TTC for plus size girls

SarahH

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I just found this and thought it might be of interest to you, if you are on the cuddly side, like me!! :D

A new study shows that women who are obese may need higher levels of the hormone gonadotrophin during assisted pregnancy (fertility clinic procedures). Doctors are not sure why, but speculation is that the hormone is distributed over body weight, so the bigger you are, the more you might need.

The same study had some good news though. They found that plus-size women who ovulate, have periods and have at least one Fallopian tube are just as likely to become pregnant during fertility procedures as women who are of average size. This study is ground-breaking because other studies that say plus-size women are likely to have more trouble getting pregnant did not distinguish between women who ovulated and women who did not, which is clearly a key difference. If you are ovulating, this study means, your chances of getting pregnant are good. If you aren't ovulating, if your physicians can induce ovulation, then your chances of getting pregnant are also good.

The take home message of this study is that if you are undergoing fertility treatments, be sure to ask your physician about this study and if your medication levels have been adjusted for your weight.

Staying Positive

If you’re riding the TTC rollercoaster, you know that it can be hard to stay positive and not let the whole crazy scenario get to you. The first thing you must do is realize that although there are steps you can take to improve your chances, ultimately, this is something that is beyond your control. That can be very frustrating to deal with, but if you can accept this, you’re a step closer to getting through this without going crazy.

Monthly Ups and Downs

When you first start trying to conceive, whether it’s for your first child, or your fifth, you feel excited and so very hopeful. If it takes you a while to conceive, the endless cycles get become hard to cope with. The month becomes broken up into very specific sections. First, you wait to ovulate. You pee on a stick every morning, looking for that surge. You take your temperature before you get out of bed and every day you look at your chart, trying to decipher what it means. Then you procreate like rabbits to try to catch that egg. After the exhausting days of sex on a schedule, you must wait. Those two weeks before your period are often the hardest. You spend all your time gauging how your body feels – are my breasts more tender than usual? Are those cramps or an expanding uterus? Then you face disappointment if you get your period and impatiently wait for it to end so you can start trying again. It’s a difficult cycle.

Medicalization

If you’re using medical assistance, not only are you dealing with all of the above, but you have the added discord that drugs and procedures add. What is supposed to be a completely natural and simple act becomes something that must be managed. And when you seek help from a doctor is often when you first face the guilt trip that is about being plus-sized. You’re weighed and there’s discussion of how losing even a small amount of weight can help you conceive. Your doctor is most definitely trying to help you, but being told that you need to lose weight at a time when you facing the most stressful cycles ever seems absurd sometimes.

The drugs can make you feel like a lunatic and when you find yourself having conversations with doctors and nurses about sex positions, cervical mucous, and sperm sample sizes, you know this has gone from an act of love between two people to an invasion of strangers into your private life.

Chin Up

You can stay positive through all of this though. You’re going to have difficult days, so accept that. But what you must do is look at your life and recognize all the good things in it. All of your happiness cannot be pinned to a possible pregnancy. If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, you will go on. It takes most women an average of six months to get pregnant, and if you have PCOS, ovulation problems, or other medical issues, you should expect it to take longer. This is by no means an instantaneous process for many plus-size women. But you can get pregnant, and there is a lot of help available if you need it. Many, many women are able to quickly get pregnant by taking Clomid, a fertility drug that is the first line of treatment. If that doesn’t work, there are many more options available.

Mind Exercises

Stress does impact fertility, but of course if you’re stressed out about trying to get pregnant, someone telling you to just relax does nothing more than freak you out even more. You’re probably charting your temps and testing for ovulation, so you’re already taking some time every day to focus on your fertility. Add these extra steps to your routine:

Clear your mind. Try to take a moment each day to just clear your mind and breathe. Don’t think about fertility or getting pregnant. Give yourself a total break from all of it for just a few minutes.


Choose to be positive. If you’re having trouble conceiving, it’s easy to get sucked into a negative approach to the entire process. Instead choose to assume you will get pregnant and that it is only a matter of time.


Love your body. You may feel that your body is standing in the way of your goal. Don’t fall into a negative body image. You have a beautiful, curvy body. It is perfect for nurturing a baby. Appreciate the beauty of who you are.


Live today. Instead of always worrying about whether you’ll ovulate tomorrow or if your pregnancy test will be positive next week, instead enjoy what you have right now, whether it is a spouse, other children, a job, or family and friends.

Well basically, it's not all bad news which I know many doctors say it is!

Are there anymore cuddly girls in this section?? Perhaps make this some sort of support thread for each other?? :think:
 
Thanks Sarah for posting this I think it's helpful for all ttc girls plus size or not, the bit about the ups and downs and keeping your chin up I think we can all relate to these sections.

Most of us I think have guilty feelings about issues we may have wether it be weight, diet, drinking, smoking, etc etc the list can go on.
 
Thank you Sarah for posting that, it was very interesting to read :hug: :hug:

LouF said:
Most of us I think have guilty feelings about issues we may have wether it be weight, diet, drinking, smoking, etc etc the list can go on.

:clap: Totally agree with you here :hug: :hug:
 
I'm a cuddly plus sizer too and found it interesting, especially the thinking positive bit so thanks Sarah. I can vouch for big girls getting preggers too! It is possible so good luck everyone :hug: :hug:
 
Glad everyone is finding it useful!

And yes, I have a gorgeous 2.5 yr old so it is possible... infact I was bigger then as I am now!
 
Just wondering what counts as plus size?

I vary from a 12-18 dependant. Usually 14/16.


Does this count?
 
I'm def a plus size lady!!! Thanks Sarah, that article was very helpful :D
 
Great thread, lots of good info for us plus size ladies (and even those who aren't).

I spend lots of time wondering if my weight is linked to my irregular cycles and even the m/cs, but when it should give me the motivation I need to try and lose some weight, I find the opposite usually happens and I end up comfort eating and feeling sorry for myself.

Am definitely trying to get myself into a more positive frame of mind this year and not thinking 'if I get pregnant' but 'when I get pregnant' and in the meantime I'm gonna bloomin well enjoy myself!
 
I used to get told if i lost weight i'd get pregnant easier, I tried to loose some, but my weight's never been good at shifting, but i got there eventually. I think the bit...
"Love your body. You may feel that your body is standing in the way of your goal. Don’t fall into a negative body image. You have a beautiful, curvy body. It is perfect for nurturing a baby. Appreciate the beauty of who you are."
Is always nice to read esp when doctors and, well everyone telling you to loose weight can be horrible. Holding onto the hope sometimes is all thats got me through the last 4 and a bit years. :hug:
xx
 
Thank you sarah xx

I know im plus sized and have kids already but it dont make this ttc lark any easier!
 
Sarah thank you for posting that I am a plus plus size trying to loose weight so hospital will help us, that conbined with approaching 40 (next year) makes us less likely of concieving. I think that its the most important thing to love yourself and hard as it is after nearly 4yrs of trying if it happens it happens if it doesnt then I love my husband more than anything else and as a nanny who has looked after so many children I know I have loads of them who love me and I love them. A step-son who is fab and I am now an Aunty to Hayden 3weeks 5days!!!!!!!! Its hard at times for us all when AF comes and you think why not me.
I am a positive person and finish by saying lots of baby dust :hug: :hug: :hug: to you all. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 

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