Weight & TTTC

MJ14323

I was wondering what your opinions are about your weight and TTTC.  I have always been a little "bigger" but was always an athlete growing up and through college.  I was always in shape and it has slipped since I graduated college, if I am to be honest.  My DH and I have been trying since November 2010 and neither my OB or RE has said anything to me about my weight being an issue.  I'm 5'5 and 180lbs...was always around 160lbs when I was 'in shape'. Obviously, I think getting in shape would help increase my changes of TTC but I'm curious why my OB or RE hasn't said anything to me? Maybe it's not that much of an issue? I would love and welcome any and all honest opinions.  Thanks!

Shayliz

The main thing my RE cared about weight wise was that I had a BMI under 37. 

LollipopsAndCrisps

I have gained almost thirty pounds in the last two years of TTC.

I got on the scale last night and almost passed out when I saw how much I weigh. I know I haven't been treating my body well, and I am making a conscious effort to change those bad habits starting today. 

I feel like it can't hurt to lose a couple of pounds if you're doing it in a healthy way that feels good to you. Obviously, this would not be the time to starve yourself or start taking diet pills or develop a cocaine addiction, but it couldn't hurt to move a little more and eat a little less. 

LyssRob

LollipopsAndCrisps:

I have gained almost thirty pounds in the last two years of TTC.

I got on the scale last night and almost passed out when I saw how much I weigh. I know I haven't been treating my body well, and I am making a conscious effort to change those bad habits starting today. 

I feel like it can't hurt to lose a couple of pounds if you're doing it in a healthy way that feels good to you. Obviously, this would not be the time to starve yourself or start taking diet pills or develop a cocaine addiction, but it couldn't hurt to move a little more and eat a little less. 

But its almost bathing suit season!!! 

pulga131

As pp said the BMI is the bigger factor But weight can affect your cycles. And getting in shape is good for your overall health so it would benefit you to get healthy for you. When we started ttc I completely changed my diet and started working out bc I wanted to be healthy for me and for potential baby. It also gave me a sense of control bc we feel so out of control with tttc but for the most part weight or diet and exercise is something you can control.  

MJ14323

pulga131:

As pp said the BMI is the bigger factor But weight can affect your cycles. And getting in shape is good for your overall health so it would benefit you to get healthy for you. When we started ttc I completely changed my diet and started working out bc I wanted to be healthy for me and for potential baby. It also gave me a sense of control bc we feel so out of control with tttc but for the most part weight or diet and exercise is something you can control.  

That's a good way of looking at it...Thanks!

Nikkels77

My RE recommended lossing weight and trying to improve my overall health. I have been overweight since childhood, and having been on predinsione for 5 years a lovely amount of weight found its way to me. It is truly amazing how much better I feel after having lost nearly 40 lbs. Plus walking or excerising is a great way to help pass the time while TTC. Good Luck in your journey and may your stay here be a quick one.

Blueyed228

Weight and IF are connected so my RE wants you to get as healthy as possible.

dimples128

I agree with the sense of control.  Now that we are on a forced break, I am focusing my energy on losing weight.  The routine has helped me cope with the ectopic pregnancy and what the next steps are.  It is a great release and a great sense of control when things seem our of reach.

LollipopsAndCrisps

LyssRob:

LollipopsAndCrisps:

Obviously, this would not be the time to starve yourself or start taking diet pills or develop a cocaine addiction, but it couldn't hurt to move a little more and eat a little less. 

But its almost bathing suit season!!! 

True. Maybe just mix a little diet pill with your morning pot of coffee. But only for the summer. 

Jezebell26

Hi there. I am a perfect example of this story. This was my experience too. I am 5'4 and heavier then you. When we first started TTC my dr didn't say anything major about it and we moved forward with treatment. Well when I m/c the first time we thought it was a fluke. And then it happened again. There is still no clear cut answer but all my dr's are pointing the finger at obesity. There is so much that we do not know and can not prove about it but it definitely does not help. The plan was for me to lose weight before moving forward with treatment. I have lost 40lbs and am still going. I would love to get into a weight where you are! I have heard a lot about BMI requirements and have heard a few people agree on 36 or 37 to be "safe". My dr also said there is no magic number and that they will proceed if comfortable. They are happy with my weight loss thus far and we are moving forward. Now there is still no guarantee that I will get pregnant again and stay pregnant. But as of now there is no medical reason for me not to. When my weight got high so did my sugars and my blood pressure. I have not had any issues in a few months and attribute that to my diet and exercise.

It is definitely something to consider and may be helpful in the long run. I always said I wish he would have "made" me lose weight in the beginning so that I didn't have to go through all that I did. But there is no use beating myself up over that. It is what it is and I can only learn from my past. I am confident moving forward and am hoping with everything I have that this is what I need to be successful. I am hoping to drop the last 20ish lbs before we actually cycle. 

I am not saying OMG you need to lose weight and I think the weight you are at is great and I would have much better odds if I was that weight. Eventually 180ish is my goal weight and Id be more then pleased with that! Its a personal decision but I will tell you, it cant hurt. Maybe even just cutting out certain foods and changing a few things will help you out. Unfortunately there is no one who will tell me I WILL get pregnant because I lost all this weight. That is something no one actually knows. So we can just hope it will help us! GL to you and I am here if you ever need to talk. I have seen this conversation time and time again on the boards so Im glad Im not alone!!!

Killer Tomato

I am also curious why your RE didn't mention anything...mine seemed to discuss any/everything that could be causing problems. Links definitely exist between IF and obesity (as well as IF/PCOS and PCOS/obesity. It's possible the links are not always direct cause/effect, I think.)

The body tends to not let itself get/stay pregnant if it doesn't think itself capable of supporting the pregnancy. If you are over/underweight, your body has to work a lot harder to keep the basic systems going, and it is harder for it to start a pregnancy. I think the BMI numbers are a good reference point, but the most important thing is to be healthy, which can mean different weights for different people. If you are concerned about your weight and TTC, I agree that it would be empowering to take charge of making yourself healthier. (W/out crash diets and intense exercise plans, which only add to the stress on your body.) Even if it didn't impact fertility, there are certainly enough benefits to make it worthwhile! Like others said, it is also a good way to feel more in control of your life.

Hinessn

I struggle with this one. Studies show that weight does impact TTC. However, my sister has always been large her whole life, and she got PG on accident when she was 17, she never lost the baby weight. She never lost the baby weight from the 4 pregnancies that followed it either. She's actually obese but has NEVER struggled with TTC. In fact, she has struggled NOT getting KU.

I am very petite, and most say I am underweight. I have always been small and being lightweight it natural for me. My old OBGYN crackpot said if I gained 10lbs I would get KU. My RE was concerned about my weight initially, but when I told him it's just how I am, not matter what I do, then he said it was just fine. Its always good to maintain HEALTHY and thats whats important. I also know MANY skinny girls at work who have gotten KU with absolutely no problem. (And then look at Rachel Zoe, thats gross! She's anorexic)

So at the end of it, I'm not sure just how much stock I put in it.

GraceInCA

Excess weight has an effect on every organ system in the body, so of course it will impact fertility. For me, I'm nearly 100% certain that it is the reason I have not been able to get pregnant. I have packed on a lot of weight. I'm in the process of losing it, in a slow and steady way.

I have discussed this with my doctor. He thinks weight plays a very large part in fertility. While there may be other underlying factors, it is a variable that can make things much more difficult. A good friend went to an RE, and he would not even treat her until she was in a bona fide weight loss program. She is obese, and the RE told her that it would not be safe to undergo treatment or carry a pregnancy at her weight. It is a little heartbreaking, but hopefully it will be a good motivation for her to make major changes, because she and her husband desperately want children.

sarah_e87

My ob/gyn had a problem with my weight and actually told me to get out of her office, that I had no business TTC while being above my "ideal weight," and I should be on BCPs until I get to my ideal weight. I've since changed ob/gyns. My current ob/gyn and my current RE's office (since I see more than one RE in the office) agree that while I could lose some weight, losing enough to be at my "ideal weight and BMI" would probably hinder my TTC because my bone structure isn't as petite as others.

They've actually said that BMI is one of the most retarded things the medical community uses to determine if someone is overweight, obese, etc. They said BMI doesn't take into account bone structure (as some are more petite than others) and certainly doesn't take into account how much of your mass is muscle vs fat.

My RE's office was most concerned with my diet, activity level, and any undiscovered medical conditions. They said my diet was great and I get more activity than most (at this point 1-2 hours of walking every day, an hour of yoga daily, and 30 minutes of pilates 3 times per week). They've discovered that my thyroid is right at the upper limit of being okay while TTC so they're watching it closely.

MJ14323

Thanks Ladies. Obviously, I know I can be healthier and need to get my butt moving! Like I mentioned, I don't feel that I am unhealthy, but getting into better shape can't hurt! I appreciate your support!

ChrisH22

jalara48:

I am finding I'm in a rough spot with this, plus dealing with my last loss and when I think about it too much I end up hating myself and my body entirely. 

It all feels like a battle I don't have the energy to fight. KWIM?

So sorry to hear how you're feeling, I know it's rought but TRY not to beat yourself up.  I too had some bad habits that I wanted to stop and I definitely need to lose some weight. 

Like the OP my RE has never mentioined my weight, though my WII fit tells me I'm OBESE!!!  You hear so much about the link with weight and infertility but from what I read it's talking about the impact it can have on your cycles and ovulation.  My cycles are normal and I still ovulate on my own every month, this is the only reason that I can think of that my RE hasn't put a lot of focus on my weight.

As for me, I've recently started trying to lose weight, more so because I want to have a healthy pregnancy than because I think it's impacting my IF.  Like one of the previous posters said, I'm still kind of undecided on that.  I was just thinking if I'm already obese and then I get pregnant I'll be huge!!!  So I better do sometehing now, that was my motivation.  So far so good!

Good luck ladies.