Emily Chamberlain, a 31-year-old woman from Queensland’s Darling Downs, faced difficult complications in her last pregnancy. This present struggle was rooted in predominant weight stigma within the healthcare system. As Chamberlain traveled her own journey towards motherhood, she was bombarded with conversations about her weight. Every interaction she had with various clinicians forced the issue to the top of the stack. This experience shattered her, and she felt that no one was listening to her.
Chamberlain went on to give birth to her son, Levi, who’s now almost two years old. She had an uncomplicated, healthy pregnancy. Her midwife at the small regional Queensland hospital quickly deemed her high-risk due to her BMI. This arbitrary classification made it difficult for Chamberlain to face the painful journey she needed to make for health care. She found out that she would need to travel almost two hours to deliver. This was required because of her BMI, despite her being completely healthy over the course of her pregnancy.
The Impact of Weight Discrimination
From the moment she became pregnant, Chamberlain consistently faced undue focus on her weight and not her holistic health. So as her pregnancy entered its last trimester, she hired a private midwife to provide the kind of individualized care she needed. The constant focus on her body took a dangerous toll on her mental health.
“Falling pregnant took us a little while so when we did, it already felt like such a miracle,” – Emily Chamberlain
Chamberlain shared that it was very frustrating to feel like there was no one who would listen or care about her health condition. She stated, “My overall health physically just didn’t really come into it, despite the fact me and bub were doing really well.” The unending discussions about her weight left her feeling embarrassed and belittled. This took a toll on the joy that she had been anticipating experiencing during her pregnancy.
The emotional toll of these experiences was extremely high. Chamberlain revealed, “The whole experience really took a toll on my mental health and took a lot of joy away from what was a really exciting time.” Her story is a symptom of a devastating reality for large-bodied women in maternity care.
Systemic Issues and Professional Insights
Chamberlain’s experience is not an outlier, it is part of a larger phenomenon of weight bias in maternity care. Our medical provider partners have emphasized that these are not isolated experiences. Too many women face the same hurdles, cutting them off from prenatal care. Fear of judgment and discrimination can cause people to avoid or disengage from needed healthcare services.
Professor Callaway, a leading expert in maternity care, warned that fat shaming prevents women from seeking essential healthcare. “Shame and stigma don’t support healthy lifestyle changes. They just get in the way of health care engagement. The result is women and babies exposed to unnecessary harm,” he stated.
In his testimony, he further pointed out that black women often require larger medical instruments while undergoing maternity procedures. Sadly, they’re frequently subjected to indignity when spaces aren’t ready. “We’d hear of women coming in to have their observations taken, and suddenly there’s this great hunt to find a blood pressure cuff that fits, and that’s humiliating, when in reality 50 percent of women will need a larger cuff during their maternity.”
A Call for Change
Emily Chamberlain’s story is a strong indictment of the health care providers and institutions. It invites them to transform the way they provide maternity care. Dr. Briony Hill, another expert in the field, underscored the importance of focusing on women’s overall health rather than their BMI. “What we should be doing is focusing on her health and wellbeing and working out how we can help her have the best pregnancy outcome,” she said.
Moreover, Professor Callaway added that changing the mindset around weight bias requires more than just addressing facts. It necessitates a compassionate approach. “It’s easy to change a doctor’s mind. We respond well to facts and evidence, but it’s harder to change their heart,” he explained.
Chamberlain’s experience underscores a sad reality. Over half of Australian women now have bigger bodies, so many women continue to experience weight bias throughout pregnancy. This longstanding crisis makes an increasingly clear case for the systemic change needed in how maternity care is provided.
