Does your weight really matter????????

[June_Bride2008]

I'm not a skinny girl. Several people I know that are about the size I am have had a child. My sister keeps telling me that I need to get this surgery done so I can be skinny to have kids. I'm 5'8'' and I weight about 250. I don't look like I weight that much but I do.

I know that my sister is jealous because I got married before her. She doesn't think I should be able to have kids before her. Just immature stuff.

I think its weird bc my period is wonderful on time and everything. If I was that much overweight to have a kid the doctor would tell me that I need to lose weight, ect. She has never said that.

Does your weight really matter??? I do exercise but not as much as I should.

Advice PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KMS]

Depending on your body type, weight may not be the best factor of health to determine fertility. Do you know what your percentage of body fat is, BMI, or your waist to hip ratio? Things like that may give you more of an idea, but IMO weight does still matter. Regardless of weight, the healthier you are in general the more likely your body is to feel ready to take on the task of directing attention to a growing fetus.

[June_Bride2008]

If my cycles are good. Everything is well. The doctor didn't say anything. Should I worry much about it??????

[Scrwballsgrl]

I think the healthier you are the better for you and your unborn child before, during and after your pregnancy. That said women who weight more than average have healthy pregnancies & healthy babies everyday! My cousin is one of them she's just a large woman, nt so much weight wise as height build etc. and that contributes to her overall apperance of "weighing more".
She and her husband didn't have children for 11 years and then we she decided that she was ready and they began trying it was a stressful three years wait before their son was born. But all her trying and failing to get pregnant had nothing to do with her weight. It was mainly just one of those cases where the wanting was doing something to her and she wasn't able to get pregnant as soon as she stopped trying and constantly focusing on getting pregnant she did!

Right now my sister is in the same situation, she and her husband have been married for 8 years trying for 2 and they both have high stress jobs and are on the heavier side. Do I think her weight is affecting her ability to conceive not really.....
I would say if your healthy and happy with your current weight dont change for anybody! As for your sister she may just be putting her frustrations and anxieties on you for lack of someone to tell how she's really feeling.

[flyerso6]

I dont think your weight in itself matters, a girl i knew from high school is about 300 lbs and maybe 5'4ish and she has 2 kids. Both accidents at that.

I always thought the weight problem for getting pregnant or even having normal periods was with those who are smaller or with low body fat. I am 5'2 and 105lbs and my periods have never been regular except when i was on BC.

Just exercise and eat healthy.

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

We all have different body types, and all have a different "healthy weight range" depending on that body type. When you get pregnant you will gain a certain ammount of weight. I know that it can be harder to lose the weight after you have a child because your hormones are different. I say as long as you have a balanced healthy diet, excercise a few times a week (even just a 20 minute walk) take your vitamins and are HAPPY and confident with your body then you're good to go. I would schedule a "pre-conception" appt. with your doctor before you start trying to conceive. She will go over weight, nutrition, do blood work, and recommend what she thinks is good for your body before conceiving. I had my pre-conception appt 2 months ago, and felt SO much better after I went. I've been taking pre-natals so I'll be ready to go when we start trying. Good luck! :D

[amisteratwisterandme]

I do think weight matters! I don't think you shouldn't have kids because of weight, but to think it doesn't make any difference at all is a little naive. (and no, I'm not thin myself)

I also would NEVER suggest someone has surgery, and I am assuming you are talking about the lap band or gastric bypass? before trying to have a baby. There are probably more health risks with the surgery then with having a baby.

Point is, overweight people do tend to have more health problems. Heart, diabetes, blood pressure, etc., so I am sure that would in turn affect a pregnancy.

My advice is to start eating healthy, follow up with 20 to 30 minutes of exercise 3 to 5 times a week and get on a routine before the pregnancy, because once you do get pregnant, the only exercise you should have is the same as what your body is used to. I know there is a heart rate that you shouldn't go over if you are pregnant, but not sure what it is.

Also, think of the health of the baby. Maybe now is a good time to learn good habits, so that when you do bring a child into this world, you can keep up with their nutritional as well as physical needs.

I'm not t

[amisteratwisterandme]

I do think weight matters! I don't think you shouldn't have kids because of weight, but to think it doesn't make any difference at all is a little naive. (and no, I'm not thin myself)

I also would NEVER suggest someone has surgery, and I am assuming you are talking about the lap band or gastric bypass? before trying to have a baby. There are probably more health risks with the surgery then with having a baby.

Point is, overweight people do tend to have more health problems. Heart, diabetes, blood pressure, etc., so I am sure that would in turn affect a pregnancy.

My advice is to start eating healthy, follow up with 20 to 30 minutes of exercise 3 to 5 times a week and get on a routine before the pregnancy, because once you do get pregnant, the only exercise you should have is the same as what your body is used to. I know there is a heart rate that you shouldn't go over if you are pregnant, but not sure what it is.

Also, think of the health of the baby. Maybe now is a good time to learn good habits, so that when you do bring a child into this world, you can keep up with their nutritional as well as physical needs.

I'm not trying to upset anyone. This is all proven medically. I have been walking religously for over a year, and I am intending to start upping my exercise as well, just to be healthier.

[SarahPearl]

I do think weight matters! I don't think you shouldn't have kids because of weight, but to think it doesn't make any difference at all is a little naive. (and no, I'm not thin myself)

I also would NEVER suggest someone has surgery, and I am assuming you are talking about the lap band or gastric bypass? before trying to have a baby. There are probably more health risks with the surgery then with having a baby.

Point is, overweight people do tend to have more health problems. Heart, diabetes, blood pressure, etc., so I am sure that would in turn affect a pregnancy.

My advice is to start eating healthy, follow up with 20 to 30 minutes of exercise 3 to 5 times a week and get on a routine before the pregnancy, because once you do get pregnant, the only exercise you should have is the same as what your body is used to. I know there is a heart rate that you shouldn't go over if you are pregnant, but not sure what it is.

Also, think of the health of the baby. Maybe now is a good time to learn good habits, so that when you do bring a child into this world, you can keep up with their nutritional as well as physical needs.

I'm not trying to upset anyone. This is all proven medically. I have been walking religously for over a year, and I am intending to start upping my exercise as well, just to be healthier.

I completely agree..
I don't think that the weight necessarily matters in your ability to have children, but it may be a health concern for you later down the road during the pregnancy..

And I also agree about the being underweight issue as well...it would just be more ideal to be more "healthy" :grinhappy:

I think you should go for it though! :grinhappy:

[NurseLau84]

As some of the others have stated, weight can play a role in conception. The healthier you are, the more likely you are to conceive. Women who are obese (a BMI of 30 or greater, so if you're 5'8 and 250#, your BMI = 38) can also have insulin resistance problems, high blood pressure and elevated blood lipids.
Other things such as sexually transmitted infections (ie; chlamydia and gonorrhea), hormonal issues (ie; thyroid imbalances) can have an effect on fertility.
Long story short, it's a combo of things that can cause problems with conception. But, a healthy weight certainly can have a positive effect on fertility.

[Hope75]

Weight does play a role in the ability to conceive. Obviously there are exceptions but as a general rule if your BMI is within the normal healthy range (1.5-24.9) you are more likely to conceive. Estrogen is regulated by body fat so women who are underweight or overweight can have an imbalance which can negatively affect fertility.

I would not recommend a lap band procedure to someone who is trying to conceive, it can affect how much nutrition your body absorbs which is super important in pregnancy. Eating right and having a regular exercise program (30-60 minutes of heart rate elevating exercise most days of the week) will help maximize your chances of conceiving.

If you have been trying for over a year (and are under age 35) or for more than 6 months (and are over age 35) I would see your gyn for a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist to rule out any other problems.

Good luck!