Losing Weight In Order To Get Pregnant?

mandymaurine
mandymaurine Posts: 9 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
I am losing weight to be healthy but also be healthy enough to get pregnant. Have any of you had trouble conceiving, then got in shape and finally conceived? TIA! :)
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Replies

  • missmelissa919
    missmelissa919 Posts: 59 Member
    I hope losing weight helps! I'm trying to lose weight for the same reason
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    I had the opposite issue -- many years ago I dieted and lost a lot of weight. Even though I was within a healthy BMI, it was too thin for me and my periods stopped. My doctor classified me as borderline anorexic even though I technically wasn't under weight. I'll never forget what he said -- "Your body knows more about what it needs to be healthy than any chart does!" I had to gain 20 pounds before I was able to conceive. Good luck!
  • mom2wessarah
    mom2wessarah Posts: 72 Member
    I conceived my son after only two months at 35 being about 30lbs overweight.
  • SafioraLinnea
    SafioraLinnea Posts: 628 Member
    My best friend had this experience. She had 'unexplained infertility' for six years and was severely obese. Her fertility specialist was a jerk and refused to help her until she lost weight and was no longer in an obese category. Honestly, we both think the specialist didn't think she would bother but in a bit less than two years she got to a BMI of 28. Within three months of her second visit with the specialist, she got pregnant with twins. She is due in December.

    I am finding myself in a similar situation, as I am heavier than specialists prefer and my partner and I are having problems conceiving. I am losing the weight but I refuse to do any fad quick loss diets because I want the loss to be long term.
  • victoria_1024
    victoria_1024 Posts: 915 Member
    Well, I wasn't trying to get pregnant, but I lost 35 lbs using MFP last year and unexpectedly got pregnant! We've had trouble conceiving in the past. :) Good luck!
  • mgraciellem
    mgraciellem Posts: 13 Member
    Me!! My husband and I were eating healthy and working out 5 times per week. I lost 25 pounds then got pregnant :) Good luck!
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    Unfortunately, with me, it wouldn't have mattered how much weight I lost - there were so many other issues with my body chemistry I wouldn't have been able to conceive no matter what happened with my weight. I have PCOS, a blocked fallopian tube, natural killer cells, and a few other things that just really buggered my chances.

    I'm not saying this is the case with everybody, but getting a physical and an OB/GYN check up wouldn't hurt and at least ask the doctor questions relating to weight and getting pregnant, and how long to wait before seeking help in getting pregnant.

    (NOTE: We did get help and went through 2 assisted reproductive tech cycles with a doctor and have 2 beautiful smart daughters. If you end up having questions, let me know.)
  • Venus_Red
    Venus_Red Posts: 209 Member
    edited September 2015
    Pawsforme wrote: »
    I had the opposite issue -- many years ago I dieted and lost a lot of weight. Even though I was within a healthy BMI, it was too thin for me and my periods stopped. My doctor classified me as borderline anorexic even though I technically wasn't under weight. I'll never forget what he said -- "Your body knows more about what it needs to be healthy than any chart does!" I had to gain 20 pounds before I was able to conceive. Good luck!

    Anorexia is a mental illness. I doubt your doctor classified you as that because you were thin.

    To be clear, anorexic doesn't mean thin. Anorexic means you are in the throes of an ED that has put your body into crisis.

    Amenorrhea can happen with diet unrelated to anorexia. Let's all stop saying anyone who isn't normal weight is anorexic.
  • wintersyve
    wintersyve Posts: 29 Member
    Like someone else here a few years ago I lost 30lb but still nothing. The upshot of this us that we are in the process of applying for adoption! So excited!
  • knelson095
    knelson095 Posts: 254 Member
    mandymaurine wrote: »
    I am losing weight to be healthy but also be healthy enough to get pregnant. Have any of you had trouble conceiving, then got in shape and finally conceived? TIA! :)

    My main goal is this too. I have baby fever, lol! Unfortunately my body thinks otherwise, so I'm giving weight loss a shot. Feel free to add me!

  • isthatpoisontoo
    isthatpoisontoo Posts: 21 Member
    Me! We haven't tried to conceive yet, but since healthy weight mothers have better outcomes for conceiving, easier births and healthier babies, I decided I ought to be one. Although I should note that being underweight is far, far worse that being overweight. Fortunately in my case that isn't a danger!
  • darkcowboy
    darkcowboy Posts: 59 Member
    me and my wife tried for 13 years then after me and my wife lost large amounts of weight we conceived very easily my son is now almost 4 months old
  • rhianna818
    rhianna818 Posts: 85 Member
    I am in it for a baby. lol Well I mean there are other reasons too but ultimately I'm hoping that by losing we can conceive. My husband and I are both morbidly obese (such ugly words) but are losing together. One of the best NSV will be seeing that plus sign on the pee stick.
  • LovingLife_Erin
    LovingLife_Erin Posts: 328 Member
    I keep saying that I'm getting skinny so that I can get fat with a baby lol. We want to start trying next year and I wanted to try to be a healthier weight before then. I have baby fever so it's a huge motivation!
  • ivonnecm88
    ivonnecm88 Posts: 1 Member
    My cycles became regular once I started eating better. They would come every other month so it was hard to conceive another little one. After back to back cycles, my husband and I were like ok, let's definitely try each month. Got pregnant 3rd month trying and was down over 30 lbs. Never thought my irregular cycles were due to my weight, or maybe I was just in denial. I can't wait to meet our little one in January! Good luck! :smile:
  • brightsideofpink
    brightsideofpink Posts: 1,018 Member
    I had quite a few fertility and pregnancy issues and it took me more than 5 years to conceive my (now) toddler. I did a lot of yo-yo dieting in that time and would often lose 10 quick lbs here and there and gain it back. I conceived every time I lost weight. Unfortunately, other issues prevented me from carrying those pregnancies to term. In those five years I spent quite a bit of time on infertility forums and saw that conception after weight loss was fairly common.

    Disclaimer: I don't know of any science behind the relationship with weight loss and I'm certainly not promoting it as a means of dealing with infertility. Infertility is real and painful and I don't mean to minimize the very real biological reasons men and women face when trying to conceive. Just sharing my own story as was asked.

    Best of luck to all of you.
  • chaoticdreams
    chaoticdreams Posts: 447 Member
    I'm losing weight for a baby, but not because of infertility issues (or any that I know of, never had problems in the past). I just feel like I'll have a healthier pregnancy and higher chances of a healthy baby in general if I'm not obese since I'm not in my 20's anymore. 20 more lbs to go to just be overweight. :) Looks like it may be a fun winter LOL.
  • missmelissa919
    missmelissa919 Posts: 59 Member
    wintersyve wrote: »
    Like someone else here a few years ago I lost 30lb but still nothing. The upshot of this us that we are in the process of applying for adoption! So excited!

    I hope everything goes well!
    ivonnecm88 wrote: »
    My cycles became regular once I started eating better. They would come every other month so it was hard to conceive another little one. After back to back cycles, my husband and I were like ok, let's definitely try each month. Got pregnant 3rd month trying and was down over 30 lbs. Never thought my irregular cycles were due to my weight, or maybe I was just in denial. I can't wait to meet our little one in January! Good luck! :smile:

    Congrats!
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  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
    But doesn't getting pregnant get u out of shape again ?

    Nope. Failing to eat sensibly and get in some physical activity will get you out of shape while pregnant but pregnancy doesn't directly lead to being out of shape.

    Yep, OP. I had fertility issues and after various treatments was told to consider adoption, a surrogate, or life without kids. Eighteen months later, after losing 25 pounds, I got pregnant with no medical intervention. I have PCOS and believe that the combo of weight loss and eating fewer carbs (not low carb, just fewer carbs) helped with ovulation.
  • MoiAussi93
    MoiAussi93 Posts: 1,948 Member
    edited September 2015
    SafioraLinnea wrote: »
    My best friend had this experience. She had 'unexplained infertility' for six years and was severely obese. Her fertility specialist was a jerk and refused to help her until she lost weight and was no longer in an obese category. Honestly, we both think the specialist didn't think she would bother but in a bit less than two years she got to a BMI of 28. Within three months of her second visit with the specialist, she got pregnant with twins. She is due in December.

    I am finding myself in a similar situation, as I am heavier than specialists prefer and my partner and I are having problems conceiving. I am losing the weight but I refuse to do any fad quick loss diets because I want the loss to be long term.

    I don't think the fertility specialist was a jerk for doing that. I'm sure that based on his expertise and experience, he realized there wasn't much he could do to help her at that weight. Why waste the time and money if he knows there is only a very slim chance of a successful pregnancy? He gave her good advice...she followed it...went back and quickly got pregnant. Seems to me he did the right thing.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    MoiAussi93 wrote: »
    SafioraLinnea wrote: »
    My best friend had this experience. She had 'unexplained infertility' for six years and was severely obese. Her fertility specialist was a jerk and refused to help her until she lost weight and was no longer in an obese category. Honestly, we both think the specialist didn't think she would bother but in a bit less than two years she got to a BMI of 28. Within three months of her second visit with the specialist, she got pregnant with twins. She is due in December.

    I am finding myself in a similar situation, as I am heavier than specialists prefer and my partner and I are having problems conceiving. I am losing the weight but I refuse to do any fad quick loss diets because I want the loss to be long term.

    I don't think the fertility specialist was a jerk for doing that. I'm sure that based on his expertise and experience, he realized there wasn't much he could do to help her at that weight. Why waste the time and money if he knows there is only a very slim chance of a successful pregnancy? He gave her good advice...she followed it...went back and quickly got pregnant. Seems to me he did the right thing.

    I don't think it's jerky either. My fertility specialist was super blunt (he once told me that a woman's uterine lining should be like a lush lawn and that mine was like a weedy field) and I loved it. I was paying him a lot of money and wouldn't want him to BS me and string me along when there was something easy, like losing weight, that I could do to increase my odds of getting pregnant.
  • MoiAussi93
    MoiAussi93 Posts: 1,948 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    MoiAussi93 wrote: »
    SafioraLinnea wrote: »
    My best friend had this experience. She had 'unexplained infertility' for six years and was severely obese. Her fertility specialist was a jerk and refused to help her until she lost weight and was no longer in an obese category. Honestly, we both think the specialist didn't think she would bother but in a bit less than two years she got to a BMI of 28. Within three months of her second visit with the specialist, she got pregnant with twins. She is due in December.

    I am finding myself in a similar situation, as I am heavier than specialists prefer and my partner and I are having problems conceiving. I am losing the weight but I refuse to do any fad quick loss diets because I want the loss to be long term.

    I don't think the fertility specialist was a jerk for doing that. I'm sure that based on his expertise and experience, he realized there wasn't much he could do to help her at that weight. Why waste the time and money if he knows there is only a very slim chance of a successful pregnancy? He gave her good advice...she followed it...went back and quickly got pregnant. Seems to me he did the right thing.

    I don't think it's jerky either. My fertility specialist was super blunt (he once told me that a woman's uterine lining should be like a lush lawn and that mine was like a weedy field) and I loved it. I was paying him a lot of money and wouldn't want him to BS me and string me along when there was something easy, like losing weight, that I could do to increase my odds of getting pregnant.

    Weedy field! he has a way with words. LOL! But I agree...I appreciate bluntness from professionals because it leaves no room for misunderstanding and makes it clear exactly what the situation is.
  • wintersyve
    wintersyve Posts: 29 Member
    missmelissa919 wrote: »
    wintersyve wrote: »
    Like someone else here a few years ago I lost 30lb but still nothing. The upshot of this us that we are in the process of applying for adoption! So excited!

    I hope everything goes well!

    Thanks!!
  • judymata
    judymata Posts: 42 Member
    I started to lose weight for that same reason, my motivations have shifted significantly since then. Hope everything works out for you!
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    I did. I started losing weight June 2013. I lost weight sensibly and healthily and worked out 4-5x a week. I lost 57 lbs (from 211.6 to 155) and we began TTCing as soon as I hit 155 lbs (which was the goal my husband set). I went from rarely having periods (think 1-3 a year) to getting more and more regular. I was finally getting my period monthly. Plus I could finally see fluctuations on the scale for when I retained water weight, which meant either I was ovulating or getting AF. For once in my life I was finally able to track my cycles. We conceived the very first month of trying, which was April/May 2014. Continued logging and eating sensibly, swam 3x a week. I gained the recommended amount of weight for my BMI, 24.6 lbs. Had my baby January of this year. She's now 8 months old and I've lost an additional 12 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight after I lost all of my pregnancy weight. It's a bit harder to lose with breastfeeding, by I'm slowly getting there.

  • knelson095
    knelson095 Posts: 254 Member
    Ninkyou wrote: »
    I did. I started losing weight June 2013. I lost weight sensibly and healthily and worked out 4-5x a week. I lost 57 lbs (from 211.6 to 155) and we began TTCing as soon as I hit 155 lbs (which was the goal my husband set). I went from rarely having periods (think 1-3 a year) to getting more and more regular. I was finally getting my period monthly. Plus I could finally see fluctuations on the scale for when I retained water weight, which meant either I was ovulating or getting AF. For once in my life I was finally able to track my cycles. We conceived the very first month of trying, which was April/May 2014. Continued logging and eating sensibly, swam 3x a week. I gained the recommended amount of weight for my BMI, 24.6 lbs. Had my baby January of this year. She's now 8 months old and I've lost an additional 12 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight after I lost all of my pregnancy weight. It's a bit harder to lose with breastfeeding, by I'm slowly getting there.

    So glad to see this!!! I have the same problem (few to no periods) and I'm hoping losing weight will help me. I've only lost 15 lbs, after starting at 223, and already I'm pmsing like crazy. Your post gives me so much hope! Thank you!

    Also, I read somewhere that fat cells store androgen hormones, so if you already have a tendency for too much testosterone, the fat keeps it there. Or something. It was awhile ago...lol.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited September 2015
    thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
    But doesn't getting pregnant get u out of shape again ?

    My sister used her first pregnancy as an excuse to over eat. I think she gained 60 pounds. That's when she discovered MFP. She learned that she simply cannot eat as much ice cream as her 6'4" husband and gained much less weight with her second pregnancy.

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    MoiAussi93 wrote: »
    SafioraLinnea wrote: »
    My best friend had this experience. She had 'unexplained infertility' for six years and was severely obese. Her fertility specialist was a jerk and refused to help her until she lost weight and was no longer in an obese category. Honestly, we both think the specialist didn't think she would bother but in a bit less than two years she got to a BMI of 28. Within three months of her second visit with the specialist, she got pregnant with twins. She is due in December.

    I am finding myself in a similar situation, as I am heavier than specialists prefer and my partner and I are having problems conceiving. I am losing the weight but I refuse to do any fad quick loss diets because I want the loss to be long term.

    I don't think the fertility specialist was a jerk for doing that. I'm sure that based on his expertise and experience, he realized there wasn't much he could do to help her at that weight. Why waste the time and money if he knows there is only a very slim chance of a successful pregnancy? He gave her good advice...she followed it...went back and quickly got pregnant. Seems to me he did the right thing.

    Agreed.

    I consulted with a marriage counselor who wouldn't take us because we were drinking...a lot. I thought he was a jerk at the time, but after I stopped drinking to excess could see where he was coming from.

  • mspink7022
    mspink7022 Posts: 9 Member
    I am losing weight to be healthy but I have baby fever and my husband and I are ready for babies. I hope to lose 30lbs by the end of the year and then hopefully get pregnant :) Weight loss has always been a struggle, but I think it will be easier to do knowing I get a sweet baby at the end :wink:
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