39 & Obese

[lovelight19]

Hi all

Hoping for advice and words of wisdom ☺️
I've not long since found out I'm pregnant again (I'm 5+3 and have a 2 year old DS). We're overjoyed, and would love a second baby to complete our family.

Since the initial elation though, I've been feeling quite low (not helped by pregnancy tiredness and feeling so so cold so much of the time!). I'm both 39 and obese. I had a BMI of 33 for my last pregnancy, but it's risen considerably, and is more around 40 now.

I'm doing everything I can to look after myself now. Walking daily and eating well. I've started taking the 5mg of folic acid.

I've got myself into a fair state about the risks for the baby though, and, in particular, for downs & other chromosomal abnormalities as a consequence of my age and bmi. Am I guaranteed to be high risk?

Can anyone offer sage advice / their own experiences? I'm so desperate to be happy and enjoy this pregnancy, but I feel so very worried about so many things.

Thanks xx

Congratulations!

Try and remember even high risk actually just means a higher risk. So although you are higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities it is still a low risk overall. Ditto other complications.

You will probably be consultant led which I think isn’t a bad thing. I have had extra growth scans and a gestational diabetes test (don't have it). I haven't had any judgement about having a higher bmi in my pregnancy.

Congratulations on your pregnancy OP.

I'm 42 and 30 weeks pregnant now with our second and I felt so hormonal when I first found out we were expecting again. It was just so overwhelming and my head was filled with so many doubts and worries. I never had that with my first born.

Yes there are additional risks with age and BMI - I knew I'd be guaranteed high risk so I opted to do the NIPT privately (the advanced one which checks for 70+ things) before the 12 week scan to alleviate some of my anxiety.
Everything came back low risk.

What you have to try and remember is that even with an increased risk it is still far far more likely that you will have a healthy baby than not.... and advances in modern science mean it's highly unlikely you will be waiting till birth to find out if there is something wrong. The screening tests now are very good and allow you to make an informed decision should there be any concerns.