Pregnancy Pearls

Are you pregnant and wondering why your spouse keeps complaining about your mood?  You might think you're being nice or at least your usual self, but your significant other is likely going through it.  Yep! It's not in your head, it's a real thing, but for good reason.  Your body is going through major hormonal changes that definitely affect your mood. And let's not forget, the physical changes pr...

The placenta, or what you've probably heard called ""afterbirth"", is the most important part of how your baby grows and matures... but you probably don't hear much about what it does.  Well, that's because the placenta is extremely complex, so it's difficult to discuss all that it does.  In this week's episode, we do just that.  During the episode, Dr. Plenty really breaks down all the roles of t...

So you've done the hard part.  You've made it safely through the pregnancy, courageously had a baby, and are through the immediate postpartum period.  For some of you, that means that soon you'll be transitioning back to the work environment. Most of us really dread this moment of going back to juggling work life. You're probably envying your friends who are able to stay home full time. For many o...

Lupus is a disease that causes the body's immune system to attack its own tissues and organs (which is what's called an autoimmune disease).  This particular disease can affect every part of the body and is often diagnosed during childbearing years.  Being pregnant with lupus can complicate things, especially if your disease is not yet under control. Even if lupus is well-treated, some with lupus...

It's National Women's Health Week, so what better topic to discuss than what to expect at your well woman annual exam?  If you haven't scheduled your yearly exam yet, make an effort to do so.  Check out this episode prior to your visit as a reminder of what to expect.  During the episode, Dr. Plenty walks you through what will be done at your annual well woman exam. She also reviews different scre...

Although the number of teenage pregnancies in the U.S. have continued to decrease, teen pregnancy is still a thing… especially amongst Black and Latina young ladies.  Some teens lack the support they need to be successful as teen moms and with their long term aspirations.  This week, Dr. Plenty is joined by Dretona Maddox, founder and owner of Purposely Chosen, a nonprofit organization committed t...

The postpartum recovery process can be extremely complicated.  You've just had a new baby and need to constantly wash clothes. You're trying to get the hang of breastfeeding.  You want to lose weight and get your pre-pregnancy body back. And you're mentally trying to adjust to your new mom-life all while operating on limited sleep.  Yep! It's definitely an adjustment but worthwhile.  To shed some...

We're all sick and tired of hearing about COVID-19. But, now is not the time to slip up and get COVID-19, Recently, several of Dr. Plenty's members were diagnosed with COVID-19, including her 2 year-old son, Harrison.  If you've been listening to the show for a while, you know that Harrison has had issues with his immune system. So, you can image the terror she had while taking care of him during...

As the weather starts to get nice, many of us are ready to break out the sundresses and short shorts.  But, for some, especially if you’re pregnant, you probably notice more varicose veins and spider veins than usual.  This week, Dr. Plenty discussed the reasons for these more visible veins in pregnancy and how they are treated. She also let’s you know when your varicosity aren’t just varicose vei...

Are you postpartum and need advice to snap back to your pre-pregnancy weight? Have you recently had a baby and are confused about dieting and breastfeeding? Or do you have a child over 2yo and still haven't dropped those pounds?  If so, this episode is for you! In this episode, Dr. Plenty is joined by health and wellness coach and personal trainer, Stacy Kador, to discuss ways to drop the weight....

The decision to have genetic screening to evaluate for genetic problems with your baby is a big decision. The most common type of genetic screen is what’s called a noninvasive prenatal screen (NIPS), which is a blood test that screens cells that enter your (mom) blood circulation from the placenta.  NIPS is a pretty good test!  It has a high detection rate for Down syndrome and a few other common...

A lot of you, especially my first time moms, have been asking several questions about what you've been told about labor and delivery and wonder if it's normal. So, on this week's episode, Dr. Plenty answers all your questions and breaks down what your physician or provider really means when it comes to labor and delivery. For starters, she goes over some key medical terms relevant to the labor pro...

Not all pregnancies are planned.  Sometimes, you might have just been having a good time, and oops, now there’s a baby on the way. This happens actually in more than half of pregnancies.  So, this is a complete judgement-free zone.  Make sure to listen to this episode to find out what you should do if you’re having an unplanned pregnancy so that you can be as safe as possible moving forward.  You’...

Many women start new relationships as they've approached their late 40s or early 50s. Some have decided to get married later in life. Others have gone through divorces and find themselves with a new-found love life. Some of us still have that sexual spark from longterm relationships or marriages.  All this is being said to say that women in the perimenopausal age range are still having sex!!  Well...

A ton of you ladies have been working on your personal weight loss goals! To give yourself a boost, some of you have had weight loss surgery during this pandemic. Congratulations on taking steps to reach your personal goals. Now that you've started to lose weight, many of you might be thinking about getting pregnant... or maybe you're already pregnant.  Weight loss prior to pregnancy is great, but...

During pregnancy, with the growth of the uterus, the muscles in the abdomen called the rectus muscles, can separate.  After delivery, you might have a “mom pooch” with a weakness or bulge around the belly button. Well, this mom pooch might be the result of a rectus diastasis or a result of those rectus muscles being too far apart.  Check out this episode to find out what to do to get rid of the re...

Several people have had babies during the pandemic.  Although we joke about pandemic babies being different…having a baby during the pandemic really is.  Unfortunately, no consistent recommendations exist about exactly how you should care for your newborn during this pandemic.  So, in this episode, Dr. Plenty let’s you know her advice and discusses the advice of other experts in the field, some of...

Circumcision is a procedure done on males to remove the foreskin of the penis.  This procedure is commonly done within the first 48hrs of birth in most full term babies but could be done a little later for premature babies.  Many patients are confused about whether to get their baby boys circumcised in the hospital or if they should wait a little later so that their babies can have a procedure und...

Your baby’s growth is something that is monitored throughout your pregnancy to make sure your baby is healthy and doing well.  But what if you’re told your baby is small?  Your physician telling you that your baby has growth restriction (aka small)might prompt a ton of questions, like: “What does that mean? Does that mean something is wrong? What can I do to help my baby growth?  If you’ve ever ha...

Lightening vagina, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, heart burn… these are all symptoms many women complain about in the third trimester.  In this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Plenty discusses these common miserable symptoms to let you know why you’re experiencing them.  She also breaks down normal changes in the third trimester of pregnancy for both mom and baby. Make sure to download and liste...

Spina Bifida is a defect in the spinal cord that leaves the spinal nerves exposed to amniotic fluid. Babies with spina bifida can have issues with walking and bowel and bladder function.  This particular condition can be detected with a test called an alpha fetal protein test, abbreviated as AFP.  But, the AFP test can be abnormal for a number of other reasons?  Yep, and some of these reasons are...

This week, Dr. Plenty discusses an important women's health topic that we all need to know about, pregnant or not, and that's which STIs condoms don't protect you against. Yep! There are sexually transmitted infections you can get even if you're being safe and using a barrier method. Really, any infection you can get from skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes and genital warts, you can get despite...

If you're closely approaching your delivery date or recently delivered, I know you're looking forward to indulging in a a glass of wine. However, most things you eat and drink can accumulate in your breastmilk supply.  And if what you drink is alcohol, that means that after drinking, if you breastfeed, your baby could be getting a couple of sips of your wine as well.  The amount of alcohol you con...

Maternity leave is taking leave from work to prepare to be a mom.  Everyone’s different when it comes to taking leave. Some women choose to work until they literally go into labor or until their scheduled delivery date (if they have an indication for a scheduled delivery). Other women have to take Family Medical Leave or FLMA early and claim short term disability for medical reasons.  Check out th...

If you're pregnant and your baby is not head down at the end of the pregnancy, you have two choices for delivery: 1. Flip the Baby -or- 2. Have a C-section.  If you're someone who really wants a vaginal delivery and your baby is breech (or butt down), then this is the episode for you.  In this episode, Dr. Plenty discusses ""flipping the baby"" or what medical professionals call an external cephal...