During the nine months of pregnancy, your body undergoes more changes than at any other time in your life. Your breasts, in particular, will experience significant transformations from the moment you conceive through the breastfeeding period. These changes include noticeable differences in appearance and sensitivity, as well as internal changes to prepare your body for lactation. Learn how your breasts will change, how much your breasts will increase in size, and how to manage symptoms such...

Many physical changes during pregnancy can impact your back and cause pain or discomfort. Back pain during pregnancy is almost always lower back pain within three categories: lumbar spine pain, posterior pelvic pain, or a combination of these two. The prevalence of back pain in pregnant women is estimated to be 50% in the first trimester, 40-70% in the second, and 70-80% in the third trimester. Just because back pain is common doesn’t mean you should have to suffer through it. This episode...

There are many common questions about alcohol when trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Does drinking alcohol make it more challenging to get pregnant? Can you drink any alcohol during your pregnancy? Does it affect your baby? How much is okay? Can you pump and dump if you drink while breastfeeding? Doctors and midwives usually give you one of two answers. You hear absolutely no alcohol in any quantity. Or they may tell you it’s okay to enjoy a glass of wine with a meal...

Caffeine is a psychoactive drug because it changes brain function and results in alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant found naturally in the seeds, nuts, and leaves of over 60 species of plants. This stimulant is commonly in coffee, tea, and energy drinks and is the most widely consumed drug in the world. Caffeine is one of the first things to be cautious about after seeing a positive pregnancy test. Trying to figure out how much...

You may be completely regular as far as going to the bathroom before getting pregnant, and then suddenly, you are stopped up and have issues when you need to go #2. If you are constipated, you have difficult or infrequent bowel movements, your stools are hard, and you may have pain or discomfort in your stomach. The prevalence of constipation is 40% in pregnant women and 52% in women postpartum. Several changes in pregnancy can cause constipation. Like most pregnancy-related issues,...

A birth plan is much more than a piece of paper you hand to your care provider. A birth plan is a process you go through to prepare for the birth experience you want. This process will lay the foundation for you to be prepared for the scenario in which everything goes as intended and for what should happen if things do not go as planned. While parents write a birth plan and go into labor with the best intentions, birth plans are not always successful. Having your requests not fulfilled or...

Most aspects of having a baby rest solely on the mother. One of the biggest things I hear from partners during pregnancy, labor, and after their baby arrives is that they don't know what to do. They feel useless and like they can't help. Or they feel like there is nothing for them to do. There are many things partners and dads can do to support mom and baby. This episode gives you a solid idea of your partner's role and how they can support you during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.      ...

With warmer weather comes more insects and the potential for bug bites. As with any topic, pregnancy adds an additional layer of concern about bug bites. When you are pregnant, increased skin sensitivity can make itchy or painful bug bites more bothersome. Some illnesses spread by insects, like the Zika virus, pose additional dangers during pregnancy. Plus, you need to be cautious about exposure to chemical ingredients found in many insect repellants. The good news is there is a lot you can...

All expectant mothers experience some level of anxiety or fear about the unpredictability of labor. Not only can it be stressful to have anxiety about giving birth, but research shows fear of birth can negatively impact your birth experience. There will always be unknowns about how your labor will unfold. The good news is that there are many strategies you can employ to overcome anxiety or concerns. Learn how to tackle specific fears, overcome general anxiety about labor, reframe your...

A pediatrician is the primary care provider for your child from birth through early adulthood. They offer crucial support in monitoring growth, administering immunizations, and diagnosing illnesses. A pediatrician also provides guidance on health and development and will assist you in navigating caring for your child. There are many factors to consider when choosing a pediatrician who is the right fit for your family. Some basic things to look for are proximity, insurance coverage, and...

Fifty years ago, you went to the doctor, and whatever they told you was the correct answer. They were the experts and the gatekeepers of information. Today, doctors are still experts, but access to information is widely available to patients. There has been a major shift in patients being informed, especially concerning pregnancy and birth. Ideally, you find a doctor or midwife who is the perfect fit, whose ideology aligns with yours, and whom you trust explicitly. Many expecting parents will...

Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you are expecting your first baby, already have kids, or listen to this podcast because you help support new moms, I hope you feel celebrated today. I want to thank you for being a part of this podcast and for the honor of allowing me to be with you on your journey to motherhood. To celebrate Mother’s Day, you can get 50% off Pregnancy Podcast Premium through Sunday, May 19th, with the code MOM50. https://pregnancypodcast.com/premium Join Pregnancy Podcast Premium...

You see a midwife or OBGYN because they are the experts in prenatal care, pregnancy, and birth. They are trained to identify risks, ensure you and your baby are healthy, and assist you in navigating pregnancy and childbirth. In the nine months you are pregnant, you can expect to have around 14 prenatal appointments. Each appointment allows your care provider to monitor you and your baby, administer tests, and perform procedures. These visits are your opportunity to discuss your symptoms and...

Your care provider is the cornerstone of your prenatal care and birth experience. You will work with this expert resource throughout pregnancy to make critical decisions. Choosing your care provider is more nuanced than having a midwife for a home birth or an OB/GYN for a birth at a hospital. Your comfort and trust in your care provider is more important than their qualifications, where they went to school, and how many babies they have delivered. Ultimately, who your care provider is will...

A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences for labor and what happens directly following the birth of your baby. A birth plan is much more than a piece of paper you hand to your care provider. It is the process you go through to prepare for your desired birth experience. This process will lay the foundation for preparing you for the scenario in which everything goes exactly as planned and what should happen if things do not go as planned. The value of a birth plan has a lot...

A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences for labor and what happens directly following the birth of your baby. A birth plan is much more than a piece of paper you hand to your care provider. It is the process you go through to prepare for your desired birth experience. This process will lay the foundation for preparing you for the scenario in which everything goes exactly as planned and what should happen if things do not go as planned. The value of a birth plan has a lot...

Administering erythromycin eye ointment to newborns is a standard procedure in the United States to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum. Ophthalmia neonatorum is a newborn eye infection that affects 1-2% of newborns in the United States. This infection can be caused by sexually transmitted infections, viruses, and bacteria. As with any intervention, there are pros and cons to consider. This episode examines the evidence on the efficacy and safety of erythromycin eye ointment so you can make an...

Newborns naturally have low levels of vitamin K at birth. The danger of low vitamin K levels is the risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding. This is a rare but severe complication. You can decrease the risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding by giving your baby a vitamin K shot shortly after birth. Administering vitamin K to newborns is standard in the United States and many other countries. As with any intervention, there are pros and cons to consider. This episode examines the evidence on the...

In the United States, one in three babies is born via cesarean. Every expecting mother should be knowledgeable about cesarean birth, even if that is not your primary birth plan. As cesarean births have become more common, options have expanded to make the procedure more mom- and baby-friendly. In recent years, the idea of a gentle cesarean has emerged. This is also called a family-centered cesarean, family-centered birth, or natural cesarean. A gentle cesarean involves adjustments that make...

A cesarean section, also known as a C-section, is a surgical procedure to deliver a baby through incisions in the mother's abdomen and uterus. You and your doctor may plan a cesarean birth if you have a complication that would make a vaginal delivery difficult. Every expecting mother should be knowledgeable about cesarean birth, even if that is not your primary birth plan. In the United States, one in three babies is born via cesarean. Often, unplanned circumstances in labor lead to a...

For most of human history, a mother in labor was free to move around and change positions at will, with the most common positions being upright. In the mid-1600s, obstetricians started putting mothers on their backs. Thankfully, in recent years, more evidence has supported allowing a mother to choose the positions in which she labors. How your body is positioned during labor can significantly impact the discomfort of contractions, your baby’s ability to descend, the likelihood of some...

The third stage of labor starts after your baby is born and ends with birthing the placenta. Even after your beautiful baby is born your uterus will continue to contract. These contractions are generally more mild than the contractions you experience during birth. As your uterus begins to contract and shrink, your placenta will detach from your uterine wall. The blood vessels are closed off, and the placenta is pushed out. You have many options for what interventions are employed during this...

The third stage of labor starts after your baby is born and ends with birthing the placenta. Even after your beautiful baby is born your uterus will continue to contract. These contractions are generally more mild than the contractions you experience during birth. As your uterus begins to contract and shrink, your placenta will detach from your uterine wall. The blood vessels are closed off, and the placenta is pushed out. You have many options for what interventions are employed during this...

Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree. While dates are high in sugar, they also contain nutrients like fiber, potassium, magnesium, iron, and vitamin B6. There are many claims about the health benefits of eating dates. Among the many claims is that dates can naturally induce labor and make labor shorter. Sounds pretty great, right? Thankfully, several studies are available to examine these claims. Learn about the research on eating dates and labor, the proposed mechanism of action, and...

Many studies demonstrate the benefits of yoga during pregnancy, from reducing time in labor to improving newborn outcomes. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that modified yoga is one of the safest exercises for pregnant women. ACOG also cautions against specific poses and hot yoga. As with examining any activity, there is nuance to determining what activities are safe. Research is available on particular poses and practicing yoga in a heated environment. This...