All About Pregnancy & Birth
Dr. Nicole C. Rankins
You'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 over 20 years and has helped nearly 2000 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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Top 10 All About Pregnancy & Birth Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best All About Pregnancy & Birth episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to All About Pregnancy & Birth for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite All About Pregnancy & Birth episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Ep73: Why We Need Better Preparation for the Postpartum Period with Dr. Christine Sterling OB-GYN
All About Pregnancy & Birth
06/23/20 • 53 min
In this episode I chat with a fellow OB-GYN, Dr. Christine Sterling, about why it is so important to prepare parents for the postpartum period.
After her own difficult postpartum experiences following the birth of her first baby, Dr. Sterling decided to make it her mission to educate parents about the postpartum period, including warning signs to watch out for, how to advocate for your mental health, and how to handle strains on your partnership.
We talk about all of that and a lot more in this episode!
Check out ncrcoaching.com/episode73 for complete show notes, and join my email list at ncrcoaching.com/email-signup/!
Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
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Ep 275: What EVERYONE Who’s Pregnant Needs To Know About The NICU with Mary Farrelly, RN
All About Pregnancy & Birth
10/08/24 • 55 min
This episode may be about the NICU but it’s for any and every person who’s having a baby. The reason I say that is because it’s actually way more common than you think that a baby needs to receive intensive care. Nearly 40% of babies who go to the NICU are full-term.
As a mom of two NICU babies, let me tell you: it’s the NICU nurses who are at your side. NICU nurses are angels and today’s guest is one! Mary Farrelly, a certified NICU nurse and trained doula, is leading the way in helping parents navigate the NICU journey. You know I always say it’s important to listen to real experts - and today’s guest is exactly that!
In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:
- What NICU stands for and what the levels are
- Why babies go to the NICU
- What NICU nurses do and what training is required
- How to include the NICU in your birth plan
- Why blending NICU nurse and doula roles benefits families
- Which procedures are commonly used in the NICU
- What emotional support looks like for families post-NICU
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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode275
Check out The Birth Preparation Course
Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Ep 241: Managing Mental Health during Pregnancy and Postpartum with Psychiatrist Dr. Stephanie Waggel
All About Pregnancy & Birth
01/16/24 • 55 min
Pregnant women and people who need psychiatric medication are uniquely underserved. There’s a big knowledge gap and it’s not just the general public. Med school doesn’t teach much about mental health medication and pregnancy. Fortunately, today’s guest is here to share information and dispel myths!
Dr. Stephanie Waggel is a psychiatrist certified in perinatal mental health, specifically, advanced studies in perinatal psychopharmacology (medication for pregnant people). She’s one of very few experts in her specialty so she’s working overtime to spread the word. If you need pharmaceuticals, there’s a good chance you can do so safely. Tune in and learn how to explore your options with your doctor.
In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:
- Why Dr. Waggel uses the term “perinatal mood & anxiety disorders” (PMADs)
- What makes prescribers err on the side of a no-medication approach
- How common it is to suffer from PMADs
- When it’s the baby blues and when it’s time to seek help
- Why Dr. Stephanie encourages people to participate in medical studies
- How therapy factors into her treatment plans
- How medication can interact with breastfeeding
- When it’s time to restart medication postpartum
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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode241
Check out The Birth Preparation Course
Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Ep 207: Beauty from the Inside Out with Personal Stylist Anetra Byrd
All About Pregnancy & Birth
05/09/23 • 42 min
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.
In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:
- 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
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Ep51: Preparing for Postpartum Life, Relationships, and Mental Health with Dr. Alyssa Berlin
All About Pregnancy & Birth
01/14/20 • 56 min
So many parents prepare a lot for their pregnancy and birth, but don't think much about how they are going to handle the postpartum transition period. Health professionals are guilty of this, too. We don't do enough to prepare parents for all the changes they are going to experience after their baby arrives: mentally, emotionally, physically, and in their relationships.
Here to talk with us today about easing that transition into parenthood is Dr. Alyssa Berlin. Dr. Berlin is a clinical psychologist who specializes in pregnancy, the postpartum period, and birth trauma. She and her husband Dr. Elliot Berlin (who was on the podcast a few episodes ago) run a prenatal and family wellness practice in Los Angeles.
In this episode we're focusing on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) that can affect new parents. Dr. Berlin and I talk about what to look out for, why PMADs are so common, and how we can help each other and ourselves through the postpartum transition.
Dr. Berlin shares tons of practical tips for staying connected with your partner throughout this process, how to find help if you need it, and why she is such a big believer in preparing for all the changes you're going to experience.
In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:
- What perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are, who they affect, and what some of their symptoms are.
- What you should do if you think you're having trouble with mood or anxiety after your baby arrives
- How Dr. Berlin treats parents with PMADs and helps them reconnect with each other
- Why we need to draw on the resources around us - family, friends, professionals, and partners - when we're having a hard time in the postpartum transition period
- The importance of preparing for the postpartum period and the many changes it will bring
- Why therapy can be an especially great tool for dealing with the traumas that can be triggered or occur during the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods
- How to put your relationship with your partner front and center and why this is ultimately great for your baby, too
Links Mentioned In The Episode
- How To Make A Birth Plan That Works - Free Online Class!
- The Birth Preparation Course
- Dr. Alyssa Berlin | The AfterBirth Plan Workshop | Instagram
- Ep #44: How Prenatal Chiropractic Can Ease Common Pregnancy Pain with Dr. Elliot Berlin
- Maternal Mental Health NOW
- Postpartum Support International
- International Cesarean Awareness Network
- And Baby Makes Three: The 6-step plan for preserving intimacy and rekindling romance after baby arrives by Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman
- Join my email list here!
Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Ep 240: Kelsey’s Birth Story - A Quick and Surprising VBAC
All About Pregnancy & Birth
01/09/24 • 47 min
Kelsey had a cesarean for her first birth and when she got pregnant with her second baby VBAC wasn’t exactly on her radar. After discussing it with her doctor, her hope was to either have a medicated vaginal birth or a c-section but, of course, neither of those happened. The delivery went so quickly that, even though she was “screaming bloody murder,” it was too late for her to get pain meds.
A lot of people hope for a quick labor and birth but that can have its drawbacks, too. For Kelsey, she wishes it would’ve gone more slowly so she could have been more present and remembered her experience. Instead she came away feeling like it was all a blur. As frustrating as that was, it’s an important reminder that a VBAC is possible and if you want to try for it, you should tell your doctor!
In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:
- Why her first birth ended in cesarean
- Why she moved to another state alone at 34 weeks pregnant
- How she prepared for the c-section she was expecting
- Why she thought it would be fine to drive herself 50 minutes to the hospital while having contractions
- How close to fully dilated she was at the first check
- What her experience with pain was like
- How her medical team approached changing positions
- How quickly her pushing went from start to finish
- Why it took a while for her to process her birth experience
- How her VBAC recovery compared to her c-section recovery
- What granulation tissue is and how her doctor helped get rid of it
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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode240
Check out The Birth Preparation Course
Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Introducing The All About Pregnancy & Birth Podcast
All About Pregnancy & Birth
12/20/18 • 1 min
Introducing the All About Pregnancy and Birth podcast! This is the place to be to get comprehensive, evidence-based, holistic information to help you have your best pregnancy and birth. Hosted by Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, a board certified ob/gyn physician and certified integrative health coach. The first episodes premiere January 8th!
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Ep 246: Caitlin’s Birth Story - Having a Baby with Cleft Lip and Palate
All About Pregnancy & Birth
02/20/24 • 44 min
Today Caitlin is here to share her story of having a baby with a cleft lip and palate. Usually, we talk mostly about the birth in birth story episodes of the podcast, but this episode is a little different. Caitlin reached out because despite it being relatively common, she noticed that I’d never touched upon cleft lip and palate on the podcast before and she wanted to share her experience and help others.
So what is cleft lip and palate? They are congenital conditions that occur during fetal development. An incomplete closure of the lip and/or palate (the roof of the mouth) results in a gap or opening in the affected areas. We don't know exactly what causes cleft lip and palate but fortunately it can usually be treated with surgery. Caitlin shares everything from how she found out (the way the doctor delivered the news was terrible) to the surgeries her baby girl had after birth. I’m so excited to finally be discussing this topic!
In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:
- How she found out about the cleft lip/palate - it was terrible
- How she felt after receiving the news
- What she did to prepare for a baby with these challenges
- Which kind of cleft condition her baby had
- Why she pumped instead of breastfed
- How she predicted that she was going to have a big baby
- How many surgeries her baby has had
--
Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode246
Check out The Birth Preparation Course
Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Ep 250: Breastfeeding Advice From Board Certified Breastfeeding Medicine Specialist Dr. Andrea Wadley
All About Pregnancy & Birth
03/19/24 • 48 min
This week’s guest is Dr. Andrea Wadley. She is board certified in both pediatrics AND breastfeeding medicine. In fact she’s one of only 100 physicians in the country who is board certified in breastfeeding medicine. With all of the unreliable information out there, it’s so important to seek out authorities like her.
It would be great if your doctor was an expert in breastfeeding but the fact is, whether it’s your OB/GYN or pediatrician, that’s rarely the case. That’s where you’re going to have to take some initiative. Educate yourself, seek out a lactation consultant, and of course listen to this episode with Dr. Wadley! Even if you can’t visit her in person, you can find all kinds of resources and ways to connect with her through the links below!
In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:
- What makes Dr. Wadley’s model of care unique
- Which factors can affect milk production
- What to expect with breastfeeding in the first 24 hours
- What is colostrum and how much is normal to produce
- When to consider using formula
- What the average timeline is for milk coming in
- Why having a proper latch is crucial
- Whether you should try hand expression
--
Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode250
Check out The Birth Preparation Course
Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way
If you love All About Pregnancy & Birth, please support it here!
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Ep 272: Nicole’s Birth Story - An Empowering VBAC Followed By a Five-Week NICU Stay
All About Pregnancy & Birth
09/10/24 • 49 min
Nicole (yes, another Nicole!) is here to share her empowering story of a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) followed by a challenging postpartum. Because she was intentional about her care team, she set herself up for success in the ways that she was able to control.
However, nobody could control the liver issues her daughter would experience after birth. It took four hospital transfers and a five-week stay in the NICU before her baby was stable enough to come home. While Nicole’s birth story had a different ending than she expected, she took on the challenges with incredible strength and patience.
In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:
- Why Nicole needed a C-section with her first baby
- How she set herself up for a successful VBAC
- How her doula brought the whole birthing team together
- Why it was worth the effort for Nicole to find the right doctor
- How long she labored and pushed after induction
- When medical staff realized that baby’s health problems required a hospital transfer
- Why her daughter required so many hospital transfers and how far she was taken for care
- How long she spent in the NICU
- How the community around Nicole and her family supported her through this difficult time
--
Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode272
Check out The Birth Preparation Course
Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way
Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Get 25% off your first month of Ritual's Fertility Support for a limited time at ritual.com/DRNICOLE!
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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FAQ
How many episodes does All About Pregnancy & Birth have?
All About Pregnancy & Birth currently has 355 episodes available.
What topics does All About Pregnancy & Birth cover?
The podcast is about Parenting, Kids & Family and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on All About Pregnancy & Birth?
The episode title 'Ep73: Why We Need Better Preparation for the Postpartum Period with Dr. Christine Sterling OB-GYN' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on All About Pregnancy & Birth?
The average episode length on All About Pregnancy & Birth is 42 minutes.
How often are episodes of All About Pregnancy & Birth released?
Episodes of All About Pregnancy & Birth are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of All About Pregnancy & Birth?
The first episode of All About Pregnancy & Birth was released on Dec 20, 2018.
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