Are dietician consultations mandatory?

[PlusSizeMama2B]

Please no hate! Any plus size mums to be I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I had my booking in appt two weeks ago and because my bmi is just over 40 I've had a letter asking me to contact dietician for a consultation.

I'm not in denial or trying to ignore my weight as an issue at all, I'm following slimming world and plan to lose weight as long as it's safe or just maintain whilst I carry the baby.

Is it mandatory for me to make an appt with the dietician? I couldn't stand to take time off work to be lectured on what is healthy to eat when I know what's good and what's bad and that I should be eating as healthy as poss for this baby. Am I able to just carry on as I am?

I'm pretty sure you don't have to do anything you don't want to. But dieticians are much more educated and knowledgeable than any standard nutritionist, and you may find out things you didn't know :) I'm saying this as someone who has always had a relatively healthy lifestyle, I'm also a qualified sports coach and a gym instructor, and I'd like to think I know healthy diets, but when I did a short group program led by a dietician I found out a lot of stuff I didn't know before!

Also a proper dietician's approach should be a little different to any weight loss programs and instead of offering a cookie cutter standard plan, they should take into account your lifestyle, likes and dislikes, what you want to and not want to be doing, and go from there, so it will be more personalised and therefore easier to follow and stick to.

I personally think it would be worth it.

I’m also plus size and no judgement but seeing dietitian or nutritionist can be really helpful. I’ve done slimming world and it’s not a great tool for healthy eating. Yes you will lose weight but it doesn’t actually teach you much. I used a nutritionist before and it wasn’t then lecturing it literally more guidance and working with you. But also no one can force you to go.

Why wouldn't you take the offer? I'm sure the midwife is acting in your best interest.

As a plus size I would jump at the opportunity for guidance on eating through my pregnancy. I have a very good understanding of healthy eating, that's not why I eat unhealthy things. Having support on eating is beneficial from anyone and definitely more so a dietitian than slimming world.
I think the balance in pregnancy can be very hard to achieve and monitoring your weight and nutrition as well as the baby's is complex.

I'm a plus size mum - currently 34 weeks.

Was also offered the dietician, I went with it and at the first appointment she explained that it wasn't mandatory and I could continue or not and it was entirely up to me. I kept on with it, but we kept the appointments to once a month via telephone with me emailing in to confirm weight monthly and such.

I was skeptical about it all at first but glad I kept with it as I then suffered with terrible sickness and she was able to help me come up with suggestions of things to try and eat.. and also reassurance as the sickness made me rapidly loose weight. (I'm currently 2.5 stone lighter than I was pre-pregnancy)

..she was then even more help when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 26 weeks and helped me to understand what I could and couldn't eat.. and how best to manage whilst being on insulin and things to

No medical care is mandatory - you have to consent and you can therefore chose not to consent.

What I would say - and purely as a suggestion - is my son was under a dietician. This was because of he needed a carefully managed diet due to a health problem, not because he was overweight (although managing his weight was tricky) but she was very helpful and very knowledgeable. It will obviously depend on the individual but I’d like to think they wouldn’t lecture you and be condescending (because their job is to help you after all!). So it might be worth giving it a try but you are 100% entitled to decline to do so.

Good luck with your pregnancy whatever you chose!

As your BMI is high you’re at greater risk of gestational diabetes. Seeing a dietitian can help.
Slimming world isn’t exactly healthy eating

It's in the best interest of both you and your baby. Why wouldn't you want to use all the resources offered to you to make your pregnancy easier and healthier? I really don't get your reluctance.

I think you should go then say you aren't happy if it turns out to be the way you think but I don't think it will be. Most of us could do with some education around food regardless of high or low bmi
I don't think any medical appointment is compulsory though but honestly I think you're losing out saying you already know better.

In my opinion Slimming world, weight watchers etc is a waste of time and money. As soon as you stop the plan you put the weight back on.

Dietitians are brilliant and give you a bespoke plan tailored to your needs. They teach you a different aporoach to eating, preparing meals, lifestyle changes etc.

Dietitians dont lecture you or tell you off. If I was you I would jump on this opportunity. For best results combine dietitians with councelling, your GP can help you with that.

I would listen to a dietician before would listen to a SW consultant. At least the dietician will have sound training in nutrition. I think it would be really beneficial to you to go along to the appointment take a copy of the diet you are following and see what they say. I'm sure the dietician will be pleased you are doing something and won't lecture you.

Slimming World is a sticking plaster, it’s not an education and a change of lifestyle and habits etc.

I would take the appointments, as they are likely to be very helpful. Ideally, everyone would have access to a dietician in pregnancy. My BMI isn’t as high as yours, but I have been referred for a glucose tolerance test. I have just been googling about how to follow a diet that reduces the risk of gestational diabetes etc, but it would be much nicer to have proper guidance.

I agree with the others. The dietician will be far more knowledgable than anyone at slimming world and will give you good advice with no hidden agenda.

The way slimming world works is absolutely not promoting healthy eating and won't do you any favours long term