Newly pregnant is there any midwife’s or anyone who’s been though pregnancy with an higher bmi thanks

[Worriedgall]

Hi , I’ve just found out I’m pregnant and me and my partner are really happy and I’ve been looking at everything online what’s best for baby and I came across something about bmi and bmi before conception and how if you have a high bmi before conception it can put mother and baby at risk because high bmi before pregnancy is worse than gwg is this true? I knew that having an high bmi during pregnancy comes with risks but I didn’t know that a high bmi before pregnancy was dangerous is this true or will my baby be ok? My bmi before and at the start of pregnancy is just over 30 thank you x

Yes, a higher BMI is generally considered a slightly riskier pregnancy. That's not to say the risk suddenly shoots into the stratosphere, but it is a concern and they will most likely monitor you more carefully, including checking that you do not gain weigh ttoo quickly while pregnant and for gestational diabetes.

It is NOT, however, the sort of risk that means you now have to worry constantly that your baby is in danger. It's not.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

My BMI is 35.4 i believe.
Im currently 28 weeks pregnant and all is going ok. They just like to keep an eye on your blood pressure for pre eclampsia and you'll have to have your glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes.
Mine come back clear and i dont have pre eclampsia thankfully!

I think they tend to scare people who have a higher BMI, they like for people to have a healthy BMI but thats not always the case.

Dont worry too much about it and congratulations😁

One thing to consider is that labour is just that, labour. It’s bloody hard work for your body, cardiovascular system etc…so I’d speak to your midwife about how you can get fitter.

Thank you x

Thanks for your reply, what was your bmi when you found out you was pregnant if you don’t mind me asking and was anything said about pre pregnancy bmi by your midwife or doctor I’ve read some frightening things online about high bmi before pregnancy and it’s really freaked me out x

My BMI was calculated at just over 30 at the start of this pregnancy, which was frustrating as it was done fully clothed etc and without that it would have been just below!

You need a higher dose of folic acid in the early days! Google it, but I think it's 5mg. If GP doesn't help or you can't be bothered to try them (like me), you can find it online, or buy smaller dose tablets and take multiple of them.

Did your midwife or doctor mention anything about starting your pregnancy at a higher bmi or is it just the same risks as an high bmi during pregnancy Google’s really confusing me and freaking me out

thanks x

Nope, nothing mentioned. However, this is my second pregnancy and there were several complications (unrelated to my weight/health) in my previous pregnancy so I was already going to be put under a consultant etc.

As someone else has already said, they'll just want to monitor you for certain things, but it's not likely to cause an astronomical increase of risk x

I had to loose quite abit of weight to get ivf and I think when we had it and it was successful my bmi was 32. I think they just monitor you more and check you don’t get gestational diabetics etc which I didn’t. I didn’t encounter any issues throughout due to bmi.

Thanks x

Thanks x

This is years ago now (my son is 10) but when I got pregnant with him my BMI was 35.

I had a consultant instead of a midwife because of this. Had to do the glucose tolerance test (didn’t have pregnancy diabetes) and had to give birth in the hospital part and not the nice birth centre. Other than this everything was pretty straightforward.

i did get PGP and my son was huge (10.6lbs) but I’m not sure these were entirely down to my weight. I actually ended up weighing less the day after I gave birth than I did at 4 weeks pregnant. I didn’t restrict food or have any sickness but I think I just changed my eating habits for the better and obviously wasn’t able to drink booze which helped!

No idea what my bmi was but I was very overweight. A midwife upset me in early pregnancy as I didn't put on weight and she said i would harm the baby. Nauseous 24/7, but never sick. Later on I did put on a small amount of weight and I did develop gestational diabetes and was eating much healthier. Dd was 8lb 13oz. I ended the pregnancy much lighter than I started.

My BMI was sround 34 i think (im a curvy girl, but i take no notice of BMI because i have some muscle which it doesnt seem to take into consideration😅)

They never mentioned anything about risks or anything, just that i'll have extra testing like GTT and that they'll keep a close eye on my blood pressure.

Ive got a scan at 30 week and 37 week to check my placenta but thats just because the idiot midwife at the hospital put down that i smoke 2 cigarettes a day when i told her i actually stopped smoking 2 years ago😅 so it tipped me over the tommys app edge and told me i'll have to have my placenta checked to make sure its definitely still working properly!

You'll be absolutely fine! Dont listen to Dr google. That will tell you you're dying because you have a minor cut on your finger! X

Edited to add: i have got pelvic girdle pain. Its not severe i just cant sleep properly at night and too much time on my feet will kill me by the end of the day.
Small walks every day, trying to keep active will keep the pain at bay, but thats not based on your weight! Ive known size 8 people have pelvic girdle in their pregnancy, its all about where baby is laying but you get that more in your second trimester when baby is heavier, as my baby lays in my pelvis and i know when hes there because the pain is ridiculous!! Where as when hes moved, i do feel the relief!

Thanks for your reply x

where i am most women have a BMI over 30. you would be consultant led care if BMi is over 35.

I have worked in maternity services over 20 years - a bmi of 30 I really really wouldn’t worry about! I hope you have a happy pregnancy.

is it still ok if my bmi was 30 when I conceived? because I’ve read some worrying things online about pre pregnancy bmi being worse them gwg thank you x

My BMI was 37 when i got pregnant and ive gained 2kg at 26 weeks. Im higger risk due to BMI but my midwife, consultant have said that thry cant see any reason why i wouldnt have a normal delivery. I will have growth scans and i tested negative for GD.

I have a high BMI, don’t know the exact or my weight as I have mental health issues around scales, I’m currently pregnant with baby no.2 due in November. Both times I had a high BMI (higher this time than with my first in 2021) when I conceived and no real issues, as others have said you may be under the consultant- I am again, your blood pressure will be monitored, you may get growth scans later on and have to take aspirin and or have blood thinning injections later on too depending on the risk, and a gestational diabetes test- ive not had GD in either pregnancy. Baby no.1 was 7lbs 9 when he was born and baby no.2 is currently on the 50th percentile and no issues either. Have a look at the heavyweight midwife on instagram, I had her suggested to me this time around and she has some great content.

and most importantly Congratulations!

Yes! I honestly wouldn’t give your bmi a second thought.