Customer Reviews

Your Plus-Size Pregnancy: The Ultimate Guide for the Full-Figured Expectant Mom

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4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just finished this book, reading it for myself as I am pregnant with my 3rd child. I'm also a doula and childbirth educator, and thought it would be a great time to catch up on some of the newer titles that are available. This is the first one I picked up.

I found some of the information to be helpful - the biggest help to me (as there wasn't really any 'new' information presented) was the resources for maternity clothing for plus size women.

Also helpful was discussion about the supplies you might encounter while in the hospital - how to get a gown that fits, the importance of the correct size blood pressure cuff, abdominal support garments for after a cesarean, tips in dealing with hospital staff, etc.

The things I found least helpful:

* Anecdotes by plus sized moms tend to run on the negative side. "I was afraid this bad thing would happen, but I got through it." "She blamed it on my weight, but I pretended not to hear." The negative stories FAR outweighed (haha, punny) the positive ones and after reading them I would feel discouraged, not supported.

* The medical advice, I have to say, is frighteningly lacking. The bulk of this book is spent telling large moms why they shouldn't feel bad about their weight. There are some truisms but they are lost in the patronizing tone. I felt like I was constantly being reassured that I am not 'less than' because I'm fat. No duh!!!!

* Worst of all... I collected a few tidbits from the book that were absolutely enraging to read as a pregnant woman, and as a doula.

-- More time was spent telling me how much more likely I am to have a cesarean than to tell me how I can best avoid one.
-- Continuous monitoring assures the mother and doctor that all is well. This is not common practice, at least not where I live. Intermittent monitoring in women who are not ill, or on medication that indicates continuous monitoring, is the protocol. Studies have shown that continuous monitoring lead to more cesareans, and NO improvement in outcomes. This means that more women have cesareans for no good reason when continuous monitoring is used. Continuous monitoring also severely limits the mobility of the laboring mother, restricting her largely to bed - therefore making her more likely to have a cesarean for failure to progress. No wonder they spend so much time talking about how likely large moms are to have cesarean births!
-- This is a direct quote from the opening paragraph on cesareans: "If your doctor says the best way to get there (birth) is to have a c-section, then do it happily. No, it's not fun, but it's not unbearable either. It's something you can definitely get through if it means a healthy baby." Every time I read this I wonder if I am reading a book out of the 1950's. Do it happily? Are they serious?
-- They quote (as of 2005) the national cesarean rate to be at 25% and it was much higher in 2005 - closer to 30%.
-- VBAC is discouraged out of hand. The first few paragraphs discussing VBAC report it as more dangerous than repeat cesarean section. Where did they get this data?
-- Balanced information about epidural anesthesia is not offered; it is simply promotional material. After all of the information about the wonders of epidural are presented, they state that 'some' women want to experience unmedicated birth and that it 'is possible!' How encouraging, how empowering! Not.
-- Call me biased but doulas are a common part of the pregnancy and birth experience. Most books that have been written in the last probably 10 years include at least a mention. This book uses comments from a doula but never covers how a doula could be useful to a plus sized mother giving birth, or how postpartum doulas might be useful after a cesarean birth, etc.
-- No discussion at all about water birth, home birth or birthing with midwives.

I did not find this book to be balanced in its presentation of different things like cesareans, medical pain relief, unmedicated birth, or breastfeeding. It was a lot of risks and scary language, and then "but you can try!" sort of tone, when it wasn't "submit to the doctor, they are looking out for you!"

As a large mom, and a pregnant mother, and a birth professional, I just found the overall tone of this book to be condesending and patronizing. I am disappointed because I had high hopes, a book like this is desperately needed.

Brette Sember's "Your Plus-Size Pregnancy" is a bible for plus-size moms-to-be and moms-to-be-again, packed with practical information that speaks to all your pregnancy issues and anxieties. I read through it in one sitting, nodding and smiling all the way through, wishing I had had this book throughout all my pregnancies. I think more of my tears would have been hormone-related and not anxiety-ridden with issues not only of my pregnancies themselves, but of my own self-esteem, body image and relationships. The many women interviewed throughout are quoted in easy-to-read gray boxes that speak like your own private support group that you can refer to day and night. The topics range from accepting your changing body to dealing with the everything from nausea, weight gain, all those aches and pains and yes, sex. Sember takes you through working with your healthcare provider and discusses the test and care involved all the way through to vaginal and c-section births and their care and complications to all the postpartum issues including breastfeeding with huge and many times, painful, breasts, to life after pregnancy as a plus-size mom. She shows the reader, doesn't tell the reader, what to expect with real-life quotes from moms who have "been there and done that."

I've read all the pregnancy books and nothing spoke to me so practically and so plainly as Brette Sember's "Your Plus-Size Pregnancy." I highly recommend it to all size moms AND their husbands. Every home should have this book in their library for personal use or to lend out to friends.

I'm going to recommend Brette Sember's "Your Plus-Size Pregnancy" to moms-to-be who are going through all the issues she covers in this practical, heartfelt book. I was particularly struck by the book's frank comments from plus-sized women on everything from doctors' snide comments to epidurals that don't work. Add Brette's practical advice, and you've got the bible of plus-sized pregnancies.

I just finished reading this book and it was filled with information about many things I was worried about. It completely set my mind at ease and gave me the info I needed. It is so completely thorogh that I don't have much I need to ask my own Dr. I like the fact that the book was written by a plus-size mom and a Dr. I feel like it gave it a really balanced perspective. I do not understand the review that says it is not helpful because I tried to find info myself and couldn't (and frankly I'd rather read something written by a Dr and endorsed by a medical school, like this book, than stuff that anyone can put up on the internet). I finished this book and felt totally supported and understood. I learned so much about how to stay healthy, exercise, how to nurse successfully, what to expect in labor, how to recover from a C-sec if you have one - just so much information that is specifically tailored for larger women. I wanted to know the medical facts and I wanted to know what to do to prevent a C-section since my Dr said lots of plus moms have them. This helped. It also was such a boost for me - it helped me feel good about my body. I feel like so often our society ignores the fact that so many women are bigger than a size 14 and now that I'm pregnant I'm finding that there aren't a lot of maternity clothes in my size. It's nice to have a book that says hey you're plus size and pregnant and that's great.

I am a "plus sized" mom of 5. I am also a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and have been teaching childbirth for almost 10 years.

A lot of this book is fluff. I agree with a previous reviewer that said you could get all this info easily online doing a search - and for free.

The book was terribly negative all the way through.

The section on increased risks with overweight moms was unhelpful and scary - no serious discussion is given to any of the risks - just little snippets of general information. Since these *are* real risks, it would be nice to have a better idea of what they involve.

Then the authors STRONGLY encourage all plus sized moms to get an epidural. Now, the epidural can be a great tool for a mom who wants it, but the author here makes it sound like no plus sized mom can manage unmedicated childbirth and that's not true. [Then, just to make it scary, there is a highly questionable section on how being overweight makes it hard to get a good epidural.]

The section on vaginal birth was in the same vein - very negative and totally unhelpful [nothing constructive was covered at all].

The book is extremely Pro-Cesarean. The definite majority of overweight women can and DO deliver vaginally, but you will never know that reading this book. This section is so pro-Cesarean that she basically encourages moms to ASK for an elective Cesarean [she says "More and more women are requesting elective Cesareans"] rather than even attempt a vaginal birth.

The chapter on breastfeeding is just terrible. It makes it sound like large moms CAN'T breastfeed. It is extremely biased and discouraging. In addition, the author includes quotes from many, many plus sized moms throughout the book and ALL the quotes in the breastfeeding section are very negative - not one positive quote at all! [Many plus sized moms, including myself, have a very positive experience with nursing].

I sure wish that more helpful, less negative, and more complete information had been shared. We really need a good plus size pregnancy book, but this isn't it.

Writer, Brette McWhorter Sember (a plus size mother of two) and Ob-Gyn, Bruce D. Rodgers (a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist), M.D. have teamed up to give pregnant moms (size 14 to supersize) Your Plus-Size Pregnancy which they claim is: your new best friend and primary source for every scrap of vital information you will need to have a spectacular, worry free nine months and a safe, healthy delivery. This statement is a bit of an exaggeration. Further into the introduction it says to read this book as a supplement to your other pregnancy books and I strongly agree. Don't let this be the only pregnancy book you read.

One of the best things about this book has nothing to do with the authors. Scattered throughout are side bars with testimonials from plus size women about their pregnancy and birth experiences both negative and positive although slightly more negative than positive; but still an excellent opportunity to see how plus size women are being treated by medical professionals and could be used as a way to prepare your responses to similar situations.

The most important chapter is "Does My Weight Affect My Pregnancy". It briefly explains pregnancy risks and how to decipher percentages. What's great about this chapter is the section on understanding statistical information from medical studies on weight and pregnancy. It doesn't go into detail on the latest stats but uses an example to explain and most importantly, provide perspective.

It is also laced with moments of descriptive humor making it a light, easy read. There are lots of good nuggets of information like: If your temperature under your arm is more than 101 degrees after exercising then you're getting too hot.

What bothered me most about Your Plus-Size Pregnancy was the focus seemed to be more on emotional well being than pregnancy and that pending moms have low self esteem regarding your body image and weight. If you're happy in your own skin you can skip chapter 8 all together and save it for a down day. Chapters 8, 10, 11 and 13 are all very similar in their message.

It also assumes pending moms have a permanent partner or some other support from family and friends. Single moms are left without assurance. A chapter on pregnancy for single women without support would have been nice.

Some of the plus size links offered in the back were not so plus size or offered a very limited selection for plus size women if anything above size 16.

This should not be your only pregnancy book but it is one pertaining to plus size issues surrounding pregnancy. You will definitely need another pregnancy book for information on the stages of labour and delivery, comfort measures or a glossary of terms. While Your Plus-Size Pregnancy has a few interesting possibilities I would not call it the "ultimate resource". If after you've read all your other pregnancy books you want more, it has been out a few years so you can pick it up pretty cheap.

The 16 Chapters include:

* Loving Who You Are
* Dealing with Your Changing Body
* Working with Your Health Care Provider
* Testing, Testing, 1-2-3: Medical Care and Tests During Pregnancy
* Weighing the Facts: The Truth About Plus-Size Pregnancy Weight Gain
* Staying Healthy
* Does My Weight Affect My Pregnancy
* Feeling Good About Your Body
* Beyond Sacks and Muumuus: Plus Size Maternity Clothes
* Dealing with Self-Esteem and Stress
* Stuff that Holds You Up (Beyond a Good Bra): Finding Support
* Celebrating and Honoring Your Pregnancy
* It's Showtime: Labor and Delivery
* C-sections
* Leaky Watermelons and Sour Milk: Nursing as a Plus Size Mom
* You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet: Life After Birth
Resource Appendix
Reviewed by M. E. Wood.

I recently got pregnant - unexpectedly - and at the top of my list of worries was the fact that as a size 18, I hadn't yet reached the "ideal weight" I was hoping to have attained by the time my husband and I decided to go for it. After reading the other two reviews, I bought this book along with several other pregnancy books. So far it is the only one I have read cover to cover. The author doesn't sugar coat the various complications that can arise for overweight pregnant women, but the focus of the book is feeling good about yourself and your pregnancy and demanding that others, including health care professionals, treat you in a way that enables you to maintain those well-deserved good feelings. The author does a great job putting potential complications in perspective and reminding the reader throughout the book that most of the problems that can arise for a pregnant woman who is overweight are the same problems that can arise for any pregnant woman. The anecdotes by real plus-size moms are blunt and powerful. In particular, the insensitive treatment of some of the women by their healthcare providers or by rude passerbys gave me an opportunity to confront my own potential feelings of shame and embarassment and work through them with the support of my husband. In addition, the sections on "invisible pregnancy" and on sonograms that might not reveal good pictures of the baby were especially helpful and reassuring for me since these were two issues that were stuck in my head even before I was pregnant. Bottom line, this book has set my mind at ease and has reminded me what this journey is really all about - the physical health of my growing baby and I and the emotional health necessary to sustain a pregnancy that I can feel as proud and confident about as any other woman.

I was SO excited to get this book. Finally something out there to speak to me. But once it arrived and I started it, I was completely disappointed. I am pretty hefty and it seems to speak to women two and three times my size. I don't understand. I'm overweight and I was told it would be hard for me to get pregnant, still trying BTW, and this book speaks to women much bigger than me?

Bottom line, if you are very obese then this book may be EXACTLY what you are looking for. If you are only slightly obese then apparently the regular pregnancy books are more in line with what you are looking for.
Good luck.

I was so disappointed with this book that I returned it. It was outdated and uninformative. The most overused recommendation from the book on nearly every topic was to check with your practitioner. Plus size or not, I would recommend "What to Expect When Your Expecting". It is ten times more informative and certainly not just geared toward thin women, as "Your Plus-Size Pregnacy" implies. Don't waste your money.

This was a great book. It had a lot of tips on how a plus size pregancy is different from an average size pregancy. I highly recommend it for first time plus size Mom's to be.