I wanted a water birth but hospital said my weight put staff at risk

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."