Join me and mother of three, Lacy Bruner, as she describes her three pregnancies and birth stories, including both unplanned and elective cesarean section births. We also discuss Lacy's journey through loss, after her brother unexpectedly passed away during her second pregnancy. Lacy describes how this event shaped her pregnancy, the newborn phase and how she sought support as she navigated her grief.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Lacy was deemed "high risk" during her first pregnancy simply based on her BMI
• The steps Lacy took to find a more suitable provider for her
• What it feels like to experience loss during pregnancy and the early days of parenting
• The importance of taking care of yourself while riding the waves of grief
• Lacy's journey through pregnancy and birth with her three children.

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

Exploring big topics in this episode with registered dietician and body liberation advocate Amy Rapone!
 

In this episode we discuss:

• How weight bias impacts the level of care fat people receive (and don't receive!)
• The principles of health at every size
• Amy's personal journey to becoming a dietician and how this stirred up feelings about her body
• What it means to be a size inclusive dietician and how care may look different when you're working with one
• Tips for improving your body image-- how you perceive and think about your body

Follow Amy: @radlove.nutrition

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

I'm so excited for you to hear Liz's two birth stories, both involving induction of labor. Have a listen to her journeys through pregnancy, where she sought the right support to help her navigate high blood pressure issues.

Liz's births may have both included induction methods, however, they were both unique experiences in their own way. Tune in to hear how Liz navigated doubt and uncertainty the second time around!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Methods of induction
• Why Liz decided to opt for doula support during both her pregnancies
• The reasons for Liz's two inductions
• How Liz used self-advocacy to make decisions that felt best for her and her family
• Liz's two very different paths through induction

Follow Lizzy: @embracingbirthia
On Facebook: Embracing Birth Iowa
Embracing Birth Iowa Website

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

"Once a cesarean, always a cesarean"-- a myth that continues to limit the birthing options of hundreds of thousands of people every year. Join me and Lizzy Morris, as she discusses her two birth stories: her first ending with a primary cesarean and her second, as she prepared for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)-- with loads of drama along the way!

In this episode, we discuss:

• Lizzy's story of her first birth, which ended in cesarean
• The steps Lizzy took to find a better provider as she prepared for her VBAC
• How midwives can also be weight biased
• Lizzy's ability to navigate challenging situations with her pregnancy support team
• The birth story of Lizzy's second baby
• The importance of advocacy during pregnancy and birth

Follow Lizzy: @thelizzymorris
On Facebook: Lizzy Morris
On  TikTok: @thelizzymorris

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

Chances are, if you're plus size and pregnant, you have been told that your pregnancy is automatically "high risk." Join me and birthkeeper, hypnobirthing teacher and all around birth nerd, Jenine Ellis, as we explore the continuing disappearance of "low risk" pregnancies in modern maternity care.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How maternity care has changed over time and become more intervention-focused
• The narrowing of what it means to be a "low risk" patient
• The nuances of maternity care in Australia
• Myths people are told surrounding plus size bodies and the birth process
• How BMI can be used to justify higher intervention birth pathways
• Jenine's experiences of pregnancy and birth as a young mom and plus size person

Follow Jenine: @the_jenine_ellis
Website: https://www.graceandivy.com.au
On Facebook: Grace & Ivy Birth

Memorable Messages Research Details:  "Memorable Messages About Fat Bodies Before, During and After Pregnancy" by Basinger, Quinlan and Rawlings, 2022.

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

Join me and Dr Jess Michaels as we discuss everything osteopathy and how being upright can positively impact your labor and birth! 

In  this episode we discuss:

• The benefits of being upright during labor and birth
• Myths surrounding upright birth and how weight bias can influence movement recommendations
• How pain and discomfort act as signals during labor
• What osteopathy is and how it can be beneficial during pregnancy, birth and for newborns
• Why and how Jess developed the birth sling, that plus size folks can use!

Follow Jess: @dr.jess.michaels
Website: www.drjessmichaels.com

Follow the Birth Sling: @the.birth.sling
Website: www.thebirthsling.com

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

Join me and journalist, midwife and author Amity Reed as we discuss the important topic of obstetric violence and how it impacts both families and those working within the maternity system.

In this episode we discuss:

• Amity's journey to midwifery
• How working as a midwife was not what Amity thought it was going to be
• What obstetric violence is and how it is deeply rooted in power and control
• How maternity care workers are also being harmed within the current obstetric model of care

Follow Amity:  @amity.reed
Website: amityreed.com
Facebook
White Ribbon Alliance UK

Amity is a midwife, author, and activist. Her first book, 'Overdue: Birth, burnout, and a blueprint for a better NHS' was published in 2020. She also works for reproductive health and rights charity White Ribbon Alliance UK, as their Resource and Programme Development Lead. Amity lives on the Sussex coast with her husband and two teenage children.

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

I'm so happy to share this episode featuring Amy Arnold, who discusses her journey with multiple pregnancy losses, an ectopic pregnancy and how she decided to access alternative options for fertility support to meet her rainbow baby.

You'll hear us discuss:

• Amy's story of loss and how she found support
• Why Amy chose to take an alternative path with fertility support
• The weight stigma Amy experienced when accessing standard medicalized fertility and pregnancy care
• How Amy utilized doula support and switching providers 
• Ways Amy is preparing for her birth

Follow Amy: @rckincupcake
Promo Image: @mayadphoto

Love Amy's and ready to read more? 

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

I'm so excited for you to hear Ashley's THREE birth stories. Have a listen to her journey through two challenging experiences ending in surgical birth, followed by her decision to take radical responsibility when she stepped outside of the maternity system in Australia.

Ashley's journey to parenthood was definitely filled with bumps along the way, including medical anti-fat bias that impacted the care she received and the decisions she made during her third pregnancy.

You'll hear us discuss:

• Ashley's experiences with weight stigma during all of her pregnancies
• How anti-fat bias limited her options and set her up for experiences with higher intervention
• Ways Ashley advocated for herself and her babies
• The reasons why Ashley decided to freebirth her baby at home and the stark contrast between her in-hospital and out of hospital birth(s)

Follow Ashley: @ashleylwinning
Website: https://ashleywinning.com/
The VBAC Home Birth Stories Podcast 

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com

Join me and Jojo Hogan as we explore the important topic of postpartum planning and all of the ways we are getting it wrong in the West. Jojo is a peri-natal care specialist, yoga teacher and founder of Slow Postpartum, an international movement which educates as to the importance of honoring the weeks following birth.

In this episode we discuss:

• The typical challenges many new families face
• The importance of postpartum planning 
• What a slow postpartum is and how you can prepare for one yourself
• How the traditions of other cultures support the mother and baby dyad
• The importance of having a village and organizing support prior to birth

Follow Jojo:  @slowpostpartum
Website:  slowpostpartum.com
Facebook
YouTube


Check out Jojo's Freebie! Five Ways to Holistically Support Postpartum Families

Jojo is a peri-natal care specialist, yoga teacher and founder of Slow Postpartum, an international movement which educates as to the importance of honouring the weeks following birth. With over twenty years experience Jojo inspires the new families that she works with to view the postpartum period as a time of deep significance when they need and deserve to be deeply cared for, supported, nurtured and nourished. Using a range of modalities including yoga, mindfulness, nutrition & body work as well as taking inspiration from traditional postpartum practises, Jojo works with families around the world to create their 'slow postpartum sanctuaries'.  She also mentors and trains other doulas and birthworker in her unique Slow Postpartum method.

Get Your Free Guide! Seven Ways Weight Stigma Can Sabotage Your Pregnancy

Click here to get my book, Fat Birth: Confident, Strong and Empowered Pregnancy at Any size-- It is the go-to resource for plus size pregnancy that will help you tune into your intuition, trust your body and teach you those oh so-important advocacy skills so you can have the autonomous birth you desire!

Leave a review and submit your screenshot here to receive a gift directly to your mailbox!

Connect with Michelle
Instagram: @fat.and.pregnant
Website: www.fatandpregnant.com