Plus-Size Pregnancy Index
Honest,
accurate information without scare tactics or judgment,
with
real stories from REAL big moms
[This website last updated: June
2009. Please note, this website is
being redesigned and updated, but this process will take some time. In
the meantime, you can see new content at my blog, www.wellroundedmama.blogspot.com.]
About This Website
- Website Disclosure Information
- Brief summary about the website, its author, and disclaimers
- About This Website - General
information about the history of this website, its purpose, its author
- What Is Size Acceptance
- Information about size acceptance as a guiding philosophy, Health At Every
Size as a new paradigm for women's health, and the controversy over the best
terminology to use for larger people
Preparing For Pregnancy
- Dieting and
Pregnancy Should I diet before pregnancy? During
pregnancy? After pregnancy? What are the possible risks and benefits to
losing weight before pregnancy?
- Am I Healthy Enough for a Pregnancy?
Will my weight or lack of physical conditioning impede
labor and delivery or harm my baby? What can I do to
ensure a healthier pregnancy?
The
Risks of Plus-Size Pregnancy: Junk Science Hyperbole vs. Realistic Assessment
- Plus-Size
Pregnancy: The Business of Scare Tactics - Link to a Without Measure
article by Kmom
about keeping a realistic view of the risks of pregnancy and obesity, with
some photos of a plus-sized mom at birth
- The Risk for Birth Defects:
Don't Panic - Reviews the research linking obesity to an
increased risk for birth defects, possible causes, and possible precautions
- The Risks of Plus-Size Pregnancy: A Summary - COMING
SOON Information on the risks of pregnancy and
"obesity," plus information on how to be proactive and minimize
any risks.
Finding a Size-Friendly Provider
- Choosing a
Size-Friendly Health Practitioner Don't be bullied by
size prejudice! How to find a non-judgmental health
provider. Compares the medical model and the midwifery model of care, and
the benefits of hiring a doula for
professional labor support. Also
contains sample questions to ask a provider to determine
size-friendliness. Temporarily unavailable
- www.cat-and-dragon.com/stef/Fat/ffp.html
- Link to a list of size-friendly providers around the country
- www.socalbirth.org/resource/question.htm
- Questions to ask a Pregnancy Provider. Not specific to people of
size
- How
To Treat a Pregnant Woman - Regardless of Her Body Size -
Eloquent essay by guest columnist Dawn Mantas about what size-friendly
treatment really means. A must-read, and good for giving to your
provider too!
- Are
You a Size-Friendly Midwife?- Reprint of Kmom's article in Midwifery
Today, Spring 2002. Good for midwives, doctors, and moms to
read. Discusses the importance of size-friendly care, stories of
egregious bias and mistreatment of big moms, subtle signs of size bias in
even well-intentioned providers, and "Rules of the Road" for
providing size-friendly care to women of size
Kmom's Top Hints For A Better Birth
Cesareans and VBACs
- C-Sections and Vaginal Birth After
Cesarean (VBAC)
- Cesareans - Why do "obese" women have higher rates of
c-sections? How can I lower my risk for a c/s?
- VBACs - Should women of size have VBACs?
What VBAC books should I read? Is VBAC after 2 or more cesareans
possible? Extensive section about VBACs, VBAC after multiple
cesareans, and VBAC birth stories
Kmom's Work Published Elsewhere
- Are
You a Size-Friendly Midwife?- Reprint of Kmom's article in Midwifery
Today, Spring 2002. Good for midwives, doctors, and moms to
read. Discusses the importance of size-friendly care, stories of
egregious bias and mistreatment of big moms, subtle signs of size bias in
even well-intentioned providers, and "Rules of the Road" for
providing size-friendly care to women of size
- Plus-Size
Pregnancy: The Business of Scare Tactics - Link to a Without Measure
article by Kmom
about keeping a realistic view of the risks of pregnancy and obesity, with
some photos of a plus-sized mom at birth
- Avoiding
Surgery: Lowering The Cesarean Rate in Big Moms - Article by Kmom for Without Measure. Obese women have some of the
highest cesarean rates around, but it does NOT have to be that way.
Learn how to lower your risk for a surgical birth and raise your chances
for an empowered birth experience
- NEW!!! Women
of Size and Cesarean Sections: Tips for Avoiding Unnecessary Surgery -
Article by Kmom for Our Bodies, Our Blog, about lowering the risk
for cesarean surgery and promoting VBACs in women of size.
Peer-reviewed, evidence-based article with many research
citations.
- NEW!!! Fat
Women Can Give Birth Vaginally: Obesity and the Skyrocketing Rate of
Cesarean Sections - Interview with Our Bodies, Our Blog about the
above article on avoiding unnecessary surgery.
- NEW!!! A
History of VBACs and Cesareans in the USA - Quick summary (with
research links) from my blog on why the cesarean rate has gone up so much
in recent years and why VBAC rates are dropping so quickly in the USA
these days
Important
Issues Once You Are Pregnant
- The Importance of Large Blood Pressure Cuffs - A
must-read FAQ! It is vital that blood pressure readings are taken with
large BP cuffs in "overweight" people. Use of
a too-small cuff can lead to a falsely high BP reading,
unneeded medication, and interventions that endanger your baby. Know what cuff size to request,
how to deal with obstinate
providers, guidelines for getting an accurate blood pressure reading, and
resources to buy your own blood pressure cuff
- Figuring
Your Due Date The
traditional formula for figuring due dates are fine
*unless* you are having your first baby or have cycles
that are irregular or extra-long; this could lead to
increased interventions before delivering. Be sure to
understand pregnancy dating
thoroughly!
- Weight Gain in
Pregnancy How much weight should large women
expect to gain in pregnancy?
- Facility and Equipment Concerns
Will the hospital equipment fit me? What will I do for a
hospital gown? Do I need special equipment for procedures like
amniocentesis and epidurals? Will they need to adapt anything for my size?
- Childbirth Education Choices
Info about childbirth education choices. Includes Kmom's opinions on
Lamaze, Bradley,
Birth Works, Birthing From Within, and Hypnobirthing classes
- Epidurals:
Real Risks for Mother and Baby - Link to article by Dr. Sarah Buckley on
possible implications and risks of epidurals
Prenatal Testing Issues
- Prenatal
Testing - Link to multiple articles about common prenatal tests like
ultrasounds, AFP tests, amniocentesis, or GD tests. Includes information
about safety and accuracy of these tests, and special implications for
"obese" women
taking these tests
Dealing
With Pregnancy Discomforts
-
Handling
Nausea In Pregnancy Morning
sickness is a common complaint among pregnant women, but
it can have special ramifications for larger women if not
handled carefully. These hints may help.
-
Pelvic Pain (Symphysis Pubis
Dysfunction) Pubic or pelvic pain, low back pain, sciatica, pain turning over in bed
or while putting on clothes, etc. all are symptoms of SPD. Pubic pain
may also be associated with a higher rate of baby malpositions or a more
difficult birth. Information
about causes, precautions, and treatments. Very important information!
Possible
Pregnancy Complications
- Baby
Malpositions: Implications for Birth - Malpositions often cause long, hard labors, and many of these
labors end in c-sections. Find out what position your baby should be
in for birth, how you can encourage a good position, signs of a
malposition, techniques for resolving a malposition, etc. If you had
a long and painful labor or if
you had a cesarean because your 'baby was too
big', 'your pelvis was too small' or because you had a hard time dilating, be sure to read this important FAQ.
Gestational Diabetes
- All About
Gestational Diabetes - What is gestational diabetes, who is at most
risk, how is it tested, how is it treated, what are the
risks, treatment controversies, practical tips for
handling GD, risks for the future, etc. Multiple FAQs with
extensive references
"Alternative/Complementary" Medicine in
Pregnancy
BBW Birth Stories (Birth Stories of Big
Beautiful Women)
- BBW Birth Stories Index
- Stories of BBW births. Read about BBW Home births, Hospital births, VBACs,
C-Sections, Twin, Triplets, Water births, and more! Read about normal births as well
as some cautionary tales too. Also includes PCOS birth stories.
NEWLY UPDATED
June 2009!!
Breastfeeding FAQs
- Nursing When Well-Endowed FAQ
- Hints for helping well-endowed women
breastfeed more easily.
- Breastfeeding
After a Cesarean - Studies show that breastfeeding rates are lower in
cesarean moms, as many factors combine to discourage c/s moms from
breastfeeding. This FAQ examines these factors, analyzes the
research, and summarizes ideas that may help women preserve breastfeeding
despite challenges. Numerous stories from cesarean moms
about their experiences, too.
- Breastfeeding After Gestational
Diabetes - Breastfeeding after a diagnosis of GD presents extra
challenges because of the many routine interventions in these pregnancies. Reviews the research and common protocols so
that women can make informed decisions about when intervention is
necessary or not. Gives strategies to help preserve breastfeeding in the face of challenges.
- 101
Reasons To Breastfeed Your Child - link to a wonderful FAQ and website
about why breastfeeding is so important
After
The Baby Is Born: Postpartum Issues
- Emotional
Recovery From a Cesarean - When women experience a disappointing or
traumatic birth, there are often major emotional recovery
issues. This FAQ specifically addresses emotional recovery
after a cesarean, but many of the ideas here would also apply to any
disappointing or traumatic birth.
- Dealing With "Baby
Blues"---and Worse - Guest column by a
mother who has dealt with post-partum depression herself
Plus-Size Maternity
and Nursing Clothing FAQs
- Plus Size Maternity and Nursing Clothing FAQs - (Updated
1x per year)
Fertility Concerns
- Infertility and
Obesity - A link to an excellent website on infertility concerns in plus-sized women. Email support groups
available
- Large Women and Adoption -
What if you want to adopt a child? Are large women
discriminated against in adoption, too? Where can you find resources on adoption for people of size? Contains BBW Adoption
Stories as well
Books, Links, and Support Groups
RECENT ADDITIONS/UPDATES TO
THIS WEBSITE
NEW! -
Items
marked with this have been added when this website was last
revised in June 2009, including Women
of Size and Cesarean Sections: Tips for Avoiding Unnecessary Surgery, Fat
Women Can Give Birth Vaginally: Obesity and the Skyrocketing Rate of Cesarean
Sections, A
History of VBACs and Cesareans in the USA.
NEWLY UPDATED!
- Items marked with this have been
recently updated (as of 2009), including BBW Birth Stories, and VBAMC Stories.
DISCLAIMER: The information on
this website is not intended and should not be construed as
medical advice. This is a website by
health consumers for
health consumers; please do not write and ask for medical advice. Consult your health care provider.
Please see the Website Disclosure Information.
All Materials Copyright © 1996-2009 Kmom @Vireday.Com. All rights
reserved. No portion of this work may be reprinted,
reproduced or sold, either by itself or as part of a larger work, without the
express written permission of the author; this restriction covers all
publication media, electrical, chemical, mechanical or other such as may arise
over time. Correspondence to: kmom at plus-size-pregnancy dot
org.