Lauren DMed me on Instagram and asked me to talk about CMV and pregnancy so here it is!

In this short episode you'll learn

• What is CMV
• How it’s transmitted
• How it can impact pregnancy
• How it’s diagnosed
• How it can be prevented or treated

If you have a question you want me to answer in an upcoming episode, shoot me a DM on Instagram @drnicolerankins!

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Ginny had an elective labor induction that went so smoothly she calls it a “dream.” But that doesn’t mean that everything about her pregnancy experience was easy. Multiple people in her personal life experienced birth-related complications while Ginny was pregnant including stillbirth. This caused Ginny a lot of anxiety. Also, she struggled with depression - both during pregnancy and postpartum.

Learn how Ginny was able to successfully navigate these challenges in this great episode!

• Why Ginny scheduled an induction
• What subchorionic hemorrhaging means
• How she initially felt about induction
• How she made her hospital room feel like home
• Which induction medications and pain management she received
• How the epidural made her feel
• What made her so happy with her birthing team
• How work helped Ginny find herself after pregnancy

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode270

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the RIGHT Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

If you like the way I approach pregnancy and birth then you’re going to love this conversation with pediatrician Dr. Joel Warsh. He has a really balanced, common-sense approach to pediatrics that blends modern medicine with non-Western elements.

In addition to pregnancy and parenting advice, he recommends small changes you can make today that will impact your health in the future. We have a great conversation about wellness and I know you’re going to learn a lot of practical tips!

• Why Dr. Warsh transitioned away from traditional pediatrics to integrative medicine
• What integrative medicine and integrative parenting refer to
• How the U.S. medical system falls short
• Why we should apply a balanced approach to traditional and modern medicine
• How integrative parenting can help with common infant challenges
• What constitutes a non-toxic home
• Why we should shift more focus to preventative care
• Who makes a good candidate for home birth

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode266

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

In this episode you’re going to learn 11 must-know tips to have the best pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. As you know, I’ve delivered thousands of babies and I’ll be the first to tell you that you can’t predict how any birth will go. The only predictable thing about birth is that it’s unpredictable.  

BUT….you can absolutely be ready for that unpredictability! I’ve put together a list of tips that everyone having a baby can benefit from. Whether it’s your first or your last, whether you’re giving birth in the hospital, a birth center or at home, whether you have a midwife or a physician, this advice will be super helpful to you!

-What making the most of your prenatal care looks like

-Why it’s essential to attend all of your prenatal checkups

-What a support system is and how to build one

-Why you need a birth partner who you can communicate with

What are some ways you can bond with your baby (even before they’re born!)

-Why you need to understand that SELF CARE ISN’T SELFISH

-How to manage the inevitable stress that will come with pregnancy, birth, and parenthood

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode215

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Donate your umbilical cord blood and help save lives! thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

A challenging pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean a difficult birth. Jade had an awful nine months. She experienced nausea, severe pelvic pain, and adverse reactions to medication. Her hope was to have an unmedicated birth but as she struggled with her pregnancy she wondered if she would be able to get through her delivery without assistance.

Well, Jade not only had her baby without medication but the birth almost moved too quickly. She barely made it to the bed! There’s so much to learn from her story and you’re going to love the way she tells it.

• How Jade prepared both her mind and her body for birth
• Why she chose to work with midwives for this birth
• What medication actually cured her persistent nausea
• …and how that medication wound up putting her in the hospital
• What pica is and what causes it
• How chiropractic care helped her with pain

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode214

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

**This episode is sponsored by The Lactation Network, the largest network of accredited breastfeeding experts in the country. Visit tln.care/AAPB to learn more and schedule your own insurance-covered consultation today!

I always say that breastfeeding is a labor of love. It’s rewarding but it can also be extremely challenging. Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s going to come naturally. That’s where education comes in. Although first-hand experience is valuable, you need someone with expertise and training, someone like today’s guest.

Kelly Kendall is a Nurse and IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). She is also the founder of The Balanced Boob, an educational resource and support community for breastfeeding families. I’ve been in maternity care for a long time and she even taught me some new things so I know you’re going to learn a lot from this episode!

-What it takes to become an international board certified lactation consultant

-How COVID forced Kelly to pivot to becoming an online educator

-What hand expression is and why it is a helpful technique to learn

-Whether or not pain in breastfeeding is an inevitability

-How common it is to have trouble with latching and breastfeeding in general

-How to handle clogs and mastitis

-How often and how much you should be feeding your newborn

-What some tips and products are that can prevent and treat nipple pain

-What are some causes and solutions to under and over supply

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode213

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

**This episode is sponsored by The Lactation Network, the largest network of accredited breastfeeding experts in the country. Visit tln.care/AAPB to learn more and schedule your own insurance-covered consultation today!

Today you’re getting a special sneak peek inside the Birth Preparation Course! If you’ve been listening for a while, you’ve heard me talk about it. For those who don’t know, it’s my signature online childbirth education class designed to get you calm, confident, and empowered to have the beautiful birth experience you deserve.

In this episode, I’ll be going through the lesson on exactly what happens during labor, from the moment you get to the hospital until your baby is born. This episode is great in audio but it’s even better in video because you can see the things I demonstrate. Hop on over to the BPC and check it out!

-What happens when you arrive at the hospital

-How common it is to be sent home

-Why it’s helpful to have someone with you who can answer medical history questions on your behalf

-How much more you’ll see your nurse than your doctor

-What it’s like in the labor room

-What vaginal exams are checking for and how frequently they need to be done

-How position changes can help with more than just pain

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode212

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

**This episode is sponsored by The Lactation Network, the largest network of accredited breastfeeding experts in the country. Visit tln.care/AAPB to learn more and schedule your own insurance-covered consultation today!

Monique thought she was going to have a vaginal birth with an epidural. She was scheduled to be induced just after 40 weeks but as it goes with labor, things took a bit of a turn and you’re going to hear about all those twists and turns in today’s birth story episode.

Being a recent transplant from Suriname in South America, she was still adjusting to a strange country when she got pregnant. Going into motherhood away from home meant she had to be extra prepared. She did a ton of research, hired doulas, and asked friends for help. Because of all the work she did to make sure she was supported, she had the beautiful birth she deserved.

-Why Monique was concerned about pregnancy loss from the start 

-What made birth customs in the U.S. different from those in Suriname

-Which resources she used to get very, VERY prepared for her birth

-What preferences she discussed with her doctor ahead of time

-How she made a plan to deal with her low pain tolerance

-How she used doulas intentionally and strategically to ease stress

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode211

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

**This episode is sponsored by The Lactation Network, the largest network of accredited breastfeeding experts in the country. Visit tln.care/AAPB to learn more and schedule your own insurance-covered consultation today!

Dr. Rebecca Dekker is back! You may remember Dr. Rebecca from way, way back in episode 18. Since then, my work and hers have both grown tremendously. If you enjoy what I’m doing here I think you would also enjoy the resources she provides through her organization, Evidence Based Birth.

Today’s conversation is all about the topic she has dedicated so much of her work to: birthing positions. A majority of US births are supine, or on the back. This is what we always see in tv and movies but it’s actually not the ideal, or more importantly, ONLY way to give birth. There isn’t a perfect or best labor position. Instead, what really matters is that you have the freedom and support to move your body and find what works best for you.

• What the classifications are for birthing positions
• What does research show about which positions people opt for if given the choice
• Why most people in the US give birth on their backs
• What makes lithotomy/stirrup birth dangerous
• What evidence says about birth positions with and without an epidural
• How birth seats are used
• How medical culture affects birth outcomes

The umbilical cord is truly your baby’s lifeline. It provides a pathway for the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste. After birth the cord is cut and the fetal circulation ends, leaving behind a small stump. And when that stump falls away it makes the belly button, a permanent reminder of the physical connection between you and your baby.

In this episode you’re going to learn about what potential problems can happen with the umbilical cord including those diagnosed during pregnancy (marginal cord insertion, velamentous cord insertion, vasa previa, 2 vessel cord), and those that can occur during birth (cord compression, cord prolapse, nuchal cord, cord knots). Now, even though I go over a lot of cord-related issues in this episode, the chances of a true emergency are unlikely. I want you to be informed and aware of the potential risks but mostly I want you to come away from this episode feeling amazed and appreciative of what your body can do.

• What the umbilical cord delivers to your baby and how it works
• Which cord-related issues can be diagnosed during routine ultrasound exams
• What cord complications can happen during the course of labor
• What delayed cord clamping is and what the benefits are
• What umbilical cord blood banking means
• What the types of cord blood banking are and which might be right for you
• How different cultures around the world commemorate the umbilical cord

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode209

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

When Candace learned how dangerous it is to be Black and give birth in the US, she started looking for solutions. Using her skills as a professional data scientist, she determined that she would be safest opting for an unmedicated birth at a birthing center.

There, the staff was patient, respectful and communicative. But at 39 weeks, after days of prodromal labor, a hospital transfer was necessary. That’s when her whole experience took a dark turn. 

About 20% of all birth center births will result in a hospital transfer. The most common reason for transfer is pain management. If we do a little back of the napkin math, that means that Candace’s story is incredibly common. That’s just unacceptable. We can and should do better and this episode shows how the simplest efforts can make big impacts.

• Which four factors Candace determined improve outcomes for Black parents
• What respectful medical care looks like
• How Candace discussed racial healthcare disparities with her care team
• Why she decided to switch doctors mid-delivery
• What convinced Candace it was time for a c-section
• How she managed the emotional pain and trauma she felt in the wake of her birth

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode208

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Society has always been so judgmental of what mothers “should” wear during pregnancy. But celebrities like Rihanna and Beyoncé are showing off their baby bellies and still looking sexy, proving maternity doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style.

Personal stylist Anetra Byrd is here for a fun episode about what to wear while your body goes through changes. If you saw the pictures from my women’s empowerment talk with Tracee Ellis Ross, you know how talented Anetra is. She styled me for that event and made me feel confident and true to myself. You deserve to look good during pregnancy, whatever that might look like to you, and Anetra has a lot of great advice on how to be chic and stay comfortable.

• What a personal stylist does
• How Anetra helps clients express themselves authentically
• Why you need support from both your bra and your loved ones 
• What some key pieces are that look cute and aren’t restrictive
• Why you might consider a stylist for a maternity shoot
• Why you may need several sets of clothes throughout your pregnancy and after baby’s arrival
• What a capsule wardrobe is and how it could help simplify your life postpartum

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode207

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

We’re doing a better job of talking about miscarriage but we don’t necessarily talk a lot about ectopic pregnancy loss. As I explain in the episode, an ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. If that happens, it can be life-threatening and requires medical attention.

The emotional impact of an ectopic pregnancy can be the same as a miscarriage. Feelings of sadness, grief, and loss are common. Plus, it’s normal to experience anxiety and fear around your own health as well as what’s going to happen in future pregnancies.

The good news is that most often, an ectopic pregnancy will not affect your fertility. Listen to this episode to learn what warning signs to look out for and how to get the treatment you need. After you’ve received proper care, you should be able to go on to have a healthy baby.

• What ectopic pregnancy is and what causes it
• How common it is to experience
• Whether you can do anything to prevent it
• How doctors can tell the difference between an ectopic and normal pregnancy
• Which treatment option is right for you

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode206

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

In this birth story episode, you’re going to hear what a true emergency cesarean is like. Lillie was induced due to gestational diabetes and preeclampsia at 37 weeks. After 36 hours in labor, just as she was transitioning to push, her baby went into distress and she was rushed to the operating room for an emergency cesarean birth.

Now Lillie felt like this was a pretty scary and traumatic birth but one of the things that really helped her was that she had learned about all possible birthing situations. Knowing what to expect isn't going to prevent trauma but it most certainly can make things easier.

• How long Lillie took to prepare for parenthood once she decided to have a baby
• Which health concerns she had coming into the pregnancy
• Why she specifically sought out a Black woman OB-GYN
• Why she saw a maternal fetal medicine specialist for her pregnancy
• Why pitocin can’t be administered continuously
• How many attempts it took to place the epidural
• How a nurse with conveniently small hands helped dislodge Lillie’s baby from her pelvis

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode265

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

It’s a good thing Chelsea is a lawyer because she had to defend herself all through labor. She did a lot of research and was incredibly prepared for her birth. However, when she asked informed questions her doctors were impatient and annoyed instead of giving her the attention she needed. After her water broke, a doctor literally didn't believe her until she saw the ultrasound to prove it.

As a Black woman, Chelsea’s biggest fear was dying in childbirth. The way her doctors dismissed her concerns is exactly why it is so dangerous to be Black in the maternal healthcare system. Despite being mistreated and nothing going according to plan, she has now gone through counseling and is feeling proud of her birth.

-How she prepared for her birth

-What made her favorite doctor so special

-How she managed several days of contractions at home

-How some of her doctors were dismissive of her concerns

-How long she labored without pain medication before being induced

-What her attitude was towards pain

-How she felt rushed into her c-section by her doctor

-What ultimately convinced Chelsea to opt for a cesarean

-Why it’s important to think about alternatives to your preferred birth

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode205

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

What happens with your newborn in the hospital and at that first doctor's visit after you go home? No really, what happens? Because as an OB/GYN I don’t know. Once mom and baby are separate, the pediatrician takes over! Lol.

Today’s guest, Dr. Obidi, is here to fill us in on all of that. He is a board certified pediatrician and the CEO of Newborn Prep Academy, an online newborn preparation course. There is a lot of great advice in this episode for how to get the most out of your visits with your baby’s doctor. I love, love, love his “confident moms mindset” approach and I know you will too!

• When you should start looking for a pediatrician
• Which tests are done in the hospital for baby and why
• What are some of the most common postnatal tests and treatments
• What some of the intervention options are for treating infant health concerns
• Why you shouldn’t panic if your baby loses weight in the first few days
• When you should bring your baby to the pediatrician
• How pediatricians screen for postpartum depression

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode204

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

This episode covers a very difficult subject but it’s important for EVERYONE to hear. Pregnancy-related deaths are on the rise in the U.S. and Black women/birthing people are dying at more than twice the rate of their white counterparts. As the richest country in the world, we have the resources to do better and it’s honestly embarrassing.

Because it’s Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17), I wanted to focus on racial inequities in care. When controlling for other factors, it comes down to systemic racism. I know race can be hard to talk about but things aren’t going to get better unless we do. We can specifically address disparities that affect Black folks AND we can acknowledge other problems at the same time. It’s not an either/or.

Resolving healthcare inequality starts with listening so please really listen. If you feel moved to help, there’s a lot you can do. What you say, how you vote, and where you put your money makes a difference. Listen till the end and check the website notes linked below for how you can!

• What the differences are between “maternal mortality” and “pregnancy-related death”
• How common maternal death is in the United States
• Which factors contribute to pregnancy-related death
• How risk factors vary by demographic
• What you can do to help reduce maternal disparities
• What “implicit bias” means and how we all have room to grow
• What my top 10 tips are for keeping yourself safe during pregnancy

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode203

Help a Black Mama enroll in The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

You’ll definitely want a box of Kleenex for this episode but spoiler: Charlotte’s baby is doing just fine! A very low risk pregnancy became high-risk almost overnight when an irregular scan revealed a heart problem. This very rare condition meant her baby would be born with a partially-formed sternum and an exposed heart.

Eventually she delivered her daughter via c-section but before that she had to decide whether to proceed with the pregnancy at all. Termination was a viable option and she discussed it with her husband. However, it didn’t feel right. Charlotte is an ardent supporter of a woman’s right to choose and when it came time to make a decision about the path of her own pregnancy, she chose to continue. She has some really wise words for anyone going through the unpredictable parts of pregnancy so you are definitely going to learn something by listening to this powerful episode.

• Why childbirth education is important even for someone who works in maternal and children’s health like Charlotte
• How her care changed after the defect was discovered
• Why she had to make a very quick decision about the best course of action for the pregnancy
• What life circumstances made it possible for her to choose to continue her pregnancy
• What congenital conditions affected her baby and what they mean (even I had to look some of it up!)
• How a therapist and a doula helped Charlotte with her mental wellness
• Why you should make a birth plan even if you aren’t getting the birth you wanted
• What it means to consider “quality of life”

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Full website notes:https://drnicolerankins.com/episode202/

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Aren’t twins so fascinating? Today we have Dr. Nathan (Nate) Fox here to tell us all about them! He’s a maternal fetal medicine specialist, also known as a high-risk pregnancy doctor or a perinatologist, which is an OB/GYN that works with more complex pregnancies. 

The truth is a lot of doctors don’t have much training or experience with twins and as a result, you might not get the level of care you need or have all the birth options open to you. You want doctors on your team who know which screenings/tests to do, how often you should be seen, and what your nutrition should be like (it’s different for twins). You also want doctors who feel confident offering vaginal birth instead of just going straight to cesarean, which happens more than it should. Whether you are pregnant with twins or just want to learn more about twins, this episode is a must listen.

-What it means to be a maternal fetal medicine specialist

-How common it is to have twins

-What some of the risk factors are for having twins

-What distinguishes different kinds of twins from each other

-How the prenatal care for single babies and twins differ

-What the models of care are for twins

-Why you should consider seeing a specialist

-How a high-risk doctor works with other perinatal care providers

-What additional risks come with twin pregnancy

-How perinatologists approach (the almost inevitable) early term twin birth

-How much more important Dr. Fox says weight gain is in twin vs. singleton pregnancy

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode201

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

 Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Sorry, the first file was initially cut off. Here's the full episode. Enjoy!

__________________

Wow! Can you believe it’s been 200 episodes?! Thank you, thank you, thank you for being on this journey with me. If you had asked me a few years ago if I thought I was going to be a podcaster, I probably would’ve said “What’s a podcast?”

I never could’ve imagined having this opportunity to help and serve so many people beyond what I do at the bedside. Whether I realized it or not, I was guided along a path here. Thanks to God, the “Universe,” or whatever it may be, I wound up in the right place to do the most good. Everything fell into place and I’m so grateful to have what I never knew I wanted.

-How my medical school epiphany struck me

-What aspects of medicine I was specifically drawn to

-How I wrestled with parting from a career in academia

-Why it’s important to remember that you can get what you want and not be happy

-How the universe lined up some coincidences that set me on my way to becoming an OB/GYN hospitalist

-What a twisty-turny path it was to go from a health coaching side-hustle to this podcast

-How this show has changed my life

-What’s next…

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode200

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

 Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Wow! Can you believe it’s been 200 episodes?! Thank you, thank you, thank you for being on this journey with me. If you had asked me a few years ago if I thought I was going to be a podcaster, I probably would’ve said “What’s a podcast?”

I never could’ve imagined having this opportunity to help and serve so many people beyond what I do at the bedside. Whether I realized it or not, I was guided along a path here. Thanks to God, the “Universe,” or whatever it may be, I wound up in the right place to do the most good. Everything fell into place and I’m so grateful to have what I never knew I wanted.

-How my medical school epiphany struck me

-What aspects of medicine I was specifically drawn to

-How I wrestled with parting from a career in academia

-Why it’s important to remember that you can get what you want and not be happy

-How the universe lined up some coincidences that set me on my way to becoming an OB/GYN hospitalist

-What a twisty-turny path it was to go from a health coaching side-hustle to this podcast

-How this show has changed my life

-What’s next…

--

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode200

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

 Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

I 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 Haley’s voice when she talks about her birth experience and meeting her baby. Tune in for an interview that will remind you what makes birth beautiful.

-Why I call Haley “textbook” prepared

-How knowledge made her feel empowered in her decisions

-How she and her provider came to a compromise over induction

-How she was able to instinctively tell when labor was starting

-What her husband did to support her every step of the way

-What her nurse did to advocate for Haley’s needs

-Why her sister encouraged her to go to the ER four days after giving birth

-How pelvic floor therapy helped her postpartum

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode199

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

 Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

So 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 knowledge with you today!

-What it means to “pre-register” with the hospital and how it can make your birth easier

-Why it’s a good idea to visit the hospital and find labor and delivery ahead of time

-What “GBS” refers to and why your GBS status is important

-What to bring for while you’re in labor

-What to bring for after your baby is born

-What to bring for going home

-What not to bring

-What your partner should bring

-Why it doesn't matter what you look like "down there"

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode198

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Continuing 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 services that can help them. Her own experience inspired her to create a solution: something streamlined, easy to use, and affordable - she’s even working to make it FREE!

I want you to know that I am not being compensated for this episode. I think Canopie is doing great work and I just love to bring you all information about tools that may be helpful in your pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.

-How prevalent perinatal issues are

-How screening tools are deficient

-What the financial and societal impacts are of maternal mental health issues

-What types of preventions are shown to be effective

-What the Canopie app is and who it works for

-How shame and stigma stop some people from seeking mental health care

-What research has been done to evaluate the effectiveness of the app

-How Canopie interfaces with traditional mental health services

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode197

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

July is Fibroid Awareness Month, so today I’m re-airing an episode on what happens when you have fibroids during pregnancy. I’ve actually gotten quite a few questions about this, more than I expected, and the questions indicate that there’s a lot of uncertainty and misunderstandings about this topic.

In this rebroadcast episode, you’ll learn what fibroids are, the risk factors and symptoms associated with fibroids, how fibroids are managed during pregnancy, how fibroids affect mom and baby during pregnancy, and also the impact of having myomectomy (fibroid removal) before pregnancy. Let's get into the episode on uterine fibroids and the impact they have on pregnancy!

--

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode103

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the RIGHT Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

This 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 to enjoy it and find it really helpful!

-How to be a supportive and attentive teammate through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum

-Why it’s important to look at parenthood as “teamwork,” as opposed to “women’s work”

-How to handle people who challenge a more progressive approach to fatherhood / being a stay at home dad

-What inspired David to write his book

-How to use code words to ask for or offer support during pregnancy

-What kinds of obstacles are being created by covid

-Why hiring a doula can be helpful for both partners during birth

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode101

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

In 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 of 1,000. And homicidal behavior is uncommon among those with the diagnosis. Psychosis is a disturbance in an individual's perception of reality which can manifest in the form of delusions and hallucinations among other symptoms.

This is what Marielis experienced after giving birth. Once she realized something was wrong, she did everything right: listened to her intuition, communicated that she felt off, sought help early, and followed through on her medication and therapy plan. Today she is doing well and wants to spread awareness in hopes of preventing future tragedies.

-What psychosis felt like for Marielis

-What the early signs were that something was wrong

-How her condition made her feel about her baby

-Why being a woman of color made her hesitant to seek care

-How her family supported her during her mental health crisis

-How Marielis’s psychosis was treated

-What risk factors increase the likelihood of postpartum psychosis

-When postpartum psychosis presents after birth

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode196

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

This 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 your birth will go. A different hospital might have pushed for a c-section instead of waiting for interventions to work. Induction can be long!! Hers was Tuesday to Thursday. You have to be patient with the process and fortunately her care team was.

I love how one of the doctors in the practice asked if she had birth wishes. This is how it should be done. Fortunately Claudia came prepared with a birth plan she’d made the right way (using The Birth Preparation Course) and went over it with her team before she went into labor. If she hadn’t done that she may not have gotten the outcome she did.

This story goes so many places and I know you’re going to learn a lot from Claudia's experience.

-How Claudia and her partner got pregnant without any treatment right after visiting an infertility specialist

-How her experience as a physician influenced her expectations of birth

-How she felt about giving birth in the military overall

-Why she and her care team opted for induction

-Which pain management option she liked and which one she hated

-When and why her team decided to implement different interventions to move her labor along

-How she felt when her doctor said they needed to consider a c-section after she’d been trying for vaginal for so long

-How well she recovered after a 3rd degree tear by immediately requesting pelvic floor physical therapy

-How her baby’s latching issues were resolved

-What she wished she’d have known about the postpartum “baby blues”

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode195

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Today’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 than one trusted source. We come from different backgrounds, different experiences, and we bring that to our work. It can also be reassuring to hear the same thing from multiple experts. Different people present information in different ways and you may just find that one educator’s style works for you better than another.

-What exactly does a labor and delivery (L&D) nurse do during labor and birth

-What are some misconceptions about L&D nurses

-How L&D nurses work with doulas, doctors, and midwives

-What should you expect from your L&D nurse

-What you should do if you are not happy with your L&D nurse

-What are some tricks and tips that Liesel has learned from her career

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode194

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

I 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 be a little bit gruesome - I give a warning in the episode before going into anything graphic so you can skip ahead. Overall you are going to enjoy it and hopefully you find these stories funny or relatable.

-What makes it impossible for the hospital to prepare your epidural before you arrive

-Why all kinds of reactions to the arrival of your baby are ok

-Why certain items absolutely should not be inserted into a vagina!

-Why you should think about how your actions affect can others in a public space

-How even I, after 20 years in practice, am not able to predict how quickly a birth might progress

-Why faster is not necessarily better when it comes to labor

-Why we need to monitor placenta previa so carefully

-How we medical providers could be more sensitive to our patients feelings

-What a notarized birth plan is and what it means (or honestly doesn’t mean)

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode193

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

This 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.

-What age Tes and her partner were when they decided to try and get pregnant

-Whether she conceived with or without IVF

-How the onset of the pandemic affected her pregnancy plans

-How she managed pregnancy loss

-Why Tes looked at being a patient of “advanced maternal age” as a good thing

-What made her care team so special

-How her pain management affected her birth

-Why she was rushed to an emergency procedure after her daughter was born

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode192

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

This 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. The short story is that, unlike most prenatals, these supplements are made specifically for each individual person based on their unique needs or dietary preferences. I love the idea of things being more personalized and less one size fits all; I think that’s the future of where supplements and healthcare overall are headed.

Please know that I have no financial interest here. They are no longer sponsoring the podcast - I just want to share things with you that I think are important and useful.

-Why we recommend prenatal vitamins

-When you should start taking them

-What the difference is between folic acid and methylfolate

-What role supplements should serve in pregnancy nutrition

-How prenatals can be deficient

-Why individualized care is important

-How Doreen’s personal experience with pregnancy and birth inspired her to start Ellement

-How the cost of Ellement stacks up against other prenatals or mixing and matching vitamins

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode191

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

I’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 myself and I’m going to share that information with you today.

-How normal physiologic birth is defined

-Which factors disrupt physiologic childbirth

-What are the benefits of normal physiologic birth

-Whether any one position should be mandated or prescribed

-What are the factors that influence physiologic birth

-Why it’s vital for your medical team to support your wishes

-What makes it necessary to intervene

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode190

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Welcome 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 today I want to do a listener shoutout to YOU, to every single person who is listening to me right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you do to listen, support, and share the podcast. It just means the world to me. I love getting messages saying that you appreciate the show and what it has done for you, for your pregnancy, and for your birth experience. It truly warms my heart and keeps me going during the times when this work gets challenging.

I hope you enjoy this episode and as always, don’t forget that you deserve a beautiful pregnancy and birth.

-Episode 154: Karrah’s Birth Story - Easy Pregnancy, Difficult Birth

-Episode 145: Crystal’s Birth Story - Laughing Through the Pain

-Episode 148: Taylor’s Birth Story - Easy Births Do Happen

-Episode 152: Fitness and Pregnancy with 9Round Exercise Specialist MacKenzie Rowand

-Episode 158: How to Prepare for Postpartum with Nicole Makowka of LOOM

-Episode 146: What Your Genetics Can Tell You with Genetic Counselor Ushta Davar Canteenwalla

-Episode 147: Let’s Talk About Due Dates

-Episode 160: 9 Tips for an Unmedicated (Often Referred to as “Natural”) Birth

-Episode 153: Breech Birth - Updated!

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode189

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Krysti’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.

-What mosaic Turner’s syndrome is and what it means for pregnancy

-What made Krysti feel like she might be going into labor

-What her attitude was towards pain management

-How giving birth outside of a birthing room affected her experience

-What her pain experience was like having a sunny side up birth

-How she struggled to adjust to her new body after giving birth

-What kinds of unexpected consequences came along with overproducing milk

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode188

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Dr. Ream describes first-time parenthood as an experience that rocked her world. When she found herself crying and screaming because her baby wouldn’t fall asleep, she knew she needed to seek help. Of course, she had heard of postpartum anxiety and depression but postpartum rage was something she hadn’t been prepared for.

When she went looking for support and didn’t turn up much, she decided to solve the problem herself. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who completed additional training to specialize in perinatal mental health. After that, she went on to found Psyched Mommy, the largest social media platform focusing on perinatal mental health. Postpartum rage and anger isn't something that we talk about enough –or even at all– so I'm really excited that we are diving into this important topic today!

• What defines postpartum rage
• How it relates to postpartum depression
• What makes some people more susceptible
• How shame can prevent parents from seeking help
• What the cycle of anger is
• How sleep fits into the equation
• Why it’s important to look at anger as a “check engine light”
• What steps can be taken to address rage

--

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode264

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

If 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 focuses instead on how movement and strength building can help you to have a healthier and happier pregnancy. As your belly grows you will need a stronger back to support it; as your breasts get bigger, you’ll want stronger shoulders to hold them. Connect with your body, learn to listen to it, and give it what it needs. You’re going to learn all kinds of helpful skills for wellness in this episode!

-What made Lara want to become a yoga instructor

-How her approach is different

-How paying attention to the way we move impacts all other areas of our lives

-Why posture is so important

-How a movement practice - whether it’s yoga or not - can make you better equipped to handle pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery

-What types of movement and poses you can do during pregnancy

-How improper posture and a sedentary lifestyle can drain energy

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode187

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

In 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 only indicator of health and that body positivity is important. However, we gotta understand the facts about the effects of obesity because without the facts you don’t have the info you need to have your best pregnancy and birth.

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode186

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Erin 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 whatever you want for your birth. Many doctors would have discouraged Erin’s birth wishes but she sought out a team that was willing to try and make it work. Having agency and being listened to is so important for getting the birth you want and that’s just what happened for Erin. This is a great birth story and I know you’re going to love it as much as I did!

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode185

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

My 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.

We also talk about what parents can do to advocate for themselves and their baby, what kind of emotional support is available for NICU families, and five questions you can ask your care providers weekly so you are on the same page about baby's medical care. 

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode76

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

I’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 fascination with the microbiome actually goes back a long way. When I was a faculty member in academic medicine at the beginning of my career, that’s what I had planned to research. If you don’t know, the microbiome is the collection of microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses) that live in and on us - we actually have at least as many microbes as human cells! Now, the microbiome and how it affects health is an emerging area of study so keep that in mind if you decide to pursue testing. However I really believe that as time goes on we’re only going to learn more and more about its importance.

-Why are gut and vaginal health testing important during pregnancy or even when trying to conceive

-How Cheryl’s own experience lead her to start Tiny Health

-How microbes are passed along to baby

-What factors impact the vaginal and gut microbiome

-What vaginal seeding is and how exactly it’s done

-What the most common microbes are and which ones you want

-How the Tiny Health tests work, the results and reports you get, and some surprising results they’ve found

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode184

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

On 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 questions and shed some light on what labor induction is all about!

-What labor induction is

-Why labor may be induced (you’ll be surprised to hear that there are only 2 reasons)

-When induction is NOT appropriate

-How labor is induced and the efficacy of different methods

-What constitutes a failed induction

-Which questions to ask before being induced

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode183

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Megan 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 pregnancy and birth. Even with the best care staff you’re oftentimes very much on your own. Megan does a great job of exemplifying how to pick up where medical care leaves off by educating herself and asking others in her community for help.

-What made Megan choose to sign up for the birth prep course

-How Megan got proactive with her birth experience

-What it was like for Megan to have PUPPP

-What cholestasis is and how it affected Megan’s pregnancy

-How childbirth education helped Megan to understand vacuum assisted delivery and feel more confident when it came time to make that decision

-How she worked through breastfeeding issues

-When she decided it was time to be done with nursing and how that made her feel

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode182

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Hearing 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 it means that she’s taking what she learned form pharmacology and applying it to holistic hormone healthcare. I love getting to the root cause of issues and her approach is all about treating the cause more than the symptoms.

-Why Heather chose to classify herself as a holistic pharmacist

-What made her decide to focus her work on hormone balance

-Which hormones are most important for fertility and overall health

-How she defines hormone balance / imbalance

-Why she advocates for a combination of traditional and modern medicine

-How hormones are affected by our daily choices

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode181

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

The 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 amazing part of your body and I know you’re going to love learning all about it including what it does, the most common issues that can occur (placenta abruption, placenta previa, placenta accreta) as well as information about consuming the placenta, and lotus birth (where the placenta is left attached to the baby to fall off naturally). 

-What the placenta is and what it does

-What happens when there are concerns with the placenta

-What the most common placental issues are

-What puts you at higher risk

-How common it is to have problems with the placenta

-What makes placenta accreta so dangerous

-Why some parents choose to consume the placenta

-What lotus birth is and whether it provides any benefits

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode180

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Deundria’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 order to do this successfully, she knew she needed childbirth education and she actually chose to take my birth plan class! What she learned helped her to make empowered decisions for herself and you’re going to hear all about that today.

-How the birth plan class helped Deundria spot red flags in her medical care

-What were some of those indicators that her medical team wasn’t a good fit

-What made the midwife prenatal care experience so much better

-How Deundria was treated differently by staff as soon as she received the positive COVID diagnosis

-How the medical team induced labor without pitocin

-How her doula helped her with pain management during birth despite the fact that she wasn’t allowed in the room

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode179

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Erica experienced two miscarriages prior to the birth story we're going to hear today. After over a year and a half of heartbreaking loss, this pregnancy was completely normal - no nausea, no sickness, no pain.

Now at 38 weeks, some symptoms developed that caused her doctor to recommend induction. Erica wanted an unmedicated birth and you’re going to learn all about how she used movement for pain management in this great episode. I felt so inspired by her strength and I know you will too!

• Why Erica’s OB recommended induction
• Which medications were used to induce labor
• Why she felt unhappy with the initial on-call doctor
• How she describes the sensation of her water breaking
• What made her feel better about the new doctor at shift change
• Why the presence of a travel nurse trained as a doula was serendipitous
• Why she opted for a hands-and-knees birthing position

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode263

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

We 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 useful. This episode can hopefully remind you that it’s ok to feel your feelings and reach out to your support system.

-How the challenges of adoption inspired Lindsay to focus her career on preparing parents to have children

-Why it’s important to explore your fears leading up to parenthood

-How establishing strong communication with your partner beforehand can help in coparenting later

-What some specific strategies are for building a sustainable support system

-What are some ideas for things you can ask for when you reach out for help

-What it means to define your family’s mission statement and values

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode178

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

I’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 you’ll have to listen to the episode! The bottom line is that if you want to have a baby in your thirties, forties, or even fifties, you can likely expect positive outcomes!

-How common it is to get pregnant over the age of 35

-Why some people are choosing to delay having children

-How the advancing of age can correlate to higher rates of miscarriage

-How age affects the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities and congenital anomalies

-How preexisting conditions, especially hypertension and diabetes, can affect the chances of these issues

-What the effects are on morbidity and mortality

-How pregnancy care differs according to age

-How age affects rates of induction and c-section

-How children can benefit from being raised by older parents

-Why you should plan for your family’s future if you decide to get pregnant when you are older

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode177

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

This 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.

-How quickly and easily Christina and her husband got pregnant

-What it was like for Christina to be pregnant and working in-person during the height of COVID

-How staying active helped with her pregnancy symptoms

-Why she took an interest in hypnobirthing and what she did to prepare

-How she approached researching and getting ready for an unmedicated birth

-What HELLP syndrome is and how it is managed

-How Christina and her husband’s differing careers facilitate coparenting

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode176

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole