BMI slightly over 30 at 11 weeks pregnant

[Aim1998]

Hi

I’ve had my first NHS scan today and also had routine bloods and urine test done, I was told from my weight and height my BMI is just over 30 so I am considered obese and will need to have the test for gestational diabetes later on in the pregnancy. I feel quite upset and deflated by this, I’ve put a bit of weight on my belly due to the pregnancy but my limbs, face etc look the same as they did prior to pregnancy. I am a UK size 10 in tops and a 12 in bottoms and don’t feel I look at all obese. Has anyone else had this where they’ve been told that their BMI is over 30 but don’t feel they look ‘obese’? Thanks!

I wouldn't stress it, being very slightly over isn't a massive deal and neither is the GTT. It just starts to nudge you into some slightly higher risk categories, but it's not a cliff edge. Check your areas policies for birth options and folic acid but I think usually your BMI has to be a lot higher before that's affected. BMI isn't about how you look, it's about height and weight and it's a bugger that they always weigh you when you've already been pregnant for ages!

BMI is not the best measurement, if you're muscly/strong it can throw it off. Waist/height is a better tool but obviously not during pregnancy! I have friends who acknowledge they were very overweight in pregnancy and didn't get gestational diabetes, and others who were a good BMI and got it anyway. Anyone can end up with it, so try to think of it as a good thing they'll be monitoring you a bit more closely to look after your baby. Both my friends who were overweight during pregnancy had no complications and delivered healthy babies ❤️ weight is a good thing to be aware of as it can cause more risk, but if you feel healthy and are eating well I wouldn't spend too long worrying about it.

It's not some kind of failure to have a gestational diabetes test. It's just a simple precaution.

Hopefully, you won't have it, and everything will be fine.

If you do get it, you'll be glad it was picked up.

Also, all tests are optional. You don't have to have it if you don't want it.

Oh no, I really feel for you. I noted that mine was 29.5 at the same stage and like you felt upset to see it was that high.

I'm a size 10 too and always felt BMI was a bit skewed anyway as I'm 5'3 with big boobs! I put on a lot of weight in the first trimester which I think was just bloating as I'm now 29 weeks and barely heavier than I was then.

I don't know what I'd do in your position but if you have no symptoms and urine tests are clear maybe you could opt out of the test on the basis that if you'd been 1kg lighter it wouldn't have been offered.

My BMI was just over 30 when I had my son and I was all bump. Don't think I looked obese. Even looking back at photos. I carry my weight quite well. Even when my BMI was 44, I didn't look as big as that (BMI now down to 33 so it's not like I am in denial).

I am a midwife now and apart from the GTT, a higher dose of folic acid and a very slightly higher risk of blood clots (they will assess your risk throughout the pregnancy and BMI over 30 gives you 1 tick) then there is nothing different that we do.

You can decline the GTT if you wish.

We only start to intervene a bit more with a booking BMI of 35 (like consultant appointments, higher risks ect) BMI of over 40 is the riskiest where usually anesthetist appointments and stuff.

I wouldn't bat an eye if you came to see me with that BMI. Would give you the standard advice on diet and exercise that I give everyone and the things I said above, but wouldn't make a big deal of it.

Yes as people have said you can decline the test if you want, but I'm not sure why you would decline a test to screen for something that could be harmful to your baby if it goes undiagnosed.

I put weight on before getting pregnant and was told I was obese. I had the same BMI. I'm quite tall so carry it well. I had the best pregnancy! I didn't want to give birth as I was loving it so much and wasn't in pain or fed up by the end of it. I didn't have GD either and I managed to do a mild walk a day even towards the end.

Enjoy your pregnancy and don't be too deflated about your weight. It's a special time and soak it all up

He's now 13 months & I'm a stone and a half lighter, losing it gradually for my wedding next year x

I was in your exact position three years ago.
I took the test and was diagnosed with GD. I was absolutely devastated.

But it really wasn’t that big a deal. I just had more scans and I was able to control it 100% with diet.

My BMI was high at my booking in (34? Something like that). Was weighed at 36 weeks and I've only put on 6kg (god knows how - I've eaten my fair share of crap and have only managed a small walk every now and again!). Your body's going to do whatever it needs to do to get you through it. I've been told that I really don't look like I've put on any baby weight, so baby must be using up my fat stores! (An extreme diet if ever there was one 😂)

My GTT came back fine and even at booking in I was told that even though I was obese that I was still low risk. I'm still considered low risk. Baby's on track to be a normal weight - one dodgy measurement aside - and it looks like everything is okay. Just take care of yourself. ❤️

Try not to worry (easier said than done, I know). Your midwife etc will support you with anything else that comes your way. A high BMI doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong.

I wouldn't stress about it, I had a booking bmi of 32, took the GTT but didn't have diabetes. It's not a bad thing to check just to make sure everything is okay. Nobody mentioned my weight apart from that. It's just a number, it doesn't change how you actually look or who you are!

It's just a cut off value for the test indication. In some sense, it's better to be 30.1 and get tested than 29.9 if it means not getting the test. The risks are practically the same between those numbers, but in once case you get the information.

Actually, some countries test everyone routinely.