July is Fibroid Awareness Month, so today I’m re-airing an episode on what happens when you have fibroids during pregnancy. I’ve actually gotten quite a few questions about this, more than I expected, and the questions indicate that there’s a lot of uncertainty and misunderstandings about this topic.

In this rebroadcast episode, you’ll learn what fibroids are, the risk factors and symptoms associated with fibroids, how fibroids are managed during pregnancy, how fibroids affect mom and baby during pregnancy, and also the impact of having myomectomy (fibroid removal) before pregnancy. Let's get into the episode on uterine fibroids and the impact they have on pregnancy!

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode103

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Dr. Ream describes first-time parenthood as an experience that rocked her world. When she found herself crying and screaming because her baby wouldn’t fall asleep, she knew she needed to seek help. Of course, she had heard of postpartum anxiety and depression but postpartum rage was something she hadn’t been prepared for.

When she went looking for support and didn’t turn up much, she decided to solve the problem herself. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who completed additional training to specialize in perinatal mental health. After that, she went on to found Psyched Mommy, the largest social media platform focusing on perinatal mental health. Postpartum rage and anger isn't something that we talk about enough –or even at all– so I'm really excited that we are diving into this important topic today!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• What defines postpartum rage
• How it relates to postpartum depression
• What makes some people more susceptible
• How shame can prevent parents from seeking help
• What the cycle of anger is
• How sleep fits into the equation
• Why it’s important to look at anger as a “check engine light”
• What steps can be taken to address rage

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode264

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Erica experienced two miscarriages prior to the birth story we're going to hear today. After over a year and a half of heartbreaking loss, this pregnancy was completely normal - no nausea, no sickness, no pain.

Now at 38 weeks, some symptoms developed that caused her doctor to recommend induction. Erica wanted an unmedicated birth and you’re going to learn all about how she used movement for pain management in this great episode. I felt so inspired by her strength and I know you will too!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• Why Erica’s OB recommended induction
• Which medications were used to induce labor
• Why she felt unhappy with the initial on-call doctor
• How she describes the sensation of her water breaking
• What made her feel better about the new doctor at shift change
• Why the presence of a travel nurse trained as a doula was serendipitous
• Why she opted for a hands-and-knees birthing position

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode263

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Real talk: things have been a little crazy for me these past couple weeks and I didn’t have an opportunity to record a new episode. So, I decided to pick one of my favorites to replay: physiologic birth.

The reason I chose this is because it’s a term that gets mentioned a lot on social media but doesn’t get defined. It’s also a term that -quite honestly- I didn’t fully understand before I made this episode. I learned a lot when I researched and wrote this episode and I know you will too.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-How normal physiologic birth is defined

-Which factors disrupt physiologic childbirth

-What are the benefits of normal physiologic birth

-Whether any one position should be mandated or prescribed

-What are the factors that influence physiologic birth

-Why it’s vital for your medical team to support your wishes

-What makes it necessary to intervene

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode190

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It’s a miracle that today’s guest, Kayleigh Summers, is even alive. She is an amniotic fluid embolism survivor and went into cardiac arrest twice during labor. When you hear her story, you’re going to be blown away.

This lived-experience led her to center her career around perinatal trauma. As a licensed clinical social worker, she is supporting families experiencing perinatal trauma and has created a thriving community where survivors can feel less alone.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• What birth trauma is and what causes it
• What the symptoms are
• How to determine whether or not an experience qualifies as “trauma”
• How to work through traumatic experiences
• What EMDR stands for and how it works
• What role medication plays in treatment
• How a postpartum plan can help prevent birth trauma

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode262

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Our Sponsors:
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Sometimes a “beautiful” birth doesn’t mean getting what you wanted - it means making the right decisions for yourself along the way. After being stuck at 5 cm for TWELVE HOURS, Nicole decided that it was time to change course. I’ll give away that she did have a vaginal birth, but it was nothing like she planned or anticipated.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• Why Nicole eventually agreed to a low dose of pitocin
• What happened when the pitocin was increased
• Whether or not her water broke
• How her partner supported the decision to get an epidural
• What made her so happy with the anesthesiologist
• How quickly she progressed after the epidural
• Why doctors were concerned about her baby’s heart rate
• How a lactation consultant helped with breastfeeding issues

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode261

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Group B strep, or GBS, is a relatively common bacterial infection found in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Most people can be carriers and not have any symptoms. However, GBS can present problems for newborns and during pregnancy.

I’m doing this episode because some changes have been made since I first covered this topic back in 2019. In 2022 the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) updated guidelines for testing and treating GBS. Staying informed and up-to-date is the best way to keep yourself and your baby safe.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• What group B strep–GBS–is and why it matters
• How common it is and what the chances are that you may be a carrier
• Which risk factors increase the likelihood of GBS colonization
• How it can affect pregnancy and newborns
• What methods are used to screen for and treat GBS
• What the long-term implications can be
• Whether probiotics have been proven to be effective

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode260

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Our Sponsors:
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So many parents feel like they have to choose between sleep and breastfeeding and today’s guest, Hillary Sadler, says that's not the case - and she knows what she’s talking about! A registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and mom of four, Hilary is a true expert in the art of balancing feeding and sleep.

Getting enough sleep is going to be vital for your mental health. I’ve said it a hundred times and I’ll say it again: To have a healthy baby, you’ve gotta have a healthy parent. Do future-you a favor and understand the link between feeding and sleep before baby comes home.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• How “quality, effective, efficient” feeds can impact sleep
• What the biological link is between feeding and sleep
• Why you should think about your sleep goals
• How to maximize your newborn’s wake time 
• What makes an efficient feeding pattern
• What the five S’s are
• Why you should approach day feeding and night feeding differently

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode259

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Our Sponsors:
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For many parents, selecting where they’re going to give birth is an important part of the planning process. However, Jodi lives on a small island with only one hospital and didn’t have a choice in the matter.

Though she and her baby are healthy, the birth was intensely challenging. Jodi’s pain went under-treated and many procedures were done without adequate communication. While I want to acknowledge that rural and remote medicine is complex, the pain Jodi suffered is unacceptable.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• How long it took to get from Jodi’s home to the hospital
• How her “advanced maternal age” affected the care she received
• Why she was unable to leave the bed during delivery
• Why doctors were in a hurry to get the baby out
• How doctors could’ve done a better job of communicating
• Whether forceps are still commonly used
• What it was like for Jodi to experience an episiotomy & forceps delivery without adequate pain management
• What steps were taken to deliver/remove the placenta

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode258

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Our Sponsors:
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Normally the umbilical cord has 3 vessels - 2 arteries and one vein. What does it mean when your baby's umbilical cord has 2 vessels instead of 3? How do you know if this is a concern for your baby? I answer this listener question from Jessica in this episode!

If you have a question you'd like me to answer, shoot me a DM on Instagram @drnicolerankins.

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