Birth With Power

I’ve heard and been a part of a LOT of birth stories but I have never heard a birth story quite like this one. Vincia’s second birth was the epitome of precipitous labor. Baby number one arrived two days past his due date after 36 hours of labor - eight hours medicated with Pitocin and an epidural. For the second time around she was dreaming of fifteen hours of labor or less. She never could’ve im...

This is called an umbilical cord prolapse and it’s a true obstetric emergency. The cord can get squeezed and cut off blood supply to the baby. Listen to learn the unique way I handled this situation. Make A Birth Plan The RIGHT Way! - FREE Class drnicolerankins.com/birth-plan Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free t...

Hypnosis during labor and birth has come up several times on the podcast and today I’m interviewing an expert. Kerry Tuschhoff is a doula, birth instructor, and founder of Hypnobabies. No, they don’t hypnotize babies :). It’s an online resource for hypnosis classes and courses for childbirth. Kerry was shocked at how severe the pain of childbirth was and decided to dedicate herself to finding a wa...

In this quick story time episode you'll hear how I found out I was pregnant with both of our girls. Spoiler alert - somehow all my OB/GYN knowledge and training went out the window both times :)! Use the code DRNICOLE to get 20% off your first order of personalized prenatal vitamins at helloellement.com Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power Get the support, clarity, and confidence you de...

If you’re considering VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), this episode is a must listen! Most individuals with one (or two!) prior low transverse cesareans can consider VBAC. But you MUST bring it up early with your healthcare provider to be sure they will support your wishes, because not all doctors support it and some are not forthcoming about that. With VBAC, you avoid major surgery and the re...

I LOVE a great doula! But I see too much pressure placed on them to save the day for pregnant women and that's not fair. Check out The Birth Preparation Course: drnicolerankins.com/enroll 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 hospita...

Amanda wanted to share the experience of her “incredibly beautiful” c-section today, so other pregnant people can hear that it doesn’t have to be scary or traumatic. She describes her experience as “gentle and empowering” and wants more people to spread the word that cesarean doesn’t need to be feared or considered “less than.” Now, I usually don’t share birth stories from other countries because...

We need to stop saying just be happy to have a healthy baby. Birth is a special event that doesn’t happen very often. So of course you have wishes beyond just physical health for this beautiful life changing event. Now, unfortunately not everyone sees things that way. There are doctors, nurses, and even family members or friends who will tell you “just be happy to have a healthy baby”. And yes of...

Addressing stillbirth can be a sensitive and challenging topic but it’s an essential one. Like with anything else in birth, it’s always better to learn about every possible outcome, even the ones you don’t want. Besides educating yourself, it’s important to listen to this episode because parents who have experienced stillbirth don’t deserve to suffer in silence. Avoiding their stories out of fear...

In this shorty episode you'll get a play by play of what it was like when I recently cared for a patient who had a low intervention hospital birth. Here are a few things that were included - no IV fluids (but a saline lock) intermittent monitoring limited cervical exams (I only did 2 during her more than 12 hours of labor) encouraging moving eating and drinking as she desired and more! Check o...

In this episode, you’re going to learn about cesarean births - both planned and unplanned. I’ve actually had two cesarean births, one unplanned and one planned. I want to show some love to fellow cesarean parents because it’s essential, whether you’re planning a cesarean or not, to understand what might happen. Being prepared for the possibility of a c-section is crucial, as it can be the right ch...

On your skin. That’s where your baby should be right after birth! The benefits of skin to skin contact include: An easier transition to newborn life More stable breathing and temperature Helps with breastfeeding Promotes bonding Check out The Birth Preparation Course , my online childbirth education class that gets you calm. confident, and empowered to have a beautiful birth. Free Resources to Hel...

When Meg was already trying for the ambitious goal of an unmedicated VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), the hospital didn't think she could also have a water birth. But she proved them wrong when she gave birth in the tub. Her first baby was breech. Despite trying everything she could to turn her, she was unable to and in the end had a c-section. Even though the birth went well, she was disa...

Nothing should happen to you during your birth without your consent. That means before ➡️ Vaginal exams ➡️ Breaking your water ➡️ Starting pitocin ➡️ Episiotomy there’s a discussion about the benefits, risks, and alternatives and your provider needs to receive your explicit consent before proceeding. This places YOU at the center of your birth which is exactly how it should be. The Birth Preparati...

Sometimes, you realize that your Plan B was your Plan A all along. When Julia chose to become a solo mom, there were a lot of decisions to be made. She meditated, traveled, journaled, and more. This path of independent maternity felt right to her so she set out to learn as much about alternative families as she could. She decided to do this by having conversations with real people which inspired h...

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 should...

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 pre...

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...

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...

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 through their 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 becau...

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...

I'm taking a little time of to reset and recharge so enjoy this fan favorite rebroadcast episode on labor induction! I covered this topic 3 years ago and there is new information in this updated episode. I get a lot of requests to talk about this and I get why. It’s one of those topics that makes a lot of pregnant people nervous. You may have heard horror stories about induction and pitocin. P...

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...

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...

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...