r/PlusSizePregnancy

My son’s just over a week old. I can’t breast feed. I’m not pumping full bottle amounts. Had an emergency c section plus was already apron belly/B shaped. I cannot for the life of me figure out a good feeding pose. My husband isn’t plus and even during our 3AM session he said he just has a better/easier anatomy to help with making feeding easier, not a dig at me, just a general statement that he doesn’t have abything going against him like I do. He was saying to acknowledge that he knows things are easier for him to get the right holds and positions and he’s been very great about encouraging and trying to help me find one for my body type but we just simply both know I have more hurdles than he does. I just need to figure out a position for bottle feeding. Any tricks?? I’m just feeling like I should have it down by now. He was in the NICU for 4 days and my husband got to visit and feed a bit more than I could so I feel like I’m just behind.

Hi everyone! I’m currently ending my 5 month TTC, and while I know that isn’t a long time in the grand scheme of things, it has completely taken my spirit and has mentally effected me in ways I wouldn’t have ever expected. I’m wondering if it’s time for a break. Part of me has been considering taking a GLP-1, and maybe now is the time to do it. I guess what I worry about it pushing this off for longer to take the medication, and then just being in the same boat down the line. Has anyone had experience with this, or weighed the pros and cons between both options? Thank you for your response 💛

Maternity clothes just don’t exist in stores anymore. And the trend right now seems to be people buying maternity clothes that aren’t actually maternity clothes and all the influencers and people I see showing off outfits and everything are all people who pre-pregnancy are very skinny and in normal bodies. Which is difficult on its own as someone who doesn’t have that body to imagine what will look good on me but throw into that that the clothes they’re showing off aren’t even maternity, and I feel like it’s a huge gamble to buy things that I have no idea if they’re gonna fit me as I grow. If anyone has any fashion suggestions, or influencers, or places to shop please let me know. I don’t want to spend too much money but I want to look cute and feel cute!!!

(I’m also gonna add that I’m in the first trimester right now, 5’7 and started off at 197 pounds so they classify me as obese but I don’t want to insult anyone accidentally by saying that because I know there are many people here in much larger bodies and what people consider fat or plus size is different)

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post because I just went to my doctor concerned because I had slight spotting the last few days and we learned I had high blood pressure of 161/80. I already knew I was high risk as I'm obese.

But I guess I'm just reaching out to see if anyone else went through similar things and still had a successful pregnancy. This is my first time and we went through fertility. So I'm a little extra nervous. I also watched one of my best friends go through the loss of her baby due to pre-eclampsia, and have been scared of that too.

My doctor is starting me on labetalol and I'm supposed to start taking baby asprin soon too.

Love to hear anyone else's experience. TIA!

I am curious if anyone else has had normal health and then post COVID has now managing thyroid issues or autoimmune hashimoto or other issues?

My labs have been out of wack since 2022, and I am wondering if anyone else is dealing with pregnancy currently and taking thyroid helpers levo or other things and how is this effecting your pregnancy?

I know there are people that have it far worse than I do, but I feel like I’m at a breaking point.

I feel so guilty, defeated, and honestly done. We conceived naturally on the first try and I started this pregnancy at 5’4 and 294lbs, I’m currently 273 lbs at 24 weeks. I have been MISERABLE this pregnancy with horrible health anxiety (they put me on medication and it’s still bad), high Bp at the doctors office so they have me monitor at home (normal at home), and high heart rate at the office but normal at home (130s at the doctor, 75-80 at home). I have been so sick for the past 24 weeks literally since I got pregnant through now and I still vomit and struggle with all day nausea, they gave me promethazine for it because zofran and all the other medications did nothing for me. My blood work is always good and vitals are good at home but it feels like a constant battle.

Yesterday I took my 1 hr glucose and surprise surprise I failed with a 173. I was so anxious that I threw up before I drank the drink and also after the blood draw. Threw up so hard there was blood in my vomit, also passed out during the blood draw. Doc is not concerned about this because I throw up really hard when I’m anxious and it irritates my throat, but then I cried so hard about failing that I threw up again.

I just feel like I can’t catch a break. I’m so overwhelmed by the constant monitoring of everything and if I fail my 3 hour I just don’t know what I’ll do with myself. I’m barely able to eat as it is and having to be on a carb restricted diet would significantly affect my quality of life which right now is just down the drain. Not to mention I tend to pass out during blood draws so doing 4 in 3 hours sounds miserable. I asked about at home monitoring for a week or two instead but they said I need to do the 3hr test. Only good thing is that baby girl looks great, heart rate always strong, very active and around 35th percentile so not too large.

But I just can’t take more things going wrong. I hate being monitored, I feel like a science project and like I have no control over myself and my body anymore. I feel like it is all my fault for being fat and like I’m failing my husband and my baby, even though I know that it’s anxiety and hormones that are out of my control. My family and his just blame everything on me being fat so that really doesn’t help. It makes me feel so ashamed.

My husband is trying to be helpful and says he understands how I feel but he really truly doesn’t and it just makes me so upset and resentful because he gets a baby without any of the bad stuff that comes along with it. I’m suffering through this and I don’t know how I’ll get through the rest of my pregnancy, let alone labor and postpartum. I just want to crawl into a hole and stay there until the baby comes out. I wish I never had to go to the doctor again. I’m so sick and tired of this that I haven’t been excited at all for my first pregnancy, just miserable. I love my daughter and I’ll do it for her but oh my god am I absolutely miserable. I wish it all would just stop.

Any tips for keeping BP down other than medication?
To clarify, I do currently take labetalol but just looking for other tips to try and keep things under control. I’ve always been worried about preeclampsia but hitting 20 weeks has really scared me. Trying to relax and enjoy this pregnancy, but this is always like a nagging thought that just overtakes my mind on the daily. :(

Hello all!! What are your recommendations for a breast pump that will work for large breasts—I wear a 40I and my breasts tend to be less perky. I would love to know what has worked for you.

I’m so deeply upset that I’m so overweight going into pregnancy. I’ve been up and down with weight a lot the last few years of my life, especially after multiple losses. And now I’m 6 weeks pregnant, and I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been - 290, 5’8. Hoping for some reassurance

Looking for some tips and tricks off those who had a nice natural vaginal birth. I had an induction 10 years ago, vaginal birth but I was 19 it was quite traumatic and I am trying to avoid a c section as much as possible this time round in attempt to a quicker recovery like last time.

I am high risk naturally with my weight however I also have asthma which is not being the best during this pregnancy. These are the only 2 things "against" me and the reason for being high risk.

I had my appointment with the Anaesthesist today and she is sure a vaginal birth is still possible and we have things in place for if its not.

However I would really like some tips and tricks and aids and natural ways to help with labour birth and after.

Anything you have tired for the lead up for example raspberry leaf tea, massages lumber punctures.

Thank you

Hi! I'm 13 weeks and a FTM, BMI 35 with an anterior placenta. A lot of factors that make this unlikely but has anyone started to feel flutters at 13w3d? People say its just gas but I've had gas and trapped gas for like 2 or 3 weeks and never felt this. Any other explanations or has anyone come across a similar feeling?!

Hello!

I'm due in early September, and I am TERRIFIED on how to handle the heat this summer. I'm already very heat intolerant due to my SSRI. Top that with being in my third trimester during the heat of summer, and I'm afraid I may melt. I also have a very active two and half year old that I will be attempting to wrangle. Any tips or tricks to stay cool?

In general, too, but especially in pregnancy. I started my pregnancy with a BMI <40. Have since gained about 15lbs (third trimester, so not anything crazy), and now my BMI is over 43 and the doctors just will not stfu up about it. Like idk want they want me to do because I’ve spent most of the pregnancy sick (read as: not eating in excess) and being active when I can (still walking a few miles most days and working out most nights). So far it’s all belly/baby and boobs. No swelling or anything clinical going on. I just wish they’d lay off because it’s stressing me out and feels completely out of my control anyways. Anyone else go through similar? Heaviest I’ve ever been, so if you have experience on navigating with dignity, please share!

I am 32+5 weeks today and since third trimester started I have really been on the physical decline. Despite being overweight my entire life, I’m pretty athletic and never had any mobility issues. I was 235 before pregnancy and now I am 288. I weighed 300 lbs several years ago at my heaviest and I did not struggle at all the way I am now. I feel like every day there’s a new challenge- putting on shoes, changing my underwear and pants, getting too hot and feeling faint, and I’m sure something new I haven’t thought of tomorrow!

I never cry, and I have felt so close to tears the last few days. My husband even offered to help me into my pajamas last night and even that made me want to cry because I’ve never had to depend on someone that way. I feel okay most of the time, but any time I get a new or worsened physical challenge I want to cry. I know it’ll be over soon but everyone keeps saying “oh wait til the last 2 weeks!” And I’m like fuck this is going to get so much worse.

I know this is normal and how I feel is normal. It just sucks and I want to enjoy my pregnant body because I feel like I look cute for the most part. But my god. I also want to be able to move normally! I am also scared what the next 6ish weeks will look like if I’m having difficulty this much now. I just needed to rant and hope someone else gets it.

Hello!

A dear friend gifted me a brand new spectra s1 for my first baby shower, which is the exact pump I had planned to get through my insurance (covered)- SO kind of her! Now that I have that one, I'm looking at my wearable options to use the insurance funds for instead.

Has anyone had any experience with wearables like the Momcozy ones or the Eufy? I have another friend who insists they're all horrid for anyone with breasts larger than average.... working with (USA) 40H's here. It's free (or extremely discounted) with my insurance so I'd hate to not take advantage. If anyone has suggestions, please advise!

(I'm am also fully aware that as a first time mom, breastfeeding might not work out 🥲 but I'm praying and manifesting it will be perfectly fine and the girls will perform beautifully. )

Hi all! As I approach my third trimester I am finalizing my baby registry with my baby shower being late next month. Has anyone had any luck finding a baby carrier that would fit someone who’s plus size? Before pregnancy I was a 3x, but now I’ve gained 25lbs

I had my baby on Saturday via csection. The recovery has been EXCRUCIATING. The ONLY place I have any pain is a 2 to 3 inch area where it feels like my skin is literally being torn apart and it burns so badly I am in tears.

All the docs say its normal (im being treated with pain meds) but has anyone else experienced this? We came home today and I have no where to sleep except my living room chair because of this pain.

I just need 1 other person in the world to tell me they know what im experiencing and that itll get better soon? 😭

Let me tell you right now, I was SO WORRIED when I was making my moodboard for my maternity photos that I wouldn't look pregnant, that I would just look like I don't know how to dress with a fat belly.

We did my photos yesterday, just with my Mum and her phone because I cannot afford a professional right now & we forgot the good camera at home (hormone brain is real at 32 weeks) and I cannot stop crying over how beautiful they are. Yes, my belly hangs over my skirt in a couple pictures but it's so special to immortalize this incredibly special time, and even with the apron I am still very obviously pregnant.

So if you were on the fence & unsure... Do it. It's so so so worth it.

So I failed my 1 hr glucose test for gestational diabetes by literally only 4 points. And I have to do the 3 hr tomorrow. Which would be fine if it didn’t mean no water after midnight nor for the 3 hrs I’m sitting there. And I woke up today with a sore throat. I am feeling irrationally angry/upset and just want to cry about it because it’s either I just suffer through test with a sore ass throat with no damn relief or alternatively, monitor my blood sugar w a lancet 4x day for five days.

And like, part of me is like…. Well if I get diagnosed with GD, I’ll have to monitor my glucose ANYWAY so maybe the five days is worth skipping the damn 3 hr test.

I am just feeling incredibly emotional and anxious about it and I don’t know what to do.

Has anyone been able to control their weight gain when getting off of their meds for pregnancy? I’m 5w and have to come off of them, have just gotten to over 100 pounds lost (from 275 to 173) and the concern about gaining too much weight and having complications has me dreading pregnancy.