Overweight and Pregnant

IrishBaby1982 · January 2016

Hi ladies-
I just got a BFP today and this will be my 3rd baby. I got pregnant in March 2015 but it was a blighted ovum and I had to have a D&C. I've always battled with my weight. I was 170 when preggers with DS1 and 190 with DS2, luckily, I only gained 12 and 9 pounds with those pregnancies. I tend to gain all my weight after I have the babies and I'm home. Now, I'm 224 and totally scared! I will have to have a c section because I've had 2 prior. I want to be healthy and I want my baby to be healthy but I'm terrified. Anyone else obese and pregnant? Any thoughts and suggestions how to be healthy during the pregnancy besides the obvious (vitamins, healthy diet and lots of water)? Thanks ladies! I hope you all are well:)

lotsofsunshine · January 2016

Oh darlin, I'm right there with you. With my first two kiddos I was significantly smaller than I am now. However, the past 5 years have been rough and I ate my feelings. I was just starting to lose a bit of weight when I got my BFP. (Im totally thrilled, but I expected it to take us quite a while)I'm trying really hard not to stress about it too much. Watching what I eat and walking daily are high on my priority list. Also, breastfeeding my previous babies helped me lose weight quickly. Hopefully it will help this time too. Best of luck to you!
Edited to add and correct spelling errors.

imakeeff0rts · January 2016

Currently, I'm about 260. I've also battled my weight throughout my entire life, and this last year has not been kind. I've gained about 30 lbs.

Honestly, just make decent choices. Walk. Be active. Also, talk to your doctor about this. Furthermore, if you're wanting to use any other supplements/shakes, I would highly, highly recommend talking to your doctor BEFORE you do so.

mouse1029 · January 2016

I'm actually at a low right now around 195. I was 211 when I got pregnant with my first. My weight caused no complications and baby and I were healthy. Just try to stay active as possible and make the best choices you can. I only gained 19 lbs with my first.

LoganLacey · January 2016

Hi and congrats on the bfp! I am overweight at 5'7" 205, and 11 weeks. The midwife says gain 10-15 lbs for the entire pregnancy because im obese. So ive been food journaling each day and trying to plan each day even if its not perfect i am being more aware of my foods. Also swimming laps and doing a prenatal exercize dvd most days. Ive read that in a normal weight pregnancy dont add on calories in the first trimester, add them on in the 2nd and third. For me being overweight i imagine i wont be adding extra calories in at all. Im also trying to have mostly protein and vegetables and do the carbs in the morning so my insulin spikes and then tapers off during the day i really dont want to get diabetes. So an ideal day would be carbs, protein, dairy, & fruit for breakfast, and lunch and dinner being protein and vegetables. I found Amy's organic black bean chili in a can to work when im too tired to cook. It has lots of protein and 100% daily fiber. Good luck!

megstervt · January 2016

I am obese as well. I've been in survival mode as far as food choices since finding out due the morning sickness so have been worried about that a bit. I'm hoping to start making better choices now that I seem to be able to keep more down. My doctor didn't say anything specifically about my weight, but just gave a more generic speech about weight gain and target foods (like getting enough protein). At this point it is what it is and I can't lose weight right now; I just have to do my best to make good choices and keep active.

princesspriscilla · January 2016

I was about 15-20 pounds overweight prior to conception. Lots of people say you'll have trouble conceiving overweight and have an unhealthy pregnancy. I believe that is a bunch of hooey and no one knows your health but your doctor and yourself. I have had a very healthy pregnancy - no high blood pressure, no high glucose levels, no excessive weight gain, etc. It is possible to be overweight and still have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. I am at 34 weeks and my baby is about 4 lbs. 9 oz. He's in about the 30th percentile of the growth chart which just means he's a healthy baby on the slightly smaller end. Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot have a healthy pregnancy while being overweight!

elldel · January 2016

I'm obese and was actively trying to lose weight before my BFP. At my 8w appointment, my doctor told me she wants me to get out of that mindset and start focusing on just being healthy for me and baby. I had already gained 7 pounds by then because starchy carbs were the only thing that eased the nausea, and I was freaking out, but she echoed what a lot of PPs said. Be active. Make good food choices. And if I absolutely need to count calories, aim for an extra 300 a day.

Car0liiine · January 2016

Fellow chubby mummy here! I was also working on losing weight in preparation for pregnancy and was down from 212 to 200 when I got my bfp. Since then all the healthy foods I was eating just do no appeal to me anymore and I have been eating all the wrong things. Thankfully I'm only up a few pounds. The book they gave me at my first appointment is really negative about obesity during pregnancy so I was freaking out and prepared to get lectured at my next appointments, but whenever I bring it up the doctors don't seem concerned and told me to gain up to 25lbs (I will NOT be doing that if I can help it!) I do plan on getting back on track with prepping healthy meals and adding some light exercise now that I seem to have a little more energy this week. You can only do your best and I think we shouldn't stress too much over it. The biggest bummer is I've always looked pregnant so I can't take cute week by week growing bump pictures :-(

blissylissy86 · January 2016

I was/am really nervous about being overweight while pregnant. I lost 7 pound in the first couple of months due to morning sickness. I had my 15 week appointment today, and I am up 3 pounds, which my doctor actually seemed happy about. She said it is a good measure of how my morning sickness is getting better. I really want to aim for 15-20 pounds for this pregnancy, however, I have a big aversion to pretty much anything healthy. If it isn't fatty or carb loaded, I throw it up. Hopefully as the weeks go on, I will be able to incorporate mood healthy foods.

Caroline7703 · January 2016

Car0liiine said:

Fellow chubby mummy here! I was also working on losing weight in preparation for pregnancy and was down from 212 to 200 when I got my bfp. Since then all the healthy foods I was eating just do no appeal to me anymore and I have been eating all the wrong things. Thankfully I'm only up a few pounds. The book they gave me at my first appointment is really negative about obesity during pregnancy so I was freaking out and prepared to get lectured at my next appointments, but whenever I bring it up the doctors don't seem concerned and told me to gain up to 25lbs (I will NOT be doing that if I can help it!) I do plan on getting back on track with prepping healthy meals and adding some light exercise now that I seem to have a little more energy this week. You can only do your best and I think we shouldn't stress too much over it. The biggest bummer is I've always looked pregnant so I can't take cute week by week growing bump pictures :-(

Hello fellow Caroline! It just struck me today that the last thing you said, about being overweight you can't take cute week-by-week photos, and made me so sad. I'm afriad that a. I won't show until so late and won't get to enjoy my bump, and b. when I do show, I'll look huge and never have a cute pregnancy belly. I'm sick of reading things telling me that I should have lost the weight before I got pregnant because, guess what, I'm pregnant and it's too late! I've been following Weight Watchers (online) since I found out. I said that I was a nursing mother to get more points and have been using my weekly points nearly ever day, but it's been a good tool to help me make better food choices and be more aware of what I'm eating. Honestly, I can't say I've deprived myself once. I just want to have the healthiest pregnancy possible for me from here on out!

PrimRoseMama · January 2016

@Caroline7703 : I disagree with the above poster that you can't take progress pictures or have a cute belly. I was 170 when I started my pg with DS & you could see a progression. Even being fluffy/heavy your uterus will protrude & others should notice your pregnancy.

This idea that you have to be thin to eventually have a cute belly is bollocks. I've had a cute bump & I've never been especially thin. Take heart & don't stress over this!

PrimRoseMama · January 2016

PS- your bump has less to do with your weight pre-pregnancy and more to do with your personal anatomy

PrimRoseMama · January 2016

Example of my progression photos from my pregnancy with DS. I started at 170 & ended at 225 lbs

It's possible & very likely you can have all the cute bump-age that you want! Don't lose hope! Do your best, eat as best you can & stay active.

BrandiiTneka · February 2016

I also tried loosing before getting the BFP. I'm 5'7 and was 226, dropped down to 207 and ended up gaining 10 lbs over the holidays. I'm 217 now and 6wks 2 days. I'm kinda nervous about what my OB will say at my first appointment.

stillcozy · February 2016

I'm overweight as well and have found keeping up with even walking or excercise has helped a lot. I also suggest keeping a food journal it's definitely helped hold me accountable as well.

Good luck mamas we can do it!

PrimRoseMama · February 2016

Starting this pregnancy at 202 lbs. So I imagine I am going to have to eat really well and stay active. The food aversion has started and generally not feeling like eating (so early boo) so it might not be an issue after all. I eat breakfast only because I know I am supposed to-- but nothing looks good.

atcwag · February 2016

Lurking from TTGP -
This subject hits home for me because I was OW (5'4", 185/190) with my first pregnancy, and will be OW with my 2nd. Thankfully with my first, I had an aversion to greasy, sweet, etc. I basically survived on homemade smoothies and grilled veggies with rice.
I remember being so sad that I "wouldn't have a cute baby bump", that I'd be a huge whale and just look fat and no one would even be able to tell I was pregnant. This was totally not the case, as you can tell from my progression pics - excuse them if they're huge...I'm on mobile.

PrimRoseMama · February 2016

@atcwag : You look beautiful!!!!! I LOVE the blue shoes in the maternity photos at the bottom. Its true that fluffier ladies can look mad-cute while pregnant. I felt radiant and beautiful during my pregnancies. I always get sad when I see the subtle (or not so subtle) fat-shaming type stuff aimed at pregnant women that are fluffy at the start. It makes us feel as though we are somehow less and can't be cute because we aren't "all baby" or super skinny to start.

That's not to skinny shame-- I think all women are beautiful and look awesome while pregnant. I just get annoyed that somehow larger women are subjected to more finger wagging and such.

atcwag · February 2016

PrimRoseMama said:

@atcwag : You look beautiful!!!!! I LOVE the blue shoes in the maternity photos at the bottom. Its true that fluffier ladies can look mad-cute while pregnant. I felt radiant and beautiful during my pregnancies. I always get sad when I see the subtle (or not so subtle) fat-shaming type stuff aimed at pregnant women that are fluffy at the start. It makes us feel as though we are somehow less and can't be cute because we aren't "all baby" or super skinny to start.

That's not to skinny shame-- I think all women are beautiful and look awesome while pregnant. I just get annoyed that somehow larger women are subjected to more finger wagging and such.

Thanks! The blue shoes are actually my wedding shoes - my "something blue". I have an edited version of both a wedding photo and the maternity photo in B&W with just a blue color splash of the shoes. Love them.

veetveet · February 2016

I'm heavier as well. My last 2 pregnancies I rounded out pretty well and had a cute bump... I just looked farther along by a month than what I was. It is what it is! It's really based on your body type too. I have a hourglass figure... Just fuller.

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