Bmi 47 at booking- worried about giving birth

[Disneymad1990]

Hi- just looking for some sucessful stories of natural birth with a bmi over 40.
Im 9 weeks pregnant- had a mc at 5 weeks in january so quite anxious- had a bleed at 6 weeks so had a early scan and saw a heartbeat- thank god.
Had my booking appointment with midwife this week- and after googling and reading lots 🙈 i was under the impression that with my BMI so high- i would be forced by conaultant to have a c- section
I mentioned this to the midwife and she was kind of shocked that i though that and said thats not always the case.
I had kinda always thought id have a c section and no other option- now that may not be the case- just wandering if anyone has a high bmi and a sucessful vaginal delivery -
Understand people may find this hard to talk about so sorry if its not ok to ask.

Yes, me, BMI 45 at booking. Induction at 39 weeks due to gestational diabetes but the birth was good, vaginal birth with no interventions. I tried to discuss section vs vaginal with my consultant and she basically shut me down and said I had no reason to have a section and the infection risk was much higher anyway.

@Astonishing thank you so much for you reply

Im very nervous about the consultants and being judged for my size.

Glad all went ok for you 😊

Thanks again for your reply.

I was worried too but although everyone is very matter of fact, I never felt judged. If you're on peanut, there's a plus sized mums group which is really good for support and realising plus size pregnancy is very common.

Congratulations!
Sara Wickham is a midwife and has just published a book called plus size pregnancy which examines the evidence base in this area.

www.sarawickham.com/books/

I've always had a high bmi ranging between 35 -42 and I've had 5 vaginal births, all normal with no intervention.

@MrsPatrickDempsey @4pink1blue thank you for you replies- nice to get some positive information-
I will defo look at that book 😊

My BMI was 41 at booking, and I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant. I'm under a consultant, but she was delighted when I said I wanted vaginal delivery and the midwives I have seen have all been encouraging and supportive too. Obviously baby isn't here yet so I don't know exactly how he will be born, but the plan is definitely still the same, even though I've had some blood pressure issues!

Hi all- thanks again to all who replied-
I have another question for you ladies and any with a high bmi-

Im 13 weeks now and had my scan yesterday which was amazing!
I also had blood test and NT measurement for the screening tests.

Did any of you have this- with having a high bmi and have a lower chance test result!
Its the next time im worried about now 😔

The NT measurement was 1.8mm
And im 13 weeks 1 day.

Many thanks in advance for any replies 😊 x

My results were 1 in 19064 chance of downs and a 1 in 10000 chance of Edwards/Pataus - both very low results. My NT measurement was normal, although I can’t remember exactly what it was.

Thank you- do you mind me asking how old you were? 🙈

Im 32 and hoping got a lower chance result.
But worried about bmi affecting it.

I’m also 32 and 35 weeks pregnant, so this wasn’t too long ago! 😊

Classed as obese here and I've had three textbook vaginal births.

I had a similar BMI when I had my son at 36. His birth was very straight forward other than having to be induced (he was late, I also chose to have an epidural) and we went home the same day.

I’m currently 38 and 20 weeks and no one’s mentioned anything about a c-section, although my combined test was higher for DS (1/60) but the NIPT was low risk. I think my age influenced the combined test a lot as it was only my hCG which was a little high.

Aw thank you again for your reply -
Hoping all ok with my results. 🤞

My BMI was over 40, I did find pregnancy hard towards the end (as do many women) but all normal stuff. I had GD but managed it, and was induced at 39+6, only needed the gel to get started and my labour progressed on its own from there. Had an epidural without any issues and a textbook delivery of my little boy.

Being pregnant was probably the most I have ever loved and appreciated my body, and what it did for me.

Is it not possible to lose weight whilst pregnant to reduce the risk of complications? Not being mean, genuine query.

Is it not possible to lose weight whilst pregnant to reduce the risk of complications? Not being mean, genuine query.

@Goodornot it's not advisable, at least not any substantial amounts, and doing anything drastic to lose weight while pregnant would increase risks. I lost 2kg while pregnant, but that was from a combo of being ill in the first trimester and then eating to manage my Gestational Diabetes. Not a lot of weight for someone my size over a long period of time, but my only goal was to nourish my body and my baby - even so my weight loss was monitored.

I was happy to answer this question as me and my baby are safe and well but you should know how upsetting it could be to someone in the OP's position who is already really anxious. Weight is a complicated issue, and losing it as an obese person is not simple.

Just wanted to update-
Had my screening test results back today and all lower chance!
So relieved!
I also hered the babys heartbeat for the first time!
Was amazing! 🥰
Cant quite believe im 16 weeks

Midwife said should be able to feel baby move soon-

Can i ask you high bmi ladies when you first felt your baby move-
Worried i wont as being on the bigger side 🙈
Xx

Probably about 22 weeks with my first, 17 with my second. Also to add further reassurance, I had my second baby on Friday (hence the time of this post) totally uncomplicated spontaneous vaginal delivery with no intervention, tears or stitches.

High BMI for all 3 pregnancies here

All vaginal births. One 6 weeks early but not caused by my weight

Oh wonderful news!

15 weeks for me, and he was my first. A lot depends on where your placenta is. Your weight shouldn't affect you feeling from the inside, but it can make it harder to feel movement from the outside if that makes sense.

Glad your results came back low risk! I felt my first at around 17 weeks. Even earlier with my second, even though I was fatter. BMI was high 30's at booking, definitely into the 40's at birth

Work in obstetrics. We see women of all shapes and sizes for all reasons having caesarean section. But never because they've been told they have to have a C-section because of their BMI.

That's great news! Glad you were low risk, and hearing baby's heartbeat is always amazing.

I first suspected I felt flutters at about 17 weeks. I spent a lot of time laying very still and trying to feel it though! It was so infrequent and light to begin with, but has just got stronger and stronger. I have an anterior placenta as well, so when it was still light I wouldn't be able to feel if it was behind the placenta.

Yeh that makes sense- thank you for you reply 😊 cant wait to be able to feel it move!