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You've heard of low intervention birth but what does it mean? In this episode I share how a low intervention birth under my care unfolded. Here's a peak -

• 8 AM - cervical check and 4 cm
• Intermittent monitoring, saline lock, moving, eating and drinking
• 8 PM - second cervical check and 6 cm
• starting pushing at 1130 PM
• and listen to hear the rest!

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Did you know the U.S. is one of just four countries in the world - and the only developed nation - without guaranteed paid maternity leave? While we’ve made great strides in workplace fairness, the fight for equity is far from over. In a country where pregnancy can still jeopardize someone’s career, these protections are more crucial than ever. That’s why advocates like today’s guests are so important.

Jack Tuckner is a workplace rights attorney who specializes in gender discrimination, including pregnancy-related issues, and Catherine Kreider is a lawyer and doula. Through their legal work and advocacy, they’ve been instrumental in advocating for laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and strengthening protections for expectant workers. Make sure you know your rights, document everything, and don’t hesitate to seek out a local attorney if you need support - advocacy starts with awareness!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• What constitutes pregnancy discrimination in the workplace
• Who qualifies for protections under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
• Why documenting workplace interactions is critical for protecting your rights
• When and how to notify your employer about your pregnancy
• How to request accommodations during pregnancy
• Whether state or federal laws provide better protections for pregnant workers

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode281

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In this shorty episode I answer this listener question from Kate. And if you want me to answer a question for you DM me on Instagram @drnicolerankins or shoot me a message on my website contact form!

"I was checked at 5 cm, started feeling pressure after a few hours, and then a really strong urge to push after another few hours. I was unmedicated, so I could really feel those sensations, but was told to push against this urge and, I quote, ""hold it in"" because I was only at 8 cm and that I would tear my cervix if I pushed. This kept going for about an hour, at which point they called the doctor, who said, I quote again, “8, maybe 9, I guess you could push if you want to”. I wasn’t really able to talk, so I just pushed and everything went well. But then I started wondering why my body would give me such a powerful urge to push if it was too early. Is it possible that 9 cm was as far as my cervix would dilate? I’m a really small person, does that play a role? Does everyone get as far as 10? I’m curious and would love to hear more about this."

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Rachel always wanted to be a mother, but before she could begin that journey, she felt it was important to get off of depression and anxiety medication. After spending three months weaning off her meds, she very quickly got pregnant. Her pregnancy, although a source of great excitement, also brought unexpected difficulties, including two falls - and then her water broke during her baby shower!

A breech baby, a failed turning procedure (external cephalic version), intubation during her cesarean for a “panic attack”, and more added up to a traumatic birth experience. Rachel gets a bit emotional and teary during her story and you can understand why. Her birth was definitely a challenge and there's so much to learn from her story. I cannot wait for you to hear it.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• How Rachel and her psychiatrist created a plan to safely stop medication
• What tactics she used to manage anxiety and depression symptoms
• How limited food options triggered old disordered eating struggles
• How lower back and hip pain caused daily difficulties with mobility
• Why she wishes she would’ve chosen a different provider
• How the epidural created a sensation of being unable to breathe
• Why she underwent general anesthesia for her C-section
• What her healing process was like
• Whether or not she’ll return to psychiatric medication

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode280

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

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In this short episode I address this really thoughtful comment from a listener -

"I've noticed that Dr. Rankins' position statements have gotten stronger on the negatives of a hospital birth over time (in the year+ that I've been listening). For instance her opening introduction now frames hospitals as a system that "too often takes away power from women over what happens in their own bodies." When she first started I think this was phrased more as "it can undermine women" or something a little softer. I've noticed the types of guests she welcomes onto the podcast are also more likely to have this stronger mentality against/suspicious of/worried about hospital births. I guess I'm curious if this reflects a true change in Dr. Rankins' position as she continued to gain knowledge herself through the podcast community, or if this reflects her willingness to simply say what she's known more strongly now, or if this is a trend of worsening conditions in hospitals. And overall does Dr. Rankins feel that hospital births still provide an overall positive service to women (do the goods outweigh the bads, especially for women who come in prepared with some knowledge), or does she feel that the scales are now tipped more negatively? I guess an updated "bird's eye" view of the whole system in the US might be helpful for some of us trying to understand the overall context as we work through our individual choices available to us in our regions. (For context on myself, if it matters/helps, my first birth was unmedicated in a hospital setting with a doula -- the doula was excellent, the overall birth experience was just ok, the after birth care was very good.)"

If you want to let me know your thoughts about the podcast head to drnicolerankins.com/survey!

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Dealing with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is no fun. You’ve probably heard of “morning sickness” but that’s a misnomer - queasiness can happen at any time of day (and during any stage of pregnancy too). The good news is, for most people, it’s nothing to worry about. Even though it’s uncomfortable (and sometimes downright miserable), it’s generally not harmful to you or your baby.

In this episode, you’ll learn about triggers, warning signs, and relief options for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It’s a challenging part of pregnancy, and it’s common so we need to talk about it! I’ll also touch upon hyperemesis gravidarum, which is when nausea and vomiting escalates to a more serious condition and a level of severity that requires more intense medical attention.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• How common pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting are
• Whether symptoms can harm you or baby
• What some of the underlying causes are
• When digestive issues typically occur during pregnancy
• What hyperemesis gravidarum involves and how it’s handled
• How pregnancy sickness is evaluated and treated
• How diet, acupressure, and ginger could help
• Which medication options are available
• Why cannabis isn’t recommended for symptom management
• When to visit your doctor for help

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode279

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

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How did a birth described as “a series of traumatic events” end up being the best experience of Jenna’s life? Despite all of the unexpected challenges, getting through the 65 hour labor and birth helped her find peace and confidence in her intuition. 

Jenna’s story reminds us that it’s okay to feel both grateful to a medical team and to feel upset about how certain aspects of care were handled. It’s well beyond time to stop saying that “all that matters is a healthy baby”—the full experience matters, too. I’m so excited for you to hear Jenna’s journey and how she navigated this incredibly challenging birth.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• Why Jenna booked a preconception consultation
• How polyhydramnios and gestational diabetes affected the pregnancy
• Why she opted for a 39-week induction
• Which interventions her team used to help progress labor
• What challenges her baby’s position presented
• How she managed through a failed epidural experience
• How her intuition and persistence led to an emergency C-section
• What an Erb’s Palsy diagnosis meant for her baby’s recovery
• What role postpartum therapy played in reframing her experience

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode278

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

Our Sponsors:
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In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month this October, in this episode we have secondary infertility and baby loss survivor Bernice Quesenberry (and quick note I inadvertently mispronounced her last name in the episode, my apologies!). She has repurposed her pain into something positive by starting a national nonprofit called Chasing the Rainbows, which offers FREE, trauma-informed support for those facing infertility, miscarriage, and infant loss.

If you’ve experienced pregnancy or infant loss, it can feel very isolating because it’s not talked about often in media & mainstream culture. But you are not alone - unfortunately it’s a very common part of people's journey to being parents. I hope you never need this episode but if you do or know someone who might need it, then it's here with all of these amazing resources to help you.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• Why trauma-informed care is crucial in supporting those experiencing baby loss
• How reproductive trauma occurs and how frequently it happens
• What makes it difficult to find mental health support after baby loss
• How peer mentorship and support groups provide a sense of connection and support during healing
• What the grief journey may look like
• What you should (and shouldn’t) do to support someone after pregnancy or infant loss
• How grief from infant loss impacts mental health
• How to honor the memory of a lost baby while continuing with life

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode277

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

Our Sponsors:
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I just turned 50 - yes, 50! I know people - and women especially - can feel some kind of way about sharing their age. But I have no problem with sharing my age because every day is truly a gift. To mark this milestone, I wanted to take a few moments to reflect, express my gratitude, share some thoughts on what helped me get here, and what’s next.

This episode is also a bit different, as I want to take time to honor two people very dear to me - my late father, who passed away just last month, and my sister, who I lost over 10 years ago. Though I still miss them deeply, I feel immense gratitude for the time we shared, and their memories serve as a constant reminder to appreciate life and the people in it. It’s a bit of a different episode today, but I know you’ll enjoy it!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• Why it doesn’t matter who you call family - it just matters that you spend time with them
• Why it’s so important to value your own time
• Whether you should invest in things or experiences
• Where true joy and happiness come from
• How staying true to your values can keep your peace of mind
• Why you should shoot your shot - even if you’re scared!
• How real clarity comes from action, not overthinking
• Why embracing both joy and difficulty is key to living fully

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/276

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

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This episode may be about the NICU but it’s for any and every person who’s having a baby. The reason I say that is because it’s actually way more common than you think that a baby needs to receive intensive care. Nearly 40% of babies who go to the NICU are full-term.

As a mom of two NICU babies, let me tell you: it’s the NICU nurses who are at your side. NICU nurses are angels and today’s guest is one! Mary Farrelly, a certified NICU nurse and trained doula, is leading the way in helping parents navigate the NICU journey.  You know I always say it’s important to listen to real experts - and today’s guest is exactly that!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• What NICU stands for and what the levels are
• Why babies go to the NICU
• What NICU nurses do and what training is required
• How to include the NICU in your birth plan
• Why blending NICU nurse and doula roles benefits families
• Which procedures are commonly used in the NICU
• What emotional support looks like for families post-NICU
• 
  

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode275

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

Our Sponsors:
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Martha hoped and prepared for a low intervention birth and ended up getting just about every intervention! She tried everything to get labor to start on its own but she ultimately was induced at 41 weeks. After 40 hours of labor with no pain medication other than nitrous oxide, she opted for an epidural. Soon after she was advised to get a non-emergency C-section because unfortunately things had plateaued.

The C-section was fortunately not traumatic but it was the opposite of what she wanted. Her postpartum was beautiful but she also needed time to grieve the loss of the birthing experience she had hoped for. Today, she is feeling grateful to be bonded with her baby and wants listeners to take this story as a reminder that even if you have a challenging pregnancy and birth you can have a joyful and "easy" postpartum.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• How she was envisioning her birth when she was preparing for it
• Why she opted for midwives in a hospital setting
• How she bargained for specifically 41 weeks and 3 days
• Which methods she used to try and induce labor
• Why she preferred Cytotec to Cirvidil
• Whether a balloon or Pitocin were helpful
• Why she said yes to an epidural and how she responded to it
• What doctors mean when they refer to your baby as “sleepy” during labor
• Why she was grateful her doctor used a clear curtain during the C-section

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode274

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40 Off!
* Check out Ritual! Get 25% off your first month for a limited time at https://ritual.com/DRNICOLE


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