interesting weight question....

[lovemybubs]

is there a link between being over weight and 'needing' a c section?

Can you be too fat to push (so to speak)? Or would you be too unfit to push if you were bigger?

All the bigger girls i know have had c sections....

Would like to hear from anyone 90-115k (at the end of pg) that can just tell me that they gave birth just fine or what the issues were.

TIA

[satya]

I'm 5 foot 1 & was 76 kgs before getting pregnant (so technically obese even though I didn't look it). By the end of the pregnancy I was around 90kgs.

I did not have a C section.

I had an easy pregnancy. Walking was my only exercise.

The labour was long (a day of pre labour followed by 15 hours 1st stage & almost 2 hours 2nd stage), shoulder dystocia & a vac extraction.

Most of my labour was spent upright but I eventually got too tired to do anything but lie on my back. I did not have an epidural. Towards the end the contractions started to recede so I had to have syntocin to get them going again & then the vac extraction happened.

It's hard to say if it was the extra weight or my age (or the combination of both) that contributed to the exhaustion. It could just have been because of the long labour. Who knows.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

I was almost 100kg by the end of pregnancy and I am 5'2".

18 hour labour, 18 minute second stage. No drugs, No tearing. Easy labour.

[Snoopea]

I've had 2 births and rearing up for the third.
My weight with DD was 106kg at end of pregnancy, normal labour!!
My weight with DS was 91kg at end of pregnancy, noraml labour!!!!
I'm quite tall 176cms and normally in the weight range of 78-86kg depending on the month after births ect!
Hope this helps..... ohh and all the women that I know that had c/sect are quite small builds!!!
Snoopea

[visitor1]

Ive been overweight (umm read VERY overweight) with both my DD's births and never had a c/s. I am 162cm tall.

DD1 was 10 hours 25 mins
DD2 was 6 hours 14 minutes

So not long labours in my mind, i only used gas, 2nd degree tear with DD1, 1st degree tear with DD2.

DD1 couldnt crown as i was bed bound therefore gravity wasnt on my side to get her down and required vac extraction, where as DD2 was a very active labour and required no assistance.

Pregnancys were health and complication free, no GD, BP was fine all the time, bub was always active.

So TBH....just cos i was overweight did not mean i needed extra help, c/s, or anything like that.

So far this preg has been complication free as well and my check ups are so quick as there is nothung ever to check!!!

Most ladies i know have been petite small things that have ended up with c/s, not the bigger ladies.....so not sure!

ETA: Snap Snoopea on the size of women with c/s

[Feijoa Mum]

I have been in that weight range with all four of my pregnancies and all were vaginal births. The first one was my smallest baby and he was the hardest. Induction, episiotome forceps the works. The other three were all over 9lbs the heaviest been 9lb15oz. He was delivered naturally no drugs and as far as they go, a fantastic labour.
I dont think it bears any correlation to the size you are to the way you deliver.

[SamiH]

Put your mind at ease hun

I was 95kg at the end of this preg (20kg gain - again!!) - and gave birth totally naturally and drug free - I am also 37 and what I would call moderately fit pre-preg and didn't do much apart from walking during preg.

Have faith in your body

[Trillian]

I got to over 90kg with my first two and over 100 (just LOL) with my last two and had uncomplicated vaginal births for all of them. I think it would just be coincidence with your friends.

[sushee]

I was 113kgs and 103kgs at the end of my pregnancies with my last two kids and had VBs for both - 8lbs 1oz and 7lbs 14oz respectively.

[sweetpea678]

hi,

#1 dr estimated my weight at 130 kilos (due to swelling and pre e) induction at 39 weeks vb.

#2 weighed on day of induction (pre e agian) 115 kilos vb

#3 last weight at 35 weeks 100 kilos bub went over by 9 days induction vb.

So no had no issues due to weight, i also started on the large size all 3 a i started between 84 - 88 kilos.

[MrsFabuloso]

I was also just over 90kgs after my last pg and had a wonderful vaginal birth. I felt great after it too.

[Je$$_84]

Fir off just like to say Phew that there are few ladies who were also this weight range at end of pregnancies...

I'm 172cm tall and gained 27kg's with DS (#1) and was 106 at end of pregnancy... With DD i gained 19kgs and was 104 at end of pregnancy.

Both were quick labours although i worked up til 1 week before EDD, kept up with normal stuff, no lazing round watching movies etc... still did all the usual chores etc.

!st was 5 hour and having waters broken and second was 2 hour 16 mins after being induced (gel) Both times i was post date. !st one had bad tearing butr second didnt tear at all... 1st was 7lbs 10 and second was 7lbs 3

[~*Niadalla*~]

Yep well I was bigger than pretty much everyone else here when I gave birth to my DS. I was warned by my OBS that I had an 80=90% chance of c section.... scare mongerer!
I ended up having a fantastic, nearly drug free vaginal birth with only small tearing.(only a few sucks on the gas)
My labour was pretty long (a bit over 36 hours all up), but it wasn't ridiculously hard or anything.
I have also come into contact with larger mums who have more often than not had VB's rather than Csects. Csects ar more dangerous for someone with that extra padding.
I WILL be having another VB this time, and I can't wait!
Even though I am big, I can still do what my body was designed to do
Best of luck!
xxoo

[Mum0809]

I was Very overweight at the end of my pregnancy and had a vaginal birth ( even though I was begging for a c-section ).

[lovemybubs]

Thanks for the replies ladies! Fantastic to read that weight need not be an issue when it comes to giving birth. Has given me a confidence boost, so thanks so much.