Camie shares her three pregnancy and birth stories to help dispel some common assumptions about what plus size bodies can achieve. She also shares some of the hardships she has faced.

3 Plus Size Pregnancy Myths

Myth: It’s really difficult for plus size women to get pregnant.

Fact: People of all sizes have fertility struggles. And while there are more obstacles and less support for those with a BMI above 30, many plus size women get pregnant without fertility support.

Because of a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis, Camie thought it would be difficult to fulfill her dream of becoming a mother.

Soon after meeting the man she wanted to build a family with, she went to her OB-GYN.

During this appointment, she addressed her irregular menstrual cycle, and an ultrasound confirmed many cysts on her ovaries.

Her doctor told her to go home and start trying. They’d discuss future fertility treatments beyond a perception for metformin if needed.

Camie left this visit feeling pretty defeated. But two weeks later, she was pregnant!

And when Camie was ready to have a second child, she wondered if she’d have secondary infertility. She didn’t, and she was pregnant within a month of trying.

Camie’s amazing plus size body is so fertile that she got pregnant with her third and last child while doing things to help prevent pregnancy!

So, Camie wants to help change the narrative that plus size people will always struggle to get pregnant. That sure wasn’t her story – even with having PCOS!

Myth: You don’t look pregnant when you’re plus size.

Fact: All bodies and all pregnancies are different. While some plus size people never have a stereotypical D-shaped belly, most (but not all) experience a pregnancy bump.

You can do much to extenuate a pregnancy belly, especially if you have a B-shaped belly. From wearing maternity jeans with a built-in belly band to babydoll tops, there are some great plus size maternity hacks!

Speaking of having a B-belly, Camie had one and an apron belly. She’s also tall, so she didn’t view herself as looking pregnant at some points during her pregnancy journies. But looking back at photos, she now sees herself as pregnant even when she didn’t years ago.

Myth: You’ll hate your postpartum body.

Fact: You might struggle with body image after giving birth or fall madly in love with your magnificent body that just birthed a human. There’s no way of knowing how you’ll feel, but we must change the negative stigma attached to postpartum bodies.  

Camie was thankful for her body after many years of questioning if she would even become a mother.

While she felt sadness around the emptiness of her belly, no longer holding her baby within her at all times, overall, she loved her postpartum body!

Camie busts many other plus size pregnancy myths during episode 189 of the Plus Mommy Podcast!

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 189

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Resources Mentioned On The Show

• View Camie’s stunning photos with her whimsical plus size maternity photo shoot, and read her first birth story.
• Connect with Camie via TikTok and Instagram.

The post Dispelling Plus Size Pregnancy Myths – Camie’s Story appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Sarah shares her twin pregnancy experience, from watching her belly expand to unpacking her relationship with food. And then you’ll hear about her empowering birth experience as she gave birth to her twins vaginally in the operating room!

Plus Size Twin Pregnancy Story

After trying to get pregnant with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) for two years, Sarah was surprised to learn she was pregnant with twins.

Getting Pregnant with Twins

It wasn’t until near the end of her two-year trying-to-conceive journey that Sarah got fertility support. Then, three rounds of Clomid later, she got that positive pregnancy test.

From the start, Sarah was upfront with her doctor that she wanted to connect with a size-friendly care provider. She believes that made all the difference along her fertility journey.

Since taking Clomid helps to induce ovulation, getting pregnant with twins is more common. Sarah also has a family history of twins.

During her 8-week prenatal visit, she learned she was having a Di/Di twin pregnancy.

With Di/Di twins, each baby has its own placenta and a gestational sack. And this type of twin pregnancy is known as the safest type of twin pregnancy.

Plus Size Twin Pregnancy Experience

Sarah brought up that she was having a plus size twin pregnancy, and her OB-GYN said they weren’t concerned about her size. This helped Sarah to feel comforted and supported.

While she was comfortable with her OB-GYN, she was nervous about seeing additional care providers due to her high-risk classification. Thankfully everyone treated her with dignity, and she never felt fat-shamed.

When it came to finding plus size maternity clothes during a plus size twin pregnancy, Sarah had some struggles.

She didn’t have much luck with plus size maternity jeans throughout her pregnancy. So, she lived in plus size maternity leggings from Fabletics (hello pockets!) and Latched Mama items.

Gestational Diabetes Diagnosis with Twins

There’s a connection between PCOS and gestational diabetes that doesn’t get talked about often enough. And during her third trimester, Sarah was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Her blood sugar readings following meals were always in the normal range, but her fasting levels were a concern.

Before getting pregnant, Sarah was on Metformin and started retaking it once she got the gestational diabetes diagnosis. With medication, she was able to regulate her blood sugar.

Thankfully she connected with a size-friendly dietitian who treated her with kindness and helped to learn how to pair carbs with fat and protein.

Feeling supported made her feel like she didn’t need to restrict herself and could eat balanced without triggering disordered eating patterns.

Another way Sarah felt supported throughout her pregnancy was by working with a therapist. She found it especially helpful when processing her gestational diabetes diagnosis.

Twins’ Vaginal Birth Story

Even before Sarah was pregnant with twins, she knew she wanted a vaginal birth. Her care team was supportive and let her know the position of the babies would determine her ability to attempt a vaginal delivery.

Baby A needed to be head-down. And following her first daughter’s birth, an ultrasound would determine her ability to give birth to her second vaginally.

If Baby B was breech, only one of her providers was comfortable delivering a breech baby.

With many unknowns and a ton of determination, Sarah went in for an induction at 38 weeks. But getting things going took time. Thankfully, with the support of her care team, husband, and mom, she kept going strong even when questioning if she should have a cesarean birth.

Sarah fondly remembers an incredible nurse who also believed in her body’s ability to give birth to twins vaginally.

As Pitocin started flowing to strengthen her contractions, Sarah wanted an epidural. But unfortunately, it took quite some time to see the anesthesiologist. And Sarah was so thankful to have that fantastic nurse by her side, helping her to get into many positions.

She finally got that epidural and started feeling needed relief.

They moved Sarah to the Operating Room as it was nearing time for her to give birth. Anyone attempting to give birth vaginally with twins is almost always required to do so in the Operating Room.

If there’s an emergency or a baby is breech, the care team can perform a cesarean birth immediately.

The room was full of care providers for Sarah and the babies, as she gave birth to Baby A soon after everyone was set up. It was an incredible moment for Sarah, even though she didn’t see her daughter immediately.

After she gave birth to Baby A’s placenta, there was an ultrasound to see the positioning of Baby B. And she was good to go to start pushing Baby B into the world!

Sarah only pushed for a total of twenty minutes while giving birth to both of her daughters! And Sarah felt incredible, with a room full of people cheering her on.

Baby A, Eliza, was 6 lbs 6 oz, and Baby B, Clara, was six pounds. Both girls had great weights and didn’t need any time in the NICU. Everyone was healthy and happy.

Sarah shares her positive plus size twin pregnancy story during episode 186 of the Plus Mommy Podcast.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 186

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Resources Mentioned On The Show

• Getting Pregnant With PCOS – Helpful Tips You Need To Know
• Plus Size Twin Pregnancy and Birth Stories

The post Plus Size Twin Pregnancy And Empowering Vaginal Birth appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Katrina Rollins, CNM, ARNP, MPH, is a Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner who shares tips for getting pregnant with PCOS. She has over seven years of experience diagnosing and treating people with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Katrina’s passion is helping people to get pregnant with PCOS!

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder.

Most people with PCOS experience irregular periods. They also have a higher level of androgen or male sex hormones like testosterone. And they will also sometimes have polycystic ovaries.

PCOS presents differently for everyone, and because of this, people often struggle to find a care provider who can accurately diagnose their medication condition.

What are some PCOS complications?

We know PCOS impacts fertility, but additional medication complications like endometrial hyperplasia exist.

The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. If you don’t shed that endometrium monthly during menstruation, there can be an overgrowth of tissue. Over time this can lead to cancer in the uterus.

With PCOS, there’s also the risk of type two diabetes because there’s more resistance to insulin with PCOS. So it’s essential to learn to manage it early as soon as possible, which is why early diagnosis is key.

What are some signs of PCOS?

A typical cycle should be anywhere from about 24 to 35 days. So if you’re skipping your period or have prolonged bleeding, it could be a sign of PCOS.

Other signs to look for are if you notice any excessive hair growth on the face, the chest, the back, hormonal acne, or unintentional weight gain.

So, when it comes to fertility tips for PCOS, you’ll want to start with advocating for a diagnosis.

How to get diagnosed with PCOS?

You need at least two markers for a PCOS diagnosis, including higher testosterone levels, irregular periods, or polycystic ovaries.

If you’re experiencing signs of PCOS, advocate for bloodwork and an ultrasound to look for polycystic ovaries.

What blood tests diagnose POCS?

You’ll want to see if you have elevated androgen levels, so DHEA/testosterone.

You also can look at the ratio of two female hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). For example, an LH-to-FSH ratio greater than 3-to-1 could be a marker for PCOS.

But remember, some people do not have higher testosterone levels and still can have PCOS. That’s why people need two of the three criteria for a PCOS diagnosis.

What are fertility tips for PCOS?

The biggest obstacle to fertility with PCOS is that you’re not ovulating regularly.

If you have periods every month, you have 12 chances of getting pregnant each year. If you have periods every other month, that’s six chances, and so on. So, you want to do all you can to have as many changes as possible.

With PCOS, it’s common to have irregular periods and a reduction in egg quality. So that leads us to the first fertility tip for PCOS.

Nutrition To Support Your Fertility

Katrina’s approach to fertility nutrition is adding more, not dieting or eating less.

“Food is medicine. So we should never be told to eat less. So I advocate for eating every two to three hours lots of protein-based snacks because that helps keep the blood sugar and the hormone stable.”

She encourages people to avoid diet foods because they often don’t contain many nutrients.

One thing people can do right away to improve egg quality is to pay close attention to nutrition. For example, chicken eggs contain folate, which can improve egg quality. So, adding more eggs to your fertility diet can be beneficial.

Omega three is also a great source of folate, so add foods like fatty fish like salmon, oysters, green leafy vegetables, flax seeds, and chia seeds to your diet.

Beyond the food you eat, you’ll also want to speak with your care provider about supplements for getting pregnant with PCOS.

Along with food and supplements, staying hydrated is essential for fertility and pregnancy.

Mental And Physical Wellness While TTC

Stress can also impact fertility, so you’ll want to do all you can to reduce stress, including getting lots of rest and moving your body in ways that feel good.

Be A Great Healthcare Advocate

Katrina shares how advocating for yourself in the healthcare system is critical regarding fertility tips for POCS.

“Don’t be afraid to speak up. I know it can be a little intimidating. I think we were kind of raised to think the health care provider knows it all, and just do what they say. But it really should be collaborative. And you should feel that you can decide what you want to do with all of the options.”

Beyond writing down your questions in advance, so you don’t forget when you want to ask, she encourages people to write down any labs or medications they’d like to discuss.

Listen to the podcast episode below, where Katrina shares the best fertility tips for PCOS and talks about supporting people during a plus size pregnancy.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 182

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Connect with Katrina via her websites Global Women’s Care and katrinarollins.com. Or via social media at Instagram, Tiktok, or YouTube.

Katrina Rollins, CNM, ARNP, MPH is a Nurse Midwife/Nurse Practitioner with 7 years of experience diagnosing and treating women with PCOS. She has PCOS herself and has spent the last 4 years learning how to manage her symptoms holistically and sustainably. After the birth of her son, she developed a passion for helping other women with PCOS on their wellness and fertility journeys. She owns a holistic telemedicine Women’s Health practice that serves women in Florida, Arizona, and Colorado.

The post The Best Fertility Tips For PCOS From A Nurse Midwife appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Getting Pregnant With PCOS

When Aleesha and her husband Doug decided it was time to start a family, they faced some unexpected roadblocks.

Aleesha learned she likely had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Looking back, many PCOS symptoms, like facial hair and heavy inconsistent periods, aligned with things she experienced throughout puberty and as a young adult.

Sadly, she found it very frustrating to navigate the medical system while trying to conceive with PCOS. When she finally connected with an OB-GYN who confirmed the diagnosis, this provider said she didn’t have time to support patients with PCOS.

The OB-GYN told Aleesha to lose 10% of her body weight, prescribed Metformin, and sent her on her way.

This was so upsetting!

Plus Size Pregnancy With Gestational Diabetes

Thankfully, Aleesha unexpectedly got pregnant on her own, around a year after she started her trying to conceive journey.

Living in Seattle, Washington, she was lucky to have many options for maternity care.

Her mom had a home birth with her and was a childbirth educator. So with that influence, Aleesha’s view of birth was holistic. And after looking into different options, she was thrilled to connect with a midwifery program at her local University hospital.

Things went well during her first prenatal visit, but her BMI was part of the conversation. Looking back, she felt there was an unsaid bias about her weight. Red flags she didn’t see at the time.

Related: Why We Need To Be Talking About Weight Stigma In Maternity Care

As time passed, her pregnancy progressed great, and she didn’t have a lot of morning sickness.

Due to PCOS, Aleesha knew she had an increased risk of developing Gestational Diabetes. And when she didn’t pass her one-hour Gestational Diabetes test, she prepared herself emotionally before getting confirmation from the three-hour test.

Her midwives immediately connected her with a diabetes education nurse at the hospital and a nutritionist.

Aleesha initially felt ashamed, as if she had done something wrong with her new diagnosis. Unfortunately, having a plus size pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes has a societal stigma.

Thankfully, she quickly felt reassured and supported once she connected with her extended care team. They helped her to know it wasn’t her fault and taught her how to control her Gestational Diabetes with nutrition.

As someone who has struggled with diet culture, Aleesha found it challenging to restrict certain foods to help keep her insulin levels balanced. However, she tried to think of it as something she needed to do to make it one step closer to meeting her baby.

Related: Gestational Diabetes Pregnancy Nutrition Q&A

As an added stress, Aleesha knew she would no longer be able to work with her midwives if she needed to be put on insulin.

So, she was hypervigilant with her nutrition. So much so that she didn’t even eat a piece of candy at a friend’s birthday party. Looking back now, she realizes she could’ve enjoyed a piece of candy, and there’s no need to skip on a slice of cake at a baby shower. But she was so concerned about keeping her levels balanced at the time.

Giving Birth With Gestational Diabetes

While understanding that childbirth is unpredictable, Aleesha desired an unmedicated birth. So, she took a childbirth education course, listened to many birth stories, and absorbed as much information as possible.

She felt prepared when she went into labor on her own at forty weeks and two days. And when her mom (who was also her doula) got to her, she said they needed to go to the hospital directly as labor was progressing quickly.

Related: How Doulas Support Plus Size Moms

When they arrived at the hospital, Aleesha was already seven centimeters!

She felt supported by her mom, husband, and midwife for her desired unmedicated birth experience. And her son Carter was born weighing 8 lbs 15 oz, with no blood sugar issues due to her Gestational Diabetes. He was a big healthy boy, and his size wasn’t a surprise due to a family history of big babies.

Aleesha wants people to know that having a plus size pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t have the pregnancy and birth you envisioned.

Hear Aaleesha share her birth story below!

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 172

Transcript happily provided upon request. 

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Connect with Aleesha via her Plus Size in Seattle blog, photography work, and Instagram
• Guide on how to connect with a Size-Friendly Care Provider.
• ThredUp was mentioned in the episode, but their plus size maternity selection is still extremely limited and inconsistent. See our full plus size maternity clothing resource with options up to 7X.
• Check out the FREE Plus Size Pregnancy Weekly Breakdown.

Aleesha lives with her husband and two children in Seattle, WA. By day, Aleesha works in university administration and also enjoys connecting with others through her growing social media/blog and photography work.

The post My Plus Size Pregnancy With Gestational Diabetes appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Angela Grassi, the founder of PCOS Nutrition Center, is a registered dietician and an internationally known nutrition and health expert on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). She takes a Health At Every Size® approach to her work. Angela shares helpful information for getting pregnant with PCOS and much more!

Disclosure: Plus Size Birth is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

What is PCOS?

Before discussing pregnancy and PCOS, we need to establish what PCOS is and the symptoms people experience.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder. It’s one of the most common causes of infertility for people with uteruses.

PCOS causes problems with fertility due to hormonal imbalances and higher testosterone levels.

As Angela shares, “I always tell my female patients that all women have testosterone just like all men have estrogen. It’s just your ovaries are pumping out more testosterone than you need. And that causes havoc with your other female sex hormones that control your menstrual cycle.”

Often people with PCOS either don’t get their period for months and sometimes years, or they get really heavy periods that are prolonged.

PCOS is also an endocrine disorder because there are many metabolic aspects, for example, insulin resistance.

Those with PCOS also have higher rates of type two diabetes, fatty liver, and high cholesterol.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

Acne is a common symptom of PCOS due to higher testosterone levels.

Extra hair growth occurs, especially in the central part of the body, like your lip area, chin, between the breasts, around your belly button, and in the thighs. This hair might be coarse or more excessive than usual.

Some people experience a receding hairline and bald spots along with body hair growth.

Weight gain is a common feature of PCOS, and it is difficult for people to lose weight.

It’s important to note that weight loss does not cure PCOS.

Along with all of the physical symptoms, there are the emotional ones.

“There are so many dermatological symptoms, and it really affects your body image and your self-esteem.”

How to get diagnosed with PCOS?

A PCOS diagnosis occurs if someone has at least two of the following criteria below. 

1. Fewer than eight periods in a year, or no menstruation.  
2. Signs of high testosterone like hair loss, extra hair growth, acne, and blood tests that show that they have elevated testosterone. 
3. A transvaginal ultrasound showing the presence of follicles surrounding the ovaries. Or follicles that never fully develop or get released for fertilization. 

How To Get Pregnant With PCOS

As we shared at the beginning, getting pregnant with PCOS is possible, as many people have shared their stories.

How can you improve fertility with PCOS?

Focusing on lifestyle changes is the starting place when managing PCOS.

There’s an underlying inflammation and higher levels of insulin. So it’s essential to include antioxidant-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet.

To help boost your fertility, omega-three fats like avocados and seeds and nuts, fish, and nut butter, are great options.

Beyond nutrition, exercise can be beneficial for fertility and during pregnancy. For example, even a ten-minute walk after you eat dinner can bring down glucose and insulin levels and decrease the risk for gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

When people make these changes, we see an increase in energy. People can get their cycles more regulated as testosterone and insulin levels start to decrease.

We also know that sleep is crucial for fertility. Unfortunately, a very high number of people with PCOS have sleep apnea. Consider getting a sleep study if you have any concerns.

How to approach “lifestyle changes” with nutrition from a Health At Every Size® approach?

Use the Health at Every Size® (HAES) principles, tap into resources like The PCOS Workbook, and connect with a HAES® informed nutritionist.

Most importantly, tuning into your body and your needs. For example, you can start by noticing what foods help energize your body and leave you feeling satisfied and what food makes you sluggish.

What supplements support fertility when you have PCOS?

Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking a new supplement.

Sometimes you can’t get everything you need through food, and often people are deficient in certain nutrients.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiencies are common, especially during the winter months. Incredibly, vitamin D is also a hormone, and receptors have been found in eggs. So, there’s a clear correlation between low vitamin D levels and fertility struggles.

Inositol

Inositol is found in food and is like a B vitamin, but not exactly. It helps improve fertility for people with PCOS by working to restore hormone imbalances and insulin levels.

Fish Oil with DHA

Fish oil is important during pregnancy for the baby’s brain development. It’s also great for inflammation and can lower triglycerides.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it can help improve insulin levels.

What to do following a PCOS diagnosis? 

Start by getting a full blood panel to know your current levels as you begin to make the lifestyle changes discussed above.

For example, your thyroid can impact fertility, and it’s essential to know if you’re prediabetic or diabetic before trying to get pregnant.

Pay attention to body changes when you’re ovulating, like seeing a spike in your temperature or changes in your cervical mucus.

You can monitor your basal body temperature by taking your temperature immediately when you wake up. Or use a convenient fertility tracker like Tempdrop that offers a larger armband.

“Just knowing more about PCOS and knowing what’s going on with your body is so important.”

Learn even more about getting pregnant with PCOS, and how PCOS impacts pregnancy, postpartum, and nursing during the podcast episode below!

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 171

Transcript happily provided upon request. 

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Plus Size Pregnancy Weekly Breakdown
• Learn more about PCOS Nutrition Center and The PCOS Workbook.
• Connect with Angela via PCOS Nutrition on Instagram and Twitter.
• Plus Mommy Podcast episodes featuring PCOS stories.
  • Plus Size Model Loralyee Shares Her Birth Story For The First Time
  • PCOS And Pregnancy: Megan’s Plus Size Pregnancy Story
  • From PCOS to IVF – Corryn’s Birth Story

Angela Grassi, MS, RDN, LDN is a nationally recognized, award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist and the founder of the PCOS Nutrition Center where for over 20 years she has been providing evidence-based nutrition information and coaching to people with PCOS. Angela is the author of several books on PCOS including The PCOS Workbook: Your Guide to Complete Physical and Emotional Health and The PCOS Nutrition Center Cookbook. 

The post Getting Pregnant With PCOS – Helpful Tips You Need To Know appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Tip From A Size-Friendly Lactation Consultant

Ana Hill is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with a background in birth. Since 2012, she has served families in Southeast Denver, Colorado, and online as an IBCLC. Ana is also a skilled doula trainer and educator.  

Preparing To Breastfeed

Studies show one critical thing to support lactation is to take a class.

Becoming educated allows you to prepare for what you might need along your bodyfeeding journey. An example is how much privacy you may want while feeding your baby.

Speaking of privacy, consider wearing layers while nursing. Having a tank top under a shirt means you don’t need to worry about exposing your belly.

You can also get some privacy while nursing your baby in a carrier. Thankfully there are many plus size babywearing carriers and wraps available.

If possible, work with a doula! They will support you and help connect you with size-friendly birth and lactation providers.

Consider reaching out to an IBCLC during pregnancy for a prenatal appointment to create a plan for success. This support is especially encouraged for parents with PCOS, gestational diabetes, planning for cesarean birth, or people who have struggled with breastfeeding in the past.

How Birth Impacts Breastfeeding

One of the biggest things we don’t talk about is the impact of IV fluids on breastfeeding.

Fluids tend to delay milk production, and people should be aware that this can occur. There is a study that looks at delayed milk production for plus size people. Ana questions how many people in the study had interventions and IV fluids.

In Ana’s experience, she sees a delay in milk production for people of all sizes when there are IV fluids.

Breastfeeding Tips

Ana emphasizes the importance of seeking help as early as possible with someone trained in lactation.

When it comes to feeding positions, you don’t need to sit up when nursing. Instead, lean back (45-degree angle or further back) and use pillows to help to make your body more comfortable. By doing so, your baby uses their natural feeding reflexes, and you’ll likely be more comfortable.

It can also be helpful to roll up a small hand towel to tuck under your breast to lift it.

Being able to relax is key!

You’ll also want to set yourself up for pumping by ensuring the flange is the correct size and selecting a pump that will meet your needs.

There’s a lot of misinformation and societal beliefs about larger bodies. As Ana points out, when people are busy doubting themselves, it can impact their feeding journey. She encourages people to hold onto the idea that their bodies are amazing just the way they are today!  

Tips For Birth Professionals

For birth professionals who support plus size parents, it’s so important to affirm people’s bodies!

Don’t delay a referral to an IBCLC if your client is struggling with bodyfeeding. We all need to stay in our wheelhouse and know our area of expertise. And when referrals are needed, make sure you’re recommending someone who is size-friendly.

For doulas, if your client has a complicated birth, be sure to refer out to an IBCLC early on if any lactation issues arise.

It’s important to understand the unique benefits and different levels of expertise of breastfeeding peer counselors, lactation educators, and IBCLCs.

Listen below as Ana shares even more bodyfeeding tips for families and birth professionals.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 154

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Connect with Ana via her website to learn more about her in-person and online lacation support services.
• You might also enjoy Plus Mommy Podcast episde 58, Everything You Want To Know About Plus Size Breastfeeding.

Over the years I began specializing in breastfeeding and completed my international board certification (IBCLC) in 2012. I love my work as a lactation consultant, and feel so blessed to do it. I am committed to providing respectful care for all individuals and families seeking lactation support within my scope of practice and professional ability.

The post Size-Friendly Lactation Consultant Ana Hill Shares Helpful Tips appeared first on Plus Mommy.

For some, it can feel impossible with fertility clinics having BMI restrictions and care provider bias against people of size.

As a PhD candidate focusing on weight-based discrimination in healthcare, Kelsey didn’t allow bias to hold her back from her dream of becoming a mother!

“My pregnancy experience was unique. I’m a solo parent. I used fertility services and a sperm donor to get pregnant, and that was a fight! The first fertility clinic refused because the doctor said his role was to do no harm.”

During Kelsey’s story, you’ll learn about the importance of patient advocacy. As well as what someone who is plus size and becoming a solo mother might face.

People of all sizes and circumstances want to become parents and should be supported with compassion!

Solo Mother By Choice

Kelsey, a resident of Toronto, Canada, began her path to becoming a mother with a referral to an OB-GYN from her primary care physician.

During her visit with the OB-GYN, they reviewed possible complications with pregnancy in a larger body. This doctor didn’t seem too concerned and referred Kelsey to a fertility clinic.

It was January when she called to book an appointment, and June was the first opening at the fertility clinic. Aside from a few unique cases, you have to purchase sperm through a fertility clinic in Canada. Home insemination was not an option for Kelsey.  

It had already been many months since she started her journey to solo motherhood. And as an impatient person, Kelsey was frustrated as she hoped to be pregnant by this point.

A friend recommended a different fertility clinic just outside of the city with sooner appointments available. So, Kelsey booked to see someone in a month but kept her other appointment as a safety net.

Getting Fertility Support When You Are Fat

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is having your eggs retrieved, fertilized, and then implanted into your uterus. IVF is the procedure most people think of first when talking about fertility treatments.

However, for a single woman wanting to be pregnant, the first step is Intrauterine insemination (IUI). This is when sperm is inseminated into your uterus with close monitoring of your cycle.

While IUI and IVF require multiple doctor visits, ultrasounds, medication, and procedures, IUI is far less invasive.

At 5’3″ and close to 350 lbs, Kelsey prepared for some pushback but knew how to advocate for herself. Due to BMI restrictions, she was also aware that IUI was her only path to pregnancy at her local fertility clinics.

During her first visit to the fertility clinic, the doctor kept calling her morbidly obese. As someone who self-identifies as fat and finds the word obese offensive, she asked her care provider to stop using that word.

Kelsey tried to express to her care provider that she understood her choice to become a solo mother by choice as a fat woman. And that she understood plus size pregnancy risks but knew her body and felt she’d be okay.

He disagreed with her and continued to review all the risks. He also ran multiple tests looking for health complications Kelsey didn’t have, from PCOS to diabetes.

And she’ll never forget when he said that his first job was to do no harm. Kelsey left that appointment completely frustrated. Yet, he kept making her feel like he might still be supportive. So, she stayed with him for a few more visits.

Related: How To Find A Fat-Friendly Doctor And Why It’s Worth The Search

With more back-and-forth, she finally said, “I’m asking for your help. I’m not asking for your permission.” And since she still had her other fertility appointment in Toronto, she left that clinic.

The doctor at the Toronto clinic talked about risks, ordered many of the same tests, and wanted her to see a specialist who supports pregnancy with a high BMI. The difference was, this provider seemed to want to make sure of her health before moving forward.

While feeling resentful that she had to jump through many of the same hoops, Kelsey felt hopeful this time. And, to her great surprise, she loved the specialist her fertility doctor requested her to see.

The specialist said to her, “You’re a healthy twenty-eight-year-old. There’s no reason you can’t get pregnant.” She also told Kelsey that she could be her OB-GYN.

Her fertility doctor was now onboard! He even ensured he’d be on-call for her IUI so that someone else wouldn’t unexpectedly deny her because of her size.

To her great surprise, Kelsey got pregnant after her first IUI procedure! This is something uncommon for people of all sizes.  

Plus Size Pregnancy As A Solo Mother  

Kelsey went back to the specialist who provided the green light for her IUI. By doing so, her pregnancy became automatically labeled high-risk, but she didn’t mind all the extra visits and ultrasounds.  

She felt respected at this doctor’s office. And to her delight, she was surrounded by other plus size women at this specialty clinic. It was such a unique experience to go through pregnancy seeing people her size.

Kelsey didn’t develop gestational diabetes, and her blood pressure was good – she had a healthy plus size pregnancy!

Related: A Promising Look At The Evidence Behind Plus Size Pregnancy Risks

Nearing the end of her pregnancy, however, there were many discussions about how she would give birth.

Giving birth via cesarean wasn’t something Kelsey wanted. As a solo parent by choice, she would be this child’s primary caretaker. The idea of recovering from major surgery with a newborn sounded draughting.

And while her care provider listened to Kelsey’s concerns, she also told her that many women her size give birth this way. In addition, the hospital she’d be giving birth at had a special bariatric operating room.  

Kelsey’s doctor did not want her to go beyond forty weeks, so they discussed her getting an induction. And this made Kelsey hopeful she’d be able to have a vaginal birth. The stipulation was that she would go into the induction on a Tuesday, but if she hadn’t given birth by Thursday, she would have a c-section.

On Tuesday, Kelsey went in, and she was dilated to three centimeters. She knew her care provider’s focus was avoiding an emergency c-section. So, there was pressure for Kelsey to consent to an epidural long before she wanted one. And an epidural can slow down labor progression.

By Wednesday night, she received the epidural and didn’t progress past three centimeters. On Thursday morning, she was upset and knew she’d be giving birth via cesarean that day. It wasn’t the outcome she wanted, but she was also excited to meet her baby!

With her mother by her side in the operating room, her dream to become a mother finally came true!  

Two Tips For Becoming A Solo Mother When You Are Fat

Learn how to advocate for yourself.

Tap into helpful self-advocacy tips for people of size so you can feel prepared. It’s helpful to do some roleplaying for conversations that may unfold as it will help to build your confidence.

Build a support team of solo mothers by choice.

Beyond loved ones and friends who will support you in person, you’ll also want to build an online community.

When searching for groups online, size isn’t often brought up in single mothers by choice groups. So, you might also want to explore fat-positive groups from Facebook, Instagram, to Reddit. In these groups, you’ll quickly pick up on tips for how to navigate conversations about weight in a healthcare setting.

Listen below as Kelsey tells her whole story, and know you’re not alone in wanting to become a solo mother by choice when you are fat.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 153

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• C-Section For Plus Size Women: Everything You Need To Know!
• What Is An Apron Belly? Practical Solutions And Comfort Tips!

Kelsey Ioannoni is a fat solo mom and a PhD candidate in Sociology in Toronto, Canada. Connect with her via Twitter at Kelsey_x

The post Becoming A Solo Mother By Choice When You Are Fat – Kelsey’s Fight   appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Home Birth When You Are Plus Size

Our home represents many things like our calm and a space where we feel safe.

Home birth is an option for many low-risk pregnant people, and it provides freedoms and comforts restricted in a hospital.

There’s another reason people chose home birth that doesn’t get addressed enough.

We live in a world where discrimination occurs for many due to race, sexual orientation, and body size. These biases are present within the healthcare system.

As Ray shares, “The level of fatphobia in many healthcare centers is frustrating.”

She understands that some plus size people have had negative experiences in hospitals, making them an environment full of fears and insecurities.

As a home birth midwife, Ray focuses on giving her clients support and confidence, making them feel as comfortable as possible.

Does every plus size person have access to home birth?

Home birth midwife Ray supports people of all sizes with her practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For Ray and many home birth midwives, the focus is on the pregnant person’s health and not where they fall on the BMI chart.

People of all sizes can have healthy low-risk pregnancies.

If you’re a plus size person wanting a home birth, it’s critical to connect with a size-friendly home birth midwife. That’s a midwife who feels comfortable and has experience supporting people of all sizes.

Some states have BMI restrictions for home birth, so you’ll want to see if your state has limits. Most don’t!

Are there risks for plus size people having a home birth?

There are risks for people of all sizes during labor and birth, and that’s when Ray demonstrates her ability and skills to handle every issue that may come up. There is always a hospital transfer plan in place, just in case.

While there are some increased risks for people of size, like shoulder dystocia and postpartum bleeding, there’s no risk that only plus size people face when giving birth at home or in a hospital.

Ray addresses the frustration that equipment, like fetal monitoring, is not designed for plus size people. She is clear that people experiencing a plus size pregnancy shouldn’t blame themselves for this.

She has found a hand-held doppler works for her clients, but if she were unable to monitor someone accurately, that would be a reason they wouldn’t be able to have access to home birth.

Learn more about home birth when you are plus size.

Health At Every Size (HAES) And LGBTQ inclusive midwife Ray Rachlin joins the Plus Mommy podcast to talk about home birth when you are plus size. She covers what qualifies someone for home birth and how pregnancy and childbirth can look slightly different.

Ray also discusses providing fertility support for people in the LGBTQ community and those with polycystic ovary syndrome. We address fatphobia in the medical community and obstacles people face when desiring an out-of-hospital birth.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 142

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Connect with Ray via her website, Instagram, and Facebook.

Ray Rachlin (she/they) is a Certified Professional Midwife, Licensed Midwife, and Certified Lactation Counselor. She provides home birth midwifery care, fertility and home IUI care, and community education throughout the greater Philadelphia area and South Jersey. Ray founded Refuge Midwifery in 2017 to create a home for families not served by our current healthcare system. She provides warm relationship-based care that improves birth outcomes and nurtures parents to help them get their best start.

Ray earned their Bachelor’s of Science in Midwifery at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, Oregon in 2016. She also holds a BA in political science, urban studies and labor studies from Queens College. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Certified Professional Midwives and Queer and Transgender Midwives Association.

In addition to midwifing families, for the past four years Ray has been immersed in promoting affirming reproductive care for transgender patients. Ray has taught midwives, doctors, nurses, and birth professionals throughout the country on trans-inclusive fertility, birth and postpartum care. In their private practice, Ray specializes in natural fertility support for individuals with prior hormone use. Pre-pandemic, she hosted bi-monthly gatherings for LGBTQ families trying to conceive, pregnant, and with new babies.

Thank You To Our Sponsor:

Use coupon code PlusMommy to receive 20% off the My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide that covers everything you could want to know about having a plus size pregnancy.

The post Considering Home Birth When You Are Plus Size? What You Should Know appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Loralyee Shares Her Birth Story

Around the age of fifteen, Lori was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Her care provider said she would never have a baby.

Throughout her adult life, Lori assumed it would be difficult or impossible to become a mother.

For seven years, Lori and her husband tried to start a family.

Following two devastating miscarriages, they sought fertility support.

Each time she tried to connect with a care provider for fertility treatments as a plus size woman, the response was to lose weight.

After seeing four doctors, Lori decided to focus on her health and stopped stressing herself out.

As she shares, “The last six, seven years before getting pregnant, I had a really hard relationship with my body. I was always mad at it. I was always putting all these different [fertility] drugs in it. And so I thought of it like I was going to cleanse my body, I was going to cleanse my spirit. And I wanted to make my body prepared to become a home for my baby for the next nine months.”

Over on her Loralyee Instagram account, she was transparent about the changes she was making.

As she focused on herself, 2020 hit, and the world shut down.

Lori and her husband spent more time together than usual, and to her great surprise – she got pregnant!

Related: What Fertility Clinics Don’t Want To Admit About Weight Bias

Very early on in her pregnancy Lori went to the OB-GYN because of her miscarriage history.

They couldn’t find her baby’s heartbeat and asked her to come back in a few days.

At the follow-up appointment, they couldn’t find the heartbeat again and told Lori that she would have a miscarriage.

Her care provider prescribed a pill.

“I was like, NO, something feels different this time. Like I had really bad nausea, and I felt pregnant. So she made me sign a form saying that I was leaving, although she told me to take the pill.”

The following week was devastating, and Lori returned to her provider once more, thinking she would take the pill.

To her wonderful surprise, the ultrasound picked up the heartbeat!

Lori’s plus size friend was also pregnant, so Lori switched to her friend’s care provider, hoping they’d be size-friendly.

While Lori felt more supported, this new care provider’s office had her jump through extra hoops because of her size.

She experienced great anxiety as they made her feel like she would develop complications because of her size.

“Like I had a perfect pregnancy besides being nauseous, but every time they were surprised, and the way they acted, they were surprised that everything was going so well.”

Overall she liked the practice and stayed; Lori just wished she felt more supported.

Due to hospital visitor restrictions, she was so sad to learn that she couldn’t have her mother attend the birth. So, Lori felt it was essential to hire a doula to support her and her husband.

Thanks to a close friend’s recommendation, Lori researched different doulas and felt that Denise Bolds was the perfect match.

Related: 7 Things You Should Know About Being Plus Size And Pregnant

“The first conversation speaking to her, I was like speaking like a family member. She was very caring and would listen to my story. She had like the right questions, but she was also very thorough. And that’s what I needed.”

Lori had no complications during her pregnancy, but her care provider wanted to induce her because of her weight. They feared her developing preeclampsia.

The last few weeks of her pregnancy, Lori’s anxiety was through the roof because she feared something would go wrong. She thought she was going to die during birth because of how everyone made her feel.

Being induced helped reduce her fears, and she felt more in control of what was happening to her body.

On a Thursday at 2:00 pm, she went in for her induction.

Lori was 39 weeks and two days along with a soft cervix, but she wasn’t dilated.

She didn’t want her doula right away because she knew this was a long process.

Lori’s induction began with a foley bulb to help her cervix to diolate. She dilated much quicker than anyone expected!

“The cramps weren’t as bad as I thought they were going to be. But also I feel like having PCOS prepared me for that because my PCOS cramps during my period are so bad. So it felt like that.”

Soon after, they started the Pitocin, and her cramps became far more intense.  

After many hours of laboring, Lori wanted an epidural.

They brought in three anesthesiologists who poked her twice before Lori said she wanted her doula there!

Denise was supporting her over the phone the entire time, and Lori was ready to have her in-person.

Related: Know Your Options During Pregnancy And Birth When You’re Plus Size

About an hour or two after receiving the epidural, Lori went into active labor.

The nurses and doctor kept saying she couldn’t be progressing so quickly.

Lior knew her body!

Denise arrived right as Lori’s body was telling her to push.

Immediately Denise went into action and made all the difference!

“She put her hand on my chest, and that feeling, I honestly put chills through my whole body because I felt like it just like released me from the tense feeling that I was feeling before she got there, and it just helps my body relax. And so she put her hand on my chest. She helped me breathe. She like put me in different positions to help me.”

Even the nursing staff was in awe of how Denise was supporting Lori.

Everyone who came into her labor room was amazed by how quickly everything progressed.

Lori gave birth to her son in three pushes!

“I just amazed at myself. I was amazed at my body, right? Because my relationship, my body was so complicated over the years, and I felt so mad at it thinking that it wasn’t going to do what it needed. And then it did. It amazed me, you know, the first my whole pregnancy and then it makes me even more, you know, giving birth. And so I’m just so proud of the way that I was able to do that.”

Listen below as Lori shares her full plus size pregnancy and birth story. She also goes into detail about what postpartum has been like for her and her family.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 140

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Follow Loralyee on Instagram.
• Connect with Denise Bolds via her website and Instagram.
• Learn more about taking baby aspirin during pregnancy.

Thank You To Our Sponsor:

Use coupon code PlusMommy to receive 20% off the My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide that covers everything you could want to know about having a plus size pregnancy.

The post Plus Size Model Loralyee Shares Her Birth Story For The First Time appeared first on Plus Mommy.

When Veronica and her wife met in 2012, they knew they were one another’s forever.

They immediately wanted to start a family. So, they met with care providers who recommended Veronica’s wife become pregnant.

Even though her wife was ten years older, care providers leaned towards
her, carrying their child because of Veronica’s weight.

Veronica wanted her wife to experience pregnancy, so they started their journey to becoming parents, including doing IUI.

Things were unsuccessful.

They switched care providers and also changed their family plan. Now Veronica would carry their child.

With a Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome diagnosis, Veronica decided to make significant lifestyle changes to help her become pregnant.

When she was ready to get pregnant, her fertility specialist asked her if she wanted to consider IVF.

Veronica and her wife had spent so long trying to conceive that they were eager to do whatever might speed the process along.

Sadly, Veronica’s first pregnancy ended in a loss at four weeks.

They decided to try IVF again and got pregnant with their rainbow baby!

Related: What Fertility Clinics Don’t Want To Admit About Weight Bias

Following the positive pregnancy test, Veronica immediately went into research mode.

As a Black woman, Veronica felt it was essential to connect with a Black female OB-GYN who would support her and provide outstanding care.

She thought she found the perfect OB-GYN!

That was until she went to her first prenatal visit, where this OB-GYN said, “I just know you’re going to have gestational diabetes and preeclampsia because of your weight, and you’re a Black woman.”

Veronica responded by saying, “How you can tell everything by just looking at me?” She was met with further pushback because of her weight.

After spending so much time researching and looking for the best possible provider – this experience was extremely disappointing.

Still, Veronica decided to give her another chance.

Related: How Nia’s Plus Size Pregnancies Changed Her Life’s Path

That was until during a phone call with her care provider when she asked about how her OB-GYN supported unmedicated labor.

Her doctor said, “You didn’t conceive naturally, so why do you want to have this baby naturally?”

In shock, Veronica responded by saying, “How did you expect me to get pregnant? I’m in a same-sex marriage!”

Veronica was livid!

She knew this care provider wasn’t the right fit for her and was terrified of how her pregnancy and birth would unfold if she didn’t switch care.

With an appointment the next week and not enough time to find a new provider, Veronica had one last prenatal visit with this provider.

Veronica emotionally prepared for this visit and took her wife with her via FaceTime.

This visit further confirmed this care provider was not going to provide her with evidence-based, compassionate care!

Related: Talking About How Social Justice And Birth Intersect

When Veronica inquired about different gestational diabetes testing options, her doctor responded by saying, “Pull up your big girl panties and just drink it!”

When Veronica questioned if the provider did episiotomies, her OB-GYN said something even more shocking.

“You’re either going to have stitches down low, or you’re going to have them on your belly.”

Thankfully, that was the final time Veronica would ever have to experience such horrible care!

It was time to find a new provider!

The first place she called, a birth center, had BMI restrictions.

While she kept researching, Veronica was on Instagram, and she saw a beautiful birth photo with a care provider looking lovingly at the family.

She immediately wanted to learn more about this local OB-GYN.

Following an hour and a half phone call with the physician’s office, she knew she had connected with the right team.

This OB-GYN offered water birth and even wrote a book on shared decision making! He was also a Black man, and this brought comfort to Veronica.

She never looked back following her decision to switch care providers at 26 weeks!

Listen in as Veronica shares her story during episode 129 of the Plus Mommy Podcast.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 129

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Doctor Appointments Alone When You Are Fearful Of Fat-Shaming
• Guide to connecting with a size-friendly care provider.
• How Doulas Support Plus Size Moms
• Connect with Veronica on Instagram at @v.elle.j 
• Dr. Brad Bootstaylor at See Baby OB-GYN and on Instagram @see_baby. You can also learn more about his book – Shared Decision Making: Bring Birth Back Into The Hands Of Mothers
• Veronica’s doula was Delena Sanders and she’s on Instagram @delenathedoula.

Thank You To Our Sponsor:

This episode is also brought to you by Plus Size Birth! Use coupon code PlusMommy to receive 20% off the My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide that covers everything you could want to know about having a plus size pregnancy.

The post Don’t Be Afraid To Switch Care Providers – Veronica’s Story appeared first on Plus Mommy.