We all know about the unfair stereotypes and stigma that exist in our society, but have you ever thought about---or experienced---what a plus-size woman goes through in pregnancy? The body shaming and unfair assumptions are particularly tough to take. Today\u2019s guest is passionate about changing the stereotypes and offering help to these often unsupported moms.\nJen McLellan is a published author, speaker, and founder of Plus Size Birth, and she now hosts the Plus Mommy podcast. Plus Size Birth is a premier resource for all things plus-size pregnancy, with over four million page views. Jen is passionate about plus-size pregnancy, sharing tips on embracing your body and navigating the bumps along the road of motherhood. Through the Plus Size Mommy podcast and other social media outlets, she seeks to create an environment of acceptance and to end the stigma surrounding plus-size pregnancy with education, support, and a sense of humor. She is a certified childbirth educator, wife, and mother to a charismatic 8 year old. We\u2019re discussing many great topics related to being a plus-size mom, education, and statistics on things we should consider in supporting plus-size moms to have the happy, healthy pregnancies that they deserve.\n\xa0\nShow Highlights:\n\nIn 2010, Jen became pregnant, went online for support, and was horrified at the messages there for plus-size moms\n\nWhy she decided to break the cycle by telling her story and starting a blog\n\nHow she found a community of followers who were hungry for resources that weren\u2019t there\n\nWhy she became a childbirth educator\n\nThe stories of mistreatment for plus-size women, even by their healthcare providers\n\nHow a woman\u2019s mental health is affected by this treatment\n\nThe importance of connecting with a size-friendly care provider\n\nWays to handle weight issues with doctor appointments\n\nStigma about pregnancy and birth for plus-size moms\n\nThe assumptions: that a plus-size pregnancy won\u2019t have a positive outcome, will definitely have gestational diabetes, cannot have a vaginal birth, and will probably smother her baby while breastfeeding\n\nJen\u2019s work: sharing images of plus-size pregnant women, so they see \u201csomeone who looks like me\u201d\n\nThe care that\u2019s available to help plus-size moms with breastfeeding\n\nWhy plus-size women should wear clothes that celebrate pregnancy\n\nWhy plus-size moms don\u2019t take pregnancy photos\xa0\n\nWays to normalize the pregnancy experience for larger bodies\n\nThe importance of connecting with a therapist during the postpartum period\n\nBe mindful of language that might be triggering, like \u201cobese\u201d\n\nWhat you can\u2019t tell about a plus-size woman: what she eats, how much she eats, or how she struggles\n\nWhy we need to come from a place of compassion and not a place of shame\n\nHow Jen was changed forever by a midwife who had compassion and believed in her\n\nThe \u201chealth at any size\u201d approach, and why it\u2019s important\n\nThe need to work through your own personal bias\n\nThe podcast: the topics that are covered with transparency and the hopeful messages that make an impact\n\nHow the Plus Mommy community as grown as people learn that people don\u2019t deserve to be mistreated just because of their size\n\nResources:\nPlus Size Birth:\xa0http://www.plussizebirthcom\nPlus Mommy Podcast:\xa0http://www.plusmommy.com\nSocial Media:\nFacebook:\xa0https://www.facebook.om/plusmommyblog/\nInstagram:\xa0https://www.instagram.com/plusmommy/