Fat and Pregnant

[hellosunshineagainx]

Don't want to drip feed so lots of info here but TLDR: put on weight after first baby and planned on losing weight but have now become pregnant again, anxious about the care I will receive as a fat pregnant woman but also looking for weight loss advice during pregnancy

Most of my adult life I have been 13 stone. Had a period in 2017-2018 where I got down to 12 stone when weight lifting/exercise four times a week. I then became ill and put on a stone and it was during this time I fell pregnant with my first child. By the time I was out the other side of pregnancy and newborn stage I was 16 1/2 stone.

I managed to lose a stone since Jan and am around 15 1/2 which I have stayed at for a couple of months now. I was planning on starting weight lifting again as child gets free hours from September so I would have the time in my schedule to go (I'm a freelancer)

Anyway that plan is out of the window as I have just found out I am pregnant. I was on the fence about having another but definitely wanted to get healthier before but now I am really worried about being pregnant at the weight I am

Im mostly worried about stigma and the care I will receive because of being fat, I have had some poor instances of care since having my son, everything is blamed on weight even though these were issues I had when I weighed less!

Had my gallbladder removed and I think this is playing some part in my struggle to lose weight.

Anyway, I wanted to know if anyone had some advice on how to safely lose weight in pregnancy? Or how to advocate for yourself/care as a fat woman. I'm 5 weeks at the moment.

I’m also overweight but haven’t been criticised in pregnancy. They referred me to an obstetrician for this reason along with hypothyroidism and being an older age, but at no point has anyone ‘blamed’ anything on my weight. So I think you need to keep an eye on that. If they blame issues on your weight that were preexisting then you need to clearly correct them.

My weight did mean I was put on aspirin and given a GD test, but I accept that some additional measures are necessary to help me and the baby stay healthy. In those instances they just said ‘because your bmi is over xx it’s advisable to do this’ - which is a very gentle way of addressing it!

It’s not a good idea to try to lose weight in pregnancy as it can affect the nutrients going to the baby. But you can try to maintain (which is effectively losing) or just minimise weight gain.

It really depends what your diet is like at the moment - if you’re overeating a lot or eating the wrong foods then this can be tackled, but you do still need to make sure you’re eating enough calories and getting a good nutritional balance.

However, you mentioned your gall bladder could be making it difficult for you, in which case you may want to ask for a referral to a dietitian or nutritionist.

Best of luck.

I was heavier than you in both pregnancies, though still healthy thankfully. I found the care fine, there was no judgement that I felt, it was just very factual. Mw advised due to bmi I’d be consultant led and be given extra scans and a couple extra tests.

I was grateful in a way having access to the consultant because it allowed me more control over the birth. The consultant went through delivery options and a c section was offered as well as induction. Natural child birth has always terrified me, not the pain but the what ifs, so I was just grateful to have no barriers to choosing an elcs.

congratulations on your pregnancy!

Thanks both, when I was 13 stone with my previous pregnancy I had a gd test and took asprin, but I weigh 2 1/2 stone more which is my worry.