Kids & Family
**Birth With Power**

Birth With Power is the go-to podcast for expecting mothers who want to take charge of their birth experience.

Hosted by Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, a practicing, board-certified OB/GYN with over 20 years of experience and thousands of births attended, this podcast delivers accurate, expert advice, real birth stories, and honest conversations to get you informed and empowered.

Through solo episodes, guest interviews, and inspiring birth stories, you’ll get the tools to navigate pregnancy, labor, and postpartum with calm and confidence.

Whether you’re planning your first birth or your fourth, Birth With Power will help you approach the journey feeling strong, prepared, and empowered.

Subscribe today and take charge of your birth!

Latest Episodes:

Ep175: F the Snapback with Endocrinologist and Obesity Medicine Specialist, Dr. Katy Brown Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

Ep 175: F the Snapback with Endocrinologist and Obesity Medicine Specialist, Dr. Katy Brown

This episode is being brought to you by Bamboobies. Use the code “ALLABOUT” to get 40% of full price items through Oct 23.

Wouldn’t you want to learn about postpartum weight loss from an expert in weight management? Well you are in luck because that’s exactly who we have in today’s episode. Dr. Katy Brown is a board certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist and she is also a new mom!

I really like her approach because it comes from a place of gratitude rather than judgment. There’s no pressure to start early or lose quickly. Instead, it’s all about baby steps. Have patience with yourself and focus on what you’re already doing well. Your body just did something amazing!

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-Why postpartum weight management is important

-Why BMI is not a perfect tool for measuring health

-When you should start thinking about losing weight after giving birth - the answer may surprise you

-How much breastfeeding really impacts weight loss

-How many pounds you should realistically be losing per week

-How often it’s helpful to weigh yourself

-Who should seek the help of a care provider like Kate and what to expect

-How hormones actually do (and don’t) affect weight management

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode175

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

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Ep174: What to Do If You Might Have a Big Baby Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

This episode is being brought to you by Bamboobies. Use the code “ALLABOUT” to get 40% of full price items through Oct 23.

Today we’re talking about what happens if there is a suspicion that your baby is big. I originally did an episode about this back in 2019 but since then I’ve had so many people reach out and ask about this subject that I thought I should revisit it and update it.

I think it’s coming up more often because more doctors seem to be doing routine third trimester ultrasounds which actually aren’t necessary. These ultrasounds aren’t great at identifying whether or not your baby will be large and can lead to unnecessary interventions down the road. In this episode, we’ll get into the indicators you actually want to pay attention to and the outcomes and treatments you should be aware of for a suspected big baby.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-How much does a baby have to weigh in order to be considered “big,” or having macrosomia

-What factors can increase the risk of having a big baby

-How macrosomia is diagnosed

-How accurate (and necessary) ultrasound screening is in identifying baby size

-Who should be getting screened

-What kinds of complications can be caused by having a larger baby

-How you can help yourself with some prevention strategies and management options

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode174

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

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

Ep173: Lauren’s Birth Story - Perfect and Traumatic Aug 30, 2022

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This episode is being supported by Bamboobies. Check out their amazing reusable nursing pads at bamboobies.com.

In this birth story episode, you’ll hear about Lauren and how she got both everything she wanted for her birth AND everything she didn’t want. After a beautiful birth that went smoothly, Lauren experienced a rare obstetric emergency called uterine inversion where the uterus turns inside out after birth. She lost a lot of blood and had to be rushed to the OR. Fortunately the repair went well and today she’s feeling grateful that the medical staff was able to save her life.

Now I’m going to be honest, sometimes I worry about sharing these rarer incidents because I don’t want to scare you or for you to think that I’m choosing more “sensational” stories. But then I remember that I am here to share the truth of pregnancy, share the truth of birth. Knowledge is power and you need to know what the possibilities are. Not because you can control the outcomes but because being prepared can make scary situations less overwhelming.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-Why you shouldn’t let a low pain tolerance stop you from trying for an unmedicated birth; you don’t know what you can do

-How Lauren approached her birth wishes with flexibility

-Why she chose to have a doula and how it affected her birthing experience

-What an inverted uterus is and how it is repaired

-What makes an inverted uterus so dangerous

-What it was like for Lauren to recover from such a traumatic birth

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode173

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

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

Ep172: The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation During Pregnancy with Peloton Instructor Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

This episode is being supported by Bamboobies. Check out their amazing reusable nursing pads at bamboobies.com.

So y’all I’mma be honest. I was straight fangirling about recording this interview. Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts is an internationally-celebrated Peloton yoga teacher and scholar. I’ve done dozens and dozens of Chelsea’s yoga and meditation classes so it was really special for me to be able to chat with her. She’s currently 30 weeks pregnant and has some really special insight about how yoga and meditation have helped her along the way.

The number one thing I’d like for you to take away from this episode is that yoga and meditation are for EVERYONE. Yes, that means you. You don’t have to come to the mat looking a certain way or be super flexible. Just start. Make the practice your own and find what feels good for you.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What inspired Chelsea to shift from being an elementary school teacher to getting a PhD and becoming a yoga and meditation instructor

-How yoga helped her manage stress as a school teacher

-What inspired her to introduce mindfulness to the classroom and what the outcomes were

-How yoga can have a positive impact on kids

-What kind of training Chelsea went through to become an instructor

-What the benefits of yoga are during pregnancy specifically

-How yoga has helped Chelsea with her own changing body during pregnancy

-What the benefits are of simply breathing and being present

-How and why Chelsea incorporates all different genres of music into her classes

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode172

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

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

Ep171: Erica’s Birth Story - Living with Loss Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Trigger Warning: this episode involves a full term baby dying 13 days after a home birth.

Today’s episode is obviously a difficult subject. I don’t talk much about home birth - if folks want to have a home birth I support that but it is not my lane.

However I thought it was important to share this story for a number of reasons. Sometimes the potential complications of home birth are downplayed and although this is a rare thing that happened it’s important to share it.

Due to past medical trauma, Erica opted for a home birth. Her prenatal care was great. She got lots of attention and personal care that she may not have been able to get in a traditional setting. However, after the fact she began to realize that the potential dangers associated with home births had not been fully communicated. She was basically as prepared as an expectant parent could be but you just can’t know everything.

There are a LOT of lessons in here that apply to birth in general, as well as pregnancy loss in general. I know it can feel like even talking about these kinds of worst case scenarios will manifest them, but loss is not contagious. It’s important to have a dialogue around the scary parts of birth in order to be better prepared.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What made Erica decide to have a home birth

-What research she did to prepare for her birth - it was a lot!

-How she felt that the potential dangers of home birth were minimized by her home birth care team

-What went wrong during her birth and how her care providers handled it

-When and why she was transferred to the hospital

-How hospital staff made her feel worse instead of better by not being trauma informed

-What her postpartum recovery was like - don’t forget that even if she doesn’t have her baby with her she still had to go through the same postpartum

-Why she’s choosing a scheduled cesarean for her next birth

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode171

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

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

Ep 170: Being Rh Negative and Your Baby Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of the podcast you’re going to learn what it means to be Rh negative and the implications for pregnancy. The short story is that Rh negative has to do with your blood type. If you’re Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive, it can potentially cause problems for the baby.

Alloimmunization is what occurs when an RH negative mom's immune system is exposed to the baby’s Rh positive cells. When this happens the mom's immune system may attack the baby's red blood cells.

There are effective treatments and not all exposure will necessarily result in alloimmunization however it’s very important to take this seriously. If you take one thing away from this episode it’s that prevention is key. It's the best thing to keep your baby safe.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What the blood group systems are and what that means

-What the most common blood types are

-What alloimmunization is and when it occurs

-How to prevent it

-What are the fetal/neonatal consequences of alloimmunization

-What types of screenings are done

-What rhogan is, how it works, and the safety of it

-What can you do if alloimmunization has occurred

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode166

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

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

Ep169: Meghan’s Birth Story - A Feminine Birthing Experience Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

This episode is being brought to you by Ellement prenatal supplements.

I talk a lot about how all birth is natural and having a cesarean is no exception. I’ve had two myself, after all. Today’s guest, Meghan, opted for a semi elective gentle cesarean. In this episode she gets into what that looked like for her and why she made the decisions she did.

Now, Meghan’s birth story takes place in Texas. During her pregnancy she had a scare with a potential genetic issue. Her story brings into sharp focus how Roe v. Wade can directly impact the safety of birthing people and the decisions families are able to make. If you want to help, please support reputable organizations.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What a semi elective gentle cesarean is

-Why Meghan chose to switch care teams early on and how it impacted her delivery

-Why she encourages that everyone get an amnio (amniocentesis) if they want to - it’s pretty simple

-Why she leaned towards a c-section from the outset

-How she and her doctor made a birth plan together

-How Meghan and her husband chose to incorporate working with a doula

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode166

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

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

Ep168: All About Midwifery with Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Gianna Fay Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

I have been wanting to have a midwife on the show for a long time. It’s a big topic and I knew I had to get it right. That’s why I’m so thrilled to have Gianna Fay on the show today. Gianna Fay is a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC). She has been a part of 600+ births and has worked in a variety of settings including out of hospital birth centers, large hospital teaching facilities, smaller community hospitals and private practice.

Throughout her career, she has seen pregnant families struggle with navigating the maternity care system. Race and socioeconomic status impact every part of the delivery process and that can make getting the help of a midwife inaccessible for some. After having worked in so many different birthing settings, Gianna has decided to work within the hospital system so that she can make her skills and expertise available to everyone.

This episode is being brought to you by Ellement prenatal supplements.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-Why Gianna felt called to become a midwife

-What types of practice models she has worked in

-What people can expect when working with a midwife who is hospital based

-How midwives and physicians work together

-What the difference is between a midwife and a doula

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Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode166

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

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

Ep 167: What Support Looks Like in the Digital Age with Founder and CEO of Poppy Seed Health Simmone Taitt Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

Warning: this episode contains discussion of pregnancy loss

Technology is going to increasingly become part of the way we live and the way that we care for ourselves physically and emotionally; smartphones are here to stay and it’s important to figure out how to use that technology to our advantage. And that’s why I’m so excited to chat with Simmone Taitt.

Simmone Taitt is the CEO and Founder of Poppy Seed Health, a telehealth app that offers a unique type of support for pregnant and postpartum people. Taitt comes to this work through the highly personal experience of navigating her own pregnancy loss in an inequitable medical system. Her work has been covered by Fast Company, Vogue, Insider, CBS Mornings with Gayle King, and more.

This episode is being brought you by Ellement Prenatal Supplements.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

How Simmone’s personal experience with loss lead her to found Poppy Seed Health
How the Poppy Seed app works
What makes texting a great format for support
Why the app offers support specifically from doulas, nurses, and midwives
How equity is incorporated into the app
How Poppy Seed Health makes sure people who don’t have resources have access to the app

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode166

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Take a quick, fun labor pain quiz

Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100 Amazon gift card! --> thecordbloodgroup.com/drnicole

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

Ep166: Taryn’s Birth Story - An Emergency Cesarean and a Stay in the NICU Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of the podcast, being brought to you by Ellement prenatal supplements, we have Tarynn sharing her birth story. Tarynn is actually one of the members of The Birth Preparation Course. Things didn’t go exactly as planned with her birth, in fact they went exactly the opposite. Now it would be easy for me to only share birth stories from course students where everything went great but that would be dishonest of me. The reality is that sometimes things don’t go as you’d like, despite having done great childbirth education. Birth is an unpredictable process that can’t be controlled.But that doesn’t mean childbirth education isn’t important. Tarynn was thankful for the podcast and Birth Preparation Course as they helped her adjust on the fly and do what was necessary to get her baby home safe.Baby Eleanor and Tarynn are doing well now but it took some time to get there. In sharing her story Tarynn hopes she can help others learn the value in being adaptable and shine a light on what she calls that “mama strength we all have inside of us”.