question for other plus-size mums.... could be TMI

Hi,

I'm super embarassed about this but here goes...... I was clinically obese at the start of this pregnancy, 86kg / 164cm. I was so happy when my bump grew big enough so that I actually looked pregnant instead of just fat. I've had a big belly roll under my belly button for ages, and I thought it was somewhat going away as my bump got bigger.

Recently however I've noticed that, although my bump is super huge and tight up top, at the bottom there is a huge blob of fat that just hangs. Its ugly and it really hurts to touch. The skin has gone tough and hard, feels inflamed tooo, but its the pain that bothers me the most. I showed the OB at my appt on Tuesday and he didn't say anything. I should have pushed him for a response but I guess that I was embarrassed.

Has anyone else had this sort of problem?

I haven't had the problem, but it sounds painful. I wonder if it could be cellulitis, an infection of the skin? I would probably see a GP. I hope it settles down for you.

I have similar pains to you by the sounds of it but mine is more when I move, which my ob and midwife have all said its ligaments stretching etc.
might be worth pushing for an answer from your ob.
Good luck

maybe some sort of lymph not draining problem? do you have a GP you can talk to who listens to you?

Could it be muscle seperation? Wearing a supportive tummy band really helped with the pain when i had muscle seperation. I also had hernia at top which was influenced by the muscle seperation.

hope you get some answers. please keep asking til you find someone to listen.

I agree with Patti, it sounds to me like some sort of skin issue. I would be talking to your GP about it and pushing for an answer and solution. It isn't normal to be feeling pain like that, despite being over weight. I was bigger (weight wise) than you with my last pregnancy and never had such issues.

I had the unattractive under-tummy bit during my last pg too, but it wasn't painful. I think you need to see your GP about this.

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I had the unattractive under-tummy bit during my last pg too, but it wasn't painful. I think you need to see your GP about this.

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Same here. No pain with it at all
BTW I was pretty much the same weight and size when I fell pregnant with both girls.

I did have a under tummy bit as well but again it wasn't painful. I agree that it doesn't sound quite right and that you should push for an answer. Put aside your own perceptions. Doctors see things all the time that us 'normal' people would think are yuck or ugly. In my opinion - bodies just generally are kind of ugly!
ps. You may be 'clinically obese' but you aren't that big. Certainly shouldn't be embarrassed about showing your belly to your doctor. :hug: Good luck!

I had the under bit too and it was painful when I was pregnant with DS3 (my first overweight pregnancy) but not with my 2 pregnancies after him. I'm not sure if it was because I also had SPD with him but not with the girls. My midwife at the time just told me that it was all normal.

Thanks everyone for your kind replies. I'll deffo push it when I see the OB next. I don't think it is cellulitis from what I've googled. Definitely not red or any discharge. Just super hard and painful.

I am wearing a belly band thing which really helps with the pain, and when its not too hot I have some stretchy supportive pants too. Unfortunatly Perth is sooooo hot all the time at the moment so not getting to much opportunity to wear those pants.

Thanks

I've seen the OB today and she said that what I am seeing is oedema, plain of fluid accumulation. Last pregnancy I had terrible swellin in my ankles.... I guess this time its all gone to my belly! Should go once bub is born :)

Only a few more weeks to go! I get lots of fluid too, and then pee for about 3 weeks after baby arrives and shrink again.

I'm glad you've got an answer. Maybe some very gentle pregnancy massage could help shift some of that extra fluid. Getting into a deep (cool not hot) bath or pool will help too.

I saw the OB again today and this time the edema seems to really have worried him! I now know that what I have can be called 'pitted edema', pitted as in pitted skin like orange peel, and odema because it is fluid retention. The area is getting larger, more painful and I am gaining more weight, however I think its its all just fluid weight.

I think edema like this can be linked to preeclampsia so I am having bi-weekly fetal monitoring until C-day which is actually less than 2 weeks away anyway. Arrrgh - can't wait to have this baby and have my body go back to (somewhat) normal!

That sounds so painful for you. Hope the next two weeks go quickly, and you can begin to rest your poor tummy. :hug:

Sounds awful :hug: Time to take it a bit easier?

Thanks guys - will try to take it easy :). DS however still needs to be dropped off at swimming, kinder and childcare.... family life is busy. I am looking forward to after the birth - DH is taking 6 weeks off so that'll be a really lovely time for us all :)

Get in the water when DS has his swimming lessons.