16 | Margie - Bariatric Surgery, Gestational Diabetes, Induction, Emergency C-Section, Mental Health

16 | Margie - Bariatric Surgery, Gestational Diabetes, Induction, Emergency C-Section, Mental Health

In this episode of Bigger Than Birth, host Victoria Gaba interviews Margie, a clinical mental health therapist, who shares her journey through pregnancy and childbirth after weight loss surgery. After a gastric sleeve procedure in April 2022, Margie met her husband, and they married in June 2023. Despite common stigmas surrounding plus-size fertility, she became pregnant just three months later. Because she conceived within the two-year post-surgery window, her pregnancy was classified as high-risk, requiring specialized care at Stanford Children’s Health. During her first trimester, Margie managed intense nausea with specific safe foods while her team monitored her nutrient absorption. To avoid dumping syndrome—a severe reaction to rapid sugar intake common after gastric sleeve surgery—she used continuous finger-prick monitoring instead of the traditional glucose drink. As her pregnancy progressed, she faced unique medical hurdles, including a borderline placenta previa, a severe case of pneumonia at 28 weeks that left her with a persistent cough, and a rare umbilical vein dilation at 34 weeks that required bi-weekly growth scans. Though Margie mentally prepared for a C-section due to predictions of a large baby, her doctor cleared her for a voluntary induction at 39 weeks. The process proved exhausting, starting with hospital capacity delays and sudden drops in her blood sugar. Once admitted, she used a Foley balloon to assist with dilation. As an individual in substance recovery, Margie chose to manage early labor pain without narcotics, relying on breathing techniques. After progressing to six centimeters, she received an epidural, but the labor took a sudden turn when the baby's heart rate repeatedly decelerated, prompting an emergency transfer to the operating room. The delivery brought an unexpected twist when the baby's head temporarily became stuck during the emergency C-section. Margie experienced a brief panic attack before hearing her son Harrison cry, born healthy with long eyelashes and large feet. Harrison latched successfully right in the operating room while the surgical team completed the procedure and performed precautionary X-rays to ensure no instruments were left behind. Postpartum life presented physical and emotional challenges, as Margie's recovery was complicated by her lingering pneumonia cough, making healing from abdominal surgery painful. Throughout her journey, she worked closely with her care team to safely manage her ADHD, anxiety, and OCD medications. Margie concludes the episode by highlighting online support communities, such as Facebook groups for pregnancy after weight loss surgery, as vital resources for her transition into motherhood. Connect With Us: * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@biggerthanbirthpodcast] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biggerthanbirthpodcast/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587444280945] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BiggerThanBirthPodcast] If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe! Your support helps us reach more plus-size women and share the stories that matter. Medical Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider regarding your specific pregnancy and health needs.

15 | MaRiahh - Infertility, 2 Vaginal Births, Sobriety, Fetal Reduction, Twins, Breech Delivery

In this episode of Bigger Than Birth, Victoria Gaba sits down with MaRiahh to discuss her complex journeys through infertility, sobriety, and plus-size pregnancy. After a PCOS diagnosis and two years of fertility treatments—including Letrozole, Gonal-F, and IUI—Mariah achieved sobriety just months before conceiving her first son. She shares her experience with severe morning sickness, plus-size body shifts, and an intense 51-hour labor that transitioned from a home birth plan to a hospital transfer. MaRiahh also openly addresses the emotional realities of a low breast milk supply linked to her hormonal disorders. Her path changed drastically during her second pregnancy when fertility medications led to a triplet conception. Mariah shares a rare, transparent look at her family's decision to undergo a selective fetal reduction at 13 weeks to safely carry twins, detailing how her BMI impacted the physical procedure and the emotional gravity of that choice. When her water broke spontaneously at 36 weeks and five days, she navigated a high-risk delivery with breech twins. Standing her ground against immense clinical pressure for a C-section, MaRiahh chronicles giving birth to twins vaginally, including a manual breech extraction for baby B. She concludes with insights on their brief NICU stays, securing donor breast milk, and using Domperidone to support her milk supply. This episode is a powerful blueprint for mothers seeking bodily autonomy, informed consent, and control over their healthcare choices. See more from MaRiahh on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@stopsignbandit?_r=1&_t=ZP-978QwHVqfBX]and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/stopsignbandit?igsh=MTRidDNxbTdpMDUwZg==]@StopSignBandit Resources Mentioned: * Plus Size Birth [https://www.instagram.com/plussizebirth?igsh=NDBtN2ZnMjh2ZGp4] * Breech Without Borders [https://www.breechwithoutborders.org] * Badass Mother Birther [https://www.instagram.com/badassmotherbirther?igsh=MWVwbjl3aXptdjYwbA==] Connect With Us: * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@biggerthanbirthpodcast] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biggerthanbirthpodcast/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587444280945] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BiggerThanBirthPodcast] If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe! Your support helps us reach more plus-size women and share the stories that matter. Medical Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider regarding your specific pregnancy and health needs.

14 | Melissa - Infertility, 2 Vaginal Deliveries, Hospital BMI Restriction, Induction, Amnioinfusion

In this episode, Victoria Gaba sits down with Melissa to unpack her deeply inspiring and contrasting experiences with infertility, foster care adoption, and plus-size pregnancy. After enduring four years of unexplained infertility, failed IUI cycles, and the heartbreak of back-to-back ectopic pregnancies, Melissa shares the immense shock of conceiving her first biological child completely naturally. She opens up about navigating a maternal healthcare system that immediately labeled her high-risk based purely on her BMI, forcing her to transition to a specialty hospital over an hour away for labor and delivery. Melissa walks listeners through the clinical realities of her first high-risk induction at 38 weeks, detailing the intense discomfort of a Foley balloon, an unexpected birth-day diagnosis of preeclampsia, and the terrifying moment her newborn son was rushed to the NICU with low Apgar scores. Her path took an entirely different turn with her second pregnancy, which occurred unexpectedly within just one cycle of an IUD removal. Facing gestational hypertension while chasing a toddler during a record-breaking summer heatwave, her second induction moved at lightning speed. Melissa highlights the profound importance of maternal self-advocacy, recalling how she successfully demanded proactive pain management and navigated the panic of sudden fetal heart rate decels that required an emergency amnioinfusion to relieve cord pressure. From the overwhelming quiet of an empty delivery room to a profoundly healing golden hour with her daughter, Melissa shares an unfiltered look into her choice to pursue exclusive pumping for over a year.  Shutting out the toxic algorithms of internet doom-scrolling, this conversation is an essential resource for mothers looking for real, relatable insight into navigating medical bias, handling induction curveballs, and celebrating the unpredictable rhythms of birth. Connect With Us: * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@biggerthanbirthpodcast] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biggerthanbirthpodcast/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587444280945] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BiggerThanBirthPodcast] If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe! Your support helps us reach more plus-size women and share the stories that matter. Medical Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider regarding your specific pregnancy and health needs.

13 | Maddie - First Pregnancy at 16, Vaginal Delivery, Twins, Pre-Eclampsia, C-Section, NICU, PPD

In this episode, host Victoria Gaba sits down with Maddie to discuss her remarkable journey through two vastly different pregnancy and birth experiences, beginning with Maddie's unexpected transition into motherhood at just sixteen years old. Despite a PCOS diagnosis that suggested future fertility hurdles, Maddie’s early experience as a teen parent set the stage for a learning advocacy and grit, ultimately leading her to a high-risk plus-size pregnancy with Di-Di twins years later. This second journey brought a new set of medical complexities, from the initial shock of discovering multiples during a routine ultrasound to the daily management of diet-controlled gestational diabetes. As her pregnancy progressed, Maddie navigated the physical and emotional weight of being a plus-size mother, confronting societal stigmas and medical biases while her body worked overtime to carry two babies toward a safe delivery. The narrative takes a critical turn as Maddie describes the sudden onset of severe preeclampsia symptoms—including vision spots, chronic migraines, and significant swelling—which necessitated an immediate hospital admission and a traumatic emergency C-section. She offers a raw, unfiltered look at the grueling realities of a magnesium drip and the physical toll of a spinal block that required seven attempts before successful placement. Once her twins arrived at thirty-four weeks, the family began a month-long NICU journey characterized by the use of CPAPs, NG tubes, and the delicate balance of "touch time" and "scent cloth" bonding. Maddie concludes the episode with a transparent discussion on postpartum depression (PPD) and the unique challenges of parenting multiples alongside a seven-year-old, all while managing the external pressures and commentary often directed at plus-size women during their postpartum recovery. Resources Mentioned: Hand to Hold NICU Support [https://handtohold.org/] Episode 6 | Sydney’s Story [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1k8p6RdDcHT8efpnWH1ppI?si=182ce4a9218542df] Connect With Us: * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@biggerthanbirthpodcast] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biggerthanbirthpodcast/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587444280945] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BiggerThanBirthPodcast] If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe! Your support helps us reach more plus-size women and share the stories that matter. Medical Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider regarding your specific pregnancy and health needs.

12 | Cera - Midwifery Care, Anterior Placenta, Induction, Vaginal Delivery, Triple Feeding

In this episode, host Victoria Gaba sits down with first-time mom Cera to unpack the raw and empowering reality of navigating a plus-size pregnancy and a successful vaginal birth after induction. Cera shares her journey from the surprise of a quick conception after thirteen years on birth control to the nuances of receiving "high-risk" prenatal care due to her BMI. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the importance of self-advocacy in the delivery room, explaining how she navigated medical weight stigma, opted for midwifery care, and managed gestational hypertension with a proactive medical team. The heart of the episode dives into the details of Cera’s 37-week induction, where she discusses the physical hurdles of the Foley balloon, the decision to use an epidural to help her body relax and dilate, and the "fireworks" moment of finally meeting her daughter. Cera also pulls back the curtain on the postpartum fourth trimester, offering a vulnerable look at the mental health toll of low milk supply and the grueling cycle of triple feeding. By sharing her transition to formula and her firm belief that fed is best, Cera provides a supportive roadmap for any parent feeling the pressure of "perfect" breastfeeding.  Whether you are interested in the mechanics of an anterior placenta, looking for tips on managing morning sickness, or seeking a boost of confidence for your own plus-size birth story, this episode is a testament to the fact that our bodies are capable, resilient, and worthy of compassionate care. Resources Mentioned: The Heavyweight Midwife [https://www.tiktok.com/@theheavyweightmidwife?_r=1&_t=ZP-96WzZIXgNX4] Connect With Us: * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@biggerthanbirthpodcast] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/biggerthanbirthpodcast/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587444280945] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BiggerThanBirthPodcast] If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe! Your support helps us reach more plus-size women and share the stories that matter. Medical Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider regarding your specific pregnancy and health needs.