Shows
The Heavyweight Midwife PodcastEpisode 28: BMI? BM… Why?? Let’s not reduce health status to a number!!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!
2025-09-2834 minThe Heavyweight Midwife PodcastEpisode 27: ‘Too Fat’ or Too Old’? Which are you? Scapegoating in medicalised childbirthThis 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.
2025-09-1218 minThe Heavyweight Midwife PodcastEpisode 26: Plus Size Epidurals: Your Need-to-KnowsMany 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 si...
2025-09-0327 minThe Heavyweight Midwife PodcastEp 25: How to Have a Plus Size WaterbirthThe 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
2025-08-2639 minThe Heavyweight Midwife PodcastEpisode 24: Going Abroad For IVF with Emma HaslamOn 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 he...
2025-08-2044 min
The Heavyweight Midwife PodcastEpisode 23: The Thing About Doctors…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?
2025-08-1329 minThe Heavyweight Midwife PodcastEpisode 22: An Obstetrician Who Hates The 'High Risk' Label! Florence Wilcox from the ObspodFlorence 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
2025-07-2045 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast21. ‘Our Experience Made Us Feel Heard’: Preparation and Advocacy With Eleanor and DeanEleanor 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 experi...
2025-06-051h 31The Heavyweight Midwife Podcast20. She said to me “Fat people don’t fit slings”: Plus size babywearing with Tully Slings(20+) The Heavyweight Midwife Group | FacebookWhen 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 wo...
2025-05-1135 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast19: ‘Having a Confident Voice is So Important for C Section Parents’ with C-Section UK’s Midwife VicThis 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.
2025-04-2751 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast18. “They thought I didn’t believe I was that weight!” Being gaslit and pushing backRuth 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!
2025-04-1347 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast18. 'No Medical Professional Should Ever Make You Feel That Way': Getting Empowered - Kayleigh's StoryIn this episode Kayleigh shares her story of becoming Sophia's mum. We discuss fertility treatment, scans, communication - the good and the bad, giving feedback to health professionals, maternity photoshoots..... and the importance of checking your pregnancy test result in a well-lit room! Thank you for being so open and sharing your journey Kayleigh. There's so much to learn from your experiences and empowerment!
2025-03-1556 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast17. Understanding Birth Trauma, with Dr Jenny PattersonJenny Patterson is a midwife and lecturer whose research focuses on birth trauma.
2025-03-1051 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast16: 'There Has Never Been a Safer Time Than Now To Have a Baby': Reassurance on Risk & Stillbirth With Dr Tomasina StaceyDr 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!
2025-02-1639 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast15. 'Without Even Saying Hello She Said "Has Anyone Talked To You About Your Weight Yet?"' Leaving U.S. Doctor-Led Care, with MacKenzieIn 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
2024-12-0840 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast14. Normalising Gestational Diabetes… & Getting a Waterbirth Agreed: Katie’s Empowering Birth ExperienceKatie 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 mater...
2024-12-0137 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast13. ‘Binge Eating is Not About You Doing Something ‘Wrong’’: Episode 13 with Jo Moscalu, the Binge Eating DieticianJo 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!!
2024-12-0135 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast11. Getting Empowered & Getting A Plus Size Waterbirth: Gabby’s StoryIn 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...
2024-11-1746 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast12. ‘You Should Not Be Getting a Referral You Did Not Consent To!’ Episode 12 with Fat Positive Fertility’s Nicola SalmonFor 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...
2024-11-1743 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast10. The Five Pillars That Will Empower Your Pregnancy! with Alice, the Heavyweight MidwifeIn 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...
2024-11-1049 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast9. Why ‘High Risk’ Is Such a Problem, with Alice, the Heavyweight MidwifePlus 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!
2024-07-2833 min
The Heavyweight Midwife Podcast8. Everything That Could Go Wrong, Tried To Go Wrong, But I Had a Really Positive Experience’ Personalised Care & Caesarean Birth with MeganMegan’s birth did not go to plan (Arthur was 4 months old when we spoke, thriving and gorgeous!) but she had a positive experience. Her story has learning
and empowerment for you if you are plus size and pregnant, or planning your pregnancy!
If you need info and empowerment, follow the Heavyweight Midwife on Instagram and TikTok and join the Heavyweight Midwife Facebook Group.
@theheavyweightmidwife
2024-07-2153 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast7. ‘I Just Couldn’t Believe That It Would Go Right, Because So Much Had Gone Wrong’ Plus Size IVF Pregnancy with TamarThis week I chatted with Tamar, who was 8 weeks pregnant with her 2nd IVF baby at the time of our interview. Tamar talked about her really positive experiences navigating an anxious pregnancy journey, adjusting to believing that being a mum was actually happening!
If you enjoy the show, please Review and Follow me. It masked a big difference.
If I can help you, find me at linktr.ee/theheavyweightmidwife
2024-07-1445 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast6. “She Said To Me, ‘Honey, In My Country, You Are A Goddess!’” The Difference Supportive Midwives & Doctors Make - With LucyAhhh mamas - the sound is a bit glitchy here and there on this recording, so massive apologies for this!
But the conversation I had with Lucy was really uplifting! And the sound quality doesn’t stop her lovely birth story coming through. There’s lots of learning and empowerment in there!
Thanks so much for sharing your story Lucy!
Please Follow, Rate and Review the Show if Your’e Enjoying It!!
And if you need my support for Pregnancy Empowerment, you can find it at essentials.theheavyweightmidwife.com
2024-07-0728 min
The Heavyweight Midwife Podcast5. ‘Make Yourself A Throne!’ Pregnancy Prep For Successful Breastfeeding with Infant Feeding Specialist Cathy BowkerOn this week’s show I spoke to Cathy Bowker, an Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife, to get you knowledge and tips on pregnancy preparation for successful breastfeeding From the ‘3 Keeps’ to Building Yourself a Throne.
I know many plus size pregnant women worry that breastfeeding will be more difficult for them, and Cathy is full of calm reassurance and practical advice.
Me & Cathy go right back to our midwifery training days - over 20 years - and she’s a very dear friend of mine! So I know she is passionate and an expert on this topic. T...
2024-06-3052 min
The Heavyweight Midwife Podcast4. ‘Within 48 hours I had the Head of Midwifery phone me’. Being Listened To - with SadieOn this week’s episode I am speaking to Sadie about a particular care pathway at her local NHS Trust that has really helped her. Sadie is pregnant with her third baby, and when she felt she was not being listened to by her obstetric consultant about her wishes for birth, her midwife offered to begin a ‘Hear to Listen’ intervention. In this fascinating conversation Sadie tells me what happened next and how she’s feeling now.
Thank you Sadie, for sharing your experiences so openly and hopefully helping others to feel more confident in asking to be heard...
2024-06-2327 min
The Heavyweight Midwife Podcast3. ‘You CAN be in charge of your pregnancy decisions’ with Birth-Ed’s Megan RossiterIn this episode, I talk to the very wonderful Megan Rossiter. Megan is the creator of the Birth-Ed birth preparation method, a holistic and empowering birth prep programme, aimed at putting you in control for pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Megan and I talk about how the ‘cascade of interventions’ can easily start rolling, about how to put yourself in control for your pregnancy and birth, and how to get the information you need from midwives and doctors, rather than giving over the power to them to make your plans for you. She has some simple, effective tips to g...
2024-06-1634 min
The Heavyweight Midwife Podcast2. ‘I Don’t Need to Sit There and Feel Uncomfortable’ Gaining Confidence with @bobalongwithkirsty Kirsty JonesOn this episode of the podcast I met the fabulous Kirsty Jones. Kirsty was nearly 26 weeks pregnant when we recorded our chat, and she told me all about her experiences on her journey to motherhood, something she has wanted for a very long time. Kirsty has focussed on improving her health & wellness holistically, helping her to work on her relationship with food, readying herself for pregnancy and birth, and she has documented this on her amazing, real & often hilarious socials @bobalongwithkirsty and in her Sort Your Sh!t Out podcast, alongside her Personal Trainer & friend @beewallis.
We...
2024-06-0933 minThe Heavyweight Midwife Podcast1. Welcome to The Heavyweight Midwife Podcast!The Heavyweight Midwife Podcast is Here!!
This is a safe space where we chat all things plus size pregnancy empowerment. I’ll always aim for this podcast to be a place where you can feel good, you can learn, get reassurance and empowerment, so your pregnancy and birth are experiences you can be in control of - as this is absolutely key to having positive pregnancy & birth experiences.
On this first episode, I try to reign in my love of talking(!) and explain briefly how The Heavyweight Midwife came about, what my ethos is, and ge...
2024-06-0917 min