Morbidly Obese Woman Learns of Pregnancy Just Before Delivery; “Sizist” comments ensue
Yes we are late on the story but since the woman giving birth didn’t even know she was pregnant we didn’t get any advance warning. Plus our Orange County stringer has been AWOL for months and missed yet another story right under his nose.
We actually learned about it from LA Observed’s coverage of the Orange County Register’s coverage of the incidence and reader reaction in the comments section. Okay, enough back story. Here goes…
The woman below is 39-year-old 420 pound April Branum.
…and here is her story:
April Branum went to her local emergency room Monday night complaining of stomach pain and emerged with the biggest shock of her life. She was pregnant with a full-term fetus.
Doctors, who discovered the baby when they took X-rays of her abdominal area.
Two days later, the first-time mother gave birth by C-section to a healthy, 7-pound, 7-ounce boy.
“Usually you can tell if you’re pregnant, but with me, I couldn’t tell,” the 39-year-old Garden Grove resident said Thursday, pointing to her belly and explaining that, at about 420 pounds, she was so large that no one – including herself – could tell she had carried a baby to term.
The layers of fat padding her belly likely insulated the baby’s movements, said her physician, Dr. Afshan Hameed.
Branum, who lives with her fiancé Walter Edwards II in the Garden Grove house where she grew up, gave up hope years ago of having any children with him. She stopped having a menstrual cycle about two years ago – likely a complication of her obesity – and had grown accustomed to her lifestyle working as a baby sitter of six children.
Meanwhile, she was struggling with an unsuccessful gastric bypass surgery she had about seven years ago. The surgery did not help her lose as much weight as hoped, her doctor said.
The challenges are not over for the couple, who learned they were having a baby less than 48 hours before his birth. Branum had a scant 24 hours to give notice that she would be giving up her baby-sitting job. And little Walter has no nursery, no clothes and no diapers.
A quick read of the much-maligned comments section showed that for just about every negative comment about April or her physique someone else was defending her. On the Internet this is called “dialog”. I’m glad that instead of editing comments the Register left them up and then let the community regulate its behavior.
One reader was so upset over the Register’s lack of comments editing that they reportedly canceled their subscription to the paper. Probably the same person who cancels their Sports Illustrated subscription every time a swim suit issue comes out.
tags: 
April Branum
Update: The discussion continues below in the reader comments. Note that if you comment doesn’t show up right away it’s probably stuck in the spam filter and we’ll fish it out.
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March 13th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Sorry boss. I realize this is another gal for your MILF gallery, I just thought I would wait until I could deliver a good shot of her camel toe.
March 14th, 2007 at 6:01 am
Philippine Entertainment Portal, Philippines - 18 hours ago “Ayokong i-confirm o ano kasi kilala ko naman yung tao. Alam ko na yung mga puwede niyang gawin at alam ko ang mga hindi niya puwedeng gawin,” says Dennis … Morbidly Obese Woman Learns of Pregnancy Just Before Delivery … Yes we are late on the story but since the woman giving birth didn t even know she was pregnant we didn t get any advance warning. Plus our Orange County stringer has been AWOL for months and missed yet another story right under his
March 20th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
For years and years there’s been reports of women not knowing they’re pregnant until right before labor or when they are in labor. It’s nothing new and people shouldn’t be saying bad things about April Branum because she didn’t know she was pregnant. Overweight or not, I am sure he mothering skills will be sufficient for her child.
March 20th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
For years and years there’s been reports of women not knowing they’re pregnant until right before labor or when they are in labor. It’s nothing new and people shouldn’t be saying bad things about April Branum because she didn’t know she was pregnant. Overweight or not, I am sure he mothering skills will be sufficient for her child. I am happy for her.
March 20th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
[…] 2006 Oh man…I will warn you…it’s not prettyhttp://independentsources.com/2007/03/13/obese-pregnant-woman/ […]
March 20th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
The comments about this woman’s size and the condition of her home, as well as the assumption that she will be an unfit mother is just an example of how we as a society have become extremely prejudiced against women who do not fit our idea of physical perfect. We make women into objects and degrade them and it is time as a society to acknowledge that it is we who are at fault for anoerexia, bulumia and two or three generations of women who feel absolutely worthless. I applaud April and Walter for caring about what matters most, their baby, and ignoring other people’s ignorance.
March 20th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Meklorka: Wake up!
Weighing 400 pounds has nothing to do with “beauty ideals”. I’m sure you’re also obese and don’t want to be “discriminated” against, but morbid obesity is a sickness, not a ‘beauty’ issue.
March 21st, 2007 at 4:58 am
[…] t liable for offensive postings.) click here for ———> full story ~ by chokkklitsoul on March 21, 2007. […]
March 21st, 2007 at 7:41 am
Congratulations to April and her fiancee! Her baby is absolutely beautiful! I was almost 3 months pregnant when I found out and I am only 136 pounds. I am sure she was shocked, but believe me when she held her baby in her arms nothing else mattered.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:15 am
Meklorka:
Sounds to me like your the one with the problem. Are you saying its ok for her to be that heavy? Is it ok for a drug addict to use drugs at will? This woman has absolutely nothing to do with “women” it has to do with someone who is sick. Man or woman. This woman is no different than an alcoholic or drug addict. She needs treatment, and it is all so doubtful(in her current condition) as to whether she can maintain a safe and healthy lifestyle for her newborn. Bottomline she needs help for her problem, not a woman’s advocate. This problem doesnt care of your a man or a woman.
March 21st, 2007 at 10:07 am
Well I dont want to leave a mean comment but its a MIRACLE someone this size even got pregnant. My GF is 320LBS & she never gets pregnant. once she had a “spontaneous abortion” when she did get pregnant & she made it all my fault! As for her not knowing she was pregnant when you’re 420lbs you have a huge gutt anyways & gaining or loosing 20lbs wouldnt be noticed anyway. anyway hopefully shes active enough to get up & change the kids diaper. Be nice folks because msnbc.com is running a story talking about how cruel ya’ll are. Also they’re saying you all are remaining anonymous.
March 21st, 2007 at 10:31 am
Why are you guys assuming Meklorka is obese? That’s mean. On the other hand, you are right: 420 is a matter of health, not beauty. April should try to become helathier for her baby, who is so sweet and beautiful.
I do not agree with comments that because she is very big, she won’t be a good mother or able to keep up with the child. The woman is a babysitter for 6 kids, people. That takes guts. I am slim and fit, but I would not be able to handle 6 young kids together.
Good Luck to April and her family!!!
March 21st, 2007 at 10:32 am
Why are you guys assuming Meklorka is obese? That’s mean. On the other hand, you are right: 420 is a matter of health, not beauty. April should try to become healthier for her baby, who is so sweet and beautiful.
I do not agree with comments that because she is very big, she won’t be a good mother or able to keep up with the child. The woman is a babysitter for 6 kids, people. That takes guts. I am slim and fit, but I would not be able to handle 6 young kids together.
Good Luck to April and her family!!!
March 21st, 2007 at 10:34 am
Shame on anybody who insults this woman! April, if you ever read this message, then I say congratulations on your brand new baby! You are truly blessed with a perfect little miracle, and you deserve to have a child as much as any woman! You are fully capable of being a great mother, despite your weight. Millions of women have done it, and so can you… I am confident.
Also, I saw pictures of your home, and it’s perfectly normal for things to look like that when someone is recovering from a c-section. It doesn’t matter if they’re 100 pounds or 400! I have a 2 year-old boy and 7 month-old twin boys. When I was pregnant, I didn’t know they were twins until around 6 months. One of them seemed to be hiding in the previous ultrasounds. Well, we were completely unprepared for two babies, and the c-section that brought them to the world at 36 weeks. I was exhausted and in pain, and my house was a total wreck. Stuff was piled everywhere, and the dishes didn’t get washed often enough. Nobody cared about it, and nobody judged me for it. But I’ll tell you one thing… my children were clean and cared for, which was the most important thing at that time.
Don’t let people get you down! Ignore all of the negative comments you read on the Internet and get on with your life. I wish I could give you a great, big hug and help you through this, no matter how big you are.
March 21st, 2007 at 11:42 am
Good luck to you April. Your son is healthy and beautiful…rejoice!
March 21st, 2007 at 10:04 pm
totally obese mom, alcoholic father… this kid sure has all the advantages - Yo, Brangelia, you don;lt have to go as far as Ho Chin Min (for the majority of americans readin this: that is the name of a city in china, not black abuse) to adopt a needful child.
March 21st, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Don’t you fuck heads have anything better to do than insult a woman who hasn’t a thing to do with you? Congragulations on having a fucking opinion, now shut the fuck up and get on with your meaningless lives….
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:30 am
I had just gotten over miscarriage #1, bled for a couple of weeks and couldn’t tell what day of the cycle it was, and I was so depressed I didn’t care. And both were wanted pregnancies. But thats old news now. I’m worried I may end up like this:
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:09 am
Ok 1st off for shaft_drive that feels the need to insult people that he doesn’t even know..Ho Chi Min City is not in China..it’s in Vietnam. That shows your total lack of knowledge on that subject..followed by your “black abuse” comment. Oh and Angelina and Brad are actually referred to as “Brangelina” Maybe you should actually do some research before you start spouting off and look like the total ignorant fool you do. I say congratulations April and Walter and I wish only the best for you. As for shaft_drive…please research information before you decide to leave your ignorant totally wrong opinion on a public forum.
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:12 am
Being obese has nothing to do with getting pregnant other than the attempt at getting your tiny member inside the woman. Personally I feel that April had no business getting pregnant but that is April and Walters’ business. NOT ours. Unless they are using taxpayer funds to support themselves and the child.