Are/were you plus size and pregnant?

[Ahurani]

This is a great thread Im big too and worried about what drs would say when Im pg

[tellytubby]

Hi ladies

At first i posted this to Mara through a PM because its an issue i feel a bit embarrased about Never mentioned my "number" to anyone except for DH. But after reading peoples responses, i realise i'm not the only cuddly lady on BB Also sounds like some of you are just as relieved as i to hear that i'm not the only overweight pregnant woman - or overweight woman TTC.

Well here it is, this is what i PMed to Mara *holds breath*, hahaha

Hi Mara

Just replying to your thread about being overweight while pregnant. Don't really want everyone to know my weight! hahaha.

When i fell pregnant with this pregnancy i was 97.5 and a size 18. I am going to a public hospital. On my first appointment (the one with the midwife), she did all the usual, took my weight and told me as kindly as she could that my BMI suggests i'm obese. It was clear to me that she didn't want to hurt my feelings, she was just doing her job. She asked if i'd like to see a dietitian - which i said yes to! (Why not! its free! haha).

The dietitian was lovely, she actually made me feel really good about myself. She told me, if i want to eat crap, than eat it - but to FIRST make sure i've eaten all my serves of fruit and vege, carbs, dairy etc. She explained that by the time i'd had my servings of these - chances are i'd be full as a goog and not really want to eat the crap anymore. I asked her if i should try and lose some weight, she said firmly "no way - pregnant women are not suppose to lose weight. Maybe in an insance of a very large woman - but you are by no means a very large woman" Felt so good to hear that from a dietian!!! She recommended i put on 7 kg this pregnancy.

Got weighed last friday i'm now 101.5 - so i've put on 4kg (i'm 33weeks).

I have had no health problems at all. BP is fine, sugar levels are fine, fit and healthy awaiting the arrival of my baby! I get weighed every visit to the dr, but they just write it down and thats it - never comment on it! (WHich i LOVE!!haha)

I hope this helps!
-tellytubby

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[briggsy's girl]

i'm a larger lady and, apart from PE at the VERY END of the pg, i had no real issues. yeah, i had shocking MS - but anyone can have that! no weight related issues at all for me. i ended up losing weight while pg, and i haven't put any back on that i've noticed. i continued to eat healthy through the pregnancy and do the same now - i still hve some bad crap occassionally, but the bulk of my eating is made up of vegetables with some meat, home made stuff - minimal pre-processed stuff etc. i asked both the GP and the Ob doing my shared care and neither had a problem with my weight as i was healthy and looking after myself

[AnyDream]

I'm a luscious larger lady, and I was worried about the combined effect of my weight (>100kg at beginning of preg, but I'm tall) and my age (>35) on things like GD and blood pressure. So I took the step of seeing a dietician throughout my preg, she helped me with a low-GI diet which meant I put on a minimum of weight and more importantly didn't have any issues with GD.

As for other health professionals - no one ever mentioned my weight - not my GP, nor the OB, the only time I was weighed was at the pre-surgical appt (when they weigh and measure your height so they can calculate how much of the drugs to use) for my C/S. I had a shocking case of pelvic laxity (or SPD) but I know just as many tiny ladies who have had this problem and it seems to have nothing to do with weight at all.

[~mamaspice~]

Thanks so much for your replies everyone. It's so great to read other peoples stories. Especially when I was feeling like i was the only overweight woman on the planet considering getting pregnant and feeling like I would be condemned by the medical profession for doing so.

With my first PG, like Marydean the only time I was weighed was just before I went into theatre for my CS. And it was nice that my OB didn't focus on my weight. Mind you pre preg last time I was 17 kilo's lighter than I am now.
And like Briggsy;'s girl I did get PE late in my last pg (from 35 weeks onwards) but it was classed as moderate and I'm confident weight did not play a part in it as I have always had normal BP at any other time.
I think if I do happen to fall preg at this size I will focus on eating healthily and walking lots so that hopefully I gain minimal pregnancy weight.

thanks again for all the replies

[Lisa]

I am plus sized and I had no issues in my pregnancy with my DS2 at all. The medical professionals never really blinked an eye at my size, even when I ended up with SPD in the end. I had no health issues throughout my pregnancy with him either. I had a beautiful birth with him that took 5.5hrs.

I recently gave birth to my DD2 and in the beginning there were no issues in regards to my weight. I had actually lost weight after my pregnancy with DS2 (-24.1kgs to be exact). I was approved to have a home birth and I was really looking forward to it as this was my last pregnancy and I was excited about ending it my way.
Around 30w my midwife became concerned at the size of my fundus and sent me for a growth scan on the baby. This is when all hell broke loose.
I also had a GTT done which came back as being perfect. The growth scan showed that my baby was in the 93rd centile for it's weight. It was then decided at 36w that because I was carrying a bigger baby, and my BMI was higher than they would have liked, I couldn't have my home birth anymore. Apparently I was at risk of having a PPH or the baby becoming stuck and worst of all, I was at risk of dying during the labour (yes, this was told to me). I fought their decision and won, but then at 38w they decided I was way too risky and gave me no option but to birth at the hospital.

Guess what. My baby girl came on her due date. I didn't die. I didn't have a PPH. My baby didn't get stuck. I had a beautiful labour that lasted just over 4hrs and was totally natural. My baby girl weighed 4kgs and is beautifully perfect in every way. I had a physiological 3rd stage and delivered the placenta in 10mins... no sign of PPH and I was home in under 4hrs.
I am still dirty about not getting the birth I truly wanted and I am more than dirty about the horrid things I was told weeks before giving birth. Just because I am bigger doesn't mean I am automatically going to have issues. I have successfully birthed 4 beautiful live babies with no issues what so ever, and I know I could go on to birth many many more no matter what size I am.
You will have a beautiful pregnancy, labour & birth if you truly believe it. Don't let any medical people tell you otherwise. Trust in your body to do what it is designed to do.

[~mamaspice~]

Lisa, what a shame you didn't get to have your HB. Especially when you'd had 3 previous uncomplicated pregnancies/births. Stupid doctors! I must be going to be seen as a super high risk patient being overweight AND wanting a VBAC.