Birth With Power

Today you’re going to learn all about your due date. It’s more than just giving you an idea of when your baby is going to be born - really all decisions during pregnancy revolve around it so it’s crucial that we get it right. It’s important to understand that a due date is an estimate. Only 4 percent of women deliver on their due date. There are different methods used to determine it, each with va...

This week we are talking with genetic counselor Ushta Davar Canteenwalla. There are so many testing options these days but very little support to understand the nuances to ultimately help people decide what the best test is for them. As we’ve discussed time and time again on the show, knowledge is power. People who are informed in advance about their testing options make better decisions, have mor...

Crystal played roller derby for nine years and even that couldn’t prepare her for her first pregnancy. She not only labored for 30+ hours, had to transfer from the birthing center to a hospital, was diagnosed with gestational hypertension, and her baby had to stay in the NICU, but she was also stung by a swarm of yellow jackets at thirty-eight weeks! Despite all this, she’s able to look back on th...

Well first off, welcome to 2022! I took a much needed break at the end of last year and I am feeling mostly ready to head into 2022. I feel better, my mind feels clearer, and I’m excited about what 2022 will bring. It is hard to believe but this podcast has been around for 3 years! It was Jan 2019, Jan 8th to be exact, that the first 2 episodes were released and here we are 3 years later. I’ve sai...

This week we're revisiting episode 81 where I interview my husband, Falcon. It was really interesting to hear what things felt like from his perspective. I talk a lot about the experience of the birthing person on this podcast, which often means that I don't talk as much about what it feels like to be the supporting partner. So, in this special episode my husband Falcon is joining me to ta...

This week I'm rebroadcasting my own birth stories! No filters. No gloss. Just truth. Am I proud of every decision I made during my births? Nope. And I share that with you here today. Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode5 Check out The Birth Preparation Course Register for the class How to Create a Birth Plan the Right Way Learn more about donating your cord blood and get up to $100...

This is a different episode, one that I hadn’t planned, but I’ve realized is absolutely necessary. I am taking a break. Until January I'm stepping back from social media, limiting email, and I'm not releasing new podcast episodes. I am, however, going to rebroadcast some very special episodes! I'm using this time to rest and come back recharged at the start of the year. I’ll see you ba...

A lot of my listeners are already expecting, but I know that some of you are either thinking about getting pregnant or already trying. And just like a holistic approach is important to pregnancy and birth, a holistic approach to fertility that considers emotional and physical health is important. But there’s a lot of information out there in regards to fertility, and it can be overwhelming to wade...

We often hear about postpartum depression but rarely is prenatal mental health a topic of discussion. MeLynn experienced anxiety and depression during pregnancy and there is a lot to learn from her story. She started by telling her partner how she was feeling, then saw a counselor, and eventually she went on medication. Did you know there are therapists who specialize in prenatal mental health? Me...

Diet is a vital component of prenatal healthcare which can often be overlooked. Today educator and registered dietician Stephanie Lauri joins us to give this subject the attention it deserves. After realizing there was a need for more accessible and reliable information on prenatal nutrition, Stephanie dedicated herself to creating a resource for expectant mothers. There are some surprising dos an...

This is a birth story episode that really warmed my heart. Tiffany used knowledge to overcome fears around being a woman of color getting pregnant and giving birth. As someone who researches everything, she knew she needed to be prepared with information to go through the birth process, especially as a first time mom. Tiffany says “Finding Dr. Rankins, a Black woman like myself, gave me the courag...

Today’s episode is about stillbirth. This is a difficult topic but I’ve actually had several people reach out to me about it. I see stillbirths maybe a handful of times a year, so it’s not extremely common, but common enough that it’s important to talk about. Stillbirth rates have been decreasing over recent decades. This is surely due in part to advances in medical care, however prenatal care onl...

There’s so much to consider when you’re preparing to bring home your bundle of joy, it can be tough to think about money. Money management in parenthood goes so far beyond just paying for diapers and car seats. The healthy money habits you model will positively affect the way your child thinks about money as they grow. Today’s guest, Chelsea Brennan, is the founder of Smart Money Mamas, a communit...

This is a birth story about a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). After the birth of Rosi’s son resulted in a C-section, she wanted to try for a vaginal birth with her daughter. Her first birth was rewarding but not the experience she had hoped for. After an induction at 41 weeks she spent 30 hours in labor and ultimately delivered via c-section. She didn’t feel as connected to the bir...

Have you heard of postpartum thyroiditis or adrenal exhaustion? Me neither, which is why I invited Maraya Brown onto the podcast! Maraya is a certified nurse midwife turned women’s health coach who’s worked in women’s healthcare for over two decades in many different capacities. She is here to talk about many aspects of postpartum wellness which she encounters through her work, specifically thyroi...

Today Bekah shares not one but two birth stories! Her first labor was long, rough, and full of interventions. Her second, however, she describes as “an incredible, redemptive, medication-free experience that made (her) view birth in a whole new light.” Between her first and second births, Bekah listened to many birth stories. Through these other women’s experiences she learned more about what she...

To be honest, I debated whether or not I should cover this topic because I know it’s polarizing and there are a lot of strong emotions involved. However, there is a lot of disinformation on this subject and, just like always, I want to be a source of factual, evidence-based information. Abortion is more common than you might think - chances are you know someone who has had one. I encourage you to...

Today, licensed child psychologist Dr. Cara Goodwin, PhD, joins the podcast to tackle some common topics from the angle of research and data. We break down important facts about holding your baby, sleep training, pacifiers, and even some science behind baby talk! Dr. Goodwin specializes in child development and founded Parenting Translator with the mission of taking recent scientific research and...

In today’s birth story episode we have Alex. Alex is an oncology pharmacist at her local cancer center. She joins us today to share her experiences with loss, pregnancy during Covid, a rare complication, and induction without an epidural. This episode is an example of why it’s so important to have a pain management plan. You don’t know what options will work for you until you try. You need lots of...

Sex and sexuality are a normal part of life, but they can change over the course of pregnancy and after birth. Having a healthy sexual relationship prior to pregnancy doesn’t guarantee that you won’t face difficulties along the way and, as always, the best way to prepare is to educate yourself. In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Juliana Hauser helps you get educated and navigate those changes. Dr...

Hannah welcomed her son, Oleander, in February. After an uncomplicated pregnancy and mostly straightforward birth, she experienced several postpartum issues which required multiple hospitalizations and ultimately she underwent an emergency hysterectomy. This was caused by a life threatening infection called group A streptococcus. In sharing her story, I don’t want to frighten you. I want you to be...

In this episode you’re going to learn all about your options for pain management during labor. And here’s the thing: everyone who’s having a baby needs to know all the options - whether you plan to get an epidural or you plan to have an unmedicated birth or you’re somewhere in between. In this Episode, You’ll Learn About: Why it’s important to think about labor pain differently than other kinds of...

Today, I am talking with Dr. George Crawford, MD about how gallbladder issues and concerns can impact your pregnancy. Gallbladder removal is the second most common non-obstetrical operation that occurs during pregnancy. Knowing where your gallbladder is and what it does can help you distinguish between normal pregnancy nausea and vomiting and a gallbladder that has gone bad. We also dig into what...

After Lauren's first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, she was determined to learn everything she could about the female body and how it creates and births babies. She has since had two healthy pregnancies and two (very different) pain medication free births. Lauren hopes that by sharing her stories she can help other women feel empowered to walk into birth with every ounce of confidence in the...

This week I am rebroadcasting my 100th episode! This episode includes the framework that guides all of my work, especially my new and improved version of The Birth Preparation Course . In this episode I discuss five steps to have a beautiful birth. I also talk about getting into the right mindset for your pregnancy and birth, preparing for different possibilities, and making birth wishes that real...