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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Question about midwives/birth plans when high risk because of being overweight

19 replies

bananabump · 03/05/2007 15:37

Hi, I've been classed as high risk and under consultant led care because I'm overweight but all the tests/scans etc they do all come back with perfectly normal results. I'm due for another scan at 30 wks (26 now) and I have no idea what that is for, as everything so far has been fine.

The only reason I have been given as to why I am being seen by the consultant is that because of my weight the scans are less clear, and because of this I had my 5 months anomaly scan twice etc but everything was fine.

Anyway for various reasons I have been thinking about having a waterbirth, but my hospital doesn't do waterbirths because apparently the floors aren't strong enough to support the weight of the pool, so someone suggested I buy a birthpool in a box and do it at home.

Everything I have read says that if you're high risk you can't have a home birth, am I correct? But do I have a right to contest that fact, since everything so far has been normal and straightforward?

Don't get me wrong, if anything happened before the birth i.e developing high blood pressure, preeclampsia or whatever, I would go along with whatever the midwife/consultant says, but until then is it really fair to assume the worst?

A homebirth does appeal as I have heard that when women are overweight a lot of doctors think the baby is going to be "too big to deliver" which is rarely the case, so they push women into choosing unnecessary vertical cesareans, and then the mother has problems healing because of her size.

Anyway, my question is how do I approach the midwife about this? Can I just call up and express my worries, or do I book an appointment to see the consultant and argue it out with him?

The last thing I want is for them to think I'm being deliberately obstructive, I just don't want unnecessary surgery and faffing.

Any women had good/bad birth experiences while overweight? I feel like I'm the only one who thinks it'll be ok!

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Olihan · 03/05/2007 15:40

Can I ask a really rude question? How heavy are you, or what's your BMI? Just interested because I'm fairly overweight and had no issues from docs. Just wondering whether it's your PCT being a bit over cautious.

ledodgy · 03/05/2007 15:44

I think they only put you down as high risk if your BMI is in the obese category.

Original poster

bananabump · 03/05/2007 15:48

Ok 22 stone* but in otherwise good health, blood pressure, cholesterol and heart all fine. Just a lazy arse with a penchant for biscuits!

*can I add a disclaimer here that the baby wasn't planned, and was planning on losing a LOT of that before babies would come into the equation!

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lulumama · 03/05/2007 15:49

i;ve never even been weighed when pregnant ! and am certainly a well rounded woman and had a perfectly normal VBAC last time

re vertical c.s scar...that just doesn;t hapen anymore!

you can have a homebirth, that is your right, as if all your tests and scans are normal, then why not?

have a look at this homebirth site, should answer your questions

if you have gestational diabetes, there is a chance your baby might be larger than you can deliver, but if you don;t then it should not be an issue...

not about being obstructive, but if there is no reason for categorsising you as high risk, then you should ask for the birth you want!

also, i don;t beleive for one minute that only slim or average weight women can have a good , positive birth experience!

ledodgy · 03/05/2007 15:51

When I was pregnant with ds I was also high risk due to having an obese BMI at the time and my pregnancy and labour was fine in fact labour only lasted 40 mins!

Original poster

bananabump · 03/05/2007 15:52

Oh, I suppose I scared myself watching a birth programme on dicovery home and health the other day where this overweight woman (and she was a bit smaller than me) was given a vertical section because of her weight. My sil is bigger than me and had a lot of complications due to infection of the incision site, so I'm dreading them pushing me into having one for their peace of mind!

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Original poster

bananabump · 03/05/2007 15:56

So, should I just call the midwives and ask, or is it something I should make an appointment about? I have no clue if they even have midwives who will do home water births round here. Apparently where I live has the lowest number of home births in Wales, something like 2%, which is reassuring....

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 03/05/2007 16:06

both Annie75 (cause she's 'old') and I (cause I have an invisible genetic thing) are going through the same kind of thing - her recent thread's here and my initial rant is here

I had a long chat with the (very sensible) consultant yesterday and he's agreed to manage things one step at a time ie not stick me in a High Risk box and assume everything will go badly, but rather keep scanning / monitoring etc and see what happens. It was def worth talking to him - the junior doctors I'd seen up to that point had just trotted out the party line (as it were) rather than making decisions about me as a unique case.

He's still not mad keen on a homebirth though and I think it's something I might be willing to compromise, esp as DH has fessed up and said he'd be more comfortable with me in hospital too, and promised to fight my corner, bring me food, go to classes about massage for pain relief in labour (!) etc to try and get the minimal-intervention birth I'd prefer.

Lots on MNers have also said that giving birth in hospital doesn't mean you won't have a good positive birth experience, but that you might need to work a bit harder to make it so.

cupcake78 · 03/05/2007 16:11

I am also overweight and under consultant care(not just weight had M/C). But it has never been mentioned as a problem at all.

I have been advised to keep blood pressure down and eat carefully etc, but I have never been made to feel at risk.

I think if it is up to you what kind of birth you would like and taking advice from professionals who are being far from supportive must be very difficult.

Personally I want to be in hospital as they have looked after me well so far and I am abit nervous about the whole process, but I have been advised that a home birth is not a realistic option for me.

Original poster

bananabump · 03/05/2007 16:14

Interesting, thanks everyone for the input. I suppose it isn't so much a homebirth I want as one where I know they aren't going to be sharpening blades behind me if he doesn't come out in one push!

I'd be happy to be in hospital if I knew they were just going to leave me to do my own thing and only intervene if there's a definite problem. Perhaps all I really need is a bit of reassurance on that.

The waterbirth idea is nice though because it's going to be early august, baking hot, and I have a touch of spd which I've heard waterbirths help with a lot.

Sod it, I'll just ring and ask. What's the worst that can happen?

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 03/05/2007 16:22

Banana, it's def worth talking to the consultant re intervention etc if you do end up having a hospital birth.

Even if you have a loud stroppy DH to shout down the scalpel-wielders, being able to wave Prof's signature in your notes saying 'PATIENT HAS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED NO UNNECESSARY MONITORING /INTERVENTION' carries a lot of clout in the hospital heirarchy

bozza · 03/05/2007 16:27

Is there a midwife unit in your area? Just an idea as a middle ground and somewhere that might accommodate a pool.

I had a fantastic home birth with my second child, but it was straight forward, I was not overweight, and I had no interest in a pool, so not much useful experience for you.

Annie75 · 03/05/2007 16:29

Hi Bananabump. Yep, MrsBadger and me (with raised AFP levels) were both referred to consultant-led care and have since found out that they were being overly-cautious and that we've both been reassured. I too really want a home birth and intend to have one, subject to my follow-up scans being good (despite having a consultant that just doesn't like the idea of home births).

Don't let anyone intimidate you into not being able to have the birth you want - being overweight alone doesn't sound like a good enough reason to dicate where you give birth. From what I've read (recent article here on bbc news), being overweight can lead to potential complications, but you're well at the moment and there's nothing to say you won't continue to have a perfectly healthy pregnancy. Do your research (making notes and questions along the way) and then talk it over with a midwife (consultants, from my experience, shudder at the thought of home births full stop).

A positive attitude, being prepared and always remembering that this is your pregnancy and your labour will help you get through it. Good luck! x

themildmanneredjanitor · 03/05/2007 16:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bubbaloo · 03/05/2007 17:50

I was also very overweight(17 stone) when I gave birth to ds1 and had a problem free pregnancy and birth.I had ds2 2 weeks ago(and a couple of stone heavier!) and had a fantastic birth which was very quick and only had gas and air for pain relief.The only time I was weighed was during my booking in visit and my weight has never been an issue,although the last couple of weeks this time around,my bp shot up and I had protein in my urine.I also had the GTT both times which were both negative.

PurpleLostPrincess · 03/05/2007 18:09

I've been referred to the consultant for being overweight - my BMI is 38!!! I also went for GTT but it came back fine as it did with both DS and DD before. I'm seeing the consultant on 16th May and I'm interested to see what sort of questions will be asked. I get the impression I've only been referred as a matter of course because of my weight and having had 2 m/c's...

Hope it all works out for you and that you get the birth that you want - be honest and tell them what you want. It's a shame people have to fight for what they want but don't be put off.

xoxox

MKG · 03/05/2007 19:05

The best thing you can do is write the birth plan that you want. Bring it to your practitioner and go over it together, that way you are not surprised. Ask them the reasons for denying things.

Questioning what is going on with your healthcare and your body is not obstructive.

RGPargy · 03/05/2007 20:14

I'm also quite overweight and as my BMI was over 40 (!) i was told i would be referred to the consultant. so far i've not heard anything (but i'm only 10+2) and i do think it is more for their reassurance rather than ours.

i also want a home birth so it'll be interesting to see what they say about that!

twoplusone · 03/05/2007 20:14

I am overweight 16stone 6lbs and nearly 30weeks pg when I had my booking in I asked mw if I would have to have a GTT as I was overweight.. (which they made me have in the uk in 2004 when I had DS) I was tod no, unless I start to have any problems..

I was 17stone when I delivered ds who was a VBAC and everything was fine..

Good Luck hun xx

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