128: Supporting Plus Size Pregnancy

We all know about the unfair stereotypes and stigma that exist in our society, but have you ever thought about---or experienced---what a plus-size woman goes through in pregnancy? The body shaming and unfair assumptions are particularly tough to take. Today’s guest is passionate about changing the stereotypes and offering help to these often unsupported moms. Jen McLellan is a published author, speaker, and founder of Plus Size Birth, and she now hosts the Plus Mommy podcast. Plus Size Birth is a premier resource for all things plus-size pregnancy, with over four million page views. Jen is passionate about plus-size pregnancy, sharing tips on embracing your body and navigating the bumps along the road of motherhood. Through the Plus Size Mommy podcast and other social media outlets, she seeks to create an environment of acceptance and to end the stigma surrounding plus-size pregnancy with education, support, and a sense of humor. She is a certified childbirth educator, wife, and mother to a charismatic 8 year old. We’re discussing many great topics related to being a plus-size mom, education, and statistics on things we should consider in supporting plus-size moms to have the happy, healthy pregnancies that they deserve.   Show Highlights: In 2010, Jen became pregnant, went online for support, and was horrified at the messages there for plus-size moms Why she decided to break the cycle by telling her story and starting a blog How she found a community of followers who were hungry for resources that weren’t there Why she became a childbirth educator The stories of mistreatment for plus-size women, even by their healthcare providers How a woman’s mental health is affected by this treatment The importance of connecting with a size-friendly care provider Ways to handle weight issues with doctor appointments Stigma about pregnancy and birth for plus-size moms The assumptions: that a plus-size pregnancy won’t have a positive outcome, will definitely have gestational diabetes, cannot have a vaginal birth, and will probably smother her baby while breastfeeding Jen’s work: sharing images of plus-size pregnant women, so they see “someone who looks like me” The care that’s available to help plus-size moms with breastfeeding Why plus-size women should wear clothes that celebrate pregnancy Why plus-size moms don’t take pregnancy photos  Ways to normalize the pregnancy experience for larger bodies The importance of connecting with a therapist during the postpartum period Be mindful of language that might be triggering, like “obese” What you can’t tell about a plus-size woman: what she eats, how much she eats, or how she struggles Why we need to come from a place of compassion and not a place of shame How Jen was changed forever by a midwife who had compassion and believed in her The “health at any size” approach, and why it’s important The need to work through your own personal bias The podcast: the topics that are covered with transparency and the hopeful messages that make an impact How the Plus Mommy community as grown as people learn that people don’t deserve to be mistreated just because of their size Resources: Plus Size Birth: http://www.plussizebirthcom Plus Mommy Podcast: http://www.plusmommy.com Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.om/plusmommyblog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plusmommy/