You've been told you're "high risk". What exactly does that mean?

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 hospitalHow her “advanced maternal age” affected the care she receivedWhy she was unable to leave the bed during deliveryWhy doctors were in a hurry to get the baby outHow doctors could’ve done a better job of communicatingWhether forceps are still commonly usedWhat it was like for Jodi to experience an episiotomy & forceps delivery without adequate pain managementWhat steps were taken to deliver/remove the placenta--Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode258Check out The Birth Preparation CourseRegister for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right WayOur Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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. Our Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, you'll learn all the tests that are recommended during pregnancy. I’ll break things down by trimester and talk about why the tests are done and what the results of the tests mean. You can use this information to prepare for upcoming tests or go back and ask questions about ones that were done in the past.The bulk of testing is done in the first trimester. Early screening is vital for the health of you and your baby. Healthcare doesn’t often focus on preventative care so use this opportunity to be proactive and plan ahead.In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:Which tests are recommended and done during pregnancyWhy you should register for access to your electronic medical recordsWhy we don’t want you to go into birth having low plateletsWhat happens in the case of an RH negative parent and an RH positive babyWhich conditions can be passed on from parent to babyWhy we screen for several STIsWhat we can learn from analyzing a urine sampleWhy genetic testing is doneWhat an anatomy scan looks forWhy it’s important to check for and address gestational diabetes--Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode257Check out The Birth Preparation CourseRegister for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right WayOur Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The term high risks gets used a lot and can mean very different things depending on your unique circumstances. Learn what "high risk" actually means as well as questions you need to ask if you've been told you're "high risk".Join me in my free LIVE class Make A Birth Plan The Right Way! Grab your seat at drnicolerankins.com/birthplanOur Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mallory Whitmore knows her stuff about formula! She’s a certified infant feeding tech, leader of education at Bobbie–the only mom-founded and mom-run U.S. formula brand–and she’s the face behind The Formula Mom, an online platform for infant feeding info and support.To be clear, she’s not against breastfeeding, quite the opposite in fact! Her mission is to help parents make informed, confident, and supported infant feeding decisions–without guilt or shame. If that means all breastmilk, all formula, or someplace in between, all that matters is that your baby gets the nutrition they need!In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:How formula compares to breast milkWhich “bioactive components” are found in breast milkWhat parents should look for in a formula - ignore the marketing hype!What types of formula are availableHow to figure out which formula is right for youWhat signs can indicate a formula is not working for your babyHow long you should give it before you switch to a different formulaHow to feed a combination of breastmilk and formulaWhat actually makes DIY formula riskyWhy it’s so important to destigmatize formula feedingWhat the difference is between absolute risk and relative risk--Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode256Check out The Birth Preparation CourseRegister for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right WayOur Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Making a birth plan is a really important part of helping you have the birth you want. A birth plan helps you think through the things that you want for your birth and communicate your wishes with your birth team. To make the most of your birth plan, be sure to ask your doctor the 4 key questions you'll learn in this short episode!And to learn 4 more questions to ask as well as how to approach the process, tips to get your doctor and nurses to pay attention and what to include, join me in my FREE LIVE class Make A Birth Plan The RIGHT Way. Register at drnicolerankins.com/birthplan Our Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Amy had what she calls an "easy pregnancy". The birth was the difficult part. Her labor came on quickly and then stalled. While hospital staff nudged her along by breaking her water and administering Pitocin, it became clear that something was wrong.Amy was sick - she was showing symptoms of infection. As she faded in and out of consciousness, her family and care team discussed the options. Eventually it was decided that a C-section was the best choice.After birth, Amy didn't get her “TV moment" with her baby. Her son was taken to the NICU and she had to spend a week in the hospital. Once they were reunited, it was still difficult to feel connected. She wanted to share her story to help others feel less alone. I guarantee you, you are going to be on the edge of your seat and really learn a lot from Amy's birth story.In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:How long Amy and her partner worked to get pregnantWhat a “push prep” class is and why Amy recommends itWhy she describes the attending physician as “not friendly”How infection symptoms can affect a pregnancyWhy she considers her breastfeeding experience “a miracle”How therapy helped Amy cope with difficult postpartum feelings--Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode255Check out The Birth Preparation CourseRegister for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right WayOur Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dysmorphic milk ejection reflex, also known as D-MER, is a condition experienced by lactating women and individuals where you feel a sudden, brief, and very intense negative emotional response just before milk letdown or release.Learn about this important and underrecognized condition in this short episode.Join me LIVE on April 30th for my FREE class - Make A Birth Plan The RIGHT Way! Grab your spot at drnicolerankins.com/birthplanOur Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is being released during Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17). Black Maternal Health Week was created by The Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a national coalition created to ensure all Black Mamas have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy. In this episode you’re going to learn about pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. Specifically, you’ll learn about the racial disparities in obstetric care as well as causes and solutions. You'll also learn how to keep yourself safe and how to help other pregnant people, too.In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:How maternal morbidity and mortality are definedHow many people die from pregnancy-related causes each yearHow morbidity and mortality rates vary by raceWhy focusing on Black Mamas is essentialHow to interpret maternal data correctlyWhat the most common causes are of pregnancy-related deathWhat you can do to help--Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode254Check out The Birth Preparation CourseRegister for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right WayOur Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Black Maternal Health week is April 11-17th!In this short episode I'm sharing some facts about Black Maternal Health.As I've done before, during Black Maternal Health week I'm collecting donations to giveaway spots in my online childbirth education class, The Birth Preparation Course. I'd love for my community to come together and donate enough to give away 10 spots! Please donate whatever you can at drnicolerankins.com/help.Our Sponsors:* Check out Dr. Mom Butt Balm: drmombuttbalm.com* Check out Informed Pregnancy Media: www.informedpregnancy.tv* Head to byheart.com/podcast my code DRNICOLE for a great deal!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy