Birth With Power

Latest Episodes:

Ep223: What You Need To Know About Shoulder Dystocia Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

Some of you may have heard about the tragic incident in Atlanta involving a case of shoulder dystocia during childbirth. In light of this case, I thought I’d take the opportunity to explain exactly what shoulder dystocia is, how likely it is to occur, and what makes it so dangerous.

I delve into this topic in more detail in the episode, but essentially shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the pelvic bone during delivery. Nine times out of ten the situation will resolve with no harm to the birthing person or baby. However, there’s no way to predict when it might happen so maternity care providers like myself need to stay prepared to handle it during childbirth.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

What shoulder dystocia is
How likely is it to occur
What some of the common risk factors are
Why addressing dystocia needs to happen as quickly as possible
What hospitals and medical providers do to stay prepared to handle it
What maneuvers are used to deal with shoulder dystocia
Which injuries are most common
How to reduce complications
How care decisions should be made
What to do after baby comes out

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode223

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Nicole Says: Mistreatment In Pregnancy and Birth Study and How To Avoid Mistreatment Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

This Dr. Nicole Says episode is about the August 2023 CDC study examining mistreatment and discrimination in birth.

Approximately one in five (20.4%) respondents reported experiencing at least one type of mistreatment.

28.9% of respondents reported experiencing at least one form of discrimination during maternity care.

Yet, 90.5% of respondents were satisfied with the care they received during pregnancy Why is that?

I break all of it down and you'll also learn how you can avoid mistreatment.

Link to CDC Study

The Birth Preparation Course

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ep 222: Rachel’s Birth Story - A Quick Unmedicated Birth After Choosing Induction Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

It’s not very often we get to speak to someone who plans for an induction. But when Rachel’s husband only had TWO DAYS of parental leave and was assigned an out-of-town position, induction was the perfect solution!

What she wanted was an unmedicated birth preferably without Pitocin and incredibly that’s what she got! However, it wasn’t by accident. Rachel refers to herself as “type A” and she was very, very prepared (including taking The Birth Preparation Course!). All of her planning paid off because she was able to give birth with her husband at her side and they’ve even gone on to have a second baby since. You’re going to love this story!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

What a preconception consultation is and how it helped Rachel
Why she thinks we should abandon the term “morning sickness”
How she struggled with self-blaming thoughts after an accidental fall at 7 months
What made the birth plan class so much more valuable to her than a generic birth wish sheet
Why she wanted an unmedicated birth
How she knew it was time to push
What makes her feel like postpartum parents are being underserved

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode222

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Nicole Says: It's Ok To Fear Birth! Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to the first episode of Dr. Nicole Says! In this episode you'll learn why it's not only ok, but NORMAL to fear birth and what you should do with that fear.

These Dr. Nicole Says episodes will be short episodes (about 10 minutes or less) where I share a little pregnancy and birth gem with you :).

The only way to know about these episodes is to subscribe to the podcast so be sure you're subscribed!

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ep 221: Healing Through Birth Story Medicine with Amelia Kriss Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Have you heard of birth story medicine? Today’s guest, Amelia Kriss, is a therapist who helps parents work through unresolved issues connected to the experience of giving birth. Not everyone will necessarily need to work throughtheir delivery narrative with someone else. But for those who experience trauma it can be a helpful tool.

When people are unhappy with their birth it’s generally not because of the specific course it took but rather because they hadn’t anticipated the possibility of it deviating from what they envisioned. Even if you’re sure of the birth you want, it’s important to explore all possibilities. You can’t control birth so the best thing you can do is educate yourself so you can be prepared.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

Why it’s important to process your birth story
What a drama therapist does
How to balance processing your birth story while staying in the present moment
What you can do during your pregnancy to help shape your birth story to be more positive
How our narratives about our birth stories affects us in the long term
How your opinion of your birth story can affect your opinion of yourself
What the most common reasons are that people seek counseling for their birth
Why it’s important to acknowledge that not everything about parenting is great

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode221

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ep 220: Amber’s Birth Story - Rushed Through Labor and a Quick Birth Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

Amber had the picture perfect pregnancy that ended with an emergency induction. Her daughter couldn't tolerate the contractions and her heart rate kept decelerating. The birth almost ended up in a c-section but Amber was determined to at least have the vaginal birth she hoped for.

She succeeded in having a vaginal birth but her care team was not very supportive. In fact, they rushed her every step of the way. 99% of the time, the heart rate can drop and your baby will be just fine. Amber says now that she wishes she would have been more firm in what she wanted but honestly her care team should have been listening to her. I would say she did a great job of standing her ground.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

How Amber could tell she was pregnant
How her pregnancy affected her immune system
Why she recommends pelvic floor therapy
How her husband supported her throughout her pregnancy
What her birth wishes were
Why her doctor pushed for an induction
What made her disappointed with her doula
How she coped with postpartum depression

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode220

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ep219: The Real Effect of Hyperemesis And Strategies To Treat It with Kimber MacGibbon of The Hyperemesis Foundation Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

In this episode you’re going to get excellent information and strategies to help with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) from RN Kimber MacGibbon of The Hyperemesis Foundation. Her organization works to dispel the misconception that hyperemesis is a short-lived condition without consequences for the mother or child.

After her own experience with HG during two pregnancies, she was shocked to find that her doctor was not willing to help her. It was difficult to find information and resources so she decided to tackle the problem herself. Working with other experts in the field, she developed HER Foundation, a non-profit which is taking the lead in advancing HG research, advocacy, and education.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

What hyperemesis is and how it’s different from morning sickness
How long it can last
What complications are possible
Which strategies and medications can be helpful
How to tell if it’s time to reduce medication
What some home care options are that can keep people with HG out of the hospital
Why it can be so difficult to get support for HG

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode219

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ep 218: A Step By Step Process On How To Choose a Doula Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

I’m sure you’ve heard me say how much I love doulas. Studies show that having a doula can shorten labor, decrease the need for pain medicine, and increase your chances for having a vaginal delivery. They provide physical and emotional support during labor and the postpartum period. But just like any other practitioner, not every doula is going to be the right fit for you.

In this episode I’m going to walk you through the process of finding the right support specialist to help you along your birth and postpartum journey. We’ll go over where to look and the questions you should ask potential candidates. Remember that it’s your birth and your money. Hire the person who is going to make you feel comfortable and be your ally.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

What a doula is and how they help during labor and postpartum
Why you might consider hiring one
Where to find a doula
Why it’s important to interview multiple candidates
Which questions to ask when interviewing a doula
How available you can expect them to be
How a doula can help both you and your partner

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode218

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ep 217: Kristine’s Birth Story - An Unmedicated Hospital Birth with Premature Rupture of Membranes Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

Kristine had a very positive birth experience. In her words, her pregnancy “wasn’t easy but it wasn’t hard.” It’s good to remember that even though birth is unpredictable, it’s possible to have the experience you want. Kristine hoped for an unmedicated hospital birth and that’s what she got.

A birth plan doesn’t come with any guarantees but if you don’t have one it can make getting what you want a lot harder. Multiple people along the way asked Kristine for her plan and that’s great but a lot of birthing people don’t have that experience. You need to show up prepared to advocate for yourself and preferably with a birth partner who can help support your wishes.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

Which uncommon pregnancy symptoms Kristine experienced
Why she recommends everyone do pelvic floor PT
Why she chose to hire a doula and how she felt that helped on her journey
What made her 39 week appointment a bad experience
How she handled her pain without medication
How quickly she progressed from 5-10cm
Why she wishes she had booked an outpatient lactation consultant earlier

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode217

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ep 216: What You Need to Know About Pumping with Dr. Dianna Dixon from Pump with Purpose Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

When Dianna had her first baby she felt like no one explained anything about pumping. Hospital staff didn’t tell her about her options, sizing and fit, or even how to do it. Dianna’s own journey led her to found Pump with Purpose, a global lactation private practice for people who want to include pumping in their journey, either exclusively or in addition to nursing. They help the breastfeeding community with common concerns like increasing supply, finding the right pump and flange, and getting onto a schedule. She is so passionate about her work and it comes through in the conversation. Most people will wind up using a breast pump at some point so everyone should know this information.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-How to decide which breast pump is right for you

-Which factors to consider when deciding what size flange to use

-Why you need a pumping bra and what makes it different from a nursing bra

-How people get on a pumping schedule

-How to increase milk supply

-What some of the most common issues are that people have with breastmilk collection

-What “pumping self-care” means

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode216

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Donate your baby's umbilical cord blood! www.thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power

Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:

• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital

• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early

• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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