There is a universal truth in pregnancy and birth.
"No two labors are the same."
There is also the flip side to that truth: "No two pregnant
bodies are the same." Pregnant women come in all shapes
and sizes. Smaller women can deliver large babies and
larger women can have trouble delivering average sized
babies. It isn’t the shape of the mama, it’s the shape of
the pelvis and how you move it that counts.
As a plus-sized mama myself, I ask that you not judge the
ability or the fitness of a woman to give birth based on
size alone. Supportive care needs to overcome any
pre-conceived notions about women of size and their fitness
and nutrition.
Not supportive:
"You sure got nailed by the stretch marks!"
"Maybe the nausea is nature’s way to get you to lose some
weight!"
"You have got a lot of weight to carry, maybe you’d be more
comfortable in bed."
"Your baby must take after his dad, he’s so lean!"
"Are you sure it’s not twins?"
Please, please, never say something like that to pregnant
woman based on her weight.
As caregivers, it is proper to assess a woman’s health as
part of your work. You can observe a larger woman and note
concern about her nutrition or fitness level. However, try
not to let your first impression interfere with what you
subsequently see or hear from her. She may have excellent
nutrition, she may have recently lost more weight to
improve her health prior to conceiving, she may be very
strong and active, as she carries a larger load every day.
You might secretly suspect that your larger client eats
chips on the couch every night, when, in fact, she has a
balanced diet with lots of veggies and rides her bike to
work. That thin woman you see could well be the couch
potato with sub-standard nutrition.
In pregnancy and in labor, encourage all moms to be active.
Be prepared to support more weight with a larger mom, but
you’ll likely be surprised by her strength. Protect your
back when supporting her and plant your legs in a wide
stance, firmly on the ground. Please don’t ever complain
about how heavy she is to hold, or commiserate with her
partner on the heavy burden you are holding.
Suggest that she bring her own robe and encourage her to
wear it. Hospital gowns are hideous creations, especially
uncomfortable for plus-sized people, who could have their
whole bum hanging out. Whose idea was it to create gowns
so small?
By creating a supportive environment in the labor room,
free of judgement or societal ideas of beauty or fitness,
you help free the birthing mom from any inhibitions about
the beauty of her birthing body. Let her feel supported
and she’ll be free to birth her way without feeling
physically judged.
copyright 2006 Sarah Hilbert-West
Sarah Hilbert-West is a Midwifery Student, Childbirth Educator, Doula and Breastfeeding Counsellor. She is the award winning owner-operator of http://www.birthwares.com, selling many unique birth related items. http://www.birthwares.com IT’S THE SITE FOR YOU!
