40 stone woman's CS costs £200k...thank you NHS!

[Alexa808]

Reading quite a few threads lately where mums-to-be are denied the resources of the NHS to have the birth they wish for (water, home, etc) I'm flabbergasted to read this:

www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/article14491.ece

An observation (not a moral judgement): she speaks of how her weight has never interfered with her sex life. But, she doesn't mention using any form of birth control, or how it 'failed' or 'condom split' etc. So reading between the lines, can we guess that none was used?

Given that it's in the News of the World, I would seriously doubt that this happened at all, let alone most of the details. I know someone who regularly poses for the pictures they use to illustrate their 'news stories', because they're all completely made up.

This all sounds like total rubbish. She doesnt look 40 stone in the pictures.
If she had come on here with that story I suspect people would accuse her of being a troll.

I think the story with 'ze German' hookers was real or Mosley wouldn't have gone to High Court

Yes Dittany, you must be right. They did expect this scenario and were able to plan.

I'm happy for her but think more could be done to serve others, too who may not be such 'extreme' cases but equally much in need.

With others I mean mums and babies.

but the Mosley story would have had some basis in truth as they were involving a real person.

articles about random people are almost always made up - my friend posed for pics with a model for a story about a girl who caught her boyfriend in bed with her mother. he'd never met either of the girls in the photos, and certainly had never shagged anyone's mother!

I see the DM page has been removed!!

Nothing in the local rag!!

Earlybird, that is what I thought of - who is going to look after them? I know how much work is involved with looking after twins, add another one makes it much more interesting to say the least.

While I don't deny she deserved to have her babies born safely she was a bit irresponsible but then it is done now and she needs to deal with the consequences. I can say that as some on the heifer size myself and I want to loose weight. If only it were as easy but there is plenty of help available for people who want to quit smoking or drinking booze and people like this girl obviously would need a lot of help and support. Overeating can be more about what is going on mentally rather than just the fact you are eating more than moving!

What a vile piece of journalism. Earlybird - what do you mean about her not using contraception - isn't that her decision to make? Being overweight doesn't rob a person of their freedom to make decisions.

EarlyBird - just because it doesn't say that contraception was used, we shouldn't presume that it wasn't.

With regard to the question about why she deserves more treatment than other mothers - it's not a case of 'deserving' but 'needing' whether due to her weight or multiple birth (both would've been a factor)'

And, to be honest, the babies are healthy and the mother should not be judged just beacause of her weight. Things could've turned out alot different for them and either wasy, the Daily Trash would've found some way to sensationalise it.

Good luck to them and if she is serious about losing weight, she should be helped not ridiculed or belittled.

So CJ you're saying that because she is so overweight she needed more help than say a size 8 mum, yes? So it is about her weight being a risk factors isn't it? What about mums with birth traumas, internal scarring, fear of labour, fear of hospitals, out of hours service, what about them having to wait endlessly for appointments, not being taken seriously, having to give birth with too little or inexperienced staff, etc. Why is the plight of Leanne more grave than that of others whose lives and babies are at equal risk?

Having lived over 4 countries I think the NHS is one of the most unfair and senseless care systems I've ever experienced.

Of course we don't know whether contraception was used, and it is absolutely her choice to use or not.

She makes a statement about having an active sex life, and says she was 'shocked' to discover the pregnancy. I would think that most people who were using contraception would say so, and then say that it failed. The fact that contraception is not mentioned in the article, is what made me wonder.

She's on GMTV right now, so she is real! Turns out she'd been told she couldn't conceive because of her weight (hence no contraception) and has an underactive thyroid (hence the weight problems), and despite asking and asking for help with her weight, hadn't had any support from the NHS.

So as usual, the News of the World doesn't tell us the whole story.

Alexa, I'm not saying that as i can't quantify the individual needs of any mum, size 8 or otherwise. All I am saying is that she needed an amount of help determined by her individual circumstances and that it has nothing to do with whether someone 'deserves' it or not. I also didn't say that the plight of Leanne was more 'grave' than others. Read into it what you will, but I am not going to leap on the judgemental band wagon just because of the way it has been reported.

With regard to the NHS, 4 countries in the whole world is hardly a fair number in which to compare the NHS too. I agree that it needs huge improvement (I work for it) but there are also alot worse too.

If she has an underactive thyoid, clinically diagnosed, she would be on thyroxine and unlikely to weigh 40 stone.

Also the article mentions her unhealthy diet - including snacks of chocolate, crisps and chips.

So whilst it is unpleasant sensationalistic journalism I think the lady involved seems entirely responsible for her size. It's amazing she sustained a healthy triplet pregnancy for 34 weeks at that weight.

LittleMyDancingForJoy (and anyone else who saw the GMTV interview) - what was your impression of her? Who is taking care of the babies, and how is she coping?

I actually think the OP makes a valid point - sort of: the NHS is so stretched that it only cares at crisis point. If you are normal you are likely to receive shoddy treatment in a lot of cases because stretched resources are afforded to those in critical need - which is good (and essential) for those in that need but tough luck for the rest of us.

Conversely we have this 18 week wait thing - great in theory - no one waits more than 18 weeks for surgery but this means that clinical need is ignored in favour of 'making the deadline' so a non essential annoying ingrowing toenail patient goes on the same general surgery queue as the bloke whose foot needs major reconstruction following an accident. One of these patients can't walk and is in constant pain but doesn't get priority lest the toenail guy breaches the 18 week rule

Sidge - Article also mentioned her drinking and smoking.

I have just come accross this conversation while looking on the net.
I am actually Leanne's best friend and just felt after reading what ppl have said that i should add to this myself.
Obviously when Leanne was approached by NOTW she was well aware that ppl will make there own judgements on her and i'm sure as most of you are aware the papers never tell the full story.
Leanne has a great support network in her family and friends, when Leanne found out she was pregnant she was made well aware of the complications the pregnancy could cause but we all knew that Leanne would make the right decision for herself and her babies!
We are all over the moon at the safe arrival of the triplets.

tell her congratulations and good luck from us, Mazza.

Aww i will. Many thanks

Aww i will. Many thanks

unless she's 8ft tall, no way is she 40 stone.

trust me, I know what I am talking about.

However, it is nice to know that the morbidly obese have no right to any sort of life and should shut up and die instead of costing proper people any money. I must have missed the memo. Will of course be killing self forthwith, after shooting all fellow mn fatties, of course. Is in best interests of world, clearly.

Supportive and unbiased does not mean obliging every request.

This woman needed as Cs. It wasn't a choice.