In this episode I pick apart some of the controversies around using the BMI routinely in pregnancy care, and talk about why this one simple number should not cannot be used as a proxy for health. I discuss the problems with the BMI categories and the way in which this leads women to be categorised as ‘high risk’ or ‘low risk’ in pregnancy - never a helpful thing!
This week sees the release of figures confirming caesarean and forceps/ventouse account for over half all births in the UK. Increases in ‘advanced maternal age’ and ‘maternal obesity’ are highlighted as underpinning this trend, adding to the scapegoating of women.
I have some somewhat garbled thoughts in this weeks’ episode.
Many plus size women are recommended to see an anaesthetist during pregnancy, and this appointment will involve discussing epidurals for labour and birth. But what do you need to know if you’re plus size? Is it a good idea to have one? What if you don’t want one? Are there special considerations?
In this episode, Alice goes over the basics of epidurals - what they are, how they work and the things to think about if you’re plus size.
And if you need more info, on epidurals and every other aspect of plus size pregnancy care and birth planning, head to theheavyweightmidwife.com
The journey to a waterbirth can take some navigating if you’re plus size. For most women it’s not just a case of telling your midwife you want one then having one! In this episode I outline some of the evidence (or lack of it!) on plus size waterbirth, take a look at the restrictions and challenges you might face, and give you some practical tips for planning and advocating for your dream birth
On this week’s show, I’m talking to Emma Haslam about all things IVF abroad.
Following her own journey with infertility which led to the birth of her son via IVF abroad Emma Haslam has become the go-to independent expert guide for fertility testing and treatment in Europe. Since 2019 Emma has helped 100s of people globally struggling to conceive to start and grow their families.
Emma has been featured in the national and international media, interviewed and featured in a book and is an advocate, writer and podcaster for the infertility community. Emma was a headline speaker at The Fertility Show in London 2025, and Judge at the European Fertility Care awards in 2024 and 2025.
Emma is on a mission to make fertility testing and treatment globally more transparent, affordable, accessible, safe and supported for more people and she wants to put you firmly back in the driver’s seat of your fertility journey and give you the best chance of reaching your desired destination; growing your family.
LinksWant to learn more about going abroad for fertility treatment? Start with my free training that will tell you everything you need to know.yourivfabroad.co.uk/freemasterclassIVF abroad podcast with Emma:yourivfabroad.co.uk/podcastConnect with Emma on Instagram:www.instagram.com/yourivfabroad.co.uk
If you’re plus size and pregnant, it might mean you’re referred to see a doctor, a consultant obstetrician to be precise. But, if your referral is solely because of your BMI, what is it for? And will you actually see a consultant? What should you expect and how should you prepare? And… is it compulsory to be ‘consultant-led’ for plus size pregnancy?
Florence Wilcox is a UK consultant obstetrician and the host of the brilliantly informative ObsPod podcast.
In this episode I put some commonly asked Heavyweight Midwife Community member questions to Florence and we have a brilliant chat about how women & doctors can best work together to improve pregnancy and birth experiences.
Don't worry alone! If you need my help and expertise, visit theheavyweightmidwife.com
Eleanor and Dean joined me (with baby Hazel) for this detailed and illuminating chat about how to work together and prepare well for advocating for your birth choices.
In this episode, we discuss pregnancy loss as well as Eleanor’s mental health challenges - and we talked about how preparing and working together and with their health professionals led to them having an experience in hospital ‘made us feel heard’.
The sound quality is not the greatest for this episode, but what you can learn about communicating with health professionals and promoting your own positive experiences definitely is!
(20+) The Heavyweight Midwife Group | Facebook
When Samantha first had a baby, she went along to a local sling library and was told that ‘fat people don’t fit slings’. This ignited a fire and passion for her, one that has led to her baby wearing with all of her four children and now consulting and advocating for plus size people to find the right baby carrier for them and to enjoy this practical and uniquely special way to carry and bond with your baby! I absolutely loved chatting to Samantha about her work and I know you’ll enjoy it too if you’re a baby wearer or are currently pregnant and considering it - I’d thoroughly recommend it and Samantha is such an expert!
This week’s guest is Victoria Holyoak. Founder of C-SectionUK, speaker and advocate for c-section education, Midwife Vic has been practicing midwifery for over a decade both nationally and internationally. She sits across a number of advisory boards, as well as working with commercial platforms in an advisory capacity and as a writer.
Ruth was planning her fourth caesarean birth when we recorded this episode. Navigating her care has been challenging for her but she has done it brilliantly, pushing back against the ‘internalised fat-phobia’ she’s encountered along the way. A must-listen for anyone who wants tips on self-advocacy!
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!!
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.
If you enjoy the episode and want to support the show, please follow, rate and review! This work is my passion and you will be helping others to find the show and get my help too.
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 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!
