By Tara Murray
Finding the right place to give birth and be comfortable is something that is near the top of an expecting mother’s lists.
The hospital needs to be close, have the right staff and cater for the varying different needs.
For many expectant mothers, having larger bodies complicates things with some smaller hospitals not equipped properly to handle possible medical issues.
At Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital at Sunshine Hospital, Western Health has set up a DIAMOND Clinic, which is an antenatal clinic dedicated to women living in larger bodies with a higher body mass index.
It’s believed to be one of the most comprehensive services of its kind in Australia.
Established by women’s and children’s clinical services director Associate Professor Glyn Teale in 2016, the clinic brings together a team of experts who specialise in the complications common to this group of patients.
The clinic is a virtual one-stop-shop of specialists, including midwives, obstetricians, nutritionists, psychologists, social workers, fetal monitoring specialists, physiotherapists and endocrinologists.
Diamond stands for diabetes, maternal obesity, nutrition and diet and is held every Thursday morning.
Access to the clinic is through referral only, with the criteria for admission is a body mass index of more than 50, or more than 45 when women have other comorbidities such as gestational or type 2 diabetes, hypertension or previous complicated pregnancies.
Women with a higher BMI are at higher risk of a range of complications during pregnancy including diabetes, blood pressure problems, blood clots, preeclampsia, miscarriage and pre-term birth.
In 2023, the DIAMOND Clinic cared for more than 200 pregnant women.
Associate midwife unit Manager Kylie Charles, who has been involved in the clinic since its inception, co-ordinates all appointments and is the main liaison between patients and clinicians.
“I love working in this clinic,” she said. “I have a strong commitment to midwifery practice and I am passionate about ensuring women and their families receive the highest quality best care possible during what is an exciting, but vulnerable time.
“Being part of this multidisciplinary team is so rewarding. It’s a smaller clinic enabling us to provide continual care, as we get to know the women well.
“We have a really dedicated team. I’m so proud that we can provide non-judgmental care that is specific to each woman.”
Obstetrician Dr Nisha Khot is another staff member who has worked at the clinic since the start.
“The clinic brings the best research available to the day-to-day care of women living in larger bodies. In this clinic, we aim to provide individualised care, free of stigmatisation.”
