Plus size pregnancy worries

[B0bby22]

Hi, I found out a few days ago that I am finally pregnant and I'm 4 weeks along. I am so excited and so happy, but I'm also really scared because I'm so overweight.

My BMI is 40 (5'9 and 19 stone 7lbs - size 18-20 UK) and I'm really worried that at the booking appointment I'm going to be judged and told off for my weight. I've been trying to lose weight for months but I have PCOS so it's been really difficult for me.

I'm also really worried that they won't be able to see the baby clearly at any of the scans due to the fat around my belly getting in the way. Or that my labour and delivery is going to be even more difficult because of my weight.

Has anyone been a similar size during pregnancy and able to share their experience with me?

Thank you

Please don't worry you'll be consultant lead for your pregnancy which isn't a bad thing as you will also get extra scans I believe 28wks 32wks and 36wks which most ppl don't get so that's a bonus I was 16st and never felt judged but remember feeling like I would be xx

When I was talking to one of my friends about my pregnancy she told me her BMI was 40 at her first appointment. She had a really straight forward pregnancy and all of her scan photos looked just like any others I’d seen.

She ended up with an emergency c section but that wasn’t anything to do with her weight.

I hope it all goes well for you and congratulations!

I can't help you at the moment as I am only just starting my TTC journey. I am closer to 50bmi and have PCOS and in suspected peri-menopause so I know it will take a while for me.

I have read quite a few threads on this and most people say that they haven't had bad experiences with a high bmi. I think it also depends on how you carry your weight. For me, I have a LOT in my stomach so feel that it would be difficult to scan me. I have read though that quite a lot of people have had really good scans even with a bit of weight of their tummy.

I'm sorry I couldn't be much help. But I wish you all the luck in the world on your pregnancy and I will be keeping an eye I this thread x x

I'm a size 20, currently 98kg (don't know what that is in stone) and have had 2 successful pregnancies and births at the same sort of weight. As long as you drink loads of water your scans will be fine, you will probably be prescribed high dose folic acid and you can decline being weighed at any point if you prefer. Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy!!

Congratulations @B0bby22 I have 4 children and my youngest 2 I had a BMI of 32 (current BMI is 40). I had extra scans, was offered GTT but declined, I had high dose folic acid, my scans weren't as clear as my other children and they had to press fairly hard on my tummy but it was fine. I had an elective C-section ( nothing to do with my weight)

Wishing you all the best!

Congratulations! I'm a midwife - You certainly won't be told off or judged! The only thing to note at the moment is that any ladies with a BMI above 30 are advised to be on the higher dose of folic acid (5mg) for the first trimester if you're not already. The GP/midwives can organise a prescription for you. I would recommend this book by Sara Wickham:
'Plus Size Pregnancy: What the evidence really says about higher BMI and birth'
It's up to date with the current evidence and Sara Wickham is excellent. Worth a read just so that you can inform yourself, which will help you make choices about your care in the pregnancy and help you feel in control :)

I have a bmi of 35. Have been taking normal dose of folic acid for three months and am now 6 weeks pregnant. I don't have a midwife appointment for another 8 weeks. Do you think I should buy some and start now?

Thank you so much! You've really put my mind at ease. I started taking 5mg folic acid as I had researched it and called my GP yesterday for a prescription. I'll definitely get that book as well, thank you :)

Thank you so much, I feel better now xx

Thank you! It's good to hear that your friend had a normal pregnancy, I feel like there's so much scaremongering around high BMI pregnancies on Google! X

Thank you so much! I do have quite a bit of weight on my stomach but I would say it's mostly evenly distributed across my whole body. Hopefully the scans will be ok x

Thank you! Thats so good to hear and has definitely relaxed me a bit! X

Thank you! I'm on high dose folic acid already and hopefully the scans are ok, I know they won't be as detailed as someone's scans with a normal bmi but hopefully they're still a bit clear :)

I would contact your GP and ask for a prescription of 5mg folic acid :)
It probably is different everywhere but in my unit we ask for a BMI when ladies call to refer and if it's above 30 we arrange the prescription for them. If ladies aren't sure then we bring them in asap to check BMI.

I was size 20 when I fell pregnant and at no stage did I feel that anybody judged me. As I was over 40 with high BMI they got me scanned once a month and afterwards met with a doctor to talk about the scan and how I was getting on. They advised me to try to not gain any weight and try to loose some so I ate very healthy and walked a lot. I was at my slimmest after giving birth. They did put me on aspirin and injections during the pregnancy and I had to continue with the injections afterwards.
I was booked in to meet with an obstetrician to talk about actual labour and he said he thought I would end up needing help with labour which I did and ended in emergency c section. Putting the labour aside the actual pregnancy was easy for me as I didn't really struggle carrying the growing bump as I had been size 24 at my biggest in the past. I really enjoyed my pregnancy and I hope you will do. Congratulations!

OK thank you. Thinking I may just buy some now.

Thank you! I hope I enjoy my pregnancy, I feel like I've waited forever for it to happen! It's good to hear that you had an easy pregnancy :) I have started eating healthier and plan to go out for more walks with my dog so hopefully I'll healthily lose a little bit of weight at least. Thank you x

Congratulations! I started out both my pregnancies with a BMI in the high 30s.

At no point was I judged and certainly not told off for my weight. There are raised risks (i.e. gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia) due to a higher BMI that you will be made aware of, but it is far from certain you will get them. You'll be advised to take the higher dose of folic acid, and possibly aspirin too. A GTT to rule out gestational diabetes will also be suggested. You'll probably be referred to a consultant, but if your pregnancy remains healthy, you could be referred back to the midwives.

Scans were slightly fuzzy due to my BMI, but sonographers are a skilled bunch, and still managed to get measurements. When the baby cooperated ofc!

I have never been able to find it over the counter in the 5mg dose but my GP sorted it for over the phone. So you might be able to save yourself shlepping round different pharmacies and just get them to send you a prescription.

@Sara1988 I'm pretty sure the 5mg dose is prescription only.

Just remembered I was also advised to take a higher dose of vitamin D as well. But then my last pregnancy was mostly in the autumn/winter. Might not be as much of an issue with a spring/summer pregnancy.

The only time I ever felt judged was the second scan when the sonographer asked me to lay on my side and move around and still couldn't get measurements and implied it was because of my size

A midwife never made any comment at any point.

Other than gestational diabetes I had an other healthy pregnancy, due to the diabetes I didn't really put any weight on so that was probably a good thing.

@Dyra @Sara1988 I had 5mg due to high BMI and it was prescription only (from GP).

Hi what week of pregnancy did you stop taking the injections & aspirin?

@StartedWithACrisp I kept taking until week 37 when I ended in EMCS so not sure if they would have told me to quit at some point before due date. After birth I had to continue with injections for 6 weeks to avoid blood cloths. I kept wearing those pressure socks they put on me after c section just in case.

When did you start taking them? Worried I'm not already