I'm 37 weeks with first baby and had an appointment with a midwife yesterday to go through my birth plan. I saw a different midwife from usual, so she wasn't familiar with my history.
I very much want to go to the midwife-led unit rather than the hospital as I want a natural / water-birth and to be as active as possible. Also, the midwife-led unit has the option of family rooms, so DH can stay if necessary. I've had a really straightforward pregnancy and no health problems.
When I said that I want to use the midwife-led unit the midwife said that that wasn't an option as my BMI was over the cut-off point of 30 at the first appointment, so I have no choice but to go to the hospital.
I was a bit upset about this, as my normal BMI is 26 and it was just that I immediately got really bloated when I got pregnant so put on over a stone in water within a week or two of conceiving. I explained this to the midwife and she said that those were the rules and that I didn't have any choice. She refused to discuss it further with me.
So I've spent the last day feeling fat and upset that I am not allowed to decide where I give birth.
Anyway, I just checked my notes and I see they have my height wrong - only by half an inch, but it means that my BMI at the time was 29 and not 30 (i.e. below the cut-off point). My notes also say that I'm low-risk. I'm relieved, but I'm also really annoyed that I've been worrying unnecessarily.
Has anyone else had the same experience? Am I right that they'll have to accept my choice of giving birth in the midwife-led unit?