Plus-Size Pregnancy Index
Honest,
accurate information without scare tactics or judgment,
with
real stories from REAL big moms
[This website last updated: June
2007]
About This Website
ALL NEW!!
- 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?
Fertility Concerns
- Infertility and
Obesity - A link to Fertilityplus.org, an excellent website on infertility concerns,
especially as it relates to plus-sized women. Email support groups
available for larger women with fertility issues, those who are pregnant,
and those who have kids
- 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 NEWLY UPDATED
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
NEW UPDATE COMING SOON
- The Risks of Plus-Size Pregnancy: A Summary - COMING
SOON
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 doctors vs. midwives, and how to hire 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
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! New Update Coming Soon
- 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 index page of multiple articles with detailed information 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 larger 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. NEW
UPDATE COMING SOON
-
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!
NEWLY UPDATED
Plus-Size Maternity
and Nursing Clothing FAQs
- Plus Size Maternity and Nursing Clothing FAQs - (Updated
1x per year) Last Updated August 2006
Possible
Pregnancy Complications
- Baby
Malpositions: Implications for Birth - Babies that are head-down but
subtly malpositioned 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 that position, signs that indicate a
possible malpositioned baby, techniques for helping a baby resolve its
position, etc. If you had an especially 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
all the way, be sure to read this important FAQ.
- All About
Gestational Diabetes - Link to index page of articles about GD,
covering questions like 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 and links
"Alternative/Complementary" Medicine in
Pregnancy
- How To Find a Chiropractor
for Pregnancy or Children - Shortcut to finding a chiropractor that
specializes in treating pregnant women, babies, and children. Links to
various chiropractic organizations and explanations of their diplomate
programs.
- Chiropractic Care in
Pregnancy - COMING
SOON Purpose of chiropractic care in
pregnancy, controversies, safety concerns, how to find a chiropractor who
specializes in pregnancy, and links to many articles about chiro care in
pregnancy
- The Safety of Chiropractic
Care in Pregnancy - Guest column from a chiro about the safety of
chiropractic care in pregnancy
- Craniosacral Therapy -
Coming Soon Information about Craniosacral
Therapy for breastfeeding issues and other newborn issues
- Acupuncture for Childbearing - COMING
SOON Information about the use of acupuncture for fertility
issues, for morning sickness, for various pregnancy discomforts, for labor
and birth, and for the post-partum period
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
January 2007!!
Breastfeeding FAQs
- Nursing When Well-Endowed FAQ
- Hints for helping well-endowed women
breastfeed more easily. NEW
UPDATE SOON
- 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
- Craniosacral Therapy - Coming
Soon Information about Craniosacral Therapy for breastfeeding
issues and other newborn issues
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 NEW
- Baby
Carriers for Big Moms - There are many different types of baby
carriers, and many of them are not very size-friendly. This FAQ
explains the different types of baby carriers that can be used, evaluates
their size-friendliness, and links to companies that sell
them. NEWLY UPDATED
Cesareans and VBACs
- C-Sections and Vaginal Birth After
Cesarean (VBAC)
- Cesareans - Why do large women have higher rates of
c-sections? How can I lower my risk for a c/s? What is involved in a c/s,
especially for a larger woman? How can I minimize my risk for
complications if a c/s becomes necessary? If I have a c/s, how can I make it the best possible
birth
experience? Extensive information about cesareans
- VBACs - What are the risks/benefits of Elective Repeat C-Section
vs. Vaginal Birth After
Cesarean? If I have a c/s, how can I make it more
birth-friendly? If I choose VBAC, how can I maximize my chances
and get a more birth-friendly experience?
What VBAC books should I read? Is VBAC after 2 or more cesareans
possible? Extensive information about VBACs, and VBAC birth stories
too
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 2007, including How
To Find a Chiropractor for Pregnancy or Children, and Newest
VBAMC Research.
RECENT -
New articles were added in January 2007, including Dealing With
"Baby Blues"---And Worse (guest columnist), About This
Website, What is Size Acceptance, Avoiding
Surgery: Lowering The Cesarean Rate in Big Moms, and The Safety of Chiropractic in
Pregnancy (guest columnist).
In addition, a new section on Prenatal Testing Issues
was added within the last few years, with new FAQs on Amniocentesis. Also
included in this section are updated FAQs on Ultrasound
Safety and Accuracy, Ultrasound
Testing and Big Moms, and Prenatal
Testing: GD Testing Summary.
NEWLY UPDATED!
- Items marked with this have been
recently updated (as of 2007), including BBW Birth Stories, VBAMC Stories,
BBW Adoption Stories, and The Maternity and Nursing Clothing FAQs.
COMING SOON! -
Items marked with this are pending projects,
Kmom's family permitting. These include A BBW Pregnancy Photo Gallery,
Craniosacral Therapy, Acupuncture for Pregnancy, and The Risks of Plus-Size Pregnancy.
For more details on
these and other FAQs in development, click here.
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 © 1996-2007 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@plus-size-pregnancy.org