Plus size

Are there additional risks ro being overweight during pregnancy?

Plus Size And Pregnant
In the United States, 3 our of every 10 women are considered obese. You are considered obese if your BMI is 30 or higher. Half of all pregnant women are considred overweight. While there are additional risks associated with being obese during pregnancy, most women will continue to have successful pregnancies. While doctors like to raise awareness about being overweight and pregnant, it is not to make the mother feel bad. The information is simply available as an extra means of education for what could potentially occur.

There are risks involved with being overweight during pregnancy. Not only can the extra weight make you feel sluggish and exhausted, your physical health and the health of your developing baby is at risk. Overweight women have increased risks of devoping hypertension and gestational diabetes. The risk of suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth is also increased if you are overweight. Because gestational diabetes carries the potential for a very large baby, overweight mothers are more likely to require a cesarean section to deliver their baby. Preeclampisa and hypertension raises the risk of a stroke, which also can cause a woman to have to deliver her baby via cesarean section. Performing a cesarean section on an overweight woman is also harder because of the additional layers of fat that have to be cut through.

Just as slender mothers and "average size" mothers will need maternity clothing, plus-size mothers will also need maternity clothes during their pregnancy. There are many stores that offer plus size maternity clothing for pregnant mothers. One of the easiest types of shirts to purchase is an empire waisted style that will allow you to show off your belly and stay comfortable as your pregnant belly grows. Often times, baggy t-shirts or stretch pants can be just as comfortable as maternity clothing. You do not have to spend a fortune to be comfortable during your pregnancy. Have a certified bra fitter measure you and fit you for a good fitting bra during your pregnancy. Check out online stores for additional options for larger maternity clothes if a particular store does not offer your size.

You can not diet during pregnancy. For the safety and well-being of your developing baby, losing weight during pregnancy is not recommended. Some women will lose some weight during the first trimester because of morning sickness and vomiting. However, you can watch what you eat and exercise to remain healthy throughout the nine months. Consume enough of the right calories, rather than eating high fat and calorie foods. Refrain from consuming foods and drinks that are high in sugar. Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water and exercise moderately daily. Health care providers recommend that an overweight woman gain approximately 15-25 pounds during her pregnancy.

Rather than focusing on the negative effects that being overweight and pregnany pose, try to focus on the positive. By eating the right foods, exercising and taking care of your body, you can continue with your pregnancy knowing that your actions are positively effecting your baby.

Comments: Plus size

Comments 1 to 24 of about 87.
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pixykat - 2 days ago.
hi this is my first time posting here, ive been on this site a while but i just found this page lol. I am 27 and a bigger girl and i worry a lot about how much bigger im going to get with this baby, with mhy son i gained 100 lbs!!!!! with my son i ate right and still gained that extra 100 ugh and this time round im rly worried about it my oB told me not to gain any! and if 'i had to' to only gain 5-10 i am 5 months along and look very preg but i have the 'b' belly any one else have this???

babynguyen2 - 14 days ago.
You know I dont feel plus size but my BMI is like 31 so that means Im obese. And now I have pasted the 15 lb weight gain for this pregnancy and its just depressing! I wana do better and be healthier and even lose like a ton of weight. Right now I just feel like blah!!!!

ladygaddis - 14 days ago.
my god i wish i had found this forum when i was still prego. i started my pregnancy at 5'7 weighting 270 lbs and when i got up to 300 lbs towards the end the dipression kicked in like crazy. i didnt get a belly till about 5 months and this was my second pregnancy. big hugs to all you big girls!!! stay strong! and remember to report rude ppl to there overseerers :D!!!

ihavethecutestbabyever - 14 days ago.
hi ladies! last time i checked in on this page i was about 6 wks preg. now, i am 13 wks. i was really worried about gaining a lot of weight this time around...but now, i am not so worried. last time i went to the dr. i had lost 10 lbs. i guess being nauseous does have its benefits! we'll see if i gained anything this month. i go back this week coming up. i went for my first trimester screening, and i thought the picture was a little blurrier this time around. i wonder if that is bc there is more fat they have to look through...haha. i dont think i will have gained a lot this month, tho bc i just had bronchitis, and have not been very hungry lately. as a matter of fact, i've had toforce myself to eat. i guess there is a first time for everything, right!

mybabyismyheart - 20 days ago.
Hey all! I'm a former lurker turned member as of today. I also happen to be an overweight pregnant lady...news to me. Didn't know such things existed until my OB told me I should only gain up to 25 or so pounds. Anyway, the thing that's stressing me the most is the absence of a true baby-belly :( I am so ready to show off my bump, and I can't! Well last week the top started protruding a bit more and suddenly felt way harder, but I still don't have that rotund shape I crave which announces to the world that yes I am with child...when I lay down on my side it's pronounce and my Baby's Father loves to day 'Girl you got THICK', I guess that's a small consolation.

singlenewmommyrosy - 31 days ago.
Omg Caitlyn something kinda like that happened to me....i had to go to a specialist to test for down syndrome because the blood test said there was a 1 in 17 chance that the baby could have down syndrome. I went to that place and they were so nice and were very patient luckily They were able to find out the sex of the baby there. At the begging they had trouble because of my size too, the lady would tell me to lift my stomach up and it would help so much. But n e ways that lady was awesome. A week later I had another ultrasound at the place i regularly have my ultrasounds, and the lady I got was a total Biatch. First she seemed a little annoyed that I had my 14 month old neice there, and even had the nerve to tell my sister ' does someone need a diaper change' when my baby neice has had problems pooping and poops a little and can smell. But that totally ticked me off during the whole ultrasound she kept saying 'this is ticking me off' because the baby didnt want to be seen, I guess my baby was tucked in according to her. I didnt even get any ultrasounds pictures. But I try to hold my anger and kill them with kindness I say. I was planning to report her but then I thought maybe she was havign a bad day. But I have a ultrasound and If I get her again I 'WILL' request someone else.

DoeysGirl - 32 days ago.
Do any of you know where I can find plus-size nursing tanks? I've looked everywhere, and I've found one or two, but they're both upwards of $45, and I need about 10! Yikes! Why do companies think big gals don't breast feed?! It's so frustrating!!!

ms.tosh216 - 46 days ago.
YOU SHOULD REPORT HER AND NOT GO BACK. THAT WAS RUDE AND SELFISH OF HER TO RUIN YOUR MOMENT .

caitlyn12284 - 47 days ago.
Ok, so I have to vent!! I went to have an ultrasound last week and was told I would hopefully find out the sex. They were also planning to do the level 2 ultrasound meaning they wanted to look at the organs etc. Well, with my first I was the same weight I am now and they couldn't really do the whole ultrasound and see everything until about 21 weeks so I have no clue why they were trying to do it at 17 weeks...whatever. Anywho, the tech was very nice ( a little annoyed that we brought my 18 month old in, but o well) Then the doc. came in and of course she is this stick thin woman and she just keeps telling me I am too big. Cant see anything because of my size, just way too big. Thanks for that!! Then I asked about the sex and she said the baby was upside down and legs crossed so they wouldnt attempt to find out. and she was so rude. I couldnt believe it! With my first I lived in a different area and LOVED my doc. and now all they do is tell me how fat I am!! I already know that and am not proud, but now I have to deal with it. I came out of that office bawling my eyes out...I am so not excited about having to go back in a month to check again...

nainakika - 52 days ago.
Hi ladies i am pregnant with my first baby woohoo!! i am a big girl and my doctor told me to try and keep my weight gain under 20 pounds or if i can maintain my weight even better..lucky for me i'm not craving anything really and but i have been picky about what i eat which is weird to me lol since i've never been a picky eater..so far everything is fine i have my good days and not so good days. on 9/28 i go for an ultrasound to make sure how far along i am since i've always been irregular and i have PCOS my doctor wants to make sure which is fine with me as long as i get to see my baby which we nicknamed Munchichi lol...good luck lady and Congrats to those BFP and baby dust to those TTC!!!

ihavethecutestbabyever - 54 days ago.
Hi ladies! i just found out i am preg w/ #2. my baby is 14 mos old. like last time, this one is another surprise. last preg, i started at 206 and gained about 50 lbs. i ate pretty much whatever i wanted, which was fun at the time. my figure completely changed after having my son. belly sagging etc. i never really did lose the weight from last time, so i am a little nervous. i have been eating healthier, seems i have been craving fruit a lot. and not eating as much due to nausea. last preg i had high blood pressure, so that is also a concern. my dr. expects me to only gain about 5-10 lbs this time. that is going to be hard!!

caitlyn12284 - 86 days ago.
I'm nervous cause I am only 12 weeks and have already gained weight!! I think about 5 lb!! And I have been eating way less than normal and better foods with feeling nauseous...And I always have an underlying hunger pain in my stomach that I am too scared to deal with as I don't want to be sick...I am a bigger plus size and HATE having to go to the doc. to get weighed in...Next appt is tomorrow so I will see...blahhh

jessnmike99 - 87 days ago.
So I am at 21 weeks and have been extremely sick, I lost 15 pounds and was put on meds last month to stop vomiting, I actually gained 5 back and my midwife said I need to level out at my origional weight before I got pregnant. THat means i can only gain 10 more pounds...I havent even started eating normal yet!!! what happens if i get better and start eating like normal pregnant people, im alittle scared to get yeld at if i gain too much...anyone else had this problem...please comment on my page

squishymom - 87 days ago.
Went to the doctor today. I am 20 weeks and have not gained a pound. I am kinda scared though. With my first I lost 15 pound up to 22 weeks. Then by the time I delivered at 36 weeks I had gained 30 total. This pregnancy I started out at what I weighed when first one was born. So now am I going to gain 30 pounds on top of what I already weigh!!! I am so scared!! That would put me at 250-260 if I did!!!! I really wish I could be that beautiful pregnant woman that looks pregnant not fatter.

kelsey13 - 89 days ago.
sjfrasher -if you have been trying for 2 years and nothing has happened I would go to your gyno, who does your pap smears and see if she'll refer you to an infertility specialist or somebody that specializes in infertlity. I had that exact same problem (I'm a plus sized mamma). We tried for 3 years and nothing happened. At my yearly pap smear appt. I talked to my doc and she refered me. I did a whole bunch of testing to see if anything was wrong, all testing came up fine. The very last test I took was called the Clomid Challenge, its were you take the fertility drug Clomid for 5 days to see if your ovaries are releasing eggs like they are suppose to, well obviously they worked fine because now i'm 14 wks pregnant. I really think my ovaries just needed a 'jump' start! lol. It's best to start now while your young so if you do need Invitro you can save money or get some more options like adoption. Good luck!

kjslover - 108 days ago.
I agree with sharna about weight watchers. I have been on it off and on for about 2 years now and I love it! I kinda follow it now without so many of the restrictions just to make sure that I'm eating healty for my baby.

sharna-noahs-mum - 108 days ago.
sjfrasher: if u want a weight loss program i would def recomend weight watchers. i am also plus size and i fine them fantastic. i lost 7.6 kgs on them without much effort at all. admitedly i need to lose more and i will but it got me the kickstart i needed! all the best! btw i just wanted to add that i was overweight when i concieved my son and i had a fine pregnancy other than hyperemesis which was severe morning sickness. and i had a 5.5 hour durgfree text book labour. and we plan to do it all agian as soon as we can get pregnant!!

sjfrasher - 110 days ago.
Hi Ladies!! I am new this site!! I am a plus size gal my self and my SIL and a few others are telling me to lose like 20 pounds and I will more then likely get preggers!! Well they are all skinny and easy for them to lose weight!! I try and try and try and nothing works I lose like 7 pounds and then gain it back!!! I just don't understand why!?!?! Does anyone have any suggestions on losing weight or help me TTC. We have been trying for 2 years and nothing is happening! :( Losing hope!

rickettsrules - 132 days ago.
Hi ladies, Well, I'm 9 weeks preggo. So far I've managed to put on about 2kgs (or 4 pounds) WHOOPS!! Why am I only craving bad foods?? I'm usually REALLY good during the week, and have splerges on the weekends. I make myself a lovely salad roll for lunch, and then I eat half and have to FORCE myself to eat the rest, but if it's a hamburger & hot chips, it's straight down the hatch, no worries! There's definately this great allure to having the big baby belly when you're preggo. It's something a lot of us have been thinking about since we were little girls (did you put a pillow up your shirt and pretend you were preggo as a young girls? I did!) All of us in the early weeks can't WAIT to start showing and for those of us who are on the curvier side, we're just so worried we're going to look fatter instead of pregnant! I can imagine myself wearing those maternity dresses with the tie under the breast that accentuates your big baby belly! Well, no matter how I look, and how much flab sags under my belly, having a healthy baby at the end is all that matters to me. I don't need to have the 'perfect baby belly' to feel like a woman! PS. My sister was 130kgs (286 pounds) at around 5.8 feet) and although she had high blood preassure close to the end of her pregnancy, she delivered a beautiful baby boy. So I'm not going to be too hard on myself at 80kg's (176 pounds).

kjslover - 132 days ago.
I'm 27 weeks and have a funny looking belly. The bottom part of my belly kinda sags because of loose skin and the part right about my belly button has a pouch of fat and sticks out further than my bump. I wish I didn't obsess over what my belly looks like....I should just be happy to be pregnant!

dedileb - 132 days ago.
you know im 6 months tomorrow n look practically the same i mean its almost impossible to tell!! im guessing its a good thing for now....

alison33 - 132 days ago.
My figure changed after my first also, BUT I was able to lose 40 pounds and starting lifting weights and doing cardio like 5 days a week, so I was able to lift my stomach and lose alot of flab. I am just hoping after this one that I can do that again :)

caitlyn12284 - 132 days ago.
I just found out I am pregnant as well!! This will be my second, first is 15 month boy. We were not trying but I guess not really preventing it properly either. I have PCOS and periods are rare and have been told it is tough to get preggo. Anywho, I am quite overweight, have been my whole life. With my first I did go to a high risk doc. because my blood pressure was a little high with him but other than that, I had no complications at all!!! It was great! I gained about 30 pounds (which my doc was not soo happy about) but 5 days after having him I was in my old jeans and had lost 25 lb. This time I am still holding on to the last 5-10 lb which I am not at all thrilled about and since having my first I feel like all my stomach fat has 'fallen' and it is gross! Anyone else have their figure like totally change?!? I can already tell my stomach is growing myself and I think i am about 7 weeks so I might show earlier than last time, but before it took me about 6-7 months to really show...

finallypregnant - 132 days ago.
Hi there, I am 27 and I just found out I am pregnant. I just entered my 6th week and I am so excited. I have been trying for a year including 2 rounds of clomid that did not work. I had a miscarriage last year at approximately 7 weeks. I am nervous because for the past year I have been trying to figure out why I could not get a period and I finally realized that I had a thyroid issue. I have hashimotos disease and an underactive thyroid. When I went to the endocrinologist all he talked about was how I would not have a healthy pregnancy because I am overweight. He told me to put it out of my mind for 6 months. When I left his office I was devestated especially since he was going to start me on a medication yet, and obviously I need some help to get the weight off. I am 6 feet tall and I weight 267. As far as my health goes, I do not have high blood pressure, I am not at risk for diabetes and all of my other labs have come back normal. I am fairly active and I try to eat well (key word try). I scheduled an appt with a reproductive endocrinologist which is coming up.....however I just found out that I was pregnant. This pregnancy is sort of a miracle because I have been trying for a year and I have had only one period. I guess the times was right and all my stars were aligned. I need some words of encouragement because I want more than anything to have a healthy baby but all I can think about is what the doctor told me. I hope everything goes well with this pregnancy and we found out on Father's Day so I feel like that has to be a good sign:). One more thing because I am plus size I am scared of not looking pregant...just fat. Any advice would help.

beckybear - 145 days ago.
You ladies rock! I'm really hoping to do the same when I get PG again. Last time I was PG, I actually lost weight in the first 11 weeks (just a couple pounds), but it was because I was eating healthy and not drinking alcohol. One of my skinny friends was talking about 'Don't you just love that you can eat anything since you're PG?' She gained 70 pounds with each of her kids, and then lost it back immediately (bitch! LOL JK). Anyhow I guess we're exact opposites, because while most of the time I don't eat all that healthy and drink alot of alcohol, while I was PG, I ate so well. So many fruits and veggies, and I actually craved them, so that was a good thing. Keep it up ladies!