SO ANGRY!! Just been told I'm so fat I can't give birth at home.

[ruthmollymummy]

And I'd like to start by admitting that I am overweight but not by loads. I am 6 feet tall, broad and wear size 18 clothes. BMI is 33 (although I think BMI is a big pile of twaddle as far as evaluating health)

So am I really so fat that its dangerous for me to give birth without medical supervision over and above a midwife!? I'm only 22, second child and pretty darn healthy I think.

Please tell me there surely can't be a law like this????

You are NOT fat!!! And hb are brill!!

are you kidding? you look really slim! And pretty too. Perhaps she is jealous.

I thought BMI index of 35 and over was in the 'not ideal' range? In any case, BMI doesn't measure a whole range of other things such as blood pressure, muscle tone, metabolism and all sorts of other things.

It makes me really angry when people are evaluated solely on weight etc.

Could you write a letter to midwife asking for referral as you aren't happy with your weight being the sole reason for refusal for homebirth?

Hi RMM. Have just looked at your profile and saw the area your live in and would say that a LOT of my clients have come from this area because they have found the midwives unsupportive of homebirth in general so it may be that you have given them the perfect excuse to say "no" because of that magic BMI number.

I HATE HATE HATE that women are risk-categoriesed by a number. It is complete bo**ks. I myself refused to be weighed when I went for my booking in appointment with last baby as I knew that my BMI would put me in "high risk" category and I refused to be categorised by a number. This ended in a massive fight with my midwife and her calling me foolish and subsequently having to provide me with a written apology when I complained about her.

It is true to say that there are risk factors involved with being overweight - mainly that you are at increased risk of some problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes. But these are things that ALL women are monitored for throughout pregnancy so why create a problem before there is one?! In my area (just across the river from you) women with a BMI over 30 are given a leaflet at booking telling them they are high risk and at increased risk of instrumental delivery/ c/s and that they are advised to have an epidural early in labour!!!! OMG, how fab that we should be undermining these womens' confidence before they're even into 2nd trimester!

I echo what others have told you already RRM, you ARE entitled to insist on a homebirth. I would contact the Head of Midwifery at FP Hospital to clarify that you ARE intending to give birth at home and outlining the opposition you have come up against - DISGUSTING!

Good luck.

Meant to add RMM, that an ex-client of mine is in the process of setting up a Home Birth Support group in your area as she came up against the same opposition. If you want to forward me your email details I can ask her to let you know when it's up and running.

Every midwife I ever had contact with had a BMI of at least 30. Don't do as I do, do as I say, methinks.

OMG, you are so not fat. What is this world coming to.

Seconding everyone else here. I'm 5'3 and was a size 18 and BMI 33 when I got pregnant with ds2 let alone towards the end! My midwives didn't bat an eyelid, though I do live in a very pro-homebirth area. Get yourself over to the homebirth.org site and harness your anger - send a letter now to the supervisor of midwives setting out your intentions and asking for a supportive midwife. Set a rocket up them now whilst you're in the mood.

His birth was fine btw, easy latent labour for about 8 hours, and then 2hrs start to finish from waters breaking and the hard stuff!

I was told that my BMI was too low at booking in appointment as it was 19 and "should be at least 21".

This really annoyed me because if the midwife had actually looked at me she could have observed that I am not underweight but slightly built with no muscle tone. BMI is useful as a simple number but should be used with common sense!

To add - you are plainly NOT unhealthily overweight.

What's the problem the m/w is worried about? I put on loads of weight when preg like many people do - how is this a prob for home birth?

you look and sound like a strong, beautiful, healthy woman who could pop babies while fighting off a horse of dumbass midwives like an amazon. i would insist on a global picture of your health being considered, better knowledge of the actual risks of HB for your MW a la links previously and an apology for the damage done to your morale

er, hoard not horse. ROFL

horse and hoard. this is so funny

Can I just add to the others, you are definitely not fat at all unless the photo on your profile is of some random person you met at antenatal group. I had two home births and for the second one I was MUCH fatter than you. No midwife ever suggested my weight was an issue. You are young, it is not your first child, there are no other risk factors that you have mentioned - your midwife is bonkers. Go over her head and sort it out with the head of midwifery. And make them give evidence to support this frankly bizarre assertion of hers.

i am aiming for horse and will get there. eventually.

I'm not surprised you are fuming, I would be too. I think its awful, and you are hardly a porker are you?!

HORDE LOL

agree that you should contact AIMS

there are increased risks with high BMI though aren't there? I know shoulder dystocia is one of them

sits on fingers

Hiya

I so sympathise - as far as I know if you insist enough the hospital HAS to send a midwife out to you if you insist on staying at home

I posted something on my ante natal group thread I read in a paper a few days ago,

Obese women are like a million times more likey to miscarry a healthy baby!! I'm a size 16 at 5ft 4inc but have a shocking BMI it's about 35 so this puts me in the OBESE range - I am definatley overweight but it's not that bad I don't think, I have massive boobs too which I swear weigh a ton and I have always been heavier than I look

I had just said on other thread yesterday that now I feel like an awful mother for not losing weight before getting pregnant and last night I ended up in hopsital as had some bleeding and cramps and I have to go and get scanned tomorrow at EPU - I'm only 7 weeks PG.

Sorry rambled on a bit about my own problems there...

I don't think you sound dangerously overweight at all and it seems really unfair that you've been told this

Be insistant and I hope you get want you want