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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Stupid friggin BMI!!!

26 replies

Septbaby · 06/08/2014 16:17

Am so pissed off, just a got back from 36 week appointment, have been weighed and now told that my BMI has tipped over 35 (even though the midwife stated that they don't recalculate!) this may mean I may be told to have the baby at a large hospital instead of the MLU where I want to deliver!

I'm so angry that they rely on this crappy scale! I'm completely healthy, normal pregnancy, GTT fine, measuring exactly right yet because I'm slightly heavier than they'd like this may now completely change everything!

If I do have to go to the hospital I'm going to be taking up a room that someone who is actually high risk may need, and tbh I just don't fucking want to go there!!!

Sorry for the rant, I've been in tears about this, I'm aware that I've put on some weight, I'm also highly aware I'm 8 pissing months pregnant! If I were actually obese or actually high risk then I could understand the concern but this has just made me so mad!!

Thank you for letting me vent ladies!

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Mistyautumn · 06/08/2014 16:25

You have every right to turn around and say that you don't want to be consultant led at the big hospital and that you want to continue to be midwife led.

When we are fit and healthy individuals we are used to coming across health care professionals in emergency/unusual situations where we accept that the doctors and nurses are giving the best care possible.

Pregnancy and birth are not like this. You need to take into account your own feelings and instincts and tell the medical professionals what you want. You may have to be quite robust when talking to them and hopefully you will be able to come to some agreement xxx

loudarts · 06/08/2014 16:27

Hang on, they are using your weight with an 8 month bump to work out your bmi? That doesn't sound right. Why have you been weighed at this stage? With each of my pregnancies I was weighed at the booking visit and that was it

Mistyautumn · 06/08/2014 16:28

P.s. I say this being consultant led due to high BMI, but I have had long discussions re the fact that I want to have as active a labour as possible. Thankfully most of them respect what I want from my labour. Xx

Loujim2 · 06/08/2014 17:25

How can they use your bmi at this stage? That is ludicrous!

Lalalax3 · 06/08/2014 17:41

I'm in exactly the same boat myself, have to go to the labour ward cos my baby weight has tipped me over 35.

S'annoying innit?!

Lalalax3 · 06/08/2014 17:42

Oh and, like you, my BP, wee, GTT have all been normal, normal, normal all the way through. GRRR.

squizita · 06/08/2014 18:08

I am consultant led and they don't weigh me. I asked why and they said because without accurately knowing what was baby + placenta it had no true bearing on my BMI?? This is at a leading teaching hospital, nay the leading teaching hospital for Ob/gyn and midwifery in the South East of England.

Who did this? They sound inexperienced- as you mention the MW says they don't recalculate. Ask for a second opinion or contact your local supervisor of midwives. Challenge them about how much they think is 'you' and how much is baby/fluid.

Original poster

Septbaby · 06/08/2014 18:09

I'm so glad everyone else thinks it's ridiculous too! I just don't understand it, how can this be an accurate assessment at this stage?!?

mrsgembles it's so frustrating isn't it :( all I want is to go to the MLU... They've put the question in to the consultant and I'm just hoping they say I'll be fine, it just seems like such a waste of resources at the already massively over stretched hospital as well as being something I really don't want.

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Redling · 06/08/2014 18:09

Christ I hope my midwife doesn't weigh me next week as I'll most likely be over 35 by now, they haven't weighed me at all since booking in appt. I would also speak to the midwife unit as it doesn't seem right that the baby weight would be making you more in need of monitoring, unless you'd put on 6 stone or something there shouldn't be cause for concern.

Original poster

Septbaby · 06/08/2014 18:13

squizita it was done by the midwife who said just that 2 minutes before saying my Bmi was now too high! So confusing! I think I'll call in tomorrow and talk it through with another midwife as it just doesn't seem right...

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weebairn · 06/08/2014 18:22

This happened to a friend of mine in London and I thought it was very very odd. Especially as her BMI was about 28 or something when heavily pregnant.

squizita · 06/08/2014 18:26

I would call and get the number of the "supervisor of midwives"- her job is to check they are following policy (e.g. if an average size woman puts on the average amount of weight they are NOT penalised) and doing things reasonably. It may be more powerful - you know you are getting someone who checks the quality of provision - than just asking someone else (e.g. what if you got someone less experienced who just agreed?).

MintyChops · 06/08/2014 18:35

Utterly ridiculous and I hope you manage to get the MLU. As if you need a fight on your hands at this stage.

Heatherbell1978 · 06/08/2014 18:40

A persons BMI is based on them NOT being pregnant. End of. Surely every woman has a high BMI at 36 weeks pregnant? All sounds a bit strange.

FirsttimerG · 06/08/2014 18:45

I was 14 stone when I got pregnant and now am 16.5st.
I was weighed at the booking appointment but not since (now 30 weeks)

I absolutely believe bmi is not meant to include baby - I would resist if I were you, it doesn't sound right! Xxx

PicandMinx · 06/08/2014 19:56

It would appear that you had an appointment with a MW that doesn't understand the basic rules of calculating BMI. That said, how do you or the MW know just how accurate the scales are anyway?! Complain to the Supervisor of Midwives tomorrow. Tell them you are going to the MLU. Don't ask.

PickleSarnie · 06/08/2014 19:59

That's utterly fecking ridiculous that they are calculating your BMI at 8 months pregnant! What was your BMI at booking in appointment? That's what they should be using.

Original poster

Septbaby · 06/08/2014 20:10

Thank you everyone! I will definitely try to speak to the supervisor, now I'm not so teary about it I'm ready for a battle about it! My BMI at booking in was 31, so not a skinny minny by any stretch but me or the mw weren't concerned at all. Like you said that's the figure that matters (even though BMI is a crock of )

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HippyJess · 06/08/2014 22:14

I may well be in the same situation - at booking my BMI was 33 and I was told I could be in the MLU, no worries whatsoever. I've had midwife led care all the way through BUT they've changed me to a different community midwife who seemed surprised at my first appointment with her that I was booked into the MLU and wants to weigh me at my next appointment (36 weeks). Now at 8 months pregnant I'm obviously going to have a "BMI" of over 35...

What should I do? Should I say at the beginning of the appointment that my first midwife was sure I'd be fine at the MLU and that since this weighing isn't accurate she can't use it to force me into the labour ward? I've been low risk for everything, perfect all the way through, GTT normal, everything

Original poster

Septbaby · 06/08/2014 22:50

hippyjess not sure what to say to do Hun, wish I'd refused being weighed, maybe you could just say no? The mw I saw today wasn't one I've ever met before and tbh after thinking about the appt it was a nightmare, she rushed right through our birth preferences and looked at my husb twice throughout the whole time (which he's also quite upset about as we both want him to be as involved as possible) so I'm definitely going to mention all if this to the supervisor tomorrow. I don't want to go all militant mumzilla but I just feel really strongly about this. I'll report back! :)

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PicandMinx · 06/08/2014 22:56

Decline the MW's offer of jumping on the scales. Refuse to be weighed. If there is no record of your "new" BMI, you do not need to have the discussion.

Remember, all tests and procedures are YOUR choice. A HCP cannot force or bully you into anything you are not happy with. Always TELL a HCP what your choices are. Never ask for permission as this will invite the answer no.

splendide · 07/08/2014 09:32

You need to find out your hospital's actual policy.

At mine (Kingston) the policy very clearly states that to use the MLU you need a BMI of under 35 at booking in

A very lovely midwife printed the policy out for me to keep in my notes as she said lots of staff don't know the rules.

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 07/08/2014 15:01

Im shocked they recalculated your bmi at 8months pregnant! Baby and bodily "extras" (like addition blood, fluids, muscle in the womb, etc) from the pregnancy are probably not that far off the 8.5kg average they are by the end of pregnancy, that can really affect a BMI calculation.

I was only reweighed after my booking appointment once i was in labour with ds but thats because it looked like i was going to need a cs and they said it can be useful for calculating some medications.

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 07/08/2014 15:05

Oh and if they dont let you go to mlu - consultant units can still be nice and still encourage active labour where possible (its normally complications that make labours on consultant units less active on average).

Original poster

Septbaby · 07/08/2014 19:58

Hi everyone, managed to speak to a senior midwife at the big hospital and a much more helpful and professional midwife at my MLU who took the time to explain to me why it had been recalculated, it is part of the trusts policy, which I wasn't told at all in the appointment, also in discussing with the local MW she has said that I can still chose to labour at the MLU, and she has also said looking at my record she feels the consultant will be happy with me doing that anyway, she has also promised to call me tomorrow to discuss the consultants notes... All it took was someone to take some time to talk it through and explain and I genuinely feel more confident in the fact that it is my choice to labour where I am happy to, obviously being aware of the risks and making a sensible decision.

Thank you for your support everyone :)

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