Fat and Fertile – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Episode Summary

In this episode, I'm answering five of the most common questions I get about fat positive fertility. These questions originally came from a video I recorded for my Ko-Fi Community but they were too good not to share here!

Whether you're curious about navigating fertility in a bigger body, looking for evidence-based insights, or just need some reassurance, this episode is for you. And if you have your own questions, come join me in Substack.

The questions:

• Can I really get pregnant in a bigger body?
• What do I do if my doctor denies me fertility care based on my BMI?
• Can I access fertility treatment in a bigger body if I need it?
• Will losing weight make it easier to get pregnant?
• Is it safe to get pregnant in a bigger body?
• 
  

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant
• Substack

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.

👉 Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Fat and Fertile, I sit down with Michelle, who shares her transformative journey from navigating societal expectations to embracing body positivity. Michelle opens up about the necessity of setting boundaries, particularly in medical scenarios, to safeguard one's well-being. Her insights into finding size-inclusive care and advocating for oneself during fertility treatments are truly empowering. We explore how she shifted from challenging experiences with body image and disordered eating to become an advocate and doula for plus-size individuals, supporting them in having positive pregnancy and birth experiences. I hope her story inspires you to stand firm in your choices and seek supportive healthcare that aligns with your needs.

What to Expect from the Podcast

We dive deep into how to establish care boundaries in healthcare settings, especially for those undergoing fertility treatments. Michelle's stories highlight the significance of finding size-inclusive providers and becoming informed advocates for ourselves. From addressing weight stigma in maternity care to understanding health risks without fear, this episode is a guide for anyone seeking to reclaim their pregnancy and birth experiences with confidence and autonomy.

Highlights:

• Setting Boundaries in Medical Situations
• Navigating Fertility Treatments with Confidence
• Understanding Health Risks in a Supportive Way
• Embracing Body Positivity and Self-Advocacy

Links and Resources

• Michelle's book, Fat and Pregnant
• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant
• Join Nicola on Substack
• Michelle’s Instagram

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.

👉 Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Fat and Fertile, we explore how finding a supportive community can have a positive impact on mental and physical health, especially for folks in bigger bodies who want to get pregnant. I chat about the challenges of finding supportive communities, strategies for finding the right community, and some really great communities that already exist. 

What to Expect from the Podcast

The podcast looks into why a supportive community is crucial for fat individuals navigating fertility.

Highlights

• Why a Supportive Community Matters
• Challenges Fat Folks Face in Finding Community
• Strategies to Find a Supportive Community
• Benefits of Being in a Community

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• Support My Work on Substack
• Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.
• Free Resources for Fat Folks: Access a hub of tools designed to support your fat-positive fertility journey, including guides, checklists, research summaries, and my popular Can I Get Pregnant in a Bigger Body? workshop.
• 👉 Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:

On this episode of Fat and Fertile, we're going to look at why being unsupported has such a huge impact on fat folks and getting pregnant.

I'll share the 4 ways you might be unsupported right now and some ideas to create the support you need.

What to Expect from the Podcast

Nicola looks at reasons fat folk have difficulty getting pregnant and identifies one key reason for you.

Highlights:

• Addressing the Main Reason for Fertility Challenges in Fat Folks
• Societal Unsupportiveness and Thin Ideal
• Healthcare System Barriers
• Impact of Anti-Fat Bias from Friends and Family
• Creating Community and Support Networks
• Conclusion and Invitation to Join Program

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• Instagram
• Support My Work on Substack
• Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.
• Free Resources for Fat Folks: Access a hub of tools designed to support your fat-positive fertility journey, including guides, checklists, research summaries, and my popular Can I Get Pregnant in a Bigger Body? workshop.
• Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Fat and Fertile, we explore the ideas that fertility treatment is more risky and less effective for fat folks.

We dive into where these ideas come from, why they are rooted in anti-fat bias and how you can use the research to advocate for your care.

What to Expect from the Podcast

Looking at anti-fat bias in healthcare, noting that IVF procedures were originally tested on smaller bodies. Addressing safety concerns, particularly around anesthesia risks, citing studies that show no increased risk for those with the highest BMI. Importance of informed consent and advocating for ourselves.

Highlights

• Challenges in Accessing Fertility Treatment for Fat Folks
• Efficacy of IVF for Fat Folks
• Anti-Fat Bias in Healthcare
• Safety Concerns and Anesthesia Risks
• Other Potential Risks and Evidence

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• Instagram
• Support My Work on Substack
• Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.
• Free Resources for Fat Folks: Access a hub of tools designed to support your fat-positive fertility journey, including guides, checklists, research summaries, and my popular Can I Get Pregnant in a Bigger Body? workshop.
• Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary

On this episode of Fat and Fertile, we explore the myth that you don't deserve fertility care or treatment until you've lost weight.

We explore where that belief comes from, what happens when we think that and what we can do instead.

What to Expect from the Podcast

Nicola refutes this belief, emphasising that diets fail because the body's survival mechanisms resist starvation. She shares a client's journey from feeling body hatred and responsibility for infertility to embracing self-worth and seeking medical advice and highlights the importance of recognising one's inherent worth and reproductive rights, as affirmed by the World Health Organisation.

Highlights

• Exploring the Myth of Deserving Care
• Impact of Shame and Body Image
• Changing the Narrative and Embracing Worthiness

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• Instagram
• Support My Work on Substack
• Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.
• Free Resources for Fat Folks: Access a hub of tools designed to support your fat-positive fertility journey, including guides, checklists, research summaries, and my popular Can I Get Pregnant in a Bigger Body? workshop.
• Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary

On this episode of Fat and Fertile, we explore the myth that weight loss and dieting will fix fertility.

We look at three different assumptions that mean that the idea of dieting as a fertility fix persists and the one piece of advice I give all my clients around food.

What to Expect from the Podcast

Dieting is ineffective and harmful, leading to disordered eating and negative impacts on mental health and metabolism. Behavior changes, such as increased physical activity and healthier eating, are more beneficial than weight loss. Nicola also critiques the concept of "fertility diets," highlighting that social determinants of health, like access to care and stress management, are more impactful on fertility than diet alone.

Highlights

• Myths About Dieting and Fertility
• Weight Loss and Its Implications
• The Problem with Fertility Diets
• Social Determinants of Health

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• Support My Work on Substack
• Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.
• Free Resources for Fat Folks: Access a hub of tools designed to support your fat-positive fertility journey, including guides, checklists, research summaries, and my popular Can I Get Pregnant in a Bigger Body? workshop.
• Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary

On this episode of Fat and Fertile, Nicola unpacks common self-limiting beliefs that fat individuals may hold about getting pregnant, challenges the validity of BMI as a health metric, and critiques the discriminatory practices in healthcare that deny fat people the right to fertility treatment. Nicola also shares evidence and insights from research studies debunking the myths surrounding fatness and fertility, while emphasising the importance of self-advocacy and bodily autonomy in healthcare.

Highlights:

• Common internalised beliefs about fatness and pregnancy (e.g., it’s dangerous or irresponsible to get pregnant in a bigger body) and how these beliefs stem from societal stigma and misinformation rather than facts.
• History and flaws of BMI as a health measure and the systemic use of BMI to deny fertility care, especially in public healthcare systems like the NHS.
• Research evidence debunking the validity of excluding fat individuals from fertility treatments based on BMI.
• Weight Stigma in Healthcare and the impact of delayed or denied medical care due to anti-fat bias.
• Highlighting that the so-called ethical dilemma is rooted in societal biases rather than genuine medical risks and the importance of bodily autonomy in decision-making about fertility care.

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• More info on the Fat and Fertile Alliance, Nicola’s community for folks looking for extra support on their fertility journey
• Support My Work on Substack
• Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.
• Free Resources for Fat Folks: Access a hub of tools designed to support your fat-positive fertility journey, including guides, checklists, research summaries, and my popular Can I Get Pregnant in a Bigger Body? workshop.
• Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary

Welcome to the very first episode of Fat and Fertile! Nicola Salmon is here to share her story and talk about why she’s on a mission to help people in bigger bodies navigate fertility without the pressure to diet or change themselves. She opens up about her journey, the impact of PCOS and weight stigma, and what it means to be fat-positive in a healthcare system that isn’t always friendly to bigger bodies.

Highlights:

• Why Nicola ditched dieting and embraced body autonomy
• How her background in science and healthcare shaped her unique approach
• The importance of support and community on the fertility journey

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• More info on the Fat and Fertile Alliance, Nicola’s community for folks looking for extra support on their fertility journey
• Support My Work on Subtack
• Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.
• Free Resources for Fat Folks: Access a hub of tools designed to support your fat-positive fertility journey, including guides, checklists, research summaries, and my popular Can I Get Pregnant in a Bigger Body? workshop.
• 👉 Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Fat and Fertile, I open up about my journey from 2024 into an exciting 2025, sharing both personal and professional highs and lows. From grappling with neurodivergence and finding support to winning a prestigious fertility advocate award, it's been quite the roller-coaster! I hope this episode reassures you that joy and passion can be rediscovered, even amidst challenges, and inspires you to embrace self-discovery and empowerment on your fertility journey.

What to Expect from the Podcast

This episode covers my recent experiences and plans for the future. Dive into understanding how embracing neurodivergence has reshaped my path, the joy I found in cold-water swimming, and a new venture on Ko-fi [since moved into Substack], aimed at fostering a nurturing community away from the constraints of social media.

Highlights:

• Embracing Neurodivergence: ADHD and Autism Insights
• An Award-Winning Year: Best Fertility Advocate 2024
• Launch of my Community: A Supportive Space for Fat Folks
• Plans for Fat and Fertile's Second Edition

Links and Resources

• Nicola’s book, Fat and Fertile
• Fat Person's Guide to Getting Pregnant
• Join Nicola on Substack

Get Involved

Nicola would love to hear from you! If this episode resonates, share your story, ask a question, or leave a review.

Support the Podcast

If you’re enjoying Fat and Fertile, please share this episode on social or leave a review! Every share helps make this info more accessible to everyone who needs it.

Follow Me on Instagram: Join me here for fat-positive fertility tips, updates, and encouragement.

👉 Explore all these resources here and take your first step toward parenthood without stigma or shame. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.