Home Birth and "High Risk" questions (Seattle Area)

[GoodNamesGone]

Hello,

Amazing that I came here to ask this and there was already a similar thread at the top of the stack- but sadly we're high risk for different reasons.

Here's my deal.

I was deamed high risk due to my weight, and no previous births.

I am still a fat momma (260lbs), but all weight-associated concerns were shown to be needless.

I have extremely low blood pressure, and had no complications during my birth.  I was induced at 42 weeks (due to threat of loosing my midwife, and fear of an OB wanting to perform a c-section, don't get me started!) - I had no pain meds, no other intervention than induction.  My daughter was born vaginally and the only "problem" was a slight grey color to her skin- she pinked up as soon as her butt hit the plastic basinet and she screamed like a banshe!

I suffered a tear that needed stitches, and a single, minor hemeroid.

Otherwise, we were A-OK.  No hypertension, no diabetes, nothing.  I was anemic afterward, but needed no transfusions or anything.

This will likely be my only other child, I'd like to do a home birth.  Midwives are covered under my medical, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to hear the same song and dance about high risk- I have purchased an exercise bike, and I'm eating more healthy, I will be in better shape than I am in now once it is time to give birth (not going to go insane, just take better care of myself).  I think I can do it- but I don't want to go it alone, so the idea that others have posited about just staying home when I go into labor scares me.

What do you guys think?

~GNG

[phathui5]

We've had larger moms here before and we don't label them high-risk just because of their weight.

[GoodNamesGone]

Huh... My first birth, I was labeled "High Risk" automatically due to my weight.  My Midwife refused to even consider a home birth.  This was a Midwife with a reputation for being a "Med Wife" so maybe that was it?

I was also told it is illegal here in Washington to have a waterbirth in either a center or hospitol.

[phathui5]

"I was also told it is illegal here in Washington to have a waterbirth in either a center or hospitol."

I can't imagine that's the case. There have got to be birth centers that do waterbirth. What about this one? http://centerforbirth.com/

This place looks great too: http://www.seattlehomematernity.com/birth-center.html

[starrlamia]

some regulations will risk out moms due to weight as there are higher risks of some things.

[want2becrunchy]

Check out Snohomish Midwives if you are up North at all.  Both midwives are named Melissa and both are great!

[BrokenFish]

I second the recommendation for the Melissas at Snohomish Midwives.  I'm guessing that if you are out of their service area, they could advise you on someone who would be supportive of your homebirth.  Good luck!

[rnra]

Yes, it is possible to be overweight and have a healthy pregnancy.  However, there are legitimate reasons why obesity makes a woman considered high risk in pregnancy.  

• Many obese women are vitamin deficient
• Increased risk of high blood pressure/preeclampsia
• Increased risk of gestational diabetes
• Increased risk of low apgar scores
• Increased risk of macrosomia (babies above the 90th percentile in size) and shoulder dystocia
• Increased risk of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida)
• Increased perinatal mortality (death of the infant between 28 weeks gestation and 4 weeks after birth)
• Increased possibility of infant's admission to the NICU
• Higher rate of miscarriage

Sources:

http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=3371

http://www.ajcn.org/content/71/5/1242S.full

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/complications_obesity.html

[motherhendoula]

I just wanted to chime in - from one fat mamma to another....my last birth (8 / 2010)  was at home and i weighed 297 lbs at the time of delivery.  I weighed 255 when i birthed my first child in 1995 at a freestanding birth center, and a svelte 225 with my first home birth in 1998. 

No one ever said 'high risk' at any point during any of my pregnancies - i was in the water for the first and third births...like you, i had low blood pressure, no diabetes and was in overall good health - oh, i was 40 years old in 2010!

Call around and find yourself a midwife!!

[caedmyn]

I don't have any input on your question, but the midwife I used for my 2nd birth now lives in the Seattle area and I'd highly recommend her.  Tracy Palagi is her name...she's with a midwife group but I don't know the name of it.  Good luck!