Welcome to our dedicated space for those on the path to becoming or advancing as size-friendly birth professionals.
What is a size-friendly birth professional?
A size-friendly birth professional provides inclusive and non-judgmental maternity support, focusing on the needs of individuals in larger bodies.
Are You a Size-Friendly Maternity Professional?
Take this quick quiz to assess your approach to size-inclusive care. In just a few minutes, you'll gain insights into your strengths and discover areas for growth—because every parent deserves size-inclusive support
Size-friendly or size-inclusive birth professionals are maternity care providers and birth workers dedicated to creating a respectful, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment for individuals of all body sizes.
They continually strive to recognize and overcome any size biases, ensuring their work remains free from judgment and prejudice.
Size-friendly birth professionals are knowledgeable in addressing the unique physical and emotional needs of individuals with a BMI above 30, tailoring their evidence-based care plans, using appropriate equipment, and providing personalized advice to optimize health outcomes and experiences for those they support.
Their holistic and sensitive approach reflects a deep commitment to providing high-quality, respectful maternity support for every individual, regardless of size.
Resources for Size-Friendly Birth Professionals
Below, you'll find helpful Plus Size Birth articles, insightful podcast interviews, and further resources to bolster your journey.
Plus Size Birth
With millions of visitors and over a decade worth of content, Plus Size Birth is the leading plus size pregnancy website. Here you'll find resources for plus size pregnancy, a guide to plus size maternity clothes, birth stories, week-by-week plus size pregnancy breakdown, and so much more!
In our blog, you'll find helpful articles like 5 Steps To Becoming The Size-Friendly Midwife Someone Really Needs.
We also offer the My Plus Size Pregnancy Guide and audiobook cover everything a person wants to know about having a plus size pregnancy.
Be sure to connect via social media on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. And if you're interested in consulting on how to be a size-friendly professional, learn more.
Size-Inclusive Maternity Training
Introducing “Size-Friendly Birth“: a premier course for birth professionals committed to advocating for size-inclusive support brought to you by Plus Size Birth.
Elevate your professional practice with insights and strategies that have a tangible impact.
This comprehensive course is designed to:
- Gain a deep understanding of the distinct needs of individuals in larger bodies.
- Identify and actively dismantle weight bias within your work.
- Refine your communication skills to ensure every interaction is respectful and supportive.
- Apply practical, evidence-based strategies to enhance size-inclusivity and accommodation within your practice.
And that's just the beginning.
Accredited by leading institutions, this course not only expands your expertise but also empowers you to significantly contribute to positive outcomes in the lives of those you serve.
Are you ready to lead with change? Enroll today!
Plus Mommy Podcast
The Plus Mommy Podcast, hosted by Jen McLellan founder of Plus Size Birth, explores topics around plus size pregnancy and parenthood. Some of the most memorable episodes are with size-friendly birth professionals sharing their expertise. We're highlighting three below!
You can listen to all episodes via your favorite podcast app from Apple Podcast to Spotify.
Size-Friendly Birth Professional Podcast Episodes
- How Research is Revealing Fat Shaming in Maternity Care, hear from researchers Dr. Erin D. Basinger and Dr. Margaret Quinlan (episode 201).
- Fat Black Pregnant – Fiona’s Powerful Story And Fight For Change, an unforgettable episode with a Black woman hoping to see a change in the maternity system (episode 185).
- Pregnancy Ultrasounds – 7 Things To Know During A Plus Size Pregnancy, with an ultrasound technician (episode 165)
- How To Navigate A Broken System with Dr. Christine Sterling, OBGYN, with Dr. Sterling, OBGYN (episode 162)
- Why We Need To Be Talking About Weight Stigma In Maternity Care with Dr. Neel Shah, MD, MPP, FACOG (episode 133).
- Powerful Conversation About Plus Size Pregnancy With An OB-GYN with Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins (episode 121).
- A Promising Look At The Evidence Behind Plus Size Pregnancy Risks with Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN (episode 70).
- A Labor And Delivery Nurse Talks About Failing Plus Size Moms with a labor and delivery nurse who chose to be anonymous so she could be brutally honest (episode 51).
Pregnancy For Everybody
In 2019, the National Child And Maternal Health Educational Program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Pregnancy For Everybody initiative.
Plus Size Birth is listed as a resource, and Jen was honored to have collaborated with NIH on this needed project.
The Pregnancy For Everybody resource standouts by sharing evidence-based information in an empowering way.
ACOG's Obesity In Pregnancy Frequently Asked Questions is also a valuable resource. However, it contains language some may find triggering and focuses heavily on increased risks and weight loss.
Advantage Midwifery is another evidence-based resource with a lot of helpful information, including educational videos. It also comes with a warning for language and focuses on weight.