Jenny Patterson is a midwife and lecturer whose research focuses on birth trauma.

Dr Tomasina Stacey is a UK Midwife and Researcher, specialising in stillbirth prevention. In this fascinating and reassuring chat, Tomasina provides tips and explainers to help you navigate the tricky topic of risk, she simplifies the numbers that can be hard to get our heads round, and in her wonderful, calm and compassionate style, she provides reassurance for pregnancy and birth. I loved this discussion with my friend and colleague - thank you Tomasina!

In my first chat with a U.S mom, I meet MacKenzie, a first time mum who early on in her pregnancy became disillusioned with the standard approach of doctor-led care. In this fascinating chat we discuss some differences between U.S and UK care systems, and she tells me all about her midwives and her homebirth waterbirth. Please do check out her amazing birth photos for ultimate inspiration! XX

Katie had a lockdown birth in 2020 the first time around. She had a GD diagnosis, was on insulin and had an induction that left her feeling disempowered. This time, in 2024, Katie had some Heavyweight Midwife empowerment, that helped her advocate for her longed-for waterbirth. Her consultant agreed it… but you’ll never guess what happened next.

Katie was so empowered by her pregnancy & birth experiences that since having baby Savannah, she’s joined Team Heavyweight Midwife! With her background in mental health and talking therapies, Alice is keeping Katie busy in the Facebook Group while she’s on maternity leave!

If you enjoy the podcast, please rate review & follow us. It helps other people who need our empowerment to find us! XX

Jo Moscalu wanted to specialise in binge eating as a dietitian. But then she found herself suffering from

the very issue she helped so many clients overcome. In this fascinating conversation, we talk about Jo’s own struggles, how she’s overcoming them… and also about Alice’s pet peeve - maternity dietetics (or ‘healthy

lifestyle’) services. Thanks so much for being my guest Jo!!

Please rate, review and follow the show if you enjoy it. You’ll help others who need us to find us!!

For anyone who has spent any time trying to get pregnant or thinking about it, worrying about it, or navigating fertility services, Nicola Salmon is probably a name you are very familiar with! In her incredible fertility support service for those living in bigger bodies, Fat Positive Fertility, Nicola has helped thousands of women on their journeys to parenthood.

In this episode Nicola and I talk about being empowered, asking for what you need, getting the support you need (and binning anyone who is less than supportive!) We also discuss our mutual hatred of ‘healthy lifestyle services’ and any referrals made without information and consent!

l have had several Heavyweight Midwife Plan members tell me they literally would not be a parent without Nicola’s help, so please do follow her if you don’t already and if she can help you!!

I absolutely loved this chat and I really hope you do too. Thank you Nicola xx

In her own words, Gabby knew nothing about plus size pregnancy stuff when she got pregnant. But early on she was very interested in having a waterbirth. In this episode Gabby takes us through her journey of support and empowerment, her (sometimes hilarious, sometimes awful) appointments with health professionals and her dogged determination to do it her way - in water, partying to Taylor Swift and ‘off her head’ on gas & air (Gabby’s words!)

I’ve got to know Gabby really well during her journey and I’m delighted she is now a Heavyweight Midwife Team member and a wonderful friend.

Trigger warning: We briefly & sensitively discuss Gabby’s history of disordered eating in this episode.

In this Season 2 launch episode, join me as I let you in on my five pillars formula, that underpins all of my client work. Wherever you are on your journey to parenthood, if you have appointment with health professionals and decisions to make, this is going to be an unmissable episode for you. Each of the five pillars is fundamental to building a happy, in control journey to parenthood. And you can put these to use right now!

If you enjoy the episode and the show, please rate and review! This work is my passion and you will be helping others to find the show and get my help too.

Plus size pregnant are being told they are ‘high risk’ in pregnancy - I’m talking here about why this isn’t true, why it’s such a bad thing for your well-being to be described as high risk, and I have some tips for you on what you can do if you are described this way.

If you enjoy the show, please follow! And please leave a review. And do reach out if you think I can help YOU have a happy pregnancy!

Megan’s birth did not go to plan (Arthur was 4 months old when we spoke, thriving and gorgeous!) but she had a positive experience. Her story has learning

and empowerment for you if you are plus size and pregnant, or planning your pregnancy!

If you need info and empowerment, follow the Heavyweight Midwife on Instagram and TikTok and join the Heavyweight Midwife Facebook Group.

@theheavyweightmidwife