intro and a question.

KayLaVi2010 · February 2013

I have been a long time lurker and I think I may have done and intro awhile back but I cannot remember. So here it goes. DH & I have been TTC for almost 2 years and recently discovered that I am pregnant. It's early, im about 5-6 weeks, but we are both really (cautiously) excited. Anyway, we decided a long time ago that we wanted a natural birth. Now we are looking for a midwife.

My concern is that since I am overweight I will not be able to have the kind of birth I want because i'm going to be labelled 'high risk' even though other than my weight, overall I am healthy. I eat a healthy diet 90% of the time, my blood pressure is always perfect, and despite having PCOS, i have never had an issue with blood sugar and my A1C level is always in a normal range at my check-ups. I obviously plan on transferring care to an OB if any issues arise, but as long as everything is going well I would like a home birth.

Any other "bigger" ladies around? Where you able to have a natural home birth despite your size.

starshineamator · February 2013

*waves* hi there! I haven't had my home birth yet, but I'm in a similar boat as you. Started off this pregnancy overweight (borderline obese, even after losing a ton of weight), and I have PCOS as well (but never had blood sugar issues either). Like you, I typically eat extremely well (though pregnancy has been a bit of an obstacle with all the food aversions I seem to have to everything healthy lol), and my blood pressure is always perfect too. I, too, always knew I wanted a natural home birth, but started out at an OB while I figured everything out. I was never classified high risk. My OB said she wanted me to gain 11-20 lbs. total over the course of the pregnancy because of my starting weight, and I had barely gained anything the last time that I saw her (which was the end of November I think) so there was no concerns with weight gain either.

The midwives that I've found haven't had anything to say about my weight and had no issues taking me on as a patient. My home birth is dependent on something completely unrelated, actually- they found at my ultrasound that I have a single umbilical artery (there are supposed to be two arteries in the umbilical cord). Since everything else checked out fine, I was told by the midwives and their back-up doctor that I'll need to continue getting ultrasounds every four weeks to make sure the baby is still growing ok, and if she is, then there is no issue.

So long story short, I wouldn't worry about it! Nobody ever made a comment that my weight or the PCOS would affect my birthing plan whatsoever. Congrats to you! and feel free to send me a message if you'd like to keep in touch!

ldpm · February 2013

Midwives are less panic driven than OBs in my experience. I havld a homebirth midwife with my firsf her requirements were that mom was overall healthy, mom ate a good diet Brewer pregnancy diet was recommended by both her my childbirth teacher you can gain on that you need to gain but thru eating healthy whole foods lots of protein she discussed with me what would indicate transfer. I am overweight this time around, and I am seeking midwifery care again.

annabelle.27 · February 2013

I am also a plump girl who has PCOS but who has consistently low blood pressure, eats well, and was able to maintain good blood sugar even throughout pregnancy. I have had two low risk, uneventful pregnancies. For my first birth I laboured naturally but got a csection for reasons unrelated to my health and my second was a super fast and uncomplicated home birth. Neither the OBs with my first pregnancy or the midwives with my second were worried I posed any additional risk, since my GD screens always went well.

I think the biggest thing you will have to watch for is GD. Eat well, stay active, and plan for the best.

Good luck!

Haley.Beth · February 2013

I am a big girl, and my weight has never been an issue in having a natural birth. I am very healthy despite my weight, though. No blood pressure issues, no GD, and I never gained too much during pregnancy. With dd I was with an OB, and gave birth in a hospital, but despite a pitocin-augmented birth (not related to my health at all), I managed to avoid all other interventions. This time I'm planning a home birth and my weight is still not an issue, except that I'm 18 weeks and still losing. Being overweight doesn't automatically label you "high-risk," by any means!

Mrs.Watson06 · February 2013

Find a practitioner who focuses on health rather than weight. I am overweight but healthy. I completed a triathlon the day I got my BFP, have low BP, no GD, and am generally in good shape with good eating habits. My midwives have never said a word about my weight during my pregnancy. I've gained less than 20 lbs in 33 weeks and they are very happy with that number. When I mentioned wanting to go natural, the response was positive as I have been so healthy. She mentioned being nervous for people who gain 80 lbs during pregnancy, but never mentioned my pre-preg weight as being a problem. There are people out there who look at you as a whole person, not just a number on the scale!

KayLaVi2010 · February 2013

Thanks ladies, we are meeting with some midwifes next week and i'm really hoping we can find one that won't see my weight as an issue. Unfortunately, my area has a VERY high C-sec rate (some of the highest in my state) my local hospital is in the top 10 highest in TX. So they really do look for any reason to section you. Most OBs around here label you high risk if you are overweight.

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