Panicking about my weight and labour!

[Leo_Mumma]

I'm starting to worry about my weight and labour. I've always been comfortable with my size and don't really consider myself "big" but due to several conversations and hints from my midwife I'm now starting to panic. I've put on a 19lbs and am now 14.9 lbs and am considered obese.. I think I might even be very obese.

I keep hearing/ reading a lot about difficulties associated with overweight women and labour. Especially things about pain relief being a necessity as I'll probably need an assisted delivery. ( I'm really hoping to do all natural) How much of this do you think is true? Are there any larger ladies who have good labour stories to tell?

 

[hairftsher]

Wow. Shitty midwife. I'm well overweight and I never feel bad about it. My doctor is amazing and not concerned.

 

[george83]

I wouldn't panic about it sweetie as I'm sure the stress will just make things worse. I struggle with my weight to and am reluctant to talk about it but have you spoken to your midwife about what you could do to help? She might be able to suggest some diet tips specifically for pregnant ladies. Have you also thought about starting some simple exercise? If your comfortable with it you could try starting swimming which would help your overall fitness and therefore labour

 

[Insomniash]

One of my friends gave birth naturally at home at 260+ lbs and it was complication free. I like to look at plussizebirth.com when I start to think about my weight and childbirth and for a reminder that although my body may be bigger it is not broken. Just because you carry extra weight it does not automatically mean that you can't birth your child in the manner you choose. Hairftsher is right you have a bad midwife, instead of subtly hinting at your weight she should offer you some constructive guidance if she is so concerned. My doctor and I openly discuss my weight in relation to my pregnancy but he has never made me panic or think I won't be able to birth the baby because of it.

 

[slongson]

I'm a bigger lady was a lot bigger with my 1st tho probably by 3 to 4 stone. I've has 3 great labours (expecting my 4th) 1st about 6 hours 2nd 3 hours and 3rd 4 hours only had gas a air with all of them, don't worry you will do great xx

 

[emyandpotato]

149lbs obese?? It's barely even overweight for someone of average height (5'4). Unless you're about 4'10 it really doesn't sound big at all.

 

[butterflywolf]

Woah! Calm down. With my daughter I started at 216 lbs. I was up to 240 when all was said and done. I had an 11 hour labor (she was my first) and only 90 minutes of that was pushing. I had no problem what so ever. Yes I had an epidural and it only numbed the contractions which was great! I could still move and I'm sure I was more active than the nurses would have liked XD I went to doggy to push, back, took off the gown (yes completely naked in the hospital!)

So if someone of my size had what I would like to say a great labor/birth, you'll be just fine as well. BTW I'm only 5ft 4 inch and I do plan on working to lose weight after baby is born. I tried this past year but with two chemicals I fell apart X_X Thankfully only starting at 222 lbs this go around (Was worried I'd be heavier).

 

[weewdy]

With my 1st i was around 220lbs. I gave birth naturally after a 6 hr labour (about 30 mins pushing). I had no pain relief at all and i was home within a few hours.

At 149lbs you have nothing to worry about.

 

[sippy1989]

I'm quite relieved to read this thread. I am myself a plus size woman, started at 225lbs pre pregnancy and am now 238lbs. I've been struggling to keep the weight gain slow and am worried about what my labour will be like and where my weight will reach. However, my my midwife is great and despite being considered obese my pregnancy is still low-risk. I will definitely keep that mantra in my head that just because i am bigger it does not mean i am broken. Love it! Thanks everyone for the advice and the original post.

 

[xMissxZoiex]

I too am overweight, but I always think if I was too big to give birth my body wouldn't have let me get pregnant in the first place, and if I needed assistance it would have happened if my BMI was under 25 if you know what I mean.

The midwifes should be telling you to believe in your body and yourself not worrying you!

I'm currently about 200lbs started at 220lbs (always loose weight in pregnancy) I'm 5ft9 and my GP would like me to loose about 65lbs I believe to be "healthy"

 

[Maidenet]

I was over weight last pregnancy and actually about 2 stones more this time round :'( that being said last time everything went absolutely fine. Xx don't panic. Your midwife sounds a bitch.

 

[RubysMommy]

I was 180 pre pregnancy with dd and got up to 203. I'm 5'2" so I'm considered obese. I had a 7.5 hour labor with dd, pushed for 40 minutes and had a 10.5lb baby! All without any drugs or interventions! Your midwife shouldn't be trying to worry you. My midwives figured I was going to have a big baby but we were all surprised at how big. Lol. They told me multiple times throughout my pregnancy that your body only makes babies it can push out. I know that some might not agree with that but it helps get you in the right mind set for labor.

 

[BabyCleo]

Wait, im confused. You are saying your midwife (who, ps sounds like a b*tch) is telling you that you are overweight at 149lb? How tall are you? Im 19weeks preg and im currently at 154lb, but im 5'10" so im pretty tall. My doctors are concerned im underweight. (I also have huge tatas lol)

Id look up a weight vs height chart. For women 5'10" (like me) you should be between 139-173lb (not pregnant) to be considered healthy. Look up a chart on google for your height, then remember you are pregnant and its normal to put on weight. Find a new midwife who can be upfront with you regarding your weight. I wouldn't worry to much, she sounds pretty mean and you need to be comfortable.

 

[Leo_Mumma]

Thanks everyone for the support and labour stories! You've really made me feel really positive about it all. My midwife is a bitch tbh and extremely old school.

I think what shocked me the most is I'm fit and active. I have 2 massive dogs I walk at least an hour a day and swim a few times a week. When she brings it up I do tell her this and the fact I really try with my diet but I know she doesn't believe me at all! I'm just glad she probably wont be there when I go into labour.

Oops.. sorry for the confusion ladies. I should have maybe written it better but I meant I'm 14 stones and 9 lbs which makes me about 210 lbs I think.

 

[RaspberryK]

I was 11 stone at the start of my pregnancy with ds and 16 stone at the end and I had absolutely no trouble with delivery.
Started off a stone heavier this time but put on just less than 2 so far at 35 weeks (still over the recommended) and although I'm classed as overweight it hasn't been mentioned at all.

Xz