risk due to weight. I then had a healthy labour albeit assisted delivery due to being back to back.
I do get there are higher risks but being overweight does not mean you can’t have a healthy pregnancy, currently 26 weeks with my second, the dietitian just want me to keep the same weight, doesn’t want any unhealthy weight loss or gain. In fact last pregnancy I ended up being a couple of pounds under my booking in weight and I wasn’t doing anything special just trying not to partake in too much junk food.

You can safely lose weight on Slimming World whilst pregnant- its the only weight-loss plan approved by the RCOM in pregnancy. You'd be best off speaking to your local Slimming World consultant, if this seems interesting to you.

Good luck!

BTW I agree with what others have said, that your GP was overly alarmist. Many many women are 3 stone overweight or more and don't necessarily have problems in pregnancy.

I am a lot more than 3 stone overweight and I'm 36 weeks pregnant. Saw the midwife today and she weighed me (I've only put on 1kg since booking) my blood pressure is perfect, no gestational diabetes and good iron levels. All in all a 'textbook pregnancy'
Tiny bit of sciatica has developed this last week or so but that could happen to a slim lady as well!
Be prepared to have a few battles with hospital policies (I've been told no water birth!) but the pregnancy has been absolutely fine ☺️