Worried about weight and birth

[Jupiter92]

Hi everyone,

Just looking for some reassurance really. I am 28 weeks pregnant and I have started some positive birth courses because I am worried about going into labour and they are helping me to feel more empowered about birth.

However, my main concern now is my BMI and my weight. From what I see online this can cause serious complications or stillbirth and I'm terrified. I have a high BMI and have always struggled with my weight.
I have had a healthy pregnancy in terms of not really gaining weight so far (due to a lot of vomiting up until 24 weeks and many food aversions) but my appetite has definitely come back the last few weeks and although I walk to and from work every day, I'm not sleeping well so really not exercising other than that 30 minutes a day walk.

Am I in for trouble? Is there anything I can do?
I'd really appreciate some positive stories!

@Jupiter92 just wanted to give some moral support. I am also at a high BMI, 10weeks ahead of you and birth is imminent but baby is absolutely fine, moving a lot, blood pressure is fine and although I ended up with gestational diabetes, it's all under control.
My consultant scared me into thinking I wouldn't be able to do labour naturally but also wouldn't advise c section, leaving me with the dread of an assisted birth but after many wobbly, tearful moments, I have decided to ignore such negative opinions and just do my best.
BMI is just a number, it's not you and it doesn't reflect who you are, your strength, your fitness, your diet or how capable you are of having a baby. You can do this!

I gave birth with a high bmi and all was fine. I find the consultants bed side manner when telling you the risks associated with a higher bmi very lacking and my midwife actually put in a complaint because at 37 weeks my consultant put the fear of god into me and I was a wreck. All unnecessary. So many women with high bmi give birth naturally and successfully. The positive birth company helped me so much during my labour to feel in control and to advocate for myself. You've got this!

Thank you for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it! I have been doing the positive birth course and it's helping, I'll continue with it definitely.

@Zibidee good luck with your birth, please update when your little one is here!

@daydreamingnightowl thank you so much for this, it's really helpful! It's nice to hear your midwife was on your side.

I had a BMI of 35 when I got pregnant with my daughter, I developed gestation diabetes at 26 weeks but otherwise all was fine for the pregnancy. I had a planned C-section at 37+6 due to having thyroid issues but baby was fine and my blood pressure and placenta was perfect too. I put on about 12lbs total and lost 2 1/2 stone in a week after she was born!

You sounds like you're doing great! Make sure you eat as well as you can, keep an eye on movement and don't ever be afraid to get in touch with your midwife if you are worried about baby's movements. Good luck!

Big Birthas is great for this. They have info and positive birth stories: www.bigbirthas.co.uk/category/labourbirth-blog/birth-story/

There is also a facebook group for more support.

But basically, various risks increase with high BMI, but the risks are actually still very low. You are more likely to labour normally than not, especially if you don't have complications like gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.

My advice is to be cautious with doctors because they will often say 'you have a higher risk' or 'double the risk' and make it sound scary, when it's like 1.5% risk instead of 0.6% risk with a lower BMI. I always ask for absolute risk numbers for this reason.

I had a high BMI when I gave birth. Anaesthetist warned me I wouldn’t be able to cope with the pain and to have an epidural straight away. I developed gestational diabetes and had an induction booked for that but I had an episode of reduced movements and unstable blood sugars so accepted an earlier induction. This was mostly because I was getting anxious and wanted baby here. I was induced at 38+1. It took 19 hours from the pessary being inserted to contractions starting. I didn’t have access to pain relief until 8cm due to how busy the wards were. I managed from 8cm to 10cm on gas and air and then for pushing I found the gas and air wasn’t quite right so did without it and mostly just screamed and grunted through the pushing. Unassisted vaginal birth with baby born less than 12 hours after my first contraction. I had a second degree tear and a graze. They were constantly telling me that baby would be big and a difficult birth. She was born 7lb 12. Her weight is now tracking on the 70th percentile but her height is 98th percentile so her weight is bound to be more than average.