Weight Stigma In Pregnancy

Weight gain is a hot topic in pregnancy and it’s something many people worry about. But when it comes to weight and health, it’s more complicated than you may realise. Registered dietitian and intuitive eating counsellor Katherine Kimber unpicks some of the complexities.

This information is taken from Katherine’s live Pregnancy Nutrition Masterclass over on our YouTube channel. Watch the full class here.

Weight gain can be really triggering for a lot of people, but when it comes to pregnancy, it is both good, and necessary. 

Weight gain in pregnancy

Most of the weight you will gain during pregnancy will be for growing your baby, the production of a whole new organ, your placenta, as well as fluids in your womb, blood supply, and additional blood for your placenta. 

It is good to have some awareness about your body changing and weight gain. But, since there are no formal guidelines as to how much weight you should and shouldn’t be gaining during pregnancy, if you find ways of eating and drinking that are working for you or exercising in a way that feels good for you, then listen to your body, it knows what it’s doing.

Intense dieting and extreme exercising during pregnancy can actually cause nutritional deficiency to you and your baby. So, what happens when you’re advised to lose weight by a healthcare professional? I recommend you ask that professional to document this in your notes and to ask for a second opinion.

Weight stigma in pregnancy

Weight related discrimination unfortunately does happen in the healthcare industry, and can be extremely anxiety-provoking, and this might come at a time when you’re already worrying about other things. This is why it’s important to know your rights. You may be weighed during pregnancy, but if this is going to be damaging for you or triggering, it is well within your rights to ask what additional information this healthcare professional will gain and whether there is another, more reliable test they can do. 

And when it comes to larger bodies in pregnancy, birthing people are often finding that they are lumped into a category simply based on BMI or weight, when all other markers are normal. And unfortunately, if you’re in a larger body, you’re probably going to be monitored more than someone who is in a “healthy weight” bracket. This can also impact your choices, which means it is important to do your research and know your rights. Know what you want, what you don’t want, listen to your own body and remember that you are worthy of being listened to and having your needs met regardless of weight. Being in a larger body doesn’t necessarily mean you will get the risks and complications that are associated with being in a larger body during pregnancy as these complications can occur with bodies of any size.

Relative risk vs absolute risk

It’s important to be aware of the difference between relative risk and absolute risk. An example would be:

Smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers.

The absolute risk is the risk of developing heart disease and the relative risk is being a smoker increasing your chances of developing heart disease. 

When your doctor tells you about risks, it’s important to note the difference. This is because the relative risk may be twice as likely in a larger body but the absolute risk may only be very low (1/100,000 if you’re twice as likely, you’re still only 2/100,000 to be at risk). So, with this in mind, when a healthcare professional talks about risk, ask them what the absolute risk is and what the relative risk is.

The most important part is to look after yourself, know your rights and don’t do anything that is going to be really triggering to you. Remember to ask why a test has been recommended, and to know the difference between relative and absolute risks. If you’re unsure, get a second opinion.

You can get lots more pregnancy advice to support you through every stage of your pregnancy in our Pregnancy Pack. Sign up here.

Katherine Kimber is a Registered Dietitian and Intuitive Eating Counsellor. You can find more about Katherine’s work at Nude Nutrition.