"Birth Plans and God Laughs" - with Dr. Stephanie Melka

In this episode of the Healthful Woman Podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox sits down with Dr. Tracy Scheller, an OB-GYN and fellowship-trained integrative medicine physician, to explore how nutrition, stress management, mindfulness, and lifestyle changes play a critical role in women’s overall health. Dr. Scheller shares her professional journey from traditional obstetrics and gynecology to integrative medicine, explaining how evidence-based complementary therapies can work alongside conventional care to address chronic conditions, mental health, and long-term wellness. Together, they discuss who benefits most from integrative medicine, how it differs from functional medicine, and why patient partnership, mindset, and sustainable habits are central to meaningful healing.

In Part Two of our previous episode, Dr. Marla Baum expands her discussion on neuropsychological testing for children. She and Dr. Fox discuss when a child should be tested, stigma in learning disabilities, accommodations for children who struggle, and more.

Dr. Marla Baum, a child neuropsychologist, explains her process of helping children who are having difficulty learning or in school. In this episode, she reviews testing and development of treatment plans for kids. Plus, she and Dr. Fox briefly review the emotional regulation issues, fear, and anxiety that kids are suffering through COVID-19 and what parents can do to help.

In this episode of "What Does the Fox Say?", Dr. Nathan Fox answers questions regarding moderate alcohol use in pregnancy, immune system changes and food safety, fast labor and when to head to the hospital, how to interpret placental pathology findings, and whether first-trimester bleeding always requires an ER visit. Throughout the episode, Dr. Fox emphasizes balancing medical data with real-world decision-making, empowering listeners to understand recommendations and advocate for themselves during pregnancy.

Rivki Chudnoff, MSPT, explains pelvic floor therapy. A physical therapist practicing in Bogota, New Jersey, Chudnoff discusses her training for this specialty and how physical therapy helps women with pelvic health issues.

In this episode of the Healthful Woman Podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox speaks with Ruthie, a physician assistant and mother of two, as she shares her experience with postpartum depression following the birth of her first child. Together, they explore how maternal mental health challenges can emerge despite preparation and support, how symptoms can differ from typical postpartum adjustment, and the critical role of timely intervention and specialized care. The episode also highlights the importance of reducing stigma, offering meaningful support to new mothers, and creating space for honest conversations so women feel less alone and more empowered to seek help.

Dr. Zevy Hamburger returns to Healthful Woman to explain epidurals: how they work, how they are administered, and the advantages of different types of pain relief during labor and delivery. Plus, he gives an update on his experience at Mt. Sinai Hospital through the Covid-19 crisis.

In this episode of "What Does the Fox Say?", Dr. Nathan Fox answers questions regarding moderate alcohol use in pregnancy, immune system changes and food safety, fast labor and when to head to the hospital, how to interpret placental pathology findings, and whether first-trimester bleeding always requires an ER visit. Throughout the episode, Dr. Fox emphasizes balancing medical data with real-world decision-making, empowering listeners to understand recommendations and advocate for themselves during pregnancy.

Dr. Sarah Roer Bendheim discusses her work with eating disorder patients. In this episode, Dr. Bendheim explains her path to studying psychology, treating eating disorders, counseling parents of children with eating disorders, and more.

In this episode of the Healthful Woman Podcast, Drs. Nathan Fox and Shari Gelber discuss cytomegalovirus (CMV) and its impact on pregnancy. They explain how CMV can affect newborns, the differences between primary infection and reactivation, and the challenges of testing and screening. The conversation also covers potential treatments, vaccine development, and advances in pediatric care that help improve outcomes for babies with CMV.