Trying to conceive at 230lbs

Pecker31

Hi all,

so.. this is a bit of a touchy subject for me, I am with my OH for over three years and we are thinking of trying for a baby. It will be our 1st. I am currently 230lbs and have PCOS. I know PCOS makes it somewhat harder to conceive, I am wondering has anyone who is obese/overweight had difficulty getting pregnant and is there an awful lot of complications that come along with it.

I am trying to "scare" myself into losing it, I need something that will give me the drive.

Thanks

ali_d

I am similar to yourself, I am overweight and have PCOS. I had difficulty getting pregnant and after 2 rounds of IUI, am now pregnant. I wasn't told that my weight was a reason but it is in the back of my head all the time that it was. And of course there are risks for being overweight TTC and in pregnancy. In pregnancy, you're more likely to develop gestational diabetes which can be dangerous to yourself and baby and normally involves early induction and close monitoring. I don't think anyone wants that for themselves or unborn child!!
Are you on any medication for PCOS? I was on Metformin. Thought it helped a bit controlling my weight.
Any advice I read support healthy eating when TTC. Even 10% loss of your body weight can have a major impact on your ability to conceive - how does losing 23lb sound? It's definitely achievable with a few minor changes and increase exercise. Slimming world or weight watchers are great for support and tips and relatively cheap. And fast walking or jogging (couchto5k app is great) are free.
Best of luck TTC and hope it's a short journey for you!

catrionanic

Irrespective of weight, it's always a good idea to get your health and diet in shape before TTC. Someone once described it to me as if your body was the soil and the baby is the plant that will grow in the soil. If you are eating healthily, exercising regularly and looking after yourself, that soil will be a more fertile place in which life will grow. And naturally, if you start to eat more healthily and exercise more, weight should drop off you. At 230lbs, you'll find that you lose quite substantial weight fairly quickly and easily just by restricting your calories and getting out and about in the late summer evenings.

Obesity in pregnancy carries with it many risks, and it something you should put the work into now in order to have the healthiest pregnancy possible.

Good luck.

lilmissabc

I am hovering at 300lbs I lost 33 from Christmas to June but haven't been able to get back on it. I was told 6 weeks before my wedding is prob not be able to get pregnant as I had polycystic ovaries but not the syndrome mind you. I was devastated everyone around me started families my work colleagues my friends. Anytime anyone asks about me and having kids I simply reply I don't want any never did but the truth is I am in dispair and heartbroken at the prospect of not having a child of my own. I gave my husband the option of walking away those weeks before the wedding because of it. 5 years later am still the same what I want more than anything in the world I can't have and its my fault. I was always overweight even at a young age. If something means that much to you, well you think you would do anything. To ashamed to even approach a fertility specialist I have emailed tons of clinics to ask the max weight they'll treat to get a goal of what is I have to achieve. If you find any specialist willing to help you or at least not in a condescending judgemental manner do share.

grind gremlin

Pecker31 wrote: »

Hi all,

so.. this is a bit of a touchy subject for me, I am with my OH for over three years and we are thinking of trying for a baby. It will be our 1st. I am currently 230lbs and have PCOS. I know PCOS makes it somewhat harder to conceive, I am wondering has anyone who is obese/overweight had difficulty getting pregnant and is there an awful lot of complications that come along with it.

I am trying to "scare" myself into losing it, I need something that will give me the drive.

Thanks

I was overweight when I got pregnant and put on quite a lot of weight during the pregnancy. When I was in labour it took the anaesthetist over an hour to site the epidural as a result of my weight. The experience was enough to scare the life out of me and I've lost over 50lb since.......

stickybean

Hi Pecker31,

I was about 190lbs when we went for our second round of IVF, I asked my consultant could my weight have anything to do with the failures, she said he was a possibility and recommended i droped 1 1/2 stone before our next try. She was giving me 6 months but I said no, give me 3. I joined slimming world the next day and started running that weekend. I dropped 20lbs before our next try and also managed to run my first ever 5K. We had our treatment in March and I am currently 24 weeks pregnant.

I am not saying the weight loss was necessarily what helped it work this time, but if did a lot for my head space. I found drifting through the TCC journey I was often not in control, doctors and nurses made all the calls and I felt a bit helpless. Having the diet / exercise to focus on really helped me.

Wish you the very best of luck darling xxx