Calling all "larger" mums and mums to be

[Jazanowen]

Hi All
Last week I finally confirmed that I am 61/2 weeks pregnant with our first bub! Even though this was not planned and came as a bit of a surprise we are thrilled and looking forward to what the next 8 months or so will bring.
On another level I am SCARED!:(
I'm 31 and weigh approx 110kg (pre-pregnancy). For my height I need to lose approx 30kg to get to my goal weight. Most of this weight gain has been over the last 10-12 years since finishing high school and is due to eating and enjoying all the wrong things and sitting on my bum too much. As par for the course, I have developed high blood pressure and gastro-oesophageal reflux (the latter I have been prone to for most of my life but has been much worse with the weight gain - can't wait to see what's going to happen when I start putting on weight now!!)
I'm due to see my obstetrician for the first time on Monday and hopefully will get some information from him, but in the meantime I've been reading up heaps. I found an American book on "plus size pregnancies", but from what I've read so far it talks more about if you're comfortable in your plus size body to just accept it and your right to have a baby.
Problem is I am not comfortable in my plus sized body and haven't been for a long time, just haven't seemed to manage to get the motivation to lose that much weight. I have lost so much flexibility and can barely touch my toes now and have trouble putting my socks on, I puff and huff with even these small tasks and get sore legs walking up stairs. Even though I'm so excited to be pregnant, I'm scared about how my body is physically going to cope with the extra weight gain. My aim is to work (full time) up to about 8 months, but don't know if I'll be able to manage it.
I'm going to join a gym to do some leg strengthening, some Pilates and Yoga to try to gain some flexibility before I gain too much weight, but don't know if it is too late.
Sorry for sounding a bit down, I am thrilled to be having a bub, but I really would love to hear from other "larger sized" mums who have managed to get through it, and other "larger sized" mums going through the same things.

[EskimoMumma]

ATm.. im to afraid to weigh myself . I am most likely in the mid 90's , maybe reaching 100 :eek: , for me to be completely happy i need to be high 70's but meh, I have slacked off which is why its piled on. My only advice, for what worked for me, was just stay on your feet! Stay cleaning, stay active, park the car the FURTHEREST from the shopping centre entrance, take public transport/walking instead of a car and by all means keep mopping twice a day thats a good workout. I use to do that then, hm i dont know what happened, i think mopping the same floor twice a day for 2 months sort of lots its speciality.

I too get sore legs, I suffer from arthritis and LOVELY varicose viens in my legs, its a pain, but it is a bearable pain, i guess it just depends onh ow much you can take, a good thing is because of the arthritis i dont drive much, it starts to hurt, so its good to walk around. But you need to be happy with yousrelf, therse no way you can try and lose weight or just tone up if all you think is negative, Sounds corny but it works, just say "im sexy" and "Ill do those squats in the morning, those dishes and the floors and the washing before its brunch time because i know it will make me even MORE sexier"

[CarolineF]

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PREGNANCY!

I'm a plus sized mum and weighed in at 90kg approx when I saw my doc at 6 weeks. Since then I have actually lost weight (i'm 12 weeks now).

Pregnancy is a good time to reevaluate your eating. You will gain weight if you continue with your current eating regime. My doc has recommended a low GI diet which i now follow. If you any fast food it will go straight to your waist and your liver. Eat a little and often to stave hunger pangs, and you will not need any more than 350-500 cals a day extra throughout your pregnancy. Sugar is the worst offender along with the saturated and hydrogenated fats (trans fats). Avoid at all costs. This means that you should eats foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. So avoid processed foods (too much salt and sugar even in low fat versions).

My doc has recommended Soy and Linseed Bread which is yummy. Low fat milk, dark green veggies to keep your iron levels up etc.

Many overweight/obese people find they lose weight during pregnancy because you do alter your eating for the sake of the baby.

With my first child I weighed the same at 35 weeks (when I had her) as I did at the beginning of the pregnancy. I had been unwell though for some time. It happens. If you can try not to gain any more than 15-25lbs (c6-10kgs) then you should have a healthy pregnancy.

If you do nothing then you are at risk of conditions such as Gestational Diabetes, high blood pressure etc none of which are good for you or the baby.:no:

As far as exercise is concerned, do not throw yourself into a tough exercise regime now. Start walking for 15 mins a day and build up to 30 mins. It will help tone muscles, assist with flexibility etc and stop you gaining too much weight.

Your OB or midwife should be able to offer you a lot of assistance with all of this. I know its tough cos I deal with it everday too. I was given some grief purely because of my weight alone even though my cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure are all perfect. I have also followed a relatively healthy diet but I am not good at getting off my butt either.

Good luck with it.

Caroline:D

[hippee]

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PREGNANCY!

I'm a plus sized mum and weighed in at 90kg approx when I saw my doc at 6 weeks. Since then I have actually lost weight (i'm 12 weeks now).

Pregnancy is a good time to reevaluate your eating. You will gain weight if you continue with your current eating regime. My doc has recommended a low GI diet which i now follow. If you any fast food it will go straight to your waist and your liver. Eat a little and often to stave hunger pangs, and you will not need any more than 350-500 cals a day extra throughout your pregnancy. Sugar is the worst offender along with the saturated and hydrogenated fats (trans fats). Avoid at all costs. This means that you should eats foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. So avoid processed foods (too much salt and sugar even in low fat versions).

My doc has recommended Soy and Linseed Bread which is yummy. Low fat milk, dark green veggies to keep your iron levels up etc.

Many overweight/obese people find they lose weight during pregnancy because you do alter your eating for the sake of the baby.

With my first child I weighed the same at 35 weeks (when I had her) as I did at the beginning of the pregnancy. I had been unwell though for some time. It happens. If you can try not to gain any more than 15-25lbs (c6-10kgs) then you should have a healthy pregnancy.

If you do nothing then you are at risk of conditions such as Gestational Diabetes, high blood pressure etc none of which are good for you or the baby.:no:

As far as exercise is concerned, do not throw yourself into a tough exercise regime now. Start walking for 15 mins a day and build up to 30 mins. It will help tone muscles, assist with flexibility etc and stop you gaining too much weight.

Your OB or midwife should be able to offer you a lot of assistance with all of this. I know its tough cos I deal with it everday too. I was given some grief purely because of my weight alone even though my cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure are all perfect. I have also followed a relatively healthy diet but I am not good at getting off my butt either.

Good luck with it.

Caroline:D

What excellent advise, I was also about 90kg when I fell pregnant (blame the giving up smoking for the 10kg gain) BUT i too have during my pregnancy tried to make healthier choices. and as a result I am now about 105kg's and due in a week. 15kilos was good for me as during my first pregnancy I gained 30kilos!
Don't sweat it too much now is not the time to worry about the scales.

[monkey]

Congrats firstly on pregnancy how thrilling! Dont panic too much.I am a big girl and was 88kgs at the start of my first preg , put on 30kgs at got to 118kgs.....it was very hard and I was huge.Luckily didnt get GD and no high bloods but again I am currently on my 2nd preg 18weeks into it and i lost most of the weight from first preg but i still started off this 2nd preg at 95 kgs.

You are right in being concerned,alot of smaller people dont understand the risks or concerns you have but like someelse said previously you will ust need to watch yourself and dont continue to eat the same.

A llittle lifestyle change is what is needed now. Try and start a little light exercise, 15 mins 3 times a week , then build it up......

The first preg is always harder weight wise I think as you are consumed by the excitement of it all etc.....this time for me as its my 2 time around I am having to pull my head in so I dont put on like my first and do another 30kgs...... I am going ok so far but I am def watching what I eat and exercising more......

Just be conscious of it all, and sounds like you are already...

DO ENJOY IT THOUGH.....

I am right there with you watching my food and moving my butt{just a little tho!}

good luck

[Jazanowen]

Thanks heaps for your reply and Congrats on your pregnancy too!
Can't believe it's been that long since I posted that message - (it was actually last year) but I'm pleased to report that everything went fine and my darling little son James is now 4 1/2 months old!
Somehow I did manage to maintain my weight during the pregnancy and had actually lost 7kg after bub was born - unfortunately I'm sure I've managed to put it all back on and then some since then but haven't had time to jump on the scales.
I did end up with pre-eclampsia but had a great obstetrician and blood pressure specialist so I knew I was in good hands at all times. Bub ended up being delivered at 37 weeks and all was fine.
Thanks again for your reply - hope all goes well for you in the next few months!! :yelclap:

[Becbabe]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Like everyone else says, don't panic - this is a great opportunity if you want to reevaluate eating.

I'm 178cm tall and was 118kg pre pregnancy. When I found out I went to a dietician, not to try and lose weight but cos I wanted to make sure I got enough nutrients to the baby.

I found getting some help on what TO eat, rather than what NOT to, really, really helped! (she even said Macca's occasionally and bacon & eggs on the weekend were ok... it's how you prepare/eat them)

I dropped 5kgs in the first 9 weeks cos of nausea, then started to gradually put it back on. All up I put on 1.5kgs. Also I found I felt less sick in the fresh air - so I took some gentle walks & swam when it was warm.

I breastfed (still am) and am now down to 108kg - first time I've cracked the 110 mark since I was at Uni! Even my sz 20's are getting too big...

So (out of all that ramble) my tips are - be happy that you're pregnant, go see a professional about how to eat well for your baby, and get some gentle exercise when you can.

Good luck & congrats again!! :)

[julietv8]

Hey Congratulations on being pregnant! :yelclap:
I'm a Plus-Sized Preggo too I started at just over 100kg (I'm 5'3) when i first found out, then I dropped to 92kg (I think I was just eating better for my bubba) but then Ive slowly slowly gained weight again through the pregnancy and I'm about 103 now at nearly 7 months.

Now is not a good time to go on a low calorie diet with a massive exercise regime. It is a good time to start eating lots of fruit and veggies and taking multivitamins and going for little walks.

Ive found that as the baby gets bigger and heavier, my hips hurt a bit but remaining active is important (i walk/waddle for about 45 mins a day) Or if its just too heavy after work I love going for swims!

But all in all, my pregnancy has been great! I didnt get morning sickness and I still do all the same stuff i used to!

Ive done a bit of research and mostly trying not to gain too much weight through the pregnancy is a good idea, but just try to maintain your current weight without starving you or the bubba of nutrients.

Best of luck, PM me if you need some support.

:hugs::hugs::hugs:

[StrawberryTheMilkshake]

Hi there

I was 115 pre pregnancy and had a healthy, no gestational diabetes, no blood pressure problems at all.
I had a wonderful birth and a healthy baby too.

I am now probably 120 (at least) and possibly pregnant again. I have a wonderful ob who told me not to worry about it and in the end he told me not to look at the scales because i was more worried than he was.

So good luck to you and congrats on your pregnancy!!!
We can do it!!!

[mollymoosmum]

Just letting you know this is a very old thread, origional post was 26/5/2006 :D