High BMI and told to lose weight

[Star7890]

Ive been quite down about this recently.. had an appointment after my 12 week scan, where she told me I was borderline obese

I am 5 foot 7 and my bmi came in at just under 30... Im a size 14 and she told me I would need the glucose test just to make sure because of my bmi! Never been so depressed in my life! Ive always been relatively happy with my weight and she made me feel like crap... Ive always had a bigger build e.g big boned, wider wrists and muscly legs so these can add pounds on too but they dont take that into account

Already got a thing about it now and have put on about 6 pounds since then which wouldnt have bothered me if she hadnt made such a big deal out of it xxx

 

[SabrinaKat]

please, please, please don't 'diet' while pregnant!

I was 40 BMI, and lost alot of weight over the last year, and am about 29/30 BMI; my consultant (I am private in Ireland so have ob/gyn rather than mid-wife led, but through personal choice) said that she saw no need to weigh me and stress me out. The fact is I am 17wks tomorrow and I have only 'gained' weight in my tummy and boobs and am eating every few hours. For the first month or so, it was really hard for me to eat because I was so psychologically conditioned to eat less so that I could lose/keep weight off that it was so hard to eat; but I eat something smalll every few hours...even the mid-wife when she did my 10 wk appointment said that because I had so fully checked out re: bloods, etc., (we were a month or so away from IVF) and was perfectly healthy (yeah!) not to worry about my weight too much....I think it's terrible that you are being spoken to like that!

best wishes

 

[animalcracker]

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'm a little taken a-back..at 5.2" and a size 16, ok granted you are overweight but not that bad!!

Just so I understand, they are asking you to lose 2 stone (28lbs) during your pregnancy?

 

[eulmh82]

I was 29 at first weigh in - but had lost around a stone through morning sickness so would have been over 30. She didn;t mention it to me but surely they should be just encouraging you to eat healthily and to make sure you are nourished! I know several big ladies ( and I mean big like 16/17 stone) who have given birth and although it wasn;t easy they've all got perfectly healthy, beautiful children. I'd try and take it with a pinch of salt and just ensure all your meals are healthy and perhaps save treats for the weekend. That's what I am intending to do.

 

[IvyBaby]

Hi hun, the way we get treated sometimes is horrible. I started with BMI of 37 this time (with Lexi I was 30, but even then had a few hurtful comments from a GP and one MW), but I am fit, healthy and active.. no problems whatsoever. I saw a obstetritian and she told me clearly that pregnancy is not the time to diet! Just should try not to put on too much weight. Oh and keep on being active.

I could bet my head on it that there are lots and lots of skinny women who are much less healthy than I am (and you for that matter).. but in any case, nobody should make you feel bad about your weight when you are already pregnant and can't do much about it. Don't stress, eat- your baby needs nutrition, and plan to lose weight after the birth, if you want to! Hugs!

 

[Poppy Panda]

I am a pre pregnancy size 18 top, 22 bottom due to MASSIVE hips lol I am 5 foot 5 and I think my BMI at my first appointment was 38 so very 'obese'. My MW said she won't do consultant led care for now and is going to see how I progress first.

I don't own scales as they are evil lol but I have been eating as normal and just started going swimming to help keep my weight level. 30 minutes swimming burns about 200 calories =] and because you're 'weightless' I find all the aches and pains are gone in the water.

It's recommended on the NHS website and should be safe right up until the birth =]

 

[gills8752]

The bmi scale is clearly flawed! My bmi is 30, I'm 5"6, about 190lbs and a size 16/18 with 34H boobs - how can a girl (someone earlier on this thread) who is a size 12 with 32g boobs and a few inches shorter have the same bmi as me! I am overweight, I know I am, a size 12 is not!! So in theory if I grow a couple of inches I'm not obese anymore and perfectly healthy!??

Its a load of crap. I think we all know ourselves whether we are a healthy weight, whether we can easily run up the stairs without getting out of breath, fit clothes comfortably, have stamina, stay awake, eat well. I hate these labels they give us!


p.s <<<- thats me - am I obese?!?? Chubby yes but I don't think I'm obese!

 

[greens]

Perhaps focus on eating good healthy wholesome food. No processed food, no junk, limit sweet treats and eat plenty of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, legumes, pulses etc. Don't eat lots of dairy treats and stuff as fattening and empty calories.
This perhaps will help ensure you get good nutrition to support you (and your baby by default) but just don't eat for two all the way through and just eat good stuff.
Perhaps the focus on natural whole foods and plenty of veg, fruit, seeds, nuts etc. will help your weight and help you going forward.

 

[tink30]

im a size 22/24.. and ive been told great to maintain the weight and try not to put too much on.. ive lost all thw way thru (but thats the morning sickness)...
Ive seen the anesthatist and he said they keep sending women to see them that dont need to be seen.. im over weight.. but i carry no weight on my back.. in fact it the skinniest part of me.. they could feel my spine, bones and there is absolutely no problem. Blood pressure has been perfect all the way thru. Try not to worry too much, eating healthy is great will be good for you both, but done deny yrself things. I was the same size with my son and had a great c-section (done due to other medical problems).. and i recovered great aswell xxx

 

[Anna B]

I'm 5'2 weight 13 stone (224lbs) & I'm a size 18 - my BMI is 31.. it's the first time I have been overweight in a pregnancy.. I put it down to getting older and having had 7 babies already. I have been told I have to be consultant led, but I do anyway because I'm a gran multipara (had more than 5 babies)

For some reason (maybe it's psychological?) I don't feel like eating much, I'm 16 weeks pregnant today, and can only eat very small amounts. I think I'm so worried about gaining any weight. I'd be a size 12 usually weight 9 and a half stone.

 

[Missy21386]

I am 5ft6, During my booking appointment i was a size 18/20, and 91kg, which gives me a BMI of 32. I was put in high risk category, and I'm under consultant care and I've got to see an anaesthetist at some point. Nobody has suggested that i lose weight at all, but i figured it'd be best to try and eat more healthy food as i already have problems with my back, hips and knees, without extra weight making it worse.

I am now nearly 26 weeks pregnant, a size 22/24 but still weigh the same.

 

[Kywiki]

Everything that I have read and been told tells you not to diet or try to lose weight while pregnant. I am overweight myself. I have just been eating right and trying to get more exercise. I have gained 10lbs so far and nothing was said about it. According to the reading material I received I am right on track with weight gain.

I am sorry you had such a bad experience! Maybe have a discussion with your doctor about it.

 

[Xpecta]

You're Not even Big!! What the heck!?! That makes me mad!!

Try not to stress about it. I was a size 16 (I think... maybe bigger) when I was pregnant with my first, and I had a Spinal. They can do Epidurals on bigger ladies. It seems to me that they're just trying to scare you. Don't try to lose weight, but definitely try to stay healthy. You don't want to come out of this pregnancy crazy over weight. I sadly did that with my first. Not fun. Try swimming to keep in shape

 

[Poppy Panda]

I am a pre pregnancy size 18 top, 22 bottom due to MASSIVE hips lol I am 5 foot 5 and I think my BMI at my first appointment was 38 so very 'obese'. My MW said she won't do consultant led care for now and is going to see how I progress first.

I don't own scales as they are evil lol but I have been eating as normal and just started going swimming to help keep my weight level. 30 minutes swimming burns about 200 calories =] and because you're 'weightless' I find all the aches and pains are gone in the water.

It's recommended on the NHS website and should be safe right up until the birth =]

Just wanted to add to my other post, if you do go swimming to take it easy and always get out feeling like you COULD have done more. I also wanted to say that some women find breast stroke can lead to pelvic pains throughout the rest of their pregnancy. I don't know because I don't do breast stroke really, just front crawl but since I've heard it mentioned I thought I would add it to the post to be on the safe side =]

 

[Lulabelle27]

hey, wow, i am a little overwhelmed by the responses on here, and thanks to all for the support with this. I have realised I must be doing something right as so far have not gained weight, I am healthy and exercise about 3 times a week so am going to continue as I have started. The biggest thing for me is the pressure thay have put me under, but have shrugged it off now and if I gain a couple of pounds i'm not going to stress about it. I wish everyone very well with their bumps and babies, I can't wait to meet Isabella Faith in January and know 100% all the stress they have piled on will be worth it.

Thanks ladies...you're awesome xx

 

[Rees]

I'm 5ft 6 and weigh 109kg or about 17 stone, I put on in the first trimester but then lost weight due to catching chicken pox and am now the same as I was before I was pregnant. My booking BMI was 38/39 and anyone in the UK who has a BMI over 35 is meant to see a consultant at some point about pain relief and the added dangers.

My midwife hasn't told me to lose weight, nor have any of the consultants I've seen about the chicken pox (dangerous to baby but he's fine). I've had extra scans and more care this time round but it's not been due to my BMI. The GP I saw first told me to watch my weight but nothing from my MW (yay!)

I'm at risk of GD because my father has type 2 diabetes, I didn't get it with my first child but have a feeling it's going to appear this time, but my weight hasn't changed and it's only fluctuated by 3lbs in the past month! To me that's a big poo or a big dinner!


They now do BMI's on 2 year olds, my daughter who is perfectly proportioned has a BMI towards the higher end of normal and we've been told to watch her portion sizes - why when's she perfectly normal and has only been walking for 5 months?

It's stupid and they need to get rid of BMI's and use another method, but they won't.


I'm healthy, I'm happy, I walk everywhere as we don't have a car, we don't smoke, we don't drink, we just happen to enjoy the odd bar of chocolate and enjoy our food, would they rather I was anorexic instead? I don't think so!


I really wouldn't worry too much about your weight, keep doing what you're doing to ensure you and your baby are fine and are getting what you need

Some of the docs are so insensitive!