Ahlia says her GP laughed in her face' when she asked for a water birth and that weight stigma in pregnancy has to stop

"It was not the first time she'd faced assumptions about her and her baby's health based on her body size alone."

"Ahlia has had three healthy pregnancies with normal blood pressure and glucose levels, no pre-existing conditions and a nutritious diet yet she has consistently come up against weight stigma."

"Weight stigma is already more prevalent towards women. Women during preconception, pregnancy and postpartum are particularly vulnerable and weight stigma has been shown to have negative health outcomes for mother and child."

"A study published in the journal Health Psychology Review earlier this year proposes a new model for reducing weight stigma around pregnancy."

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