Weight Bias Pregnancy

kedwards393

Have any of you experienced weight Bias during pregnancy? I was told yesterday I need ultrasounds and monitoring every single week now that I'm 32 weeks even though I've been told how healthy myself and the fetus are all due to a BMI of 37! All other health markers are normal! My BP is 118/70. I just feel like this doctor has weight Bias.
Story:
I have 5 obgyn doctors that work at the practice I go to and there is one doctor in particular that has commented on my weight multiple times.
At 8 weeks she told me I should go on a diet and lose weight (I already see a nutrition therapist for a binge eating disorder). I'm not even that overweight! she constantly talks to me about BMI which as a certified health coach myself, I know is absolute BS to base anything off of. I'm now at 32 weeks and I have great bloodwork, no GD, BP is 118/70, actually haven't gained any weight during the pregnancy which the other 4 doctors don't seem concerned. Before pregnancy, I was an avid weight lifter so I have a ton of muscle which obviously skews BMI even more. I am lucky to never have had a bad symptom of pregnancy, no nausea, heartburn, backache, lethargy, anything! Tomorrow my husband and I are demoing our tile floor, that's how good I am doing!
I'm thinking this doctor is basing her opinion of me needing constant monitoring on my BMI and hasn't looked at a single other health marker which have all been normal! (My bmi is classified at 37). I'm just really pissed and irritated and I feel like she just thinks I'm a fat pregnant woman rather than looking at my amazing health! Can anyone relate? Ugh

bdc2024

Guh! No, but that sounds terrible... BMI's are certainly not accurate, for sure. Can you get a new doctor?

I asked my OBGYN recently about my weight gain (40 lbs at 33 weeks) and he said every pregnancy/person is different. He mentioned he had a patient who gained 100 lbs despite proper eating/exercise and figured something was wrong. Then her 2nd pregnancy she gained the same amount! All fluid retention. I think as long as all your other stuff is healthy, weight doesn't matter as much. (Especially if you don't have any side effects/aches and pains. You're lucky!) 

night_nurse

I’d decline. Doctors choose to do those rather than measuring fundal height when BMI is over a certain number. Not everyone with a BMI over 30 carries fat in their belly- for most you can still measure an accurate fundal height regardless of higher BMI. I’d ask them for the reason, the evidence that supports their reason, and if it doesnt make sense just decline. That many ultrasounds is a great way to end up pushed into induction/c-section/early delivery for non-issues

ceclarlinetlo

@bdc2024 I gained 50 pounds with my first and assumed it was “my fault” for being too tired and food averse to anything but carbs. But with my second pregnancy I had just paid in full for a personal trainer before getting pregnant and wasn’t going to waste the money so I forced myself to go 3-4 times a week up until I delivered. I also didn’t have the same food aversion and was able to eat more nutritiously. I still gained 43 pounds. At some point our bodies are just going to do what they are going to do. All we can do is make the best choices we can with what our bodies’ can handle at the time. 

lilmamabat

I had an OB subbing for my regular OB who told me I was obese and to try not to gain any weight while pregnant. I was also weight lifting and am muscular. I've gained 19 lbs and my regular OB was actually concerned bc i initially lost weight due to severe morning sickness and had trouble gaining weight at all. All the weight I gained came from 2nd and 3rd trimester. When I was concerned about how quickly I gained weight, my regular OB informed me that it was bc blood, fluid, placenta and baby all have weight, which had to come from somewhere, and that I'm doing much better than when I wasn't gaining. BMI is BS. Pay attention to the Dr's you trust and who care about your health vs the Dr trying to make you fit in a box. You'll feel better about yourself and get better advice from the ones who care.