Overweight and Pregnant

I am also on the lookout for a midwife that is supportive of me rather than making me feel stupid and irresponsible for being overweight.

My first midwife when I was pregnant with Sam was great and she never weighed me at all, she just made sure my blood pressure was fine and to let her know if I felt like I was putting on too much or I was worried about anything.

My second midwife however, who I had to find at 28 weeks because we moved, was a different story. She would weigh me every time I saw her and comment about it saying that I shouldn't put on ANY weight because I was already too overweight, and yes I was over 100kg, and you know what, I still am, although I don't think I look it, and I comfortably fit size 16 clothes, I am dreading finding a midwife that will treat me the same way.   I remember being 37 weeks pregnant and starting to get a bit of morning sickness that week and losing weight and she actually praised me. I mean FFS, I was heavily pregnant, losing weight wasn't something I was aiming for.    Anyway, my only real problem was borderline high blood pressure and that runs in my family. And frankly I think it was her fault for making me so bloody nervous everytime I saw her.

Sam was a c-section birth due to breech presentation and I never had any problems there, nobody said anything about my weight. I had to give them my weight so they could get the right amount of anaesthetic for my spinal but they were all very lovely.

I know exactly how you feel right now!

I was VERY overweight with both my pregnancies 8 and 10 years ago. I am still over weight now and on the TWW.

I didn't have too many problems with being overweight but I do remember a hospital midwife struggling to find the heartbeat once because of the "extra padding" with my first pregnancy.

The thing I would imagine this time around as I am about to get a BFP (positive thinking), is that when the joints losen up in prep for the birth I will have some issues with backache etc.

Oh and I was looking preg by about 25 weeks too. I have noticed that the warehouse preggy pants and skirts only go up to a 20 and they have no tights or similar, they are all non stretchy fabric so might have to look else where for that. One good thing about the baby doll and tight fashion that is in at the mo is it shouldn't be too hard to find tops that will do as maternity tops.

I find the hardest thing about being overweight and preg is nothing to do with me.. Its others attitudes around my weight.

Bex - relax and enjoy your pregnancy. If you have too many problems with your midwife either talk to her or change. Good luck!

Hi, I was overweight when I got pregnant - but I lost 20kgs before I managed to get pregnant. I'm sure having extra weight was hindering us getting pregnant in the 1st place. During my pregnancy I put on around 20kgs (and then I stopped counting). I ended up with high BP - sometimes it was dangerously high even medication (which I had to take midway thru pregnancy) couldn't control and I ended up in hospital for a couple of days, along with numerous day time visits for monitoring. I had to finish work earlier and at 38 weeks and another out of control episode they decided to induce me the next day - which was quite a shock. So now that I'm thinking of no.2 I know that I need to lose weight again! ..., hope all goes well for you.

Funnily enough I was thinking of reviving this thread!! Just wanted to say that I have since met my midwife and she is lovely, doesn't weigh me but likes to encourage that I exercise in the nicest possible way, I unfortunately am not walking or exercising as much as I had first hoped because I am still suffering MS more often than not. Hoping to start making it to the pools next week onwards though. I so far am sitting 1.5kg below my prepreg weight after getting to about 4kg below, My midwife is happy with this though so all is good. I probably could be eating a bit healthier I am just finding it hard to find the energy to make healthy things but I am definitely not eating as much as I was prepreg. Thanks for the girls that have popped in and given their advice since I last posted on this topic and I would be keen to keep the topic around for anyone that wanted to talk about being an overweight pregnant woman.

Oh yea and I have also started to LOOK pregnant so am stoked about this too Heres hoping the rest of my pregnancy remains healthy (other than the MS I'm pretty sure I'm stuck with that lol)

Four_eyes, bull to the not being able to feel baby. I felt baby at 18 weeks, and while it has taken DH a little longer to feel it, he felt his first kick at 23 weeks.

I'm really overweight as well. I was a size 20/22 pre-pregnancy. I'm really short which doesn't help.

Am writing this at 24 weeks. So far I've had a few issues.

I have what we've now decided is stress-induced high bp, but they just presumed it was pre-existing. The first time I saw the hospital specialist (referred from my MW who was lovely), I cried for most of the appointment. She was extremely derogatory and I am so glad I haven't seen her again. She asked the hospital mw if I needed to be admitted then, she must have thought I was much further on than I actually was. She was the one who also said no weight gain allowed at all. I had daily appointments for a while but then things relaxed. I've been medicated for my bp since that first appointment with the specialist and am under the team at the hospital again, as well as my MW. At the moment they're thinking about a 38 week induction if my bp continues to be unstable, but am also at high risk of PE.

I had my glucose test early as well, but it came back low so no worries there.

My MW hasn't been weighing me, but I've weighed myself just to keep an eye on what's happening. I'm sitting at 1kg below pre-pregnancy weight at the moment.

I *think* I kinda look pregnant, but not enough that it's noticable yet. People are still finding out and would never have guessed. It's a bit strange the way my bellys gone. It's got this kinda flabby bit out the top, then all baby at the belly button, then flabby again at the bottom.

My midwife weighed me at my first appt and I was 84kg at 12 weeks (I was 81.5kg pre preg) I wasnt weighed again until 34 weeks when I was started being monitored as jake was IUGR (small baby) so hardly a chubba bubba! At 38 weeks I was induced as I had PE and jake was born weighing 6lb 12oz.

Prior to this my only complications were being very uncomfortable lugging my growing self around the place. I really want to be pg again soon but want to be lighter than I was than with Jake. My last weigh in at 38weeks was 97kg and a week after Jake was born I was 87kg. Not been game to jump back on the scales but really should

KA I am trying hard not to put it back on as i am super determined to a) be lighter than I was when I conceived jake and b) be giving birth again next year
Gosh look at you, 17 weeks already.. were did the time go!

I was overweight when I was pregnant with Janaya (I think I topped 90kg) I was about a size 14 when I got pregnant and finished up as a size 20 in my ninth month. Never had ANY problems whatsoever, was never weighed and had a really great pregnancy.

With Jackson I was a size 10 pre-pregnancy, I got weighed, and told to keep a healthy diet and that the ministry of health were wanting weigh ins now? I had the same midwife as I had with Janaya.
I had a really awful pregnancy with Jackson, was really uncomfortable and was in agony most of the time. A girl at work reckoned I just didnt have enough "support" on my hips

when I was 'lighter' like still about 80kgs my midwife wouldn't put the Doppler any where near me till after my anatomy scan
not Im heavier - was a 16-20 (depending on make) and my midwife has listened to the hb at the last two appointment's which was at 13 + 6 and then today at 16 + 6

After bailey I went into pre pregnancy pants the day I left the hospital
after aidan I was a size larger then pre pregnancy

I hope I get back into pre pregnancy clothes this time around!

bex yeah my last one wouldnt try for heartbeat either...i understand it but i am the latest by weeks in my group and it sucks:(

and in my case it did take longer for Dh to feel it from the outside not sure if true for everyone.

oh back later OF on:)