Plus Size and Pregnant

Today's episode tackles what risk is, how it is used in the NHS and can we get a true picture of the risk with plus size pregnancy. If we can't what else can you do to make sure you get the birth you truly want. 

This episode talks about birth after caesarean for plus size pregnant women and people. Sometimes it can feel like you're pressured into making the 'right' decision from those around you, the media and your care providers. The decision to either choose a planned caesarean or to go down the VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) route can also feel like a hard decision if you don't fully trust your body. So we'll cover: - how to start to process this decision - how to be 'you' and make the right decision for you - what are the stats around plus size VBAC? I'll link you with the research papers I talk about below if you would like to read for yourself: Worldwide increasing caesarean rates: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/11/use-of-caesarean-sections-growing-at-alarming-rate Research paper showing VBAC rates are similar between obese and non-obese people: https://fn.bmj.com/content/96/Suppl_1/Fa82.1 Research paper showing a slightly reduced rate of VBAC success in obese women and people: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ajo.13003 What women need to feel a positive resolution in their VBAC choices: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-019-2297-4

Today we are joined by Olivia Crocker from The Birth Rising. Olivia is a feminist birth coach and doula and is talking to us about how to reclaim your pregnancy and birth in a bigger body.

Today's episode is with Jen Muir from Badass Birth. Jen breaks down for us some key concepts around human rights and feminism in birth. She makes them super accessible and this is a must listen episode for anyone preparing to give birth.

This episode talks about the Channel 5 docu series Big Birthers: On the Maternity Ward. Listen to some of the statements made in this programme that infuriate me, some of the positive statements made and my views on how we can move forward more positively to have more confidence in yourself and your body.  

On today's episode we are joined by the Queen of the Positive Birth Movement, Milli Hill. Milli is the founder of the Positive Birth Movement, a global network of antenatal groups and a best selling author of two books, the Positive Birth Book and her latest book 'Give Birth Like a Feminist'. Milli was on the radio segment when the doctor talked about 'fat' vaginas and challenged what was being said. Who else could we have had on the podcast to talk about this. We also talk about some of the themes in her new book and how they apply to women and birthing people so that you can achieve a positive birth.     

I had the pleasure of talking today to AJ Silver who is a doula, a writer and activist. They work under @birthkeeperdoula. Listen to their birth stories and hear how you can transform your birth experience. AJ identifies as fat and non-binary and is the perfect person for the Plus Size and Pregnant podcast to introduce us to some of the issues around inclusivity in the birthworld for the LGBT+ community. This is part two of two episodes with them, so check out the previous episode. Don't forget that you can access your top 5 tips for a Powerful Plus Size Pregnancy video by clicking the link below:  https://kellyneale.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cbfb6a3a7d84e7f52148108fd&id=e828f0835a&fbclid=IwAR2lnvIgJA4YZY30-8Pbob39-gq8KZODS1_YAsPpbfkPVDkeYuDchdMSmLQ  

I had the pleasure of talking today to AJ Silver who is a doula, a writer and activist. They work under @birthkeeperdoula. AJ identifies as fat and non-binary and is the perfect person for the Plus Size and Pregnant podcast to introduce us to some of the issues around inclusivity in the birthworld for the LGBT+ community. This is part one of two episodes with them, so watch out for their birth stories in the next episode. Don't forget that you can access your top 5 tips for a Powerful Plus Size Pregnancy video by clicking the link below:  https://kellyneale.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cbfb6a3a7d84e7f52148108fd&id=e828f0835a&fbclid=IwAR2lnvIgJA4YZY30-8Pbob39-gq8KZODS1_YAsPpbfkPVDkeYuDchdMSmLQ    

On this weeks episode I talk about the importance of changing your story. Changing the story you tell yourself, the story being told to you by others and possibly your previous birth story if you are unhappy with it. These stories all inform your experience of pregnancy and birth and it's important to consider this in order to move forward confidently and positively.

This episode talks about everything plus size fertility. We talk about messaging, trusting your body and so much more. Our guest today is Nicola Salmon. Nicola is a fat-positive and feminist fertility coach and author of “Fat and Fertile”. She advocates for change in how fat people are treated whilst accessing help with their fertility. Nicola supports fat people who want to get pregnant using her unique FAT+ve fertility framework to find their own version of health without diets, advocate for their bodies, relearn how to trust their body and believe in their ability to get pregnant in their current body.

In this episode I talk about the 8 things I never said during my second plus size pregnancy. I hope this helps you and it resonates with you.

An honest discussion about plus size baby wearing with Lysanne Skinner from MotherRucker Carrying Consultancy. We talk: is there are best sling, body image, normalising plus size baby wearing and building your confidence.

In this episode I explore what gestational diabetes is, why you might be offered a glucose tolerance test to diagnose it, what the risk factors are around gestational diabetes and if you have to accept the test.

Today's episode is an interview with Roma Malone who shares her two pregnancy and birth stories. From losing a significant amount of weight before her first pregnancy to putting weight on during her pregnancy and now experiencing a second pregnancy classed as plus size, Roma shares some interesting insights for us to hear. We're also super lucky that Roma is at this time still pregnant and preparing for a home birth.

Emma Cottam from Isabella and Us tells her inspiring story of living with and working with post natal depression. She also tells us how it spurred her on to support other women who experience similar and to generally uplift Mums with her positive campaigns to remind us that we are Winning as a Mummy every day.

This episode is an interview with Caroline who has had two different birth experiences, her second being plus size. There is lots of useful information and tips in this episode and it also comes with a trigger warning due to discussions around miscarriage and still birth. Take a listen to this episode and hear Caroline's story!

This episode is a guest interview with Zoe Woodman from the Sling Consultancy who talks to us about the science of carrying your baby and building great foundations for your baby.

Today's episode is a mini antenatal session and covers the topic of informed choice and decision making for pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. 

Welcome to our first episode in which I explain why I started the podcast and what you can expect from it. See you inside