Considering TTC But Worried About My Weight

[JuniperMama]

DS is 4. My pregnancy with him was pretty uneventful except that I spotted throughout my first trimester which made me totally freaked. (The spotting was mild and never from inside so I was never in any "trouble" but it was still scary.) I think that kicked off the nasty antepartum anxiety that I had for the entire pregnancy. That later turned into nastier postpartum anxiety that took a long time to get under control.

I was afraid to have another baby for a long time because things were so hard. I also started graduate school when DS was 1 and graduated when he turned 3. In the past year since graduation I've completely changed careers and gotten into a whole new field in a whole new industry. I am finally really happy in my job and the anxiety is largely under control. My marriage is great and my 4 year old is happy, healthy and wonderful. Seems like a good time to TTC, right?

The only thing still not under control is my weight. I really wish that I could get to a "normal" weight but frankly I haven't been what I'd like to weigh since high school and back then I thought it was "fat". Ironic, huh?

I am probably 5-10# heavier than I was when I got pregnant with DS.

The only thing that happened during my pregnancy with DS was PIH. It never fully became Pre-E but I was on partial bedrest starting at about 30 weeks and they was induced at 37.5 weeks because they felt my BP got too high even with bed rest.

We want another baby. I don't want the kids to be too far apart. I'm 33 1/2 now and a size 14/16 depending on what I'm wearing. (Sometimes an 18 in a "slim cut" - thank you hips and hiney : .)

Is PIH tied to weight? Would I be likely to have it again? How bad would it be to get PG again at this size?

I want to do this soon but fear if I wait until I lose enough weight --- well it could be forever since I clearly suck at losing the weight.

Any thoughts about size and pregnancy and pre-e/PIH greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

(cross-posted in TTC)

[esmicosaquehago]

I think nutrition will be key for you, not necessarily weight. There is a lot of evidence recently that PIH/pre-e is a nutritional issue. Get those fresh fruits and veggies, get those whole grains and good fats and good proteins, and try and incorporate movement (i.e. walking, yoga, whatever) into your day. That will help lose weight, it will help you conceive, and it will definitely help prevent the same problems you had last time.

GOOD LUCK!

[sparklett]

Have you checked out the forums at the preeclampsia foundation? They can answer your questions about PIH and weight.

Simply changing your diet will not eliminate your risk of getting PIH again. It's a lot more complex than that. The latest research indicates that pre-e is NOT a nutritional issue (earlier research indicated that it could be related to protein issues, but that's not true). It is now thought that the root cause of pre-e lies in how the placenta develops during the earliest stages of pregnancy. Eating fresh fruits and veggies, etc. is not the miracle cure that it was once thought to be. Going on a specialty diet such as Blue Ribbon Baby/Brewer Diet is not likely to reduce your chances of getting pre-e, but it can absolutely give you a good nutritional foundation while pregnant.

Pre-e/PIH affects a variety women regardless of size. I know one woman who weighed 115 before pregnancy, only put on 20 pounds, and had severe pre-e. However, in some cases weight can be a contributing factor. I had severe pre-e, and believe my weight was a contributing factor. So for me, the priority is to loose the weight and therefore remove a pre-e risk factor. If I loose weight and still get pre-e, at least I'll know that I did everything I could to reduce my risk factors.

Being at a healthy weight is clearly an excellent way to start any pregnancy, and for those at risk for PIH or pre-e, it's all the more important. If you think your weight may be a risk factor for you, then loosing some weight before getting pregnant might be a good idea.

At the same time, it's also important to know if there's anything else that may have contributed to your PIH. Before you start TTC, go see your care provider and get a comprehensive check-up including tests for issues related to clotting factors and hypothyroidism. Often times PIH/pre-e is related to a treatable underlying issue that can be addressed before you get pregnant.

And definitely check out the preeclampsia foundation website.