Show Notes
What happens when a qualified health professional is left out of public midwifery continuity programs simply because of a number on a scale?
In this episode, we sit down with women’s health physiotherapist and outdoor adventurer Jen Nicholson. When Jen fell pregnant, the public system's rigid BMI cut-off disqualified her from birth centre care. This led her to choose private homebirth care to bypass systemic assumptions that refuse to look at patients as whole individuals.
Jen pulls back the curtain on plus-size pregnancy, revealing the physiological advantages larger bodies hold in birth. She shares her experience navigating five weeks of exhausting prodromal labour and explains how she managed due-date pressure during the 41st week of her pregnancy.
Merging her clinical expertise with a trust in instinct, Jen breaks down how she utilised the "open throat, open vagina" connection and drew on her cross-continental hiking mindset to meet her labour one contraction at a time.
Jen is the Director of Whole Human Therapy and has kindly been a sponsor of the podcast, supporting the voices of Aboriginal birthing families.
Key Takeaways The BMI Fallacy: BMI is an inaccurate standalone metric for birth risk, often gatekeeping healthy, fit individuals from low-risk midwifery programs. Plus-Size Advantages: Research shows larger birthing bodies frequently have lower risks of postpartum haemorrhage, lower tearing rates, and faster labours. Pelvic Floor Surrender: The pelvic floor doesn't push a baby out - it opens to let the baby out. Relaxing into the intensity is key. The Vocal Connection: Clenching your jaw and throat forces the pelvic floor to contract. Low, open vocalisations actively encourage vaginal release. Mastitis Tip: Never aggressively poke or prod a mastitis lump. Treat the breast tissue like a fragile eggshell to avoid driving up inflammation.
Chapters 00:02 — Meet Jen: women's health physio and cross-continental trekker. 04:17 — BMI gatekeeping and navigating rigid public health restrictions. 14:08 — Plus-size pregnancy advantages. 22:01 — Facing weeks of prodromal labour and cutting out the "emotional labour". 38:00 — Jen’s physiotherapy tips for managing labour intensity 45:00 — In-home pelvic health and perinatal care. 55:00 — Reclaiming shared wisdom at community homebirth catch-ups.
Links & Resources Read the Episode Transcript here Dr Sara Wickham: Plus Size Pregnancy and In Your Own Time
Connect with Jen Website: Whole Human Therapy Instagram: @wholehumantherapy
Connect with Claire: Free Homebirth Community Yoga for Homebirth Program Instagram: @yourbrightbeginning
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