High BMI and told to lose weight

[Lulabelle27]

Hey

I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences to me...I am a size 16, 5ft2 but weigh heavy and my BMI is 40 - and 24 weeks pregnant with our baby girl

I saw my MW at 11 weeks or so who said because of my BMI my care would be consulatnt led - she said not to worry it just meant a couple of extra appointments and opportunities to see the baby.

At my first scan we saw the baby, all was well and we were soooo happy. I then had a second MW appointment, at this point I was told they would be 'over the moon' if I lost weight (at this point I was around 17 weeks pregnant). At this point I hadn't gained a single pound, all of my tests were absolutley normal and I felt really good. I then had my consultant appointment at the hospital, at around 20 weeks. The nurse did all of my pre-tests and measures as the consultant was runing around 2 hours late! The consulatant walked itno the room and said I must be disappointed that i'm a week less pregnant than I thought (I knew this 7 weeks previous at my first scan) so she clearly hadn't read my notes. She then went on to tell me that because of my weight I would have to see an anaesthatist because they may not be able to do an epidural (clearly a large needle would not get thorough my huuuuge back) and that I should not gain any weight at all through the pregnancy - she then left the room and the appointment was over.

This morning I went to see my GP as I have been anxious and stressed about eating, weighing myself every morning to check I haven't gained any weight, and my partner has been forcing me to eat meals as with the anxiousness I haven't felt hungry. I explained this to the doctor, who went on to tell me that my weight puts me in the category of they would tell me to do something about it, and it presents a risk to my gorgeous baby girl, so loosing or maintaining my weight would be the best thing for me. Given a full term baby and associated things means you weight around 2st heavier anyway, I am effectively been told to lose 2st.

I am really unhappy at how I have been treated and am putting it in writing to the practice...just wondering if anyone out there has had similar expereinces?

 

[maybe11]

sorry havent had that experience but didnt want to read and run. Maybe google high BMI and pregnancy.

I really disagree with calculations from BMI as they dont consider natural variations. I have HUGE boobs (36 K ) and I weighed them once to find they re nearly a stone each. No matter how much weight I loose, they stay the same so really, take my boobs off and I d be nearly underweight vs the borderline 29 I am now.

Maybe ask to see a nutritionist or dietician so its a more positive experience for you and you get the support you need without feeling so bad.

They do like to go OTT....

 

[flippityflop]

I'm so sorry you've been made to feel like this! I have had the complete opposite treatment. I'm 5ft 1 and a size 18, I think my BMI was 38 when I started and now its 41! I am also seeing a consultant and have been told about all the risks.

My consultant couldn't have been lovelier, he didn't weigh me and when I spoke about being overweight he said I was not compared to some people he sees and not to worry about it. I only got weighed at my 24 week docs appt and she didn't say anything about the weight gain.

The thing is, we're not stupid women. We know we're at an increased risk of GD, pre-eclampsia and needing 'intervention' at labour and we don't need any extra stress from doctors telling us what they've been telling you.

Yes, as larger ladies we should try not to gain weight but you definitely shouldn't aim to loose weight! EVERYTHING I've read said not to diet. You must eat for your baby and for you, but just eat sensibly. If you do you'll probably find you don't gain that much weight anyway.

xx

 

[kate1984]

this pisses me off so much! my bmi is 34. Im a size 16 and 5ft 7. Yes im not a perfect size 10 but that is because i have pcos and havent been able to shift the weight. I was told by a dietician at 12 weeks pregnant that i am only allowed to put on 4lbs during the whole 40 weeks!

I saw MW yesterday and told her this and also told her that i was a bulimic for 7 years and comments like that only make me want to binge and it's not helpful.

she said to expect to put on 2 stone and to NOT worry about it BUT if faced with a burger or a chicken salad i should choose the latter which i will do. I have been told that i will have to be weighed again at 24 weeks and then again at 36 weeks so to bear that in mind

im so sorry that the have made you feel so bad too, im distraught about it! i had my son just over a year ago and was the same size and they never brought anything up, apparently it is new policies that the NHS have introduced and the midwifes have to push it on you.

 

[hubblybubbly]

Hi, sorry about your experience, sounds horrible and so insensitive! My BMI was 33 at booking, again a size 18, 5ft 1, big boobs 38GG.

I'm not consultant led care but my midwife has encouraged me not to lose weight or diet - but that I should aim to gain 6-10kg (about a stone to stone&a half) through the pregnancy, whereas someone with normal weight should gain 11-16kg (about 1and a half to 2 and a half stone)

I think as long as your sensible and don't "eat for two" no matter how big you are to start with your baby will grow healthily and naturally. So far I haven't gained any weight - thus as you say due to the baby weight and fluid etc have effectively lost weight.

 

[emily3399]

hi ladies this thread is so relevant to how im feeling at the moment ...fed up about weight!!!! i am 5'8 and weigh 115.6 but like one of you mentioned earlier i weight my self every morning praying i havent gained weight its ridiculous.... this baby nobody has said anything about my weight.... however at the latter stage of my 2nd pregnancy my consultant told me i would have to lose weight before i even considered another baby and here i am again scared shitless excuse my french of seeing my consultant for fear of what she will say with my still increased bmi

 

[emily3399]

i am also in a difficult position because i have over active thyroid and the medication they put me on has made my weight shoot ive gained 4kg in weeks i was 111.6 at 5 weeks and am 115.6 at 17weeks. If i dont take the medication my weight will remain and wont increase at a silly level but i will be at risk then of a thyroid storm and endocrinologist wont be happy but if i take the medication and gain weight my gynocologist wont be happy arrrghh!!! This is all un needed stress that medical professions shouldnt put us under

 

[Scottishgem]

I am a size 16 and have a bmi of 35 which is not good, however my midwife didn't seem to concerned and no one at my doctors or the hospital have mentioned my weight YET!!!!!!!!!! the only good thing is i haven't put any weight on since my booking in appointment i had to have the gtt and fasting cos of it but that's it, i know i am a bit big so if they tried to bring it up and were rude i would defo have a thing to say, it would be perfect if we were all a perfect 10 and healthy when we have kids but life just isn't like that.

 

[firsttimer1]

this is sooooooooooo confusing - your only a size 16??? thats not BIG, in fact its the average size of women in the UK so this all sounds a little over the top does it not?

when i saw my MW she did her charts and when it came to weight she said ''well your clearly not obese'' and i said ''no your right but your BMI chart is about to say i am''. She laughed and said ''i doubt it, pop on the scales''.

12 stone at 5'3'' = 30 BMI.... obese.

BUT im a UK size 12 with 32G boobs. How is that obese?

My mw said ''you know what sometimes the BMI charts work; sometimes they dont. Go by how you look and feel as so much is not taken into aco**** with BMI''. - i assume she meant my stupid boobs

so thats what im doing!! Bmi? PAH! lol.

Try to do what you can to stay healthy and not put on too much weight during pregnancy, but surely trying to lose alot of weight cant be right? at least, it doesnt sound right.

 

[maybe11]

this is sooooooooooo confusing - your only a size 16??? thats not BIG, in fact its the average size of women in the UK so this all sounds a little over the top does it not?

when i saw my MW she did her charts and when it came to weight she said ''well your clearly not obese'' and i said ''no your right but your BMI chart is about to say i am''. She laughed and said ''i doubt it, pop on the scales''.

12 stone at 5'3'' = 30 BMI.... obese.

BUT im a UK size 12 with 32G boobs. How is that obese?

My mw said ''you know what sometimes the BMI charts work; sometimes they dont. Go by how you look and feel as so much is not taken into aco**** with BMI''. - i assume she meant my stupid boobs

so thats what im doing!! Bmi? PAH! lol.

Try to do what you can to stay healthy and not put on too much weight during pregnancy, but surely trying to lose alot of weight cant be right? at least, it doesnt sound right.

Me too... without boobs am size 14 comfortably! Just the bloody boobs that weigh a ton.

These BMI have a lot to answer for. It wont be long before they scrap them.
Just like all the hype over large waist measurements increasing risk of heart disease etc, now they re saying if you have a high waist measurement, its good cos fat stores are around waist and not around organs...

 

[Peanuts_Mom]

Shame hun.
Look I can totally understand your frustration, although I do perhaps feel that you are taking it a little worse than you should. I'm no doctor but I do know that there are far more complications with aneasthetic and heavier set individuals so I don't think it has anything to do with 'the size of your back'.
Doctors unfortunately have to tell it like it is and sometimes don't have the finess we would prefer.
Unless I am missing a part of your incident, I really think taking their advice and just watch that you at least don't put on anymore weight would be the best option for you and LO.
I don't think they can say for sure you'll run into complications but you are at a higher risk. So perhaps they are giving worst case.

Good luck though and I hope and trust all will be just fine.

x

 

[baby_maybe]

Do you know what, this really annoys me!!! BMI measurements mean nothing really, I mean someone could be a size ten but weigh 12 stone because of muscle mass and they would end up being overweight on a BMI chart. As long as you are eating sensibly and taking care of yourself ignore what the chart says hunni xxx

 

[jess77]

Oh this seems to be a case of postcard lottery when it comes to care!. I have a high bmi, (43) yes I knew I was 'obese' to bmi, my height is only 5ft 1in so that doesnt go in my favour, and i was loosing weight before conception and BAM! preggo within first month of no contraception!. (this is was after I was told it could take up to a year due to weight, on pill for 7 years yadda yadda).
The only differences are that, my care is consultant led at my chosen hospital and that I had a very rude 20 week scan. my repeat scan at 23 weeks was great though as a different person conducted it out!. Yes I am having a couple extra scans and my baby is larger but im having a GD test next week at 24+5 rather than at 28 weeks. Apart from that I have a clean bill of health!. my blood pressure is good, I dont think I have put on much weight as my clothes fit me everywhere else but the good ole bump and boobs situation lol. However I was told NOT to diet and loose weight as it is not reccomended to loose weight during pregnancy, worry about the weight after the baby is born!.
In addition when I walk into the ANC at my hospital, there are many many women who are much much larger than my pre preg size 18 frame!!!!.

 

[firsttimer1]

right - im watching ''supersize vs superskinny'' on chan 4 and the doctor on that advises 2 women how to lose weight / put on weight.

So this clearly obese women is on it and she is put on a diet. when she comes back for a weigh in she tells him she has just found out she is pregnant.

first thing the doctor says?

right - we are going to change things then, DONT TRY TO LOSE WEIGHT WHEN PREGNANT. eat healthily and make good choices so that you do not put on a lot. But do not ''diet''.

soooooooooooooooo much conflicting info.

 

[holliexa]

Do you know what, this really annoys me!!! BMI measurements mean nothing really, I mean someone could be a size ten but weigh 12 stone because of muscle mass and they would end up being overweight on a BMI chart. As long as you are eating sensibly and taking care of yourself ignore what the chart says hunni xxx

i agree! i was a size 10/12 pre pregnancy and my BMI always came back at 26meaning overweight. i am only 5ft 2 and weighed about 10 stone. i thought that was normal

 

[baby_maybe]

But what is normal?? There is clearly nothing wrong with your size and weight hollie and that's what I mean about BMI being soooo wrong for some people. You have to take the person into account and not just look at what it says on a chart!

 

[holliexa]

yeah thats what i mean, i thought i was the 'healthy' weight for my height. but apparantly not. load of rubbish....

 

[happy4three]

I'm sorry your discussions were not as kind as they should have been. I hope it doesn't discourage you too much.
I am in the US, and not sure how things are different here. I am clearly obese, but my doctor has not once mentioned my weight to me. (the nurse tells me what it is when she weights me, but no discussion about my obesity). This is my third pregnancy and I was ready this time for a discussion about how heavy I am. This time I started 30 pounds heavier than with my first two kids. Even though the doctor hasn't said anything to me, I keep it in the back of my mind that I don't want to gain more than I did with my other two. Meaning, I don't want to weigh any more at the end this time. I was 17 pounds away from that number at the beginning, and have lost three pounds since. I am not dieting, just eating in moderation. I know I'm going to start gaining weight soon, just hoping it isn't at too fast of a rate....
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. Try not to stress too much about your weight.

 

[Animaniacs]

My BMI is 27 (closer to 28 now) and I've been told to not gain much, watch what I eat, skip carbs, etc. I've been watching myself and have gained only 8lbs at 22 weeks. I haven't been under 165lbs since high school, and I hurt my knee and had surgery and went up to 175lbs when I got pregnant. But, I'm a size 12 and 5'7". I know the doctors have our best interest at heart, but try to do your best. If you can't get an epidural, it will be ok. My friend chose to not get one for 4 births.

As for me, I'm going to hit the gym again and walk 3 miles later today. I'm going to try to gain only 20lbs, but will see how it goes.

 

[Rhiana79]

Hun my BMI was 54 at booking.

I saw my consultant once after my first scan, who explained the risks told me if I was to have a c section then I would be given blood thinners for a few days after in case of a DVT, but he'd prefer me to deliver vaginally.

Had my GTT test - fine no problems

Met with an anaesthatist who was lovely - again explained risks but told me I would be treated the same as any other pregnant woman, just one with a little extra padding. No reason I shouldn't be able to have a epidural if I want one - it just might take a little longer to site. In an emergency I would be given the same chances as any other women for a spinal, they always try once and if it doesn't work then they do a GA. I would only be given an automatic GA in a life/death situation, which they do for everyone.

Every health care professional including my midwife has told me there's no reason why I can't have this baby naturally with no issues.

At no point have I been told to lose weight, my midwife said she would be surprised if I didn't as I would be eating a bit better. But I've never been told to.

I'm actually a pound lighter now than I was at my 8 week booking appointment. MW was really pleased with this.

ETA - I get another scan at 34 weeks for growth in case my MW has trouble palpating
ETA 2 - to alter my horrific spelling