Pregnancy Pearls

Maternity leave is taking leave from work to prepare to be a mom.  Everyone’s different when it comes to taking leave. Some women choose to work until they literally go into labor or until their scheduled delivery date (if they have an indication for a scheduled delivery). Other women have to take Family Medical Leave or FLMA early and claim short term disability for medical reasons.  Check out this episode for your “to do” list of reminders of things you should do to prepare for maternity leave.  Also, find out some medical reasons you would be encouraged to take leave before you’re full term.  If you’re pregnant or planning to be pregnant in the future, this episode will help you prepare and remind you to budget so that you can relax when you little one arrives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're pregnant and your baby is not head down at the end of the pregnancy, you have two choices for delivery: 1. Flip the Baby -or- 2. Have a C-section.  If you're someone who really wants a vaginal delivery and your baby is breech (or butt down), then this is the episode for you.  In this episode, Dr. Plenty discusses ""flipping the baby"" or what medical professionals call an external cephalic version (ECV).  Find out who's an optimal candidate for ECV and who should proceed with a C-section.  You'll also hear some unique cases and reasons why you should definitely try to have your baby flipped and a few things your doctor will look out for during the procedure.  Download and listen to this episode now for more information. Also, don't forget to share, rate, and comment!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yoni steaming, also known as vaginal steaming, is a spa remedy used for vaginal cleansing.  It’s also thought to help with menstrual cramps, digestive issues, and even infertility.  But does it work, and is it safe? Learn more about yoni steaming, and find out the answers by listening to this week’s episode of the podcast.  We discuss the pros and cons of yoni steaming and whether it’s safe in pregnancy and if it benefits fertility.  Make sure to rate, comment, and share with your friends and family as well!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Braxton contractions are a tightening of the uterus that comes and goes in preparation for the birthing process. In other words, they are contractions, but Braxton Hicks contractions  do NOT cause cervical change or lead to labor. Because of this, some refer to them as false contractions.  Did you know Braxton Hicks contractions can happen as early as 6 weeks. Yep!  And, they can occur throughout the entire pregnancy.  Find out why some people have Braxton Hicks contractions and how to determine if you're having Braxton Hicks vs. real labor contractions.  If you like the episode, make sure to rate, comment, and share with your friends!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

""Irish twins"" refers to having two babies 12months apart or less. Basically, this means that a patient got pregnant when the previous child was approximately 3 months old.  Some people call this situation having ""Dutch twins"" or ""Catholic twins"" as well.  Many women want to have multiple children who can grow up together. But, having babies this close together is considered high risk.  Download and listen to this episode to find out your risk of having Irish twins and what you can do to reduce your risks. If you're already pregnant, the second baby of Irish twins tends to deliver faster. So, make sure to listen so that you're prepared for the birth!  As always, don't forget to rate, comment, and share with friends and family!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we reflect on all that we've been blessed with this year, many of you are thankful for your new bundles of joy on the way.  However, although you're thankful, many of you are also very nervous and want to know if what you're experiencing is normal.  It's completely normal to wonder what's going on with your growing little one inside of you. So, in this episode, we'll talk about pregnancy symptoms and what's normal and what's not so normal. At the beginning of the episode, Dr. Plenty gives an overview of normal pregnancy symptoms typical for each trimester of pregnancy as well as the postpartum period. Then, she lets you know what's not normal and requires further attention. Of course, the episode concludes with cases and questions, answered in typical Dr. Plenty style-- thorough but to the point.  Go ahead and download and listen to the episode now.  And don't forget to rate, comment, and share with your friends! Happy Thanksgiving!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every November Prematurity Awareness Month is observed, with World Prematurity Day being recognized globally on the 17th.  One common reason for a preterm delivery is when a patient's water breaks before being full term (or 37+ weeks pregnant).  During pregnancy, the baby resides inside a fluid-filled sac, called an amnion which contains amniotic fluid. When someone says their water has broken, they really mean the membranes of the amniotic sac have ruptured. Rupture of membranes (ROM) after 37 weeks usually happens after the onset of labor (or the start of contractions). However, when this rupture occurs before 37 weeks, this is called preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and this can cause a world of trouble.  Check out this episode as Dr. Plenty lets you know how term ROM and PPROM are both handled.  Also, learn about how you can reduce your risk of PPROM and preterm delivery with subsequent pregnancies. If you're pregnant or have had a preterm delivery before, make sure to download and listen to this episode. Don't forget to share with friends and family, comment, and rate!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people have questions about the safety of sex in pregnancy but might be afraid or too embarrassed to ask.  Well, this episode addresses all of those questions you might want to clarify, such as:  If you’ve been told not to have sex, does that include oral and anal sex too?  Can sex increase the risk of a preterm delivery? Should sex be avoided in certain trimesters?  All of these questions are answered, plus you’ll learn about conditions that actually do require you to avoid intercourse in pregnancy.  Download and listen to this episode to hear this candid and honest conversation about the safety of intercourse in pregnancy. And don’t forget to share, rate, and comment!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the pandemic, the number of people sick from the flu has drastically decreased due to hand washing and wearing face masks. However, with restriction loosening, healthcare professionals predict a spike in the flu.  Remember, the flu, before the pandemic, was one of the leading causes of hospitalizations and ICU admissions for pregnant women.  Whether you're pregnant or not, getting sick from the flu is pure misery.  So, in this episode, we discuss the flu, its symptoms and how they compare to COVID-19 symptoms.  You'll also hear about flu vaccine safety and flu treatments. Just because all the rage is the COVID-19 vaccine, please don't skip your flu shot this year!  Tune in to this episode to learn more. Also, don't forget to share this episode with friends and family!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the end of October, so we can’t forget to acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  So, on this week’s episode, we talk facts about breast cancer, how and when you should be screened as well as dealing with breast cancer during pregnancy.  If you have breasts aka “lovely lady lumps”,  pregnant or not, this episode is on the “must listen” list.  The first step is getting checked.  I know this can be frightening, but the earlier cancer is detected, the higher your chances are of beating it.  Download and listen to this episode now for more on breast cancer and its prevention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.