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I wanted a water birth but hospital said my weight put staff at risk
Sophie Goodchild, Health and Social Affairs Correspondent24 Aug 2010
A mother has accused a hospital of discrimination after she was branded too fat to use its birthing pool.
Kirsty Shaw, 20, was barred from the birth centre at St Helier hospital in Carshalton after her body mass index was measured at about 36.
She said the hospital told her she was a health and safety risk because midwives might have to lift her.
Instead Miss Shaw was sent to the maternity ward where she gave birth to Lily, her third child, without any complications last month.
The beautician said her BMI was high because she had only recently given birth to her son Harry at the time she was measured.
"My blood pressure is normal and I had Harry in exactly the same pool which gave me a really strong bond with him. But this time they said they'd need a hoist to lift me if there were complications," she said.
"I'm devastated because I've been denied a choice over how I gave birth - women should be judged on their medical history, not on their BMI."
However, St Helier hospital said expectant mothers with a BMI of above 30 were at greater risk of complications.
A spokesman said: "This issue is not a trivial health and safety matter, nor are the guidelines we follow designed to be discriminatory - this is about keeping our patients safe.
"Therefore, women with a BMI of more than 35 cannot use the birth centre and women with a BMI between 30 and 35 are assessed on a case-by-case basis before a decision is made for use of the birth centre."
The growing number of overweight mothers has prompted the health watchdog to warn mothers-to-be not to "eat for two".
In some cases, women are carrying so much fat that midwives are unable to detect the position of the baby. Instead, they are sent for scans to check how the baby is developing in the womb. Some London hospitals have bought reinforced delivery beds to take the weight of obese women.
Carol King, a member of the Royal College of Midwives, said midwives were having to undergo extra training so they know how best to assist obese women in labour.
Ms King said: "Hospitals have limited resources anyway and dealing with obese mothers adds an extra layer of planning.
"It's not only the medical problems but also the physical issue of having to examine as well as lift overweight women who are expecting."
Reader views (24)
Look folks, be kind, after all many skinny people have been known to have dissapeared down the plughole.
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls NSW, Australia, 25/08/2010 04:32
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I still cannot understand how people say "should of" instead of "should have". Does anyone have any insight on this elusive phenomenon?
- Comeron, London, 24/08/2010 14:11
Answer.. I aint gonna tell ya an ya shoulda gimme da.. OH AND BY THE WAY SIR, MAY I ASK IF YOUR NAME IS CAMERON AND NOT COMERON ? I HOPE YOU APPRECIATE THE QUESTION FOR AROUND THE RUGGED ROCKS THE RAGGED RASCAL RAN, AND ALL THAT OLD BEAN...anyone up for a cucumber sanga ?
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls NSW, Australia, 25/08/2010 04:20
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Her BMI was actually 36 not 30 so she's even fatter than most of us are assuming.
"I'm proud of my curves" she undoubtedly mumbled through a mouthful of Greggs Cheese slice.......you're a disgrace love.
- Tony Tromboney, Watford, 24/08/2010 16:18
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@ Comeron
"I still cannot understand how people say "should of" instead of "should have". Does anyone have any insight on this elusive phenomenon?"
Yes, it's because they are stupid but why are you asking on this thread?
- Mr Digestive, McVities, 24/08/2010 15:48
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Comeron - I don't claim to be the world's best at English grammar but I think it comes from the spoken abbreviation 'should've' which then gets misinterpreted and mispronounced as 'should of'. It's a bug bear of mine too but it's not as bad as 'I done', 'They done' instead of 'I did', 'They did'!!!!! That one actually has been known to set my teeth on edge 
- Charlie, London, 24/08/2010 15:33
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For this woman to have a BMI of 30, if she were an average height of, say, 5 feet 6 inches, she would need to weigh nearly 13 and a half stone or 85 kilos. I wouldn't want to lift her either - or have her fall on me.
- Mr Digestive, McVities, 24/08/2010 14:50
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To hell with the people who have to be responsible for her's and her baby's safety. Who care's about nurse's health - what concern is it of her's that few nurses that have not had back problems due to lifting! Equipment not up to it? What of it! The "free" health service should cater to her need for that elusive bonding experience that most mum's get while giving birth naturally by providing it. Need to monitor the baby prior to birth? That's the nurse's problem not hers - why should she worry about that...?
Discrimination? A discriminating mind would know this to be a nonsense.
- Rogan, Irving, 24/08/2010 14:21
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I still cannot understand how people say "should of" instead of "should have". Does anyone have any insight on this elusive phenomenon?
- Comeron, London, 24/08/2010 14:11
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BMI of 25/30 is classed as 'overweight', 30/35 is 'obese'.
- Paul, London, 24/08/2010 13:47
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No no. You can't put that in a waterbath, it needs a swimming pool. Eureka! She clearly needs displacement therapy.
- ARCHIMEDES, Syracuse, 24/08/2010 13:27
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Has the lady not got a full length mirror to see just how big she is,she of course has the right to be as fat as she likes but will have to accept that being fat will restrict some of the services that can be offered to her by the NHS if she wanted a waterbirth she could have gone private or booked Brighton Mariner.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 24/08/2010 12:45
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20 years old, 3 kids and a BMI of 30, sounds like a positive role model for all, we need more larger ladies like this to bolster the population, her children will be a positive addition to society and the fathers will undoubtedly be fully supportive.
- Liberal And Cowed, Camden, 24/08/2010 12:44
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A BMI of 30? That's not fat surely, just curvy. She wouldn't want to be stick thin like a supermodel would she. She's just a normal woman, proud of her fat, I mean normal shape.
- MIKE GREEN, London, 24/08/2010 12:27
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Perhaps Kirsty should have agreed to pay for the crane that would have been required to lift her out, or should the taxpayer fork out for that too?
- Nick Jones, London, 24/08/2010 11:54
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I think a majority of women are in denial of the fact that they are fat! If they think tattoos hide the fact they are wrong! I think Kirsty is upset because it was pointed out to her that she was fat, and, overweight, a fact they would never accept!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London., 24/08/2010 11:44
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Here's the country on the bones of its backside, and this one thinks we should pay for something than many would consider to be aa luxury.
Apparently she's devasted. If she was so anxious to have this, why did she not have it done privately? I think we all know the answer to that one!
- Jayceeyoukay, Surrey, UK, 24/08/2010 11:34
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wow, kirsty and her husband must be working around the clock to support their family
- beth, Vienna, 24/08/2010 11:06
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Luv', if you are too fat to pull out in case of trouble, then you are simply too fat to pull out in case of trouble.
It 'aint 'elf and santa, it's just a bit of common sense. Have a carrot.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 24/08/2010 11:05
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Stop having a hissy fit because someone has pointed out that you are fat dear - lose weight and get over it!
- Mowdiwarp, UK, 24/08/2010 10:31
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What a shame i suppose we will have to keep her and any
more she can muster,time she was Nobbled
- Richard, Rayleigh, 24/08/2010 10:29
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They should of thrown a bucket of water over her, if she wanted water that badly!
I assume Water births are offered as an option not a right and come on love you’re over weight + carrying a child! Just be grateful for a lovely healthy child & the time you have to nuture them this is far more rewarding!
- Jamie, London, 24/08/2010 10:17
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You need to lose weight woman, not kick up a stink about choices!
A recommended & sensible balanced diet was out of the question then?
- suzyn, By the sea, Essex., 24/08/2010 10:16
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It's elf and safety init! 20 years old and 3 kids already. Blime, at this rate she'll have a dozen by time she's 30. The sooner this government stops childrens allowance the better.
- Sue, Kent, 24/08/2010 09:56
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All a matter of DISPLACEMENT I'd say
- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls NSW, Australia, 24/08/2010 09:42
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