Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Weight and pregnancy

16 replies

SheWillBeLoved · 20/12/2008 13:48

How many people have been overweight during their pregnancy? I'm a good couple of stone overweight at the mo - something I was doing something about when i got pregnant. I'd lost over 2 stone in a few months and I think that's what helped with me falling pregnant in the first place.

Anyway - I have my 12 week scan etc on Tuesday, and i'm worrying about whether Ms Midwife will be shouting at me/referring me to all sorts of people because i'm not a perfect weight? Do they really make a huge fuss of it? I mean i'm still trying to eat sensibly but will that matter or will they just go into a frenzy and start lecturing about extra risks etc?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

snorris · 20/12/2008 13:58

I was considered "overweight" during my last 2 pregnancies because my BMI is/was over 35. As it happens I am now at least 5kg lighter than when I fell pregnant with dd5 (now 2 weeks old) . I got told about the risks of having a large baby and I think they can get a bit twitchy and want to assess any anaesthetic risks .

Original poster

SheWillBeLoved · 20/12/2008 14:09

Well my spine is still touchable if they're worried about finding that in case of an emergency epi

I'm just dreading being made to feel like i'm the worst mum to be ever for starting my pregnancy off at a non ideal weight.

OP posts:

JingleJools · 20/12/2008 19:47

I got told off by my GP when I told him about my BFP - until I told him I'd lost 3 stone to get to the point of being "only" 2.5 stone overweight. Before that, he was patronising and dismissive.

At my booking in, the mw weighed me and said "oh dear, if your BMI goes up by one more, you have to go under consultant led care" I tried to explain to her that I struggle to lose weight / am on permanent diet / do 7 gym classes per week and walk an hour every weekday but she persisted in telling me to go easy on the doughnuts and treats

I left her office feeling like a failure, but did find that just through increased metabolism I was starting to lose weight ..

Can't tell you much more as I miscarried at 11+4 before seeing any other medical staff, but I do get the impression that they think anyone overweight just needs to stop eating sweet stuff / overeating and it is all in the mind and we are all just suffer from lack of will power

Ok, I'm cynical - sorry ! I didn't get lectured - just made to feel like a naughty child !

Original poster

SheWillBeLoved · 20/12/2008 19:55

My midwife didn't even weigh me at my booking in appointment, was just all form filling really. My GP didn't shout at me either when I went to confirm the pregnancy. Just absoloutely dreading being made out to be some sort of greedy heffa who can't say no to a cream cake in front of DP I know it should be the last thing i'm worrying about, I just wanna get past the 12 week scan this time with everything being okay but it keeps playing in my head!

I'll twat the cow with my weight watchers progress card if she gives me any gip "s'cuse me love, I was trying to lose it before wonderballs over there scored a goal!"

OP posts:

JingleJools · 20/12/2008 20:02

hehe SheWillbeLoved - love your attitude - I may well borrow that approach if when I get another BFP !!

MsG · 20/12/2008 20:15

Hi SheWillBeLoved, please try not to worry. Will you see your M/W at the scan? I just saw a sonographer at mine but had my booking in appointment the week after. I was concerned about my weight (as I was about 2 stone overweight to start with) but I brought it up with my midwife and she didn't give a - she said she'd put on 5 stone with each of her pregnancies! I don't think their aim is to make you feel bad although I know some people are insensitive like that. If you are worried, maybe raise it yourself and just say you are aware you're a bit overweight but intend to eat healthily and exercise mildly (maybe?!) throughout. Please try not to stress about it though.

JingleJools, you will soon get another BFP - hope you are doing OK, hon. I know it sounds crap when people tell you you will get pregnant again - after my m/c when people said that I'd think, "how do you know?" - but try to stay positive. It's horrible to miscarry but (you're probably sick of people saying this too) as you have conceived once, it shows you can get pregnant. All the best.

xxx

spicemonster · 20/12/2008 20:18

I really wouldn't worry - I don't know what you think your BMI is but if it's under 30 they didn't say anything where I had my baby.

And did you know that obese children are more likely when pregnant women diet?! So don't worry about it

JingleJools · 20/12/2008 20:47

Hi MrsG all OK here and I have been keeping an eye on my former a/n friends Im back to my old self more or less I think Had high hopes for getting a BFP on the first post MC cycle but don't think I ov'ed First AF has now left the building after an extended stay - grrrr, so Operation TTC starts in earnest between Xmas and the New Year

By the way, my BMI at my booking in appt was 33 ...

Original poster

SheWillBeLoved · 20/12/2008 21:14

MsG - NO idea whether i'm going to see my midwife. I saw her at around 9+ weeks for my booking in appointment at my doctors surgery.. no idea if she's the one i'll have all the way through my pregnancy? Funnily enough she knew me from somewhere and near the end of the appointment it clicked where from.... weight watchers!

My letter says it's just a scan, but my sister who had her youngest at that hospital said that i'll meet my midwife, have my bloods and stuff taken and go through my family history etc.

Nothing has been mentioned about my weight so far though, so we'll see. No denying that I need to lose some padding, but I just don't think that pregnancy is the right time for someone to put a damper on things by constantly dragging it up as a problem. Inform me of the risks by all means, but don't make me feel any worse than I do already because with these hormones, i'll either burst out crying or pin you down and sit my lard arse right on top of you

OP posts:

heverhoney1 · 21/12/2008 11:31

I have to say everyone other than my GP has been lovely to me. Dont get me wrong they haven't ignored the fact that I am carrying extra winter insulation but they haven't lectured.

fruitstick · 21/12/2008 11:43

I had a BMI of about 29 when I became pregnant both times, and nobody said anything to me at all. I even raised it with my GP and he told me not to worry. I think they are more concerned about your general health/activity levels and also the weight you put on during pregnancy.

If you are over weight I think it's recommended that you put on less weight than you would if you were under weight iyswim.

The most annoying thing about being a bit of the hefty side when pregnant is that suddenly people think it's ok to discuss it and (even worse) start prodding you! I can't tell you the amount of people I've met who, even at about 4 months, put their hands on my belly and said ... oh you're quite big aren't you. 'No love, it's not baby, it's just fat, now gerrof!'

babylove123 · 22/12/2008 06:35

Hi,

I'm more overweight than you and gave birth to DD 3 weeks ago. ALL the way through my pregnancy i was badgered about my weight, got me really angry and upset. Turns out i ended up with hyperemesis and lost 2 stone before week 16. I was weighed at booking in at 8 weeks and not again for my whole pg....strange.

I was desp for a home birth and i didnt "meet the criteria" because of the weight. To cut a v long story short, i did a deal with the supervisor of midwives to have her in hospital but told them i wanted a 6 hr discharge (providing all ok of course) and i wanted a private postnatal ward room. They agreed so i had her in hospital. I had to go for the anaesthetic apt (waste of time might i say!) etc and he again went on about my weight.

I was told by all of the midwives etc that i wouldnt have a natural birth. They told me that i wouldnt have anywhere near strong enough tummy muscles to push her out. I kept telling them i'd prove them wrong....

I had a 7 hour active labour, from 10cm dilated and waters breaking it took me 11 mins to push her out, no intervention, gas and air only and only 2 stitches. In your faces midwives!

Lets just say they havent mentioned my weight since!

NorthernLurkerwithastarontop · 22/12/2008 07:33

I have been overweight in my three pregnancies and never been nagged as such. For the last two though the consultant did want me to have a glucose tolerance test (for gestational diabetes) On both occasions I refused as I have no other risk factors for GD and no symptoms and was unwilling to submit myself to an unpleasant test simply because that's what my BMI told them to do Due to vomiting and nausea I've ended every pregnancy lighter than I started - it is by no means inevitable you will gain weight.

lizziemun · 22/12/2008 07:58

I'm more overwieght then you. I hadn't lost all the weight i put on with dd2 last year .

I have never been weighed by the midwife in any of my pregnancies. In fact the only person who commented on my weight was a gp who told me i was obease (like i hadn't noticed) and not te eat even if i was hungry . Since then i have refused to see any gp and only see the commmunity midwife.

babylove123 · 22/12/2008 09:58

I had to have the GTT too because i was overweight - i hadnt even had any signs in my urine that there was a problem! Joke! Of course, it was fine, infact i was told how GOOD it was! Another point to me

AlexandraPeppernose · 27/12/2008 18:55

My midwives have been fantastic. They recorded my bmi as 34 rather than the 34.9 it actually was, then wrote all over my notes that I intend to keep it under 35 and they have then managed to avoid weighing me at all.

Because I am low risk and a perfect candidate in every other way they don't want my home birth being scuppered purely because of my weight.

i've actually mentioned my weight more than them

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread