Losing weight before TTC

LunaGirl28

Hi ladies,

As I've mentioned in other posts, my husband and I are likely going to try for a baby in a month or two. However, something is kind of holding me back -- weight. 

I am not overweight by any means, but was on anxiety medicine last year and gained 20+ pounds (very quickly). I have a relatively small frame, so it looked more like 45 pounds and it was a huge blow to my confidence (literally nothing in my closet fit me). Having been off of the meds since this past June, I've managed to lose about 13 pounds (took forever!) which is great, but I'm still feeling really self conscious. I have another 5-10 pounds (ideally) to lose and now I don't know what to do.

I'm sure this sounds vain, but do I wait until I get the weight off and THEN ttc? I know ttc can take months or years and I might even lose weight as I'm trying.  A lot of people have said to me.. what's the point? You're going to gain it all back immediately but I figure if I start lower, I'll feel better about myself and be in a better spot.

Has anyone else been in this situation? Am I being silly - putting off an awesome thing for looks?

Melissa51212

I was told to lose some weight to have a healthy pregnancy by my doctor and I am not "overweight" just had a few lbs I could lose. I been slowly losing since I was told that and hope to continue while we start the TTC progress. I have had the same thought, I am going to hit my goal weight then get it all back but I figured it might be easier if you already in the healthy habits.

PugMum

There is no reason not to start losing weight now, it's not like you can guarantee when you will be getting pregnant. 

Might as well start the pregnancy off healthy and on the right track. 

Eclypze

hubby and I have been TTC on and off for a year or so.  I just lost 45lbs on Medifast, and got a BFP last thursday  

FemShep

Being overweight can make it harder to conceive, and is the single biggest contributor to pregnancy complications. There's no reason to delay TTC based in what you've said, but continuing to focus on a healthy weight and healthy lifestyle will give you an even better start to a healthier pregnancy. Good luck!

flamingo&

^^^^ not necessarily true. It's shown that truly "overweight" women (by the BMI charts) are actually the most fertile and healthy. Obese and Morbidly Obese (I hate those terms), aren't statistically much higher risk that anyone else. I say, if you are eating healthy, exercise and in general good health (aside from the extra pounds), I don't think that it should pose any risk to your baby. Obviously if you have something like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc, you should work with your doctor to get that under control, but it doesn't sound like that's your issue.

At the end of the day, it depends on what you're comfortable with. Just keep in mind that even healthy couples can take 12 cycles to conceive.

FemShep

flamingo& said:

^^^^ not necessarily true. It's shown that truly "overweight" women (by the BMI charts) are actually the most fertile and healthy. Obese and Morbidly Obese (I hate those terms), aren't statistically much higher risk that anyone else. I say, if you are eating healthy, exercise and in general good health (aside from the extra pounds), I don't think that it should pose any risk to your baby. Obviously if you have something like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc, you should work with your doctor to get that under control, but it doesn't sound like that's your issue.

At the end of the day, it depends on what you're comfortable with. Just keep in mind that even healthy couples can take 12 cycles to conceive.

Wrong. I assume you are not an MFM or RE, so perhaps what "you say" should be taken with a grain of salt. Here are some actual statistics as well as the background science on the impact of weight on fertility and pregnancy. Unequivocally, being overweight makes it harder to get pregnant and decreases your chances of having a healthy pregnancy. If the Mayo Clinic and NIH aren't authoritative enough for you, there are many more supporting articles from reputable sources that can easily be uncovered in a 30 second google search. Please stop confusing what you want to believe with actual facts, and please stop giving people advice that is flat out wrong. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/obesity/conditioninfo/pages/faqs_fertility.aspx https://www.everydayfamily.com/why-being-overweight-affects-conception/ https://infertility.about.com/od/researchandstudies/a/BMIsubfertile.htm https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pregnancy-and-obesity/MY01943 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3058615

flamingo&

Ooo, look, I can post links too!

https://plus-size-pregnancy.org/ami.htm

flamingo&

Those articles are talking about PCOS. Not every obese woman has PCOS, not every woman who has PCOS is obese. 

Obesity and PCOS are closely linked but the doctors don't quite understand the link. Some people say those who have PCOS and are obese, may have been obese because of the PCOS, and some doctors say that women get PCOS because they are obese. But they cannot prove one way or the other, and then there's the issue of women who don't have any issue with their weight and have PCOS.

Most studies about weight and fertility don't account for people who don't have PCOS, so the results are skewed. Even if you have PCOS, you can still get pregnant and have healthy babies. You may need some help from your doctor, or you may be able to conceive on your own. My SIL has thyroid issues, a clotting disorder, is over 35, has PCOS, and is THIN. She lost 4 babies before she found out she had a clotting disorder. She took baby aspirin and has a happy and healthy 4yo, and has another on the way.

Is there an increased risk if you're overweight? Yes, the data shows that across the board. Once you factor in PCOS, and individual health though (including healthy diet, exercise, normal labs, not diabetic, high blood pressure, etc), the risk factors reduce greatly. The best thing you can do is schedule a pre-conception checkup with your doctor. They will discuss your concerns, run some labs and see where your numbers are. If everything looks good then they'll give you the go-ahead. That's what I did, and *GASP* even being morbidly obese my doctor said I was healthy as a horse.

You want to talk about generalizations?

"and is the single biggest contributor to pregnancy complications"

That is a load of hogwash!

flamingo&

Anyway, I doubt this girl has PCOS and is infertile at all.

flamingo&

And no matter what, pregnancy is ALWAYS a risk to ANY woman of ANY size. I've heard stories from women of all shapes and sizes, some who had really great and easy pregnancies, and some who had complication after complication. Newsflash, not all of the thin people had the complication-free pregnancies.

kcisthebombdotcom

flamingo& said:

Ooo, look, I can post links too!

https://plus-size-pregnancy.org/ami.htm

That's not a legitimate medical source. Hence why the banner at the top of the site says this information should not be construed as medical advice.

flamingo&

Any website, even the ones the PP listed, is not a replacement for a doctor. And doctors are not gods that know all things. The author of the website I posted is very well known and respected. Believe what you want, but I believe that women of all shapes and sizes can have children. Maybe there are more risks, maybe there's not much of a difference. So what? Getting in your car every day has a risk. I say, do what you can, be as healthy as you can, ignore the haters and love yourself, coz honey, you deserve to live the life you want now. Anyway, I really wasn't trying to start any drama, just giving the OP a different perspective.

kcisthebombdotcom

flamingo& said:

Any website, even the ones the PP listed, is not a replacement for a doctor. And doctors are not gods that know all things. The author of the website I posted is very well known and respected. Believe what you want, but I believe that women of all shapes and sizes can have children. Maybe there are more risks, maybe there's not much of a difference. So what? Getting in your car every day has a risk. I say, do what you can, be as healthy as you can, ignore the haters and love yourself, coz honey, you deserve to live the life you want now. Anyway, I really wasn't trying to start any drama, just giving the OP a different perspective.

It's fine to offer a different perspective but its wrong to throw out inaccurate statements. It is not true overweight women are more healthy and fertile. It's not true pcos is the only risk to an obese woman. The comparison to driving a car isn't the same--outside of living on a farm you need to commute on something with wheels to survive in today's society. Most people don't have to try to conceive the second the urge arises (outside of maybe a 40 year old newlywed) and setting a goal to reach a certain weight in the name of being healthy is sound advice.

flamingo&

Ok, first off, I was talking about the BMI classifications. It is a critism of the BMI chart. And yes, the have been real Scientitific(TM) studies about this. The ladies in the "overweight" category (not obese and higher) actually had better immunity, and in general "better health." I'm not making that up. I'm not saying everyone needs to go and gain 10-20lbs, I'm just saying OP is not putting any danger to herself or her kid if she doesn't lose the last 5-10lbs. And I am absolutely not spreading false information. There are studies that back up what I'm saying, just because you haven't read them doesn't make them any less valid. If you are truly interested I will take the time to go though and find some of these articles about the studies I am referring too, but part of me thinks you already think that fat=unhealthy, and nothing will change your mind about the discrimination. That's fine, I can go on my way.

kcisthebombdotcom

flamingo& said:

Ok, first off, I was talking about the BMI classifications. It is a critism of the BMI chart. And yes, the have been real Scientitific(TM) studies about this. The ladies in the "overweight" category (not obese and higher) actually had better immunity, and in general "better health." I'm not making that up. I'm not saying everyone needs to go and gain 10-20lbs, I'm just saying OP is not putting any danger to herself or her kid if she doesn't lose the last 5-10lbs. And I am absolutely not spreading false information. There are studies that back up what I'm saying, just because you haven't read them doesn't make them any less valid. If you are truly interested I will take the time to go though and find some of these articles about the studies I am referring too, but part of me thinks you already think that fat=unhealthy, and nothing will change your mind about the discrimination. That's fine, I can go on my way.

I don't doubt you can find a study. We have decades of research that have been replicated over and over and over again about spanking being detrimental to children. You can find that occasional study that shows spanking leads to positive outcomes. One study doesn't really prove anything. Decades of research shows being overweight leads to a number of health conditions. Of course there will be exceptions to the rule. My dad smoked for thirty years, never gets sick, has the whitest teeth I've ever seen and his lungs are fine. Should I conclude smoking is healthy? Of course not--he just got lucky. It has nothing to do with me discriminating--it's science.
I think the bmi calculator get criticized a lot and its kind of unfair. Is it a perfect tool? Of course not. I think the people who are the exception to it are a small percentage. I do agree with you on some things--I think someone who is overweight and is following a healthy diet and exercising is in a better place than someone who is thin, sedentary and restricts calories. I also don't think a few extra pounds is going make any significant difference (besides the fact it will be much easier to lose prior to getting pregnant vs postpartum). I just think the blasé attitude of it doesn't matter what your weight is, do what you want is dangerous.

flamingo&

I don't have a blasé do what you want attitude. I said if you're generally healthy and don't have any medical issues or your issues are under control then it's fine. RE: medical studies are often misinterpreted to suit a bias, so there's no wonder you haven't heard of it. A lot of studies are funded by the weight loss industry...do you think they would publish something that would damage their business? Of course not. The truth is, there needs to be more studies done without bias. There's also the issue if medical care for plus-size women. For example, plus size women are at greater risk of c-sections because doctors think all plus-size women will have big babies and therefore induce them. While there is an increased risk for having bigger babies, MOST have average size. But doctors have a bias and that affects their medical care in a very direct way...because those doctors will induce and we all know women who are induced have a very high c-section rate. So, tell me, doesn't it sound like the results are a bit skewed by that? And I can absolutely point you to some studies if you like. Just keep in mind I didn't say there was no risk at all. I said the risk is a lot less than you think. It's only slightly above the risk of a "normal" women. For someone like me, who has struggled with my weight my entire life and who originally tried to lose it all before TTC (and failed), this information was liberating for me...and I think it's pretty judgmental to assume that all fat women are bound to get complications, when it's really not true.

kcisthebombdotcom

I don't have a blasé do what you want attitude. I said if you're generally healthy and don't have any medical issues or your issues are under control then it's fine. RE: medical studies are often misinterpreted to suit a bias, so there's no wonder you haven't heard of it. A lot of studies are funded by the weight loss industry...do you think they would publish something that would damage their business? Of course not. The truth is, there needs to be more studies done without bias. There's also the issue if medical care for plus-size women. For example, plus size women are at greater risk of c-sections because doctors think all plus-size women will have big babies and therefore induce them. While there is an increased risk for having bigger babies, MOST have average size. But doctors have a bias and that affects their medical care in a very direct way...because those doctors will induce and we all know women who are induced have a very high c-section rate. So, tell me, doesn't it sound like the results are a bit skewed by that? And I can absolutely point you to some studies if you like. Just keep in mind I didn't say there was no risk at all. I said the risk is a lot less than you think. It's only slightly above the risk of a "normal" women. For someone like me, who has struggled with my weight my entire life and who originally tried to lose it all before TTC (and failed), this information was liberating for me...and I think it's pretty judgmental to assume that all fat women are bound to get complications, when it's really not true.

Please point me to where I said all fat women get complications. It's just pretty darn insane to think that research on obesity is manipulated by the weight loss industry and that its actually healthier to be overweight. It's also stretching to say women who are overweight/obese are forced into csections because of a medical communitiy thats biased against them. The truth of the matter is complications like gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, sleep apnea and respitory issue happen at a much higher rate among those whose weight is higher than it should and those conditions make csections medically necessary in many cases.
It seems like you hold onto any shred of obesity being okay because losing weight is difficult for you and you're trying to justify it. Have you sought counseling to help lose the weight? It might serve you better than just some diet program like weight watchers alone.

FemShep

The facts are simple. Being overweight or underweight impairs fertility. Being overweight is the biggest cause of pregnancy complications. (Emily Oster wrote an entire chapter in her book, Expecting Better, on the impacts of being overweight on pregnancy.). Of course women of all shapes and sizes have healthy pregnancies, and of course losing weight can be really hard. The original point to OP is that she's doing exactly the right thing by trying to get to a healthy weight before TTC, and to the people who posted that weight isn't a factor in TTC or PG, that has been proven, conclusively and through multiple studies, incorrect. We should all listen to our doctors before Random Internet Strangers (TM), but anyone who says you don't need to think about your weight when TTC and PG is giving terrible advice.

kcisthebombdotcom

IFinTN said:

Women of all shapes and sizes have healthy babies. I don't have to justify my weight to anyone, I am obese and yes, losing weight is very hard because of my insulin resistance. @k_c13 Until you have walked a mile in my shoes-you have no right to suggest counseling to help those women that are in my shoes to lose weight. That is just offensive. It is not justification, it is reality. Quit being so discriminatory, we can all point to a study to support our case. I am not a research subject, I am a real woman and I go by what MY doctors advise. Of course I think losing weight is a good idea, but I have had RE's tell me it is NOT my weight that causes my IF issues. Even when I starved myself to get thin, I did not ovulate. PCOS is a bitch. So I chose not to starve and work on the other medical problems causing IF. I am OK just the way I am and anyone who disagrees can F off:)

How is it offensive? Our weight loss industry is targeted on quick fixes. Food addiction can be a serious addiction like crack or gambling. Working with someone who can get to the root issue can provide long term success. Saying its no big deal and ok because of some "studies" sounds like an unhealthy attitude to have.
i also hate to sound all conspiracy theory-ish, but isn't someone like a re who makes more money if you have a tough time getting pregnant kind of biased when they say the extra weight is ok?

FemShep

IFinTN said:

Being overweight or underweight does not automatically equal impaired fertility. Period. The underlying medical issues do and they may correlate but they aren't always causally linked-sometime they do. My point is you can't make these types of generalizations. She may be perfectly fine at her weight while TTC just like me! ETA: so yes, thinking about your weight while TTC is wise, but the answer is not always "lose or gain weight"

No one said being over- or underweight automatically equals impaired fertility, just like smoking doesn't automatically equal lung cancer. But being outside of your ideal BMI is a risk factor for infertility (just as smoking is for lung cancer). And that's scientifically well established. No one is judging people who aren't at their ideal BMI, we're just pointing out that weight does matter when TTC and PG, which is, again, well established. What gets me upset is when people say, "Weight doesn't matter!" which is neither correct nor responsible advice.

kcisthebombdotcom

My weight problem is not a problem in my mind. I think it is offensive to suggest it is to any woman without knowing her whole story. That's my issue here.

So you've worked with a nutritionist and a fitness expert, they set you with a plan, you religiously followed it everyday and it was literally impossible to lose weight because your body can't lose weight? I'm actually not trying to be snarky--I'm genuinely interested. I know certain medical conditions make losing weight more difficult, but not impossible.

kcisthebombdotcom

Also I hate the stigma that comes with counseling. I think everyone should do it periodically--we all have our own individual issues. I think that no matter how healthy and happy a marriage is people should seek marriage counseling as kind of a tune up--kind of like how people go to a yearly physical. I think the biggest reason why people can't lose weight (of course medical issues make it tougher for some) is because its challenging and I think counseling can help with that.

FemShep

IFinTN said:

I can be obese, get pregnant and have a perfectly healthy pg and baby. The risk factors for problems are not always caused by extra weight. And I am done.

Your reasoning makes no sense. Someone who smokes while pregnant *can* have a healthy baby, as can someone who uses drugs or doesn't get prenatal care. But the odds become significantly higher against having a healthy pregnancy when these things happen. And like it or not, if you're overweight, your odds of having fertility problems and having pregnancy complications are higher. Because SCIENCE and MATH. Odds don't mean that something is guaranteed to happen, but as much as you argue about it, facts are facts, and your odds of having fertility issues or pregnancy complications are higher when you're overweight. To pretend otherwise, or tell someone otherwise, is silly and doing them a disservice.

flamingo&

It has been awhile since I did all of my research so I don't have all of the links ready on hand to give out, but I signed up for Evernote recently and I will be looking for the information and studies again to point you all if you are genuinely interested in learning more about it.

Here's a good PDF to wet your whistle, it doesn't deal with pregnancy per-se, but it does deal with weight, health, and diseases commonly "known" to be "caused" by obesity. I'd also recommend reading Linda Bacon's book.  https://lindabacon.org/HAESbook/pdf_files/HAES_Manifesto.pdf

The bottom line is, that EVERYONE should be working to reduce their risk, and should be healthy before pregnancy. If a woman has diabetes, PCOS, or anything like that they should work with their doctor to improve that before conceiving. Pregnancy is a risk to all women, and all women of various shapes and sizes encounter complications regardless to what they weigh. Ultimately, it's up to the individual if they decide they are OK with the risks. I once met a woman who had Hyperemesis Gravidarum with her first pregnancy, and it was so bad that she was not willing to risk another pregnancy, while another woman who may have had it would be willing to take the risk of getting it again just to have another child.

My original point was simply this: for the OP, the 5-10lbs was not necessary to lose and did not pose a great risk to her. Of course, if she'd feel better to do it, that's fine. It doesn't sound like she's an unhealthy individual, she mentioned the weight being a "vanity" thing. I never once said anything about disregarding health. I recommended that she talk to it about her doctor. I never once suggested she should take my word over a doctor's. This post has taken a turn past OP's and is discussing a larger issue which is: should obese women TTC. My answer to that is overwhelmingly yes.

For the record, my personal health history is really nobody's business, but if you must know... I have perfectly healthy blood sugar, blood pressure, my labs are normal. I eat a reasonably healthy diet and amount of food, and exercise 2-4 times a week for 30-45 minutes. Yes, I have lost weight before but it was unhealthy. I ate too little for my body and starved it. I exercised in excess. As soon as I slowed down to a more moderate and healthy plan, the weight loss stopped and started reversing. I do have body/self-esteem issues because I have been taught for years that my body is not acceptable and have been discriminated against. If you've never gone through it then it's hard to understand what kind of toll that takes on a person. I have considered going to a therapist many times, but I am afraid to because I'm afraid of discrimination from the therapist about my weight, and that they would suggest that if I only lost 50, 75, 100lbs then everything would be solved. To top all of that off, my ob-gyn has not said anything negative about my weight and has not discouraged me from conceiving. Through all of this I probably know more about nutrition, obesity, and since I've been TTC, I know a lot about that and pregnancy as well.

What I would really like to see is for people to be less judgmental and more compassionate, and not assume that obese = not healthy for pregnancy.

flamingo&

Honestly, I've never been a very small person. I have big hands, wrists, and feet. I'm tall, and I have broad shoulders. There's just no way I am EVER going to be 130lbs. In an ideal world, I'd like to be around 180 to 200lbs, which a lot of people would still consider hugely fat, and is still in the "obese" category.

My mom, for my entire childhood, has also been very obese, but she always had a smaller frame -- small hands, fingers, wrists, feet. She eventually did lose most of the weight, but unfortunately it didn't fix all of her issues. Weight loss is not necessarily the magic cure-all. Is she better off? I'm sure she is, no doubt about it. It would be better for me if I could weigh less. But it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm unhealthy right now. You can be healthy at any size, I firmly believe that.

magdalina.h

I didn't lose weight before my first two pregnancies. I lost about 37 lbs before my last pregnancy. I assumed the weight would come off easily, but it hasn't. I was actively trying to lose weight until getting pregnant.

obxlaurak

I am overweight (I weigh about 215 and am 5'5" (or 5'6", depending on my mood the day you ask!)) and my endocrinologist (I have type 1 diabetes) and high risk OB are both fine with my weight.  They know my diet and know I eat well.  They are pleased with my numbers and obviously when I do get pregnant don't want me to let pregnancy be an excuse to eat everything in sight.  Would the prefer that I lose a few pounds before pregnancy? Sure. But they both know how much trouble I have losing weight (thank you, insulin) and are comfortable with where I am.  However, that being said I am trying to lose some poundage by following weight watchers.  It's just super slow for me, always has been!  I'm not going to put off TTC until I'm a perfect weight, that just seems silly to me.

I say, be as healthy as you can be.  I truly believe that weight is just a number and if you and your doctor are comfortable and confident that you can have a healthy pregnancy, then go for it. 

flamingo&

FemShep said:

The facts are simple. Being overweight or underweight impairs fertility. Being overweight is the biggest cause of pregnancy complications. (Emily Oster wrote an entire chapter in her book, Expecting Better, on the impacts of being overweight on pregnancy.). Of course women of all shapes and sizes have healthy pregnancies, and of course losing weight can be really hard. The original point to OP is that she's doing exactly the right thing by trying to get to a healthy weight before TTC, and to the people who posted that weight isn't a factor in TTC or PG, that has been proven, conclusively and through multiple studies, incorrect. We should all listen to our doctors before Random Internet Strangers (TM), but anyone who says you don't need to think about your weight when TTC and PG is giving terrible advice.

To say that the single biggest cause of pregnancy complications is from being overweight is a very large claim. I'm interested in reading this book, but can you tell me more information about the studies she reviewed?

For example, back to the C-Sections, 30 years ago, the rate of C-Sections for obese women were in line with the C-Section rate for normal women. However, in the past 30 years this number has skyrocketed. My question is: why? The thing is, the C-Section rate in this country has gone through the roof across the board, but especially for plus-size moms. I'm sure some of them are absolutely necessary to be performed -- same for the normal women. But there are far too many unnecessary C-Sections happening, and for plus-size woman, bias and/or ignorance could be one of the reasons. This is why it is so vitally important for EVERY woman to find care they trust and to advocate for your own health. 

But anyway, if I get my blood pressure taken with a normal cuff and not a plus-size cuff, my blood pressure numbers will be too high. Doctor's offices are much better now with having the proper equipment but that has not always been the case. For this reason, I always ask before I get my blood pressure taken. If you are misdiagnosed for high BP when pregnant because the doctor you're seeing used the wrong cuff, it could have disastrous results and will actually cause a REAL complication due to the doctors actions, and also, that woman would be mislabeled with a complication she never had, and thus, the numbers are skewed. This is why we need to have more studies that carefully account for things like that, so plus-size folks are not being attributed to having complications that they don't actually have.

I'm not saying that doctors don't have their patients best interests in their mind...but if you are ignorant on how to care for a plus-size woman, then mistakes can occur. More and more doctors are taking action and that is GREAT! Because of this, we may be able to collect more accurate data and learn more about health and obesity.

flamingo&

Sigh, I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall. I've said over and over again that obese does NOT equal unhealthy, I posted a source that outlines this... there are footnotes with sources so you can read more about the studies if you are so inclined. Did you read it GhostMonkey?

FemShep

flamingo& said:

FemShep said:

The facts are simple. Being overweight or underweight impairs fertility. Being overweight is the biggest cause of pregnancy complications. (Emily Oster wrote an entire chapter in her book, Expecting Better, on the impacts of being overweight on pregnancy.). Of course women of all shapes and sizes have healthy pregnancies, and of course losing weight can be really hard. The original point to OP is that she's doing exactly the right thing by trying to get to a healthy weight before TTC, and to the people who posted that weight isn't a factor in TTC or PG, that has been proven, conclusively and through multiple studies, incorrect. We should all listen to our doctors before Random Internet Strangers (TM), but anyone who says you don't need to think about your weight when TTC and PG is giving terrible advice.

To say that the single biggest cause of pregnancy complications is from being overweight is a very large claim. I'm interested in reading this book, but can you tell me more information about the studies she reviewed?

Absolutely, I'm happy to share the info.  Emily Oster is an economist and statistician at the University of Chicago.  When she was TTC and PG, she was infuriated at the myths and outright lies people tell TTC and PG women that are based on faulty statistics and shabby research.  She wrote a book, Expecting Better (https://www.amazon.com/Expecting-Better-Conventional-Pregnancy-Wrong/dp/1594204756) in which she looks closely at the research used to support the conventional medical wisdom, myths, and outright lies.

Her book has an entire chapter focused on weight before, during, and after pregnancy, so the footnotes include 20+ unique studies.  She's critical of the studies, as well, and explains why; for example, when she talked about a study that tracked 5,000 births at a hospital in Mississippi, she talks about why it's important that the study methodology removed or normalized additional factors like location, income, education and changing practices over time).  She also points out when studies can't draw a causal relationship and should be taken with a grain of salt.  The results of all the studies were consistent and unequivocal; weight impacts fertility and pregnancy.

Her book was the target of some controversy because she said, in a nutshell, that having a glass or two of alcohol probably isn't that bad.  If you're curious about economics, statistics, pregnancy or TTC at all, I highly recommend the book.  It was enlightening, to say the least!

flamingo&

Fem -- I will certainly check it out. It does sound interesting, and I do have a thirst for knowledge. I have heard that small amounts of alcohol is not harmful for the baby. I don't drink much and so I don't plan on drinking when I'm pregnant, but I would never look down on someone if they do. From what I've read, the reason why people are recommended to abstain is because they don't know what a "healthy" limit is. I'd say once in awhile is fine but is 1 a day ok? They don't really know.

That aside, I recommend that you read Linda Bacon's book. I found it very enlightening as well. At least read that small PDF I linked to.

To clarify: I'm not suggesting that all obese people are healthy and have no additional risk. What I am suggesting is that not all obese people are unhealthy, and that risks can be minimized. There's a big difference there. No doubt there are some risks, but if you counter those risks with some positive life changes, namely eating a healthy diet and moderate activity/exercise, you can REDUCE those risks significantly. Now, read this paragraph again. Are you following me?

To recap:

1. There are health risks for being obese (general health and in pregnancy)
2. However, those risks may be calculated with missing, incomplete or incorrect information. Doctors are learning, and improving so I expect this should improve over time.
3. So, you're obese, you have a higher risk. You make positive changes, your health improves, and your risks become more in line with "normal" weight folks, maybe still slightly higher, but it's only slight.

I think we are both discussing based on biases and stereotypes in our mind. And I include myself in there because I am jumping the gun to take offense when I shouldn't. But like I said, I am very sensitive about this subject and it's hard for me to not take offense or get defensive. I'll work on that. Personality flaw.

flamingo&

MauiBliss said:

flamingo& said:

FemShep said:

The facts are simple. Being overweight or underweight impairs fertility. Being overweight is the biggest cause of pregnancy complications. (Emily Oster wrote an entire chapter in her book, Expecting Better, on the impacts of being overweight on pregnancy.). Of course women of all shapes and sizes have healthy pregnancies, and of course losing weight can be really hard. The original point to OP is that she's doing exactly the right thing by trying to get to a healthy weight before TTC, and to the people who posted that weight isn't a factor in TTC or PG, that has been proven, conclusively and through multiple studies, incorrect. We should all listen to our doctors before Random Internet Strangers (TM), but anyone who says you don't need to think about your weight when TTC and PG is giving terrible advice.

To say that the single biggest cause of pregnancy complications is from being overweight is a very large claim. I'm interested in reading this book, but can you tell me more information about the studies she reviewed?

For example, back to the C-Sections, 30 years ago, the rate of C-Sections for obese women were in line with the C-Section rate for normal women. However, in the past 30 years this number has skyrocketed. My question is: why? The thing is, the C-Section rate in this country has gone through the roof across the board, but especially for plus-size moms. I'm sure some of them are absolutely necessary to be performed -- same for the normal women. But there are far too many unnecessary C-Sections happening, and for plus-size woman, bias and/or ignorance could be one of the reasons. This is why it is so vitally important for EVERY woman to find care they trust and to advocate for your own health. 

I'll just start with this one. The reason the number of C-sections for obese and overweight women has "skyrocketed" is that the number of overweight and obese women itself has skyrocketed meaning you already start with a larger sample size..... Perhaps you did mean that per same number of incidents of pregnancy and obesity, the number of c-sections has skyrocketed, but I don't think so. There is not a revolution against "fat people".....

Percentages are used in statistics because you can compare different sample sizes equally, so it doesn't necessarily matter if there are more obese people now then there were then. If doing a study, you would obviously have to factor that into your data so you can compare apples to apples. I don't know if such a study exists, but I would love to read about one if there was.

Fat people ARE discriminated against. Even I have done it and I'm fat. Ever see a really large woman with a cane that can barely walk? Tell me honestly you haven't thought some pretty horrible things about that woman. We are taught this from a young age. Ever since I was in grade school I was told that I was fat over and over again. Believe me, it's real, I have experienced it first hand. If you aren't discriminating fat people then God bless you, you are not the problem.

flamingo&

GhostMonkey said:

flamingo& said:

Sigh, I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall. I've said over and over again that obese does NOT equal unhealthy, I posted a source that outlines this... there are footnotes with sources so you can read more about the studies if you are so inclined. Did you read it GhostMonkey?

They didn't say that either. A point you do not seem to get at all.

Did we read the same PDF?

"Assumption: The only way for “overweight” people to improve health is to lose weight. False! Most health indicators can be improved through changing

health behaviors, regardless of whether weight is lost."

flamingo&

MauiBliss -- Congrats on your weight loss. I'm glad that you never had much issue with discrimination or raised that way. I'm a lot like you -- while I have had some issues due to my weight, for the most part I have a very large and loving support network of people in my life who are nothing short of amazing and make me feel very secure in who I am. But at the end of the day I do have self-esteem issues that stem from my weight and how people have treated me in the past.

Sorry I wasn't clear. I thought you were saying that there were more obese people now so you couldn't compare accurately. C-sections, as a whole, have gone up in the past 30 years for ALL groups. However, if you compare the rate of growth between normal people and people in the obese category, the obese category is higher. So, the rate of C-Section growth is not equal across all groups. Does that make more sense?

flamingo&

GhostMonkey said:

No, I didn't read anything you linked because you were not paying attention to what was being said at all and going off on an emotionally driven tangent.

And no, I don't think those things. Once again- you are the issue.

My interpretation of your last post was that you read the document and didn't see anything that reflected that you can be obese and healthy. If that's not what you were saying, what in the heck did your post mean? Because now I am confused. And what do mean by "I don't think those things" ??

LunaGirl28

Wow -- this post has taken some interesting turns! Very informative though, and I love that so thanks ladies!

When I started this post, I was really asking if it's stupid for me to not TTC just because I want to lose a little weight.  I am a healthy individual (give or take a few glasses of wine!)-- around 135 pounds (though got up to 150 when I was on anxiety meds) and am used to being a lot thinner than what I am now.  I was never worried if I was going to be able to conceive due to my weight -- it was more if it was worth it to lose the 10 pounds and THEN ttc or just keep doing my best as I move forward w/ trying for a baby.  I put my body through hell being on anxiety meds and am just not in a spot where I feel great about myself (too vain?)

flamingo&

Luna -- tell me about it. All I was trying to do was say that you don't need to lose any weight. If you want to that's fine, but I think you'll be perfectly fine if you didn't. Whatever you feel more comfortable with and if you have any concerns talk to your doctor.

flamingo&

To echo what Nicb said, focus on eating healthy before and during pregnancy. I would still try and lose weight while you TTC. If you minimize how much you gain to healthy levels recommended to you by your doctor for your size/frame, then it should help too! Not that I know from first hand experience because I haven't had any kids yet, but that's just what I've read. For me, since I'm plus size I should only gain about 10-15 lbs during pregnancy, so that's what I'll be shooting for.

kcisthebombdotcom

It has been awhile since I did all of my research so I don't have all of the links ready on hand to give out, but I signed up for Evernote recently and I will be looking for the information and studies again to point you all if you are genuinely interested in learning more about it.

Here's a good PDF to wet your whistle, it doesn't deal with pregnancy per-se, but it does deal with weight, health, and diseases commonly "known" to be "caused" by obesity. I'd also recommend reading Linda Bacon's book.  https://lindabacon.org/HAESbook/pdf_files/HAES_Manifesto.pdf

The bottom line is, that EVERYONE should be working to reduce their risk, and should be healthy before pregnancy. If a woman has diabetes, PCOS, or anything like that they should work with their doctor to improve that before conceiving. Pregnancy is a risk to all women, and all women of various shapes and sizes encounter complications regardless to what they weigh. Ultimately, it's up to the individual if they decide they are OK with the risks. I once met a woman who had Hyperemesis Gravidarum with her first pregnancy, and it was so bad that she was not willing to risk another pregnancy, while another woman who may have had it would be willing to take the risk of getting it again just to have another child.

My original point was simply this: for the OP, the 5-10lbs was not necessary to lose and did not pose a great risk to her. Of course, if she'd feel better to do it, that's fine. It doesn't sound like she's an unhealthy individual, she mentioned the weight being a "vanity" thing. I never once said anything about disregarding health. I recommended that she talk to it about her doctor. I never once suggested she should take my word over a doctor's. This post has taken a turn past OP's and is discussing a larger issue which is: should obese women TTC. My answer to that is overwhelmingly yes.

For the record, my personal health history is really nobody's business, but if you must know... I have perfectly healthy blood sugar, blood pressure, my labs are normal. I eat a reasonably healthy diet and amount of food, and exercise 2-4 times a week for 30-45 minutes. Yes, I have lost weight before but it was unhealthy. I ate too little for my body and starved it. I exercised in excess. As soon as I slowed down to a more moderate and healthy plan, the weight loss stopped and started reversing. I do have body/self-esteem issues because I have been taught for years that my body is not acceptable and have been discriminated against. If you've never gone through it then it's hard to understand what kind of toll that takes on a person. I have considered going to a therapist many times, but I am afraid to because I'm afraid of discrimination from the therapist about my weight, and that they would suggest that if I only lost 50, 75, 100lbs then everything would be solved. To top all of that off, my ob-gyn has not said anything negative about my weight and has not discouraged me from conceiving. Through all of this I probably know more about nutrition, obesity, and since I've been TTC, I know a lot about that and pregnancy as well.

What I would really like to see is for people to be less judgmental and more compassionate, and not assume that obese = not healthy for pregnancy.

It's unfortunate that you didn't get the right supports to be successful in weight loss. The reason why you gained weight back when you dieted and exercised was because your metabolism slowed way down from cutting calories too drastically. It's sad you think a therapist would just judge you. That's not what they get paid to do.

I think OBs are handling obese patients the wrong way. Saying its no big deal, do what you want is just as wrong as saying definitely not, lose 100 pounds and lets talk. They should be saying the weight is a problem because it poses increased risks that could be minimized but lets come up with a plan and meet again in 3-6 months. Even losing a quarter of the weight not only will improve fertility but take away much of the risks to baby. A nutritionist should be the first step--weight is mostly impacted by diet and restricting calories doesn't usually result in long term weight loss. Having someone come up with a balanced diet custom to you that is sustainable is helpful. A person that teaches about fitness and a therapist should be part of the team. Lets face it--people don't become significantly obese without issues that need professional help. Getting these supports in place not only help someone get healthy long term but help reduce healthcare costs because there would be less complications.

I'm not saying this from a place of judgment as I've been borderline obese and had weight to lose too. You're also kidding yourself if you think it's only obese people who are judged. I've lived as both fat and thin and I would say people are not only much more critical of thin but the comments are a lot meaner too. People judge no matter what--if its not your body its your house, you job, how you raise your kids, etc etc etc. if you find acceptance in that your life will be a whole lot happier.

kcisthebombdotcom

Also that Linda bacon book is just absurd. She says even though the obesity epidemic is occurring people are still living longer so it obviously people are healthier. No, medical advances are why people are living longer. Medications can keep people alive with high blood pressure and diabetes.