Larger women in pregnancy...

[Ahurani]

I am a larger woman about 112 kilos.. I am a bit apprehensive about my first hospital appt coming up in a couple of weeks.

There is alot of bad comments, articles about obesity etc and I am kind of scared Im going to be discriminated against during my pregnancy.

Did you feel as though you got discriminated against during yours? DP thinks Im over reacting. But I see alot of obese people at work and yeah..

[boobaloo]

if you feel discriminated against at the hospital, frigging complain! noone has the right to make you feel inferior because of your weight. as long as your baby is healthy, and things are going smoothly for you, then your weight shouldn't really be an issue.
i'm sorry you are worried about this, you should just be enjoying your pregnancies.
and hey, if anyone says anything, tell them the cheeseburgers have gotta go somewhere baby!! xoxo

[Danielle_NZ]

Sorry I can't help with the Australian health system but back in NZ it wasn't direct but you knew enough to know that because you were larger that they looked down on you in some way...

I'm about 120kgs...

[Anila]

Well ive told u all i know
my weight was only brought up in my last pregnancy, i wouldnt stress over it hun!

[Traveller]

You should not be discriminated against because of your weight, but you may find you are classified as "high risk" depending on the guidelines your hospital has. This does not mean that you are high risk, more that you are not the lowest risk, and would possibly not be encouraged to give birth in a midwife unit, or have a waterbirth. Some hospitals encourage larger women to have an epidural in early labour as they can be harder to site in an emergency, and they might want to keep a closer eye on you for risk of diabetes.

Whatever they suggest at your appointment, remember you can ask for more details, ask for what the alternatives are, and make sure you are happy with advice before you agree to it. Find out if they have any specific policies what will affect you. Good luck!

[LimeSlice]

I was about 95kg when I had my first appt with the GP...and she didn't even take my blood pressure, so guess not an issue for her, nor did she say anything about watching my weight etc.

The last GP appt I had last week I had to ASK him to take my BP, again no other comments about my weight etc were made at all (And I oly asked for the BP because I like to know, as it is usually notoriously low throughout my pregnancies.

I do know a friend of mine was refused access to birth at a particular hospital (she was 140kg at the birth) after putting on a massive 50kg during the pregnancy. They wouldn't allow her to birth at Peel and sent her to King Eddie's in the city due to possible complications with the birth. So I think there is a cut off somewhere for some hospitals in terms of what they are equiped to deal with and what possible implications your weight may/could have on birth.

As for general discrimination before birth, during checkups with middie and what not, never have I had anyone say anything to me other than eat healthy, when you feel like it, and don't stress about your weight unless you have an underlying issue (Diabetes, BP, heart etc)

[kateo]

I was ABSOLUTELY terribly discriminated against because of my weight during my first pregnancy. I started at a little less than you and was 113kg when I birthed my baby. I was not allowed to birth at the hospital of my choice and had to go to a different hospital. I was treated as a high risk pregnancy which seriously messed with my head. I was constantly tested for diabetes, and had extra ultrasounds to check bub wasn't too big (which can happen when you are larger apparently). It was suggested I improve my diet and get more exercise. I told them how physical my job is and how I cook good wholesome real food and I musta told middy's and drs a million times that I didn't live on junk food!
I barely drink alcohol and never did during pregnancy I don't smoke and I don't take drugs.
Despite all this "extra" care and fuss and attending the FMU at canberra hospital my darling Ellen was stillborn at 41 weeks. I was assured by one of the drs that this was not due to my weight. Well thanks, I KNEW that! . I birthed in 3.5 hours and I had a healthy pregnancy. I am fitter than many of the thin people I know as I have a physical outdoor type job.
Yes they discriminate and they are not subtle or pleasant. In some cases I was treated like I was too stupid to understand what was expected to lose weight and treated like I was lazy or lying.
Sorry to tell you the down side.

[ladybirdflies]

I was ABSOLUTELY terribly discriminated against because of my weight during my first pregnancy. I started at a little less than you and was 113kg when I birthed my baby. I was not allowed to birth at the hospital of my choice and had to go to a different hospital. I was treated as a high risk pregnancy which seriously messed with my head. I was constantly tested for diabetes, and had extra ultrasounds to check bub wasn't too big (which can happen when you are larger apparently). It was suggested I improve my diet and get more exercise. I told them how physical my job is and how I cook good wholesome real food and I musta told middy's and drs a million times that I didn't live on junk food!
I barely drink alcohol and never did during pregnancy I don't smoke and I don't take drugs.
Despite all this "extra" care and fuss and attending the FMU at canberra hospital my darling Ellen was stillborn at 41 weeks. I was assured by one of the drs that this was not due to my weight. Well thanks, I KNEW that! . I birthed in 3.5 hours and I had a healthy pregnancy. I am fitter than many of the thin people I know as I have a physical outdoor type job.
Yes they discriminate and they are not subtle or pleasant. In some cases I was treated like I was too stupid to understand what was expected to lose weight and treated like I was lazy or lying.
Sorry to tell you the down side.

THat is intense Kateo.... anything i could say seems too small to cover it, so just wanted you to know I read that, and it moved me.

[*Ali*]

I haven't felt discriminated as such, but I have had to own the situation IYKWIM, alot of hospital have a BMI cut off, so if you are over their cut off you won't be allowed to give birth there, I have had to do the GTT in all 3 pregnancies, I am classed as 'high risk' even though I have have had 2 very normal vaginal births. I have been pro- active though, and I went in on the offensive rather than the defensive, saying I thought it was a good idea to see the hospital dietician and asking what I could do to keep my weight gain low. I think if you go in knowing that there are some limitations placed on woman who are heavier, and be pro-active about it then you feel much better. Unfortunatly it is not a case of what whether it is right or wrong that these limitations are placed on larger woman, it is a case of just accepting what is, and empowering yourself to make the best of the situation.

[saslia]

Never had any comments or problems, stayed 110kg with DD, and actually lost some with DS with ms the whole time. I had an emergency CS with DD and an elective one with DS.

[Fleur]

Probably down to the individual hospital / caregivers I guess... I was 110 when I fell PG, I was weighed at my initial appt & again at my 41 week appt & not in between
My weight wasn't mentioned once & I had a successful VBAC.

ETA - actually, the Dr I saw at my 41 week appt was on the phone to someone asking a question, I can't remember about what now & he mentioned my BMI to them (it was over 40 I think). That was the only time I even had a hint that anyone thought it might be a problem.

ITA with the others, don't put up with any rude treatment. Myself, I would be happy to hear constructive advice or instructions, but no-one should make you feel crappy.

[Mum2Romone]

I think they'll only say something if they are worried you are putting on too much weight too quickly in pregnancy for the babies sake

if you go in there at a certain weight they can only expect that you'll put on more, I had the opposite problem, they were complaining I was unhealthy for not putting enough on last time

Best of Luck and I'd definately stand up for yourself if they say anything

[Party-of-five]

the only time i felt discriminated was when I was told we couldnt have DD1 at the private hospital here unless i wanted a CS!!! the labour beds where only rated to 120kgs!! that was the reason I was given. I hovered around the 120 mark with DD1.
But I had no problems at all once i moved over to the public and even though with DD2 i was lighter I chose to go public because I'd had such a good experience with DD1.
Try not to let your fears overshadow your excitement

[Little Chicken]

I think it does greatly depend on your care givers and how they react. I am currently 150kg and 38 weeks with my second bub, I had GP shared care until 36 weeks. Yes he weighed me and did my BP every visit but never mentioned my weight and my BP has always been normal or slightly low through out the pregnancy. It wasn't until I started going to the hospital antenatal clinic that I felt it was a big issue. I had my last baby at KEMH in perth and it wasn't made a big deal of, here I had to go have a pre-aneasthetic clinic visit in case I want an epidural. They even asked me if I thought I would need one, I mean jeez I don't know, I am not in labour yet. I did get the faintest of hints that if I was seeing them throughout I might have been transferred somewhere else but know it is to late. Yes it might mean you can't birth where you want but it doesn't mean you can't have the birth you want and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.