Epidural...

[NIE]

Hey Gemma,

What is your BMI. Mine is 31 I think. I've never heard of this before. I'll ask my mw on Tuesday to see if she can shed any more light on it.

A . xx

 

[AllieW]

Did they tell you WHY a high BMI would make an epidural more necessary? I'd be asking some serious questions were I in your shoes. The reasons they've given so far smack more of convenience for them rather than what you actually might feel you need.

 

[NIE]

Hi,

Would my BMI not increase with the amount of weight I've put on lately?

It would be interesting to see if anyone else has had this said to them. xx

 

[NIE]

Ive just googled it, and it seems to be saying what you've been told. I'm going to have a good read about it. It's got me thinking. xxx

 

[Kimbo]

im sure if its over 30.
im 32 thats why i have to have the glucose test in october.
never said anything about this to me

 

[Kimbo]

oh right.
when i went to the midwife last time, she said your bmi is 32 which means your just over, so you need a glucose test

 

[skairdykat]

Oh dear My BMI is 32 now and I'm not even PG. God knows what it'll be when I get PG LOL

 

[lisa&alex]

well they can bugger off if they think im gonna have an epidual..my bmi is about 33, (and she says this with a chinese on its way) im hoping for a home birth, theres no way on earth that i would have an epidual unless i needed a c section or forcepts.. which i would try my damn best to not have.
to be honest i dont see why you would need an epidual, i think you should think. do i want this? the chances of u having to have assisted delivey or c section goes up if you have an epidural anyway.. question everything..its your body, not theis.. plus u have lost weight recently.. didnt u say u a size 12? and pleanty more weeks than me, im size 20.. lol.. and i aint having one!

 

[Kimbo]

well they can bugger off if they think im gonna have an epidual..!

lmao!!!!!!!

 

[alfie]

Gemma, this is a great website, you can ask a midwife, might be worth a try for another professional opinion

http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk

its on the forum called ask a midwife

hope it helps
Alfie
x

 

[Hells]

I have been told that being overweight does mean labour is more likely to end up in a caesarean, and also that the more overweight you are the harder it is to feel the points in the back that lets the anaesthetist know where exactly to put the needle.

I only know one person who was strongly advised to have an epidural asap, but she is very overweight and was trying for a vbac, so there was more chance of something going wrong anyway.

I have been advised that I should probably have an epidural if I go for a vbac, but that's partly because I'm likely to have high blood pressure (epidurals lower bp), be very swollen and wouldn't be able to labour for long before I get sent off for the section.

If I was you, I would decide if I wanted an epidural at all, and if you decide that you might want one, I'd be firm about getting one only when you ask for it. Good luck

 

[laetitia85]

i have doubts... epidural ---- BMI???? I don't see the link

 

[Hells]

Supposedly it's because the higher the bmi, the more fat on your body. The more fat on your body, the harder it is for the anaesthetist to locate the exact point to put the needle. They use the bones of the back to find the epidural space. Personally, I think that if they can't find the space very easily, I wouldn't want them anywhere near me. I think it's rather daft.

 

[enn]

mine says 21 at beginning of notes

 

[X5OT]

Just a quick question: are they referring to BMI based on pre-pregnancy weight or current BMI (which will obviously increase as pregnancy progresses)? Based on pre-preg weight and height, my BMI was 27.6, but now my BMI is 29.3, so will be over 30 in a few more weeks. Many thanks

x

 

[kellie80]

My BMI's just over 35 and I was begging for epidurals in my last 2 labours and they wouldn't give me on. There was never any mention of my needing to have one

 

[Sal C]

Supposedly it's because the higher the bmi, the more fat on your body. The more fat on your body, the harder it is for the anaesthetist to locate the exact point to put the needle. They use the bones of the back to find the epidural space. Personally, I think that if they can't find the space very easily, I wouldn't want them anywhere near me. I think it's rather daft.

I am sure this is going to be a very unpopular posting but these messages are driving me mad.



Firstly, A high BMI is a fancy way of telling you that you are overweight. It is not a 'disease' like preeclampsia which is out of your control. Obesity has been clearly shown to be bad for you and makes you likely to have more health problems and an earlier death.

You are more likely to have problems during your pregnancy and especially during your delivery, which strikes me as obvious.

In terms of the epidural - isn't it also completely obvious that wielding a tiny, thin but long needle and guiding it carefully between the bones of the spine, close to the spinal cord is going to be more accurate when the landmarks can be felt and not hidden beneath a large quantity of fat. If an obese individual has a complication and wants to blame the anaesthetist then they are completely deluded.

It drives me mad that people won't take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing - people these days seem to think it is their right to be as fat as they want and anyone who suggests that this is unhealthy and dangerous is being descriminatory.

I am not saying it's easy to stay thin for some people and I have every sympathy for people who try. People should take responsibility for being healthy instead of expecting tax payers to fund the medical treatment for the diseases and problems they then get.

Sorry for the rant.