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!

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.

• 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

--

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

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.

• 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

--

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