Natural Birth

Planning a Plus Size Home Birth

Hey ladies! Not pregnant yet, but have been actively trying for 7 cycles.

I'd love to hear some experiences from some other plus size mammas that had intervention-free births.

I am overweight (about 300lbs) but I'm active and healthy. No diabetes or high blood pressure, nothing to suggest I couldn't have a perfectly normal birth.

I am eating healthy, real food, but I'm not loosing any significant amount if weight. I'm going to start interviewing prospective midwifes soon, and I'd love to go prepared with a list questions to ask.

Anyone care to share your experience? 

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Re: Planning a Plus Size Home Birth

  • AmyRIAmyRI member

    There's really no reason to ask any special questions just because you're plus size. Your midwife will likely warn you that you are at a higher risk for developing complications such as gestational diabetes, pregnancy induced hypertension, and pre-eclampsia. Those complications might force you into an induction and/or hospital delivery, so I suppose you could ask if they can deliver you at the hospital or if you'd be transferred to an OB, but that's a general question that anyone would ask anyway.

    Don't have personal experience as I chose to birth in a hospital, but I've had 2 low intervention births despite being overweight. I had elevated blood pressure at the end of my second pregnancy, but it never developed into PIH and didn't get outrageously high so I was not induced and went into labor on my own at 40w6d.

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  • I was 260, 5'10" before getting pregnant this time around. Nothing about my prenatal care or birth plans has been any different, nor should it. Like pp said, we are at increased risk of GD and bp issues, but it's not a guarantee. I've had a few bp problems on and off since 28 weeks, but they've since been remedied with carefully watching my fluid intake and a high protein diet. I've actually really enjoyed having a midwife this time to help me with my weight. She's been able to help with my diet and give me tips to stay healthy and active so I don't gain too much. The OB I had with dd never tried to help, just scolded me when I started gaining too much, which was incredibly frustrating. I did manage a pain med free birth with dd in the hospital, it just wasn't the experience I wanted, so I switched to a home birth midwife this pregnancy. I've been healthy, and I'm expecting LO any day now, the birth pool is set up in the spare bedroom, and my midwife is all set and ready to go! 
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  • PP have given good advice, I just wanted to say that I just had a homebirth with my second, (I went medfree in a hospital with #1) and I would consider myself plus sized. I am 5'8" and was 250# when I delivered. I gained 43# with this pregnancy, and had no GD or BP problems. My midwife was awesome, and never once made me feel bad about my weight or my gain. You definitely want to interview several midwives and discuss your weight with them. I know in my area, there is a birth center, where if your starting weight is above a certain BMI they will risk you out of birthing there. Also I am overweight, but not unfit, I did yoga throughout my pregnancy, walked a lot, and have a fairly active job. All of which I think contributed to my quick and easy delivery (our midwife didn't make it in time, baby came so fast). Good luck with everything!
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  • No advice but I just wanted to share another plus sized low intervention birth story. I was 260lbs when I had my son. My midwife didn't treat me any differently to my knowledge except she did caution me not to gain too much weight. I only gained about 15lbs total thankfully. My BP and glucose where the best they had ever been, even better than pre pregnancy, and I had a fast and uncomplicated birth.

    As PP 's have said, there is an increased risk for GD, high BP, and preterm labor and it's likely your midwife will mention this risk. I would caution you to stay away from any provider that puts too much focus on these risks unless something does develop. You don't want a doctor or midwife going into it convinced that you will have issues. I would be afraid they would convince themselves of things that aren't really there because of their preconceived notions. Just my opinion.
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  • Not pregnant either, we just made the decision to conceive last week. Just wanted to say thanks for this post. It's giving me hope, I'm planning to meet with a CNM soon for a preconception interview.

     

  • I am overweight with PCOS and planning a homebirth. Our midwives were not concerned at all about my weight when I asked (this was also a concern of mine). They did inform me of some increased risks with GD, HBP and other issues related to the PCOS but they are also confident that with proper diet and excerise, these problems should be avoidable. This does not in any way risk you out of homebirth, just try to stay healthy (obviously).
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