Too fat to get the baby out?

[Bunny2607]

Sorry I know this sounds ridiculous!! But i had a high bmi (over 40 at booking) and i’m now 37 weeks pregnant. I obviously have a baby bump, and then some fat underneath the bump from pre pregnancy. I think the baby has dropped into my pelvis this week as my bump has dropped meaning my fat hangs down, and when I have no clothes on it covers my vagina. I was hoping to give birth in a position which reduced the risk of tearing (ie not on my back) and was hoping to sit on a chair so i was upright but I don’t know if the midwife will be able to see what they need to because of how low my bump and fat is now hanging. I know its disgusting, please be kind, i do plan on addressing my weight when the baby is born. does anyone have any stories to share of a plus size/high bmi birth? Thank you

Hay,

Try not to worry too much. I have a very high BMI too. This is my second pregnancy and my first was absolutely fine.

When the baby engaged my bump dropped too and it honestly didn't cause any issues.

I had to be induced and ended up having an emergency C section (None of which was to do with my BMI). It all went really well. The hospital staff were amazing.

Midwives will have seen it all! They won't care about anything except making sure you and baby are happy and healthy.

You are not disgusting!!! You are amazing!

No experience exactly, with my first I was on my back with epidural. Could you be on your front/all fours on bed? Or similar?
Im pregnant with second and had bmi over 40 at booking. I’m quite worried how it’ll all go!

No experience but I just wanted to say MW's have delivered babies to 100s of women of all shapes and sizes.
Tell her how you'd like to give birth and she will advise the best way to go about it.

Thank you ladies, you’ve made me feel abit better about it!
I was wondering about being on my knees knelt up lent against the back of the bed so at least i’m upright and figured the midwife could see what was what from behind 🙈🙈 they really do see it all don’t they haha.
I probably will be induced as the baby is measuring over the 97th percentile and my first baby was big and i had complications after so i’m keen to avoid if i can this time around!

I was wondering about being on my knees knelt up lent against the back of the bed
That's the position I delivered DC2 in and it was a textbook birth. I recommend it!

Are you not under consultant led care rather than midwife? The RCOG guidelines on how your condition should be managed might help you to know what to expect: obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-0528.15386

Hi OP, I’m a midwife, I’ve delivered babies to women with BMIs in the 60s, we can work with you to find something suitable. Try not to worry, access has never been a problem!

Excellent response @IDontDrinkTea. God bless you and your no-nonsense reassurance.

@DappledThings

I was wondering about being on my knees knelt up lent against the back of the bed That's the position I delivered DC2 in and it was a textbook birth. I recommend it!

These are the vibes I need!!

Midwives have seen it all. You are not disgusting in any way, you'll be amazing I bet!

I have a high BMI and gave birth 7 weeks ago. I did give birth on my back and I did tear. However, the midwife was really supportive of me trying different different positions. I was induced so had monitoring strapped to me and I had a cannula in and she was still supportive of me trying any position that worked for me. I tried a few positions but found myself on my back. Although that wasn’t due to my size, I just felt like I didn’t have enough purchase with my feet in any other position. Other than the tear, it was a really good birth (and induction).

I was wondering about being on my knees knelt up lent against the back of the bed

I also gave birth to DC2 in this position with a high BMI. Was easy peasy! I'm obviously joking but it was simple, no complications except for some tearing but DD was a huge 10lb 8oz and she basically did the pushing for me.

It'll be fine OP, you might find in labour you find a different position comfortable anyway

[quote JenniferAlisonPhilippaSue]Are you not under consultant led care rather than midwife? The RCOG guidelines on how your condition should be managed might help you to know what to expect: obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-0528.15386[/quote]
I am yes, it was the consultant who said about inducing me because the baby is over 97th percentile and my last baby was 10lbs 😳🙈

@IDontDrinkTea

Hi OP, I’m a midwife, I’ve delivered babies to women with BMIs in the 60s, we can work with you to find something suitable. Try not to worry, access has never been a problem!

Thank you! Just so keen to avoid stitches if i can as my first baby i needed forceps and a cut and my stitches came undone after due to infection and the recovery was horrendous 🙈🙈

Thank you ladies for your help - been really reassuring ☺️☺️

Just to say to you as it might be some comfort, my first was a forceps birth and also a absolutely woefully bad long recovery, but when I was pregnant on my second and terrified of a repeat, the consultant told me you actually have a very low chance of needing them the second time around, I can’t remember the percentage but it was very comforting. Low and behold number two was a big baby, and a much easier birth! I did get an epistomy as the midwife was afraid my old war wound wouldn’t hold but aside from that the difference was huge between the two births, also definitely agree the midwives see it all. I still had a lot of weight on baby number two and actually I found the scanning people made more of a big deal, the midwives didn’t seem to even notice any extra weight. I am working on my over hang now as I’m super self conscious of it, but want another so will put off any surgery to remove it till after that if I am lucky enough that it happens. I think it will eventually need surgery even with the weight loss as it’s quite a bad one!