Prescription from midwife

[Stellbert]

So last Tuesday I had my booking appt with the midwife. She seemed lovely enough, but I felt unexcited throughout the whole hour and a bit. I’ve been feeling scared something bad would happen eventually so haven’t wanted to get too excited about things (first pregnancy and only two months of trying - felt too quick to be true).

Anyway, the midwife weighed me and said I was obese - what joy! I’m 5ft 7 and apparently 13.8 stone (although I had jeans, knee high boots and a woolly jumper on at the time!). I fit into a size 12/14 generally. That makes my BMI 31 so she’s written a prescription for daily aspirin until baby is born and a higher dose of folic acid. Is anyone else in this situation? I’m so upset I’m having to take medication and extra vitamins, I feel I’ve let me and baby down, particularly as I didn’t think I was that overweight.

 

[WinterWolf]

Aw that must've been hard to hear. A size 12/14 is by no means big. I don't like BMI as a measurement of health, because if you're really fit and muscular you will weigh more and therefore have a higher BMI, because muscle is heavy. If you were really unhealthy you wouldn't have been able to conceive, especially not so quickly, so don't feel guilty! Just make sure you're eating the right foods and getting a good amount of (gentle) exercise, and your baby will be off to a great start.

 

[candymycandy]

Try not to worry too much. She was clearly following the guidelines to the T but I think it’s a bit excessive given your weight. I’m surprised you needed both though tbh, she was perhaps just being extra cautious to cover her own back which is most likely. It’s just an extra pill a day and absolutely doesn’t mean you’re letting anyone down. If anything you’re doing the best for your baby. Try to forget about it and enjoy your pg now x

 

[Princess81]

I’m going to presume that’s her trusts policy because it’s not done generally in my trust with a bmi of 32. Perhaps over 35 we would consider that. All of these things are preventative measures - but these prescriptions would be the decision of a consultant where I work and not a midwife. She must’ve be a midwife prescriber.

 

[Juice]

BMI is bullshit. It's a stupid and inaccurate way of measuring a person's health.

Now, I AM obese - BMI measurement or not, you don't need 20/20 vision to spot my fat arse in a crowd! Anyway, I have never had any weight related health issues, and whilst I let them put me in an "at risk" category, and go to all the appointments they wanted me to, I declined aspirin and I declined blood thinners. I'm active, I eat well (shhhh, takeaways, shhhh) and I've always been a relatively healthy person.

I had 2 normal and problem free pregnancies and 2 normal and problem free deliveries. And whilst one single person isn't a statistically significant study, I just want you to know that there are women out there who, despite being treated like they've done something wrong by getting pregnant whilst their bodies aren't "perfect", do have a healthy pregnancies, deliveries, and babies.

 

[sarah.connors]

Dont they judge BMI different when you are pregnant? Really makes no sense to use BMI while you are pregnant, who doesnt gain weight then?? And with clothes on at that. For the most part BMI isnt really a good measure of health either

 

[Diamond18]

BMI is bullshit. It's a stupid and inaccurate way of measuring a person's health.

Now, I AM obese - BMI measurement or not, you don't need 20/20 vision to spot my fat arse in a crowd! Anyway, I have never had any weight related health issues, and whilst I let them put me in an "at risk" category, and go to all the appointments they wanted me to, I declined aspirin and I declined blood thinners. I'm active, I eat well (shhhh, takeaways, shhhh) and I've always been a relatively healthy person.

I had 2 normal and problem free pregnancies and 2 normal and problem free deliveries. And whilst one single person isn't a statistically significant study, I just want you to know that there are women out there who, despite being treated like they've done something wrong by getting pregnant whilst their bodies aren't "perfect", do have a healthy pregnancies, deliveries, and babies.

HERE HERE

 

[Sydney]

A BMI of over 25 is classed as overweight, 30 and over is obese. Yes, there are occasions where the BMI is not the best indicator (athletes for example) and that's why you're meant to be weighed at your booking appintment before too much pregnancy weight gain has taken place. Try not to be disheartened, ultimately, the midwife does have a duty of care to ensure you receive the right information and right care to reduce risks that affect you and your baby.

From the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists:

https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalasset...-matters-during-pregnancy-and-after-birth.pdf

 

[Lulla Bell]

BMI is a load of wank, My sister in law in a weight lifter/personal trainer so is healthy as shit, Her BMI is 33 But shes pure muscle, They told her she was obese and had to be under a consultant!
Ive never met someone so healthy in my life.

 

[SF2018]

So last Tuesday I had my booking appt with the midwife. She seemed lovely enough, but I felt unexcited throughout the whole hour and a bit. I’ve been feeling scared something bad would happen eventually so haven’t wanted to get too excited about things (first pregnancy and only two months of trying - felt too quick to be true).

Anyway, the midwife weighed me and said I was obese - what joy! I’m 5ft 7 and apparently 13.8 stone (although I had jeans, knee high boots and a woolly jumper on at the time!). I fit into a size 12/14 generally. That makes my BMI 31 so she’s written a prescription for daily aspirin until baby is born and a higher dose of folic acid. Is anyone else in this situation? I’m so upset I’m having to take medication and extra vitamins, I feel I’ve let me and baby down, particularly as I didn’t think I was that overweight.

I'm pretty surprised you have to take aspirin. With my first pregnancy, my start weight was 14 stone 10lbs and was in size 14/16. I am 5' 5". My weight and BMI were never once mentioned and I certainly wasn't told to take aspirin. I would query this with her and ask why you need to take aspirin.

Please don't think you have let your baby down, you haven't.

 

[emmmylah]

She would of loved me then!!!

Am size 18/20 5'5 probably super obesed ive a healthy lil girl and 4/5weeks pregnant with baby no2...

I wouldnt stress over anything she has said and i dont remember having asprin or high dose of folic acid with my first...if that is the case then i best get taking folic acid by the gallon!!!

 

[babyscotcher]

To offer a flip side...

Aspirin shouldn't be taken until 12 weeks as increases miscarriage risk but has been proven to help with decreasing the risks associated with issues such as blood clots, problems with blood flow to the placenta and more importantly pre-eclampsia. The folic acid is because your weight will affect how much you need.

By being classed as slightly higher risk you will potentially receive additional appointments and therefore have closer monitoring. As your BMI is not particularly high you will probably find that if everything goes fine you will be discharged from any further care (consultant etc.)

As easy as it is to be offended (I know how it feels as everything gets blamed on my weight) just think of it as additional care.

I am obese and was classed as high risk during my first pregnancy, put under consultant lead care and eventually ended up with borderline Gestational Diabetes and had my little boy early due to pre-eclampsia. I dread to think how much worse it could have been if I had not taken the Aspirin.