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 d ..read more

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 want ..read more

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 ..read more

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!   In this Episode, You’ll Learn About: -What it means to “pre-register” with ..read more

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 ..read more

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!   In this Episode, You’ll Learn About: -How to be a supporti ..read more

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 ..read more

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 interve ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more