In this episode of the Pulling Curls Podcast, Hilary Erickson chats with Dr. Nicole Rankins about birth plans. Dr. Rankins, an OB GYN with over 20 years of experience and host of the All About Pregnancy and Birth podcast, shares invaluable tips on creating effective birth preferences and understanding hospital cultures. Whether you're crafting your birth plan or navigating the intricacies of labor and delivery, this episode is packed with expert insights to help you achieve the birth experience you envision.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Online Prenatal Class for Couples -- if you're looking to get prepared for ALL of birth, it's the class for you!

Today's guest is Dr. Nicole Rankins.

Giving birth in a U.S. hospital can be scary, but it doesn't have to be—especially with Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins in your corner.

Dr. Nicole is a Duke University-trained, board-certified, practicing OB/GYN and mom of two who empowers first-time moms to have the beautiful birth experience they deserve. Over her 20 year career, she's helped more than 1,000 babies into this world, and is a proud HBCU grad (Spelman College & North Carolina A&T State University).

Her popular podcast, All About Pregnancy & Birth, is a top 50 parenting podcast with over 2 million downloads. Here is her website: https://drnicolerankins.com/ Grab her birth plan here: https://drnicolerankins.com/birth-plan/ Find her on Instagram @drnicolerankins

Links for you:

Timestamps:

00:00 Increasingly common in OB GYN for safety, efficiency. 06:00 Ask doctors about birth perspectives and doula views. 06:45 Ask questions about birth approach and doulas. 10:52 Ensure your birth plan aligns with hospital practices. 13:19 Birth plans help streamline initial medical assessments.

Keypoints:

• Introduction of the episode focused on birth plans with guest Dr. Nicole Rankins, an experienced OB GYN and host of the All About Pregnancy and Birth podcast.
• Dr. Nicole Rankins highlights her role as an OB hospitalist in Richmond, Virginia, and the benefits of hospitalists in labor and delivery settings.
• Discussion on the term "birth plan" and why it should be referred to as birth "preferences" due to the unpredictable nature of childbirth.
• Importance of ensuring that birth preferences align with the practices and capabilities of the selected hospital and healthcare provider.
• Common issues with birth plans, such as requests that may not be feasible due to hospital policies or lack of staff training.
• Advice on how to approach creating and communicating birth preferences, including engaging with providers during prenatal visits and hospital tours.
• Emphasis on the significance of labor nurses and how they can impact the birth experience positively by advocating for the patient's preferences.
• Tips on how to discuss birth preferences with kindness and mutual respect to foster a cooperative environment between patients and healthcare providers.
• Information on Dr. Nicole Rankins' live birth plan class, which includes interactive Q&A sessions to address participants' queries.
• Mention of additional resources, such as the Online Prenatal Class for Couples offered by Hilary Erickson, to prepare for birth in a simple and effective manner.

Producer: Drew Erickson

Keywords:

birth plans, OB GYN, prenatal class, pregnancy advice, labor and delivery, hospital birth, natural birth, water birth, birth preferences, labor support, birth experience, fetal monitoring, intermittent monitoring, c-section rate, vaginal birth, doulas, hospital policy, patient preferences, pregnancy tips, newborn care, online classes for couples, birth preparation, hospital tour, healthcare advocacy, labor nurse, episiotomy, birth plan class, breastfeedi