**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!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

**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!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-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

--

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

**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.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-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

--

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

**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.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• 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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• 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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• 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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• 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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• 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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy