to be completely shocked and disgusted at the leaflet I've just been given by my mw???

[mummylovesnancy]

This leaflet, titled 'Raised BMI in Pregnancy' was passed on to me by my midwife at my booking in appointment yesterday. Along with the words 'You can't have a home birth, you probably won't deliver naturally and you'll be given consultant led care.'
I'm 28, I have 2 PERFECTLY healthy children who both have perfect height to weight ratios, eat well, are active and are generally normal children. I weigh 13st and I'm 5'2 which puts me in the 'obese' catagory according to the good ol' BMI index of wonder. I have been roughly this weight and exactly this height for all of my adult life. I am overweight, I accept that, but what I don't accept is being told to read this sodding leaflet which tells me, among various other little pearlers, that:
*I will have raised blood pressure. (Not 'I may', 'I WILL')
*I will be prone to urinary tract infections. (never had one in my life!)
*'Bigger Ladies' (exact wordage) get more blood clots. (Dumb Fuck)
*Examinations will be difficult. (Why? Because you have to part all my layers of fat to get to my vag?! How fucking degrading)
*I will have restricted mobilisation. (Will I? Because I don't now, will it automatically come with being fat and preggers?)
*Putting in a drip will be difficult. (yeah because my hands are so freaking chubby.)
*Breastfeeding will be challenging (I've managed it with two babies, now because you've changed your guidelines I think I might struggle.)
And my favourite one yet:
*The risk of stillbirth or your baby dying in the first 28 days is increased in 'larger ladies' (Thanks for that one, nhs, I just had a misscarriage 8 weeks ago. Was it because I'm fat?)

It also mentions on about 7 occasions that I may want an epidural. Is that to keep me quiet?! It also offers to refer me to a dietician and a counsellor.

I have been overweight (or a larger or bigger lady, as the nhs prefers) and given birth naturally twice with absolutely no complications and one of them was a home birth. I can't believe I have to read all this shit. The idiot who wrote this doesn't even know how to place an apostrophe or comma ffs!

Does anyone agree with me that this is a disgusting, degrading, scare mongering piece of shit or am I being an unreasonable pregnant wreck??

custard, i agree i am at risk because of my bmi.

however my medical history is good, i am personally not concerned.

OP - does the leaflet really have an obese doctor on the front of it?

I can't find an NHS leaflet anywhere on the internet with that exact title.

www.esht.nhs.uk/patient-and-visitor/visitors/leaflets/?entryid149=303640&char=I I personally think it's well written.

The above link write-up at no point says the OP statements. It states 'can', 'may' and even 'if required' and 'may recommend' and 'will be advised'.

Oh I saw that but it says I have to download it....it won't let me though.

That's my take on it too, Custard.

wrt blood pressure - surely you will have raised blood pressure means your BP will be higher than it would be if you were a healthy BMI. Happy to be corrected if that's not actually true (that your BP is higher if you're obese, that is).

Having said all that, seeing the shock and disgust the leaflet's caused, it hasn't done it's job (even if it is factually correct). So perhaps it needs a rewrite.

Oh I don't know. It's provoked a reaction from the OP so perhaps it's done the same for others?

I mean instead of the usual advice that probably goes straight in the bin without a second glance.

i am sorry but i do actually disagree i dont think it is designed to tell us medical facts like being 5ft 7 mean i should be 9 stone something. the fact is i would have to make my self quite unwell to be that small i am not suppose to be that small, so why should i then listen to some people that seem to think that a one size fits all system is right for everybody. the bmi system is bull.
at my healthest size 12 i was 13 stone. i think the last time i was 9 stone was prob when i was 9

op smile and nod, if they want to waste tax payer money by sending you for an extra scan and some consultants who will shrug and say so what. then thats there look out i quite like the thought of the extra scan myself.

I'm more concerned that a young woman of 28 is happy to be obese. That is depressing.

The pressure on your heart, your joints, lungs by carrying the equivalent of an 8 year old around with you 24/7 is huge.

And I will never buy the argument that you can be obese and fit and healthy.

Being very fit and slim is the single thing that gives my life such quality ( children husband love etc excluding).

Well seeing as you know exactly what the consultants will do and say, perhaps they should save a few quid and send the OP to you spookshow?

Being fit is good, having a quality life because you are slim is a bit weird though Lookattheears.

No, slim and fit go together. The sports I enjoy are not compatible with being fat.

And, Like I say, you cannot be very fit and very fat.

i am considered to be obese but am fit and active, no marathon but i dont know many non obese people that do. i play golf, swim, play with my children so its the assumption that being over weight means that you do crap all is entertaining.
well since i have already been to two consultants worra one said "well if you were a small girl i would be worried, but your not" indicating my hips,that was in regards to my baby being big. a problem apparently for mums with high bmi and one asked to look at my wrists because that would tell him if i had big bones and whether there would be any problems.
it makes me giggle. especially when other people latch on to it. i went to my bmi consultation and all he wanted talk about was my epilepsy because thats what he called "an actual issue"

I've read the PDFs that have been linked to in this thread and, to use the OP's phrase, I'm shocked and disgusted I hadn't previously come across this specific information before. If I hadn't see this thread on mumsnet, I wonder if the first I'd heard of it would be being given a leaflet when, frankly, it's too late to do anything (as the leaflets say)?

As someone who doesn't yet have children, this has given me a severe kick up the bum to ensure I am fit, healthy and active before I TTC! Obviously we all know we should be active and healthy, but to see it in a leaflet like that has given me extra motivation to do my best.

Actually they don't Lookattheears. That's a myth.

Eating well and taking regular exercise is what is good for health. The BMI range, except at the extreme ends is not a good measure of how healthy, fit or otherwise someone is.

Also using your slimness to try and set yourself above another woman you are criticising for her weight is more than a little unpleasant.

Isn't Steve Redgrave clinically obese..? I'd say he's quite fit and healthy.

Yes, and most of the England rugby team.

!3st at my height is pretty big, isn't it?

The other things about being a large parent is that your children are more likely to be fat too as children as adults.

Honestly OP I think you should suck it up.

Spooks and because of what the consultant said to you...you know that's what they'll say to the OP?

BMI is only supposed to be applied to normal people not athletes.

Steve Redgrave did not go to the doctor & his doctor say: Steve your BMI is too high, lose some weight.

it is a simple way for most people to work how if they are putting themselves & in case of women, their babies at risk.

i am 5 foot 7 & 13 stone is v heavy.