To think it's odd I'm now classed as high risk due to pregnancy weight gain?

[Pearlyclouds]

I know I've piled on weight during this pregnancy. I've not actually weighed myself but at my booking in appointment my BMI was 30... I'm now 38 weeks pregnant and at my scan they re weighed me and my BMI is 40!!!
I was planning a homebirth which I was bring completely supported with. Having scans every few weeks to check everything was OK. And so far it has been. Baby on 55th percentile. Blood pressure normal. No GD. Baby now engaged. This is my 3rd baby.
Now that they've re weighed me they are telling me I'm high risk...
To be fair it's just one midwife and doctor who have said this.
I think I will still be having a homebirth as my usual midwife is still supporting it and two other doctors I saw were supporting it.
I'm just quite surprised they've weighed me at 38 weeks pregnant to be honest. I know I've put on more weight than is ideal but there's no other indication there's any issue.. Baby is not too big or small.. blood pressure fine.. I do not have diabetes...
It basically seems like people being a bit hostile with me because I'm 'fat' now rather than any legitimate cause for concern..
Has anyone else had this experience?
Am I being unreasonable to think I'm not actually high risk and nothing has really changed.. and I should still go ahead and at least try to have the baby at home like planned?

Being so overweight is a legitimate cause for concern.

It is the medical reality that you are high risk due to weight. I'd follow their advice.

I would go with that advice and have baby in hospital.
but good luck with whatever you decide.

You were already obese so putting your baby/self/health at risk, now you've put even more weight on, it's even more of a concern.

You'll probably be fine but it's obviously a good idea to put down the pies and cakes and take the medical professionals seriously.

A BMI of 40 is definitely medically concerning; I'm surprised any of them are supporting a home birth.

It is probably because you are at higher risk of PPH. Have a meeting with them and get them to fully explain what their concerns are and what impact it might have on your birth. Good luck with your birth.

As nicely as I can. A 30 bmi is already obese. I did a quick nhs bmi check on myself and I'm already overweight, I'd have to gain 30kg to have a 40bmi.

They're not wrong to be concerned and I am surprised tbh that they're encouraging a home birth.

New research has identified women who gain large amounts of weight in pregnancy are at high risk of birth complications such as shoulder dystocia and PPH as there body is not used to carrying this weight and due to pregnancy it tends to go to waist, abdomen. So they are right you would be high risk and have a much higher risk of life changing complications

Gently, yes. YABU.

I'm not going to judge you for the weight gain - but it will be a legitimate concern during pregnancy.

Try not to think of it as a moral judgement but more as keeping an extra eye on things.

And what about the blood thinners or are we just going to pretend that didn't happen?

I don't understand why you think it's odd. If it's statistically true that having a BMI of 40 makes you high risk, they would be negligent not to classify you as such.

I don't want to be harsh, but you must have put on a fairly considerable amount of weight to go from a BMI of 30 to one of 40 in such a short space of time.

30 is already obese, but 40 is morbidly obese. I'm really not surprised they're worried about you.

BMI is wildly inaccurate in pregnant women.
It's not usual practice to ask for weight at any point other than the booking appointment unless there are other concerns.
My initial instinct is they don't want to provide you with the staff for a home birth so are finding reasons to say you're not eligible, and the one they decided to go for is BMI.

It’s standard to re check BMI at booking, scans and in labour unless any concerns are identified prior due to the increased risks for delivery

I'm just not sure, considering how much of an eye they were keeping on my health anyway, that the number on the scale somehow warrants this concern. Only minutes before everyone was happy as Larry with everything but as soon as they saw my weight then that changed. Surely the actual scans and various tests say more about mine and my babies health than a random number?
I mean like I said I'm not going to be told outright not to have a homebirth as the community midwives have still said they are happy with supporting it and so has a different doctor.
Obviously it has made me anxious though. Its not ideal the weight I've piled on.. I understand there's a risk of more severe bleeding but the other risks associated with my weight they were already checking for and I do not have these issues.. the baby is not measuring big or small.. I do not have high blood pressure or diabetes etc

Inaccurate or not, op's BMI has increased from a very specific point to another (measurable) very specific point.
The risk is very real and conspiracy nonsense is no help to op whatsoever although I'll bet your post is the only one she'll take on board

Ex midwife here. It's not a conspiracy. Thats really what happens when units don't have enough staff.

Baby could well be fine but there is no measure for the additional adopose fat your carrying internally that could impact the birth as well as bloods vessels increasing risks to you and baby. If your still wanting a home birth that’s your choice but I completely understand the concern for you and baby x

Similar happened to me. My BMI was in the lower end of the overweight category pre pregnancy. I moved house and had a booking appointment at 28 weeks, where, because of the pregnancy, my BMI was now in the obese category and I was therefore flagged as being obese and at high risk.

I returned to my pre pregnancy weight within days of giving birth, showing that the excess weight that put me in obese was clearly baby related (to avoid sounding smug, I gained a lot in my first pregnancy, hence the higher BMI to start with, so made sure to watch my weight this time!)

Surely the actual scans and various tests say more about mine and my babies health than a random number?

But it's not just a random number, it's a specific point on the BMI scale that means you've moved into the morbidly obese category. Even if your tests are all fine, that's a significant risk to both you and the baby.

This Dr speaks a lot of sense on many pregnant and birth topics. I'd suggest seeing what she has to say and also doing your own research to help you make an informed choice about what is best for you and your baby (using reputable peer reviewed papers and sources such as green top guidelines).

https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/women-with-higher-bmi/

I was not weighed at all after my booking appointment. I think policies vary depending on care provider. I also found differing advice an opinions during my pregnancy depending on the consultant, their experience, where they trained etc so doing my own research was the only way I felt comfortable in my choices.

I think thats quite harsh considering I havent actually been told outright I shouldn't have a homebirth by anyone and considering the community midwives outright said they would support me as well as the other doctor I saw... who did recommend an induction if I went overdue but said he was happy for me to continue with my homebirth plans up until then. Booked me in for another scan on my due date.
Its just been confusing to have conflicting reactions amongst the people I've seen.

It’s not a “random number” they’ve pulled out of a hat. Ask for a meeting, go through your concerns and listen to theirs. Record it so you can listen again and be clear you understand what they’ve said.
I hope all goes well.

I know this might also sound harsh but it's not meant to be at all

If something goes wrong at the home birth (God forbid) it can be much more difficult to get you to hospital from a purely practical point of view, given its harder to physically move a heavier person.

IIRC there's also a weight limit of sorts to use a birthing pool for similar reasons - much more difficult to get a heavier person out of the pool.

That said. I'd ask your HV what in particular they're concerned about.

Can I ask why you’re so fixated on having a home birth when professionals are advising you against it? In these cases I’m surprised it’s not the other way round…

doctor/midwife: yeah, you can have a home birth, doesn’t matter if it’s a little risky.
mother to be: no, I want the best possible care for my child and I, so I choose to give birth in a hospital.
doctor/midwife: nah, you’ll be fine!