Veronica shares her trying to conceive (TTC) journey with honesty and strength. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, anxious, or unsupported while trying to conceive in a plus size body—this episode is for you.

The Emotional Roller Coaster of TTC

Veronica and her husband made the decision to grow their family in their early 30s, knowing there could be obstacles ahead.

Like many couples, they went into the experience with hope and excitement—but quickly found themselves navigating the complex emotions of monthly disappointment and the pressure of age.

And yes, we talked about that stat—how many of us have heard “it gets harder after 35.” It’s true that fertility shifts over time, but that looming number can make you feel like you’re racing against the clock.

And when you add in the reality of trying to conceive in a plus size body, there’s often even more pressure and anxiety layered on.

“We were just trying so hard to make sure we were hitting the right days,” Veronica shared. “After a few months, it really started to feel like a chore.”

TTC Tip: You are not alone if you find that the spark of intimacy gets replaced with ovulation trackers and calendars. It’s okay to acknowledge that and take breaks when needed.

Facing Pregnancy Loss and the Weight of Self-Blame

After nearly nine months of trying, Veronica saw a positive pregnancy test, only to experience an early miscarriage.

It was heartbreaking. Like so many people who experience pregnancy loss, Veronica wrestled with blaming herself.

“Was it my fault because I’m in a bigger body?” she wondered aloud.

This is such a common and painful feeling for people trying to conceive in a plus size body. I’ve been there too. But we have to keep reminding ourselves—miscarriage happens to people of all sizes. One in four pregnancies end in loss, and most of the time, we’ll never know why.

Here’s a helpful article: Navigating Miscarriage and Self-Blame as a Plus-Size Individual

Avoiding the Doctor Out of Fear of Weight Bias

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was when Veronica shared why she didn’t seek medical support at the start of her fertility journey. The fear of being told to lose weight—or being dismissed altogether—kept her from booking an appointment.

“That would take the excitement out of the journey,” she said.

I hear this all the time. When you’re trying to conceive in a plus size body, the last thing you need is a provider who treats your body like a barrier instead of a vessel full of potential.

TTC Tip: If you’re not ready to see a doctor, that’s okay. But when you are, seek out size-friendly providers. Ask if they have large blood pressure cuffs, gowns, and seating—and if they are willing to support you without weight loss being the focus. Want even more tips? See our free guide from Plus Size Birth with tips on connecting with a size-friendly care provider.

What Care Providers Need to Hear

Veronica offered a clear message to healthcare professionals, especially those working in fertility and reproductive health:

“Hear me out first. Don’t make my weight the first and only thing you want to talk about.”

When care providers lead with weight bias, it creates shame and drives people away from getting the support they deserve. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Listening, asking consent before discussing weight, and creating a welcoming environment can make all the difference.

Tip for Providers: Want to reduce weight stigma in your practice? Ask patients if they’d like to be weighed. Ask permission to discuss nutrition or physical activity. Treat every patient as a whole person, not a number on a scale. Learn even more by taking our size-inclusivity maternity training.

Pressing Pause—and Giving Yourself Grace

After their loss, Veronica and her husband made the incredibly self-aware decision to take a pause on trying.

It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.

“It’s so good for your mental health,” Veronica shared. “Don’t feel bad if the pause ends up being longer than expected. It just means you needed that time.”

TTC Tip: Pausing isn’t giving up. It’s honoring your emotional needs. And sometimes, that space can be a powerful step toward healing.

Final Thoughts

Trying to conceive in a plus size body can be joyful, messy, empowering, and hard—all at once. Veronica’s story is a reminder that you are not alone, and your experience is valid.

Whether you’re actively trying, taking a break, or simply thinking about the future, I hope this episode leaves you feeling seen, supported, and hopeful.

Veronica, thank you for your vulnerability and your voice. And to every person out there trying to conceive in a plus size body—you are not alone, and you deserve compassionate, respectful care.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 236

Transcript happily provided upon request.

• Follow Veronica on Instagram: @veewelker_21
• 8 Strategies to Mitigate Weight Bias in Healthcare – Study Mentioned (Interview with Nurse Midwife Elizabeth Muñoz)
• Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols

Searching for more support? See all of our TTC in a plus size body resources over on Plus Size Birth.

This episode is brought to you by the Size-Friendly Birth Course—an online training for birth and postpartum professionals ready to provide size-inclusive care for people in larger bodies.

You’ll get:

• 🎥 Over 6 hours of video lessons
• 📘 A 115-page editable PDF workbook with guided activities
• 🕒 6 contact hours for professional development
• 📜 A certificate of completion
• 🌐 Bonus: Access to the Plus Size Birth Circle—our exclusive online platfor

The post Trying to Conceive in a Plus-Size Body: Veronica’s Story 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.

Can you relate? I’ve spent most of my adult life trying not to get pregnant. And now that my fertility window is rapidly closing getting pregnant feels illusive.

This is a raw and vulnerable look at my fertility journey ending, shared in two podcast episodes recorded three years apart.

Fat, Forty, And Questioning Fertility

Will I ever be at peace that I only had one child?

Can I have a healthy pregnancy being fat, forty, and struggling with fertility?

Am I too old to start all over again with a newborn?

All of these questions have played on repeat in my head, so I hit record and poured out my uncertainties during this episode of the Plus Mommy Podcast.

I’m fat, forty, and I’m figuring out my fertility!

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Letting Go Of My Fertility Journey And Finding Peace

Flash forward three years, I’m nearing 43, and I’ve found peace with letting go of a dream of having more children.

For years, I’ve wondered when I’d find that peace and how I’d come to a place of letting go of my fertility.

As I did three years prior, I turned my recorder on and talked openly about my fertility journey. And letting go!

It’s my deepest hope that anyone questioning their fertility will be proactive immediately.

See a care provider for a preconception visit, so you have more information to make the choice you feel is best. Because life will pass by faster than you’ll ever imagine, your fertility window will eventually close even if you’re not ready for it to end.

This is my story!

Transcript happily provided upon request.

Resources Mentioned On The Show

• My 300 lb Birth Story 
• My Miscarriage Story
• Plus Size Birth website and Plus Mommy Instagram.

Thank You To Our Sponsor:

This episode about being fat, forty, and questioning my fertility was brought to you by Plus Size Birth! Use coupon code Plus Mommy to receive 20% off the My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide. This guide covers everything you could want to know about having a plus size pregnancy.

The post Fat, Forty, And Questioning My Fertility 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.

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.

When Corryn talked to her care provider about her desire to become a mother, she didn’t get the help she needed. Even with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) her care provider took a “wait and see approach.”

Rather than waiting any longer, she went out and found a different Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE).

When her new RE suggested she lose weight before getting fertility support, she advocated for herself!

She asked, “Is it better for me to lose weight and wait and get older. Or not lose weight and do this at the age I am now at 35?”

He didn’t have an answer to her question.

So, Corryn signed a waiver stating she understood the risks of IVF at a higher BMI and went on to get fertility support.

Her weight was never mentioned again.

Sadly, her first IVF retrieval didn’t produce viable embryos.

The second time, they did a test called HBA with her husband’s sperm to choose the more mature ones to improve fertilization outcomes.

It worked! They ended up with 11 embryos to send off for testing to select the most viable ones.

During her first transfer, she got pregnant but sadly had a miscarriage at eight weeks.

The next time she got pregnant with her son!

She openly shared how the fear of loss never goes away after having a miscarriage.

And that fear was constant at every doctor’s appointment, especially when they couldn’t detect a heartbeat at one of her early prenatal visits.

Everything ended up being okay, but she emotionally prepared herself for another loss.

Since Corryn was over 35, her pregnancy was labeled high-risk, so she had additional testing and monitoring.

Related: No One Talks About Being Plus Size With Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Corryn shared that once she started to feel her son move within her, she began to embrace her pregnancy.

Purchasing plus size maternity clothes was frustrating – she felt dejected with the lack of plus size options. She found a few staple items from yoga pants to maternity jeans and was able to wear a lot of her own clothes throughout her pregnancy.

Due to a clotting disorder, Corryn was on blood thinners her entire pregnancy. Near the end of her pregnancy, they started to monitor her closely.

Around 35 weeks, she was showing signs of preeclampsia.

Her mother developed preeclampsia, and Corryn was born eight weeks early. So she always knew that part of her birth story and wanted to do all she could to have a healthy outcome for her baby.  

Corryn’s OB-GYN suggested watching her blood pressure closely and she needed to do a 24-hour urine catch.

While her blood pressure never increased, the protein in her urine did.

Right around 37 weeks, her OB-GYN decided an induction was the best plan. Corryn had been through so much to get pregnant and have her son that she was ready and willing to do whatever was recommended.

The induction process was very long, and she wasn’t expecting that. It started late Thursday night to ripen her cervix, and by Saturday evening, Pitocin was started, and her water was broken.

She got an epidural when she was five centimeters along.

While she was able to get some rest, she woke up feeling strong contractions.

Things became more intense, and her son was born at 11:21 am on Sunday!

From PCOS to IVF, listen below as Corryn shares her full story!

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 116

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Nicole’s Plus Size IVF Success Story
• 4 Things No One Tells You About Being Plus Size And Pregnant
• Connect with Corryn via Instagram @raising_baby_c

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 From PCOS to IVF – Corryn’s Birth Story appeared first on Plus Mommy.

Before we go into Kasey’s story, below are somethings you should know about ectopic pregnancy.

What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy is when the egg attaches somewhere outside the uterus, and this can happen inside a fallopian tube.

Sadly, pregnancy is not viable if this occurs. The growing tissue can cause life-threatening bleeding if left untreated.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Ectopic Pregnancy?

As the fertilized egg grows many people start experiencing light vaginal bleeding a pelvic pain. 

If the ectopic pregnancy is located in a fallopian tube, it can cause the tube to rupture. 

Call your care provider with any medical concerns but seek emergency medical help if you have severe pain and bleeding. As well as lightheadedness and shoulder pain. 

Stigma Surrounding Ectopic Pregnancy

Like miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy has a stigma surrounding it as people aren’t sure how to comfort those who have experienced a loss.

Sometimes people say things that can be emotionally damaging, and it’s critical to reach out for support if you’re struggling.

Pregnancy After Ectopic Pregnancy

If a previous ectopic pregnancy resulted in the loss of a portion of a person’s reproductive system, it could make pregnancy after ectopic pregnancy challenging.

Some people require support from a fertility specialist to get pregnant with treatments like IUI or IVF.

Unfortunately, having a previous ectopic pregnancy increases your risk of having another ectopic pregnancy. So it’s critical to be in close contact with your care provider and be aware of signs to look for that may indicate another medical emergency.

Kasey’s Pregnancy After Ectopic Pregnancy Story

A few days after Kasey found out she was unexpectedly pregnant, she started experiencing horrific pain while at high school in theater class.

Kasey was 17 and having an ectopic pregnancy. Sadly it ruptured, and she lots a tube and ovary at such a young age.

Following surgery, Kacey’s mom asked her if she wanted to tell people what happened or not.

Kacey decided to keep her loss a secret. She pushed her emotions deep down and didn’t even tell her siblings until years later.

As she got older, she would occasionally share her story, and the responses weren’t always supportive. People downplayed the trauma of her loss because she was so early along in her pregnancy. That was extremely painful.

Pregnancy After Ectopic Pregnancy

Ten years following Kasey’s loss, she was married and thinking about starting a family. Her husband, Shawn, was aware of her past and was incredibly supportive.

Kasey got off birth control, and they started trying to conceive with the support of a fat-friendly care provider.

Kasey decided if she didn’t get pregnant on her own, she and Shawn would adopt.

Her journey to conception after ectopic pregnancy was kept a secret, as she didn’t want pressure from loved ones.

After trying for nearly a year, Kasey asked her care provider to run some tests to evaluate her fertility. She didn’t want to have an IUI or IVF, but was open to getting some support that wasn’t as invasive.

Her care provider recommended doing blood work to test Kasey’s fertility after an ectopic pregnancy with the loss of one tube and ovary.

While running tests with her care provider and looking into adoption agencies, Kasey got the shock of her life finding out she was pregnant!

She surprised her husband with the wonderful news.

Related: Powerful Conversation About Plus Size Pregnancy With An OB-GYN

While Kasey was thrilled, she had a challenging time connecting to her pregnancy early on. She was terrified of another loss.

Her care providers were proactive and ran bloodwork right away – everything pointed to a viable pregnancy!

Her pregnancy was easy, but for Kasey, that made it even harder as she didn’t have morning sickness or the usual aches and pains most people talk about during pregnancy.

She was also experiencing a plus size pregnancy, so it often takes longer to show and feel movement.

At 22 weeks, she finally felt her son move inside her for the first time! She also started showing.

Kasey shared her frustrations of searching for plus size maternity clothes and found luck joining Facebook groups.

A friend encouraged her to take bump photos to help her embrace pregnancy.

Childbirth After Ectopic Pregnancy

Near the end of Kasey’s pregnancy, around 38 weeks, her blood pressure started to rise. There were concerns that she’d develop preeclampsia.

Kasey wanted to go into labor on her own and have an unmedicated birth.

She went on leave from work and started trying all the natural induction methods from eating dates to having sex.

Her water broke the day before her scheduled induction!

She labored at home for a while and then headed to the hospital an hour away from her home.

Her hospital room wasn’t ready right away, so she started walking around the hospital, and her contractions immediately got stronger.

She was only 3 cm when they arrived at the hospital. After her walk, everything progressed quickly!

Kasey’s mantra was, “I can do anything for a minute,” as she labored.

Forty-five minutes later, things became increasingly intense as she had progressed to 7 cm.

Ten minutes later, she was 9 cm! Her labor went by so fast in only six hours.

Kasey asked for some support with pain management, and then she was able to start pushing.

With encouragement from her husband, she was ready to meet her son.

About five contractions later, Llewyn was born!

Listen to episode 112 of the Plus Mommy Podcast, where Kasey tells her full pregnancy after ectopic pregnancy story.

You’ll also hear a special message Kasey shares with other loss families – don’t keep it a secret. Do whatever you need to do to process through the trauma of the loss!

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 112

My name is Kasey Thomas, and I live in Pennsylvania with my husband Shawn, two cats, and, most recently, our son Llewyn.

Shawn and I met when we were both Corrections Officers at a local County Prison in 2012. Shawn still works as a Corrections Officer, but I am now employed through the Treatment Department at the County Community Corrections Center (work release) as the Employment Case Manager. I am the youngest of 4 children (two sisters and a twin brother) having been raised by a single mother.

When I was about 17, I had an ectopic pregnancy, and it took me years to be able to come to terms with that and be able to discuss it. Shawn and I wanted to wait until our first wedding anniversary to try for a baby, and 12 months after starting to try, I was pregnant! I gave birth at age 29 on 5/16/19.

You can connect with Kasey via her personal Facebook and Instagram. 

Thank You To Our Sponsor:

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The post Pregnancy After Ectopic Pregnancy – Kasey’s Story Of Hope  appeared first on Plus Mommy.

She didn’t dare use tampons. She told her partner she was saving herself for marriage.

It wasn’t until after getting married that Tara would finally understand her condition, and how to cure vaginismus.

What is Vaginismus?

According to Medical News Today, “Vaginismus is a condition involving a muscle spasm in the pelvic floor muscles. It can make it painful, difficult, or impossible to have sexual intercourse. As well as, to undergo a gynecological exam, and to insert a tampon.”

Listen below as Tara shares her story and how she was able to cure vaginismus.

Recording & Show Notes: Plus Mommy Podcast Episode 99

Be sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app. I’d be incredibly thankful if you took the time to leave a review. Follow Plus Mommy via your favorite social media outlet, such as Instagram. Thanks for being part of this community!

Resources Mentioned On The Show:

• Vaginismus support resources include Vaginismus.com. In addition, there’s a highly recommended Facebook Group.
• Above all, you can read more about Tara’s story via the Katrin With Love.

Thank You To Our Sponsor:

This episode on plus size motherhood was brought to you by Plus Size Birth! Moreover, you can use coupon code Plus Mommy to receive 20% off the My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide. The guide covers everything you could want to know about having a plus size pregnancy.

The post Do I Have Vaginismus? Tara’s Story appeared first on Plus Mommy.