All About Pregnancy & Birth
327 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 588 ratingsYou're not alone in your uncertainty about this monumental life stage of pregnancy and birth. If you’re ready to replace the overwhelm of late-night Googling with expert conversations and stories of strength and positivity from women just like you — join us on the top-rated All About Pregnancy & Birth podcast. The All About Pregnancy & Birth podcast is your place for supportive, evidence-based information from Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, an OB/GYN physician who’s been in practice for nearly 15 years and has helped over 1000 babies into this world. You’ll also learn from innovative experts and hear stories of strength and resilience from parents and moms-to-be experiencing the same overwhelm and excitement as you.
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Episodes
Ep199: Haley’s Birth Story - An Extremely Prepared Mom with an Extremely Fast Labor
March 14, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBI am particularly delighted with Haley’s birth story! She was just about as prepared as you can be. Not only did she do childbirth education (including taking my birth prep course!) but she prepared physically. Before she and her husband even started trying she was taking vitamins, minding her physical fitness, and getting tests at the doctor. In this episode we literally laugh and cry. Her birth was relatively straight-forward. What makes this story so special is the joy you can hear in Ha...
Ep198: Everything You Need to Have in Your Hospital Bag
March 07, 2023 09:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBSo today we’re talking about how to get ready for the hospital, specifically what to pack. Packing your hospital bag can feel stressful and getting ready in advance will give you one less thing to worry about when the time comes. Of course there’s more you can do to prepare for your trip than just packing. I also offer some helpful logistical tips to make navigating your labor and birth easier. As an OB/GYN I’ve seen a lot of what works and what doesn’t and I’d love to share some of that kn...
Ep197: Perinatal Mental Health with Anne Wanlund from Canopie
February 28, 2023 09:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBContinuing on the topic of mental health, this week’s episode is an interview with the CEO and founder of Canopie, Anne Wanlund. Canopie is an app that works in tandem with top perinatal mental health experts to give parents access to clinically-effective therapies. Their mission is to make mental wellness support universal and a standard part of pregnancy and postpartum care. I appreciate the preventative approach of Anne’s work. It helps bridge the gap between those who need care and the ...
[REBROADCAST] Coaching Dads Through the “WTF” Moments of Fatherhood with David Arrell
February 21, 2023 09:00 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBThis week's episode is a rebroadcast because my husband Falcon and I are taking a much needed trip togther with just the two of us. And in the spirit of he and I taking some time together, I chose an episode that you and your partner can listen to together! I interview David Arrell, author of Welcome to Fathrhood: The Modern Man's Guide to Pregnancy, Childirth, and Fatherhood. Grab your partner so you both can take a listen and soak up all the goodness in this episode. I know you are going t...
Ep196: Marielis’s Birth Story - Healing from Postpartum Psychosis
February 14, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBIn this episode we have Marielis sharing her experience with postpartum psychosis. I usually don’t do two birth stories in a row but in light of the Lindsay Clancy case I thought it was important to release this one today. If you haven’t heard about it yet, Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children and is now a paraplegic as a result of a suicide attempt. It is suspected that this was due to postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis is relatively rare, occurring in only 1 to 2 births out...
Ep195: Claudia’s Birth Story - 52 Hours from Induction to Vaginal Birth
February 07, 2023 09:00 - 50 minutes - 46 MBThis is a delightful birth story episode from a fellow physician! Claudia is an orthopedic sports surgeon, currently stationed with the Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska. She gave birth at the same military facility where she works and loved her experience. Even though she went into pregnancy at a (barely) advanced maternal age and with pre-existing borderline hypertension, she was still able to have the vaginal birth she wanted. Being in the “at risk” category doesn’t necessarily predict how ...
Ep 194: Advice from Labor and Delivery Nurse Liesel Teen a.k.a. Mommy Labor Nurse
January 31, 2023 09:00 - 51 minutes - 47 MBToday’s guest, Liesel Teen, BSN, RN, is a labor and delivery nurse and the founder of Mommy Labor Nurse. I have been wanting to have a labor and delivery nurse on for a long time because I know how important they are to the birth experience. We obviously have quite a bit of overlap in what we do but I never want to come in front of you like I’m the only one with information to help you through your pregnancy and birth. Now of course I offer fantastic information but it’s great to have more ...
Ep193: 10 Crazy Things from My Career
January 24, 2023 09:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBI cannot believe I graduated from medical school in 2002! Looking back at my career, a lot of wild things have happened. On this podcast I get to bring you expert advice, education on important topics, and all kinds of birth stories. But for this episode, I thought I’d do something a little more lighthearted and share 10 interesting things from my two-decade career. I will be talking about some of the difficult things that happen in my specialty, as well. Some of these stories are going to ...
Ep192: Tes’s Birth Story - An Empowered First Time Birth For a 40+ Year Old Mom
January 17, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBThis is the first birth story of 2023 and it’s such a wonderful, happy, joyful one. Tes's pregnancy journey included an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and an almost IVF cycle that was halted by Covid shutdowns. At 43 years old she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. I really like how she maintains a positive attitude but is still honest about the hard parts. She’s real about loss, frustration, and pain - and she admits that yes, she did cuss but she never cussed at anyone. In this Episo...
Ep 191: A Personalized Approach to Prenatal Vitamins with Doreen Bloch and Dr. Nathan S. Fox of Ellement
January 10, 2023 09:00 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBThis is the first time I’m having more than one guest on at a time and I’m super excited to have both. Today I’m joined by Doreen Bloch and Dr. Nathan S. Fox. Doreen is the CEO and founder of Ellement, the first personalized prenatal supplement system. And Nathan is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and an advisor at Ellement. Ellement was actually a sponsor of the podcast last year and I invited them to come back because what they’re doing with prenatal supplements is pretty cool...
Ep 190: What Exactly Is Physiologic Birth?
January 03, 2023 17:20 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MBI’m kicking off the new year with a really important episode about physiologic birth. I was inspired to cover this topic by our guest from episode 168, CNM Gianna Fay. She wrote to me asking if I would be willing to cover it and my response was - sure… but how? It’s not a topic that OB/GYNs are taught much if anything about. The term gets used a lot in the online space but it’s not often defined. So I decided to roll up my sleeves and see what information I could find. I learned about it my...
Ep 190: Physiologic Birth
January 03, 2023 17:20 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MBI’m kicking off the new year with a really important episode about physiologic birth. I was inspired to cover this topic by our guest from episode 168, CNM Gianna Fay. She wrote to me asking if I would be willing to cover it and my response was - sure… but how? It’s not a topic that OB/GYNs are taught much if anything about. The term gets used a lot in the online space but it’s not often defined. So I decided to roll up my sleeves and see what information I could find. I learned about it m...
Ep189: Top Episodes of 2022
December 27, 2022 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBWelcome to the last episode of the year! As always I’m incredibly grateful that you are spending some of your time with me today. So in this episode I am sharing the most downloaded episodes of 2022 from each of the main categories of the show: birth stories, expert interviews, and solo episodes. I love producing this podcast because I not only get to share my knowledge with you but I actually get to learn and grow as an OB through these interviews. Now I often do listener shoutouts and tod...
Ep188: Krysti’s Birth Story - The Best Case Scenario
December 20, 2022 09:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBKrysti’s birth was everything she wanted. Due to her mosaic Turner's syndrome, she struggled with infertility. But after only one cycle of IVF she was able to conceive! Her labor progressed very quickly and she had to speak up for herself to convince her care team that she was actually in labor. In fact things moved so fast that she gave birth right in a triage room. It goes to show that we can’t predict what birth will be like, we can only prepare. In this Episode, You’ll Learn About: -W...
Ep187: The Benefits of Yoga During and After Pregnancy with Lara Heimann
December 13, 2022 09:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBIf you’ve listened to me for a while or followed me on Instagram then you may know that I love yoga, so I’m always happy to chat about it on the podcast. Lara Heimann is a yoga instructor, physical therapist, and creator of the LYT Yoga Method. She is a mother of two and has created a special pre/post natal series on her platform to help expecting and new parents build and hold onto energy. You know how I feel about “the snapback.” That’s not what this is about. Lara’s and my discussion foc...
Ep 186: Obesity And Pregnancy - Updated!
December 06, 2022 09:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBIn today’s episode I’m revisiting the subject of how obesity affects pregnancy. Originally, I covered this topic in 2019 but I feel like I missed the mark. It was a bit too negative and, to be honest, I have some weight bias that I’ve been working on. So I want to come back to it today. I know that weight in general can be a sensitive topic but it’s something that we need to discuss because it affects quite a few women during pregnancy. Up top I’d like to acknowledge that size is not the on...
Ep 185: Erin’s Birth Story - Delivering a Big Baby Vaginally After a C-Section
November 29, 2022 09:00 - 49 minutes - 45 MBErin is sharing the amazing story of her successful VBAC. Despite her first birth ending in a cesarean after pushing for 2 hours, she was crystal clear that she wanted to try for a vaginal birth for her next pregnancy. In order to have the best chance of success she took it upon herself to get incredibly prepared, including childbirth education and making different choices in her pregnancy care. You have to find a supportive provider and hospital if you want to try for a VBAC; actually for ...
[REBROADCAST] What You'll Want to Know About Having a Baby in the NICU with Dr. Terri Major-Kincade
November 22, 2022 09:00 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBMy first daughter was born premature and had to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (AKA the NICU or the ICU nursery). This week's episode has all the information I wish I'd known then, and I am so happy to be sharing it with you. Today we're joined by Dr. Terri Major-Kincade, a practicing medical doctor and champion for premature babies and their families. Dr. Terri and I start off talking about what the NICU is three of the main reasons babies are admitted to the ICU nursery....
Ep 184: How Your Microbiome Can Affect Your Baby with CEO and Founder of Tiny Health, Cheryl Sew Hoy
November 15, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBI’m really excited to bring this interview to you today. Our guest, Cheryl Sew Hoy, is CEO & Founder of Tiny Health, a gut microbiome startup that focuses on expecting parents and their babies. I met Cheryl because she reached out to me about being a medical advisor for Tiny Health and I was happy to do so. I do want to be transparent: my role as medical advisor does involve financial compensation but that's not why I agreed to the role or why I wanted to have her on the podcast. My fascina...
Ep 183: Labor Induction - Updated!
November 08, 2022 08:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBOn today’s episode you’re going to learn about labor induction. I covered this topic 3 years ago and there is new information in this updated episode. I get a lot of requests to talk about this and I get why. It’s one of those topics that makes a lot of pregnant people nervous. You may have heard horror stories about induction and pitocin. Plus there’s concern about the cascade of interventions or increasing the risk for c-section - so I get it. And on today’s episode I will answer your ques...
Ep182: Megan’s Birth Story - Knowing Which Questions to Ask Makes SUCH A Huge Difference
November 01, 2022 08:00 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBMegan is here to share her experience of moving cross country during her pregnancy, having to find a new OB, and then needing to be induced at 39 weeks. Although things didn't go exactly as she would have liked she was ultimately very happy with her experience and she says a big part of that was because of the education that she got from being a member of The Birth Preparation Course! We talk a lot in this episode about the shortcomings of the American healthcare system when it comes to pre...
Ep181: Demystifying Hormones with Holistic Pharmacist Heather Rhodes
October 25, 2022 08:00 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBHearing the word “hormones” is a bit like nails on a chalkboard to an OB/GYN. There is so much misinformation out there that it’s hard not to feel skeptical about this topic. However, today’s guest, Dr. Heather Rhodes, takes a balanced, science-based approach to her work that I find really refreshing. Dr. Rhodes is a holistic pharmacist with a passion for women's health. Haven’t heard of a “holistic pharmacist” before? Neither had I! She’ll tell you all about it in the episode - essentially...
Ep180: The Amazing Placenta
October 18, 2022 08:00 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBThe placenta is an incredible organ (that’s right, it’s an organ!). Developing soon after conception, it is your baby’s lifeline to your body - literally. Everything the fetus needs is delivered through the umbilical cord which is connected to the placenta. Nutrients and oxygen are brought in while carbon dioxide and wastes are taken out. Hormones to regulate pregnancy are secreted and your body’s rejection of the fetus is prevented. All of this happens within the placenta. It’s really an a...
Ep179: Deundria’s Birth Story - Prioritizing Childbirth Education for a Successful Unmedicated Birth
October 11, 2022 08:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBDeundria’s birth took a lot of unexpected twists and turns. She went into labor a month early, switched care teams at 34 weeks, and was diagnosed with COVID while in labor! But because she decided to pursue childbirth education during her pregnancy, she was able to roll with the punches. This was her third pregnancy and she knew she wanted something different this time. After negative experiences with epidurals during her first two births, she decided to try for unmedicated this time. In or...
Ep178: Preparing for Parenthood with Lindsay Garrett LCSW
October 04, 2022 08:00 - 46 minutes - 43 MBWe talk a lot on this show about pregnancy and birth (of course!) but we don’t talk as much about what happens after that. That’s where today’s guest, Lindsay C. M. Garrett, LCSW comes in. An expert in the field of adoption, parent preparation, and child welfare, she has spent ten years supporting parents at The Gladney Center for Adoption. Her background may be in adoption but no matter how you choose to approach parenthood she’s got great practical advice that I know everyone can find use...
Ep 177: How Age Affects Pregnancy
September 27, 2022 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47 MBI’ve talked about advanced reproductive age before but I realized I’d never devoted an entire episode to it. After having a lot of requests for this subject, I decided to cover it today. More and more people are opting to delay parenthood. However there seems to be a commonly accepted myth that the minute you turn 35 you can no longer expect to have a healthy baby or a vaginal birth. What defines a healthy age to get pregnant is on a spectrum. It depends on too many factors to list here so ...
Ep176: Christina’s Birth Story - An Uncomplicated Pregnancy That Ended With Severe Preeclampsia and a C-Section
September 20, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBThis is really a great story of managing through a difficult and unexpected birth course. After a completely uneventful and easy pregnancy, around 37 weeks Christina felt like something just wasn’t right so she went to the hospital. She was subsequently diagnosed with something called HELLP syndrome, one of the most severe forms of preeclampsia. After being transferred to another hospital, she ultimately delivered via c-section and you are going to hear all about her experience today. In th...
Ep175: F the Snapback with Endocrinologist and Obesity Medicine Specialist, Dr. Katy Brown
September 13, 2022 08:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBEp 175: F the Snapback with Endocrinologist and Obesity Medicine Specialist, Dr. Katy Brown This episode is being brought to you by Bamboobies. Use the code “ALLABOUT” to get 40% of full price items through Oct 23. Wouldn’t you want to learn about postpartum weight loss from an expert in weight management? Well you are in luck because that’s exactly who we have in today’s episode. Dr. Katy Brown is a board certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist and she is also a new m...
Ep174: What to Do If You Might Have a Big Baby
September 06, 2022 08:00 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MBThis episode is being brought to you by Bamboobies. Use the code “ALLABOUT” to get 40% of full price items through Oct 23. Today we’re talking about what happens if there is a suspicion that your baby is big. I originally did an episode about this back in 2019 but since then I’ve had so many people reach out and ask about this subject that I thought I should revisit it and update it. I think it’s coming up more often because more doctors seem to be doing routine third trimester ultrasounds...
Ep173: Lauren’s Birth Story - Perfect and Traumatic
August 30, 2022 08:00 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBThis episode is being supported by Bamboobies. Check out their amazing reusable nursing pads at bamboobies.com. In this birth story episode, you’ll hear about Lauren and how she got both everything she wanted for her birth AND everything she didn’t want. After a beautiful birth that went smoothly, Lauren experienced a rare obstetric emergency called uterine inversion where the uterus turns inside out after birth. She lost a lot of blood and had to be rushed to the OR. Fortunately the repair...
Ep172: The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation During Pregnancy with Peloton Instructor Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts
August 23, 2022 07:00 - 48 minutes - 44 MBThis episode is being supported by Bamboobies. Check out their amazing reusable nursing pads at bamboobies.com. So y’all I’mma be honest. I was straight fangirling about recording this interview. Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts is an internationally-celebrated Peloton yoga teacher and scholar. I’ve done dozens and dozens of Chelsea’s yoga and meditation classes so it was really special for me to be able to chat with her. She’s currently 30 weeks pregnant and has some really special insight abou...
Ep171: Erica’s Birth Story - Living with Loss
August 16, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBTrigger Warning: this episode involves a full term baby dying 13 days after a home birth. Today’s episode is obviously a difficult subject. I don’t talk much about home birth - if folks want to have a home birth I support that but it is not my lane. However I thought it was important to share this story for a number of reasons. Sometimes the potential complications of home birth are downplayed and although this is a rare thing that happened it’s important to share it. Due to past medi...
Ep 170: Being Rh Negative and Your Baby
August 09, 2022 08:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBIn this episode of the podcast you’re going to learn what it means to be Rh negative and the implications for pregnancy. The short story is that Rh negative has to do with your blood type. If you’re Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive, it can potentially cause problems for the baby. Alloimmunization is what occurs when an RH negative mom's immune system is exposed to the baby’s Rh positive cells. When this happens the mom's immune system may attack the baby's red blood cells. There ar...
[REBROADCAST] Making Sure Your Dog and Your New Baby Get Along Well with Michelle Stern of Pooch Parenting
August 02, 2022 08:00 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBIn honor of our family adopting a new dog, I decided to rebroadcast this episode about making sure your dog and new baby get along! This is a delightful interview with Michelle Stern from Pooch Parenting. Michelle is a mom, certified dog behavior consultant and trainer, and a former teacher of 16 years. She uses positive-reinforcement based methods for training based on the latest science of animal learning and behavior, and she loves helping families create safe, loving and thriving homes ...
Ep169: Meghan’s Birth Story - A Feminine Birthing Experience
July 26, 2022 08:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBThis episode is being brought to you by Ellement prenatal supplements. I talk a lot about how all birth is natural and having a cesarean is no exception. I’ve had two myself, after all. Today’s guest, Meghan, opted for a semi elective gentle cesarean. In this episode she gets into what that looked like for her and why she made the decisions she did. Now, Meghan’s birth story takes place in Texas. During her pregnancy she had a scare with a potential genetic issue. Her story brings into sha...
Ep168: All About Midwifery with Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Gianna Fay
July 19, 2022 08:00 - 52 minutes - 48 MBI have been wanting to have a midwife on the show for a long time. It’s a big topic and I knew I had to get it right. That’s why I’m so thrilled to have Gianna Fay on the show today. Gianna Fay is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC). She has been a part of 600+ births and has worked in a variety of settings including out of hospital birth centers, large hospital teaching facilities, smaller community hospitals and private practice. Throughout her ...
Join Me In The Inner Circle
July 12, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBThis a special episode of the podcast where I’m extending the warmest of warm invitations to my brand new membership All About Pregnancy & Birth: The Inner Circle. This is THE place to get the content, community, and connection you need to help you have the beautiful pregnancy and birth you deserve. It’s evidence-based information taught by yours truly as well as a private supportive community that fosters peace, calm, and ease. The membership is only open for a limited time at a low f...
Ep 167: What Support Looks Like in the Digital Age with Founder and CEO of Poppy Seed Health Simmone Taitt
July 05, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBWarning: this episode contains discussion of pregnancy loss Technology is going to increasingly become part of the way we live and the way that we care for ourselves physically and emotionally; smartphones are here to stay and it’s important to figure out how to use that technology to our advantage. And that’s why I’m so excited to chat with Simmone Taitt. Simmone Taitt is the CEO and Founder of Poppy Seed Health, a telehealth app that offers a unique type of support for pregnant and postp...
[REBROADCAST] Brooke’s Birth Story - An Unmedicated Hospital Birth During COVID19
June 28, 2022 08:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBHey there! I’m still on vacation this week and spending some time with my family so enjoy this rebroadcast birth story episode from Brooke. This is just a really lovely birth story of an unmedicated hospital birth. Now I know you love birth stories because you tell me that those are your favorite episodes. So what if I told you that there will be a way for you to easily listen to all the birth stories? Or all the ones that are vaginal births? Or you can listen to all the birth stories that ...
[REBROADCAST] Hiring A Birth Photographer with Tavia Redburn
June 21, 2022 08:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBHey there! I’m on vacation this week and spending some time with my family so enjoy this rebroadcast episode of the podcast with birth photographer Tavia Redburn. I used to think that birth photography was a bit of a luxury, but the more I learned about it the more I started to think that all parents should consider whether they'd like to have a photographer present for their birth.To talk about all things birth photography, we're joined by the wonderful Tavia Redburn. Tavia is a birth & new...
Ep166: Taryn’s Birth Story - An Emergency Cesarean and a Stay in the NICU
June 14, 2022 08:00 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBIn this episode of the podcast, being brought to you by Ellement prenatal supplements, we have Tarynn sharing her birth story. Tarynn is actually one of the members of The Birth Preparation Course. Things didn’t go exactly as planned with her birth, in fact they went exactly the opposite. Now it would be easy for me to only share birth stories from course students where everything went great but that would be dishonest of me. The reality is that sometimes things don’t go as you’d like, despi...
Ep165: How Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) Contributes to Preterm Birth
June 07, 2022 08:00 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBThis is the 3rd episode in a series about preterm birth. The first episode, 163, was about risk factors for preterm birth. 164 was about preterm labor which accounts for 40-50% of preterm birth. That episode covered what preterm labor is, how to recognize it, and how it’s treated. In this episode you will learn about preterm premature (or prelabor) rupture of membranes (PPROM). Approximately one third of preterm births are associated with PPROM. Prelabor rupture of membranes, or PROM, re...
Ep164: Preterm Labor - What It Means and How to Manage It
June 02, 2022 13:41 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBPreterm labor might not mean what you think it does. You’ll learn all about what it is (and isn’t) in this episode. This is the second in a three part series on preterm birth - you can go back and listen to theprevious episodeif you’d like to hear about some of the risk factors.Now in today’s episode I’m not going to talk about what happens if you have a preterm birth, i.e. the outcomes for baby. Today is only about what happens when you experience preterm labor and how it is treated. Though...
Ep163: Preterm Birth
May 24, 2022 08:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBToday’s episode is one that I’ve had in the works for quite a while. A lot of folks have been asking for it so I’m excited to bring you this episode about preterm birth. I will follow up this one with episodes on the two most common causes of preterm birth so stay tuned for those, as well. Preterm birth is relatively common. There are some physical risk factors that you can't do anything about (like your height!) and there are behavioral factors that you are able to change, some more effect...
Ep 162: Molly’s Birth Story - Why She Wishes She Prepared Differently
May 17, 2022 08:00 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBThis is a difficult birth story episode. Molly experienced an induction before her due date, was denied an epidural at the hospital, and was denied the ability to get up and move around during labor despite having an uncomplicated pregnancy.One of Molly’s regrets is that she took her doctor’s advice to skip birth education and birth planning. Molly felt blindsided by the twists and turns her birth took and wishes that she could have been more informed and confident so she could advocate for ...
Ep161: Connecting with Your Baby Through Song with Music Therapist Vered Benhorin
May 10, 2022 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBThis is a really fun episode about music! I really do wish I had this information when I was pregnant. I know it feels natural for a lot of us to sing to our babies and it turns out there’s a reason for that. As our guest Vered Benhorin explains, there may well be some compelling science behind the benefits of music both before and after birth. A mother of three, Vered knows a thing or two (or three!) about birth and babies. Music was a powerful tool for her in parenthood and was central to...
Ep160: 9 Tips for an Unmedicated (Often Referred to as “Natural”) Birth
May 03, 2022 08:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MBIn today’s episode you’re going to learn 9 tips for having an unmedicated birth. This is an episode I initially did over 3 years ago. From time to time I like to go back and revisit older episodes as new information comes out or I learn new things. So we are revisiting those 9 things with some additional tidbits of advice. Why do I say unmedicated instead of natural? Well, because that’s what it is! It’s giving birth without medication (most often people mean without an epidural). All birth...
Ep159: Sydni’s Birth Story - Rising to the Challenge of Parenthood
April 26, 2022 08:00 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBSydni had her son at 19 and is now 25. Even though Sydni’s story is from a few years ago, there’s still a lot to learn from it. She had her baby a little early at 36 weeks and you’ll hear about how, after a slower start, things went super fast - so fast it shocked her mother and caused her to faint at the hospital! She had her baby at a young age and although it forced her to step up, her partner at the time didn’t necessarily do the same. She also found out that some of her friends weren’t...
Ep158: How to Prepare for Postpartum with Nicole Makowka of LOOM
April 19, 2022 08:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBThe earlier you can start thinking about the postpartum period, the better. Just like all other parts of birth, everyone’s postpartum experience will be different. There are both physical and mood disorders that can affect some people. Oftentimes even experienced care providers can overlook planning for this crucial period and that’s why Nicole Makowka is here today. Nicole is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an expert in early childhood development. She is also the Head of Educa...
Ep 157: Disparities in OB/GYN - What They Are, The Causes, and What You Can Do
April 12, 2022 08:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBThis episode is about racial disparities in ob/gyn and its release coincides with Black maternal health week. Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, BMHW is a week of awareness, activism, and community building intended to deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health in the US. To be honest I’m actually a bit tired of talking about disparities. The problems and root causes are well documented yet things are getting worse. People don’t want to talk about racism o...