While visiting a friend who is pregnant, we got on the topic of how she wanted to give birth. Her mother is a huge home birth advocate, so my friend sought out a midwife as soon as she found out she was pregnant. However, after consulting with a group of midwives at a birthing center, she was told that they would not assist her at home or even at their birthing center because she did not meet their BMI requirements (also, my friend has LOST 30 pounds due to morning sickness and having to stop some medications before she decided to conceive). My friend is now forced to give birth in a hospital, even though every single test done on her came back completely normal and showed she was in excellent health. Because the area she lives in has a limited number of midwives, she was unable to find any other midwife willing to take her as a patient.

Thin privilege is being able to choose where and how you give birth.