High BMI and consultant lead

[purplepoppet92]

Hi all

I have a BMI of 37.5 and have been put under consultant lead care due to this (cut off is 37).
My worry is that I believe I won't be able to be on a midwife lead unit with a birthing pool etc, which I really want.
My plan is to try and prevent any further weight gain through this pregnancy (essentially losing weight, but allowing for baby weight).
Do you think this will be enough to reduce my risk enough to get my ideal birth? 🤔

TIA

I think that every trust/hospital has its own rules about who can and can't go in birthing pools? And even if they say yes, there just might be no birthing pools available on the day you need one!

So I reckon, do your best to have a healthy preg and maintain weight as you say, and then you'll be giving yourself your best chance. Ask your midwife what the local rules are at your next appointment?

I was told I couldn't go with a birthing pool with a BMI over 36 with our 3rd. The usually red flag you from your booking weight so lack of weight gain is unlikely to change it.

No sadly not. They won't let you in the birthing pool with a bmi over 35/6, and you have to be on the consultant led ward also as you're high risk. I had a bmi of 34 with my pregnancies and I had to be consultant led as pregnancy weight gain took me above 35 x

Nooooooo 😟😟😟
Thanks for the replies xx

First pregnancy I was 30bmi and was consultant led, pool was a no.
This pregnancy (19 weeks) I'm seeing consultant in July and will likely be consultant led again as bmi was 35 at booking. The pool won't be an option again, sadly.

I am in exactly the same position as you, first pregnancy BMI was 33, this one over 36 and am consultant led. First one I had an amazing experience with the midwife led unit/pool etc and want the same again. I spoke to the consultant who said this will all be possible if I continue to stay healthy but I want someone on the unit to acknowledge this as it very much comes down to who is in charge and it may be a flat no! I know from experience not to believe what one department says! I’ve been doing Slimming world and have lost 12.5lbs so I actually weigh less now at 28 weeks than I did in my first pregnancy. I have everything crossed for the birth I want!

Good luck to you!

You need to talk to your midwife about this. They'll know what your local trust's policies are.

In mine, they go by booking BMI, with a cut off point of 35. So I think a pool might be out of the question I'm afraid. The problem is that the midwives need to be able to get you out of the pool without any assistance from you, in the event of a collapse.

Going to a midwife led unit might be ok though. I had a high BMI (36 at booking), so was referred to the consultant. I saw a registrar once, and was discharged back to midwife led care. I would have been accepted to a MLU.