Pregnant with High BMI - Feeling Anxious and Worried

[LipstickGirl]

I wonder if anyone is in a similar position...

I have always struggled with my weight and fluctuate between a size 10 - 16 which is a nightmare but entirely self-inflicted I know.

So, I knew I should lose a couple of stone before I got pregnant (and planned to) but I thought it would take ages (I'd read a lot of scary fertility articles and had endemetriosis!) but it actually happened very quickly and now I find myself 12 weeks and with a BMI of 31 and really scared that I'm going to have an awful pregnancy and be morbidly obese by the end of it - so far I have had constant nausea that is only assuaged by carbs and have already put on half a stone...

So, I know this is my own fault but I'm already feeling huge and ugly and have nothing to wear and was wondering if anyone knew if I could a) lose weight in the 2nd trimester or b) have any suggestions for some clothes that might help make me feel at least presentable?!

Thanks for reading and for any replies,

x

((hugs))
Don't have many answers for you, but I think that too much emphasis is placed on BMI, I had a low BMI and midwife and GP fretted and put me in for an extra scan. I lost weight during first trimester, but baby and I were fine, baby spot on average weight all the way.

You need to eat sensibly but don't worry too much. I found that maternity clothes were great, because they are designed to fit a growing figure they always fitted and buying a few bright tops made me feel much better about myself.

Talk to your midwife and don't be so hard on yourself.

Don't think theres any easy answers.

I am/was overwight during my last 2 pregnancies.I was also 39 and 41 yrs old,so other reasons to worry.

Its never a good idea to actively try and lose weight during Pregnancy.

I would try to limit your carb intake a little once the Nausea has gone,make sure you are fairly active,try going for a walk 3 times a week for 20 mins each time.

Some people that are overweight don't put on much during their pregnancy.Look around you there are plenty of people that are overweight and pregnant,we can't all have neat little bumps.

Just try to relax about your weight,you can't do much to change it now,except try and have as healthy a pregnancy as you can.

As for clothes,initially you just feel fat,later it will be a distinct bump,just wear comfortable clothes,that are just a size or two bigger.

At least the summer is coming so,nice big t-shirts etc.Some of the smock tops that are trendy are very useful.
Try to be proud you are pregnant,you have got 9 mths off from dieting and worrying about your waistline.Enjoy!!

Oh Lipstickgirl you sound really down. Please don't worry about being morbidly obese! My pattern in pregnancy is the same as yours - need loads of carbs in 1st trimester to ward off morning sickness! So I just try and make my massive bowls of pasta with tomato sauce not cream, wholemeal toast not white etc etc. What normally then happens is as the nausea tails off in the second trimester, I stop needing the carbs so the weight gain slows down.

If you are still concerned my friend did a special pregnancy version of either slimming world or weightwatchers, check their websites for info, and she hardly gained any weight. Look after yourself, I would second what wonderstuff says about BMI, my mate had a BMI of 33 I think but she was more a size 20, size 16 doesn't sound big at all.

Everyone is different and remember that the statistics do not apply to YOU personally! YOu could have a lovely, healthy enjoyable pregnancy and birth while the size 10 girl down the road struggles! The research shows that the best outcomes can be achieved when women who are already overwieght put on as little as possible, so don't aim to lose it, but do aim to eat healthily. Excersise such as aquanatal is ideal because it really works your body but in a non weight bearing way appropriate for pregnant women. And remember BMI is a rubbish way of measuring how healthy you are. You do feel rubbish at 12 weeks though, and I bet your self image will improve as you start to feel less 'early pregnancy'. Good luck

Thanks very much for your kind replies. I must admit I am feeling quite fed up and fat rather than blooming and pregnant!

To top it off I am due to be a bridesmaid (!) on 1st Aug and am just so worried about spoiling the photos...

Maybe a shop for some new bits will help, I guess I just didn't anticipate these changes - my hair is greasy, my skin dull and spotty (I wasn't Scarlett Johanssen before but this is awful!) and I can't see how things will get better in the next 6 months when everything is bigger!

Agggghhhhh!

x

1. You wont 'spoil' any photos!! Have you EVER looked at wedding pics and thought 'lovely, shame about that pg woman spoiling it'?? I think not
2. First few mnths are the worst, soon your hair will be thick and lovely, you'll have a baby bump rather than a bloated looking belly and when you feel it kick you'll feel much better.

Also there is no rule that says you have to enjoy pregnancy. I really found it tough, giving birth was an amazing relief.

Sorry to hear you're feeling so low. It's true you shouldn't actively try to lose weight during pregnancy, but you also shouldn't use it as an excuse to 'eat for two' or eat unhealthily or excessively because you're pregnant & 'it doesn't count'. I have so often come across women desperate to lose 'baby fat' which really isn't that at all - it's 'fat fat'! ;) Some women find that they can use pregnancy as their motivation to start to eat really healthily, to go for a walk every day, to relax & rest & start to like your own body a little more... I'm a nutrition & exercise specialist in this area so if you'd like any one-to-one advice or help - please contact me! Good luck!

just realised you have to pay to use the email thingie - you can contact me through my website www.nomorexcuses.co.uk Let me know if I can help!

I'll definitely be in touch Wendle - thank you...

And thanks for all responses, I appreciate it.

x

Hi,

just wanted to say that I am 15 weeks pregnant and had a BMI of 31 before my pregnancy. Like you I felt the need to eat loads of carbs to keep the ms at bay until about 11/12 weeks (but I also ate lots of fruit, veg and yogurt). I also had greasy hair, dry but spotty skin and felt like a zombie most of the time. I was really worried I wasn't making enough of an effort to look after me and the baby and felt fairly horrid and miserable.

Thankfully it all started to ease after 12 weeks and now I have reached 15 weeks I have loads of energy and I am doing lots of walking in the evening and at weekends and going for the occasional swim. I still feel as though I am eating a lot but it's mostly healthy stuff and I haven't put any weight on for the last few weeks (I still fit in all my pre-pregnancy clothes) and my hair and skin have settled down. I guess I just wanted to let you know that it gets easier to look after yourself after the first trimester and I've stopped feeling so down. Luckily my midwife is very relaxed about my weight and says that as long as I feel healthy and the baby is okay (at scans and when she checks the heartbeat) then not to worry. It's better for me to be a bit overweight but try to have a healthy active pregnancy than to be the 'right' weight but not eat well or be at all active.

Hope that helps - take care of yourself x.