High BMI and consultant led care

[Daisyjay96]

Hello. I am currently 9 weeks pregnant and had my first midwife appointment last week. I was advised I would need consultant led care because of my bmi (37). During this conversation the midwife called me clinically obese and a risk to the baby. I explained this is highly triggering for me (past ed 5years ago, and weight focusing was a trigger for depression after last baby).
I understand the need for extra care, however my last pregnancy had no complications and I gave birth naturally (bmi 35) and nothing was ever mentioned about a consultant.
I eat healthy and exercise at least 30 mins a day plus see my P once a week.
I’m worried this negative focus on my weight which I was quite happy with, is going to trigger depression/ED behaviour.
Does anyone have any experience with consultant led care and how they found it?

I had one consultant appointment due to BMI in my first pregnancy. I had the appointment and was immediately discharged back to midwife led care.

I did go on to develop pre-eclampsia later in my pregnancy. I was induced early but had a regular vaginal delivery.

This time around, I know I will be consultant led. Mostly due to the pre-eclampsia, but BMI is a factor as it's higher this time.

I just want to say thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply and share your stories and experiences, I could actually sleep last night so hearing everything has really really helped! Thank you all for being so kind and understanding

Im 18wks pregnant and was booked in with the same BMI as you. I also had the same BMI as you with my last pregnancy!

The experience so far has been very different from a couple of years ago. Last time they refused to weigh me during pregnancy as they said it really didn't matter. Although I was under a consultant for BMI of 35, I was also seeing them for other medical issues unrelated to weight. They made very little reference to my weight at all and there was no change to my care specifically for weight issues. I had no negative comments about my weight and although the birth was an absolute shit show, it had nothing to do with my weight.

This time, so far I've had several rude and unnecessary comments about my weight. Yes it's gone up to 37 from 35 since my last pregnancy but I don't have any health issues caused by my weight and I haven't put any weight on so far during the pregnancy. I don't know whether the change is down to weight being this year's focus or whether it's because I'm under a different hospital and area this time due to a house move.

I experienced exactly the same, it's massively triggering for me having been hospitalised with bulimia as a teen. They couldn't have given a shit that it was triggering even when my husband complained and I was a nervous wreck going into appointments.

Only the midwives when I was actually giving birth were amazing - I'd been told I couldn't go in the birthing pool because of BMI, midwife just laughed and said between them and my DH they'd easily hook me out in an emergency. Luckily had a beautiful birth.

The BMI system is insane imo.
I'm on the higher scale of 'normal' for BMI but when I tell friends and family this they are completely shocked. I think it needs a rework