Waterbirth advice needed!

[Flappergirl86]

My local hospital has a bmi limit on who can use birthing pools. At the start of my pregnancy I was just under the maximum acceptable bmi (its either 32 or 35, the midwife wasn't sure and my bmi at my first appointment was 30.5) do they work out your bmi again before the birth or go by your pre-super-fat-with-child weight? I'm seeing my midwife on Friday but am curious it anyone else has been in a similar boat. I know there's a chance I won't get to use a pool due to loads of other reasons as well but it seems ludicrous that I wouldn't be able to use it because i was an average size 14 when I got pregnant!

No they don't weigh again during pregnancy. I should add I've had two DD's and they didn't with either of mine. First DD was a planned water home birth (actually ended up at hospital) second was a water birth in the mw led unit at the hospital. Good luck!! Water birth is fab

Thank you so much! I am really set on a waterbirth if I can get one x

Remember you can ask for what you want anyway - don't be afraid to challenge and ask why they are saying you "can't have" something (whatever it is - waterbirths or anything else). Do all hospitals have that policy and that limit? Why? Is there a risk that is specific to you and your baby? Would you be able to use a pool if you gave birth at home? It drives me nuts when hospitals say stuff like this without explaining why and giving women the options!

Thanks missy, apparently different hospitals have different cut offs but mine are quite strict about it (Leeds) fortunately I'm within the limits so don't have to worry about it for now. But yes! It's easy to feel like you just have to do what they say and not question it, but then that's how bad birth experiences happen isn't it?