Samantha is also a VBAC mom (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean), a surrogate, a bereaved parent, and a former plus size mom. Her journey through motherhood’s diverse facets and extensive experience as a birth professional make her an invaluable guest on the Plus Mommy Podcast.

Samantha’s story is a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

She shares her experiences with raw honesty, from facing fatphobia during her first pregnancy to becoming a midwife dedicated to providing size-friendly care.

The Importance of Size-Inclusive Care

One of the most poignant aspects of Samantha’s journey is her transition from a hospital birth, marked by traumatic experiences, to embracing midwifery and home birth.

She highlights the significant differences in care and support she received from her midwives, who encouraged her to nourish her body and provided a nurturing environment throughout her pregnancies.

Samantha’s journey into midwifery began after her own challenging pregnancy experiences. She faced fatphobia head-on when a healthcare provider told her she was “too fat to eat.”

This painful moment led her to seek a different kind of care for her subsequent pregnancies, ultimately finding a supportive and inclusive midwife who encouraged her to eat and nourish her body.

As a midwife, Samantha focuses on seeing the person first, respecting their expertise about their own body, and providing care that meets their unique needs.

Inclusive Practices in Midwifery

As a midwife, Samantha emphasizes the importance of inclusive practices.

She ensures that her care is respectful and individualized, providing appropriate equipment such as larger cuffs and chairs without arms.

She always asks for consent before touching her clients and respects their preferences. Creating a safe and supportive environment for all is very important to Samantha.

Addressing Nutritional Needs

One of Samantha’s key insights is the importance of addressing nutritional needs without judgment.

She highlights the necessity of eating well and nourishing the body, especially during pregnancy, and warns against the dangers of food restriction due to societal conditioning.

Her approach is evidence-based and compassionate, focusing on the person’s well-being during pregnancy and the baby.

Home Birth Access for Plus Size Individuals

For those considering home birth, Samantha advises interviewing multiple midwives. This way you’ll find someone who truly understands and respects your unique needs.

She encourages expectant parents to trust their instincts and seek out size-friendly care providers who create inclusive and supportive environments.

Samantha’s Message to Plus Size Pregnant Individuals

Samantha’s message to plus size pregnant individuals is clear: you are the expert of your own body, and you deserve respectful, compassionate care.

Tune in to episode 222 of the Plus Mommy Podcast to hear Samantha Venn’s full story. We also honor the memory of her son, Bram, who tragically died due to a distracted driver.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 222

Resources Mentioned On The Show

• You can find Samantha Venn at Meadowsweet Midwifery, serving the greater Colorado metro area.
• Connect with Samantha on Instagram and Facebook for more insights and support on your pregnancy journey.

The post Size-Inclusive Home Birth Midwife Shares Her Journey and Insights appeared first on Plus Mommy.

She underscores the importance of self-advocacy and informed decision-making, recounting her experience with using semaglutide and then discovering her pregnancy, navigating healthcare with religious beliefs that impact care, addressing racial biases, and health concerns during pregnancy.

Sabrina’s story is a powerful reminder of the need for size-inclusive, respectful, and culturally sensitive maternity care.

Advocacy in Plus Size Maternity Care

The Journey to Conception

Sabrina and her husband, already parents to a 12-year-old daughter, decided to expand their family.

Concerned about her weight, Sabrina embarked on a wellness journey, including using semaglutide (Ozempic) for weight loss.

After losing 40 pounds and noticing weight fluctuations, her healthcare provider suggested a pregnancy test, which came back positive.

Concerns About Weight Loss Medication During Pregnancy

Sabrina was concerned about her recent use of semaglutide during pregnancy.

This medication, commonly used for weight loss, has limited research regarding its effects on pregnancy.

Sabrina’s healthcare providers were initially cautious but did not provide clear guidance or information about potential risks.

This lack of information added to Sabrina’s stress! It highlights the need for more research and better communication regarding weight loss medications during pregnancy.

Sabrina encourages using backup birth control if taking semaglutide and being sexually active. It’s also important to be aware of BMI restrictions for birth control.

Navigating Plus Size Maternity Care and Religious Beliefs

Throughout pregnancy, Sabrina faced numerous challenges, both emotional and medical.

One primary concern was finding a size-friendly healthcare provider, and she found the My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide helpful.

Her early encounters with her provider were reassuring, but her journey took a turn when she was unexpectedly transferred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at 20 weeks.

As a Jehovah’s Witness, Sabrina does not accept blood transfusions, a belief her initial care team was aware of. Despite this, they transferred her care without prior discussion, citing her religious beliefs, but her paperwork indicated concerns regarding her BMI.

This abrupt change caused significant stress and anxiety, leading Sabrina to question the motives and transparency of her healthcare providers.

Addressing Racial Bias in Healthcare

As a Black woman, Sabrina was acutely aware of the higher mortality rates for Black families in childbirth.

She wanted to ensure her voice was heard and her concerns taken seriously by her healthcare providers.

This added another layer of complexity to her pregnancy as she navigated the systemic biases that often affect Black families in healthcare.

Sabrina’s determination to be heard and her insistence on receiving respectful and attentive care were crucial in her journey.

The Importance of Informed Consent

Sabrina’s experience highlights a critical issue in maternity care: the lack of full informed consent. She emphasizes the need for patients to be fully informed about their care decisions.

Sabrina’s transfer to a new care team at 20 weeks was handled poorly, leaving her feeling excluded from decisions about her own health.

Despite her anxiety, Sabrina continued to advocate for herself, asking questions and seeking clarity on her care plan.

Patients have the right to understand and participate in decisions about their healthcare.

Navigating Gestational Hypertension

At 36 weeks, Sabrina’s blood pressure spiked, leading to a diagnosis of gestational hypertension. She had some initial shock and concern, but her care team’s proactive approach helped manage her condition.

They monitored her closely, and Sabrina was scheduled for an early cesarean birth to prevent complications.

A Supportive Plus Size Birth Experience

Thanks to a detailed consultation with her anesthesiologist and a supportive care team, her cesarean birth was a positive experience.

The team accommodated her preferences, including playing Beyonce’s Renaissance during the procedure, which helped ease her anxiety.

This level of personalized care made a significant difference in her birth experience.

Sabrina’s journey underscores the importance of advocacy in plus size maternity care, informed decision-making, and the need for size-inclusive, respectful, and culturally sensitive care.

Listen to her full story during episode 221 of the Plus Mommy podcast.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 221

Transcript happily provided upon request.

The post One Story of Faith, Bias, and Advocacy in Plus Size Maternity Care appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Her story is unforgettable, filled with hope, loss, and love. It reinforces the notion that love, not genetics, establishes the foundation of a family.

Early Menopause Diagnosis

Kasey’s journey to motherhood began with an ectopic pregnancy when she was 17.

Years later, she married her husband, Shawn, and they had their son, Llewyn.

The pandemic struck as they prepared to grow their family, and Kasey fell very ill from COVID. She developed blood clots and had a pulmonary embolism, which required surgical intervention, bringing her frighteningly close to losing her life.

Once she recovered, Kasey wanted to start trying to conceive, but her period hadn’t returned. Her care provider, who she loved from her previous pregnancy, ordered blood work. And the results were shocking.

At the age of only 31, Kasey was in early menopause.

Her doctor told her she needed to connect with a fertility specialist immediately. However, fertility specialists didn’t want to work with her due to her recent pulmonary embolisms and elevated BMI.

But Kasey kept pushing forward, knowing if she wanted to grow her family, she needed to get support soon. Thankfully she connected with a new doctor who directed her to a great care team, including fertility support.

Donor Egg Success Story

While seeing her new fertility specialist, Kasey got the tough news that IVF with egg retrieval might not be the safest route for her due to her history of blood clots. This is mainly because egg retrieval means being filled with many hormones, which, unfortunately, heightens the risk of more blood clots.

Kasey was devastated.

Shawn was a great support system as they processed many emotions. Then someone mentioned getting an egg donor, and after much consideration, they began their donor egg success journey.

Selecting an egg donor was one of the most challenging steps, as Kasey wanted her child to look like her. It was challenging to find tall donors and impossible to find someone who was plus size due to BMI restrictions for donors.

However, after a lot of searching, they found their perfect match. And remarkably, Kasey’s first transfer worked.

She became pregnant with their daughter on her first try with IVF; they were finally a family of four!

Below is Kasey’s story, shared in her own words during episode 206 of the Plus Mommy Podcast. As you’ll hear during this episode, taking boudoir maternity photos helped Kasey embrace her body and pregnancy. Her photos are gorgeous, and she shares some of her favorites below.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 206

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Resources Mentioned On The Show

• Lovenox to Prevent Blood Clots During Pregnancy
• TENS unit
• Connect with Kasey via Facebook.
• Boudoir photos by: Luxe Boudoir in Easton, PA
• Family photo by: LTV Photography

Thank you to our sponsor:

Our friends at Aeroflow Breastpumps are the sponsor of this week’s episode. Aeroflow Breastpumps is our go-to partner in ensuring moms get top-notch breast pumps, milk storage bags, breastfeeding prep courses, and more for little to no cost through insurance.

They have a fantastic range of highly-rated breast pumps from brands like Medela, Spectra, and Motif. All you need to do is complete a straightforward insurance eligibility form, and they’ll take care of the rest. Easy, peasy!

Hop over to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/plussizebirth and see why over 1 million families have chosen Aeroflow Breastpumps to cover their pump through insurance.

The post Early Menopause to Baby Bump: A Donor Egg Success Journey appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Queer Plus Size Birth Story

Amidst the pandemic, Maria and Erica tied the knot at a time when everyone seemed to be embracing the art of bread baking.

Maria immersed herself in The Queer Family Podcast, pondering having a baby but thinking their plate was already full. But, in time, a strong desire emerged within her, and she approached Erica, expressing her readiness to start a family.

The decision for Maria to carry their child was an easy one. Then they began exploring their fertility support options once they felt ready, grounded, and excited.

As a queer couple, finding places where they’d feel safe was extremely important. And being new to Arizona, they needed to do their research.

One of the first steps along their parenthood journey was selecting a donor from a sperm bank, as they didn’t want to have a known donor. It was an emotional and exciting process where they had deep conversations about what was important to them.

One notable aspect that influenced the decision-making process was a heartfelt letter from their chosen donor addressed to prospective parents.

With the sperm donor selected, it was time to start trying to conceive. They opted first for intracervical insemination (ICI) at home. They closely watched Maria’s fertility window and tried a few times.

The emotional toll was significant each time their attempts didn’t succeed. Maria couldn’t help but feel a sense of personal failure, despite being aware of the low odds of achieving pregnancy through ICI.

Erica, too, experienced the pressure of ensuring they followed all the right steps during the insemination process. On top of it all, the financial burden added to their stress, with each attempt costing around $1,000 due to the expense of purchasing sperm.

Fertility Support

Maria and Erica felt it was time to get fertility support. They connected with a fertility clinic thanks to finding LGBTQIA+ supportive providers via an LGBT TTC Facebook group.

They felt heard and supported during their first Zoom consultation with an OB-GYN. Maria thought they needed to jump straight to IVF, but this provider felt IUI was an excellent first step.

And so they started the IUI process!

Maria expressed gratitude for the absence of comments regarding her weight potentially affecting their chances of conceiving. And throughout all her appointments at the fertility clinic, she never once had to step on a scale, which was a relief for her.

Their very first attempt at IUI led to a beautiful outcome – they were pregnant!

Maternity Care

Maria remained under the care of the fertility clinic until she reached her 8th week of pregnancy. Then the time came for her to transition to routine maternity care, marking a significant shift in her healthcare journey.

Unfortunetly, the limited options for maternity care providers in Flagstaff, Arizona, left them with only two choices.

Maria had an extremely negative experience before getting pregnant with one of the two. She endured fat-shaming during a pap smear, leading her to rule out that provider completely.

Luckily, Erica’s involvement in public health provided her with connections to some of the staff at the other available maternity care option. Based on her interactions with them, Erica believed the clinic was LGBTQIA+ friendly. However, they still had an important question: whether the clinic would be size-friendly.

Before her first appointment with this new clinic, Maria talked to Erica about what was important to her for the birth. Maria did not want to be induced or have a cesarean birth.

The initial appointment went smoothly, and the new clinic welcomed them as a queer couple. However, Maria noticed a particular emphasis on her size and associated risks. As a result, additional appointments and tests were ordered, including several nonstress tests.

As Maria approached the final stages of her healthy pregnancy, a midwife they had grown fond of began discussing the possibility of inducing labor.

Determined to let labor progress naturally, Maria took every possible measure to encourage natural labor induction.

Erica and Maria had also hired a team of doulas to support them throughout this journey. And their doulas played a significant role in supporting and guiding Maria and Erica through decision-making.

Induction Day

Maria and Erica decided to proceed with an induction at 39 weeks, knowing that their chosen midwife would be present for the birth. They were grateful to have a midwife who was LGBTQIA+ friendly, ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment during this significant moment in their lives.

During the first day and a half, Maria was on medication to start the dilation process, and they tried to place a Foley catheter. But her body wasn’t progressing, and the pressure was on for more medical interventions, including Pitocin.

At this point, Maria’s water hadn’t broken, and the baby was doing great. So, their doula suggested that she and Erica consider heading home. They had concerns about how others would perceive their decision. But, their worries eased when a nurse echoed the same advice and mentioned that their midwife’s shift was ending.

Knowing they could safely leave since Maria and the baby were fine, they packed up and headed home.

Once home, they were still trying to do everything to naturally induce labor and going to non-stress tests to ensure their baby was doing well as Maria’s pregnancy was entering the 40th week.

Induction Day Number Two

At 41 weeks, Maria’s second induction was scheduled. She started the gradual induction process over a few days, following a similar approach as before.

Their midwife was there again for this induction and started pushing for Pitonic before Maria felt ready. The midwife also commented that Maria’s body couldn’t do it on her own.

At that moment, Maria felt her trust in this provider was broken as there was no medical urgency to proceed with Potocin.

Thankfully, that same nurse from the first induction was present and helped to advocate for more time and other medication.

Erica did all she could to support her wife. They were both sleep-deprived while advocating for a birth with as little intervention as possible.

Time became a blur, and that midwife’s shift ended.

At some point, an OB-GYN suggested breaking Maria’s water. With consent given, Maria understood they now had approximately 24 hours to welcome their baby, prompting the decision to contact their doula for support during this critical time.

Unfortunetly, Maria’s body didn’t go into labor even with her water broken, so it was time for Pitocin. And eventually, with strong contractions finally happening, Maria was exhausted and knew she needed an epidural.

Once she received the epidural, everyone rested for a couple of hours. Then Maria pushed for three hours, with the support of Erica and her doula, before bringing beautiful baby Rune into the world!

Tune in to episode 204 of the Plus Mommy Podcast, where Maria and Erica candidly share their remarkable queer plus size birth story.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 204

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Resources Mentioned On The Show

• The Queer Family Podcast
• Listen to more queer plus size birth stories via the Plus Mommy Podcast or read stories via the Plus Size Birth website.
• Connect with Maria and Erica via Maria’s Instagram.

Thank you to our sponsor:

Our friends at Aeroflow Breastpumps are the sponsor of this week’s episode. Aeroflow Breastpumps is our go-to partner in ensuring moms get top-notch breast pumps, milk storage bags, breastfeeding prep courses, and more for little to no cost through insurance.

They have a fantastic range of highly-rated breast pumps from brands like Medela, Spectra, and Motif. All you need to do is complete a straightforward insurance eligibility form, and they’ll take care of the rest. Easy, peasy!

Hop over to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/plussizebirth and see why over 1 million families have chosen Aeroflow Breastpumps to cover their pump through insurance.

The post A Queer Plus Size Birth Story of Strength, Resilience, and Love appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Jashina talks about what you need to know when embracing your B shaped belly during pregnancy. You’ll learn tips for monitoring, maternity clothes, and more!

Jashina and her husband were married just over a year and considered starting their family while stuck at home during the pandemic.

She went off birth control and, to their great joy and surprise, got pregnant within a few months.

Pregnant B Belly

Like many plus size women, Jashina had a B belly without pregnancy and called it her fupa.

Then during the first trimester of her pregnancy, all Jashina noticed was her double belly. Meanwhile, she saw other pregnant moms sharing their week-by-week photos of their changing bumps during pregnancy.

Then finally, around 17 weeks of pregnancy, she started noticing the upper and lower parts of her B shaped belly growing!

She wasn’t sure what she was experiencing during her plus size pregnancy was normal. That was until she saw a post about B bellies from Plus Size Birth. It helped her to know her B bump shape was normal.

Body Image with B Shaped Belly

Jashina’s husband kept encouraging her, “You’re fine; you look great! You’re carrying a healthy baby – nothing is wrong with the baby right now, and nothing is wrong with you. So, let’s embrace the fact that we’re healthy.”

He helped Jashina with her self-esteem because

Around 37 or 38 weeks of pregnancy, her B shaped belly became more D shaped, but it wasn’t completely round.

She was given a maternity photo shoot package as a gift, and yet never had the photos taken due to feeling insecure about her B belly.

As Jashina shared, body-image struggles weren’t new to her during pregnancy, as she has struggled with her self-esteem for most of her life.

But as a mom, she wants to work on herself, so she doesn’t put her insecurities upon her daughter.

“I really don’t want her growing up with that self-esteem factor where she gets down on herself. I just want her to believe in herself and just be very confident in everything she does. As I’m working on myself, I know it’s going to impact her, and that’s one of my other motivating forces.”

Maternity Clothes for B Bellies

When it came to maternity clothes, Jashina assumed she’s become much bigger. So she asked her friends to get her tights, two sizes larger than normal.

The tights were way too big!

Nevertheless, she found it to be a funny experience, and another time when she assumed she was larger than she was at the time.

Though near the end of her pregnancy, she lived in those tights that remained oversized on her. And thanks to working at a hospital, she lived in scrubs.

She also loved midi dresses from Old Navy.

Other people with B bellies during pregnancy like wearing maxi dresses and baby-doll style tops to help round out their belly shapes.

And one of the top tips shared for having a B shaped belly is to get a belly band.

Belly bands have many benefits beyond smoothing out the shape of a bump from a B to a D. They also provide support to improve common pregnancy discomforts like back aches.

Testing and Fetal Monitoring with a Pregnancy B Belly

As a social worker on the labor and delivery floor, Jashina was friendly with many of her care team because they were also her colleagues.

Jashina was thankful her doctor reassured her that his focus was on her and the baby’s overall health, not her weight. As a result, she didn’t experience any weight bias during maternity care or her birth.

She found ultrasound visits a bit challenging for the technicians to move their wand over her belly. And during these appointments, she called her belly shape “hills and valleys.”

Due to her BMI, her provider recommended non-stress tests near the end of her pregnancy. These appointments were a small inconvenience for Jashina since she worked at the hospital. But having a B belly did make the monitoring more difficult.

Jashina remembers thinking, “If I didn’t have a B belly, it would work fine.”

She was beating herself up a bit without knowing there were some helpful tips and tricks for pregnancy monitoring with a b belly. And the same concerns arose during monitoring for giving birth.

One great tip is to wear a belly band while monitoring! Another is to request wireless monitoring during labor, especially the Monica Novii, designed for larger bodies.

Another concern Jashina had was worrying about her blood pressure.

So, she asked her doctor a lot of questions.

As an added benefit, her Aetna insurance was terrific and provided her with a care manager! Once a month, this care manager checked in with Jashina to see how she was doing.

They even sent her baby aspirin, which studies show helps to reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia, which is extremely high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Jashina’s care team pressured her to induce, but she wanted to go into labor naturally. Thirty-six hours later, her daughter was born!

B Belly After Pregnancy

During postpartum, Jashina noticed her B belly quickly returned to its pre-pregnancy size. And yet, she didn’t really care! Her body had done so much for her that she had a new appreciation.

Jashina’s focus was on nourishing her body to be able to pump for her daughter!

Listen as Jashina tells her full birth story. And as a social worker who supports new parents struggling with mental health and those with babies in the NICU, Jashina shares a special message.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 197

Transcript happily provided upon request.

The post B Belly Pregnancy – What You Need To Know appeared first on Plus Mommy.

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.

Getting Pregnant with Type 1 Diabetes

When Sarah was seven, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

At age 15, a nurse said in a threatening tone, “You may never get to have children in your life.” This was the first time anyone talked to Sara about pregnancy with type 1 diabetes.

While Sara wasn’t thinking of pregnancy then, this was highly offputting. And sadly, it was the first of many traumatic experiences she would have with the medical community as a plus size woman with a chronic illness.

Sara and her husband met with she was 13 and were married by 19.

Then, when she was 21, Sara felt ready to start a family—having zero expectations that she’d find herself pregnant with fraternal twins!

It took precisely one cycle for Sara to become pregnant once they decided to start trying.

Type 1 Diabetes with Twins

Before Sara got pregnant, she met with her endocrinologist to discuss pregnancy with type 1 diabetes.

Her care provider helped her to set goals with her blood sugar to get it into a consistent range so she’d be safe during pregnancy.

Once pregnant, she continued to receive care from her diabetes specialist alongside her OB-GYN.

During one visit, they addressed weight gain limits “because of her weight,” which stood out. But overall, she felt supported with extra scans and tests throughout her pregnancy.

Aside from experiencing a lot of nausea, she had a straightforward healthy high-risk pregnancy while checking her blood sugar 12 – 16 times a day and being proactive with her wellness.

Sara’s pregnancy was the first time she viewed her body as something that wasn’t failing her!

Giving Birth to Twins with Type 1 Diabetes

Sara learned most care providers don’t want a person with type 1 diabetes going beyond 39 weeks during pregnancy due to health concerns. So, because of having type 1 diabetes with twins, Sara’s doctor did not want her to go beyond 38 weeks.

Sara was given a choice between induction or having a scheduled cesarean birth. And if she had chosen an induction, she would’ve given birth in the operating room (OR).

Giving birth in the OR with twins is pretty typical because they can immediately get the babies out if there are complications. However, the idea of giving birth in a cold and sterile OR was not what Sara wanted. And with Baby B in the breech position, choosing to have a scheduled cesarean felt like the best option.

At 38 weeks and five days, Sara had a wonderful cesarean birth with her twins.

Hear Sara’s full story in her own words during episode 181 of the Plus Mommy Podcast.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 181

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Connect with Sara via her blog, MakeHome.blog, Instagram, and TikTok.
• Plus size breastfeeding interview with Laurel Wilson.
• Get a free guide on connecting with a size-friendly care provider.

Sara is a mom of 8-year-old twins and a 3-year-old singleton. She’s been a type-1 Diabetic for 22 years and has had two healthy high-risk pregnancies. She lives just outside of Seattle with her family, renovating an old home which she shares on her blog, Makehome.blog.

Want more plus size twin birth stories? Tap into Lynneah’s and KC’s stories! You can also read Lorrie’s triplets’ story.

The post Type 1 Diabetes with Twins – Sara’s Plus Size Pregnancy Story appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Incompetent Cervix Story

Trigger warning for infant loss. Below we also honor Marion by sharing a cherished photo that might be hard for some people to see.

Jeannie wants people to know that it’s not your fault if you have an incompetent cervix. She knew she could develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy or have other complications. But nothing prepared her for an incompetent cervix and giving birth to her daughter Marion at 22 weeks.

Jeannie’s Fertility Journey

Jeannie met her husband when she was 18. At 29, she felt ready to start a family and got off birth control, assuming she’d get pregnant immediately.

She learned about her cycle and different fertility tracking methods, but she still wasn’t pregnant after a year of trying. So, Jeannie and her husband looked into fertility treatments.

As a plus size woman with a BMI over 40, she was nervous it would be difficult to find someone to support her fertility needs.

Luckily, she found a great fertility clinic nearby in Toronto, Canada, that welcomed her into their care.

Her doctor was very supportive, and nothing about Jeannie’s health showed why they weren’t getting pregnant. Instead, her husband’s sperm showed some limited motility.

Her doctor offered them different fertility interventions, from IUI to IVF.

They first tried IUI.

Jeannie found the process easy, but the two weeks wait to find out if they were pregnant was grueling. Sadly, it didn’t work.

So they tried again and again – five times in a row.

Next, they moved forward with IVF.

One of the most upsetting things about getting IVF as a plus size woman was that they wouldn’t use anesthesia during the egg retrieval process. Jeannie was determined, and nothing would stop her from moving forward. And thankfully, she wasn’t in terrible pain during the retrieval.

They got 12 eggs! And after time and testing had three viable embryos.

This time, the fertility treatment worked, and Jeannie was pregnant!

Jeannie’s Pregnancy

During those first few weeks, Jeannie experienced a lot of morning sickness, and all scans and tests were routine.

At 16 weeks, everything still looked good. A scan showed Jeannie’s cervix was long and closed.

When she transferred care from her fertility clinic to an OB-GYN, she was thankful her provider didn’t make her feel bad because of her size. They went over some increased risks but treated her like any pregnant person.

At 20 weeks, she had her anatomy scan, and everything looked good, but her baby wasn’t showing all of its parts, so she’d need to return.

The following week, she went in for another ultrasound. Jeannie not only learned she was pregnant with a daughter, but her little one gave a thumbs up.

Again, nothing was off, and they named their daughter Marion after Jeannie’s mom.

Jeannie had extreme love for her belly for the first time and was eager to watch her belly continue to grow.

Her life, at that moment, was everything she had ever wanted.

The following weekend she noticed a bit more discharge than normal. She had just swam in a new pool and thought the discharge could be related.

She messaged a few friends, who reassured her that nothing seemed worrisome.

The next day there was a bit more discharge, so she contacted her OB’s office. Again, she was reassured everything was normal. Her OB’s office didn’t recommend she come in for an exam unless there was blood.

But this little voice told her what she was experiencing wasn’t normal.

A few days later, she went for a scheduled ultrasound, and everything looked fine.

The following day, she saw a spot of blood when she went to the bathroom and went into full panic. She called into work sick for the first time in years.

The second the OB’s office opened, she called and was encouraged to go to the hospital because she sounded upset. So, Jeannie did her best to calm down and nap rather than rush to the hospital due to anxiety.

She decided to distract herself with a trip to Costco. But as soon as she arrived, she was bleeding even more, so she drove straight to the hospital.

Immediately Jeannie was monitored, and her blood pressure was skyrocketing.

When a doctor finally examined her, he immediately assessed something was extremely wrong.

The care team sprung into action and tuned her bed into the Trendelenburg position, with her feet above her head.

Tragically, she was four centimeters dilated, and her waters were bulging.

This was an emergent situation, and Jeannie called her husband. And as he arrived with her mom, they transferred Jeannie to another hospital.

She remained in that head-down position during the ambulance ride. A sweet nurse helped reduce her anxiety and take her mind off what was happening for a short while.

Marion’s Birth Story

Once she arrived at the hospital, she met with a doctor who talked to her compassionately, but Jeannie knew things were very bad. She never heard of an incompetent cervix story, and now this was her impossible predicament.

Her baby girl had just given her a thumbs up – how could this be happening?!

If she could make it to midnight, she’d be 22 weeks pregnant, but until then, they’d do nothing for the baby. So, told she’d likely deliver in the next few hours, Jeannie tried her best not to move.

At midnight, they relocated her to labor and delivery.

Her husband stayed by her side, and loving nurses supported her—nurses who also informed her that her mom could come to the hospital.

A new doctor met with her in the morning and said they could resuscitate the baby because she’s 22 weeks. But he also shared all the reasons why they shouldn’t make that choice.

Then Jeannie was given options for trying to hold off labor or to be induced. In the doctor’s professional opinion, she thought Jeannie would’ve already given birth.

The nursing staff and care providers held so much space for Jeannie and her family. Ultimately, they decided to induce. And the staff broke all the COVID rules to allow her to have as much family as she wanted by her side.

The induction began at noon, and things came on fast. An hour later, Jeannie gave birth to Marion with a supportive nurse, her husband, and her mom in the room. Marion was born at 1:10 pm, weighing 14 ounces, and looked just like Jeannie.

And Marion was held and loved until the moment she passed away at 2:25 pm.

We honor Marion and hold space for all loss families!

Below you can listen to Jeannie’s full incompetent cervix story in her own words during episode 179 of the Plus Mommy Podcast.

Information About Having An Incompetent Cervix

Cervical incompetence, also known as cervical insufficiency, is when your cervical tissue starts to open prematurely.

If caught early, a cervical cerclage that involves sewing the cervix closed can help to prevent preterm birth. But this typically happens around 14 weeks of pregnancy and was sadly not an option for Jeannie.

Symptoms of an incompetent cervix include a sensation of pelvic pressure, a new backache, mild abdominal cramps, a change in cervical discharge, and light vaginal bleeding. These are all common pregnancy symptoms, so it’s imperative to trust your gut and contact your care provider with any concerns.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 179

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Incompetent Cervix Awareness Facebook Group

The post An Incompetent Cervix Story To Raise Awareness And Honor Loss appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Plus Size Pregnancy With Triplets

My name is Lorrie (she/her), and I’m a social worker and artist living in Kelowna, BC.

I met my spouse 11 years ago on eHarmony after a bad breakup.

Over the past four years, we struggled to get pregnant, underwent fertility treatment, and navigated the adoption process.

After a long struggle with intrauterine insemination (IUI), we were surprised to find out I was finally pregnant!

Even more surprising: our first ultrasound showed twins!

In a frightening turn of events, three weeks later, I was rushed to the ER due to heaving bleeding. That day, we finally found out: we were having triplets!

As a woman in a larger body with a history of eating disorders, navigating the medical system was incredibly difficult throughout the entirety of my high-risk pregnancy.

Being in this position pushed me to advocate for myself more than ever before, and I was able to make it to the other side with our three beautiful and healthy babies.

The biggest thing for moms having a plus size pregnancy with triples is to breathe.

Take everything day by day, especially if your babies are in the NICU.

Sometimes they’ll have a bad day, and you’ll be worried about them. But when you look back over their stay, you see how they’re doing really well.

And utilize what you can to try and help yourself out because it’s very hard on your own. So you’re going to need that extra support!

This is my plus size pregnancy with triplets story!

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 175

Transcript happily provided upon request. 

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Connect with Lorrie via Instagram @wolf_pack_triplets
• Book recommendation – When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads 4th Edition: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy
• Check out the FREE Plus Size Pregnancy Weekly Breakdown.

The post Plus Size Pregnancy With Triplets – Lorrie’s Story appeared first on Plus Mommy.