Crystal played roller derby for nine years and even that couldn’t prepare her for her first pregnancy. She not only labored for 30+ hours, had to transfer from the birthing center to a hospital, was diagnosed with gestational hypertension, and her baby had to stay in the NICU, but she was also stung by a swarm of yellow jackets at thirty-eight weeks! Despite all this, she’s able to look back on the whole experience and laugh. Though some people might never want to get pregnant again after all that, Crystal decided to try for baby number two and it turned out to be a redemptive and healing experience. After laboring for only 2.5 hours, she had the unmedicated birth she’d always hoped for and got to enjoy the “golden hour” which she did not get the first time around.

Crystal’s birth story teaches us an important lesson: you must be prepared for the possibility that things may not go as planned. Birth is an unpredictable process that cannot be controlled. It’s beautiful to have birth wishes and you don’t want to go into the birth experience without knowing what you want, but it’s important to entertain all possibilities and be prepared.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-How different Crystal’s two births really were

-What she wanted from her first birth and what she got

-How truly painful birth can be

-Why it’s important to remember that you can change your mind about your birth wishes

-How her birth experiences differed in a birthing center versus a hospital

-What is HIE and how can it be treated with cooling therapy or “therapeutic hypothermia”

-Why it’s worth the time and energy to process the trauma that can occur from birth

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode145

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

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Well first off, welcome to 2022! I took a much needed break at the end of last year and I am feeling mostly ready to head into 2022. I feel better, my mind feels clearer, and I’m excited about what 2022 will bring.

It is hard to believe but this podcast has been around for 3 years! It was Jan 2019, Jan 8th to be exact, that the first 2 episodes were released and here we are 3 years later. I’ve said this before but I never could have predicted what this podcast would mean for me and for you. I am incredibly grateful for this platform and in this episode I’m celebrating by sharing some of the most downloaded episodes. I was actually surprised at some of the episodes and maybe you will be too!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What are the themes I’m focusing on in the new year

-Which episode to listen to for information on breastfeeding

-How Dr. Christine Sterling, OB-GYN, is helping new parents in the postpartum period

-Why episode 89 is a must for dog parents

-Which birth story episodes can help prepare you for an unmedicated delivery

-What makes episode 70 a good starting place for learning about labor induction

-Which episode is the most popular for parents looking to learn about prenatal nutrition

 

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode144

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

Our Sponsors:
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This week we're revisiting episode 81 where I interview my husband, Falcon. It was really interesting to hear what things felt like from his perspective. I talk a lot about the experience of the birthing person on this podcast, which often means that I don't talk as much about what it feels like to be the supporting partner. So, in this special episode my husband Falcon is joining me to talk about his feelings and experiences during my pregnancies and births.

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode81

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

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This week I'm rebroadcasting my own birth stories! No filters. No gloss. Just truth. Am I proud of every decision I made during my births? Nope. And I share that with you here today.

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode5

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:
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This is a different episode, one that I hadn’t planned, but I’ve realized is absolutely necessary. I am taking a break. Until January I'm stepping back from social media, limiting email, and I'm not releasing new podcast episodes. I am, however, going to rebroadcast some very special episodes! I'm using this time to rest and come back recharged at the start of the year. I’ll see you back in 3 weeks!

 

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

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A lot of my listeners are already expecting, but I know that some of you are either thinking about getting pregnant or already trying. And just like a holistic approach is important to pregnancy and birth, a holistic approach to fertility that considers emotional and physical health is important. But there’s a lot of information out there in regards to fertility, and it can be overwhelming to wade through it all. A fertility coach may be able to help. 

And that’s exactly what today’s guest, Elizabeth King, does. She’s a fertility coach who’s on a mission to help people of all backgrounds conceive a healthy baby and carry to term in a joyful state of mind. After her own experiences with conception and birth, she was inspired to help others who dream of parenthood. She has now helped hundreds of people become parents in 20+ countries around the world!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-How losing a pregnancy inspired Elizabeth to focus on supporting those experiencing fertility struggles

-What fertility coaching entails

-Who is a good candidate for fertility coaching

-Why it is important not to compare your journey to anyone else’s

-How important it is to connect with and listen to your body

-What are some things people can do to prepare their body and mind for pregnancy

-How helpful it can be to find a curated community - not all information is good information

-What are some common fertility myths

 

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode141

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

Our Sponsors:
* Give Armoire a try and get up to 50% off your first month, that’s up to $125 OFF! Just visit armoire.style/DRNICOLE
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We often hear about postpartum depression but rarely is prenatal mental health a topic of discussion. MeLynn experienced anxiety and depression during pregnancy and there is a lot to learn from her story. She started by telling her partner how she was feeling, then saw a counselor, and eventually she went on medication. Did you know there are therapists who specialize in prenatal mental health?

Medication is not necessarily the first place to start, but once again, to have a healthy baby you have to have a healthy mom. There is definitely a stigma around psychiatric treatment during pregnancy. Not only was it hard for MeLynn to see medication as an option for herself, but she found herself blindsided by her delivery team’s averse attitude toward her being on pharmaceuticals. She was faced with a lot of stress and confusion in the delivery room as a result. It might be a good idea to check in advance to see what your hospital’s policy is for moms who are on psychiatric medications.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What prenatal anxiety and depression were like for MeLynn

-How COVID had a hand in MeLynn finding virtual support

-Why she reached out to a therapist and how she found the right one

-What were some of the techniques she learned from her therapist

-Which pain medication she opted for and how certain she was about her choice

-How the delivery team reacted to her being medicated

-How MeLynn has decided to continue her mental health treatment going forward

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode141

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Help out the show and be entered into a drawing for an Amazon giftcard by taking our listener survey

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

Our Sponsors:
* Give Armoire a try and get up to 50% off your first month, that’s up to $125 OFF! Just visit armoire.style/DRNICOLE
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Diet is a vital component of prenatal healthcare which can often be overlooked. Today educator and registered dietician Stephanie Lauri joins us to give this subject the attention it deserves. After realizing there was a need for more accessible and reliable information on prenatal nutrition, Stephanie dedicated herself to creating a resource for expectant mothers.

There are some surprising dos and don’ts in this episode. Stephanie lets us in on what exactly your body needs during pregnancy and where to find it. She also has some tricks and tips for getting proper nutrition during this time even if vegetables don’t sound appealing!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What are the qualifications to become a dietician

-What the difference is between a nutritionist and a dietician

-Why it is important to begin focusing on nutrition even before becoming pregnant

-How to choose the right prenatal vitamin for you

-What are some powerhouse foods for pregnancy

-Why you shouldn’t focus on weight

-What are some recommendations for vegans and vegetarians

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode141

The Birth Preparation Course is on sale for Black Friday

Help out the show and be entered into a drawing for an Amazon giftcard by taking our listener survey

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

Our Sponsors:
* Give Armoire a try and get up to 50% off your first month, that’s up to $125 OFF! Just visit armoire.style/DRNICOLE
* Head to AvocadoMattress.com today to save 10% on all bedding and 50% on clearance bedding!


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This is a birth story episode that really warmed my heart. Tiffany used knowledge to overcome fears around being a woman of color getting pregnant and giving birth. As someone who researches everything, she knew she needed to be prepared with information to go through the birth process, especially as a first time mom. Tiffany says “Finding Dr. Rankins, a Black woman like myself, gave me the courage to face birth and pregnancy head on. Most importantly, I was empowered to advocate for myself because I had the knowledge I needed to do so.”

A lot of the things she talks about are really problems ALL women can face, regardless of race. The medical system can take away the power women have over what happens to their own bodies. Education is one of the most powerful tools you can have at your disposal to ensure you get the care you need. Tiffany’s experience with the birth prep class helped her to trust her own body and have a beautiful birth.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What made Tiffany apprehensive about getting pregnant and giving birth

-What her pregnancy was like including some uncomfortable encounters

-How the birth prep course helped her prepare for her birth

-How an experience of losing consciousness and vomiting influenced her birth

-How she was able to have beauty in her birth even though it didn’t go exactly as planned

-Why she had to stop breastfeeding and how she handled the feelings that came along with that difficult decision

-How doctors treated her differently depending on whether her husband accompanied her to appointments

 

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode140

Register for my free birth plan class - How to Make a Birth Plan That Works.

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Help out the show and be entered into a drawing for an Amazon giftcard by taking our listener survey

Register for the new 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

Our Sponsors:
* Give Armoire a try and get up to 50% off your first month, that’s up to $125 OFF! Just visit armoire.style/DRNICOLE
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Today’s episode is about stillbirth. This is a difficult topic but I’ve actually had several people reach out to me about it. I see stillbirths maybe a handful of times a year, so it’s not extremely common, but common enough that it’s important to talk about.

Stillbirth rates have been decreasing over recent decades. This is surely due in part to advances in medical care, however prenatal care only accounts for a fraction of the causes of stillbirth. In fact, over a quarter of stillbirths are unexplained. The factors that we can pinpoint are not necessarily straight-forward. Of course age and overall health going into pregnancy are important determinants, but one of the biggest factors is actually being black. Episode 117 on Maternal Morbidity and Mortality goes into some of the statistics on the dangers of being black and giving birth in the American medical system.

There are some trends we can look at, such as when in pregnancy a stillbirth is most likely to happen or which medical conditions can contribute, but ultimately there is no reliable way to predict stillbirth and proper prenatal care plus identifying and treating any conditions promptly is the best we can do. Not all stillbirths can be prevented but there are a lot of common sense measures moms can take.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What is the definition of stillbirth

-How common is it

-When in pregnancy is stillbirth most likely to occur

-What are the risk factors

-How does race factor into stillbirth rates

-What are the most common causes

-What are some strategies for prevention

 

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode139

Register for my free birth plan class - How to Make a Birth Plan That Works.

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Help out the show and be entered into a drawing for an Amazon giftcard by taking our listener survey

Register for the new 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

Our Sponsors:
* Give Armoire a try and get up to 50% off your first month, that’s up to $125 OFF! Just visit armoire.style/DRNICOLE
* Head to AvocadoMattress.com today to save 10% on all bedding and 50% on clearance bedding!


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