Hi, are there any plus size mums out there who can share their experience. I'm anxious about approaching a fertility specialist but we've been trying for 4 years with no luck.
How much did you weigh when you fell pregnant?
Did you have any complications due to your weight?
Did you need fertility treatments? How hard was it to access treatments?
Were you treated badly because of your weight?
How to I pick a Dr who is good with plus size women?
8 Replies
I weighed nearly 80kgs when I fell pregnant. Didnt once get treated any different.
I didn't have any complications, I did have a hell of a lot of fluid swollen feet and legs, which I thought was due to my weight.. The doctor advised me this had nothing to do with my weight. As for the rest, I wouldn't have a clue :-/ a friend of mine weighed 110kg when she fell pregnant and was perfectly fine :)
But every pregnancy is different..
I guess it depends how much weight your carrying? Are you over weight or morbidly obese? I can tell you most specialists wont make a comment if your only 70-80kgs but if you are extremely obese I do suspect you will get a lot of comments that you should try to loose the weight. All specialists know how extreme weight gain can cause problems getting pregnant and complications during pregnancy/labour. But just because your overweight doesn't mean that's what's causing you trouble getting pregnant. A lot of skinny women have a hard time and a lot of women who are very obese don't have any problems conceiving. I wouldn't put it down to that until your tests results come back. I think in the mean time you should start to eat healthy. Good luck to you.
I was 110kgs with my first pregnancy. I was worried too but everything was fine. Had no treatments. Baby wasn't dilated enough and I had a caesarean. She was fine and healthy, we both were. I didnt eat less or more healthier either, quite the opposite. Good luckm
If you are over weight and have been trying for that long with no success, it maybe that you have polycystic ovarian syndrome. Have you been to you gp to have this tested? POS can make it very hard to shift weight and also very hard to conceive. It might be that you just need to have some help ovulating to help you conceive! I wouldnt be worried about what the specialists will say, at the end of the day you are wanting to have a baby and they are there to help you get there. Good luck to you and I hope you get your baby soon.x
I was 115-120kg with my first. Fell pregnant very quickly, no assistance.
I was almost 140kg with my second. Fell pregnant on 2nd or 3rd cycle without really trying.
No complications whatsoever with either pregnancy.
Stupidly agreed to a c-section with no.1 because I was so desperate to get him out! The OB said I would have a difficult time labouring because I was a bigger woman. Anyway, I'm glad I have two healthy babies. They both arrived very healthy whether or not I went "natural".
I had a different OB second time round, and he was very sensitive to my weight issues, but he was impressed that I had optimal blood pressure, no signs of GD, and I was barely gaining weight but the baby was growing nicely. A good OB will deal with what they are given and it's up to you to take on their advice for a healthy pregnancy and baby.
During my 2nd c-section, the anaesthetist struggled to find my spine for the anaesthetic because "I had so much fat there". Fair enough, but he was shaking and very annoyed about it. I had to guide him to the spot. All the other staff were really nice and supportive, and annoyed that he was making such a fuss.
In hindsight, I would have lost a lot of weight prior to babies, especially no. 2, as it takes so much energy to carry a baby and then care for it post birth.
A lot of OB's will offer a free initial consultation, why not shop around and see who makes you feel most comfortable?
I am lucky to have no problems but I do not recommend going in at either of my starting weights. It's better to get your health sorted first...because now I am doing the hard yards trying to lose 70kg!...and it's very tough to put yourself first with 2 young children.
Good luck xoxo
I was 115kg when we went through IVF to have a baby. Male factor infertility, we had been trying for years before tests confirmed we wouldn't fall naturally.
It was recommended to me to lose weight, of cause 115kg is very overweight, however it wasn't pushed down my throat nor were we not treated because of my weight.
We fell pregnant with our first on our second full stim cycle. So in the IVF world, that is pretty quickly.
I suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness) for the entire pregnancy, so didn't put on any weight.
I had no pregnancy complications due to my weight. My baby was born via c-section due to placenta previa.
We went private, and had a wonderful OBGYN. He didn't ever make me feel anything less than wonderful for the entire pregnancy, I would do weight checkins with the midwife prior to our appointment, so he knew exactly how much I weighed each time and never mentioned it to me. The midwife and I would discuss what to eat, as I was so sick and in and out of hospital quite a few times during the pregnancy as well.
12 months after my son was born, we had the remaining 2 embryos implanted, and fell pregnant with twins. Again I weighed the same, again I suffered with hympermesis gravidarum and didn't put on any weight during the pregnancy. My twins were born via c-section, as my OBGYN didn't feel comfortable doing a VBAC when pregnant with twins. However it was a mute point, as in the end both babies were transverse, laying one on top of the other and at 37 weeks where not turning for nothing.
Goodluck!!
140 with first and 165 when second was born. Both pregnancies were great. Fell pregnant within 2 months of trying both times. I had No weight related issues at all. No gestational diabetes, No blood pressure issues, no issues at all. I also never had anyone make me feel bad or tell me to diet. Everyone was lovely. The only time my weight was discussed was early on when they told me that if I go over 170 I would have to change hospitals. Even having that conversation they did make me feel judged or bad. Good luck and I hope you get a baby to love very soon! And if anyone wants to have a gasp or a joke at my weight in here then just remember one thing please. I am a very happy, well adjusted and confident person and I actually don't care what you think, Other people on this thread may be struggling with obesity and may, so please just keep any nastiness to yourself. :-)
My first 2 pregnancies (18 and 15 years ago) I weighed between 125-140kgs and 3rd pregnancy, 2 years ago, I was almost 160kgs (I was due to have weight loss surgery 3 days after I discovered I was pregnant). I fell naturally with all 3 as soon as we started trying (or without even trying where our last little surprise was concerned) even though I suffer from PCOS. I had no complications except hg (severe morning sickness) with all 3....losing around 20-30kgs by the time each was born. I can't remember being treated badly with my first 2 pregnancies but my third was awful! Was told I was considered a high risk due to my weight and my local hospital refused to deliver my baby (I live in a rural town) even though my older 2 children had both been delivered there, naturally, with absolutely no complications. I was referred to a metro hospital, approx 5.5 hours away but ended up approaching another rural hospital approx 1.25 hours away who had no issues with my weight. Locally they were concerned about the size of my baby as my second was 10 pounds and they just "assumed" that because I was big, that I would have another big baby. I explained that this babies father was probably half the size of my eldest 2's dad but they wouldn't hear it....and she came out a healthy "little" 6.5 pound girl. Unfortunately, living in a smallish town, I didn't have any options as far as choosing a doctor (my GP was great but didn't deliver babies so I was referred onto someone else at 20 weeks). I would suggest finding someone you are comfortable with....they're not all bad so keep looking until you find one. Good luck...it's all worth it in the end!