Pregnancy Pearls

Yoni steaming, also known as vaginal steaming, is a spa remedy used for vaginal cleansing.  It’s also thought to help with menstrual cramps, digestive issues, and even infertility.  But does it work, and is it safe? Learn more about yoni steaming, and find out the answers by listening to this week’s episode of the podcast.  We discuss the pros and cons of yoni steaming and whether it’s safe in pre...

Braxton contractions are a tightening of the uterus that comes and goes in preparation for the birthing process. In other words, they are contractions, but Braxton Hicks contractions  do NOT cause cervical change or lead to labor. Because of this, some refer to them as false contractions.  Did you know Braxton Hicks contractions can happen as early as 6 weeks. Yep!  And, they can occur throughout...

""Irish twins"" refers to having two babies 12months apart or less. Basically, this means that a patient got pregnant when the previous child was approximately 3 months old.  Some people call this situation having ""Dutch twins"" or ""Catholic twins"" as well.  Many women want to have multiple children who can grow up together. But, having babies this close together is considered high risk.  Downl...

As we reflect on all that we've been blessed with this year, many of you are thankful for your new bundles of joy on the way.  However, although you're thankful, many of you are also very nervous and want to know if what you're experiencing is normal.  It's completely normal to wonder what's going on with your growing little one inside of you. So, in this episode, we'll talk about pregnancy sympto...

Every November Prematurity Awareness Month is observed, with World Prematurity Day being recognized globally on the 17th.  One common reason for a preterm delivery is when a patient's water breaks before being full term (or 37+ weeks pregnant).  During pregnancy, the baby resides inside a fluid-filled sac, called an amnion which contains amniotic fluid. When someone says their water has broken, th...

Many people have questions about the safety of sex in pregnancy but might be afraid or too embarrassed to ask.  Well, this episode addresses all of those questions you might want to clarify, such as:  If you’ve been told not to have sex, does that include oral and anal sex too?  Can sex increase the risk of a preterm delivery? Should sex be avoided in certain trimesters?  All of these questions ar...

Over the pandemic, the number of people sick from the flu has drastically decreased due to hand washing and wearing face masks. However, with restriction loosening, healthcare professionals predict a spike in the flu.  Remember, the flu, before the pandemic, was one of the leading causes of hospitalizations and ICU admissions for pregnant women.  Whether you're pregnant or not, getting sick from t...

It’s the end of October, so we can’t forget to acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  So, on this week’s episode, we talk facts about breast cancer, how and when you should be screened as well as dealing with breast cancer during pregnancy.  If you have breasts aka “lovely lady lumps”,  pregnant or not, this episode is on the “must listen” list.  The first step is getting checked.  I know thi...

Sickle cell anemia, also called sickle cell disease, is an inherited condition that causes sickling of red blood cells. These sickled cell aren’t able to carry oxygen effectively to tissues in the body. As a result of lack of oxygen to tissues and damage to vessels by the sickled cells, patients with the disease experience pain crises and organ damage (including heart attacks and strokes). Sickle...

Whether you have a high risk pregnancy or not, if you admit it, by the end of pregnancy you're miserable and trying to find some relief of pelvic pressure.  I know other women in your family might say:  don't get a facial; avoid massages; don't leave the house. LOL! Well, in this episode, we're going to talk about the safe ways to pamper yourself in pregnancy and things you should avoid.  If you'r...

We know you’ve heard that alcohol isn’t safe in pregnancy.  But do you really know the impact of even one drink in pregnancy?  To discuss the topic of alcohol and its impact, Dr. Plenty is joined by Mrs. Natalie Vecchione, a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) parent advocate and founder of FASD Hope.  She shares her experience with her adopted son who also has fetal alcohol syndrome and her ad...

Many of you might have noticed that your memory is a little foggy or that your thought process is kinda off during pregnancy.  If you've never been pregnant, have you noticed any family members or co-workers who are pregnant fishing for words that have slipped their minds? Some call it ""pregnancy brain"", but is that really a thing?  Check out this week's episode as Dr. Plenty discusses how pregn...

About 15% of couples experience infertility, which is defined as actively trying to conceive for a year without success. What should you do if this is you?  To discuss fertility options, Dr. Plenty is joined by Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) specialist, Dr. Tiffany Jones.  Dr. Jones is a practicing partner at Conceive Fertility Center in Dallas, TX. During this episode, Dr. Jones b...

In this week's episode, Dr. Plenty discusses the ""p"" word, meaning your period.  Your period, or menstrual cycle, should be normal to ensure that you're ovulating every month.  But what do doctors mean by ""normal""?  In this episode, Dr. Plenty discusses normal and abnormal periods.  She also talks about common and not-so-common reasons for abnormal menstrual periods and how abnormal flow is tr...

Do you have painful menstrual cycles, issues getting pregnant, or pain with sexual intercourse?  If you do, you could possibly have endometriosis.  A growing number of women have endometriosis. Some women have it, and don’t even know it.  Well, in this episode, you’ll learn all about endometriosis, how it’s diagnosed, and how it’s treated. Dr. Plenty also tells you how endometriosis can affect you...

Some of you might be trying to get pregnant and getting frustrated because you think it might be taking longer than you anticipated.  Well, getting pregnant takes time, and the time it should take to get pregnant depends on several factors, such as your age, medical problems, and pregnancy history.  In this week's episode, Dr. Plenty breaks down how long it should take to have a baby before needin...

Welcome back to Season 2 of Pregnancy Pearls Podcast!! This week, Dr. Plenty talks about what you need to do to ""get ready"" for your next pregnancy. By listening to this episode, you'll get detailed information about ways to reduce your risk of miscarriage, preeclampsia, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. You'll also gain insight about what common medications and cosmetics to avoid and which...

Swelling of the legs and feet after delivery is very normal. But is there ever a time when swelling can be too much or a bad sign? Well, check out this episode of Pregnancy Pearls Podcast to hear Dr. Plenty explain why swelling occurs, how long to anticipate it following delivery, and when swelling needs further attention. If you’re pregnant or recently delivered, make sure to download and listen...

One of the strongest indications that there might be something going on with your baby is whether the skin behind the neck is thick. In the first trimester, your provider looks at what’s called the nuchal translucency, which is a space behind the neck and back.  Half of babies with an increased measurement of this space have a chromosomal abnormality.  Once you make it to 16 weeks, your provider l...

Every pregnant woman should get an ultrasound to look at their baby’s structures at approximately 18-20 weeks.  During that ultrasound, not only are your baby’s organs closely evaluated but the placenta (or afterbirth) and the umbilical cord are also evaluated.  Did you know that the umbilical cord can tell your provider if your baby has an increased risk of having genetic abnormalities? Yep! The...

Some babies with chromosomal abnormalities can look completely normal on ultrasound. So, as a high risk pregnancy physician, I look for what’s called soft markers (or subtle hints that something’s going on). One of these hints is dilation of your baby’s kidneys during pregnancy.  Kidneys filter blood and rid waste of blood through urine. If urine is blocked inside of the kidney, they look enlarged...

Neonatal Jaundice, also known as hyperbilirubinemia, is a yellow discoloration of the white parts of the eyes and skin found in newborn babies due to high levels of bilirubin. This can be found in both full term and preterm babies.  High levels of bilirubin can be caused by a number of factors including breastmilk, enzyme deficiencies, and medication, to name a few. To help discuss this important...

In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Plenty discusses bleeding after birth and miscarriages.  Dr. Plenty breaks down the definition of lochia and its types as well as how to recognize when you're having too much bleeding. If you have had a baby recently or, unfortunately, suffered a recent pregnancy loss, please listen to this episode to know what's normal bleeding and when you should seek help. Se...

Every mother and their newborn will go through adjustments as they transition from pregnancy to the postpartum period. During this time, both mom and baby must get acclimated to new sleep schedules and breastfeeding, and mom will have to deal with body changes and sometimes, wound healing. Oftentimes, this time can be met with emotional woes as well. This all happens during the ""4th trimester"" o...

On this week's episode of the podcast, we discuss postpartum blues, depression, psychosis, and other mood disorders affecting pregnancy and the postpartum period. More than half of women experience postpartum blues in the immediate postpartum period, and approximately 20{}re diagnosed with postpartum depression.  To help me discuss this important topic,expert guest Mrs. Whitni Toson, a Licensed Pr...