Calling all plus-size pregnant ladies! What's it like?

[Questionkid]

I'm pregnant for the first time (18 weeks) and am a size 18. I'm wondering what other people's experience of being pregnant when you're of more generous proportions is like? For example, how did your bump develop? I'm not really showing yet, my already large (!) tummy just looks a bit larger. Did you find that you developed a proper shaped bump? Did you have any complications as a result of being overweight? Did you have a normal labour? etc etc. I'm interested in hearing of other people's experiences so I can get some idea of what I might expect.

I actually do have PCOS (and surprised everyone by getting pregnant within 2 months of coming off the pill despite being told since I was about 18 that I would have trouble conceiving - I did enjoy proving the medical profession wrong!) so I can relate to the apple shape. That's definitely what's happening to me. The little bit of a waist that i did have is rapidly disappearing!

I'm hanging out for as drug-free a labour as possible, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see on that one.

Got to get through the next 22 weeks first!

I was a size 24 and 18 1/2 stone when I got pregnant. I was expecting some frowning about it but my weight was barely mentioned. My retirement age midwife had no problems measuring me, but the younger one at the hospital did.

I was told I needed a GD test after a normal blood test which ruined my Christmas... but it turned out they did it just because I was fat as my blood sugar was perfectly normal.My midwife was not happy about them doing that.

I did have a 12lb 4oz baby, but then my dad was the 11lb 4oz product of my skinny grandma in 1940 so I'm not sure there wasn't something genetic in that!

I was induced at 41+3 due to the beginnings of pre-eclampsia, and ended up with a c-section after 2 hours pushing as ds's head was tilted back some and wasn't coming down. They had no problem doing the spinal before the section.

I was a size 18 this time round and got some hassle at the booking appointment about how I must have had undiagnosed gestational diabetes with DD because she was 9lb 6oz . I've had no other comments from medical staff whatsoever, or any problems (am now 27 weeks) apart from a stroppy letter inserted in my notes that insists I must have a GTT before 30 weeks or I will have to monitor my blood sugar four times a day for the rest of the pregnancy. Tried to make the appointment yesterday but the hospital were useless . If I end up not getting the test because of their incompetence and their wrong assumptions in the first place I will be most piqued!

Otherwise - everything has been fine (apart from one woman at my work commenting that pregnant women always look "worse" second time around - whatever that meant ). I definitely have a bump and have had some really lovely comments too - so I'm enjoying it!

And as a PP said, the main thing is that my baby is healthy - which is a wonderful thing, really!

I'm a size 18 and was absolutely fine. Wasn't categorised as high-risk, and had a problem-free pregnancy. Tiny rise in blood pressure in the very last week, but that's it.

Birth ended in emergency CS, but I don't think that was related to my size.

I found out i was pregnant with this one at 3 weeks and 4 days - i have never ever found out so early before ( sore boobs kicked in stupidly early and are still here at nearly 16 weeks) and like the other posters said this pregnancy is going slowly - a bit better now after 12 weeks though.

I suppose my inclination to GD is because of my size but its not the end of the world and like some other posters have stated you can have a big baby and not have GD same as you can be skinny and have GD. I feel really aggrevied that so many assmptions are made about plus sized women and pregnancy and am kind of glad Questionkid started this thread because i was told by my consultant that because of my size i was 10 times more likely to die if i chose the route of an elective cesarean section this time ( i had specifically asked for one after a terrible time in my last induction ) She seemed intent on scaring the shit out of me because ( as she wrote all over my notes ) of my 'morbidity'. The fact is i know its not the most desireable of things especially for healthcare professionals for their patients to be overweight but the fact is big women DO have sex, get pregnant and even get married ( separate rant on plus size maternity wedding dresses lol ) If this had been my first or second baby i would have probably just let what my consultant said go but as it is i have complained because whilst i believe it is her job to point out any dangers i dont think its very clever to scare your patient and reiterate threefold in the space of less than 20 minutes that you are 10 times more likely to die in a cs because of your weight. Facts not scare tactics...

There is no need to be bossed or bullied - if you stay well informed and actually stand up for yourself then there is likely to be less of the condescending attitude that some of us larger ladies experience on the NHS - we need more midwives and consultants like SummatanNowt has as usually a happy mother denotes a happy pregnancy

Reading this thread, strikes me how many if us are made to feel ashamed when pregnant just because we are overweight - as if we're putting our babies in mortal danger. I was really scared at first that I'd have lots of complications, the consultants didn't tell me there may be any they pretty much acted like it was a given, I wish I hadn't listened now and been able to enjoy my prgnancy more!

I haven't been made to feel ashamed yet, but it's definitely been highlighted to me (by the hospital much more than my midwife) that my pregnancy may be complicated and different. I can't decide whether it's a good thing for them to make me aware or if they're scaremongering and they should only highlight the issues if/when they come up.

My midwife is great because she doesn't let it be an issue. She's very no-nonsense and says I should just relax and enjoy and if my blood pressure goes up we'll deal with it when it happens etc. She's recommended pregnancy yoga to help with that, and to try and strengthen my stomach muscles to help with labour.

The lady who did my 12 week scan scored brownie points with me as rather than being embarrassed or skirting around the issue, she put my hands on my stomach and asked me to pull everything up and tight so she could get a better picture for us to take home.

Whatever happens I'm not focussing on the potential complications and am thinking more about the exciting stuff like when I'll have a bump!

hang on though.....isnt the average size for u.k a 16? therefore an 18 is hardly ''big''.so long as you eat a healthy well balanced diet imo pregnancy is a time to enjoy your change in shape, relax about it and enjoy the knowledge that you would have to be fairly healthy and fit to get pregnant in the first place!!! life is too short to let your weight play on your mind especially during this very special time....so enjoy the next few months and look forward to meeting your gorgeous little baby xxx

Although I hate the BMI charts and think they're unrealistic as they don't allow at all for the fact that the average woman is indeed a size 16, my BMI is really high. So although I fit size 18 clothes, my BMI is higher than an average size 18 woman would be (35+) so I'm automatically 'at risk'.

But don't worry, I'm not letting this spoil my pregnancy and am enjoying it as much as I can.

It's just interesting to know what other women's experiences have been.

Message withdrawn

Oh, I had a very small baby (5lb 15oz, and only a week early) and the weight dropped off afterwards. Although I am still a size 18 so I'd quite like to have lost more weight - but I'm exactly the same size as I was before pregnancy.

Hope this is all making you feel a lot better!

I am a size 20 and on my second pregnancy.

I had no problems last time - I was consultant-referred once at the beginning due to having several high risk indicators, BMI being one of them. He said everything would be fine and signed me off. After that no one ever mentioned my weight or GD and I had a completely trouble-free birth. Midwife happily booked me into a low-risk birthing centre.

Same again this time (and in fact I've only put on 10lbs at 35 weeks' pregnant, which is quite nice as the baby is a good size!).

I am really sorry to hear that other women are being given such grief by the medical professionals, and feel very grateful that my lot don't give a damn

What a great thread - as I knew when I was pg with DD1 that having a BMI of 35 would mean comments in the least. I am a size 20 normally and 5ft 7. I eat very healthily - just too much of it and not enough proper exercise.
My experience with DD1 though was great. Midwife never made any comment, I was referred to consultant care, but would have been anyway as I had a thyroidectomy a couple of years ago so they had to monitor my drugs dosage pretty closely. The consultant (who is huge) never said a word about weight - although there were references in my notes to high BMI meaning difficulties in getting good scan pictures. Otherwise PG was totally normal. I suffered less than everyone at my antenatal class as I had good BP, spot on blood tests for everything they threw at me,no heartburn, cramp, piles, back problems etc and only slight ankle puffiness at the end so compared to the other women I met in class who were all considerably skinnier than me I had it easy. Was never tested for GD and it was never mentioned, nor did they mention extra scans. Birth was normal and over in 8 hours with only 30 mins of the nasty pushing stage and DD1 weighed in at 6lb 1oz 2 weeks early. All the healthcare professionals commented on my good health during PG1. DD was and is gorgeous and has been a really easy baby so far as she is healthy, eats and sleeps well and laughs more than she cries.
I would say only difficulty due to size came when bfing as bigger boobs were more difficult to manage discreetly, and I never mastered the one handed bf - always took one arm to hold baby and one arm to hold up boob, so was totally incapacitated when bfing!
Since then I have become pg again (when DD1 was only 3 months old, so my fertility has also not suffered from obesity!) and experience so far has been strange as having had such a straightforward time of it last time and so recently, this time, they seem to be always commenting on my weight (even though I only gained 16lb during last pg and lost every one of them straight afterwards and have only gained 12lb so far in 2nd pg at 32 weeks). Also have been sent for GTT for GD and have had extra growth scan booked for 36 weeks to check on size of the baby despite having neither of these last time and delivering a small baby. Anyway - so far (touch wood) I have taken great smug pleasure in once again have a trouble free pg with good bp, no nasty side effects and perfect bloods every time - including a negative GTT. And all that's whilst looking after a 10 month old baby and working full time - so stuff em!
Am feeling positive about pending labour, but do wonder if I've had it too good and something will bite me on the nose!
Anyway - Be yourself, sock it to em and show that big girls can do it!

size 18 when I got pregnant, and started showing around 18 weeks? Had a massive bump though, and had hip and back problems as well.

Good labour though, no complications and all went well.

ELB1 - thanks for this wonderfully positive response! I'm so pleased to see that you had/are having such trouble free pregnancies and that you showed those medical professionals that they shouldn't always jump to conclusions.

Unfortunately I'm already showing some signs that my weight is going to affect things - higher blood pressure, swelling feet and ankles (although to be fair, that's something I've always suffered with in the warmer months so it may calm down now) and some hip and back ache but other than that all is well so far. Long may it continue.