Getting pregnant while being a little over weight

[Anonymous]

I'm in the process of losing weight (down 20lbs, have about 70ish more to lose), but we've also started TTC. How much does the excess weight impact our chances of getting preggers? I'm currently 5'10" and 235lbs.

[Anonymous]

You should talk to your doctor about it. Weight can affect fertility (both over and under), but every woman is different. As you will learn as you enter the world of TTC, there are few hard and fast rules. And congrats on the 20lb loss! I did 60 so know how hard it is. You go!!

[Anonymous]

I was about 35 pounds overweight when we started trying. After about 11 months, and still not pregnant, I started weight watchers, lost about 12 pounds in 6 weeks and got pregnant the next cyle...obviously just annecdotal, but I think the research shows that being at a healthy weight and eating well is optimal for getting pregnant and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. I wish I'd lost more weight before getting pregnany because I think I would have been more comfortable and would have had less to lose post-baby.

Good luck with both the weight loss and ttc!

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the words of encouragement! While we are sort of TTC, I haven't started charting or using OPK's yet, going to start that after I'm down another 20lbs (or not if we get a BFP first).

[Anonymous]

It's known that excess weight does negatively impact fertility but obviously lots of heavy women also get pregnant. One big issue to consider is PCOS and make sure you get screened for that and that you're ovulating (you can be having regular periods but not actually ovulating). Taking metformin for PCOS is very effective in inducing ovulation and aiding in weight loss. I have PCOS and only lose weight while on metformin, and only ovulate on metformin. We ended up having IVF due to male factor issues. At the time, I weighed 235 lbs (I'm 5'9"). We were successful on the second try. I stayed on metformin throughout the first trimester because it helps to reduce the increased change of m/c that women with PCOS have.

[Anonymous]

Pcos and excess weight often go together, I found it really hard to lose weight prior to taking meteor in. It was a real help, but it did take time to adjust to the gi side effects

[Anonymous]

Was that supposed to say metformin?

[Anonymous]

My Doctor doesn't believe in metformin, cause studies haven't proven it to work so how do I find someone who will let me try it.

[Anonymous]

I was not all that different than you in weight/height when I got pregnant (a couple inches shorter but a few pounds less too). We had to do IVF b/c of husband. After the baby, I lost 35 lbs, and what I will say is that this pregnancy (I'm pregnant again) has been a lot easier from the side-effects than it was last time. Could be other factors, but if there's any reason to lose weight, that would also be it for me.

[Anonymous]

I was able to get pregnant twice with no problems, with similar amount of weight I needed to lose. I had a very easy pregnancy the first time, but the second time I had a miscarriage and now I have been trying for 5 months with no luck. My doctor never indicated it as an issue, but I am starting to worry now. I keep hearing even a small weight loss can positively affect fertility, so I am working on it now while TTC.

[Anonymous]

I was only about 30 lbs overweight but tried for over a year to get pregnant with no results. I hit my goal weight and found out I was pregnant 6 weeks later. At least it meant I had cloths that fit as I got bigger and now that I am trying to lose the weight again.

[Anonymous]

Being overweight to start with also increases your chances of developing gestational diabetes and if you unwittingly have diabetes increases chance of fetal malformations.

[Anonymous]

I needed to lose weight before one of my pregnancies and it made the TTC period better because I was happy if I wasn't pregnant (another month to lose five pounds - yay!) and, eventually, happy that I was pregnant (yay!) I find being pregnant is easier when you weigh less so congrats on your success and good luck as you continue.

[Anonymous]

Is it ok to be actively dieting while TTC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it ok to be actively dieting while TTC?

It might not be ideal but nor is being fairly overweight. If you have 10 pounds to lose, don't do it. If you have a lot more to lose, better to be pregnant while weighing less. Once you are pregnant, eat for health, not loss.